London with children

[Tiredmummyof3]

We are planning to spend October half term near London. We have booked Harry Potter world and Chessington and plan to travel into London for a couple of days.

Children are 13 & 11. They have been once before and we did science museum, history museum etc. Is it worth doing them again? Do they change much?

What are the must dos for London? And can anyone please recommend restaurants thats are perhaps abit different and not your run of the mill chains that we get up north!
Thanks! 😄

Where are you staying - Harry Potter World and Chessington are not that close! Live near Chessington and around 50 mins away from HP world (if the M25 is playing ball_

how many days are you staying? and where?

Winter wonderland is amazing! I don't know if it will be open in Oct though!.

@Quartz2208

Where are you staying - Harry Potter World and Chessington are not that close! Live near Chessington and around 50 mins away from HP world (if the M25 is playing ball_

Yes we know....we have around an hour to get to Harry Potter World and 20 mins from Chessington. But we have the car so that's fine 🙂

What are they interested in? There is quite a selection of museums - things like the London Transport Museum, Imperial War Museum, the Musical museum, HMS Belfast.

@underneaththeash

how many days are you staying? and where?

We have a caravan so we are staying on a camp site! For 7 days

I would definitely do the science museum again, DC get a lot out of going a few times IME

Nhm and science museum are free. Nhm ice rink will open that week. We loved tower bridge, the Thames clipper and Greenwich. There is a food market at 5 dials which is fun.

If you are far enough out for chessington - do coral reef - water slides are great. At that age though I would have thought more Thorpe park than chessington -maybe add that as well? Central London - London dungeon or London Bridge experience, tower bridge experience, depending on time of year what is available in Somerset house (dodgems at the min) and London eye. Rib boat on the Thames up to the barriers and back past all the sites - ie all the really cool tourist stuff!

Top of a No. 11 Bus from Victoria to Liverpool Street you see most of the sights - best done in that direction. You can get on and off the bus, the amount you pay per day will be capped. Look at www.tfl.gov.uk to see how to pay for young visitors on London buses. Walk through to Spitalfields to see a bit off the main tourist trail.

Walk across London Bridge, along the river, and back across Tower Bridge, then along the river in front of the Tower.

If you have time, visit the Museum of Docklands then take the DLR across to Greenwich, then come back on the riverbus.

If they've never been on the Tube, take them on it, and let them navigate.

Foyle's Bookshop and Forbidden Planet are quite close together, if that would interest them.

YEs I agree Thorpe Park for that age is better than Chessington - Coral Reef is good.

Do they like theatre etc you can get some good deals

Or alternatively, give them a street map, point them to the tfl site, and let them plan!

I know everyone has phone apps now, but you can't beat a proper A-Z type street map for getting to know London.

The Imperial War Museum is brilliant.

Thanks for the Thorpe Park tip......never thought of that one. The no 11 bus tip is great, presumably lots cheaper than the sightseeing ones! Will definitely check out all the museums mentioned and decide which to go for.

There are some good lidos are well - Guildford and Surbiton depending on where you are .

Bushey Park is lovely as well

@Quartz2208

There are some good lidos are well - Guildford and Surbiton depending on where you are .

Bushey Park is lovely as well

In October??

@milian true I forgot that bit!

[quote Quartz2208]@milian true I forgot that bit![/quote]
I was very impressed by your toughness