ytzme

hi everyone. ever been in london with two 9 year olds? what to do and see in and around london? any help with itinery for 7 days would be very much apreciated. car available for days out of the city.hotel in edgware just on the northern outskirts already booked

Carrybean

Tower of London & Natural History Museum to start. The children should enjoy both. A side trip to Greenwich with a boat ride is another option.

What do you all like to do?

Matroskin

Before we moved to London 1.5 ago we bought a book "Around London with kids - 68 things to do together in the city and beyond". Kids were able to look and choose the attractions they want to see.

Just last week we enjoyed The Tower Bridge exibition with treasure-hunt-like “What Victorians did for us” activity.

If you are interested, check out http://burlaki.com/travelog/london-attractions/#more-71 where my DH writes our own remarks about London sights

pgnewby

Not two nine year olds, but a 7 and 4 year old. We loved the hop on and off bus tour. It wasn't cheap, but we covered alot of ground with ease. It allowed a rest if we needed it, we saw tons, and we had great guides. It also included a brief boat trip up the Thames from the Tower of London to the London Eye.

The Princess Diana playground is awesome! We also liked the London Eye. I second the Natural History Museum--the earthquake exhibit was a fav for my kids. We enjoyed the Whispering Gallery in St Paul's. The pedestrian bridge over the Thames is fun too. There are always living statues in Covent Gardens for a nice walk. We spent a day at the Royal Botanical Gardens and really enjoyed it. There is a great kids house with interactive exhibits and an indoor play area.

Have fun!!

mnapoli

Take your kids to the Imperial War Museum. This was one of my family's favorite sites in London. There are tons of interactive activities for kids, and great displays for adults.

CStoneTX

We took our 7 year old and 5 year old to London in August 06. We spent 6 nights in London and then rented a car and drove to Oxford for a family reunion of sorts. Things the kids loved (many already mentioned by other posters):

- Hop on hop off bus tour. The ticket for the tour also comes with a boat ride down the Thames and some walking tours. We did the Changing of the Guards tour, which the kids really enjoyed.
- Tower of London
- Hampton Court (took the train to get there, there's a boat, too, but it takes several hours)
- Princess Diana Playground
- Imperial War Museum
- Riding double decker buses and the subway

Here's a link to my trip report - it'll give you an idea of what we did each day.
http://thestonefamilyfromtexas.blogs...nd-part-1.html

Have a great trip!

kswl

Museum of the City of London has very nice exhibits that are extremely kid-friendly. I recommend it very highly for your age children. They offer lots of special programs and workshops, too, if the time happens to suit you.


http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/Learning/

MomDDTravel

bookmarking.

Mimar

Many of the museums in London (and Britain) have special materials for child visitors. It gets them actively involved in what they see and they learn painlessly.

Days out might include Warwick Castle and a train to York. And, I guess, Stonehenge. Of special interest to childen in York are the Castle and Railway museums, Jorvik, and the old walls.

mermaid_

We took our children when they were that age to the children's museum and also to the dungeon. The latter I wouldn't recommend to my worse enemy but we had a young teen also in our family and succombed to his pleas. I should have been stronger!

ytzme

many thanks for the input. should have mentioned that they are my grandchildren (or at least two of them). they do not speak english so the hands on stuff sounds great.i seem to remember being once before at a place with a minature village .any one know about this?

rogerbruton

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Science Museum (next door to the Natural History museum). Come to that, the Victoria & Albert is also worth a visit -- all three are near South Kensington tube station.

Roger
http://www.fermedecandeloup.fr

rogerbruton

Miniature village? The only one I know of near London is in Beconsfield -- west of London, just off the M40 (junction 2 I think) -- about 45 mins drive from central London.

Roger
http://www.fermedecandeloup.fr

mermaid_

ytzme, perhaps the miniature village you are thinking of is Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotsworlds? Again, we took our children there and they thought it was the coolest thing ever. Plus the village and stream running through it are very attractive in and of itself.