London museum for 3 year old

[kisaki333]

Considering a day in London with 3.5yo DD and my 70+yo mum. We are coming from outside the m25 via public transport so will be a bit of a journey to even get there.
DD is easily bored but very inquisitive. Not a chance to get her to sit in a buggy.
I was thinking the Natural history musem or the science museum. Or both? She did enjoy a visit to the Lookout Centre in Bracknell a while back. Is there enough for her to see/do in any of the two above? Are there hands-on things for her to try? Would it be crazy busy on a Sunday in July?

Also secondary question, is there a toddler-friendly play area near-by? And by toddler-friendly, i mean something aimed at 3 yo and below only. If there is a climbing frame aimed at teenagers, for example, she will want on it, so I need a playarea with nothing dangerous, if possible.

V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2, nearest tube Bethnal Green, Central (Red) Line. 2 mins walk

(Whispers) I don’t really rate the Transport Museum for a climber - there are some little areas where they can play properly, but lots of things are roped off/not for going on. I think it’s better for 5+ when they can understand why some things aren’t for them to interact with.

I was also going to say Postal Museum + Coram’s Fields - there are nice big sand pits at Coram’s Fields so take some sand toys if you have them. And a change of clothes in case the paddling pool is open (haven’t been this summer but I don’t recall it being open much/at all last summer). Lots of places to eat at the Brunswick Centre nearby.

I’d avoid on a Sunday in the school hols, but the basement of the science museum does have a nice interactive space for younger children, including water play.

I work with museums so feel qualified here! Agree with Transport Museum as a great option. Horniman is good but much of the indoor area is closed for refurbishment. Young V&A (in east London) is fab for this age, it was redone a couple of years ago with preschoolers in mind. The main V&A in South Ken doesn’t have toys and dolls as mentioned above - they are in Young V&A.

I’d avoid Science Museum and Natural History as advised above - far too busy!

I visited last summer with an 18months old and 5 year old. The postal museum was excellent and the paid for bit at the top of the science museum was good too. NHM was hell on earth in August. Other highlights were going on a bus(!) and the Diana memorial playground was lovely.

Took my 2.5 year old to the Young V&A recently and he loved it, we must have spent 2 hours there and he was occupied the full time. Would definitely recommend and it's free. It was much quieter than the transport museum. We lasted about 15 mins in the Natural History museum- much too busy.

How about the children’s V&A in Bethnal Green

Sorry just seen that recommended by someone else! I agree with the posted, my 2.5 year old also loved it

That's now called "Young V&A @kisaki333 if you are googling it.

The fountains outside the Royal Festival Hall on the S Bank are fab. (Spare clothes needed).

Good as it is I don’t really think the Horniman is the reason people travel to London, to set off into the suburbs for the day. (And I have been a regular visitor, over the years)

I would also avoid Natural History and Science Museums like the plague at the moment - especially with such young kids. Absolutely heaving.

Agree with the other recommendations - would add that the Maritime Museum in Greenwich is great as well, you could take boat from London Bridge city pier to Greenwich which my kids always enjoy.

I'll second stardrops1 recommendation for National Maritime Museum and the Children's Gallery | Family-friendly Museum days out www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritime-museum/attractions/ahoy-childrens-gallery AHOY! Children's Gallery aimed at preschoolers. The Ocean Map is also great for running around on and you can buy tea/coffee and cake while watching little ones wear themselves out 😁
There's also the whole of Greenwich Park to run around, and children's play area with various different levels of climbing frames and a sandpit.

My kids used to love Mudlarks Gallery at London Museum Docklands at that sort of age too.

Depending where you are coming from, have a look at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. A children's theatre, with great shows, play areas and a child friendly cafe.

Take the boat to Greenwich - maritime museum, Greenwich park and wander through the market. V&A is likely to be the quietest of the big museums as less child oriented but tbh none are really aimed at 3 year olds - not that it stopped me visiting such places, I used to take mine to art galleries mostly as I liked them, I got them looking for animals in the pictures!

Someone I know got their children looking for the most gruesome baby Jesus 😂

Frameless the immerisive art exhibition is lovely for little ones, saw so many little children having fun there
https://frameless.com/

I would second frameless.

I would avoid Transport, Science and Natural History at that age as they are hot and busy.

The Maritime Museum boat themed softplay used to be good but last time I went nearly everything was missing/broken so check reviews.

You need a smaller one.

Postal.Museum will definitely be a hit I think.

Honestly just do what you want to do. We took DC3 to science and nhm. He just ran around. Waste of time! He didn't understand anything he was looking at and it was stressful. Lots of "no! Get off the train, don't climb that space shuttle!" An outside thing like the HMS Belfast or victory might have been better.

He's 6 now and loves the museums.

I live in London and I’m up your mums age, and look after a preschooler twice a week. He enjoys- walking through Hays Galleria at London Bridge and seeing the big boat sculpture that sprays water around. Catching the Uber Thames Clipper to Greenwich where there are 2 excellent playgrounds and the museum has a special bit for under 5s( you have to book this and pay for it at weekends) the cafe is good too. Lots of nice places to sit for your mum. This makes a whole day out, although we go weekdays when it’s not too busy, I’m imagining Sundays in the summer will be heaving.

Museum of Docklands is great. They have a young kids area you need to book into (it’s free). The rest of the museum has little kiddie areas. Nice cafe and loads of room to run around outside. We used to love going there!

Ps we almost never went to NHM or Science, just too bloody crowded. I got a headache just being there.

We often do transport museum followed by mc Donald's near charing Cross ( its really easy, 3 yo loves it and dh gets a cheeky 20 nugs) followed by postal museum

I have found the transport museum to be worse and worse though. The interactivity isn't near what it used to be pre-covid. You could only get on one bus in the play area last time I went. All the real buses were off limits. You used to be able to go on loads of stuff and go onto the top decks etc.

The science museum but only if you pay for the wonderlab! It was absolutely amazing and I just wish we lived closer

The Wonderlab is great but there’s not much a 3 year old could do in it. Plus it’s hot, noisy and crowded unless you go on a weekday in term time. We often take a 4 year old and a 6 year old and the 6 yo enjoys it far more than the 4 yo.