Morning in London with 6yo

[Oganesson118]

Hiya all. Going to London in a few weeks time and our plans for Saturday morning have fallen through (or rather, I’ve decided I don’t want to spend £75 on the Twist Museum) We’ve already got London Eye, Sealife, the bus tour and (god help us) Winter Wonderland in plan.

What would you suggest for a couple of hours on a Sat am for a 6yo?

The science museum. Free and fantastic!

Agreed

Absolutely the museums

Which station are you arriving at? I’d agree with the museums but it’s a bit of a trek to get to South Ken, and then back to Waterloo, if you’re arriving at, say, Liverpool St (assuming you are travelling by train).

That said, I’d really recommend the newly reopened Young V&A in Bethnal Green.

Run around in the Diana playground? Or wander in any of the parks. In st james park there are green parrajeets, pelicans, squirrels and more. Or wander round the lego shop in Leicester Sq, also there are fairy tale statues all around there. Or go to one of the free museums, science/nat history/tate etc.

There's loads of free stuff and it sounds like you are already spending a fortune and rushing around a lot. 6 year old may need some downtime!

I’d take some down time! We did a similar trip recently, took a bus to St Paul’s, had some food and then walked back to London Eye area via the Millennium Bridge, the Globe etc. Weather needs to be good of course.

St James's park is lovely. You can go and look at Buckingham palace and there's a small but sweet playground. If you're lucky there might be military bands practicing at the barracks the other side of birdcage walk.

I'd try and get outside if the weather is good. That's a lot of very busy, touristy, being shuffled round in a crowd activities.

I'd do a walk in Hyde Park with a Hot Chocolate. Or ice skating at the NHM (crowd heavy again though). Or any of the other London parks. But I hate the London crowds so maybe biased.

I really like the Transport Museum in Covent Garden. There’s lots of interesting stuff for you, and lots of entertaining stuff for kids!

If it’s a clear day - what about the Sky Garden? Free, but you have to book it.

Also any of the above playgrounds / London parks suggestions!

I second the Transport Museum, it’s good for that age group

Honestly? I think you've got too much in your itinerary. Personally I'd have gone for the free museums ahead of some of the things on your list but I don't think I'd dash down and back in 2 hours. What about a Thames clipper trip or even just a mooch along the Thames and spotting things? You can get an eye spy guide or Charlie and Lola go to London and tick things off. Would work for your bus tour too. There's quite a good playground by the aquarium too. Or you could go to st James's park and do Buckingham palace, the pelicans and horse guards

It totally depends where you're arriving to and where your first/ next stop is.

It does sound jam packed. The aquarium is a lot of walking and once you're in you have to snake through the whole thing. Winter wonderland too. Don't worry you'll still have a fab time but I'd rest up a bit if you can.

If you're by the river Saturday afternoon for aquarium/ eye I'd try a boat bus or check out times for the horrible histories boat show.

If you're at winter wonderland in the afternoon I'd got to a lovely brunch first. The food at winter wonderland is over priced rubbish so worth having a good bite to eat before you go.

WW is on the Piccadilly line (and Victoria line.)
So natural history / V&A / science museum are at south Ken
British museum at Russell square
Covent Garden are all on the same line but I'd probably keep it chilled tbh

You're in the purple set on monopoly board so could have an extravagant brunch or a chilled bite depending on budget or what your like.

N.B I think the Millenium Bridge is still closed

I’d wander through St James Park, there’s a lovely playground near Buckingham Palace, perfect for a 6 year old. I wouldn’t do another museum.

We’ve already got London Eye, Sealife, the bus tour and (god help us) Winter Wonderland in plan.

On the same day? Sounds like enough to me!

The stuff we have planned is over the course of 3 days, which I really should have mentioned.

Winter Wonderland is Friday.
London Eye and Sealife late afternoon on Saturday (she wants to go on when it’s dark)
Bus tour is Sunday

So looking to do something Saturday morning as it’s a long time to mooch around other wise.

Weather permitting I'd do either a wander or an Uber Boat along the Thames. Or maybe a slow walk from
Houses of Parliament up Horseguards to Trafalgar Square, the Mall and Buckingham Palace.

Hamleys? Natural History Museum (if busy go to geology section of science museum up the massive escalator, always quieter that side)

Over 3 days

Look up the butterfly trail at the now building opposite Tottenham Court Road. looks fun!

Diana playground (Kensington palace) look at the water birds in St James's Park, go over the Hungerford footbridge (south bank) so that you can see boats go underneath.

There's a great interactive zone upstairs at the science museum. Where are you staying?

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/kensington-gardens/diana-memorial-playground - if weather is good, park is a great bet. There is also a playground in St James Park which is fun (but this one is great, mine used to love it).

Museums are great but will be so busy on Saturday AM.

You could just have an early morning wonder around Soho and Covent Garden before it gets super busy, there are always Christmassy things going on at this time of year.

https://www.londonworld.com/whats-on/tottenham-court-roads-free-interactive-immersive-butterfly-experience-at-outernet-4344418 - this is also cool - although doesn't take long.

Is he a fan of dinosaurs? Then natural history museum for the dinosaurs.

This!

Covent garden, it will be very festive and free street entertainment. Also if you could do ice skating at Somerset house, so beautiful and they are great with kids. You would need to book this though.