Going to london

[Slowies]

But worried about going to London with Husband and two teenage daughters. Husband and eldest want to go on the eye, me and the youngest are very scared. What can we do nearby?

Tube strike on 8th April unfortunately.

www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/tube-strike-dates-2024-april-may-aslef-b2515576.html

I didn't like the Eye - to high for me.
As others have said don't bother with Tussauds.
Do your girls like history?
I did the Tower of London years ago and it was absolutely fascinating (we did a tour).

If you suffer from vertigo or fear of heights the London Eye is def not for you.

I have a mild fear and was encouraged to go on it and hated every single moment. Awful experience.

There are cafes and the London Aquarium.

That's what I was promised but it was an absolutely awful experience.

To those of us with vertigo / fear of heights it's quite different looking out of a window be cause of the movement.

Never going to get free tickets for Easter now though.

OP I hate heights, and I’m quite severely claustrophobic and I’ve been on it and it was fine. I sat on the bench in the middle of the pod and went on my phone at the top to distract myself.

London eye is possibly the most boring thing ever! Don't waste your time and money on it.

427 bus to Southwell then Elizabeth line to CW

Ditch Madame Tussauds it’s rubbish.

your teens will like Carnaby street, soho ad Covent Garden. The whole area around Spitalfields and brick lane is perfect for them too.

Why are you going to Uxbridge?
I'd avoid the big ticket tourist stuff like the Eye and Madam Tussauds (rip offs).

As you are staying at Canary Wharf I'd do the Sky Garden, St Paul's and have a look at Leadenhall Market (especially if they liked Harry Potter).

I'd also have a walk along the river. Maybe take the tube to Embankment, turn left and walk a bridge or two to the East, cross the bridge and have a meander along the South Bank. Evening walks by the Thames are lovely - the lights are pretty.

I'd consider making a day of the West End. Take the tube to Oxford Circus, exit via Argyll Street and find the back entrance of Liberty (fab shop), turn left when you exit onto Regent Street and walk down to Piccadilly (see Eros), but turn right onto Piccadilly and have a reckie round Fortnum & Mason. Again leave by the back entrance and turn right along Jermyn Street, then left onto St James's Street and walk through the Park, past the soldier in his sentry box. St James's Park is V pretty and you get a lovely view of Buckingham Palace.

I'd get the district line from St James's to Kensington High Street, and walk through to Kensington Gore passing the Royal Albert Hall and Albert Memorial, cutting into the Park and through the Peter Pan Garden.

I always think a river cruise with guide is worth it. It passes lots of sites and there is lots of information.

London's great. You'll enjoy yourselves. You may needntonget Oyster cards for your dd's.

Central London really isn’t scary. You can walk loads of places so tube strikes won’t be the end the world and anyone who can work from home will do so it’s actually quieter

Just seen this which buggers us up a little but have looked and we could get the elizabeth line to the excel.

You could get the Elizabeth line from West Drayton..

I wouldn’t bother with either of the Westfields - shopping centres are pretty soulless. I would go to Covent Garden for the shops and atmosphere, maybe Harrods for the novelty (even though I much prefer Selfridges) and either Camden market or Spitalfields for your girls to spend some money.
My kids still like china town. My oldest is fascinated by the supermarkets and the decorations are always pretty. If you are there on Sunday, you could go for dim sum. Definitely skip Madame Tussaud’s. I never understood why it was so popular. You could try for tickets to sky garden but it will be popular over Easter.

London's no busier? 😂Give or take an extra 8 million more people living in London than Manchester, Leeds or Newcastle. And then tourists on top of that.

Easter holidays will be busy in London. They always are. But avoid the worst by travelling off-peak, and walking via back streets if you need a breather from the crowds. And avoiding tourist traps like Madame Tussauds (and indeed Sky Garden too).

8 April is underground and rail strikes - if they go ahead.

Londons rather bigger than all of them. It’s not the size of Newcastle with 8 million people in it!

yeh why does Uxbridge come into it @Slowies ? Is that where you live or something?

Agree with everyone else, don't bother with hideous Madame Tussauds.

Otherwise lots of good ideas here esp the generic buses to see the sights. I think Tower Bridge is good value and interesting. YY Camden Market and Liberty is certainly worth a browse.

Go to the Museum of the Docklands. It's free and very informative and a great view of Canary Wharf.

London is much safer than the news would suggest, don’t worry OP. I am also terrified of heights and nothing would get me on the Eye despite the fact that I logically know it’s safe. The aquarium is right beside it.

I agree Madam Tussauds is a waste of time and that a show or even walking along the Southbank would be more fun. See if the Brigit’s Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is running (I think they might also do a river boat version) because that’s good.

If you are there on Sunday make your way to the flower market at Columbia road, lots of little shops nearby, try to go to Angela Flowers if open,. Go early the market closes at 1.00 sharp.

if you are in Canary Wharf then you can visit Mallow, at wood wharf, an amazing vegetarian restaurant with the most delicious food, you won’t miss meat at all. If you have to have meat there is a Hawksmoor opposite.

museum of London (Docklands) nearby too.

lots of shops within Canary Wharf, mix of high street , chain, and high end.

west end shopping , Bond Street is fun for a gawp in the windows, Liberty because it is beautiful and they have just opened a new perfume room, Fortnums perfume department is good too, and if you go up Piccadilly towards the ritz you will find the little gem that is Santa Maria novella.

I like Marylebone high street for indie (posh) shops, spitalfields great for one off quirky, Camden passage I find exhausting, but kids love it.

if you go to Trafalgar Square then there is a great little gelato parlour on the road going down to embankment tube, they make the icecream look like flowers and it is delicious.

how old are your kids? Google Transport for London and find out how to get them reduced price travel cards, you and your dp can use credit cards, but remember to tap in and out to get the best deal. You will need one each.

a river boat trip is fun, just get the normal one not a tourist one, from embankment pier ( don’t forget the gelato! ), the trip down to Greenwich and back is good, you will see loads and Greenwich is a good place to visit anyway.

have a lovely time, most of usLondoners are friendly and happy to help, unless you block the escalators when we might bite, but London is also unfortunately home to thieves and pickpockets, so like in any tourist city, keep bags in front of you, across your body, make sure zips are closed, and be wary in cafes if you put bags or shopping down.

Where do you live OP & where does Uxbridge come in to it? So many good suggestions already but if you’re staying East then Spitalfields/ Shoreditch also worth a visit.

Ps if you are feeling stressed then remember that you are in a city that has fabulous green spaces, the big parks, Green Park, St James, Greenwich, Parliament Hill, Kensington, etc which are lovely restful spaces, but also small pockets parks, often with little cafes or tea huts, Russell Square, Queen Square and the other garden squares near the BritishMuseum. Postman’s Park near St Paul’s, the little park behind Marylebone high Street with award winning toilets, and lots of little garden squares tucked away waiting to be discovered like St James Square which I only recently discovered!

Following on from @viques Post, if you do go to Fortnums, do venture beyond the food Hall. The Ladies fashion floor is exquisite, your dd's will be agog at dressing gowns for £1000 and will remember the sumptuous toilet forever.

A floor or two further up and you will be agog at the China and knick knacks.

Do buy some chocolate truffles - they are wonderful!

Mme Tussaud's is complete rubbish - I don’t know why anyone goes there. The V and A is free and the jewellery and fashion displays in the regular collection are fabulous. From there you can walk through HydePark/ Kensington Gardens , cafes by the Serpentine, walk all the way through Green Park to Buckingham Palace or the other way to Marble Arch and you can do the big shops there.