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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

1.5 days in London tips

26 replies

Helskitty · 08/02/2022 13:28

Hi all,

We've booked a trip for DH, 4yo DD and myself in London in March. We'll be arriving late into Paddington (coming up after school) and staying in Blackfriars for 2 nights, leaving around 2pm on the Sunday.

We're hoping to do some sights with our little history buff, so I was wondering if anyone thought this might be too much or had a better way of covering these sights…

Saturday:
10am - 12:30 Natural History Museum
1pm- 4pm Science Museum
4:30pm-5:30pm Hamleys
6pm Dinner on the South Bank

Sunday
10am - 12 Tower of London
12:30- 1:30pm Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace (literally just a stroll to say we saw them)
2pm Train from Paddington

OP posts:
itwasntaparty · 08/02/2022 13:32

that sounds hectic, NHM, SM and Hamleys on the same day could be very overwhelming.

Buck palace to Paddington with a small kid in 30 minutes doesn't sound doable, you will have to walk back to Victoria or GP to pick up the tube. You'll need to change lines either option.

Redfloweryellowflower · 08/02/2022 13:44

Nhm took most of the day when mine was 6. I think this or science museum is more realistic and wouldn't try to do both in one day, especially with hamleys too.

VeronicaBeccabunga · 08/02/2022 13:45

I agree that two huge museums plus Hamley's in one day is a lot for a 4 year old, but I guess it's do-able if you have breaks.

You can go Victoria to Paddington on the Circle Line, but it'll take longer than 30 minutes.
The station concourse at Paddington is big, with a lot of walking to platforms.

Have you booked the Tower?

WouldIBeATwat · 08/02/2022 13:47

Hamleys isn’t near those museums either. Harrods is…..

RandomQuest · 08/02/2022 13:51

My 4YO DD was bored senseless at the natural history museum plus 2 museums in a day is a lot. I’d to the Diana playground in Kensington gardens then the science museum afterwards but make sure to book the Wonderlab as it’s the best bit! Allow much more time to get to Paddington station. But otherwise it sounds good, enjoy!

RandomQuest · 08/02/2022 13:52

You could also forgo Hamleys in favour of Harrods, their toy department is amazing and the chocolate room in the food hall is always a huge hit! And it’s less trekking about that way.

Original poster
Helskitty · 08/02/2022 14:08

Thank you all, I knew I was being overly ambitious.

DD is obsessed with fossils but other than that I think she'll prefer the Science Museum for the interactive part. Might consider dipping into the NHM so she can see the fossil section and then heading over to the Science Museum.

DH is pretty insistent on keeping Hamleys on the list, from his fond childhood memories but I might be able to change his mind to Harrods thank you for the suggestion.

Tower isn't booked (nothing except hotel and train at this stage is) she is also interested in the Tudors so thought that it would be a good place to go but try and avoid the tour as I think some of the more gruesome parts might be a little scary for her. Might then skip Buckingham Palace and Tafalgar Sq and save for a future trip.

OP posts:
minipie · 08/02/2022 14:34

Day 1:

NHM and Science museum
Diana playground

Day 2

Tower of London
Possibly Sky Garden
Then take a riverboat to Embankment and walk/bus up to Trafalgar Sq, or (my pref) to Waterloo and walk along South Bank

Or you could do Tower of London in the am and Hamleys in the pm I guess, but the journey’s a pain

minipie · 08/02/2022 14:36

Oh sorry just saw day 2 is a half day!

WouldIBeATwat · 08/02/2022 14:37

You could do Hamleys on the way back to Paddington on the Sunday then.

crosstalk · 08/02/2022 14:38

Dicken's Museum?

Please check opening times religiously including train times, tubes and buses. Get their apps.

Have you thought of China Town and/or Covent Garden for a meal?

Make sure 4 y o DD has enough food to keep her going. And AFAIK all museum food is quite dear and getting to the cafes/loos from the main displays can be arduous in such big buildings.

Tower of London isn't particularly gruesome and used to be great for young children if they were interested.

Also get the uber app so you can get from place to place if anything impacts buses or tubes. There's quite a lot round Blackfriars if Sunday is all too much.

Chelsea26 · 08/02/2022 15:38

Citymapper is a really good app for getting around. Gives you door to door instructions for tube, bus, boat, walking etc

Have a great time!

Plexie · 08/02/2022 15:57

Would a 4 year old be interested in the Tower of London?

Are you going on a double decker bus at all? The newest ones have 3 doors and two staircases! Although that's only unusual if you're used to travelling by bus.

southlondoner02 · 08/02/2022 17:30

Science museum is much better than the NHM which I don't think would hold a 4 year olds attention for that long. You could go just to see the fossils but it's a lot of wandering around the museum to find them. Don't forget you have to book a time slot for museums.

Hamleys will be very very busy on a Saturday afternoon, and imho not that interesting. I would consider the Princess Diana playground instead. Or head earlier to the south bank and have a wander. Last time I was there the tide was out and the kids I was with enjoyed digging in the sand - they were looking for treasure!
Does your 4 year old like transport? Transport museum in Covent Garden is great, as is getting the boat down the river to Greenwich

yikesanotherbooboo · 08/02/2022 19:55

Hamleys is not the magical place of your DH's dreams.I would avoid it . If a bit of shopping is wanted I would brave Covent Garden; there will be loads to see and shops of interest to a little one.
Tower is very atmospheric but takes quite a while . Could you get a boat up towards Westminster from the City afterwards? You will see loads without walking.
Going against the grain slightly my DC loved the NHM when they were little and if combined with a bus trip were in heaven. As they got older they liked the science museum so I would say choose the one that you think your little one would enjoy.

PPCD · 08/02/2022 20:11

How about the Museum of the Home near Shoreditch on the Sunday morning?

Original poster
Helskitty · 09/02/2022 06:24

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, they've been really helpful.

I think we've decided to do a brief visit to the NHM for an hour before heading over to the Science Museum, if we have time we might make it to the Diana Playground on the Sat.

Sun we've decided to skip the Tower for now and go to Hamleys (Non negotiable it seems Hmm) and then Covent Garden/Leicester Sq/Trafalgar Sq (see how we get on) before heading for the train.

OP posts:
itwasntaparty · 09/02/2022 12:56

Double check op but I don't think Hamleys opens until 12 on Sundays

HundredMilesAnHour · 11/02/2022 15:52

I think it's a real shame you're missing the Tower of London, especially for something so bland as Hamleys and especially when your DC is into history.

When I came to London as a kid, the Tower was the most memorable. It really is fabulous. But your original 2 hours there was never enough. Sun morning at the Tower then straight to Paddington for your train was more sensible.

As an adult, I now living walking distance from the Tower and it still hasn't lost its magic, day or night.

sitarragul · 17/02/2022 08:05

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Mumdiva99 · 17/02/2022 08:13

Tower of London is great. But you can do a whole day there. When mine were younger we got the Historic Palaces annual ticket and spread our visit over 2 days. It meant we didn't need to rush, and Dad only came on day 2 so we showed him our favourite bits from day 1 ad well as finishing off . And neither day did we feel the need to be there from opening to closing to get our moneys worth. Plus we got to go to Hampton Court which is fab and again you can easily spend a couple of trips going in the year....the playground , maze and gardens alone are great too.

Definitely book the Wonder lab in the science museum as it is amazing.

Hamleys can get busy. It's also quite expensive so if you plan to buy then set your budget first.

Don't forget to get a double decker bus and sit at the front at the top....so much fun! Lol.

OldTinHat · 17/02/2022 08:43

I only managed one museum a day when I took my DC. We didn't even get round all of the Tower of London in a day because it was so busy.

As others have said, perhaps scale back as that's a lot and you will only see a fraction. None of them are going anywhere so you can always visit them another time.

Haus1234 · 17/02/2022 08:47

Genuinely post covid Hamleys is rubbish - there aren’t many toys out and they don’t even stock very interesting toys anyway, lots of branded stuff. The Harrods toy department is much better presented.

felulageller · 17/02/2022 08:57

It is really hard to express how much longer these things take irl than you'd think when organising.

You'll be looking at 20000 steps a day, can your 4yo do this? Are you / DP prepared to be carrying her a lot?

The museums are absolutely cavernous. You could spend a whole day in each and not see them all. They also have very confusing lay outs and are almost impossible not to get lost in even if you've been before! Then you have to factor in trying to find the toilets/ cafes for when your dd will inevitably need them! Just the queues to get in/ bag checks can be over half an hour.
If you are getting the tube dont be fooled that south Kensington is next to the entrances! You have a very long walk through a tunnel which from experience 4yos don't like! And even though the museums are next to each other it can easily take 15 mins to get from one to the other.
Harrods is best after but is still a long walk fir a 4yo. But you can get them a cronut from the food hall.

Skip hamleys. Isn't isn't anything on what dp will remember.

The tower needs a full day. The queue for the crown jewels will likely be a half hour. You will need a very patient child (or strong shoulders!)

If you must go past TS and BP jump in a cab.

Take loads of snacks with you as otherwise you will waste time finding cafes etc. All wear trainers as your feet will hurt!

Book everything in advance. The interactive bit at the SM has to be pre booked and you only get a limited slot. It's also way at the top of the museum and hard to find!

Expect to spend 2 days battling crowds and have sharp elbows!

WouldBeGood · 17/02/2022 09:04

Far too much. And I’d say dc too young for those. I’d go to free things you can look at and leave if they’re bored/tired/ just being a child 😃

Wander around and see things, stop for milkshakes and coffees, even going on the Tube is exciting!

Save all day expensive things like the Tower of London for when they’re older.

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