What to do with kids in London?
September 8, 2011 2:52 AM Subscribe
Tell me cool things to do with kids in London!
I am trying to plan activities/hotels for (American) kids visiting London for the first time! (All aged between 7 and 11). I have the traditional guidebook ideas, but I'd love more, even quirky ones. Also, I'd love to know of the major attractions, what's really worth doing -- what is an absolute must-see, even if it's cheesy?
Hotel/kid-friendly restaurants/neighborhoods to stay in also very welcome.
Sorry to make this so broad, but I'm really open to all kinds of suggestions!
(This has been asked before, but not recently - thanks!)
I am trying to plan activities/hotels for (American) kids visiting London for the first time! (All aged between 7 and 11). I have the traditional guidebook ideas, but I'd love more, even quirky ones. Also, I'd love to know of the major attractions, what's really worth doing -- what is an absolute must-see, even if it's cheesy?
Hotel/kid-friendly restaurants/neighborhoods to stay in also very welcome.
Sorry to make this so broad, but I'm really open to all kinds of suggestions!
(This has been asked before, but not recently - thanks!)
TimeOut London's kids section would be a good place to start.
posted by girlgenius at 3:03 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by girlgenius at 3:03 AM on September 8, 2011
If you don't take them to the Science Museum, you'll have failed as a parent*.
*kidding! not really, I'm serious, it's so so so great, if I ever grow out of loving it then I am officially Old.
posted by greenish at 3:10 AM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
*kidding! not really, I'm serious, it's so so so great, if I ever grow out of loving it then I am officially Old.
posted by greenish at 3:10 AM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
London Eye, Greenwhich ferry, traditional double decker London bus on route 9 to Traflager Square. Any tube trip is good for fun, but Angel has a 200 ft escalator which may be of particular interest as it is the 3rd longest in Europe. Science museum ace, the natural History museum has dinosaurs, and the Transport Museum is both centrally located at Covent Garden and literal hours of fun.
posted by DarlingBri at 3:13 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by DarlingBri at 3:13 AM on September 8, 2011
London Aquarium was a big hit with ours. They also liked going on the Thames Cruiser down to Greenwich, and the DLR.
posted by crocomancer at 3:29 AM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by crocomancer at 3:29 AM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you're at the Science Museum and your kids like dinosaurs then you would be failing miserably if you miss the Natural History Museum which is just round the corner. Entry to both is FREE.
posted by biffa at 3:49 AM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by biffa at 3:49 AM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: whoops, missed the recent posting! sorry! But yes, ideas for younger kids as well would be great. These are all terrific -- thanks so much!
posted by EtTuHealy at 3:57 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by EtTuHealy at 3:57 AM on September 8, 2011
There's a brass rubbing center in the crypt of St Martin in the Fields. You'll want the seven year old to be able to color in the lines though, or be prepared to help them. Admittedly, my brother and I grew up with a big brass rubbing hanging on the wall, but we found brass rubbing centers totally awesome, even though they're usually hard to find (ahem, York), but this one's fairly easy (the crypt is mostly a cafe, but there's a side room/alcove).
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich might be hit or miss. It's an awful lot of models of ships. The Naval Observatory wasn't interesting to me as a teenager, so I doubt it'll go over well with younger kids.
My brother went to London with my grandad at maybe the age of 9. He really liked the Tower of London and the Imperial War Museum. Depending on the kids, the IWM may or may not be a good idea. Or be prepared to split them up, so it may be less feasible if you only have one adult. (I got left sitting on a bench outside the Holocaust Exhibition at Eden Camp in Yorkshire because my mother wouldn't let me go in, while my younger brother happily went through. I sat on some benches at transport museums, too because I was afraid of tanks.)
The Cabinet War Rooms are brilliant, but probably boring for younger kids. But if your 7 seven year old is into the Second World War, they might go for it.
I don't know about the possibilities around London, but at that age, my brother and I really liked castles. (We were even impressed by Scarborough Castle, which is pretty much a ruin.)
posted by hoyland at 4:22 AM on September 8, 2011
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich might be hit or miss. It's an awful lot of models of ships. The Naval Observatory wasn't interesting to me as a teenager, so I doubt it'll go over well with younger kids.
My brother went to London with my grandad at maybe the age of 9. He really liked the Tower of London and the Imperial War Museum. Depending on the kids, the IWM may or may not be a good idea. Or be prepared to split them up, so it may be less feasible if you only have one adult. (I got left sitting on a bench outside the Holocaust Exhibition at Eden Camp in Yorkshire because my mother wouldn't let me go in, while my younger brother happily went through. I sat on some benches at transport museums, too because I was afraid of tanks.)
The Cabinet War Rooms are brilliant, but probably boring for younger kids. But if your 7 seven year old is into the Second World War, they might go for it.
I don't know about the possibilities around London, but at that age, my brother and I really liked castles. (We were even impressed by Scarborough Castle, which is pretty much a ruin.)
posted by hoyland at 4:22 AM on September 8, 2011
OMG Imperial War Museum! Extremely awesome. Tons of planes!
posted by DarlingBri at 4:30 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by DarlingBri at 4:30 AM on September 8, 2011
I took my daughters to London when they were at those ages, and they really liked the jump on-jump off tourist bus. When they saw something they wanted to check out, we were able to hop off and then get back on the bus and see more.
But the biggest hit on the trip was riding horses in Hyde Park.
posted by kinetic at 4:33 AM on September 8, 2011
But the biggest hit on the trip was riding horses in Hyde Park.
posted by kinetic at 4:33 AM on September 8, 2011
And foodwise, they got a huge kick out of going into British markets and just looking at the different foods and packaging. They tried every different Cadbury bar, etc.
posted by kinetic at 4:34 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by kinetic at 4:34 AM on September 8, 2011
If they don't mind the mildly gruesome exhibits (which my son insists we visit every Christmas since he was 7) The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons is really interesting. From September 13th there's a thought-provoking exhibition on the science of disability
posted by Wilder at 4:36 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by Wilder at 4:36 AM on September 8, 2011
The British Library near Fenchurch St/Kings Cross has a free exhibit of rare manuscripts. It has stuff like Gutenburg Bibles and Magna Cartas, but also Beatles lyrics hand written on the back of a napkin and audio recordings from the 1800s (was it Florence Nightingale?). Not a whole day out for kids, but a nice 40minute thing to see that doesn't cost anything and is pretty cool.
posted by bystander at 4:49 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by bystander at 4:49 AM on September 8, 2011
Seconding Crocomacer's idea of a trip on the DLR - they're driverless trains in East London so you can sit right at the front and pretend to be the driver yourself - what 7 year old doesn't want to do that?
Trip idea - go to the Tower of London in the morning, jump on the DLR at Tower Gateway and take it to Cutty Sark (you'll have to change - either at Westferry or Poplar). Once there you can either do the Maritime Museum or wonder up to the Observatory and stand on the Meridian - how often do you get the chance to straddle the hemispheres?
Also recommending the Golden Hinde, a working replica of the ship Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe in back in the 16th century. You can get on board and run around and pretend to be Elizabethan sailors etc. Parents should watch out for the low ceilings. After that if they need tiring out walk across the Thames and climb up the Monument for views across the City (a lot cheaper than the London Eye with a greater sense of self-satisfaction), plus you get a certificate! Possibly combine with a walk along the South Bank (stopping in at the Tate Modern for some culture.
Musicals etc always fun, but can be a bit pricey. Natural History Museum/Science Museum a must.
posted by muthecow at 5:09 AM on September 8, 2011
Trip idea - go to the Tower of London in the morning, jump on the DLR at Tower Gateway and take it to Cutty Sark (you'll have to change - either at Westferry or Poplar). Once there you can either do the Maritime Museum or wonder up to the Observatory and stand on the Meridian - how often do you get the chance to straddle the hemispheres?
Also recommending the Golden Hinde, a working replica of the ship Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe in back in the 16th century. You can get on board and run around and pretend to be Elizabethan sailors etc. Parents should watch out for the low ceilings. After that if they need tiring out walk across the Thames and climb up the Monument for views across the City (a lot cheaper than the London Eye with a greater sense of self-satisfaction), plus you get a certificate! Possibly combine with a walk along the South Bank (stopping in at the Tate Modern for some culture.
Musicals etc always fun, but can be a bit pricey. Natural History Museum/Science Museum a must.
posted by muthecow at 5:09 AM on September 8, 2011
Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern, Millenium Bridge, Whispering Gallery at St Paul's Cathedral is a good short walk.
221 Baker St, Regent's Park, London Zoo, Regent's Canal, Camden Lock and ice cream at Chin Chin Labs is a good day out.
The Maze at Hampton Court.
posted by roofus at 5:50 AM on September 8, 2011
221 Baker St, Regent's Park, London Zoo, Regent's Canal, Camden Lock and ice cream at Chin Chin Labs is a good day out.
The Maze at Hampton Court.
posted by roofus at 5:50 AM on September 8, 2011
Sorry I didn't previously notice the bit about hotels. We actually stayed in Greenwich at the Novotel. It was a little bit cramped for space, but the hotel was nice, and the breakfast was good. You are out of the centre, but it's next to the DLR so only 20 mins or so to get in and Greenwich has plenty of restaurants and attractions in its own right.
posted by crocomancer at 5:59 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by crocomancer at 5:59 AM on September 8, 2011
The Victoria and Albert museum is just across the road from the Science museum and the Natural History museum, and it has some pretty good fun activity backpacks which lead you around an exhibit. You can get them from the main entrance, I think.
posted by fizban at 6:34 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by fizban at 6:34 AM on September 8, 2011
War Horse at the New London Theatre. It's not cheap, but it's pretty amazing. We took ours (8, 6) last summer. They loved it.
posted by sagwalla at 7:11 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by sagwalla at 7:11 AM on September 8, 2011
Trip on the duck boat?
posted by Segundus at 4:00 AM on September 8 [+] [!]
The duck boat is rubbish - took my two young nephews on it and grown up and kids alike were bored silly; it's on the water for about 10 minutes and the appalling rent-a-cockney doing the commentary was both offensive and clueless. Even trotted out that one about the etymology of wharf. Grrrr
The Thames Clipper is a good alternative, because it's fast and what kid doesn't like going fast?
I've not been to either, but the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green always looks fun, as does Monster Supplies at the Ministry of Stories in Hoxton
posted by fatfrank at 7:35 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by Segundus at 4:00 AM on September 8 [+] [!]
The duck boat is rubbish - took my two young nephews on it and grown up and kids alike were bored silly; it's on the water for about 10 minutes and the appalling rent-a-cockney doing the commentary was both offensive and clueless. Even trotted out that one about the etymology of wharf. Grrrr
The Thames Clipper is a good alternative, because it's fast and what kid doesn't like going fast?
I've not been to either, but the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green always looks fun, as does Monster Supplies at the Ministry of Stories in Hoxton
posted by fatfrank at 7:35 AM on September 8, 2011
Aha! You have kids with you and you're in London. So take this opportunity and visit Coram's Fields near Russell Square. Without kids, you're not allowed in.
posted by randomination at 7:46 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by randomination at 7:46 AM on September 8, 2011
You don't say when you're going. If it's December (or last week of November-ish, and maybe a few days into January?) there's a German Christmas market in Hyde Park that has rides and other kid-friendly things. And walking through Chinatown around Chinese New Year is great.
Hotel: I don't know that there is another hotel that kids 7-11 would find as cool as either the St. Martin Lane or its sister hotel, The Sanderson.
For food, if you see anything on the menu you think they'll like, I recommend Inamo, where your table is like a big iPad that you use to order. If you want to expose them to some Indian food, I recommend Tamarind, which is sort of nouvelle cuisine and has terrific service. I'm counting on them to find something my 6-year-old will like when we go there in a few months.
posted by troywestfield at 7:47 AM on September 8, 2011
Hotel: I don't know that there is another hotel that kids 7-11 would find as cool as either the St. Martin Lane or its sister hotel, The Sanderson.
For food, if you see anything on the menu you think they'll like, I recommend Inamo, where your table is like a big iPad that you use to order. If you want to expose them to some Indian food, I recommend Tamarind, which is sort of nouvelle cuisine and has terrific service. I'm counting on them to find something my 6-year-old will like when we go there in a few months.
posted by troywestfield at 7:47 AM on September 8, 2011
Response by poster: Wow! Thanks so much everyone -- these are AMAZING! Keep 'em comin'!
posted by EtTuHealy at 8:43 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by EtTuHealy at 8:43 AM on September 8, 2011
I first went to London at age 14, and then again thereafter. These should still be good:
- Kew Gardens
- Harrods food halls (not what they used to be, I know)
- one of the Saturday markets
- the Tower of London tour that shows off the crown jewels & captured elephant war armor
- Hamley's toy store
- Her Majesty's Foot Guard's Toy Soldier Centre just outside Buckingham Palace
- Climb all the way up to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral, if they don't mind heights
posted by wenestvedt at 9:47 AM on September 8, 2011
- Kew Gardens
- Harrods food halls (not what they used to be, I know)
- one of the Saturday markets
- the Tower of London tour that shows off the crown jewels & captured elephant war armor
- Hamley's toy store
- Her Majesty's Foot Guard's Toy Soldier Centre just outside Buckingham Palace
- Climb all the way up to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral, if they don't mind heights
posted by wenestvedt at 9:47 AM on September 8, 2011
I'd recommend London Wetland Centre. You have to pay to get in, but there's beautiful wildlife and scenery, and every kid I've seen there has been having a blast.
posted by Perodicticus potto at 10:33 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by Perodicticus potto at 10:33 AM on September 8, 2011
We were just there with our 7-year old this spring, and she was spectacularly unimpressed by famous buildings. So, stuff that grownups or older kids might like (Big Ben, London Eye, churches, cathedrals, etc.) were of no interest whatsoever.
That said, things that were a hit were: Aquarium (near London Eye), Zoo (Regent's Park), the London Transport museum (near Covent Garden--terrific "stamp trail" to keep kids engaged thru the museum, plus lots of cool trains to climb into, etc.) and riding the double decker busses (anywhere, no need to even have a particular destination in mind). Also, there are some fabulous kid playgrounds in the city--the Diana Princes of Wales playground in Kensington Gardens, the above-mentioned Coram's Fields, and an awesome one on the west side of Holland Park (it had a very cool zip line!).
As others mention, the science and natural history museums are close to each other, and worth the trip. The best part of the science museum is the hands-on section, if your time is limited an hour or two there will give you 80% of that museum's fun in my view. My personal fav museum is the V&A (also near science and history museums), and there may well be things there that would interest your group--costumes, jewelry, armor, etc.).
Best tip I can offer: most places that have admission requirements offer discounted tickets if you purchase in advance. Even better than the discount is the fact that you can bypass the line in most cases. Also look for late-day entry discounts--we purchased a day ahead tickets for the Aquarium, and bypassed at least 150 people in line at 3pm. Plenty of time to see everything there before it closed.
Have a great time!
posted by msbubbaclees at 10:33 AM on September 8, 2011
That said, things that were a hit were: Aquarium (near London Eye), Zoo (Regent's Park), the London Transport museum (near Covent Garden--terrific "stamp trail" to keep kids engaged thru the museum, plus lots of cool trains to climb into, etc.) and riding the double decker busses (anywhere, no need to even have a particular destination in mind). Also, there are some fabulous kid playgrounds in the city--the Diana Princes of Wales playground in Kensington Gardens, the above-mentioned Coram's Fields, and an awesome one on the west side of Holland Park (it had a very cool zip line!).
As others mention, the science and natural history museums are close to each other, and worth the trip. The best part of the science museum is the hands-on section, if your time is limited an hour or two there will give you 80% of that museum's fun in my view. My personal fav museum is the V&A (also near science and history museums), and there may well be things there that would interest your group--costumes, jewelry, armor, etc.).
Best tip I can offer: most places that have admission requirements offer discounted tickets if you purchase in advance. Even better than the discount is the fact that you can bypass the line in most cases. Also look for late-day entry discounts--we purchased a day ahead tickets for the Aquarium, and bypassed at least 150 people in line at 3pm. Plenty of time to see everything there before it closed.
Have a great time!
posted by msbubbaclees at 10:33 AM on September 8, 2011
Ooops, can't believe I forgot to mention the British Museum--mummies were a bit hit!
posted by msbubbaclees at 10:37 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by msbubbaclees at 10:37 AM on September 8, 2011
If you don't take them to the Science Museum, you'll have failed as a parent*.
This.
Also, the London Eye. It';s a hell of a view from up there. And, take 'em to Hamleys on Regent Street (and make sure your wallet is stuffed before you do). Take them on the tube. The tube amazed me when I was a kid, but then again I did come from a benighted northern English town. Your kids may be more metropolitan. Make sure they ride top deck on a double decker bus, too.
posted by Decani at 12:29 PM on September 8, 2011
This.
Also, the London Eye. It';s a hell of a view from up there. And, take 'em to Hamleys on Regent Street (and make sure your wallet is stuffed before you do). Take them on the tube. The tube amazed me when I was a kid, but then again I did come from a benighted northern English town. Your kids may be more metropolitan. Make sure they ride top deck on a double decker bus, too.
posted by Decani at 12:29 PM on September 8, 2011
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And it included recs for teenagers (one of them 12 yrs old) many of which also apply to younger kids.
posted by vacapinta at 2:54 AM on September 8, 2011