Surrey/London mums is Sat or Sun better to go into London crowdwise and are either days cheaper to go in on the train?

[MilaMae]

From Dorking?

TIA

Think all off-peak tickets cost the same. Sunday will be less crowded but more shops/restaurants will be open on Saturday. Saturday never really that bad anyway crowds-wise IME. What exactly are you going for?

Covent Garden,Transport Museum with the dc (6,6 and 5). They're good London travellers but thinking of those lifts at CG tube station and the crowds round Covent Garden.

Last time we went from Dorking don't know if it was a mistake but the kids were a £1 each,is that offer still on?

No idea about the train fares, mine are 2 & 4 so doesn't apply yet! Check the SW trains website. I would go on Saturday or during the week if you can, Sunday is so sleepy and CG will be full of hung over singles having brunch.

Sunday marginally less crowded IMO.

The fares would be the same but there are more engineering works on Sunday, and fewer trains.

TBH most shops and restaurants in central London will be open both days, just the opening hours on a Sunday will be shorter. Most shops don't open until 11am.

Have you got a friends and family railcard? That would make it cheaper.

The lifts will be hell on Saturday and you can't always get on at Covent Garden (they close the station for incoming travellers when it's busy).

I would always get off at either Leicester Square or Charing Cross and walk. Particularly if you are a crowd - much nicer all round.

Thanks for those tips all very helpful.

Staying with the in-laws,we're in Devon so always like to plan ahead when coming up to the big smoke

I would get the bus from waterloo tbh - or even just over the bridge and then walk up - its not actually that far if you go along the Strand and cut up on the left.

I'm not a mum yet (got a few months to go!) but I am a frequent London visitor who often takes nieces and nephews. In my experience, it is best to go on a Sunday crowdwise. It's still going to be busier both in the city and on the trains than it would be on a weekday, but Saturday will almost always be the busiest of the week fullstop.

Get a railcard (you can often make the cost back within one or two trips depending on where you go and how often), and look out for Summer advertisements for cheap group rates (there's almost always something on).

You probably already know about some offers, but Tesco Clubcard do a 2 for 1 entry on a lot of places, I think the vouchers cover the likes of London Aquarium and the London Eye the last time I went.