ChatterBank12 mins ago
Ideas For London With Grandchildren
17 Answers
We are taking our 15 and 8 year old grandchildren to London soon, it’s a coach trip so only There for about 7 hours. I would like to take them to madam tussauds (which tesco vouchers will virtually cover). We can get off coach at the embankment or theatre land. I wondered about getting a tour bus ticket to get to madam tussauds and use to see other sites that day but which would you recommend? I am unable to walk as far as I could so need the option with as little walking as possible. Or any other ideas to make the most of our time would be great - youngest has never been to London before.
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Approx Cab fares are here:
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You can calculate the distance in Google Maps.
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You can calculate the distance in Google Maps.
If this is their first visit then a bus tour is a must. The museums are fabulous, but save them fro next time. This time they need to see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the rest. No need to go inside any of them this time, just ride round and get an overall picture of our capital city.
The only challenge is picking your route. There are several sightseeing bus companies all operating several different routes, no single tour will cover the whole of London. Google then to find one that picks up at Embankment and covers the main sights and switch to another that drops off at Madame Tussauds. Others here might be able to help with that research.
The only challenge is picking your route. There are several sightseeing bus companies all operating several different routes, no single tour will cover the whole of London. Google then to find one that picks up at Embankment and covers the main sights and switch to another that drops off at Madame Tussauds. Others here might be able to help with that research.
This tour covers a lot of sights and starts a 3 minute walk from The Embankment
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You could then take the tube to Madam Tussauds
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You could then take the tube to Madam Tussauds
I used to take school trips to London and I've done loads of independent trips with kids, so here are my thoughts:
1. Madame Tussaud's???
No! no! no! Being dragged around a place filled with wax effigies of people you've largely never heard of is definitely NOT a fun day out for kids! I've never understood why people take their kids there. Avoid!
2. I note that the Tower of London has been suggested above. In my opinion it's vastly overpriced and extremely BORING!
3. The Science Museum is undoubtedly the best place to take youngsters in London. It's massive, so you need to be selective about what you look at. (The aeronautics and space sections are well worth a visit). However the star attraction is undoubtedly the interactive section. Unlike most of the rest of the museum, you have to pay for entry (with booking tickets online highly recommended) but it's TOTALLY UNMISSABLE!
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4. I see that the Natural History Museum has been suggested above. It's right next door to the Science Museum, so the two can easily be paired together but it's definitely a place where you need to be selective with regard to the galleries that you visit and also what you choose to look at within those galleries. (Much of the Natural History Museum is totally boring for youngsters). For example, the dinosaurs gallery might sound inviting but a lot of it is filled with boring display cases filled with fragments of teeth and bones. However if you bypass those and go straight to the end of the gallery, you'll encounter a moving, roaring Tyrannosaurus Rex - now that IS fun for kids!
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5. The V&A is just across the road from the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. Much of it would be of little interest to kids but there might be a few galleries or activities that would merit a look:
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6. A river trip can be fun as long as you keep it SHORT. (Kids get bored very quickly on boats!). Avoid the mega-expensive tour boats though. Just use the river bus services. (The crew provide a 'free' commentary and then hold their hands out for a tip when you get off).
So I suggest leaving the coach at Embankment. Then join an eastbound river bus service at either Westminster Pier or Embankment Pier for the short journey up to Tower Pier. That takes in lots of the sites, such as the Houses of Parliament, Cleopatra's Needle, the London Monument, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and much more:
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From Tower Pier, follow the signs to Tower Hill underground station. Take a westbound Circle or District Line train to South Kensington and follow the signs to the museums.
1. Madame Tussaud's???
No! no! no! Being dragged around a place filled with wax effigies of people you've largely never heard of is definitely NOT a fun day out for kids! I've never understood why people take their kids there. Avoid!
2. I note that the Tower of London has been suggested above. In my opinion it's vastly overpriced and extremely BORING!
3. The Science Museum is undoubtedly the best place to take youngsters in London. It's massive, so you need to be selective about what you look at. (The aeronautics and space sections are well worth a visit). However the star attraction is undoubtedly the interactive section. Unlike most of the rest of the museum, you have to pay for entry (with booking tickets online highly recommended) but it's TOTALLY UNMISSABLE!
https:/
4. I see that the Natural History Museum has been suggested above. It's right next door to the Science Museum, so the two can easily be paired together but it's definitely a place where you need to be selective with regard to the galleries that you visit and also what you choose to look at within those galleries. (Much of the Natural History Museum is totally boring for youngsters). For example, the dinosaurs gallery might sound inviting but a lot of it is filled with boring display cases filled with fragments of teeth and bones. However if you bypass those and go straight to the end of the gallery, you'll encounter a moving, roaring Tyrannosaurus Rex - now that IS fun for kids!
https:/
5. The V&A is just across the road from the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. Much of it would be of little interest to kids but there might be a few galleries or activities that would merit a look:
https:/
6. A river trip can be fun as long as you keep it SHORT. (Kids get bored very quickly on boats!). Avoid the mega-expensive tour boats though. Just use the river bus services. (The crew provide a 'free' commentary and then hold their hands out for a tip when you get off).
So I suggest leaving the coach at Embankment. Then join an eastbound river bus service at either Westminster Pier or Embankment Pier for the short journey up to Tower Pier. That takes in lots of the sites, such as the Houses of Parliament, Cleopatra's Needle, the London Monument, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and much more:
https:/
From Tower Pier, follow the signs to Tower Hill underground station. Take a westbound Circle or District Line train to South Kensington and follow the signs to the museums.
^^^ The Eye is expensive and, unless you pre-book online, can have massive queues (even at this time of the year). The cable car is cheaper and much more fun!
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