London -24hrs

[chocolateshoes]

During the Easter holidays we've booked to spend 24 hrs in London. We will arrive in the afternoon, have a hotel booked for the night, and will stay until late the following afternoon. We'd like to take DS 9 to the Scuence museum first thing in the morning but apart from that don't know what to do. He's been to London once before and that time we went to HMS Belfast, Tate, London Eye, Buckingham Palace.
So I'd love suggestions for what to do when we arrive in London. Wondering about an open top bus tour, so any recommendations please, and then something else to do after the science museum. I really don't know London very well at all so would appreciate any advice or tips. Plus any good suggestions for eating out etc. thanks!

Bump??

The Transport Museum in Covent Garden is quite good for kids. The area will be busy but then it always is! If he likes comic books and super heroes etc, the Forbidden Planet store on Shaftesbury Avenue may be worth a visit. There are many, many places to eat in that area too - all the usual chains like Zizzis, Pizza express, Byron Burger as well as great little sandwich bars around the Seven Dials roads.
Madame Tussaud's and the Planetarium (pricey) and Regents Park are close to each other.

Thanks Hulla. Haven't heard of Forbidden Planet store.

Transport museum looks good!

Natural History Museum, next to Science Museum?

We went to both in October half term last year, be warned, the queues to get in are immense.

The Museum of London is fantastic. (Near the Barbican)

Duck tour www.londonducktours.co.uk/ would be an alternative to an open topped bus.

Tower of London - again, go early to avoid worst of the queues and go straight to the crown jewels then have a wander around, Beefeater talk and hear all about the ravens.

Check the opening times for the Science Museum on the day you are arriving; it can get crazy-busy by mid morning (though much less so than the Natural History Museum). They are good at allowing people to bring their own packed lunch (eat either in the basement or round the corner from the cafe near the Launchpad on 3rd floor). The museums tend to empty by about 4pm.

We enjoy taking people on the Thames Clipper boats (we try to time it so we go out in daylight and back in the dark). DD is younger, but her contemporaries and elderly aunts love the Emirates airline (cable car across the river). We normally get the boat from Embankment (so dash up to see Trafalgar Sq) to the O2 (or Greenwich, look around and then get the bus).

Have fun

Thanks Jules & Mad! Brilliant tips!

I'd think a 9 year old would probably still very much enjoy visiting Hamleys toy store - think mayhem, lots of toy demonstrators etc

Def go early to museums, I'd head straight for launchpad with a 9 year old but if it's packed out there's still plenty in the rest of the museum to enjoy - can even watch films in their cinema so could easily spend a day alone there.

Lots of street entertainers in Trafalgar Square/or more in Covent Garden

Popping out of the centre by boat up to Greenwich (other ways but this is most fun) and as has been said you then have the Emirates cable cars, but also an amazingly painted chapel and hall that I think could gain a wow from even a 9 year old, and the maritime museum

If you do want to go to the Tower (or similarly pricey places), and are visiting by train have a look at some of the 2 for 1 offers:
www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london
You just need to register to get the vouchers and keep both parts of your tickets.

I tend to travel with a few "just in case" I manage to persuade DD that we really don't need to spend 6 hours in the Science Museum(!!)

Have fun