HarrisonFamily Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 My husband works away alot and is put up in lovely hotels.... We now have enough points to stay in a very posh London hotel near Westminster for Friday & Saturday night early December.... I am very excited and nervous - it will me and the 2 children aged 7 & 9 (husband away again...), I am guessing the chickens and dogs will not be allowed so will have to stay at home We have been to the science museum and natural history museum -which my children loved... So can anyone recommend any good child friendly museums, best places too see Christmas lights ? Ways to eat without costing too much (the hotel is out of our price range......) I don't like overcrowded places much but am hoping being able to escape back to the hotel will help.... Thank you - I do like planning and having something to look forward too..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 We recently went to The British Museum to see the Pompeii exhibition, which was brilliant. I am not sure if it is still running , but you can check out their site & see what they have one (best avoid the Shunga exhibition though - we are seeing that next month!) The building itself is stunning too. The Tower of London is always good. The other thing we did & which we loved was a Duck Tour, but I believe they are suspended at the moment. Going the Harrods for a wander is great too - the Christmas section is breathtaking, as are the food halls. Chinatown & Covent Gardens are also always well worth a visit. I think Regent Street is the best place to see the lights....how about taking them on a short night time London taxi ride to see them all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 The boats that taxi up and down the Thames are great - they leave from outside the London Eye which would be really handy for you. A great way of seeing the sights! They also go to the Tower of London if you wanted to do that too. They also go down to the O2, where there are restaurants inside - just avoid just before and just after a show! Walking from Westminster to Covent Garden is really nice - in fact walking most places across London is good. Most places are much closer than you think - and avoids using the Underground! Covent Garden is great to visit - but eating around there can be dodgy - lots of tourists and many restaurants take advantage of this and food is overpriced and pretty naff. To be honest, never had a great meal in London that wasn't expensive - I'd stick to the big chains - no big surprises with them. Christmas Lights - just walk up and down Oxford Street/Regents Street. It will be packed, but only way to do it! Otherwise the big museums are always good - I like Natural History personally. Transport Museum is also good, again in Covent Garden. Wherever you decide to go, if you need a ticket, have a look at buying tickets online in advance or for discount vouchers. The London Eye does provide amazing views and right in Westminster - dusk is a really nice time to go. The aquarium is right there as well - expensive but you can normally find 2for1 vouchers/offer somewhere, and the big tanks are fantastic. The South Bank is lovely to walk along all around there with street entertainers. What about the London Dungeons? Good fun - and surprisingly educational! You could walk to it along the Thames, passing the Globe Theatre and a boat that I can't remember the name of... Have fun whatever you do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 There is a fantastic Christmas Market in Hyde Park called Winter Wonderland http://www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/christmas-market I went last year and it has a brilliant atmosphere, rides for the children, little German style stalls, live music...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Make sure you have comfortable shoes for all the walking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 The transport museum is fab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I second the British Museum - the Egyptian section is great and as a lot of children have done a project on the Egyptians at school, it can be really interesting for them. And I also second the suggestion to wander along the South Bank, there is always lots going on there. For eating on a budget, take a look at the various voucher code websites (e.g. Vouchercloud) and see what chains have deals on. You can usually print out a voucher to take with you, or if you download the app onto your phone, you can usually just show the code to the waiter on your phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 How exciting! Its hard to know where to start, isn't it ? I am keen to take my two (6 and 9) to The Museum of London as its quite varied. The Tower would probably appeal to this age group (poss boys more than girls if thats not sexist!?) Although its a bit further out The Maritime Museum is wonderful and perfect for children - interactive stuff and loads of room - not stuffy and sniffy! Theres space outside for them to run, if the weather is good, and you can call in on The Cutty Sark which is amazing close up. We went to a fab noodle bar nearby and theres often a market on a Saturday too. Good luck and please repost back on what you did and how it went Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 If you have a mini bar in your room you might be able to store a small milk carton overnight. I would take a bowl, plate etc each and some cereal for the children (maybe 4 mini boxes of their choice) and some little cartons of juice. If I'm paying for hotel for myself I often take one of the instant porridge pots that just need boiling water added Another thing i'm quite partial to in a hotel room is one of the ready mixed cans of G&T you can get from places like Tesco (not for breakfast obviously ), you can also get mini bottles of wine for when the kids have gone to bed. Take a small sharp knife for use in your room for cutting up food and a few resealable food bags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 If they are boys the RAF museum in Colindale is good and you can take your own sarnies. Lots of interactive and wartime stuff. have fun and look for vouchers off meals - google for example Pizza express vouchers and follow leads - other chains do this too. You can save quite a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisonFamily Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Thank you for the great ideas - taking the breakfast cereal is a great idea and I'll start the voucher hunt... Very excited - but nervous we normally go camping..... I will update you but any other tips are much appreciated.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Nearly all the museums have 'indoor picnic' places where you can eat your own food as I recall - meant for school trips, I expect, but there's nothing to stop you buying sandwiches somewhere cheaper and bringing your own. The Tower of London is great, it's a little while since I've been but if they've done any 'Horrible Histories' it might appeal. Otherwise the Science Museum is good as there's lots of interactive stuff for children, and of course the Natural History Museum for the dinosaurs. I would definitely take a trip to Covent Garden as there are usually lots of mime artists to see and it's quite lively (and free!). As suggested above, Harrods is worth a walk around. If you can run to it, a trip on the London Eye is good and the Aquarium is right nearby. Or travel out east and go on the new Emirates Airline - I keep meaning to do that and haven't got there yet. Depending on the weather, I'd look into the cost of a tour bus ticket because you can travel around and get on and off where you want, and you'll get some commentary as you go. A trip down the river to Greenwich is good, again a bit weather-dependent. London is expensive for eating and drinking - I hate to say it, but the best value is probably going to be somewhere like McDonalds, and I don't suppose your boys will complain about that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 London eye and Aquarium are also good and near each other. I think theres a MacDonalds or similar nearby too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 London eye and Aquarium are also good and near each other. I think theres a MacDonalds or similar nearby too. Certainly is. And a Waffle stand. I walked past both to and from work every day for a couple of years, and didn't stop once!! (Knew if I did stop once, it would be the start of a slippery slope!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 You have more willpower than me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Greenwich is a little way out but there's the Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark, Observatory and a big park (which used have loads of grey squirrels). I'm not sure if it's still there but there used to be a foot tunnel under the Thames at Greenwich, it's was always fantastically echoey and great fun.....I drove my Grandparents (they lived near Greenwich) mad when I was little running and shouting in that tunnel LMW tells me the Maritime Museum is great for kids (it's been dragged into the kiddy friendly age since I was a kid) , she went on a school trip there a couple of years ago.....the irony is that the Maritime Museum used to be a Naval School which moved to Suffolk in the 1930s and LMW now goes to that school If you want a little culture you may be able to get last minute tickets to see the Nutcracker ballet at the Royal Opera House, absolutely spellbinding ballet, it's the quietest and most still LMW has ever been! Perfect for kids just before Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisonFamily Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 We had a great weekend, we had just planned Imperial War Museum for the horrid histories spy exhibition and visit to hamleys.... but as we got lost trying to find the hotel we visited Trafalgar Square and climbed the Lions,St James Park and had great fun playing in the leaves and even reached Buckingham Palace at the changing of the guard and once we found the hotel we visited Hamleys which wasn't too busy on Friday (perhaps people kept away because of the floods) - we walked everywhere I think we walked over 5 miles on Friday ..... We swam at the hotel watched the smurfs in a great hotel room, had fun at the War Museum and went to the Guards Musuem We are now exhausted but thanks to Subways and Tescos we didn't spend too much money,,,, So thank you for or your help and suggestions.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Sounds like a wonderful weekend I'm pleased you had a great time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Sounds like you had a great time I love London for walking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Sounds good, we always walk a lot when we go to London, you see so much more that way, some of the side streets off the main roads like Oxford Street are lovely, we discovered St Christopher's something or other last time a narrow street with little shops and eateries which was beautifully decorated for Christmas with huge silver baubles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
