Day in London - any ideas

[Jaybee]

We have a Saturday in London in a couple of weeks time with the kids (boy 8, girl 5), this has been arranged through my work. We are booked to on the London Eye for 11:30 and the coach will pick us up at 6.00 pm. Any suggestions for the 6 hours or so? I know the Aquarium is pretty near - anyone been?

[bossykate]

jaybee

try the thread

www.mumsnet.com/s/Talk?topicid=99&threadid=450&stamp=010511111730

"Day out in London" - covers attractions in the Waterloo/South Bank area

have a lovely time!

[bundle]

I loved the Aquarium, especially the open tank with rays in it, which float up and nudge your hand if they feel like it..
If you're on that side of the river you might want to stroll down to Tate Modern (depends what your children like looking at, but it's a pretty amazing building they can tear around for a bit and there's an ok cafe there - if expensive, like most places in c.London) and across the now-not-wobbly bridge to St Paul's. I've never been no one, but the bus tours look like good value, because you can hop on & off. If you can bear the trek, there are fabulous bits of the Science Museum (s.Kensington tube, Piccadilly line) designed for different age groups, kept me & dd amused for hours, especially splashing in the water. I'm running out of ideas...but I'm sure there are plenty of others to help out..

[Jaybee]

Thanks for those - I knew I had seen another thread but you can never find it when you want it!!! This trip has been heavily discounted and includes a free bus from Milton Keynes - the organiser is offering to do cheap deal on Aquarium tickets too so I think I may go for that - how long do I need to go round there?

[bundle]

I'd say an hour or so will do it, depends how interested you/the kids are in fish!

[bettys]

It might be worth timing your visit to the aquarium for when they're feeding the sharks. Just had a quick look on their website (www.londonaquarium.co.uk) and it's at 2.30 on Saturdays, though it's best to check on the day.

[cos]

Jaybee there is a playground right beside the london eye, anda costa coffee place too

[Ems]

Jaybee, my two loved the aquarium (6 and 2). Also the Frog Tours, there is a website. It leaves from opposite the Eye (main road) need to book. It travels on road and then into the water! ..... ever so exciting, it lasts nearly an hour. I think the aquarium was 90 mins or so. Lots of places to eat nearby, you could wander up to Trafalgar Square, or as mentioned wander down the river. Time soon flies by. Let us know what you did get up to.

[batey]

I would give London Zoo a miss. we went last w/e and felt it was a rip off 30 pounds for 2 adults and 1 child. and a good 1/3 of the enclosures were empty/ being re-furbished. Plus alot of the eating places were closed too.

[starmoon]

Does anyone know the website address for the London Frog Tours please? Sounds great would love to take my little girl.

[Sheila]

It may be a bit too far from the Eye (Covent Garden tube) but for another time I'd really recommend the London Transport Museum. Sounds deadly dull I know but my son loves it - loads of buses and trains to climb on, and it's a nice size so easy to get round in a couple of hours. Has a softplay area for under 5s, and for older children there's a sort of trail where they have to collect stamps as they go around, and an activity area (opportunity to do artwork and stuff). And you get to "drive" a tube! I'm not a transport enthusiast by any means but I loved it almost as much as my son. It's a museum that's really well-orientated towards kids. It's near to a Pizza Express for lunch, and Covent Garden is a great place to wander around with small kids - no cars and lots of street entertainers etc.

Have a good day, whatever you do.

[tigermoth]

I'd second sheila's recommendation for the London Transport Museum/Covent Garden. A great combination - fun for all ages.

Starmoon - I think the frog tours may have ceased to be. They were definitly not around in the winter. Perhaps they are seasonal?

However, I dimly remember a newspaper report about a legal/insurance problem they were facing, which might have forced them to close down. I hope not. Can you let me know if you locate them?

[Ems]

starmoon, its frogtours.com.

They are currently closed til Mayish I think, but Im sure its all on the website. Its definitely worth a trip.

[MadMaz]

You could also try a boat trip. They aren't cheap (what is) but are convenient for Aquarium/London Eye. Boat trips go from both sides of the river - you need to check what goes where!

There is also Florence Nightingale museum within striking distance - next door to St Thomas (my 5yo did FN last term as part of curriculum on health).

[emmagee]

Ems, have you done the frogtour? I really love the idea of it, want to see the look on my daughter's face as it goes from being truck to boat! I wondered if it would suit 3 yr old and 10 months? How long does it take and can you get off if it's all too much?

[Ems]

Emmagee, we did it with our 5 yr old and it was BRILLIANT! You are on it for about an hour, it doesnt stop, but I imagine if you HAD to they'd drop you off! Each FROG has its own name, ours was called Beatrice, the driver and a guide. Our girl was so funny, lots of jokes and facts and information. You go across the bridge and round Big Ben, Houses of Parliament etc and do a 40 min tour, everyone looking at you in this huge yellow tank like boat like thing!

Back over the bridge and down this little slip road and whoosh into the Thames, very James Bond like we thought! Our son knew it was coming, but you could save it as a surprise, 20 mins in the water and then home again to just outside the London Eye.

I would REALLY recommend it, it is so so different and whacky and our son loved it.

[MandyD]

How much is the Frog tour, for 1 adult and 1 three year old?

[Ems]

uummmm?!! Dont know, I'm sure it says on the website, or just ring them.

[thumper]

website says £15.00 for adult, and £10.00 for child under 12.