London recommendations like the Observatory?

[Randomchat]

Ds17 and I have a day to fill in London this weekend. He loves quirky science and history sort of things. He loved the Observatory at Greenwich because it had history and lots of scientific discovery. He loves trains and industrial machines, he loved the industrial history at Beamish, the railway museum at York. That sort of thing but in London.

He likes military history too, we've visited HMS Belfast before. Churchill bunker, he liked that. Been to the Imperial War Museum but he might like to go back there.

Been to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge museum, he loved the story of how the bridge was built and looking at the old steam engines that used to power it. But not so interested in the history of the Tower. So it definitely has to have vehicles or science or war.

So that's the sort of thing he's interested in, can anyone think of anything we could visit in London that we haven't seen before?

I wondered about the Thames flood barrier if the information centre there is interesting? I'm guessing that won't take very long to visit though.

Has anyone been on a tour with the London Transport Museum? Are they worthwhile? Some of them sound quite quirky and obviously must have some chat about transport.

Thank you

London museum of water and steam is wonderful.

As is the Brunel Museum, which is a bit more central.

You don't mention the Science Museum but I assume that's because you've been there a billion times already!

Final suggestion is the Docklands Museum - possibly a bit too much social history for your lad but plenty of good stuff about the docks, trade, the Thames etc.

I had looked at the water and steam museum actually but wondered if it was a bit more for younger kids? Maybe not.

I didn't know there was a Brunel museum, that looks good. And there are guided tours that weekend. Would that be a whole day thing or a couple of hours, do you know?

Excellent suggestions, thank you.

Yes we've been to the science museum a million times. And the Natural History Museum

The absolute jackpot is a quirky place with large steam engines and endlessly patient guides to answer his nerdy questions. A Brunel guided tour sounds like it might tick all his boxes!

I did go along when my kids were small, and there are bits aimed at them for sure (the water table etc) but there was enough interest to keep at least this grown-up happy - the main hall is stuffed with all the old pumping engines, and usually one is running on the weekend and you can chat with the engineer about how it works and the mechanisms too. And they have a little steam engine outside and you can see how that works too. And all the stuff about water and sewers is interesting as well!

I'd ring in advance and find out if any of the steam engines will be on when you plan to go, as that's what makes it most fun.

one for another weekend https://crossness.org.uk/

Not central London, but here’s a couple of good options out to the south west of London:

https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/ - out at Weybridge. Really brilliant place packed with enthusiastic volunteers and staff. Less steam though but many many engines.

Also by Kempton Park there’s the Kempton Steam museum - it’s only up and running with steam for some weekends but might be worth knowing about https://kemptonsteam.org/visit-us/prices-opening-times/

Completely different part of the country, so suggesting as a bookmark/ future ref, but if you’re ever up towards Manchester/ Peak District the Anson Poynton Engine Museum sounds like it would be right up his street. I haven’t been for years, so worth checking their website for up to date info.

Medicine? If so, the Old Operating Theatre Museum + The Wellcome Collection.

Postal Museum?

Also - worth checking when the Thames Barrier opens + visitor centre times.

• you can visit a disused tube station, details will come up on Google

If you haven't done it, the London Transport Museum is definitely worth a visit, and they have a schedule of behind-the-scenes tours of abandoned stations and so on. I haven't done one yet, but my train-loving (adult) DS has done several and says they are excellent. https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on-calendar?hidden_london%5B44%5D=44

Oh we've been to the Brooklands museum before and he liked it.

The Anson museum sounds absolutely perfect! He would love that. Maybe a city break to Manchester somrtime and we could visit. I see next door is some sort of mine museum which would also make him happy.

Thanks for all these brilliant recommendations. When you have a particular set of interests you don't always find the good places easily so thank you.

Any more suggestions always welcome.

He's a bit of an oddball is ds, I love when we find a place he loves and I see him come alive and produce all sorts of random facts about the workings of 19th century steam engines or some obscure Crimean war battle.

We've booked the Brunel Museum and guided tour for Sunday morning. I think he'll be happy with that. I'm storing up all your ideas though

Does your son like aviation @Randomchat?
Not London, but Aerospace Bristol is brilliant for a day out imo.

https://aerospacebristol.org/visit

Have a great time at the weekend.

Did you go to the cutty sark when you went to the observatory?

We went to the Brunel Museum guided tour on Sunday morning. So interesting. I even bought a book on Brunel to read.

We walked along the Thames Path to get there which was a lovely walk. Lots to see on the way.

Thank you for all your tips. We'd never have found it without you.