London with five and seven year old

[Mallowmarshmallow]

We're going to London tomorrow to watch a dinosaur show in Earl's Court and then have the rest of the day free. We are planning to make our way back into central London.

Have you had any particular successes which kids of a similar age have loved. As we've already paid for the show, something free which doesn't need to be booked in advance would be preferable.

There are lots of film-related statues in Leicester Square at the moment. There’s also the biggest Lego store in Leicester Square. Even if you don’t buy anything, there are loads of life size models and it’s an experience in itself. Likewise for the M&M store. It’s not far from China Town and you can wander through on your way to watching the street performers in Covent Garden.

If the weather is ok mine used to be happy to spend ages in Covent Garden watching the performers. They’re teens now and still do!

I would do the science museum or natural history for that age (although they be dino’d out!)
You will need to book but it’s free & only 10 minutes from Earl’s Court

If you fancy something quite relaxed I’d head to one of the splash parks/areas, having packed spare clothes and a towel.

There’s one on the South Bank, one in Granary Sq in Kings Cross. If you look up Bablands on Instagram, she’s saved a highlight with the latest on all the London splashy places

At similar ages, mine loved climbing up the Monument. (I think - back then - it was about £3, so not free, but not too much either).
It is right by Pudding Lane where the Great Fire of London started, and they do all that in history at about that age, so were quite excited by it.

Then, you can climb up in side and have a great view of many of the "sights" of London

We also walked down the mall, and then around by horseguards parade, and past the Houses of Parliament etc - as those are the bits you tend to see on the news, and you can remember 'being there'.

We went to milk train in Covent garden. Very worth it

Science museum.
Head straight to the wonderlab

Mine loved the Diana memorial playground in Kensington gardens at that age.

Not free, but if you're travelling across London anyway, look at the possibility of using the river boat. Sit at the front for the best views —and to pretend you're driving— .