Hi all.
Just after a little of your knowledge and suggestions. Tomorrow, we the family are going for a day trip to London.
Was just wondering if there are any must sees. Me, wife 14 and 6 year old daughters and 2 year old son.
On the list so far are London eye (booked already) Tower of London and Buckingham palace since the little girl has been doing about them in school. Our train is scheduled to arrive at 9 and train back is at 8.
Take it tube is best way to get round.
Thanks in advance
Steve

Would def recommend the aquarium!!
My little one loved it!!

Would you mind if I piggy back on this too. We are doing the same on Saturday. :-)

We are doing science museum me thinks but I need more ideas

Get the day travel tickets for the tube. Then you can jump on and off all day.



[Edited on 13/2/13 by jossey]

best ways to get around...
walk,
upstairs on a bus,
tube,

get an oyster card, or travelcard, (I think you can still get family travelcards, shall check...)

OR
get a one day site seeing bus ticket, it does the rounds to all the places you are likely to want.

Thanks will look into aquarium. I was thinking of museums but they seem to close around 5. Initially I was going to go there last when it had gone dark.
I looked at the bus tours but they seem little expensive. Around £70 for the ones I looked at.

[Edited on 13/2/13 by steve8274]

Somerset house skating is fun but a bit grown up. London Zoo might be a bit cold and is expensive. Trip up the thames is cheap. How about the cable car?

Science Museum , South Kensington
If you don't mind walking.try the stroll along south bank from the Eye to Tower Bridge. Plenty of eating places and some cover from the rain

It's a bit further out there is MB world and brookands museum!

Science museum free and great fun
Horse Guards to see horses that's on Whitehall
St James park otherside of horse guards parade
Covent garden, food, music, street artists
St Katherine's dock, Dickens tavern if you are near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge
The bus if you have time and want a view
The tube for quick transit of longer distance

couldn't find any family travelcard info,
but under 11s travel free on bus and tube, (and I believe under 16s on buses, and some other discounts on tube)

the cable car is actually quite a way from central london

edit:
which station do you come into?

[Edited on 13/2/13 by gremlin1234]

Thanks guys. Some great suggestions. Looked at the horse guards off Whitehall. Think that is at 11 and obviously not far from downing st or Big Ben.
Will be travelling into euston

+1 on the boat trip. You can use it to get from the Eye to the Tower and get a commentary on the way.

+1 also on the bus for a good view and tube for getting around fast.

Bit cold at the time of year, but lunch in Hyde Park is relaxing.

Always lots to look at in Harods and that is close to the museums.

i think you Willie lucky to take in the three thongs you already have planned. i would guess the travel Im between can add something as already mentioned.
y brother is actually a captain and fleet manager of Thames clippers. these are the high speed commuter boats you will see bombing up and down the river. these are great by being fast, warm, on time and gives the best view of London. also very exciting for children.

not too sure about oyster cards as a good idea as you will need 4 i think. although that will solve all day travel the minimum £10 top up against £8 all day travel card means you may pay more. when at euston go and speak to the ticket office and see what they say.

other than that, plan to eat out not at the musiums and walk where you can.

There are many iconic places and London in a day is impossible so Taylor it to you.

Hamleys? (if you dare!)

Science museum is great and they do shows for kids in the basement, we saw bubbles last month. The Natural history museum is just along the road too (exhibition road is pretty much pedestrianised now) just go to the Dinosaur bit tho. its bit boring after the science museum! Covent Garden for the street entertainers.

The Shard is open for public views from the top.

Natural History Museum, but you need weeks to see that

Covent Garden

Walk along the Victoria Embankment

Take a cab for the fun of it

Trafalgar Square

Piccadilly Circus

Also go along with recommending St Katherine Dock esp the Dickens - dustbin lid sized pizzas Go NW from here for approx 10 mins and you get into the City proper and could see LLoyds of London 1984 Building. Go west along Leadenhall Street and Cornhill and you'll see Bank of England

Think you may be needing a few more days

ATB

Simon

Have a look at the London monument, it's a stone Doric column to commemorate the great fire of London. You climb up the inside of the winding staircase and then out onto a viewing platform. With great views over London. Not really suited to the 2 years old but the kids will love it.

Andy.

+1 for the boat trip.

I worked in London for 10 years and never saw any of it, until my kids were doing great fire of London at school - we took a trip on an open top bus and was REALLY interesting - would defo recommend it.

Honestly, the aquarium is no sea world (it's pants!)

Make sure you get a characteur done in Leicester square - you pay loads for it, but it's such a funny momento of the day (I've got mine on the wall in my study)
Covent garden, Leicester sq, strand and picadilly are all on top of each other, so just walk.

Hope it's a nice day tomorrow

If you like your food, get off at london bridge and have a look at borough market, great place!

Boat trip is good, I went on it late last year.

I would suggest that cramming loads in isn't worth your while, have a few main attractions and try and do a bit of walking as you do see a lot of stuff wandering about london.

Covent garden way is great, lots to see there and it'd be good to see all the theatres lit up. If youre around there its also worth popping to china town as it's very close!

Used to be in long distance relationship with a London girl. I have done most things. The best thing we did was a monopoly board pub crawl. An alcoholic drink on every square. Not sure its suitable for your kids though.

Thanks everyone for the responses. Plenty for me to ponder on

I was here not that long ago, very good quality food and very well priced for London.


http://www.sohojoe.net/

Don't plan too much, especially with young kids!!