Day in London with 5 year old - what’s the top thing you’d do?

[AliasGrape]

We’ll have the best part of a full day there next week. DD wants to see Big Ben and Buckingham Palace so we’ll do that, and also I lived near Tower Bridge for a few years way back when I was first out of uni so we’re going to have a look round there and see where I used to live and obviously the Tower (debating getting tickets to go in, I never did even when I lived there).

Beyond that I’m not really sure, my plan was just to sort of wander and see the main sights but the weather isn’t looking the best and we should probably make a bit more of a structured plan anyway. So what’s the one or two things (aside from what I’ve mentioned) you’d do if you were us?

(I remember being hugely underwhelmed by the Natural History Museum but that’s not to say DD wouldn’t like it, we do the one in Manchester fairly often though).

Just across the bridge from the Palace of Westminster is the London Acquairium. Great for a five year old, especially if the weather's bad!

I’d get on the Thames clipper as far up river as you fancy, and take it down to Greenwich so she can see all the sights.

Lunch in Greenwich, wander round the market, then DLR back to East London- sit at the front so she can “drive”- and head to the Museum of childhood in Bethnal green for an hour or so .

Get the central line to soho, dinner in Chinatown.

Or just do the museums in South Ken.

I’d go to the postal museum - looks amazing

My kids prefer the Science Museum over the Natural History museum.

Faves for my DS at that age were Young V&A, London Transport Museum, Diana Memorial Playground, Nat Hist Mus for the moving dinosaur - don't know if it's still there though. Have fun!

Young V&A has Inside Aardman exhibition on at the moment too!

Ooh, cheers - I fancy that myself - DS is now 19 so not sure I could persuade him 😄

I don’t know - it was my son who mentioned it to me yesterday and he’s 24 🤣 Bit of nostalgia.

There are two great area in the Science Museum (at least there were, when I was in London) Launch Pad, upstairs, and a 'play' area in the basement.

I'd say the Aardman exhibition would be interesting for all ages.

When we took my then 5 year old grandson, we went to the Natural History museum, which he loved; watched the changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace; rode on the Underground; watched street entertainment at Covent Garden and went on a boat trip up the river to Greenwich. He absolutely had a ball but was exhausted!

Aardman exhibition sounds awesome. I’m taking my dc to London next week, they’re 14/17.

Warning.....Aardman Exhibition is apparently SOLD OUT of tickets for half term.
At 5 a lot of children just like going on the London buses and the tube. It's quite exciting at that age.
Tower of London is brilliant but maybe not for a 5 year old.
@AliasGrape what are her favourite types of things?

It's sold out until 3rd March.

Ride on the DLR (stand at the end of the platform to get "train driver" position) out to the Museum of London Docklands and do the mudlarks play area and the shipping/pirates bit of the main gallery.

We didn't have much luck with the Tower of London at that age - too overwhelming and crowded for our two so we ended up shelling out a huge amount of entry for not much.

Second the postal museum - it's brilliant, as is the nearby canal museum. Also agree with the suggestion to ride on buses and trains a lot. If the cable car is running that can be fun.

Thank you all! We've had a development since I posted in that I noticed some little spots on her face, lifted her top and sure enough she's got chicken pox! It's been going around school so shouldn't be a huge shock but thought we'd got away with it (INSET day today ahead of half term next week.) The spots weren't there last night at bathtime, and she's fine in herself but we'll see how she goes.

Trying to move our plans till towards the end of the week when hopefully she'll have scabbed over, but if we don't make it I'll definitely plan it in for the next hols and still take all your suggestions on board.

@Needmorelego she's pretty easily amused honestly, she loves animals and space but I think she would love just riding the tube/ trains and buses. A boat trip would also be well received too. I quite like the idea of some of the huge stores on the one hand, but it could easily get both hellish in terms of crowds and expensive/ stressful with her in tow so perhaps we'll swerve that.

@AliasGrape oh no ! Poor girl getting chicken pox just as it's half term 🙁
I hope she doesn't get too itchy.
If she like animals then there's a little zoo in Battersea Park.

London Zoo. Best day out x

It's not a great time of year for it, big Ben takes about a minute then look at the Palace through the railings.

Tower of London bits like ravens and armoury could be fun but most would be uninteresting at the exhibits at that age.

Sight seeing is difficult too - pointing out landmarks from a bus or boat isn't much fun for most.

I'd say one of the more interesting interactive museums, or see if you can find an age appropriate ghost /Harry potter/Paddington walking tour.

Aquarium is a good shout, the zoo isn't the best in winter because lots of the big animals like to be indoors in bad weather.

The Harry Potter studios is about an hour by coach from London and you can spend hours there, my DC loved it at all ages. Could do London sights in the morning then studios afternoon and evening.

Paddington experience? There are usually activities for kids at the Southbank centre nearby. Hope the cp clears up soon.

Poor her, I hope she will be better soon.

We (just DH and me) went yesterday to the Natural History Museum, we had tickets for the Wildlife photography exhibition. It was mayhem and we didn't even go anywhere the dinosaurs. Unless you have an absolute dino fan, just don't do it.

We love the Tower but DD was taken to museums, historical sites, castles since she was born so with 5 she absolutely loved it but it depends a lot on the child.

The Transport Museum is nice, the childhood one (part of the V&A) is also good. The aquarium is nice if you don't have one near you.
The Cutty Sark in Greenwich and the Maritime Museum, the museum is free, the ship costs.

We went in December and did a boat trip (I just paid for the London Eye tour, but you can get the clipper for cheaper), Hamleys, the Science Museum, the Transport Museum and some general Covent Garden wandering. The biggest thrill for him was probably his getting the Tube and a double decker bus tbh.

All of them were great with a 4 year old, but I’d say the science museum was the best if you go to the Wonder Lab.

I really recommend the postal museum - good play area and my 2 boys loved the train when they were little

Science museum has an indoor play area in the basement that is fun.

i take my 5 year old into London a lot and he enjoys London eye, aquarium, Tower Bridge glass walkway, and mostly riding the DLR (get a front seat) and the cable car

Also don’t underestimate how tired the get - even getting the tube is still a lot of walking. To have a rest yesterday we hoped on a bus along Oxford street for a ride and to rest the legs with out all the walking in the tube