Weekend in London with kids what to do?

[Autumnlover8]

Hi everyone,

Visiting London soon for Chinese New Year, planning to watch the parade Sunday morning/afternoon. Aside from this stuck on a decision of what to do all day Saturday and Sunday later on. Travelling with children, youngest is a toddler and eldest is 6.

Previous visits we have done:

• natural history museum
• science museum
• transport museum
• covent garden
• Kew Gardens
• bus tour
• boat tour
• Tower of London
• kidzania
• harrods
• hamleys

any ideas appreciated please! Thinking possibly going borough market on the Saturday but don’t have to if out of the way of something else suggested!

also any tips on best spots to see the festivities on Sunday would be greatly appreciated too

[idratherbedrawing]

Don't want to rubbish your plans too much but but be prepared for the Chinese NY parade to be REALLY crowded in a somewhat unbearable way. I've lived in London for most of my adult life and only been once & it was a bit of a stressy nightmare (so crowded my daughter was an actually scared!) so I've never been since. My advice would be to go early, don't move around too much and if you want to eat in Chinatown after definitely book - the restaurants will all be rammed. You may be better off eating outside of china town - could still be Chinese, there are loads of Chinese restaurants outside of the main china town, in fact I've really noticed an increase in the number of restaurants and Chinese food shops in other party of London. grow a lot recently as there are loads of Chinese students in London.. There are also lots of Chinese new year events in other parts of London that extend into the afternoon and would be less busy so you could head there Sunday afternoon. This is one I'm aware of and gutted we are away next weekend so can't go www.elephantpark.co.uk/dine-drink-shop/events-and-fun/lunar-new-year/ but I'd google cos there will be lots similar all over the city, which maybe nearer to where you are staying.

In terms of Saturday I'd avoid borough market - it's living hell on Saturdays these days due to crowds. It's also got stupidly expensive. Not just London expensive, insane expensive. For alternatives how about a trip to Greenwich? Can get the boat there and in Greenwich there is the Martin's museum which is great for kids as well as the Cutty Sark.

[idratherbedrawing]

Couple of other ideas for Saturday: Tate modern & south bank (my kids loved the turbine hall when they were younger, less keen now they are moody pre teens!); foundling museum which is Bloomsbury area (it's a v small museum but has a lot on for kids and near corams fields which is a great park for kids); postal museum (clerkenwell, just south of King's Cross) I've actually never been but heard from so many it's great especially for little ones

[Autumnlover8]

Thank you so much for these suggestions! Lots of googling for me tonight! We’re really keen to see the lion dance and then will be moving on, not planning to eat in Chinatown due to the crowds but thank you for the tip - any Chinese restaurant recommendations outside of Chinatown please? @idratherbedrawing

[wellingtonsandwaffles]

Of those not on the list, mine loved

• Tate modern
• design museum with Holland Park
• Diana play park and squirrel/pigeon feeding in Hyde park
• south bank / performers / London eye park / south bank centre (lots of free stuff)
• Olympic park for open spaces and amazing play parks
• Guard watching at Buckingham palace (not necessarily changing of guard)
• uber boat

seen at the moment there’s a free light walk at Battersea Power station. Battersea park also great fun.

further out and ££ but the bubble “museum” looks great fun too, if a little instagram-focused!

[idratherbedrawing]

Four seasons - one of the most reliables good places in china town has a branch (its original in fact) on Queensway (W2) www.fs-restaurants.co.uk/queensway

There are also some good places on this list - all not in china town, the first one is v expensive I think but rest aren't www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/londons-best-chinese-restaurants

I also have to give a shout out to www.songque.co.uk/ - probably my favourite place to eat in London, it's Vietnamese not Chinese but will still be full of festivities as the Vietnamese celebrate new year at same time (Tet)