Is this a good itinerary for a trip to London with 5&6 y.o.?

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I'm taking my dds to London for the day next week, and I was wondering if our plans were realistic.

Was thinking: train gets into Waterloo at approx 10 a.m.
Catch tube to South Ken & spend couple of hours at Natural History Museum.
Picnic in Hyde Park (or dodge into a pizza-type place if raining)
Got tickets for a London bus tour to rest our poss weary legs for a couple of hours
Then, maybe London Aquarium if time? Quick snacky tea.
Train home at six-ish.

Is it too much? Not enough? Would love any advice. I'm expecting them to be exhausted to the point of madness (or hopefully sleep) on the train home anyway .

Have a back up for the Natural History Museum, last coupe of times we tried to go the queues put us off. (The Bank of England Museum is very interesting and free, and has a greats kids trail.)

Yes, I'm hoping the queues won't be hideous. It opens at 10, so if we're swift on the tube, we should get there shortly afterwards - I think the earlier the better. But will have back-up plan - thanks .

wayy too much

I think you're underestimating the amount of time it'll take to get from A to B.

Do you know how much the Aquarium costs, and are you happy to pay that for 2 hours?

Bacofoil is right, think the aquarium is very £££. You are packing a lot into one day. If you could get the open top bus to the aquarium, then it might work.....

(Queues will be hideous, it's a given, and the weather is pants at the moment, whih makes it all worse....)

I would ditch the Aquarium tbh...It's soooo busy in there during holidays, and difficult especially for little ones to get close to see anything. It's also really expensive as mentioned above.

Rest of it all sounds fab though.

you def need to get there way before 10.20ish for nat hist museum. get an earlier train. much earlier. coz otherwise dinosaurs is a total no no. i would choose either aquarium or nat hist museum. get there early (did i mention that?). bank of england museum is indeed excellent. diana park in kensington is amazing. bus ride is a good idea to give them a break.

ps basement in science museum is just wonderful. water play, loads to see and do. thoroughly recommend it.

I agree that it's too much. I would stick to the NHM, lunch and the open top bus and leave it at that.

The NHM will be really busy, but if your dds aren't bothered about the dinosaurs you can still find quieter areas. Last time I went with all 3 kids it was October half term, which is the worst possible time to go, but the Minerals gallery was extremely quiet and my older boys loved looking at all the crystals.

What about a Duck Tour instead of the Bus Tour and then ditch the acquarium...?

I would also ditch the acquarium, it's v pricey and I think your dds may be knackered by then. Tate Modern is nearby and free, plus there are loads of great restaurants on the Southbank.

Nat Hist museum - go through side entrance on Exhibition Rd. Don't get the amazing vieww of the diplodocus as you come in - but don't get the queues either.

Diana playground is lovely and they will easily spend a couple of hours there.

Unfortunately there is no way we can get there earlier - we're coming up from darkest Dorset, so it's a 3 hour journey.

Will ditch Aquarium and try that another time, I think. As long as we get the museum and bus tour I think the girls will be happy.

A general mooch on the South Bank sounds good, and thanks for the ace tip about the side entrance to the Museum anticipates massive queue of mners at side door next week

I tend to be an over-planner, so I had a feeling I might be taking too much on.

Thanks all for your sterling advice .

Hmm, I seem to have unintentionally bolded myself there...