Christmas in London with a 2 year old

[ToujoursPur]

I like to do lots when I'm on holiday, so I love city breaks but I've never been to London. Obviously my holiday will be pretty much centered around ds who will be 2.4 when we go so could anyone suggest anything he might like museums/attractions wise?

On my list so far (some all of these are entirely for my pleasure):

Harry Potter studio tour
Hyde Park Christmas Wonderland
Hampton Court Palace (always wanted to visit!)
A trip to Hamleys, though not to see Father Christmas as that will likely terrify ds.

(I didn't realise until now that everything begins with H )

skip anything you have to pay for
we tried winter wonderland last year, left after 2 mins, it was rammed
Harrods toy department is much nicer than Hamleys
A bus up and down Oxford Street is fab
ummmmmmm
The lights at Camden Street are amazing (I think was camden, Ill check with DH).
We also visit science museum (free) and natural history museum (free) and the wonderful German Christmas Market at South Bank

Ooh interesting thank you! Was Hyde Park really that bad? It's so tempting with it's Christmassy sparkly website.

we spend pennies when we go (I go every year mine are 2 and 4), always download a few bogoff or meal vouchers, usually Stradas, La Tascas, they are all over London.

There is so much to do for free - we never go anywhere with paid entrance.

DCs love it there (and yes it was that bad, we literally couldnt move).

Take buggy, even if DC usually walks, because it is too much, even for the 4 year old.

Do you go for the day or do you stay in a hotel somewhere? If so is there anywhere you would recommend?

sometimes we go for day, get the megabus up at 6am and the last one back at 11pm.

Othertimes we get tube out to a friends.

My friend stayed in the YHA in London, said it was spotless.

The list above takes 2 days, morning in 1 museum, then lunch, Harrods takes 3-4 hours, there are loads of toys to play with and the DCs love the huge bears and stuffed animals.

Then the bus in the evening and a meal.

Then the next day the other museum, Covent Gardens, late afternoon.early evening in South Bank, meal, another bus different street and home.

re hotel, there is so much to do in London, it is really somewhere just to lay head so nothing fancy (mine are usually worn out and sleep in Buggy - 4 year old is way too big for it but needs must :)).

We try to feed them a picnic type tea and grab ourselves a meal when they fall asleep.