London day trip

[hggh]

We are taking ds 10 to London today who has never been before. We live about at hour away so can have a full day.

What do you recommend?

Bonus points for itinerary and travel tips is I don't have to research as need to get showered and go!

London Eye. Go there early as it can get rammed. There are some nice restaurants overlooking the Thames near the Royal Festival Hall that give nice views, as do the restaurants near Tower Bridge.

Most tourist attractions will be very busy, but some are a lot worse than others! Natural History Museum has become unbearable, but the Tower of London probably has less screaming children! Watching the guards at Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards parade is good, in a short walk you can see Westminster/ Big Ben, 10 Downing St, Trafalgar Sq and Leicester Sq/ China Town. Covent Garden will have all the street performers out. I can spend days in London just walking around and found myself entertained one way or another! I did that a lot when I lived there!

Things like Madame Tussaud’s are crap, but the Aquarium is good, and the Dungeons are ok. An open top bus and boat tour would be great for your son to see loads in one go if it’s his first time!

Great thanks

I've bought my train tickets and there are 2 for 1 discounts on attractions so will look at those too

What's the best way to get around when we are there? Tube bus boat?

Can you buy a one day pass?

Tube and bus he will be free so just swipe your contactless and go through the wide gates. Although check you didn't get a travel card included in your train ticket - did you just get it to the mainline?

Yes just mainline as wanted the 2 for 1 deal and wasn't valid on travel card

Ds will be free on tube?

He fancies the science museum and I would like to show him buckingham palace and the changing of the guard if possible and then maybe a meal in china town this evening and a wander around Leicester square convent garden

We arrive into Waterloo so what's the best way to do it.

The science museum looks to be too far to walk

Changing of the guard is set days and times. Science museum is out in Knightsbridge area so tube or bus from Victoria.

Tbh I think you may be trying to be too ambitious for 1 day as science museum alone would take a fair amount of time to do property.

You could come into waterloo, do stuff on southbank and wander up by river. You could maybe get the clipper across to westminster pier and then you could walk from there see Piccadilly Buckingham Palace, Westminster etc.

Then you could do Leicester Square if you wanted, Lego shop

Covent Garden is short walk from Leicester Square.

Yes just checked and no changing of guard today!

Thanks so much for all your advice

Inamos at covent garden for food. Tables are interactive with games etc

Not sure if you are still reading OP but Joy King Lau in Chinatown has really good food. It is now the only place I go when there.

3 Leicester St, London WC2H 7BL - just of Leicester Square.