Trip to London - I'm clueless!

[SeriouslyNot]

So, my daughter is turning 21 and she has asked that we go a trip to London. We are looking at 3 days in February (her birthday is end January).

We live in Scotland so we would be looking to fly down.

Where do I start?! I have never been to London, I'm not sure where to stay or what to do. Which airport to go to?! My daughter loves art and music and people watching! We will also have my 6 year old with us so obviously not looking to go clubbing! 😂

@SeriouslyNot Where you start is budget, as it’s easy to suggest a lot of places but many cost £££. There are a lot of inexpensive ways to do London and a £££ way.

Next think about what you want to see and then look at maps of London, underground map and bus map (Google TFL) and work out where it would be best to get a hotel. Don't underestimate travel time.

Whilst the underground is great for getting places using buses means you see far more of the City. As pp say the hop on hop off buses are good but TFL have bus leisure routes which might help plan your time. https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/experience-london/bus-leisure-routes

I agree a trip on the Thames Clipper gives you a good view of the city from a different perspective and Greenwich has museums and park space. Taking the Jubilee line to North Greenwich allows you to do the cable car round trip, see the O2 and get the Thames clipper to Greenwich. You can the get the Clipper from Greenwich back to Westminster. You could do it the opposite way.

I do agree that the nerds / interests of a 6 yo will hugely compromise what a 21 yo might want to do most.

Can the youngest’s Dad come too and take him on 6 yo outings and observe 6 yo bedtime etc?

I was just going to suggest the train it is less of a faff and under 5 hours you are in central London, the premier inn near kings cross or Euston are great near the tube or you can walk around . Op get the train if you can

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House is often overlooked as an art gallery but I think it is a very good one. It's not too big to wear out the patience of a younger child and it has some fantastic paintings.

My daughter is a little younger than yours but she loves the Notting Hill and Covent Garden areas. She also likes to go out of London a bit and see the deer in Richmond and Bushy Parks. There are plenty of places good for art in London! Spoilt for choice! If she likes to people watch maybe Leicester Square, Westminster…

Enjoy. I travel to London regularly from the NE of England - train quicker for me as I’d have to trek to Newcastle to fly (would take longer with having to arrive 2 hours pre-flight). I don’t stay in Central London though as hotels are a lot cheaper out of the central area.

If you all share a family hotel room, make sure everyone turns off their 6am alarms (still holding that grudge)

Matilda was fab. Definitely use train and rail card. Plan to visit some markets as it's just such a different experience from Scotland. Eg Borough market, Camden. Coalyards. Take a boat trip to Greenwich. The naval museum is free, has the beautiful tulip stairs. The market wonka is filmed in is pretty. Climb St Paul's steps, maybe just your daughter as possibly a bit challenging for a six year old unless they are very determined and brave. There are some high level gardens, some free, some bookable. Changing of the guard, do at horse guards not the palace as less busy. Not on every day maybe. You used to get an eye spy London book, we ticked off loads on a weekend a few years ago.

We chilled outside the national gallery but none of my kids wanted to go in tut philistines lol

I thought the war museum was pretty boring tbh, but then again I was extremely tired. Too audio visual centric tbh, can sit and watch a video at home. Pointless.

Please don’t fly. We live on a tiny island and domestic flights are completely unecessary. Get the train.

@CrownCoats 😂

Afternoon tea at The Shard (Peter Pan themed and your cakes are served on a pirate ship with dry ice billowing out), a West End show eg Matilda, Bubble Planet for the 6 year old. Mooch around Hyde Park.

I agree that if you are near a mainline station, the train may be an easier journey. No hanging around at airports. No travelling to and from airports. You arrive straight into Central London.

Depending what kind of art your daughter likes, visit Tate Britain, Tate Modern and the National Gallery and portrait gallery, all free. A street art walking tour around Spitalfields is also great. They are led by local artists.¹

A good show might be Totoro. 6 year old will love it but my adult DC adored it too. It's about two children whose dad moves them out to live in the countryside in Japan while their mum is very ill and they meet some magical creatures including a furry giant called Totoro. It's visually stunning and feelgood. Lion King is another show that is good for all ages.

You might all like a river trip from Westminster or London Eye down to Greenwich. You get to see Big Ben, Tower of London, London Bridge. At Greenwich there's a lovely park with the Royal Observatory on top, the Cutty Sark tea clipper ship, Maritime museum, market with lots of places to eat, cable car, Brunel foot tunnel under the Thames.

Travelodge and Premier Inn both have loads of central London sites if you're on a budget, very good and functional - loads of other great hotels if you want to spend a bit more.

Tate Modern and Tate Britain for art and people watching. The V&A is stunning - check what shows will be on, you might need to book in advance. The Courtald, and also whatever shows Somerset House is exhibiting. Maybe a clipper trip down to Greenwich and then take in any of the galleries and the old Naval College there, or mooch around the market and the Cutty Sark.

Another vote for Matilda. My Neighbour Totoro will be playing then too - genuinely one of the best shows I think I've seen, I'd really recommend if you can get tickets (ticketing.lwtheatres.co.uk/event/6351/?date=2026-02).

The Princess Diana Playground in Hyde Park is amazing - a full ship for kids to clamber over, + cafes for parents. You'll need a kid with you to get in! It's also near to the Serpentine Galleries for art.

Honestly though, as a Londoner, I'd vote against Covent Garden and Leicester Sq for people watching - it's very crowded, full of the usual chains, and loads of tourists looking at each other. Instead, maybe check out Coal Drops Yards by Kings Cross - nice shops, nature walks and reserves, and right by the Central Saint Martin campus so lots of art and design students to look at :)

I agree. It is an amazing gallery. But you do have to pay, so maybe the National and Tate for free on first visit are a better bet.

Yes Coal Drops Yard is great (and very near the stations that head up to Scotland.)

Another great people watching spot is South Bank - the walk from Waterloo/Hungerford Bridge down towards Borough Market. There are buskers, street artists, beachcombers when the tide is low, people dressed in all sorts of styles, skateboarders, families, loads of street food vans and cafes and craft shops.