London with kids

[Anonymous]

Considering going to London this summer with my 2 elementary boys. Could take the train to Paris.

Has anyone done this?
Where would you stay?
Any must sees that young boys would enjoy?

[Anonymous]

My 5 & 7 year olds were happy to look at a squirrel run around a tree and just play in a neighbourhood park. In fact they tired quickly of sightseeing things and preferred just to run around a bit. We did many things but really they could have cared less about most of the museums and historical places. London Eye they liked, riding the Tube, and visiting Arsenal's stadium.

We stayed in an AirBNB place in Maida Vale. Close enough to be close enough, but further out than the more expensive Kennsington and Knightsbridge areas where many tourists stayed. Having our own kitchen and washer/dryer made breakfasts and laundry a bit easier (and thus less luggage).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 5 & 7 year olds were happy to look at a squirrel run around a tree and just play in a neighbourhood park. In fact they tired quickly of sightseeing things and preferred just to run around a bit. We did many things but really they could have cared less about most of the museums and historical places. London Eye they liked, riding the Tube, and visiting Arsenal's stadium.

We stayed in an AirBNB place in Maida Vale. Close enough to be close enough, but further out than the more expensive Kennsington and Knightsbridge areas where many tourists stayed. Having our own kitchen and washer/dryer made breakfasts and laundry a bit easier (and thus less luggage).

Similar experience with my 4yo and 6yo boys last year. We went to Italy and on a Mediterranean cruise. The highlight of their trip was seeing stray cats in Rome and a random lizard in the Amalfi coast.

[Anonymous]

Double decker buses and the cat mummies at the British Museum.

[Anonymous]

Going mid June with kids - 10 and 14. Staying in an apartment in Covent Gardens then driving to stay three days in the Coltswold for walking. We'll visit Harry Potter on the way back to LHR.
We plan to do some of the tourist stuff like the Science Museum, Transport Museum boat ride down the Themes to the Prime Meridian as well as a day long narrated bus tour with afternoon tea. We'll see two shows in the West End and try to get in a British teen-centered movie in Leicester Square. Several hours are also set aside for DDs shopping around Oxford Street!!!

Depending on how long we'll travel, the train might not be worth it as it eats almost a entire day to pack up, travel and get acquainted with the new city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going mid June with kids - 10 and 14. Staying in an apartment in Covent Gardens then driving to stay three days in the Coltswold for walking. We'll visit Harry Potter on the way back to LHR.
We plan to do some of the tourist stuff like the Science Museum, Transport Museum boat ride down the Themes to the Prime Meridian as well as a day long narrated bus tour with afternoon tea. We'll see two shows in the West End and try to get in a British teen-centered movie in Leicester Square. Several hours are also set aside for DDs shopping around Oxford Street!!!

Depending on how long we'll travel, the train might not be worth it as it eats almost a entire day to pack up, travel and get acquainted with the new city.

Where is Harry Potter in London?

We recently went to Universal in Florida and kids love Harry Potter.

I think my kids would enjoy the red tour bus experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Double decker buses and the cat mummies at the British Museum.

Can you hop on and off the buses?

I have never been on a tourist bus?

Which area would you recommend to stay for best hub for the city?

DH thought we could airbnb it. I have never used airbnb. I think it would be convenient to have a kitchen and washer dryer.

[Anonymous]

Definitely use airbnb. Have a look at the tube map and stay in zone 2 somewhere - it will be much cheaper and you'll still be very near to everything.

HP is in Leavenworth, studios which are just outside London (to the north). There are specific buses going there for the tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely use airbnb. Have a look at the tube map and stay in zone 2 somewhere - it will be much cheaper and you'll still be very near to everything.

HP is in Leavenworth, studios which are just outside London (to the north). There are specific buses going there for the tour.

HP in Leavenworth looks awesome! Forget the kids. I want to go!

I have not been to London since pre-911. Pretty sure I flew to London from Boston for less than $200.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going mid June with kids - 10 and 14. Staying in an apartment in Covent Gardens then driving to stay three days in the Coltswold for walking. We'll visit Harry Potter on the way back to LHR.
We plan to do some of the tourist stuff like the Science Museum, Transport Museum boat ride down the Themes to the Prime Meridian as well as a day long narrated bus tour with afternoon tea. We'll see two shows in the West End and try to get in a British teen-centered movie in Leicester Square. Several hours are also set aside for DDs shopping around Oxford Street!!!

Depending on how long we'll travel, the train might not be worth it as it eats almost a entire day to pack up, travel and get acquainted with the new city.

Where is Harry Potter in London?

We recently went to Universal in Florida and kids love Harry Potter.

I think my kids would enjoy the red tour bus experience.

Harry Potter studio outside London is not a theme park like Florida - https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/ My 10 and 13 yo loved it though.

Other favorites from our trip was the Tower of London (gory stories of beheading and jewels), London Eye, car spotting (they are Top Gear fans) and an Arsenal game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going mid June with kids - 10 and 14. Staying in an apartment in Covent Gardens then driving to stay three days in the Coltswold for walking. We'll visit Harry Potter on the way back to LHR.
We plan to do some of the tourist stuff like the Science Museum, Transport Museum boat ride down the Themes to the Prime Meridian as well as a day long narrated bus tour with afternoon tea. We'll see two shows in the West End and try to get in a British teen-centered movie in Leicester Square. Several hours are also set aside for DDs shopping around Oxford Street!!!

Depending on how long we'll travel, the train might not be worth it as it eats almost a entire day to pack up, travel and get acquainted with the new city.

Where is Harry Potter in London?

We recently went to Universal in Florida and kids love Harry Potter.

I think my kids would enjoy the red tour bus experience.

Harry Potter studio outside London is not a theme park like Florida - https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/ My 10 and 13 yo loved it though.

Other favorites from our trip was the Tower of London (gory stories of beheading and jewels), London Eye, car spotting (they are Top Gear fans) and an Arsenal game.

You can get butterbeer. =)
https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/plan-your-visit/facilities#ID-914B262D9271436BA6C4F6C7F5515FFB

My kids are in kindergarten and 1st grade. I don't think they are ready for beheadings yet.

[Anonymous]

^ see this is my problem with taking young kids to London. If we're going to spend that much money going, I'm going to want to go to museums and churches and see historical points of interest. I don't know if it's really worth it if people are saying their young kids weren't into the London Tower, Westminter Abbey, Buckingham Palace, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ see this is my problem with taking young kids to London. If we're going to spend that much money going, I'm going to want to go to museums and churches and see historical points of interest. I don't know if it's really worth it if people are saying their young kids weren't into the London Tower, Westminter Abbey, Buckingham Palace, etc.?

We went 2 years ago - my kids were 7 and 9. The loved the parks most of all and we walked and walked around the city. As for historical stuff, they both liked the Tower of London. My older son liked the British Museum - my younger son said it was "boring". They both liked the Transport Museum. We did not go into Westminster Abbey because it was too crowded on the day we tried. They LOVED the Tube. We watched the Changing of the Guard from afar. It was a great trip - just walking around, seeing the sights, eating in pubs, etc, made for a great trip. On the flip side, we went to Rome last year and it was not as successful - I think in part because it is so focused on history, and that is just not my younger son's things. Plus, it is more crazy and there is not as much open space to just run around. There has to be somewhat of a balance with kids on these types of trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ see this is my problem with taking young kids to London. If we're going to spend that much money going, I'm going to want to go to museums and churches and see historical points of interest. I don't know if it's really worth it if people are saying their young kids weren't into the London Tower, Westminter Abbey, Buckingham Palace, etc.?

Several museums have audio tours for kids. My kids liked Tower of London. Boys may especially like the weapon section, and the dragon made out of weapons. We took our then 5 and 8 yr olds because we have family there. There are also castle ruins outside of London that kids like to run around in. But yes, some of the touristy places wouldn't be suitable for kids.

[Anonymous]

I'm seeing $900 - $1200 roundtrip to London in August. Does that seem about right/expected?