Which is the best London museum to visit with 6yo?

[MegBusset]

I am taking DS1 (6yo) to London in a couple of weekends' time and am looking for something to do on the Saturday afternoon for a couple of hours. We have done the Science Museum before so I was thinking of maybe the British Museum, Nat Hist Museum, Greenwich planetarium or the Horniman Museum (we are getting the train to central London but staying with friends in SE London).

Any recommendations as to which is best? I was leaning towards the planetarium but have never been (haven't visited the others in years). He loves all things sciency and hands-on stuff.

[Pancakeflipper]

Transport museum at Coventry Garden?

[Pancakeflipper]

Not Coventry garden... Good old auto text.

[MegBusset]

That did occur to me but he's not that bothered about trains/cars etc plus I was hoping to avoid really crowded places (which prob rules out the NHM too!)

[MegBusset]

Pmsl at Coventry Garden

[LoveSewingBee]

Science museum, it is brilliant and especially the bubble show or whatever it is called (free, ask at desk for the times when they run it or check on their website).

[MegBusset]

Thanks, I do love the Science Museum but I've taken DS1 there before so thought we'd try somewhere new.

[FreeButtonBee]

Natural gap history museum. They have a dinosaur! I love the prehistoric armadillo too.

[DownstairsMixUp]

I'm going by what I went to around that age and I loved the War Museum with all the phones and stuff that you could listen to stories. I especially remember liking the bit on the Blitz (is that still there?!) would love to visit again as I loved it as a kid.

[Mintyy]

Meg. Please trust me. Take him to HMS Belfast at London Bridge.

[mirry2]

I second HMS Belfast, but the NHM is also great.

[Pleasenomorepeppa]

The Golden Hinde.
The Imperial War Museum.
The Museum of Childhood.

[NearTheWindmill]

The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. Mine were enthralled. Smaller and more intimate that the NHM and quieter. If it's a nice day you might also think about London Zoo and Regent's Park.

[capercaillie]

Another vote for hms Belfast - my 6 year old asked to go when he saw it, loved it and has asked several times to go back.

[Pinkpinot]

My 6 yr old loved maritime museum and planetarium

Hms Belfast wouldn't do anything for him

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

Madame Tussaud's?

[nicename]

If you don't want crowds then avoid natural history/science/v+a/british museums. The transport museum isn't usually all that massively busy and DS loves it (and he's not a car/train/bus mad kid). Lots of things to climb on, buttons to press and computers to fiddle with.

[nobutreally]

I love the Horniman. It's not so great on science tbf, but its got afab breadth, and a very hands on feel. But British museum is also fab - but perhaps less immediate to the average 6 yo (is he into mummies?) and if he hasn't done Nat host, you HAVE to do that first ... I think it's the law :-)

[MegBusset]

HMS Belfast never occurred to me, will give it a look (another one I last visited as a child!).

We used to go to the Museum of Childhood a lot when the DC were tiny and we lived in London, it's lovely but not sure it would be his cup of tes now.

[professorpoopsnagle]

The Horniman is well worth a visit especially if you are heading in that area. It's eclectic but worth the time and has a wide variety of interests rather than 1 thing. And a nice cafe.

[thehairybabysmum]

Another vote for HMS Belfast!

[Mintyy]

Horniman is great (it is my local museum so I've been there probably hundreds of times) but it is a fair old commute from central London. If you are not up in town for long you might want to stick with something central.

[MegBusset]

Cup of tea even.

[MegBusset]

So far I have positive reviews for HMS Belfast, the NHM, the Horniman and the Planetarium.

So that's not really helped me decide at all

[MegBusset]

I think I will rule out the Horniman as it's a bit far (my friend lives in Denmark Hill so a bit of a trek away). Perhaps I'll give DS1 the choice of the other three and see what he fancies.

[givemeaclue]

Mot a fan of horniman it is over rated IMO.

British museum have good family trails, the Egyptian one is good.

Tower of London is fab if you don't mind paying.

Imperial war museum I don't think suitable for a 6 year old.