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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Trip to london

41 replies

Littlesticklebrick · 17/10/2021 21:51

So, I’ve booked my sons first trip to london. I wondered if any of you were able to recommend any itineraries?
I’d like him to see Buckingham Palace & changing of the guard, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street.
Possible ride on the London Eye? Hamleys? Tower of London?
We arrive at 9.30 and have a whole day and then we have until lunchtime the following day.
If you have any advice that would be great.
Thanks

OP posts:
EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues · 17/10/2021 23:51

Not an itinerary, and too much for a single trip, but:

Try to see a play, or a musical

Visit an art gallery

Walk across the Thames

Wander through the Inns of Court

Sit with your coffee by the lake at the Barbican

Go to a lunchtime recital at Wigmore Hall

Spend hours and hours at the V&A / Natural History Museum

How old is your son?!

Ricekrispie22 · 18/10/2021 05:19

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It’s normally at 11am. Allow 45 mins.

If you pre-book for the London Eye, the time slot you select is the time you are allowed access to the queue. The queue takes around 45 mins for standard tickets and about half that for fast track. Once you’re in a pod, it takes about half an hour to go round. You can get combi tickets which include a River Cruise which goes all the way up to Tower Bridge right past the Tower of London.

Where are you staying?

Original poster
Littlesticklebrick · 18/10/2021 19:22

Thank you for your response. I failed to say his age, he’s 9 so will be a good age.
We’re staying in a cheapie :/ It’s the Covent Garden Z Hotel, I chose it as it’s near the Lyceum.
We arrive & have a full day with nothing booked yet, then the following day we have a matinee performance & then home so we have that morning to do something.
Thanks for your ideas Smile

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Original poster
Littlesticklebrick · 18/10/2021 19:28

Thank you for your ideas! I failed to say my son is 9 so a good age to take it all in I hope. We have one full day and then half of the next day but I’m aware I’ll have to pick and choose what we do!

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Ricekrispie22 · 18/10/2021 19:29

Instead of Hamleys, I’d head to Leicester Square and check out the Lego store there. It’s the largest Lego store in the world and it’s fun to wander soured even if you don’t buy anything - there are loads of life sized Lego models and models of London landmarks. It’s open late so could be done in the evening after dinner as it’s quite close to your hotel. Ditto for the huge M&M world. There’s an interactive statue trail in Leicester Square too at the moment www.leicestersquare.london/scenes-in-the-square/ Chine garden backs on to Leicester Square and is also fun to stroll down in the evening.

FleasInMyKnees · 18/10/2021 19:37

If you're staying in Covent Garden he might enjoy the street artists, transport museum and see if there are any other exhibitions on, we saw the Bond exhibition. The Christmas lights might be on in Regent Street, hamkeys is touristy but some kids enjoy it and the Lego shop in Leicester Square is good fun. They are all walkable from Covent Garden.
You can walk to Downing Street past the Cenotaph and Changing of the Guards then get a boat trip from Westminster which passes a lot of sights.

Loudestcat14 · 18/10/2021 19:41

The hop-on, hop-off open-top tourist buses are a great way for saving tired legs if the weather's decent. You get to see so much more than you would just walking around.

Original poster
Littlesticklebrick · 18/10/2021 20:01

Oh thanks! Where is the M&M shop as he’ll love that!!

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Original poster
Littlesticklebrick · 18/10/2021 20:02

Oh thanks! Where is the M&M shop as he’ll love that!!
Im useless on here!

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Original poster
Littlesticklebrick · 18/10/2021 20:03

Thank you so much! I might skip hamleys!

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MagentaRocks · 18/10/2021 20:04

That’s a lot to fit in. The London eye has long queues so either book in advance and fast track or give it a miss. The clink prison museum is good, and not expensive. Perfect for his age.

You won’t actually be able to go to 10 Downing Street, the street is blocked off and guarded.

Changing of the guard is good but packed and hard to see that much unless you get there really early and wait for ages, taking up a lot of your day.

Hamleys is good but you could be in there for hours. Tower of London also good but takes a long time to go round.

I would pick a couple of things to do well so you can enjoy it and not worry about time.

MagentaRocks · 18/10/2021 20:05

M and m shop is Leicester Square.

MagentaRocks · 18/10/2021 20:06

www.clink.co.uk/

MagentaRocks · 18/10/2021 20:12

www.ltmuseum.co.uk/

London transport museum is in Covent Garden.

toolazytothinkofausername · 18/10/2021 20:16

Hamley's opens at 10am (noon on a Sunday), and if you are the first in the queue they let you ring the bell Grin

If you are near any of the places in the linked video, you could get a .

Original poster
Littlesticklebrick · 18/10/2021 20:43

Thanks, yeah I’m aware I won’t do all but I’ve had some lovely ideas sent on here to choose from. Yes I’ve done Downing Street but he can still see the street which I’d like him to see.
Thank you for your tips

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Original poster
Littlesticklebrick · 18/10/2021 20:44

Thank you for your time and being so helpful!!

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alrightfella · 18/10/2021 20:47

I can do you a nice walking route if you'd like to take in lots of those things? I walk in London fairly regularly. I'm assuming you're seeing the lion king matinee?

Fetarabbit · 18/10/2021 20:51

The M&M shop is opposite the lego shop in Leicester Square, I think that area is worth a look to be honest, the rainforest cafe is close too but very expensive! Are you happy to get the tube?

FabricedeSauveterre · 18/10/2021 20:51

London eye is quite boring, queues go slowly and it goes round slowly.
Far more exciting and much cheaper is the Emirates cable car line. Get the Uber boat from south bank London Eye to North Greenwich and it’s right there.

Get to see loads of sights on the Uber boats too, they’re hop on hop off.

tfl.gov.uk/modes/emirates-air-line/

www.thamesclippers.com/plan-your-journey/route-map

soupmaker · 18/10/2021 21:05

Cable car a great shout. Then standing on the Greenwich meridian at the Dome. I'd also suggest The Sky Garden at the Walkie Talkie - it's free. Do it in the last hour so you can watch the lights come on across the city. Brilliant across the whole city.

Original poster
Littlesticklebrick · 18/10/2021 21:07

You know, I’ve had the same thought about the London Eye. I did the cable car line some years ago but I’ve found it hard to remember where things are. Thanks for that…. So the Uber boat doesn’t have to be pre booked? How about the Emirates cable car?
Many thanks for your time Smile

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soupmaker · 18/10/2021 21:09

@Littlesticklebrick just pitch up at the cable car. No queue when we went on it during the week.

Original poster
Littlesticklebrick · 18/10/2021 21:13

Gosh thanks! I’m going to have to work out where all these places are on a map!

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gogohm · 18/10/2021 21:24

Street artists in Covent Garden are free entertainment (take £1-2 for a tip), British museum is walking distance, you might need a free slot though. We love the imperial war museum which is at elephant and castle, we walked from aldwych. River bus maybe, depends on your budget and what he likes.