Where to go/what to do in London?

[julietbat]

We will be London for several days over the Easter holidays (first trip to the capital for the DC who are 7 and 9). We'll be staying with a friend in Muswell Hill and we are thinking of taking them to the Natural History Museum and the Clink as definites but wondered if anyone had any other suggestions?

We will also be taking them to see Aladdin in one of the evenings so thought maybe an early dinner at the Rainforest Cafe?

And we were also considering Duck Tours? Would anyone recommend them?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. TIA

We did the duck tours a couple of years ago, it wasn't great to be honest, marginally interesting at the point of entry into the water but that was over in a flash. There are other boats you could get on the Thames.

My DCs prefer Jamie's Diner opposite the Rainforest cafe to the actual Rainforest cafe. If you're in that area anyway they might like the M&M store and the new big Lego store.

My DCs liked breakfast up the Sky Garden.

Haven't been yet so I don't know what it's like but there's the lego superheroes exhibition on the southbank.

Thanks, Guitargirl I'll have a look at your suggestions. I think both kids (but DS in particular) would love the idea of the lego superheroes exhibition so I'll definitely have to investigate that! Thanks again

The science museum free and well worth a visit. My children loved the M+M store, its 3 or 4 floors, it was packed! there's also a Nickelodeon store nearby too.

Instead of the Duck Tour how about a boat trip from the South Bank down to Greenwich (cheaper!). Greenwich is lovely to walk around too with the park, Cutty Sark, Maritime Museum and views over London. Or what about the Emirates Cable Car or a hop on hop off double decker bus tour so you get to see all the sights? Tower Bridge Experience is good and I think you can still get a joint ticket with The Monument. So much to do in London!

Kids can usually go free up the Shard in school holidays too!

Thanks all. Lots of food for thought. Think seeing as the main hall in the Natural History Museum will be closed we'll do the Science Museum instead and hit the NHM next visit.
And I like the sound of a boat trip down to Greenwich. Thanks!

Def get the Thames clipper down to Greenwich. The Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory make a great trip there.

The Lego Store has a huge queue any time we have been near it at weekends or school holidays so get there before it opens at 10 or content yourself with just staring in the windows!

My kids like the art galleries too. We are planning on going to Tate Britain this Easter. National Gallery has also been a hit with my 7 year old.

And you can't beat just ambling through the parks, along the south bank, past Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

Don't go to rainforest cafe it's dire, take them for burgers at patty & bun, on the same street at Aladdin.
Sky garden is good but book tickets in advance, St Paul's is stunning inside & Tower of London is good too

Another vote for the Thames Clipper boat, we took it from Tate Modern down to Greenwich and it was fantastic - cheap and comfortable. Royal Observatory is lovely.

St Paul's Cathedral costs an absolute fortune to go in, I remember loving it as a child but have been too mean to pay for it for ds. If you have compliant children you could go to an Easter service for nothing... Great walk from St Paul's across the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern.

Check here for discounts on boat & bus tours www.littlebird.co.uk/ideas/family-days-out

That link has half price St Paul's too

At that age, mine were quite excited to go to Pudding Lane. I mean, there's nothing there really, but they'd studied it at school so were quite impressed it was real
Well, you can go up the Monument which they liked.
As it was a first /one off visit, they also enjoyed just walking - al around the places you tend to see on the News or things like remembrance parade or royal occasions etc. So houses of Parliament, Westminst Abby, St Pauls, Horseguards Parade, the Mall, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Sq., etc. Etc.

Second the Science Museum. Ours are the same age, and DS1 (9) recently enjoyed the V&A. Before Christmas we took them to the Imperial War Museum.

If they play Monopoly, you could have a Monopoly themed day?

Science Museum is great. If you want to visit the Wonderlab (new kids galleries that have a cost) you will probably need to book in advance. We have an annual ticket (we're Londoners) and friends who visited at Feb Half-Term couldn't get tickets when they tried the day before. We easily managed to fill a few hours without it, but just a warning!

Greenwich is good and there are enough options that it doesn't always feel as rammed as other areas during school hols. Second (third!) suggestions about Thames Clipper and Maritime etc. There is also the Planetarium by the Observatory and you can book shows - various options. There is also a great playground in Greenwich Park that your younger one might still enjoy.

Duck Tours are okay but they are expensive for what they are. If you do them they start near the London Eye which again is good but expensive! Shard might be better option of kids are free. Near-ish to the Shard is HMS Belfast and also the Unicorn kids theatre.

Transport Museum at Covent Garden is also great too.

Docklands museum is great too, lots of hands on bits, plus you get to ride on the docklands light railway . If you go to mud chute station you can walk underneath the river (yes honestly!) to Greenwich which is a lovely place. If you have time you can go to the mud chute city farm which usually has Easter activities available.

Ps don't forget that sights such as Buckingham palace, changing of the guard, Downing Street, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square are free and all in walking distance of each other. What happened in Westminster last week was terrible, but is no reason for visitors to avoid the area.

The South Bank is always fun. Street entertainers and street food.

Thanks everyone. Looks like Thames clipper is being given a resounding thumbs up so we'll ditch the Duck Tours idea.
And I like the idea of just wandering around the famous landmarks. I'm sure, for the kids, that will be what they'll have been visualising when we've been talking about this trip.

BlueChampagne - we were considering the IWM. What did your kids think of it?

Teds77 - thanks, the Wonderlab sounds great. I'll look into that.