Day out in London with 9 and 12 year old: logistics

[Cies]

I live abroad and will be back visiting family and friends later on this month. My kids want to see London. After arriving at the airport (big suitcases) we're meeting friends in Hampton Court on Sunday and staying the night there. Then on Monday I want to show them something of London before heading to Salisbury to stay with family.

So, please help me plan. My idea is
to use public transport on Monday morning with suitcases to Waterloo and leave the suitcases in a left luggage place.

Kids want to do London eye, I'm not that bothered.

What should we do/see? I want to limit time on tubes etc and spend more time actually seeing the sights.

Can you recommend a good route? And an area for multicultural cuisine for lunch (we live somewhere with very dull traditional food).

We'd want to be back at Waterloo to get the train at around 5pm.

Thank you!

Use Stashit for storing luggage, way more reasonable than train station left luggage. If you’re doing South bank then probably Borough market for food, although China town is obviously a good shout.

a clipper from Westminster pier down to a Katherine docks would hé a great way to cram some sights in if you’ve not the time for going further down river. Or do that journey in reverse to get to Waterloo for your train.

London eye is a bit of a waste really, it goes round super slowly and it’s well expensive. Sky Garden was a great way to get up high and see some views, I don’t know if it’s properly bookable ( it was free) since covid etc.

Hi@Cies 5pm
will come round very quickly once you’ve got to Waterloo and dropped luggage. If they want to do london eye (like you I’m not fussed - it’s “ok”) then book in advance to avoid queues. London dungeons are also there, which are very good and will be fun for both of them. Again book in advance to avoid queues. Borough market good shout for lunch but a bit of a journey from Waterloo (but all depends what one means by journey - I’m just aware that your day will finish quickly!) I’ve not been to the area for a while, but the Southbank has lots to see and do and there are normally food stalls around, and also restaurants.

Borough market is 9 min on tube from Waterloo or a twenty min walk (along a very touristy route with lots to see!) hardly a journey.

If they really want to see as much of the sights as possible I would recommend a tourist bus. Not cheap but you will see everything. London Dungeons are at London Bridge.

I agree with the Sky Garden up the Walkie Talkie building! We went at the end of July 2021. We had to book in advance but it was free and the views were great.

No they're not

Thank you all for all the suggestions.

I will look into stashit for the luggage, thanks, I'd never heard of it.

Sky garden and Walkie talkie building also sound good.

They will love China Town, good shout.