London Summer 2004
Apr 7th, 2004, 07:32 PM
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London Summer 2004
My family is visiting London this summer. We'll have 2 twelve year olds with us. Any info on sights, plays, restaurants, tours, etc. that would appeal to that age would be great. Any feedback on Thistle Kensington Park would also be helpful.
Apr 7th, 2004, 07:45 PM
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Type things like "kids in London" or "Family London" into the search engine and you'll find tons of suggestions.
Definitely take a day trip to Windsor (about 1/2 hour train from Paddington) for several reasons:
1. Opportunity for a train trip at a very reasonable price
2. Tour the castle, of course
3. Lovely little town that will make a nice contrast to London
4. Eton is just across the Thames walking bridge.
There will be lots more suggestions coming...
Definitely take a day trip to Windsor (about 1/2 hour train from Paddington) for several reasons:
1. Opportunity for a train trip at a very reasonable price
2. Tour the castle, of course
3. Lovely little town that will make a nice contrast to London
4. Eton is just across the Thames walking bridge.
There will be lots more suggestions coming...
Apr 7th, 2004, 08:07 PM
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My children love London! Some of their favorites are:
National Maritime Museum in Greenwich (has a fabulous hands-on kids exhibit hall)
Hamptom Court Palace -- worth at least 1/2 day, and can take a whole day. Go through the maze, see the real tennis court, take a tour led by one of the costumed guides.
Making brass rubbings in the crypt at St. Martin in the Fields.
Watch the entertainers at Covent Garden.
Tower of London -- Take a tour led by a Yeoman Warder and see the Crown Jewels.
Cabinet War Rooms
National Gallery
Victoria and Albert Museum -- the British Galleries have great hands-on activities.
Rent a paddle boat or a row boat on the Serpentine in Hyde Park. Eat a picnic lunch in any of the parks.
See a play or a musical.
The list is endless! How long will you be in London?
Annette
National Maritime Museum in Greenwich (has a fabulous hands-on kids exhibit hall)
Hamptom Court Palace -- worth at least 1/2 day, and can take a whole day. Go through the maze, see the real tennis court, take a tour led by one of the costumed guides.
Making brass rubbings in the crypt at St. Martin in the Fields.
Watch the entertainers at Covent Garden.
Tower of London -- Take a tour led by a Yeoman Warder and see the Crown Jewels.
Cabinet War Rooms
National Gallery
Victoria and Albert Museum -- the British Galleries have great hands-on activities.
Rent a paddle boat or a row boat on the Serpentine in Hyde Park. Eat a picnic lunch in any of the parks.
See a play or a musical.
The list is endless! How long will you be in London?
Annette
Apr 7th, 2004, 08:23 PM
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My kids also loved Tower of London. If you happen to arrive when there are costumed characters giving tours, follow them also, but we did like the Yeoman Warders tour as well.
Definitely do the London Eye.
Also Climb to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral for the view over London. If you are going during August or September, make a reservation to tour Buckingham Palace.
Definitely theatre - I'd try Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Fancy Afternoon Tea
Take at least one taxi ride - our kids loved the jump seats facing rear.
Ride the tube.
Take the double decker orientation bus tour with the Big Bus or the Original London Sightseeing tour.
Definitely do the London Eye.
Also Climb to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral for the view over London. If you are going during August or September, make a reservation to tour Buckingham Palace.
Definitely theatre - I'd try Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Fancy Afternoon Tea
Take at least one taxi ride - our kids loved the jump seats facing rear.
Ride the tube.
Take the double decker orientation bus tour with the Big Bus or the Original London Sightseeing tour.
Apr 8th, 2004, 07:52 AM
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The Thistle Kensington Park is a good hotel and it has AC which you will need if it gets as hot as it did last year. My only complaint is that it is quite a walk from the Tube station. There is a bus stop close by though.
I took my 11 year old in February and her two favorite were the Science Museum and Madame Tussaud's. She also loved riding the Tube, the London Eye, visiting the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the British Museum.
I took my 11 year old in February and her two favorite were the Science Museum and Madame Tussaud's. She also loved riding the Tube, the London Eye, visiting the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the British Museum.
Apr 8th, 2004, 07:54 AM
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My grandchildren, female 10 and male 15, enjoyed the Imperial War Museum.
They were fortunate to visit the Tower of London on a day when a demonstration of putting on armor was being given. Grandpa (me) was also fascinated.
The boat ride to Greenwich and straddling the prime meridian at the observatory (with the obligatory photo) also ranked highly.
We concentrated on the Elgin marbles and the Assyrian and Egyptian sections in the British Museum. The Rosetta Stone was a standout because granddaughter was studying that in school and they were astounded at the size of some of the Egyptian sculptures and the storytelling in the Assyrian stone panels.
The Tate Modern was a lot of fun for them. They marvelled that the building was a converted power station and had lots of comments about the art, not all of it complimentary.
We didn't spend lots of time there but the Impressionists in the National Gallery were particularly enjoyed.
It's also worth checking to see what special events the Science and Natural History have. In March, 2003 the Science had a special exhibit relating to James Bond.
There are so many things to do in London, you will have no difficulty filling your days and nights.
They were fortunate to visit the Tower of London on a day when a demonstration of putting on armor was being given. Grandpa (me) was also fascinated.
The boat ride to Greenwich and straddling the prime meridian at the observatory (with the obligatory photo) also ranked highly.
We concentrated on the Elgin marbles and the Assyrian and Egyptian sections in the British Museum. The Rosetta Stone was a standout because granddaughter was studying that in school and they were astounded at the size of some of the Egyptian sculptures and the storytelling in the Assyrian stone panels.
The Tate Modern was a lot of fun for them. They marvelled that the building was a converted power station and had lots of comments about the art, not all of it complimentary.
We didn't spend lots of time there but the Impressionists in the National Gallery were particularly enjoyed.
It's also worth checking to see what special events the Science and Natural History have. In March, 2003 the Science had a special exhibit relating to James Bond.
There are so many things to do in London, you will have no difficulty filling your days and nights.
Apr 8th, 2004, 09:37 AM
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We were just in London with our 11 year old son and these were a few of his favorites:
The Tube - he loved planning where we had to go and the route we needed to take.
Natural History Museum and Science Museum - Right next to eachother in S. Ken - lots of hands-on activities.
London Eye - He LOVED this- Me, not so much, but then I hate heights
Westminster Abbey - for some reason, he was really fascinated with walking around the crypts.
Tower of London - lots of circular staircases to explore. He also really liked trying to figure out the prisoner inscriptions in one of the towers.
Yo! Sushi - very fun restaurant for kids. Make sure they push the red button for service and hear the gongs.
The Tube - he loved planning where we had to go and the route we needed to take.
Natural History Museum and Science Museum - Right next to eachother in S. Ken - lots of hands-on activities.
London Eye - He LOVED this- Me, not so much, but then I hate heights
Westminster Abbey - for some reason, he was really fascinated with walking around the crypts.
Tower of London - lots of circular staircases to explore. He also really liked trying to figure out the prisoner inscriptions in one of the towers.
Yo! Sushi - very fun restaurant for kids. Make sure they push the red button for service and hear the gongs.
Apr 8th, 2004, 12:24 PM
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Thank you for your post. We will be in London with a 12 year old (and a 7 year old)in July and will be staying near the Notting Hill tube stop. We plan to spend lots of time outdoors, including frequent breaks in Kensington Park. I think even my 12 year old will love the Princess Diana playground. If we tire of London, we may take a day trip to Warwick Castle. My husband and I enjoyed it, and I am sure the kids will, too.
Apr 8th, 2004, 01:32 PM
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Two years ago I collected on disc notes by parents writing on this forum to say what their children liked in here. I shall gladly e mail you a copy if you ask me. Welcome to London
[email protected]
[email protected]
Apr 9th, 2004, 03:37 AM
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Second Saturday in June, usually - the 12th this year. The ceremony itself is best viewed on TV either live at the time or (usually) in a summary repeat in the early evening. But you can watch the procession down the Mall quite easily, or go and see the ceremonial gun salute in Green Park.
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page370.asp
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page370.asp
Apr 9th, 2004, 04:31 AM
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The Open Air Theatre in Regents Park is great; they usually do a Shakespeare comedy and a drama. And there's always a musical too. Check the programming. It's very informal, but the productions are usually good.
My kids also enjoyed the Tower, Natural History, Science Museum. Also the Royal Mews to see the carriages and horses.
There's a sightseeing tour in an amfibian craft that also goes into the Thames; used to be called Froggy Tours, it's now called London Duck Tours I think. It leaves behind the London Eye.
Take them to shop in Accessorize; lots of branches in London. My daughters love their inexpensive jewellery and bags.
As for restaurants; my kids like large, bustling places such as Quaglino's, the Bluebird. Fish, shellfish, steaks, frites. Have the passionfruit pavlova for desert in Quaglino's.
My kids also enjoyed the Tower, Natural History, Science Museum. Also the Royal Mews to see the carriages and horses.
There's a sightseeing tour in an amfibian craft that also goes into the Thames; used to be called Froggy Tours, it's now called London Duck Tours I think. It leaves behind the London Eye.
Take them to shop in Accessorize; lots of branches in London. My daughters love their inexpensive jewellery and bags.
As for restaurants; my kids like large, bustling places such as Quaglino's, the Bluebird. Fish, shellfish, steaks, frites. Have the passionfruit pavlova for desert in Quaglino's.
Apr 9th, 2004, 05:24 AM
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You've gotten some good advice already. I went to London last year with my 2 sons (then 12 and 14) and they loved:
Tower of London
London Eye
Science Museum (they were having a James Bond exhibit at the time)
British Museum (Rosetta Stone, Elgin marbles, Egyptian artifacts, antique coins)
Having tea at the Orangery
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (hysterical!)
Greenwich
Shopping for football (soccer) jerseys
They loved eating at Pizza Express and Belgo Centraal.
Have a great trip! We all loved London so much, we're heading back this summer.
Susan
Tower of London
London Eye
Science Museum (they were having a James Bond exhibit at the time)
British Museum (Rosetta Stone, Elgin marbles, Egyptian artifacts, antique coins)
Having tea at the Orangery
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (hysterical!)
Greenwich
Shopping for football (soccer) jerseys
They loved eating at Pizza Express and Belgo Centraal.
Have a great trip! We all loved London so much, we're heading back this summer.
Susan
Apr 9th, 2004, 06:23 AM
#20
I third (!) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang -- we took our son (then 13) to see it last summer, thinking he'd like it and we'd be bored. We were all pretty blown away, and it really caters to kids, serving ice cream, cotton candy (candy floss), and popcorn. Tons of kids of all ages in the audience.
Taking the tube is always fun; if they're into Harry Potter, a quick stop at King's Cross to locate Platform 9 1/2 (or is it 9 3/4?) is fun -- if you have a video camera, you can have them run to the wall, pause the camera, get them out of the way, so it looks like they disappeared, then pause again, and turn it back on so they appear to be jumping back out.
Taking the tube is always fun; if they're into Harry Potter, a quick stop at King's Cross to locate Platform 9 1/2 (or is it 9 3/4?) is fun -- if you have a video camera, you can have them run to the wall, pause the camera, get them out of the way, so it looks like they disappeared, then pause again, and turn it back on so they appear to be jumping back out.
