Where to go with under 5's in London?

[pinkmagic1]

We have a weekend planned in London for the end of May and have 2 children of almost 5 and 2.6. I am looking for suggestions on places to visit, also has anyone been to the Royal mews? The whole family love horses and where wondering if this attraction is any good.

A boat down the river to greenwich and then a nice time pottering in Greenwich park? The Maritime Museum at greenwich has a good hands-on section for children that the older one will enjoy. Also the Astronomy museum at the top of the hill - but it is a bit scientific.

The aquarium has been done up and improved - the aquarium followed by the London Eye? And a walk along the S Bank between the Eye and the Royal festival hall - loads and loads of good street entertainers who engage children if you chuck 20p in the hat.

The Peter Pan / princess Diana Memorial playground in Kensington Gardens is great - fantastic pirate ships to climb on, and is free entry.

Duck tours are very popular.

For children that age I would reccomend

London Zoo and regents park is a good day out

a boat trip - to greenwich as blu says, though I would stick to the park and perhaps the hands on bit in the maratime if it is raining (dont bother with the observatory unless its a personal goal of yours! much too busy when we went)

I have no idea about the royal mews though

With kids under five I wouldnt try to do too mmuch - London can be exhausting!

For my 7yo the underground seems to have been the highlight!

The parks are normally a good bet too

London Aquarium.

If you are travelling by train try to get hold of the two for one leaflets as you can get good savings for lots of family attractions, the zoo and aquarium are included.

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Coram's Fields. Not very well known, but really lovely, and free, and easy, and safe. It's outdoors, near Holborn.

I took Ds (4) and DD (2.9) to the South Bank one Sunday afternoon, and we spent most of it looking at the entertainment people (don't know the correct word) you know, the ones where you chuck a coin in and they move for a minute or so. They tend to do a bit more if the children go right up to them!
The aquarium is also close, and ice creams!

They have just reopened the children's area at London Zoo and it is great, especially if it is a nice day as they have a water play area, so take a towel. You could take a boat from Camden Lock down the canal to the zoo to make it even more fun - its only about 5-10 minutes trip.

Natural History Museum is fantastic, especially the dinosaurs bit with the animatronic life size T-Rex (careful if children are the nervous type!). Has the added advantage of being free and a great option if it rains.

Just wandering along the South Bank, looking at the boats and everything going on can be lots of fun for everyone - including a boat trip and the Aquarium is easy (also London Eye, but I always wonder if little ones may be bored with such a long trip on it, they don't usually appreciate views!). There are lots of child friendly places to eat and you could start off in Borough Market if you are into foodie stuff. I would do the market on a Thurs or Friday morning rather than a Saturday though, unless you get there very early it gets too packed to enjoy with children on Saturday.

Open top buses and frog tours also always fun.

Oh - and Changing of The Guard if into horses?

Covent Garden is fun - we enjoyed the silver painted moving people (as Annie Shamrock said) also magicians, jugglers etc and great atmosphere

A bus tour is definitely the best way to see a whole lot of stuff and save your feet

Beware the queues and crowds in national history/science museum - which will be worse if it rains!

We really enjoyed the V&A (ds is 7) - much much quieter but still with loads of amazing things to see. Also free activity back packs which would suit your five yo and the younger one would be able to join in too. (if you do go to the V&A go and see the owen jones exhibition because I adored it - and tell me afterwards that you love his work too!!!)
here A 19th cent creative chappie!

We are literally just back from London houseswap with 3 year old DS. Good days were :

• Covent Garden and a trip to the Transport museum which DS really enjoyed as able to wear bus conductors cap and drive buses and press buttons, quite good fun for adults as well

• Kew Gardens if weather is good as excellent indoor play bit that isn't too horrendous for adults.It is expensive to get in but we spent the whole day there and feels so spacious compared to central London

• I second Blu, the Peter Pan/ Princess Diana play park is amazing, plus they have a cafe that does pizzas as well so you could make a day of it

• Boat trip along the Thames

• Lunch at the Rainforest cafe. Expensive for children at £14.50 for lunch including an activity pack, but DS loved looking at all the animals plus he had his first face painting experience ( although at £5.00 I was hoping he wouldn't want it)

Less successful days were :

• London Zoo best avoided if raining
• Natural History museum, dinosaurs were great but it was so so busy when we were there that DS was hot and bothered
• Science museum, queues were too long so we gave up

Londons fab and we are looking forward to going back in a couple of years time when DS is old enough to enjoy the London Tower and the Dungeons and the Eye.