Things to do in London with a 5yo?

[SoftKittyWarmKitty]

I'm thinking of taking DS to London in Feb to see the Dr Who Experience before it moves to Cardiff. We'll have a few hours free in the afternoon before getting the train home.

Any suggestions for what we could do please? We'll be going on a Saturday.

free museum like natural history or science. lots of hands on stuff and really enjoyable. if not why not brave the cold and do an open top bus. we first did it years ago and the kids still talk about it.

Science museum is a bit stuffy IME

Walk along the South Bank from Westminster Bridge to London Bridge, taking in the Tate Modern Turbine Hall, the mime artists, the wobbly bridge, the London Eye and ending at Borough Market for some delicious foodie treat. Or jump on a Thames Clipper and see all the river sights from the warmth of a leather armchair and a bar, all for a fiver (don't get a tourist boat by mistake). Or go to the National Gallery to look at 4 carefully chosen paintings (Haywain, Van Gogh, Rousseau and a Turner, say) then walk down the Mall and through St James' Park whilst waving at the Queen in Buck House.

What's DS really into? So many good museums in London. DS1 (also 5) loves the transport museum, Nat history, Maritime Museum at Greenwich (which combines nicely with a Thames clipper), HMS Belfast. We also had a good time at the British Museum (fun kids activities) and haven't yet tried the museum of childhood at Bethnal Green.

We loved the museum of childhood in bethnall green.

He loves dinosaurs - would this be covered at the natural history museum?

Natural History Museum is dino heaven.

Just be prepared to queue, both to get in and also around the dino bit.

Don't do what I did and wander into the human biology bit opposite the dinosaurs unless you want to discuss the wonders of reproduction with an audience.

Posters have recommended Duck Tours before, an amphibious vehicle starting on land which then drives into the Thames.