UK - London - if you have been to or live in london, any tips?

Show all answers

Cooksister

The city is expensive, but if you plan well there is a lot of free stuff. Most of the big museums are free - Natural History and Science musem probably the best for kids but the V&A museum is my favourite. Don't forget the British Museum which is also free. And the Tate Modern is a wonderful, child-friendly space. All the royal parks are free - Regent's Park and St James' Park are my favourites. Browsing in Hamleys is free (if you can avoid the kids' pester power!!), ditto Harrods and both are super impressive.

Don't underestimate the entertainment value of the markets. Borough Market (near London Bridge station) is open on Fri and Sat (Fri is less crowded) and there are LOADS of free samples of gourmet food on offer plus friendly stallholders. Greenwich market on Saturdays is lovely, as is Spitalfields Market. Columbia Road flower market is a total experience on a Sunday morning - go early.

My favourite free entertainment is to walk along the South Bank of the Thames from about the Royal Festival Hall (opposite Embankment station) to Tower Bridge. There are always buskers and events and a book market under one of the bridges. Look on the web to see when Tower Bridge is scheduled to raise to allow boats to pass and time your visit to see a raise. Impressive and free.

St Paul's cathedral is expensive but absolutely gorgeous - one of the things I rememebr best from my first visit as a teenager. Another free and overlooked cathedral is Westminster Cathedral (the Catholic cathedral in Victoria, NOT the Abbey in Westminster) - Byzantine mosaics and very few tourists.

I agree with previous answers - get an Oyster card as soon as you arrive - ask the staff at the station what the cheapest option is if travelling with kids. You don't say how old they are, but young kids travel for free with parents. If you get a travelcard (i.e. for a specific number of days) you get discounts form many attractions e.g. Thames cruises.

And for eating, the best cheap eat in London is without a doubt The Stockpot in Old Compton Street - starters for under Â£3, mains for under Â£5. Astonishing - and HUGE portions! Another more expensive but VERY child-friendly chain is Giraffe - branches all over London. And for pizza with a view, try the Pizza Express on the south bank of the river by the Globe Theatre. Same pricers as all other Pizza Express restaurants but a view of the river and St Paul's!

londonangel007

London eye
Boat Trip down the thames
Buckenham palace (changing of the guard)
London Dungions
Madam Tussards
You can get cheap theatre tickets
Leicester square london
A Bus ride on a open top bus would be fun
You also have musems such a science musem is free and fun for the kids

sunshine

The museums and galleries are all free, as are the royal parks, London can be a very cheap place to visit if you do some research. The Science museum is fascinating, as is the Natural History and they cost absolutely nothing!

I wouldn't bother with London Zoo, but the London Dungeon and Madame Tussuad's are excellent for kids. The Tower is really quite expensive but the kids will love all the pomp and ceremony.

I have lived in London all my life and its the best city in the world!

stinkypinkyteddybear

Madam Tussuad's, The Planetarium, London Museum. Have a tour on an open top bus. The thing you need to be aware of is parking. It's horrendous in London.

Del Piero 10

Most of the musems are good. The Natural History and Science Museum are probably best for kids. Then you can scare the pants off of them by taking them to the London Dungeon.

There's loads of places to visit and great things to do that are good value for money if you know where to go! other answers said Tate Modern which is great for kids.

What's also nice is to go on a boat down the Thames to the Tate Modern then jump back on and go down to Greenwich. The Royal Observatory is there which is really interesting and in great surroundings. You can get on a transport for london boat which if you have a day travel card (to be advised!) costs a couple of pounds. Other ideas are:
HMS Belfast
Tower London
Tower Bridge
London Eye (fairly expensive but a must)
London Wetland Centre (also really interesting and a great day out)
Science museum
Natural History Museum

Even just walking round the streets of London (Covent Garden, Leicester sq) and soaking up the atmosphere.

Have fun!

junglejungle

depends. where ur from?

get an oyster card.. taxi's / cabs are expensive.. so are trains and buses without an oyster card, will cost Â£3 each

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

is handy

as for places to go, obviously the west end, but thats over priced like most tourist places. houses of parliment etc..

could go hampton court, kew gardens,

natural history muesem (in kensington)

tate / tate modern gallery. both free

trafalger square .. (gallery beside that)

portabello road market

greenwich park, observatory / royal naval / planertium (there is none next to madam tussards now)

richmond park

loads of places, u can buy a travel guide i guess, might give u more idea's

Cnale

Travel using Travelcards valid for tube, bus and Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Go to Tower Hill tube station and when you come out, turn right and take the under pass beneath the road to the Tower of London. Turn left and walk round the outside of the Tower of London towards Tower Bridge. Walk on to the bridge for views of the Tower of London - you can visit inside to see the workings which raise the bridge for large boats to pass under. Walk back along the bridge towards the Tower and go down the steps to the quayside. From here pass under the bridge road to enter the Tower gardens and riverside walk. Don't need to pay to go in to the Tower. In Tower gardens you can buy boat tickets (some give discount for a travelcard holder) to Greenwich Pier.

Arriving at Greenwich you can see the magnificent former Royal Naval College (now part of a University) which faces the river. Disembark and leave the Pier. To your right is a large dome on a round red-brick building - this is the entrance to the foot tunnel under the river Thames. For culture, you can visit the Painted Hall in the college, with an impressive ceiling, or simply walk along the riverside in front of the college. Mid-way along the riverside walk, looking through the gates, you can see the Maritime Museum with Greenwich Park rising up the hill to Flamstead House, where the Greenwich Meridian line is.

At the end of the college riverside walk, turn right, cross the main road, go straight ahead, along the side of the museum and enter the park. Flamstead House has exhibitions on the calculation of longitude, clocks and telescopes - actually rather interesting. Just inside Flamstead House gates everyone wants a photo with one leg in the east and one in the west, straddling the Meridian line.

Head downhill, either to the Maritime Museum - there is an entrance from the park - or just bear slightly left and leave the park at the road gates. From the road gates go straight ahead on the left-hand side and cross the main road. A few yards further, with a sweetshop on the corner, is one of the entrances to Greenwich Market.

When you leave the market, either follow signs or ask for the DLR Cutty Sark station, for your return journey. Alternatively, take the foot tunnel under the river and get on the DLR at Island Gardens.

I believe I'm correct in saying that for this day out you will only pay transport costs - all else is free.

pedro b

the London eye, open top bus tour you will not have sufficient time for ever thing email me i will send you a list Pedro south London
for one day boat trip on the river to Westminster then the London eye maybe a walking tour after that

Gaz

Do not hire a car when you come, it is extremely expensive in central london to run a car. Get yourselves oyster cards and load travel tickets onto them, they are by far the cheapest way to get around and give you access to all forms of transport. You can also get to just about anywhere!

unity

Check out this site on London information

http://www.funkyhotdog.com/en/

momo

1st take the bus tour so as 2 see the whole and then London eyes then Buckingham palace and ask about the time of changing guards then take photos in every place big Ben and then u can go 2 madam Tussuad museum very nice and the history museum its free and Ur children will love,don't forget 2 see the Harrods and Piccadilly circus Trafalgar square.........have a nice time and shopping also.

dave o

london eye is a must,the tower,dungeons(a bit tacky,but boys will love it),HMS Belfast(old WW2 warship)Science museum(when since has it been free?)Dinosaurs in the natural history museum,imperial war museum........... good ,boys of any age, stuff

bumumble beee

madume tassuads, and london dungeon

RANKING STAR

I have lived in London my whole life and it really depends on the age of your children really and their interests...After all you have to do what THEY want really dont you?
Give some idea of ages and interests and I may be able to help further.

marga_bam23

There are so many places you can visit in London. Check the website below which could give you an idea. Hope that helps.

Niall S

Buy a "London Pass" and you will get (depends on how many days you get it for) free travel, and free admission and normally the fast lines, meaning you don't have to que, to a lot of attractions, I have used it, and I live in London, but that was when I took my lass around London....

Enjoy!

Moonface

Hi! There's lots to do with children in central London which don't cost a lot of money. For example:

1. The Science Musuem is free with a lot of the exhibitons aimed at young children (intractive stuff).

2. The Natural History Museum is free and right next to the Science Museum. It has some cool stuff aimed at kids, including an animatronic full size T-Rex. Scary but fun.

3. Feed the ducks and pigeons in Kensington Gardens. Buy a bag of monket nuts and go feed the squirrels. At the same time visit the famous statue of Peter Pan. Closeby is the Diana memorial Playground with a cool pirate ship.

4. Hire some rollerblades (a shop at Marble Arch hire) and skates along the Sepertentine in Hyde Park. After that you can hire a rowing boat or a pedallo. This always goes down a treat.

5. Go to Covent Garden and watch the street performers. At lot of these are aimed at kids.

6. Visit Hamleys! You don't have to part with any cash - its a tourist attraction in itself.

7. Take a double-decker bus ride and get them to sit at the front.

8. Give them a memorable lunch at the Rainforest Cafe on Shaftesbury Aveune. It's not the cheapest place, but it's not too expensive either. They'll cetrainly remember the surroundings.

For more pricy things, (but not too pricy) you can try:

1. A canal boat ride. Go from Little Venice to Camden Market (or London Zoo) by boat.

2. A boat ride up the Thames.

3. The London Eye

4. London Dungeon

Also remember that children under 11 don't have to pay on the tube/bus when accompanied by a paying adult. Have fun!

cinnamonstar123

lots of the art galleries are free.

The tate modern is really intresting, lots of kids enjoy going there.
There used to be these really big slides which were "art", but im not sure if they are still there

rupert

most museums are free. just leave a tip. get an oyster card for cheap travel. if the weather is good and your kids don't mind walking, its a good way to discover places you wouldn't dream of. real london

Spot On Old Chap!

There's tons of things to do with your youngster here!

Madame Tassuads
London's Dungeon- Give them a good fright! (You'll look like a hero when you hold there hands and brave through it with them!) =)
Kids LOVE the zoo, and we have some of the greatest in the world. The best is Chester, but the London one is fun as well, especially when it comes time when the children can feed the animals! Always a great experience for both kids and parents!
London Eye- A wee bit expensive, but I'm afraid you can't go back home without telling your friends that you've been on it!
Natural Science&History Museum.

No matter what, remember that you're with your kids and they just want to have fun with their mom, and that you are sooooo kind enough to take them to such a fun and wonderful place!!!

dave_uk06

tate modern on the southbank is cool and just a short walk from the london eye and the london aqarium. Natural history museum and science museum are both free and fun. Dont do the london dungeon its rubbish!! and a total rip off!!

ellie

Nowhere in London is value for money babe, four pound a pint a million pound for a cheese sandwich

MARK S

not london stay clear horribly expensive. loads of museums and rubbish stuff. nice zzo though oh yeah if you travel just outside of london you have some theme parks. other than that bring to my place and i will let them run riot with my 2.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: