travelgaya

We are planning a vacation to London and Brussels this Nov end. Our kids are 3 & 5 and this will be our first time to these places. We are thinking of a total of 6 days excluding travel days so 4 days in London and 2 days in Brussels, and 2 days to travel. What is a good itinerary to plan with kids this small. Also will the weather at that time of the year be OK? Planning is still in the nascent phase so any ideas or thoughts would be helpful to shape our travel.
Many thanks!

PalenQ

Brussels can be pretty grim at that time of year weather-wise. London too but London is kind of weather proof - so so many indoor sites to see - I'd consider staying in London and maybe doing a day trip to some nearby towns or places - ir taking the Eurostar train be sure to book REALLY early to get the deepest discount tickets - muchmuch cheaper than full fare.

www.eurostar.com.

janisj

I ask - with such a short time why two days in Brussels? It is interesting but IMO it doesn't hold a candle to London. If it was me and I only had 6 days it would all be spent in London.


The problem w/ splitting your time is you only have half a jet lagged day on arrival and lose another half a day traveling between cities so you really end up w/ 5 days free to see/do things.

Bedar

Just prepare for RAIN !!

nytraveler

You will find both places to be gray and often drizzly/rainy with very short days. Not sure how you will get your kids enough running around outside time.

I would definitely get an apt (to have more room and a place for kids to sleep so you don't have to go to bed when they do) and spend the whole time in London - where there is more to do.

Besides the parks which will still let them run around if weather cooperates you can do a couple of boat trips and don't miss the Museum of Nat'l History. Look above to see what they reco for little kids to do.

Also be sure you have warm/wet weather clothing so the kids are warm enough.

Tulips

I would also spend all 6 days in London, with kids that age. There are plenty of parks, playgrounds and outdoor activities if the weather is good, and lots of things to keep the kids busy if the weather is bad.

Rent a flat, so you can have some separate space while the kids sleep, and you can do your own cooking if you want, and do laundry.

The good thing about London is that most museums are free. You can wander in and out, depending on your kid's moods. We lived in London when our kids were that age, and it's easy to keep them occupied in winter. Try to find a place in Kensington so you can walk to Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens and to the Natural History and Science Museums. Science Museum has a hands-on play area for small kids.

Do a day trip from London if you want (though London has plenty to keep you busy for 6 days).
I wouldn't want to move to Brussels for 2 days with small kids, it will be dreary late November, while London has a great atmosphere that time of the year, with the Christmas decorations up.

pariswat

Bruxelles is a very nice city.
You can eat waffles with the kids, visit Dandoy, go to the atomium, there is a toy museum - nice for that age - 'le musée du jouet', I think Mini-Europe is still accessible (to be checked), mussels, beer, and of course the city in itself.

However there is a lot to see in London, I would stay the 6 days in London. with one-2 daytrips (Harry Potters ? Hampton courts ?).

enjoy your stay.

I don't understand why miserable weather would be worse in a city than another, but definitely end nov can be miserable in Bxl.

PalenQ

I don't understand why miserable weather would be worse in a city than another, but definitely end nov can be miserable in Bxl.>

London has so so many more indoor sites and perhaps even a bit better weather at that time than Brussels plus Brussels just ain't no London - weather makes a big factor in Brussels but not so much in London where there are so so many indoor things.

pariswat

PQ
I still don't get it.
Nothing indoors in Bxl ? I guess I don't live 25 kms from Bruxelles.

PalenQ

OK - what is the Bruxellian equivalent of:

British Museum
Tour of London
Windsor Castle
Tate Modern and Tate Original Art Museum
V&A Museum
The Globe Theatre
Theatre plays in English galore
Hampton Court Palace
The World War Rooms
The Big Ferris Wheel (mostly covered cabins)
Shopping on Oxford Street
Harrods
National Gallery

All indoor sights of the first rank:

Of course there are things indoors in Brussels but nothing much of interest to the average tourist save a museum or so and the Atonium is so so passe IME.

To me Brussels is nice to walk around the Royal Palace gardens, the art-nouveau areas, etc.

Avg hi London Nov = 53 F - vs Brussels 48 F
17 days if rain in London; 20 days in Brussels

so weather is about the same but London being an hour behind Brussels means one hour more daylight in afternoon when folks are out and about.

I guess there is just a whole lot of places I would rather spend 2 days in than Brussels during the grim weather days but yes Brussels has a few indoor sights people might like but nothing near the list for London which could easily consume the whole six days.

Please list the major indoor don't miss sights in Brussels - I admit I may be wrong but I've been there many many times and enjoy walking around various areas outside of the main center but not in grim weather. I'm open to being shown there are many must indoor sights in Brussels because I must have missed them on all my sojourns there.

PalenQ

Oh forgot St Paul's Cathedral in London
Houses of Parliament
Queen's Art Gallery at Buckingham Palace
Kensington Palace
London Dungeon
Madame Tussauds
Tower Bridge
Sherlock Holmes Museum
London Aquarium
Westminster Abbey