Travel recs for a week in London in August with a 5 yo

[Anonymous]

Anyone been to London recently with a small child? She is 5, a sturdy traveler, been all over the country with us on airplanes, and is up for most anything wherever we go. We will be in London for a week in mid-August and staying with family in their home outside the city. DH and I haven't been before. I would love some tourist tricks and tips - as well as places/traps to avoid. TIA!

[Anonymous]

The parks ar beautiful. We spent hours watching birds I Hyde park.

[Anonymous]

Check archives. I think there was a London thread very recently.

[Anonymous]

Oh my gosh - I love London and have been dying to take my kids - check out the Tate modern - lots of great exhibits and a kid friendly space, London eye, the walking bridge near there (have totally forgotten its name!), carousel near London eye, Hyde park is super...

[Anonymous]

Natural History Museum, Thames Boat Ride, feed the birds in the park.

[Anonymous]

Kew Gardens has great, well, gardens and also a terrific indoor play space. Also the Princess Diana playground has some great stuff. In general, all the big parks are terrific and have playgrounds. The zoo, while pretty basic, is also a good time. And FLAT unlike here.

[Anonymous]

I agree there are several threads on this in the archives and the parks (with playgrounds!) are great. We still talk about how nice the Princess Di/Peter Pan playground was, and brass rubbing at St Martins in the Fields was pretty fun too (and for some reason St Pauls cathedral was a big hit too).

We also travel on our stomachs with small children, so I remember the Harrods food court and tea at the Orangerie.

You might want to get the book Katie in London-- nice intro to London.

[Anonymous]

One tip is that the buses are great for short trips and much easier than getting crushed by the crowds on the tube.

Another is to avoid restaurants with "steakhouse" in the name! If the weather is good just go to Marks and Spencer and get some sandwiches and drinks etc and have picnic lunches outside.

I'm returning to London with my five year old soon, and I'm going to take him to the Changing of the Guard, Science and Natural History Museums, Tate Modern, St. Paul's, boat trip down the Thames, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Hamley's, Selfridges (he loves shopping!) and a trip to one of the parks. If we have time we are going to go to Canary Wharf and go on the driverless trains, and maybe also across to Greenwich. And to Borough Market for some great sausages!

I was thinking of taking him on the Eye, but it takes quite a while for it to do one rotation, and if he started freaking out it would not be pleasant for the other passengers!

[Anonymous]

Science museum is great. If we had more time we would have taken the driverless train to Greenwich.

[Anonymous]

Nobody is going to freak out on the Eye.
Many pubs are not family friendly so look for one with a family room or garden.
Agree buses are better than underground, though they are also much slower. underground is better for long distances.
Millennium Bridge is fun.
Every kind of ethnic food is available.
There are some nice playgrounds - if you are in the neighborhood Coram fields is good.
I think London Zoo is horrible and would not recommend it.
Horniman museum is good.

[Anonymous]

In August, if it it hot, be sure to find out where your nearest Lido is. Hampstead has a great one for example.

[Anonymous]

I think this is fun except for changing of the guard. So boring and crowded. Will be hot in August too. Visit the Royal Mews instead. The guided tour of Tower of London is free and funny! Agree on the parks - my 9 year old spent hours just running in parks. If that's what she remembers London as - a city where she could run free in beautiful parks, that's great! And there are some great castles outside the city by train - Warwick castle was one. Take a day trip somewhere. Train is an experience etc.

[Anonymous]

If you want to take in a professional soccer game then I'd definitely recommend Fulham FC. They are in the top division and are fairly good but their ground is in a nice location and they have (or at least used to) a neutral area where anyone is welcome. You are less likely to hear bad language and witness aggressive behavior.

HMS Belfast is quite fun (old warship docked on the Thames) or a day at Greenwich where you can take in th maritime museum, the observatory and pick up some lunch to have in the park.

[Anonymous]

When my then-four-year-old and I were in London in August 2011, mid-month was Children's Theatre Week. We went to several great programs at the NT for young children. West End shows also offered free kids' tickets with a paid adult ticket. With luck, that will be running again while you are there.

Most of our favorite activities have already been mentioned, except perhaps Hampton Cour Palacet -- you can take a boat one-way up the Thames and a train the other, if you want. My daughter loved the actors playing various individuals of the Tudor court, and the gardens are lovely.

Holland Park has a good playground with a zip line and other no-longer-toddler attractions. And no entry line like the Princess Diana playground.

[Anonymous]

Just went to London with 5yo in March. We loved the Tower of London, the Royal Mews, Windsor.