London - 2 days with kids - ideas ?

jrar

Aside from the obvious (London Eye, Mde. Tussauds, Science Museum, etc.) anyone recommend some slightly less commercial/tourist trail options that kids would really enjoy (2 girls aged 7 & 10) ?

We have 2 full days but I need some options especially if the weather is cold/wet ! ................thanks.

H2G2

RAF Museum http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/

whatnext

You could head out to Greenwich on the Thames Clipper

If you get it from waterloo pier or the london eye you will pass by a lot of Londons major landmarks. http://www.thamesclippers.com/

Family ticket is £25 for the day.

Walk up by the Cutty Sark and into Greenwich Park

http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/greenwich_park/

zagmund

Google "London with kids" and you'll get a few good ideas.

This site tends to be pretty good - http://www.timeout.com/london/kids/ - just remember (as you said yourself) forget about the obvious ones - apart from anything else they are *so obvious* that you will spend hours queueing for them. London takes it out of kids at the best of times so add in queueing or busy attractions and you are almost guaranteed to have tantrums by the end of the day.

One to check out is the South Bank/Royal Festival Hall - http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/ - there's always something to do there for kids and while the cafes outside may be choc-a-bloc you are guaranteed to get space and a seat here.

Another option in the same area is the Tate Modern - somewhere for the kids to have a play around and experience some art at the same time.

This week (I think) is Apple Week in London and Borough Market have what sounds like a fun Apple Day - http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/whatson/apple-day-at-borough-market-article-7109.html

There's all sorts to do - check out the Time Out website linked above and make sure to work your way down the list until you hit something you like. There's bound to be something. Last year mini zag #2 and myself did a Saturday morning trapeze class which we came across on this link. It was great fun, but it's Summer only.

z

muckety

Go to chinatown - did this last year with my kids and they loved it. We had lunch in a chinese restaurant where they ate dim sum, lots of different stuff that they wouldn't have tried before (ask them for a selection if you are not sure what to order).

Fratton Fred

If you are going nearer Christmas, then i would recommend the Christmas tree in Trafalgar square and the lights in Regent street. maybe a trip to Hamlweys as well. If your girls are in to sylvanian families, there is a shop in highbury that sells nothing but, my daughter was amazed by that.

The Tower of london and tower bridge are worth a trip as well, or maybe take a day trip out to Windsor to see the Castle.

WDW1111

HMS Belfast although it may appeal to boys more than girls. Musical - The Lion King is always a big winner with the younger ones. Anyway there is so much in the Science Museum for kids that will keep them well occupied

Cakes.

The West End- I was at Wicked and there was a load of young girls around 8,9,10 years old there amazed with the colours, music etc

3_BOoYA_X

Was there earlier this week, science museum would be brilliant for keeping young kids entertained, educational too! China town was a bit of a let down, was mostly restaurants, no real culture to the area i thought. London Eye is also worth going on too. If you do go to attractions that cost money, pick up a London 2-for-1 guide in any train station, and you'll get tickets BOGOF with a valid train ticket.