Weekend in London with 2 boys under 4.

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After loving London when we lived there a few years ago we're keen to go for a weekend break. Fine when we didn't have little ones however now with a 3 year old and 16 month old is this a stupid idea?! Would love to hear any tips you have (even if it's to say "DON'T DO IT").

Keen for ideas on activities, places to go, things to see, places to eat etc etc. It would probably be early Autumn timing wise and we'd stay central - Euston, Marylebone or Charing Cross/Strand area. Previous trips have been all about shopping, eating and drinking - not the receipe for a fun weekend with 2 little boys. I have a feeling I've got my rose tinted specs on but please tell me it'll be great!

Thanks all.

There are all sorts of things you could do to entertain small children, but personally I'm not convinced of the benefits of coming to London to do small-child-friendly things unless you like them too. Children a bit older really enjoy the great things for kids like the museums. I would leave them with someone and have a drinking / eating / shopping w/e on your own and then bring the children when they are a little older.

or...if you must...children do seem to enjoy Tate Modern and a walk along the river past the entertainers on the S Bank between the Eye and the RFH. You could also go to the Aquarium in County Hall. And on the Eye - though children are not always impressed. get a boat down the river to greenwich - and the DLR through Docklands (small kids love sitting at the front of the driverless trains and 'driving' them) and a trip to the Docklands Museum. There may be lots of interesting and free child friendly events in the RFH foyer, esp if half term.

The tube itself is exciting for them at that age. Princess dis memorial playground is cool. Book a hotel with a pool if possible and go back for a family swim/ chill out time where it all gets too much. Don't try and do too much!

Sit up the front on a driverless DLR train and pretend to be a driver!, Princess diana playground Kensinton Gardens, Ride on a red bus, and tube, Science museum and or dinasaurs at natural history only if you can go when its quiet and get in and out quickly. Battersea Zoo ?? Hamleys. My son liked the twinkly lights in Harrods!!

If it's a nice day wander around St Katherines Dock. Expensive boat to see, ducks to feed, lots of things to climb on and over, little walkways and crossings here and there as well as larger areas to run round in. Lots of places to stop and get a bite & a drink and some shops too. Also they have a massive wall of modern art and you can look for all sorts of shapes and pictures in that (hand prints, fish etc). It's just a little walk along (other side of tower bridge) to the tower of london. Probably too young to go in but exciting to see the castle and the beef eaters, and again lots of space to chase pigeons-- run round.
www.skdocks.co.uk/

South bank, south bank, south bank. Its the ONLY place I've found where both toddlers and adults can be happy. Tate Modern, car free so they can run, London Eye, boats to watch, usually street performers.