How to get to London?

[Sprogonthetyne]

DS really want to go to the natural history museum, but we live in the north so it's going to be quite a travel heavy day trip. I'm looking for suggestions for best way to get there. I've looked up trains and it is doable, but only in budget if we go with cheaper travel times, would only give us a couple of hours there.

I was thinking of possibly driving part / most of the way instead, so we can leave early and arrive home late (DS will sleep in the car). Then do the last leg of the journey at the beginning & end of off peak travel.

Can anybody who knows the south sugest a place that's easy to drive to and leave the car, and also has an easy train /other transport route into London? We're thinking of going autumn half term, but could also do any weekend, if that makes any difference.

Or go to one of other natural history museums.

theecologist.org/2011/aug/26/five-best-british-natural-history-museums

[quote LemonRoses]Or go to one of other natural history museums.

theecologist.org/2011/aug/26/five-best-british-natural-history-museums[/quote]
We go to the great north museum quite often, that how this stared. A couple of years ago dippy came to visit our museum and I (foolishly) showed him how it was the same dinosaur from the Andy's dinosaur museum, and he was amazed that it was a real life place. I showed him more pictures of it, and explained that the time travel was pretend but the museum exists, and he's being asking to go since.

Etinox I said "It's also just outside the congestion zone if you come in the right way so you could avoid the charge."
I didn't say there was no congestion charge on a Sunday as I know it's 7 days a week.

East Midlands Parkway is a good station. It's two minutes off the M1 junction 24ish and there is nothing else there at all apart from a monstrous power station so it's always pretty quiet and it's got a big carpark.

It's an hour and a half to st Pancras.

Andy's time travelling clock is in the NHM.

You can easily spend a whole day there. 🦕

@eyeoresancerre

Etinox I said "It's also just outside the congestion zone if you come in the right way so you could avoid the charge." I didn't say there was no congestion charge on a Sunday as I know it's 7 days a week.

Sorry, yes NHM is outside the congestion zone. The ULEZ too, so diesel isn’t a factor. But the advice to check on the tfl site before travel still stands generally. Although looks like OP has found another solution!

Natural history museum and science museum will be enough for the day - you can pre book things like the imax at the sci museum too (which might give you a nice break/sit down in a busy day). We went last week and it was actually way quieter inside than usual (obvs have to book tickets).

My top tip if you have time for a nice lunch/tea break would be to go to the cafe in the V&A. It’s just next door to the other two museums, Maybe it’s just the contrast with how busy and loud the Nat hist or sci museum can be, but I’ve always really loved the V&A cafe as an oasis of calm and loveliness (get a seat in the main room to get the full effect)

That's interesting Etinox - I hadn't realised it wasn't in the emission zone either. That's really handy for me to know for me time. Thank you 😊