What are your top 3 recommendations of things to do with kids on 1st trip to London?

[hectorthestandbyhawk]

DD hasn't been to London so plan to do what I'd consider are the main attractions. I'm therefore thinking; the Tower; London Eye; Natural History Museum; Buckingham Palace and perhaps river trip.

Does anyone have other recommendations and any tips on lovely hotels and restaurants would be welcome too? Thanks

How old is dd?

The Eye is v good.

Walk down the South Bank and people watch.
Walk from Trafalgar Square, down to Number Ten, then over to Buckingham Palace then icecreams in Green Park.
Coffee in the Crypt at St Martins in Trafalgar Square is nice.

If she has a slightly quirky side, she may like the pickled brains etc in The Hunterian museum, but that depends on her age/interests/personality I guess!

We've stayed in the Novotel in Greenwich, which is fine and your dd might enjoy 'driving' the DLR to get there. You can get a boat there too.

If she's old enough to like Harry Potter, she can get her picture taken with a trolley going into Platform Nine and Three Quarters at Kings Cross. Also, she might like just taking pictures of red phone boxes etc.

What does she like to eat? We usually go either to the Wagamamas near Selfridges, or to Carluccios for 'proper' food, or to Hoummus Brothers on Wardour Street for canteen style surroundings with lovely hoummus and salad. There are varous chains down on the Southbank too iirc.

London Eye, Science Museum and Hamley's - DS was about 9.

River trip, Eye, Nat Hist/Science museum.
And try to plan a good bus trip/walk around Westminster to see sights.

I thought the eye was a total rip off - though perhaps I was stupid to pay the full book in Advance price?

I would say the natural history museum and science museum

How old is your DD and what is she interested in?

I hear good things about the Westminster premier inn.

. marking place, we want to do a trip with DC for October half term.
What ages are best for natural history museum?

How many hours would you expect to allocate for London eye? Including queuing, on the ride itself, pottering & travel from somewhere else roughly in central London. I am thinking a 4 hour span, assuming dozey children in tow.

What about St. Pauls or Westminster Abbey, too dull for young'uns?

If it's nice weather, walk along the Southbank from The Eye and go to the Tate Modern.

Thanks all. DD is 6.

Trip to the theatre - Matilda and lion king are supposed to be brilliant.

The diana memorial playground is brilliant (and free)

If she's interested, the v&a have an exhibition of fashion through the ages which I always loved when I was little.

Tea somewhere nice?

Tower of London