weekend in London; AIBU+ recommendations

[Kylieemilyj]

My partner has booked for me and him to go to London for a weekend away for my birthday before our baby comes in May. He has now said he wants to go the Science and History museums, which is fine but if i suggest any where he tells me whats the point? We are travelling up on the friday and travelling back on the sunday afternoon so wont have much time to do much during our time there as it is. AIBU to think we should do stuff I want to do as well? I dont mind going to the museums and would find them interesting but I would happily not if I had the choice (ive been science museum before too).
We have both said we dont care about Buckingham Palace and places like that as we have seen it in the past and I have been on the London eye with an ex(it wasnt that great)
What other touristy things should we do? We have agreed on the Zoo, and he wants to go to the museums and Hamleys. Where else should we visit?

How old is he? I have children and try to avoid Hamleys. I like the nhm and science museum but might pop into v&a too-they have a nice cafe. You could get a boat to the zoo. Where are you staying?

@superram hes 25, and a big kid at heart. I am actually kind of looking forward to it as I havent been in years but its going to be busy as you said. We are going this month so im hoping less tourists?! Might sound so silly but whats V&A I have serious baby brain at the moment... my family are all panicking about us getting hurt while we are there:/ Where abouts can you get a boat to the zoo from? I dont know London very well except London eye, Houses of Parliament area and buckingham palace...

Kylie

Does this man ever take your views into account or is it all his own way and all the time?.

Why does he want to see Hamleys as well, is he really that big a kid. That shop on Regents street is a nightmare at the best of times. I would also ensure you go to some place in London you want to visit as well.

The v and a is the Victoria and Albert museum in South Kensington.

The best thing to do is plan things in specific areas. So if you go to the Science Museum then think about the nearby attractions; the V&A, Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall (see what's on), Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Harrods, Harvey Nichols.

The Zoo is at the north end of Regents Park and can be reached by canal boat along regents canal. Thar runs between Camden and little Venice. So you could take in Camden Market. It's fairly easy to get from Regents park to Oxford Street & Hamleys. Madam Tussauds is nearby as well.

The V&A is the Victoria and Albert Museum. They have a lovely inner court yard which is great in the summer and often do design and fashion exhibitions.

Tower of London.

Then cocktails in the Shard.

Honestly, if you are child free and about to have a baby, go do adult things. You can spend years tirelessly going to the Science and Natural History Museums with your dc (just recently went to the science museum with my two and was fairly bored by it - and I’m a scientist!).

I would go see a show, go out for late dinners, go to Chinatown, we also took a boat cruise to Greenwich and went to the market (which was really lovely).

Which area are you staying in ?

You will need a good few hours in the museums and the zoo, unless you want to do a very quick walk around.

Tower of London is great if you’re interested in history.

Greenwich is lovely , it has the national maritime museum, Queen’s House, the Cutty Sark, market and the park which I recommend all ! But they all each take a few hours to take in properly.

Camden market is great to walk around. As is Soho and Chinatown which are just right next to each other.

You need to work out what you definitely want to visit and how far away each thing is away from each other. You can end up spending a fair bit of time travelling.

London has some great Theater , so I definitely recommend looking what’s on and seeing a show. Go for a nice dinner, and for cocktails somewhere nice - I recommend Sky Garden over The Shard for drinks.

I agree that once you have a baby you will have loads of time to spend in the museums, there are other things to do now.
If he's really keen tell him he can do 1.5 hours max at Science Museum or Natural History museum. If you aren't keen then the V&A museum is free and right across the street, and has a very cool period costume section. The zoo can be reached by boat but it's a faff and not convenient. It's also ££ and each of these things could be a whole day out in itself.
I agree the boat to Greenwich can be fun and will be more relaxing, you won't feel like charging around London weekend crowds for long if you are pregnant. Covent Garden & walk across Waterloo bridge to the Southbank? Great views and not as frustratingly busy. And Hamleys is not that good.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The plan usually would be cocktails as many have suggested but unfortunately I can't drink

Dont go in the summer, London is just full of tourists, expensive and awful.

I'd recommend the HMS Belfast, the Imperial War Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.

My Grandpa served on HMS Belfast during WWII so I may be a bit biased!

Are you driving or taking public transport? Because that's also a factor.

Ooh the National Portrait Gallery is great but if you are like me and get The Rage at modern art, don't go to the Tate. I nearly set fire to something.

Camden market was brilliant but I'm guessing since HS2 started it's gonna have dropped off.

If you don't drive are you getting the train? There is a days out website that has 2for1 tickets for lots of London attractions if you're travelling in by train (you print off vouchers in advance and show them and your tickets when you pay).

you could head to a show and have a pre theatre dinner. London is cool for pottering around. Head to the Shard for drinks (mocktail for you) and a wander along the river. If going to the science museum you could treat yourself to a science tea at the Ampersand Hotel....thats quite special!

If it’s your birthday trip - you need to pick what you do!

He picked an itinerary for a 7-10yos. This isn’t to treat you. This is to treat himself, while pretending he is doing something for you.

Is there some sort of disbalance in your relationship? Does he tend to try to control what you both do?

HS2 hasn’t affected Camden market at all.

I’d go to Borough market on Friday/Saturday morning and/or Columbia Road flower market on Sunday.

I’d also save the zoo and Hamleys, maybe even museums for after baby arrives.

Go for a gorgeous afternoon tea in a posh hotel?

You can also get afternoon tea at Aqua Shard....

Tickets to the sky garden, it's wonderful in there. Must book in advance, released on a Monday, it's free though.
Somerset House and stroll down the strand to Trafalgar Square and National Portrait Gallery. As a pregnant lady you would then be well within your rights to insist on M&M world which is directly opposite Lego Store for your companion! Then you will only be yards from the delights of China Town and Theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue.
The museum's are great but that's a hell of a lot of standing around for you! And it's bollocks about the crowds in London during the summer, it's much easier to get around as so many residents are out of London on holiday.