Going to London for the day...

[BIG-TED]

Taking the girls to London for the day 4 and 7 years old, any suggestions/tours to see some of the sights only there for one day, also any cheap tickets/deals for the EYE ?

Cheers Ted

[Ashley]

Just under London bridge station, where the old London dungeons used to be is a ticket shop that does deals on multiple excursions.

Got to be worth a look.

[Zippeyrude]

look all the sights are free so no worries there

also for kids, the natural history museum could be great fun - all the dinosaur bones etc.

[evilsatan]

National history and science museum are the best two IMO.

For sights you could consider booking the shard, much higher view than the eye...

if its a nice day check out the Thames valley clipper as an alternative to the tube, its a ferry that runs the whole way up the Thames so you can take in the sites as you commute, there is a licensed bar onboard. If you have a travelcard you will get a discounted pass. You can either use it for a single journey or the river roamed is unlimited travel for the day. It runs up to the O2, sometimes its nice to have a spot of lunch there as there are loads of food outlets and its a nice looking area both inside and out.

Covent garden is nice to visit, it's walking distance from Leicester square and Chinatown too.

Even a walk down the Thames is nice on a good day.

[DejaVu]

Walk the Mall, get off at Charing Cross tube station.
Lovely area of London and at the other end is Buckingham Palace, plus it's Free. Win, win.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Buc...235.07,,0,0.73

Loads of other things listed here too -
http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/things-to-do/London

I went Hamleys with my nan when I was about 7 (29 years ago) and still remember it to this day.
Make sure you got some cash though, it's not cheap in there!

[{{909}}]

With only a day there you can easily just visit free places. The ones mentioned here are all good, and also add Camden market which is a little out of the city but its worth a look. It depends on your kids really.

With Covent Garden, and any other open spaces in London you will see plenty of street performers but be aware they can be rather aggressive if you just watch and walk away without dropping a fiver in their hat. They can be good shows but they are usually based around one 5-10 minute act stretched out for an hour with banter and jokes and with just a day it may be worth dragging the kids past them.
There was one particular guy, an aging colored chap who was especially abrasive, really pissed me off.

I remember my first trip to London when I was about 5 and it was so exciting, I was so naive I was convinced I would bump into TV stars just walking around the streets and that alone made the day memorable. Just being on the Themes, having a pigeon shit on my head in Piccadilly circus and seeing the guards outside Buck Palace was enough for me, but I guess times have changed now

[wijit]

At that age group, and if you want to pay it the Duck tour is really good fun. You get on an old WW2 amphibious vehicle drive around a bit, see a few sights and then drive straight into the Thames. There are loads of offers for the Eye, the better ones (as mentioned before) tend to be combination deals. Personally I'd suggest the Eye and a River cruise, both good and take a bit of time from the day without actually missing out.
Hamley's is a great place, but you will need to take a couple of quid. Maybe give the girls a budget each and have a small reserve because they will go over!
One thing I would suggest, and you need to get in early is to try and get in to see Father Christmas there obviously later in the year!) at Harrods. I thin they charge a tenner now, but it is great for small kids.
Natural History Museum is a great visit, the Science museum is too, although since it has been refurbished I find the layout a bit hard going.
The zoo is an amazing visit, but you want good weather to really appreciate it. On good weather, a row around the Serpentine in Hyde Park is enjoyable too. You can do some of the above, and still fit in a look at the Palace and Big Ben. Have a great day, whatever you do.

[rusty]

first few times i took my lad we did the free sites
if you are happy to walk try these below
tube to lesister sq, round china town then walk to trafalger sq, down the mall to Buckingham palace (timed right can see changing of the guard)
though the park, take peanuts to feed squrrals
into back of horse guards, photo by the guards
down pass downing st, then parliament big ben, across river to south bank, see the London eye watch the free shows (put money in their hat) into tate modern
or start at the monument (get there early and go up monument (its about £5) good views, then walk round to tower of London, across tower bridge on to south bank, walk pass hms Belfast, new globe threate, tate modern then go backwards over the first walk above, or cross river and walk up to st pauls and covent garden (bit of a walk)
the museums are ok, ripleys is alright for boys as its full of weird things but costs

[DJ OD]

Would have said the Trocedero, and Funland... But as we are not in the 90's anymore and it's apparently turned into a crack den for yakuza gang initiates, prob best to avoid it now.


DJ OD

[Rhinoz]

I went Hamleys with my nan when I was about 7 (29 years ago) and still remember it to this day.
Make sure you got some cash though, it's not cheap in there!

I remember back in the 80's I would bunk off school & go in there to play the spectrum & Vectrex games all day without spending a penny

My education was damaged by that place in reality :o

[Goldberg]

http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/ (I see already mentioned)

http://www.daysoutuk.com/

Also how are you getting there? If it is by Train then you can get various discounts with your Train Ticket.
Walking around Greenwich and going into the museum is good, plus the view from the hill is pretty special. You are then close to Borough Market where you can grab some very tasty foot/treats before wandering on.

[BIG-TED]

Thanks everybody, i'll ask her who must be obeyed and we'll decide on the "tour"

The train tickets are friends and family ones got a mate who works on the trains and got some cheepo ones.

Ted

[evilsatan]

Would have said the Trocedero, and Funland... But as we are not in the 90's anymore and it's apparently turned into a crack den for yakuza gang initiates, prob best to avoid it now.


DJ OD

Trocedero is just run down now mate, top few floors shut altogether, old arcade games left and a cinema, bowling and overpriced pool tables. Not worth the visit. City hall arcade is slightly better but not by much...

london aquarium is decent too.

[rusty]

if you are going with train tickets you can go to that 2for1 site and get a printable voucher for lots of places in London,
I've found that either get to the places early or just after 1pm to try to avoid the queues
http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london

I print off vouchers for 2 or 3 places then when we get into London we decide where to go

for those that want a bit weirder museam, try gower museam its about 10 mins from Euston, got animals in jars its sort of thing boys of 11 or 12 like, but its only got short opening days and hours

[RSV]

I went with the Mrs last year we did a show on the night, stayed in a hotel, then the next day we did the Tower of London which was great, I definately advise getting the guided tour with one of the Yeoman (Beefeater) as they really do make it interesting and funny.

[QfanatiQ]

It used to be if you have got train tickets into London, you got a lot of money of London Zoo.

That said, kids, Covent Garden, get them to Meat Market (Burger Bar), you will all enjoy it.

2for1 info on london train tickets and London Zoo
http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/zsl-london-zoo

There are a multitude of theatre deals midday for kids

Soho - Lick - Ice Cream Bar, they will love it and you can try the Black Sesame Seed flavour.
http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/lick

What are they into hobbie/entertainment wise?

Q

[BIG-TED]

Had a good day, think we're due a revisit to see some more I'm The future.
Managed leicester square, m & m factory, a trip on the eye, then parliament, big Ben, downing street, cenotaph, Trafalgar square, stopped Off for a bite to eat in little fankies.
Had a walk up the mall to the palace, then off to the natural history museum. The place was rammed in the dinosaur exhibition, but was good just busy. Back on the underground stopped off at Leicester square again to get some ice creams on the way back to the st Pancras.
Made it back knackered and still with lots to see next time.

Thanks for your suggestions folks.

Ted

[Ashley]

That's a day and half, good you enjoyed it too

[rusty]

sounds like you had a good day
next time you go try going the other way
monument-tower of London-hms Belfast-globe theate-new tate galley-St pauls-covent garden
no need to visit each one just go that way round