London hotel for a Saturday night with kids and other London recommendations?

[RainingCatsandDogs]

Want luxury rather than budget.DD 7 and ds 1 will be with us so really need room with a separate area with say a sofa bed for dd and room for a cot for ds.(will we have to bring our own?)
We will be at the British museum on Sunday (have booked for the terracotta army - although not sure about this with ds in hindsight) and Saturday not decided on yet but thinking of Tower of London (dd loves history), London Eye ,frog tour?, harrods toy department and ice cream parlour (dd also loves ice cream).If someone has any other ideas these would be very welcome and somewhere child friendly for lunch/dinner (carluccio's?)

We were in London today, we did Tower Bridge as DD is suddenly interested in it, good view from the top walkway. Really enjoyed the river trip (went from the Tower to Westminster). You can do a round trip and take in Greenwich, possibly Thames Barrier? Think I saw a sign for that today.

science museum, Kensington, had(has?) a great basement kids' area with lots of hands-on interactive stuff. Was crowded with the little blighters when we went but maybe on a weekday out of school hols you'd be alright.

Harrods Toy department a bit of a let down we thought.

Hard Rock cafe for great hamburgers etc and ice creams?

Tower of London's good, as is the eye - but perhaps more so for the adults. HMS Belfast is good. (I am wary of war-related stuff, but I found it both moving and interesting). the V and A is also good - if they are doing their brilliant backpacks - quizzes and activities etc. check to see if they're doing them as they don;t do them every day. Tate Modern is good. South Bank has a nice vibe to it and good child-friendly restaurants

Thanks for the suggestions.

We did the Natural History Museum last summer holidays which we enjoyed but Dd says she hates Science! We also went to Hamleys and not very impressed just thinking of ds having somewhere to let off steam being an 18mth energetic toddler.Maybe a river trip would be a bit difficult with him - actually maybe everything will be a bit difficult!However have to balance what he wants with his older sister having some fun and doing something more than going to the park or a soft play centre

Where is the Hard Rock Cafe?

we stayed in a lovely hotel in covent garden with dd when she was little - racking my brain to think what it was called - definately wasnt budget - will have a think...how much did you want to pay? What about Grosvenor House?

imo having a dd that says she hates science is a reason to go to the science museum. and natural history is science!

The South Bank near the Eye is one of the few places (that I know of) in central London with a playground - just a bog standard nice playground - and lots of space for an 18 month old to run. Tate Modern too - but not so sure now it has the crack - I haven't seen it so not sure what it would be like - possibly a complete headache....

DD will be doing WWII evacuees after Easter so the Imperial War Museum or is this a little old for a 7 year old?
She may enjoy HMS Belfast also.

Agree regarding the science hatwoman - should take her really.I remember going as a child but I suppose I'm more history interested myself despite having a science degree..
Binkleand flip not sure about budget for hotel.More important to find somewhere good.
Where is good to eat at the South Bank if we decide on this?

We did the Ritz with a 1 and 3 year old, and the Lanesborough with a 2 and 4 year old. Both were excellent, and extraordinarily accepting of our children. Better than some more budget orientated hotels tbh.

Our children enjoyed the Rainforest Cafe and St Pauls (whispering gallery etc) to my surprise (it was dh's suggestion). They also enjoyed changing of the guard...(and as mentioned by others, the Eye, the Natural History Museum, Hamleys etc)

when are you going?this looks ideal. it also confirms what I had heard in that the musuem does say whether particular exhibitions are suitable for children or not - I think some aren't.

I'm looking for a thread to come up re where not to visit in York so that I can say - "Don't, on any account, do the National Railway Museum"

just noticed that it runs from 2005-2010, reasonable assumption you're planning on going between those dates. derrr.

We're staying at the Clarendon in Blackheath in April with dd and ds. Dh and I stayed there just before Christmas. It's not luxury but it has a garden and is opposite the "heath" in Blackheath. The family rooms are £125 a night B&B and the childrens beds are in a separate room. Staff were really helpful, soundproofing not great. It's a 5 min walk from the train station (15 min from London Bridge station).

Hard Rock Cafe is at the bottom of Piccadilly near where it joins Park Lane. Not been there with small kids, though. But am pining for one of their hot fudge sundaes!

Talking of WWII, Britain at War exhibition was great for the kids , well not the babe.
But your seven year old might like it - a real air raid shelter with accompanying bangs and crashes - clothes to try on - lights and smoke..not scary - my kids thought it a hoot. It's somewhere near Tower Bridge.

Britain at War here

Thankyou all for your suggestions - sorry I went away last night to see to ds.
Imperial War Museum exhibition looks great as does Britain at War.Dd would really love these as she does even enjoy relatively non children orientated history exhibitions.

We did rainforest cafe previously but not changing of the guard - when is it and can you get a decent view?

Am now tempted to cram too much in which would not be a good idea with ds entering mini tantrum age.