London family break - advice please

[loofed]

I'm looking to spend a few days in London at the beginning of April to celebrate my husbands 40th. I have 2 boys 8 & 14. I'd like to do something special but don't really know what. We haven't any experience of London. It would be nice to visit museums and maybe a show. Are there any escorted activities so that we don't waste time finding our way around?

Advice, recommendations and tips gratefully received.

Going to the south bank (near Waterloo station) and then getting a river boat is a good day out. The pier is right by the London Eye, so you could go to that at the beginning or end of your journey and there are tons of options along the way: the Tate Modern and St Paul’s (just across the river on the Millenium Bridge, or the Tower of London or all the way to Greenwich, which has loads of things to do, including the Maritime Museum, the Curry Sark and the Planetarium.

My favourite is the Tower of London. Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street are the typical tourist photo opportunities. The Natural History Museum followed by a walk round Hyde Park and a bit of Harrods shopping is also a nice way to spend the day.

I always recommend going to Greenwich to see the Royal Observatory, Greenwich Park and the Maritime Museum, then catching a boat up the river to Embankment. The boat takes you under Tower Bridge, great fun.

Maybe see a show?

look at the tesco clubcard deals site if you have those...loads of ideas and bargains to be had...esp for food if you are not too posh for cafe Rouge/ Zizzi and the like. ;) I know some MNtter revile them but if you have hungry offspring and a limited budget the 4x vouchers can be a godsend!

also have a look at the 241 days out guide.... lots of stuff on there for reduced cost for simply downloading a voucher and keeping your rail tickets if you are going by train

Do have a browse in the London topic

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/london

as there ar elits of good ideas on the threads there. What sorts of things do you like to do?

One thing to consider is hiring a Blue Badge guide to take you round all the things you most want to do/see. Can be ££s, but will be good.

Thanks for that Jessica! Reported.

Anyway OP, I'd maybe suggest joining some of the guided walks, the history is fascinating. There are so many, you can specialise in loads of areas of interest. They are often very fun and engaging.

For a family friendly, grand, but not super expensive lunch or afternoon tea I'd suggest The Delaunay, The Wolseley or Balthazar. For a fun dinner some of the small new restaurants Kricket (can't think of the others now but browse Timeout).

Escape rooms are really good fun.We did one in Camden but there are others now too.

Top tip is to sort out children's oyster/zip cards online in advance and make sure you take a separate contactless payment card for each adult.

Camden Market. Have lunch at the food stands by the lock then get ice cream at Chin Chin labs. General market mooch.

Book your trip on superbreak. We did and it was really cheap. You can book a show, hotel and travel etc plus other attractions.

We went in 2016 with a 12 and 10 year old boy.
We got the London pass . Did London bridge, Tower of London, HMS Belfast, history and science museum, Harrods, open top jump on and off bus thing, walked from Piccadilly Cicus - Trafalgar Square - Downing Street - Big Ben, parliament, Abbey then through the park to Buckingham Palace.
We watched Wicked one night. Boys enjoyed everything. They complained that there feet hurt and they slept well but generally a good experience.
However I love London and I think my positive outlook made it more for them.
There are a few cities I would live in. London is one of them