Day out in London with an almost 2yo

[Mytoddlerisamazing]

Any suggestions? Tips? We live in zone 4 so know London pretty well but this would be my first time taking her anywhere central. I'll be on my own, taking her on the tube in a lightweight buggy. Hoping she'll nap in the buggy 🤞
Any suggestions for somewhere toddler friendly but also interesting for me? We're on the east end of the central line so natural history museum etc might be too far for now.

Took my 18m to the Southbank to the aquarium recently (i have an older child too), there's a playground on the green there. To be honest I see very little benefit to taking a toddler up town- local parks are so much easier and quieter, she was in the buggy way too long and wanted to get up on the train it wasnt easy.

If you really want to go, I'd prob go to Greenwich and get the ferry to the southbank, have some food, play on the green or go on the london eye.

Yeah, I'm sure you're right @OnlyFoolsnMothers, I'm just so bored of our local parks.

Aquarium might be a good shout actually, I haven't been for years and years.

tbh if you drive I'd venture to say
Godstone Farm or Bocketts Farm, both in Leatherhead off the M25 - cheaper than the aquarium and they burn off loads of energy
Or the Story Centre in Stratford?

Could you bear to get the overground to SE? The Horniman museum (Forest Hill) has a good little aquarium and is very toddler friendly. Or Ahoy! at the maritime museum in Greenwich is great for under 5s.

The Museum of the Home (opposite Hoxton station) has a cute kids area and is very buggy friendly/has a beautiful packed lunch room with high chairs and a nice cafe next door - but probably not as interesting for a toddler as the Maritime Museum or The Horniman.

Yes the story centre in Stratford is a great shout.

No car unfortunately. The story center is indeed great but we've been there loads 🙂

SE might be a bit too far unfortunately, but Hoxton would be possible - I'll take a look at the museum of the home. Thanks

Have you ever visited the various city farms, eg. Stepney, Spitalfields, Hackney

The Diana water fountain thing in Hyde Park is lovely on a warm day, a toddle along the Serpentine looking at the pedalos, swans. Icecream at the café. The playground with the pirate ship there is also nice if it’s not too busy.
I've also heard good things about Coram Fields playground but have never been.
also a nice playground in Holland Park.
Tate modern and the south bank centre may also have some gentle activities…tbh though - pick 1 thing, pack plenty of water and snacks (so expensive otherwise!) and don’t make a huge day of it as you’ll both be knackered and the tube at hour with a buggy is a mare.

Thanks all. Hyde park sounds great. I have been meaning to take DD to a city farm too and spitalfields is only half an hour away so that's a good shout.

Now I'm intrigued about what the deleted message was 😂

So am I 😂

Save the museums for when they're older.

Parks / river boat ride / fountains sound far more fun if you're 2

Bablands is an amazing blog full of ideas of where to go.

I always liked the transport museum as there was nothing breakable and DS could toddle about.