London day out for 4 year old

[Devann]

Hi,
Thinking to take my 4 year old daughter out for a special day out in London but I’m not sure what to do! Can anybody make any recommendations/suggestions, please?
TIA

Natural History Museum - see the clock from Andy's Dinosaur Adventure
Science Museum
See what's on at the Southbank Centre - lots of things around half term week
Discovery Story Centre
Immersive art - Frameless etc

All followed by whatever pizza place is nearby!

Loads of free museums to choose from.
What time of year?

London Aquarium. You used to be able to get cheap tickets via kelloggs boxes and / or national rail days out website but you'd need to check the scheme is still running. Theres a pizza express and giraffe further along the south bank for easy lunch afterwards.

Also museum of London and the transport museum are both supposed to be really child friendly but we haven't been yet to test out.

4 is too young. She won't remember it so don't make a special effort just for her. Wait until she's about 7 or 8.

Do a London Bus afternoon tea , there are normally some aimed at kids - Paddington , Peppa pig type things . That way you see the sights as well .

London Transport Museum is good. My daughter also enjoyed riding around on the top deck of buses and taking the riverbus. We caught it from Westminster to Tower Bridge, then took one of the old route master buses back to Trafalgar Square.

Do you say that about everything ? Who cares as long as they enjoy it on the day , the parent or grandparent gets to remember what a lovely trip it was .

I cannot understand this approach at all. Baffling.

My suggestion - go now and pick a few depending on weather

Parks - Diana memorial playground
Young v and a
Science and natural history museum
Walk along Southbank

greenwich is great although the maritime museum is under refurbishment at the moment so would suggest waiting until it is fully operational
postal museum is brilliant for a 4 year old - 3 different experiences in one (mail rail, posted play space and the museum itself), and then corams fields is walkable from there.

have fun!

@LindorDoubleChoc I disagree. We took my 4yo last year for the weekend and have a framed picture of him with Big Ben in the background and he talks about it all the time.

We stayed in a YHA youth hostel (Earls Court) which was the perfect combination of close to the main attractions, affordable and meant we didn't need to eat out for every meal.

We mostly did free things - science museum, natural history museum and London has some amazing playgrounds - there's a great one in the park next to Buckingham palace and the Diana Memorial Playground was the best we've ever been to.

Then we did pay to go on the London Eye which was a big hit.

Natural History Museum. Can't go wrong with animals and dinosaurs. You can then keep the Science Museum for when she's older and will get more out of it.

Yes, I would say it about any expensive day out centred around a 4 year old! If the parent really wants to go on a visit to a particular place then by all means. But if they are doing it because they think their 4 year old would enjoy it and for no other reason - then obviously save your money!

One museum one bus ride to Trafalgar Square

I wouldn’t bother with a museum- their fav part will be the play area, a local soft play or playground would have the same effect. I love the aquarium but it’s quite expensive for such a young age. Get the river boat down to Greenwich to play in the park?

Postal museum, my daughter was 4 when we went and she loved it

If you go to see the dinosaurs it's worth discussing beforehand that they are the bones of dinosaurs. We didn't do this and my dc were very confused because they saw no dinosaurs at all as we wandered past the huge dinosaur displays.

We took my then-4yo to the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green last year and he still talks about it a year later. I thought it was going to be loads of stuffy old Victorian dolls houses but it's really bright and colourful and hands-on. Loads to do and play with. And there's a great burger place under the railway bridge directly across the road from the museum - genuinely the best burger I've ever had.
Also worth checking out what's on in the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern - often something fun and interactive.

Don’t be ridiculous. A four year old would have a blast in London. Do you think those of us living here keep them in a box until they are 7-8 before attempting to do any of the absolute myriad of fun, child friendly things available on the daily?

You can do both. With the exception of probably the NHM, all the other big museums have themed play areas. The science museum in the basement has a great interactive play area, and you don’t have to pay for that or book. Bring a change of clothes, there’s water play! The Docklands one is really good, (also water themed) as is the Army museum. You have to book sessions at both, and they do cost but it’s about £5-6. The Greenwich Maritime museum has a fab outdoor play area too. Mine loves that and then a trip up the river on an Uber boat.

London Zoo?

My 4 year old just enjoyed a transport day out. So we would get the train, the tube, the emirates line and then the river bus up to embankment. Walk through to Covent Garden and see the street acts and then get ice cream and come home. We would have a packed lunch on the river bus. Didn't intend to do a budget trip that's just what he liked doing. Aiming to do an open top bus this summer when we don't have his younger brother with us who is still in a pram

I took my 4 year old gd to Victoria park for a cinnamon bun on Saturday where we fed the ducks then went to the Young V&A it's a great museum for that age. She had Mac & cheese there for lunch.
Sunday we went to St James park to see the pelicans, she absolutely loved that. We then walked through the park to see the changing of the guard where she entertained the tourists with The Grand Old Duke of York, a quick scoot around Covent garden and China town then we had a booking at the parlour in Fortnum and Mason for ice cream.
She absolutely had a fantastic weekend.

Loves:
Natural History Museum (age 3, age 4 and asking to go again soon)
London Transport museum (age 2, age 3)
Maritime Museum - from age 1, though ahoy is closed but I think the other child friendly section is open
Horniman - bit of a trek and best in summer but has a little aquarium and a variety of things to see indoors.

Not a fan for this age
Discovery story centre in Stratford - effectively soft play in my opinion
British Museum - overwhelming with crowds, weekday might be better.
Tate Modern - has to be a v interesting exhibit otherwise will struggle but this was a young age 3. Somewhere smaller like Hayward gallery was much better.
South Bank - usually too busy for my own sanity

We go early, packed lunch/snacks on arrival and then a second proper lunch with dessert. Works every time!

These ideas are all really helpful - thank you!

We live in Greater London, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive and it’s as much for me as it is for her, so I’m not worried if she doesn’t remember it. I just want some quality time with her and think a London adventure would be fun.

really appreciate the suggestions