London Easter trip - I need help!!

[Honeymoonmummy]

Hi all,

I'm planning our first family trip to London with DC (5 and 7) but I'm not massively familiar with London so need some help esp with hotels, places to eat and itinerary (so everything basically!!) We should arrive at Euston around 9am on Sat 2 apr and return train is 6.30pm Mon 4 April.

The thing I'm most struggling with is where to base ourselves? Was thinking Covent garden because there will be plenty of choice for breakfast/dinner? Accommodation will be cheap and cheerful, Travelodge type family room.

I'd also like to take them somewhere "wow" for dinner if possible, as we live in a rural area where the only alternatives are Chinese and Indian! Again, any suggestions? This will probably feed into our choice of hotel.

I note that luggage can be stored in some railway stations so will do that if the hotel won't take it or it's inconvenient, so any suggestions for a luggage store easily accessed from London Euston would be good.

Finally, my draft itinerary is as follows - what do you think - too much? Am sure we'll be back within a year or 2 so won't be gutted if we miss something out.

Sat 22_
Arrive around 9.15. Drop luggage somewhere

Do duck tour (between London eye and Waterloo) - 75 mins - buck palace, houses parliament, Big Ben, 10 downing then water
Walk nr Thames/ London eye
Lunch (buy from convenience store)
Check in hotel
Covent garden?
Transport museum (couple hours)
Watch street acts
Dinner Covent garden - where???

Sun 3

Science museum (need good few hours) / Natural history museum Kensington (just for dinosaurs)
Afternoon - Shrek experience? (Too much walking??)
Dinner??

Mon 4

Check out
Kidzania shepherds bush 10amm_ slot 4 hours (to 2/3) - looks really good, interactive kids experience, nothing like it locally

Sky view walkie talkie say 3/ 4pmm_ for say 1 hr

dinner at station where pick up luggage
18:400_ train home

TIA!!

Per book everything as it's Easter. Rainforest Cafe is a rip off and poor food. Bills in Covent Garden or Sophie's in CG are great - good menu for Kids aswell

I think the rate determining factor is how fast the 5 year old walks (and how keen they are to get to where you are going ). Science Museum to Sky Garden is only one tube line, no changes which helps a lot, and the tubes are fairly frequent. Looking at the timings I would add another 15 minutes to the journey time, but that still gives you 4 hours in the Science Museum, which is worth doing.

I would phone up the restaurants and find out how busy they are likely to be at the time you want to eat - it is nice to have a bit of flexibility but you don't want to turn up and then have to wait half an hour for a table.

Thanks both. We have a Bills in the nearest city and Sophie's doesn't really grab me from the menu.

Honestly, go to Rainforest! Yes, it's a bit overpriced but you're paying for the experience. Your little ones will love it. The food is fine, nothing special, but it's definitely ok and it's great fun.

I was in Covent Garden today and just to warn you they are doing some repairs so there s scaffolding and not as many street artists at the minute.

I'd also avoid travelling in rush hour as much as you can. Hordes of commuters will be flying along on autopilot at top speed & standing on a crowded tube is not fun.

Thanks all. What times is it really busy for rush hour? Will it be ok at 9.15-9.45?

Thanks for the Covent Garden info, in that case I might not bother with Covent Garden at all, none of the food places are really shouting out to me, is the transport museum worth it?? There are street artists on south bank, are they comparable to the CG ones? If we don't go to CG in the afternoon we could do something else instead, like the pirate ship (forgot the name) or the Shrek experience, and perhaps go to Soho for dinner.

I've just checked the reviews of the transport museum and it looks good so we'll stick to plan A. Also just found the national rail 2 for 1 thing which will save us a fortune!!

Yes, 9.15 should be tail end so OK. Transport museum is good and very family friendly - free cloakroom, places to picnic inside and good loos, as well as all the buses!

Thanks Clean. One more sleep - eek!

I tried to book Rainforest Cafe for tmrw night but they're booked up until late but said they only book 30% of tables so we'll try there maybe around 4.45-5 and if it's a long wait we'll just have to find something else in Soho.

Thanks all for your help - wish me luck!!

Good luck & have fun!