obxgirl

If London-Transfers is Ray Skinner's business, then that is the company we used prior to switching to JustAirports (for less $ not less service). Also a good company. If L-T can take you all and your luggage for that amount, it sounds like a good deal. However, I'd still call JustAirports and see what their price is. This is the phone number for JustAirports I have for calling from the US:

011 44 208 900 1666

Your kids should mostly, if not all, travel for free on the buses & tubes in London with you & your husband's paid tickets. I don't how long you're going to be there so don't know which of the ticket schemes is best for you. The official site is pretty dense with info. Do a search here for recent visitors with kids.

www.tfl.gov.uk/tube

hugefamily

UPps , Yes we are going for 5 days . Can my husband get a paper ticket to get the 2for 1 discount and I get the oyster??? I'm so confuses!!!. WE wnat to use the buses and tube as much as we can.THANKS

nona1

It's a good idea to get one oyster and one travelcard. The oyster travel is cheaper, but you get 2 for 1 entries with the travelcard.

Up to 4 under 11s travel free on tube and buses with an adult.

poutine

I travelled with my then 7 and 9 year olds to London and Paris a couple of years back. We were also on a tight budget.

We stayed at the Marriott County Hall (on points), and from Heathrow, simply took the tube to Westminster and walked to the hotel. If you indicate which hotel you are staying at, those familiar with London on the board can help with public transit options. My husband was really skeptical about taking the tube after an overnight flight, and he was impressed with how simple it really was (and cheap).

The kids most enjoyed the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Diana playground (not far away), Tower of London and London Eye. They also had a good time at Covent Garden and enjoyed the brass rubbing at St Martin in the Fields. The Transport Museum was closed when we were there in 2006, but I have heard that kids love it. We had tea twice, which just included (deliberately) weak tea and scones with jam. The park (St. James maybe) had a restaurant which has afternoon tea options. There were swans and ducks in the park as well.

One comment.....If you are thinking of shipping via UPS, you are really packing way too much. I agree with the above poster who said your 8 year old should be able to roll his own carry on. Maybe the 5 year old too, that depends. However, you are only going for ten days. Last year we went on an 8 day trip to Berlin and Prague, and took one carry on each (plus a day pack or two). It was the most liberating experience!! We will fly to Hong Kong and Beijing for two weeks this fall, and I am determined to stick to four carry ons only. If we go crazy shopping, I will buy a cheap bag to carry back with me.

Enjoy yourselves!

suze

Forget shipping things over ahead of time. It is way too expensive, takes time and simply not practical for a 10 day trip (the answer might be different if you were moving to London or something).

Instead pack VERY light. Everyone except the littlest kid can have their own small backpack. Adults each with one 24-26" rolling suitcase plus a small daypack themselves should cover your needs.

Save money by mostly staying out of restaurants. Find the nearest grocery store and use it. Weather should be nice enough for picnics in the parks. Or ethnic restaurants are usually a good value, if your kids are adventuresome eaters.

obxgirl

I think the OP is already over the shipping luggage thing.

hugefamily

Thanks everyone !!! Can you tell me, How is the weather??? Sweaters or jackets and long sleeves?? SEPt 6-10. Thanks

wildblueyonder

At the moment, the weather is terrible. (though I'm not in London). It's the wettest August on record, here in the SW England. Terrible. We are all praying that this will improve! Bring umbrellas, sweaters and lightweights - you just never know!

PLEASE consider coming to the Westcountry! It's truly beautiful and the kids can build sandcastles and eat strawberry jam with scones! We are in big trouble down here, because of the weather. So many people rely on tourism for their livelihoods. This year has been a disaster! Now, even charity groups are asking for donations because they haven't been able to hold their usual fetes etc to raise money!

Sorry, way off topic (and I don't work for the tourist industry, honest!), but I read the threads on here and it seems that nobody ever mentions Devon or Cornwall!

wherenext

It is great to see all the positive info for your family! Diana's playground in Hyde park is great for your age kids! Also the one at the london eye is a good diversion.

The 5 day travelcard works well but you really need to be using it to make it worth it. The kids will ride free on the buses and trains anyway. We bailed on the oyster card all together.

Take two cheap collapsable umbrella strollers...early September usually has good weather but just in case get those plastic covers...they are much easier to handle on the buses and trains with the kids than a big stroller.

54GBP is a good rate into central London. We paid much more than that!

Food: WAGAMAMA! great noodle bars...loud enough to make you comfortable, cheapish, trendy and kid friendly. We call it Waga...William because my son loves it! They are all over. Pizza Express and Tootsies both have good kids menus; they are chains but good ones and when the kids are melting down and see either of these, they will work for everyone!

Belgro Centrall...looks like a micro brewery downstairs but if you go early you pay for your meal by the time you order it. 6 pound at 6pm. It is a Belgium restaurant...The kids menu is great and they will love the coed bathroom. It is between Leister square and covent garden.

Avoid Oxford street! Crazy busy with lots of chain stores and the kids hate it!

Walk the kids along the river which is a nice break from the crowds. The river tours are also more interesting and lots quicker and cheaper than bus tours for the children. Fun!

Natural History museum is great. Good for a rainy day!

Bring layers. It won't be very cold but do bring waterproof wind breakers or raincoats and light sweatshirts, plus t's etc...

Have fun!

atpmrphnp

A good grocery store near marble arch is Marks and Spencers that has great food you can grab for a picnic and take to the park and back to the hotel.

When we traveled in England we always dressed in layers no matter what the forcast was. Does your stroller have a rain cover? You know what they say, there is no such thing as bad wheather, just bad clothing. So just be prepared for rain and be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't.

KidsToLondon

My nominees for top sights with kids from 1 1/2 to 8 years old:

--Science Museum: they have several special play/explore areas suitable for even very young children (free)

--Transport Museum: it has recently been redone and this hugely popular museum is even more terrific for kids than before

--Tower of London: take a tour with one of the Yeoman Warders (AKA "Beefeaters&quot. They are usually great with kids in the audience.

--London Eye: best views in London and great for kids *unless* someone is afraid of heights.

--Diana Memorial Playground: one of the best playgrounds ever. (free)

--A bus ride on the top of one of the doubledecker buses. There's a "heritage route" in central London that still uses the old fashioned doubledecker Routemaster buses.

--Changing of the horseguards ...better, IMHO, for kids than standing at Buckingham Palace in a crowd. (free)

Have a great adventure in London!

Dave
http://www.KidsToLondon.com

SaraJane

Hi there....my boys 10 and 7 liked the Natural history museum, lots of things to see, they loved the dinosaurs, hey and its free....We did the hop on hop off bus, that is great, takes about 2 hours to go around but boy you get to see alot, your kids will be looking at all the neat things, sit upstairs of course, outside. I went on the tube with the kids and paid for them and then was told that they are free...Run around the grounds outside buckingham palace and then there is High park for a pic nic.I agree pack light, you can always wash and hang to dry overnight on a radiator or washroom and it is so dry in London.

Enjoy

Elainee

Another vote for the Tranportation Museum. Waga, Pizza Express, and rubbings. My grandkids love LegoLand (outside of London). School in London begins this week so places will not be crowded.

tinabina

Just a quick heads up! I'm not sure if you realize the Marriott is located within a predominantly middle-eastern neighborhoood. I only mention this, because nearly all the restaurants were middle-eastern fare. There is a McDonalds on the main street adjacent from the hotel, as well as a coffee bar. Spencers is a good choice for food, but still pricey.
Many people in the immediate area were dressed in traditional middleeastern garb, including berkas! My kids were very curious and asked loads of questions, especially about the "hookas", the flavored tobacco lounges lining the streets. Ha! It looked like a sly way to say "hookers" didn't it? Anyhow! my point is, the area is very family oriented just more concentrated with one ethnicity. It only affected us when Iran beat their arch rivals in "football". The streets closed down for a huge parade. We joined in...it was quite an experience. My advice about the oyster card is to send your husband over to the tube station and have him "chat" with the employees and bystanders. Everyone was very helpful and it wasn't nearly as overwhelming as we had imagined. Oh and I think the Marriott you are staying in has an indoor pool! My kids loved that!! Pack suits! Have a ball!

jewela

Hugefamily:

You ROCK! I love that 4 children don't slow you down.

I suggest that you pack very light, and plan on doing a little laundry while you're there.

As for getting to & from the airport, maybe this isn't the best time to experiment with buses & the tube. I would hire a service with a mini van or larger. You can get a quote on line so that you know how much is costs up front. This way, you all arrive together with the luggage. Much less stressful, I think. Once you get settled, take the kids to the park, and let them run wild. They've been stuck on an airplane & in a van for a long time.

Have a wonderful trip! Make sure to write a trip report when you get back. I'd love to hear about how "hugefamily does London".

Robespierre

There are a number of family-friendly restaurants in Selfridge's on Oxford Street east of Marble Arch. There's a food court on the ground floor (down Orchard St.), and the view from the Food Garden on the 4th floor is very appealing.

http://www.selfridges.com/index.cfm?page=1186

<b>TfL buses are your best travel value</b>

For &pound;13, you can buy a 7-day bus pass that's good all over Greater London (no zone restrictions) and is valid 24 hours a day (no peak restrictions). All your kids ride free. Load the passes on Oyster Cards so you can take advantage of Oyster fares between Heathrow and downtown. They'll charge you a &pound;3 deposit on the card, but that's refundable.

The Heritage Routes mentioned above are the #15 between Trafalgar Square and Tower Hill, and #9 from Aldwych to Royal Albert Hall.

Marble Arch is an ideal place to stay, because there are 21 bus lines there that will take you all over town without transferring.

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/Dow...MarbleArch.pdf

I do NOT recommend the hop-on/hop-off bus tours. They're very expensive for what you get, and TfL buses stop at all the same monuments and museums they do. Here's the Tourist Bus Map (download and print it):

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...al_bus_map.pdf

VirginiaC

Just a thought that might be handy:

About half a mile west of the Natural History and other museums on Cromwell Road is Bobo's Bubbles, a self-service laundry that also does service washes. We've been staying in that area for years and have found them to be completely reliable.

Elainee

Just an FYI..my 11 year old grandaughter who has traveled to more places in Europe, Asia, Africa, SA than many adults (30+ countries) just tested positive on her first TB skin test. She does not have TB, is not contageous, but will need to take antibiotics for 9-12 months. Good idea to take the TB skin test for those of us who do a lot of travel, especially children for whom TB is especially dangerous.

W9London

For baby/toddler related things, there is Mothercare on Oxford St, on the north side of the street between Marble Arch and Selfridges.

Aside from M&amp;S, you're actually close to Somerfield which is a cheaper supermarket (assume you'll be staying at Marriott on George St).

You might want to try one of many Lebanese restaurants along Edgware Rd (aka Little Lebanon).

I do recall spotting a launderette along Seymour Place. It does get chilly, esp in the mornings. My kids are wearing long-sleeves possibly a jumper if it's a bit windy. I would definitely bring a rain cover for the stroller.

There is an excellent children's playground at Paddington Street park near Marylebone. (There is also a farmer's market there on Sunday mornings). Also my kids (6 and nearly 4) love Regent's Park--another great playground, feed the ducks, geese, swans, Rose Garden should still be nice.

London Eye is probably more appropriate for the older two, 3yo probably would be bored by the end of the ride. Second recommendation on Transportation Museum. Hampton Court Palace is another good destination out of London--very easy access by train from Waterloo.

You may also want to think about indoor activities for a rainy day. There are indoor &quot;soft play&quot; areas at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre and Army Museum. British Museum is another good destination--kids activities packs are really good. Science Museum should be less crowded now that the schools are starting.

Legoland is quite expensive as kids over 3 have to pay. About GBP30 for adults, 25 for kids (more expensive if you buy at the gate).

surfmom

as a Mom who likes to travel with her kids, I've enjoyed reading the great ideas about where to go. thanks to all those posters!

to the OP, pack lighter, and lighter again. Take enough clean underwear and socks and about 1/2 as much clothes as you think. I put my girls in cotton dresses with leggings underneath - they can take them off easily if hot and very comfortable. You can always hang things in the shower for a 'refreshening'. Kids don't care!!! Take Tide To Go or Shout sheets (go through airport security easier than Tide to go) for spilling emergencies.