LONDON ITINERARY SUGGESTION
 

Planning a first time trip to London with wife + 7 yr old and staying near the Hyde Park area. I've planned the following itinerary. Any valuable suggestons on the feasibility?
Day 1 : Arrival 2 PM - Spend time at Hyde Park
Day 2 : Lords Cricket Stadium + zoo+ Regents Park
Day 3 : Oxford Street, British Museum
Day 4 : Buckingham Palace, Mews, Westminster Abbey,
Day 5 : Parliament, Big Ben, Aquarium, St. Pauls
Day 6 : Tower of London, Trafalgar SQ, City
Day 7: Windsor Castle + Eton
Day 8 : Hampton Court Palace
Day 9 : Greenwich
Day 10: Harrods + Natural History Museum
Is this too "light,ie can more things be done in this time? I am on a London Pass

You might want to drop one of the day trips, and spend more time in central London. I don't know if your seven-year-old will really care about Hampton Court Palace, or even Windsor (probably not Eton). I recommend a visit to Covent Garden. Your child will probably love the street entertainment ("buskers") there, as well as the London Transport Museum. Also, how about a Big Bus tour around the city? They include a river cruise as well. One of my favorite corners of London is Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath. (Take the tube to Belsize Park, and ask directions from there.) You can get a fine view of the city, and it's mostly locals. (P.S. If you're visiting Lord's Cricket Ground, you can walk down the street and see Abbey Road.)

We just returned from a week in London with an 8 and 10 year old.

We did not do nearly as much as you have planned. I don't think I would try to do more than what you have, and perhaps not even all of those. I've heard the zoo and aquarium in London are nothing special. So if you have good zoos and aquariums in your area, maybe you could eliminate those activities if need be.

I'd allow more time in parks, and go to Covent Garden for the street entertainers. The Princess Diana Memorial Playground is fantastic. It is in Kensington Park, so you should be able to get to it easily. We went there several times.

Two things that are not on your list and that our kids really enjoyed were the "Hop On-Hop Off" bus tours and the London Eye (their number 1 favorite!).

The Hop On/Off bus is a great introduction to the city. We did it on our arrival day, when we didn't have much energy for walking anyway. We didn't do much hopping off, but it was nice to get some history and get a feel for the lay out of the city. The ticket is good for 24 hours, so the next morning we did a short boat ride on the Thames, which was included in the ticket price.

Our kids really enjoyed Hampton Court Palace. They have a wonderful family audio tour, that is quite funny at times. We never made it to Windsor.

We opted to not do the London Pass, and instead capitalized on several 2-for-1 vouchers (<http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk>). I believe this offer is only good through the end of May, so it may not help you this time.

Oh, my! Sorry about that freaky alien guy thing. Have no idea how that happened.

I see that you have planned Parliament and Big Ben on day 5 with Westminster Abbey on day 4. Unless you plan to enter Parliament (which will be in recess during the summer months) then you'll see them when you visit the Abbey.
I also feel that after 10 days in London and its environs, you'll be stir crazy and I would suggest you pick a couple of excursions outside the M25. A day trip to Bath by train perhaps?

Just to check - Is it possible to visit the Strangers Gallery in the Parliament in July, or are the queues prohibitive?

Just a few comments. Big Ben and Parliament are simply "walk by's" and are directly across the street from Westminster Abbey so you can do them on Day 4.

Most of your days aren't really too full so I think you can manage everything. But I really don't think the zoo is a "must" even w/ a 7 yo in tow.

Also all of your out of town trips are on consecutive days. That will feel pretty hectic so I'd spread them out a bit and break up days 7, 8 and 9.

The day trips in order of a 7 year old's perspective would probably be 1) Hampton Court Palace (terrific medieval kitchens the kids LOVE, the maze, costumed docents, etc), 2) Windsor (there is a legoLand there) 3) Greenwich.

I would consider going to the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden. A REALLY fun place for kids and adults both

I personally would not bother w/ Oxford Street at all - but especially w/ a young child. It is an absolute zoo and usually too crowded to even walk comfortably.

Janisj,
Thanks a lot for your suggestions!!

We started taking our kids to London when they were 6 and 8. Some of their favorite things on that first trip were:

-- the London Eye
-- Hampton Court Palace -- particularly the maze
-- Making a brass rubbing in the basement of St. Martin in the Field
-- The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, which have great kids' audio guides. My daughter (the 6 year old) especially loved picking out a painting and then listening to the description of it.
-- The Princess Diana playground in Kensington Gardens and the playground in St. James' Park (which has its own, kid-only restroom).
-- Riding a paddle boat on the Serpentine in Hyde Park.
-- The Royal Mews.
-- Covent Garden.
-- The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich has a great kids gallery with a lot of interactive exhibits and activities.
-- They also loved going to musicals.

London has a lot of events just for children. Buy a copy of Time Out for Children from a news agent when you get to London and look to see what's scheduled.
I agree that the zoo and the aquarium are fine, but basically comparable to zoos and aquariums anywhere. I'd skip them, unless you child is a huge Harry Potter fan and has a burning desire to see the snake house at the zoo.

Have a great trip!
Annette

Definitely - Churchill's war rooms.

War Museum (one of my 10 year old's favorites).

See a show? We saw Mary Poppins. It was magical.

The big bus tour was a great intro.

I agree with other posters that you have a lot of day trips. There is a lot to see in London.

Hope you have fun!

One more thing:
The London Transport Museum is great, but I see on the website that it's closed until spring 2007.
http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/

Annette

Parliament is not in session over the summer months so the galleries are closed. They get extraordinarily long holidays.
Some members give private tours to their constituents but due to security it is not something that is on a tour guide's list. They're even tightening up on MP's giving viewing tickets to constiuents after the singer Bryan Ferry's son entered the chamber to protest against the ban on hunting (set a rabid Beagle on him, I say. See how he likes it!!) and the "Fathers for justice" protestors threw purple powder over Blair from the gallery.
You could try picking an obscure MP from the list and writing to them. It may work. Don't bother with Lords as they will be in their country piles in Provence or in the cemetary during the summer months.

Oh my gosh - a lot of insomniacs tonight!

But it's 6:30am here!!!

Oh sorry. Lots of insomniacs and early risers.

"Oh my gosh - a lot of insomniacs tonight!"

Not everyone lives in your time zone - it is only 10:30 p.m. where I am . . . . .

OK. Forget I said anything.

Any feed back on Maritime Museum in Greenwich - is it worth doing?

Is the London Transport Museum worth doing?

What's there to see in Covent Garden?

Is it possible to tour Parliament in July when it is not in session?

"Is it possible to tour Parliament in July when it is not in session?"

I've tried to answer that one above.

Greenwich certainly is worth a visit. Henry VIII was born there and it is the home of the Royal Observatory (no longer there!) and the meridian. You can actually stand on the line at the very place of Greenwich Mean Time.

Covent Garden is a nice visit, especially to see the street artists and clowns.

AR,
What I meant is : In July, parliament is in session - during that time, is itpossible for non residents to enter the building and take a look and not necessarily attend the visitor gallery.

Be sure to take your children to Hamley's toy store on Regent Street....They have performers doing magic and demonstrating products all over the store.....one of my favorite places in London!!

Sorry SV - Parliament recesses on July 25th. You can tour the chamber only in August and September. Other than those dates the gallery is open but I must say that it is pointless to wait in line as very few get in. You could visit the Lords, though, but whilst interesting for the architecture it is much, much less interesting than watching MP's make farmyard noises in the commons. Prime Minister's question time takes place on Wednesday afternoons and otherwise the chamber is usually empty as members usually pair up with an opponent so that neither has to vote as they'd just cancel each other out. Blair takes his holiday between June and October, usually in foreign leaders mansions obtained by fraud and deception (this includes Sir Cliff Richard as he defrauds the public into believing he can sing). This holiday is only slightly shorter than the Queen's who leaves for Scotland shortly after Easter and returns to London for Christmas.

AR
I thought overseas visitors are not allowed into Parliament, when it is in session, hence Lords is also ruled out?

Are the Royal Mews worth a look or just an overrated Royal symbol?

Sounds like a good schedule to me. Plenty to keep you all amused but not too tiring.
All the places you mention are good for 7 year olds. When you go to the Natural History museum pop next door to the science museum too. The basement level has been turned into a kids' zone with loads of interactive 'stuff' to fool around with and it'll be a heavenly hour or so for a 7 year old faced with a visit to Harrods. A good chance to run around letting off steam and using up plenty of energy winding handles, turning knobs, pumping water, lifting weights etc.

Trying to think of stuff good for the 7 year old and not boring for adults:

A 'Frog Tour'.They leave from County Hall and are converted military amphibious vehicles that take you on a short road tour, then launch on to the Thames to continue with a river tour.

Rainforest Cafe. A restaurant in the Trocedero which is rainforest themed with animatronic animals all over the place, and a ceiling which has rainstorms etc - sounds a bit scary but its not, kids love it. I loved it when I went too.

Thanks Nona, Is it worth going to the Victoria and Albert Museum too?

Is Kensington Palace worth a Visit? And in July, is it possible to enter inside Buckingham Palace. I read somewhere that it is open to Public only in August

"Day 4 : Buckingham Palace, Mews, Westminster Abbey,
Day 5 : Parliament, Big Ben, Aquarium, St. Pauls
Day 6 : Tower of London, Trafalgar SQ, City"

Have you looked at a map of London -
Swop St Paul's & Trafalgar Square - and your day 4 & 5 stuff are in the same area so you may want to combine them.

BUT why aren't you doing the London Eye?

Heard London eye is highly overrated and expensive !!! Is it possible to combine Buckingham Palace, West Abbey, St. Pauls, Trafalgar Sq etc in one day with a child in tow?

While physically possible, I wouldn't visit Westminster Abbey and St Paul's in one day with a 7 YO child. The tours through Westminster are guided and take about an hour and a half. What 7 YO kid has much context for appreciating the history there?

I'd pick one or the other and if you have additional touring time, add something your child will enjoy, like the Diana playground or a trip to the toy store (Harrods or Hamleys).

Most of the museums have "trails" for children to follow making the parents' trip a little more enjoyable. Check at the information desk when you first visit.

Mine really liked the V&A trail and the V&A in general. Fashion, tiaras, home and decorative arts were a bit more interesting to a 7 YO girl than the Rosetta Stone.

Here are some answers to your questions, based on my kids' experiences:

The London Transport Museum is closed now for refurbishing.

Covent Garden is a good place to walk through and watch the street entertainers. It is very close to Trafalgar Square.

The Maritime Museum is very good!

The Royal Mews is suprisingly fun! I agree, it seems like an over-rated symbol, but the carriages are pretty amazing.

I personally wouldn't combine Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's in one day. I love visiting churches, but there is so much to see at each one, that I think two in one day is overkill. Westminster Abbey is close to the Cabinet War Rooms, which have a very good children's audio guide. They would be easy to do on the same day.

Annette

Annette

Thanks Annette - If I had to choose between Westminster Abbey and St.Pauls, which one would you suggest?

There's nothing to stop overseas visitors entering the galleries during session, but as I said they will have to queue with the public and it's highly unlikely they will get into the commons. There are various degrees of access through members with priority for UK citizens and then dropping for Channel Islands, Isle of Man etc and then for Commonwealth countries. Foreign visitors are only allowed to queue. As I said, you could try and contact an MP but I don't think they'd bother replying and would be suspicious at the very best.

See the following link for information:

http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hcio/gallery.cfm

Visiting Parliament Gallery - Thanks AR, but to avoid queues, is it better to come later in the day, after the question time is over, say, around 3.30 PM?

My personal preference between St. Paul's and Westminster Abbey is Westminster. It's strictly personal choice, though -- they are both fabulous.

From a daily planning perspective, there are more sights on your list that are close to Westminster.

Annette

We'll only have 3 days in London and our daughters are now teenagers, but like your itinerary the London Eye is also absent from ours (at the moment). Many posters with children rate this as number one, but it is incredibly expensive and there are a few sites I believe, where many, many stairs will give similar views. Before we definitely decide it's out, it would be good to hear from others as to why they would/wouldn't recommend it as a must see. Also suggestions for alternative great views over London would be helpful.