London highlights in 3 days

[Ohdostopwafflinggeremy]

Family of 4, me,dh and 17&18 year olds going to London for 3 days soon.
We are staying around Hyde park in Paddington area.
Thinking of the usual touristy things. Hop on hop off bus, Madam Tussauds, Natural History Museum, Camden market.
Anything worthy of a visit or really not.
Also nice places to eat at night.
Any tips or advice welcome.😁

I have been to London a lot but when I did a proper holiday there found we needed to be ruthless about only going to specific places in one area.

@Needmorelego Oh, very naughty advice, but I am tempted to use it🤭

@AnnaMagnani Yes, i think ruthless is the way to go too🤔

Madame Tussaud's is hilarious! My dad and friend loved it

DD not dad

I took 16yo DS to London during the summer & did all the touristy stuff, highlights for him were Tower Bridge, The Tower & Greenwich.

I really enjoyed Madame Tussauds, it is expensive though.
Southbank and Borough are my favourite to eat/drink/mooch.
Thames rockets speedboats are really good fun, and right at the eye.

My personal choices would include Liberty of London as it’s beautiful inside and out.Window shop in Regents Street.
Fortnum and Mason to drool and have afternoon tea.

A behind the scenes tour of The Royal Albert Hall, fascinating history and iconic building.

Borough Market for lunch and mooch. Walk over London Bridge to St Paul’s Cathedral.

On the day tickets if possible from ‘Tkts’ for The Mousetrap
or Witness For The Prosecution at County Hall, brilliant play in another historic building and walk at night over the bridge for the view
(Or any other show)

Burger and cocktail at the Hard Rock Cafe in Old Park Lane - the original one.
Walk or take #9 bus to Harrods.

Top tip. Use the Citymapper app to plan your journeys.

We're going in half term

So far, We're seeing a show, kids want to go to Camden, might go sky garden

We've got 4 days so watching thread for other ideas

Take the Clipper to Greenwich.
Also a free walking tour, there's lots of them.
Don't cross Westminster Bridge, unless you want to be rammed in with crowds of tourists.

It’s an easy walk from Paddington through Kensington Gardens to the museums (Science, Natural History and V&A). Pass Peter Pan and stop off at the Serpentine gallery for a burst of modern art.
The Alexander Fleming Laboratory museum in Praed St might be interesting for a geek - only open Monday - Thursday mornings. It’s where he discovered penicillin.
Alto Napoli and Paramount Lebanese Kitchen restaurants are good. There’s a plethora of chains in and around the station and on the canal. Too Good to Go is worth downloading, lots of bakery though.

As a London native - don't go to Madam Toussauds, Camden or Borough Market. They are heaving tourist traps.

Do go to Hyde Park and the Serpentine and lake, St James's Park, Horseguards, Whitehall, Westminster, Big Ben, the South Bank, St Pauls, the Sky Garden (book tickets in advance), the Tower of London, Covent Garden (if you must go shopping), China Town and Soho - particularly Berwick Street market. If it's not raining, spend all your time outside.

And if you still have time ... a river trip up to Greenwich.