Can any London mnetters help with a travel related qu please?

[sassy]

We are driving from west mids on friday evening - dd1 wants to see ther dinosaurs at Nat Hist museum!. Got a hotel in knightsbridge, just off the A4. However, I am driver in our family at the mo cos dh lost his licence for speeding and I am a bit nervous about the traffic!

What time would be a good time to arrive? - the plan is to get settled in then for some dinner. Aiming to be back at hotel for 9.30ish I suppose to get dc into bed. Also any recommendations for kid-friendly eateries nr to the museums for that 1st night.

TIA

bump

Counting back through your day...I'm assuming they'll be at school Friday ? If so, home, change, quick sandwich then back in car (you'll have packed earlier). I'd want to be there in plenty of time for them to look round the room, freshen up etc. Bear in mind that while you'll be against most of the traffic entering London, there will be local rush hour traffic everwhere on a Friday. Could you time it to arrive 6pm ish? Plenty of time then to get your bearings, stroll around and be back indoors at a sensible time.

Don't know that part of London well, though there's a large pizza express just at the southern/Knighsbridge end of Hyde Park, and lots of restaurants to suit all budgets and tastes. If you think your hotel could help, could they maybe email you in advance with a short list of places within say a half mile walking distance ? Tell them your likes/dislikes and see what they come up with.

congestion charge in operation till 6

Yes meant to add that; zone recently extended too. Check the tfl website for zone boundaries. It would be really annoying to enter it by accident at 5.55pm and waste £8 that could be spent instead at the NHM shop or icecreams in the park or something !

Good tip r.e. congestion charge. Kids are both pre-school so we aim to leave here asap dh gets away from work. Hoping for 4pmish, in London for 6.30 (i hope).

Any ideas how hellish the A4 into London is likely to be at that time?

Going in might not be so bad - although it will be really busy coming out then!

Does your dh know London? Could he direct you? I'm fine driving thru' London as long as I know where I'm going.

I'm sure you'll be fine, and have a fabulous weekend!

do you have to drive in?
trains and public transport better in city centre i think..re congestion parking and parking fines..the worry etc...for everything...

there are lots of restuarants /big corner cafe that are 5 min walk down from nhm towards south ken just take the long underpasses or the roads are wide...

Fab recommendation,. jura - we are staying on the Gloucester Rd so will def have a squint through the windows!

We will drive as dh gets seriously travel sick on trains. Will park in hotel cra park though, so once we are there I won't drive again until we leave.

it's very very easy to find your way round there - it is literally a straight line in on the A4 (just be careful you don't branch right off to Earls Court).

I parked on Gloucester Road last weekend to do the NHM and the Science Museum (I would try and do both if you can - don't forget Energy as well as the basement, great fun).

Loads of places round there - also, if it's nice weather, you can sit on the grass in front of the NHM and have an ice cream.

There's a wagamama inside Harvey Nichols if that's any good; junction of Sloane Street and I think Brompton Road. May mean a hop on a bus though.

Giraffe cafe on High Street Kensington (nr Hyde Park end)
Sticky Fingers at back of high street kensington.
ASK next door to Holland Park
Strada on Earls Court Road

Does the hotel have parking? Parking is horrendous in South Ken and terribly expensive.

Don't forget the Science Musuem - the basement is my favourite kids place in the whole world and actually the whole musuem is brilliant.

Just read - as you on the Gloucester Road, walk up the road till it hits Hyde Park, turn left onto High Street Kensington to the Giraffe cafe. Great kid friendly and good food.