Can someone suggest something with a WOW factor to do with dds in London?

[earlgrey]

Will be staying Tues night with my Mum so have the whole of Wednesday.

We've done the London Eye, was thinking of doing London Duck Tours but it's £53 and the only available slot was 4.30. I know that everything for 4 people will cost about that but that only lasts an hour or so.

Any ideas? Ma lives close to Oxford St and I'm not getting on a tube.

TIA

Ooh I love the boat from embankment, I usually go right up to Greenwich. The one i use is about £5 one way and you get a discount if you have an oyster card. Last time I did the trip, the chap doing the commentary obv knew his stuff. It was amazing to learn so much - considering I've lived in London my whole life (aside from a few years in Brighton.

Just as willy wonka says!

Is the museum of childhood the one with the carousel? Am probably making it up but I remember going to a museum in London as a child that had this - is there a toy museum in London?

Museum of Childhood is in Bethnal Green isn't it?

I think it's had a recent overhaul: I went a couple of years ago and it was rubbish

How about the Imax cinema at Waterloo? They are showing something called Lions 3D this week. Going to see it on Tuesday next week.

We went a couple of months ago and it was lovely as a Sunday morning thing but I wouldn't say it has the wow factor.

Dh and I got more out of it than the kids. We played 'I had one of those' and 'Do you remember them'

Haven't been there myself, but have heard good things about the London Dungeons. I imagine it might have a 'wow' factor in the minds of 7 and 8 year olds.

Maybe someone who has been there can advise?

Why not Madam Tusaurds or the London dungoen or the Tower (the crown jewels are WOW).

I've seen Lions 3d at the science museum.
It is good but WARNING** Animals do die.
One spectacular scene where a sprinbok gets plucked out of the air.
Awesome.
But not so great when you are five and they are your favourite animal ever.

London dungeons is very scary.
I nearly floored one of the actor guys because he crept up on me.
Not funny.

London Duck Tours - is that the one where they go from road to water? I've been on one of those (not in London) and they are boring beyond belief. Don't bother. The exciting bit (where they enter water or road) only lasts 1 min. Otherwise, everything is super-slow on water and road.

What about Rainforest cafe for lunch? Or a trip to Hamleys (although you'll be bound to have to buy something for them though).

SPUDMASHER - I'm going to have one hellava day then. Taking 15 Guides to The London Dungeons, then the Eye, then Imax. Rollacoaster of emotions from the girlies then! {note to self - take a box of tissues!}

Lion King definately has the wow factor, if you can afford it, it is out of this world

Waht about going to see the kylie exhibit at the V&A museum?

We are taking our children on an open top bus ride. The one we are going to use also has a complimentry river cruise ticket!

Wow, thanks guys. Got called to accompany dd2 to bed and then fell asleep myself, hence no replies last night.

Greenday, thanks for that info about the London Duck tour. that's a really useful thing to know, especially as I was feeling guilty about telling them about it and then not doing it. My mum said "Let's take them on a boat ride instead" - great minds, eh!

Goingfor3, if you're around this AM, can you let me know which bus tour it is that includes a boat ride in the ticket price.

Really would love to do Lion King/Sound of Music. Mum suggested it, (god, I'm talking a lot about my Mum!) but the trouble is I have to be ready to do Maundy Thursday church flowers the next day, so we can't stay Wednesday night.

London Dungeon sounds good - do you think there would be time to do the Tower as well while we're there?

I think there might be a matinee on wednesdays?

bus_tour with free river cruise. It's cheaper if you book online too.

I don't know if it has already been mentioned but Sainsburies cerals have a free london dungeon ticket.

We went to the London Dungeon last Saturday and I thought it was fantastic, it definitely has the wow factor but be warned, it is fairly scary. My usually-'ard-as-nails 9yo boy wanted to leave half way through but I wouldn't let him.

As an example, you are all seated in tall chairs for the Sweeney Todd section and then the room is plunged into darkness while a voiceover tells you what Sweeney Todd did (butched 160 people with a cut throat razor after which his lady friend made them into pies). Also bear in mind that it will take you an hour and a half as groups of people are shepparded through scenes from London's grisly past, which are all acted out by actors so you can't rush your way round. Very well done though I thought.

The queues were huge so book a ticket online which allows you fast track entry, which is very well worth it.

I also thought 3d lions and sea creatures at the imax were fab. That's wow with less fear!

And animatronic dinosaurs at the natural history museum are good too, they're pretty wow I think.

Canary Wharf? Just ride out there and have coffee and cake in carluccios looking up at the tower and watching the suits scutter by.

You can get there by boat, btw

oh - and loads of mid-high end shopping there - if you needed it

How did your day go earlgrey?