texasbookworm

A couple comments to add to your decision making/planning:

Definitely allow plenty of time, 3-4 hours, for the Tower; I bet your kids love it. They'd also, on that same day, enjoy a walk across the Tower Bridge and a peek inside it at the Tower Exhibition--good views and lots of kid-friendly hands on stuff--kinda pricey (DH and I used 2for1 vouchers Tower/Tower Bridge day).

Greenwich is a great half day, too; ride DLR to Island Gardens, get off, walk under the Thames via the tunnel--kinda cool! We rode a Thames Clipper when we were finished.

Definitely definitely check the TfL websites before you go, though, to check for work and closed lines; we didn't get to ride the DLR on our trip because of maintenance that I somehow missed seeing the notice of and so my morning plans that day got changed to my chagrin. Forewarned is forearmed, and the TfL info seems to be pretty reliable for scheduled stuff.

The Globe was a highlight both times I've been in London, and seeing a performance was awesome--but I probably wouldn't have taken my kids when they were your kids' age.

ElendilPickle

We took the Thames Clipper boat from Blackfriars to Greenwich and the DLR back, then transferred to the Tube (at Canary Wharf, if I remember correctly) to get to Westminster.

Lee Ann

schnauzer

Another vote for the London Transport Museum, my boy now 18 still talks of it and he visited when he was 11. Your girl will enjoy it also. Great fun.

What about Madame Tussauds, has anyone mentioned that? Or is that too cheesy?

Tower of London was a big hit as well.

We went when they had the double decker buses still in service and we went on several just riding around and around and my boy just loved that as well, so definitely do a double decker tour, try and sit right up front at the top if you can.

Schnauzer

Robespierre

Mme. Tussaud's: overpriced, overrated, and overcrowded.

Transport for London still run the old Routemaster buses on "Heritage Routes" - fare free for Travelcard passholders:

• Bus route 9: between Aldwych and
Royal Albert Hall (returning from Prince of
Wales Gate)
• Bus route 15: between Trafalgar Square
and Tower Hill

ScullyGirl

I took a boat to Greenwich and took the train back. We stopped to see the boat Cutty Sark. We didn't tour the boat, but it was neat to get our pictures by it. I think we took the long way up to Greenwich from the pier, I think there's a tram or something. But it was neat to do and I'd say that's a half day worth, including travel.

Sherlock Holmes and Dickens museum were not worth it in my opinion. Not worth the time nor money. And I love literature. I don't think a couple of kids would like it very much. The London Eye, while pricey and "cheesey" to some, it does proved good views. We went up on a drizzly day and still were glad we did it.

The British Museum and British Library are awesome. Free I believe for both. While I'm not sure if the kids would really like the library, if they like literature they might find some of it neat. There were some great pieces on display and you don't have to spend a lot of time there.

What about Kew Gardens?

The Tower of London, I would recommend going early. We went pretty soon after it opened and had the Crown Jewels to ourselves.

Have a great time!

ScullyGirl

I forgot to mention that I did a Globe tour and found it very interesting. I am a big Shakespeare fan though. If you go, make sure you check out the Bankside Gates, as it depicts items from Shakespeare's plays. See if there's a guide book. I wish I would have scene a play as well, but ran out of time. There's a museum as well which was very interesting to me. My travel companion thought so as well even though she doesn't really know Shakespeare. But who knows, maybe we were just mesmerized being on vacation!

jspen

This has been really helpful--sounds like we'll try to take the DLR one way to Greenwich and the Thames Clipper the other (assuming all is running smoothly). I just found 2-for-1 offers on-line for the Thames Clipper, so that should work out well.

And thanks, Robespierre, for the bus info--I still have to figure out whether we'll be Travelcard holders, though. I am still confused... If we come in from Winchester on Southwest Trains, we would either use a Family & Friends railcard or a "group save" fare on an off-peak travelcard. As far as I can tell, if we buy the group-save travelcard, we can use it on the Tube as well, but with the railcard we can't--anyone know if this is correct?

And thanks, ScullyGirl, for the suggestions about the British Library and Kew Gardens. I hadn't considered the BL for the kids, but I know I would love it! Maybe I can drag them in for a bit, especially seeing as it's free... The Globe is also high on my list but not sure about my 7-year-old--though she did thoroughly enjoy "The Magic Flute" when she was 5, so maybe she'd find Shakespeare equally interesting?

Will let you all know what we decide--10 days to go!
JS

thursdaysd

Your daughter might like the costume section in the Victoria and Albert Museum, also in Kensington (and free) - and possibly the new jewelry gallery as well.

traveltilican

If you can't do the Harry Potter London Tour and you are in the vicinity of King's Cross Station, do check out Platform 9 3/4 just for a fun photo op. When we were there in March, construction was going on where the "original" platform was located. They have moved the location further down platform 9. Just follow the signs. If you miss it, which we did, just ask someone (not a tourist), apparently this is a popular site since the first person we stopped directed us to the location. As one Fodorite has mentioned, the Brits are really friendly.

The experience for your kids is priceless. We took our kids to Europe when they were as young as six and now they are experienced travelers.

Have a great time and hope you and your husband will find time to catch a show.