My 2 kids (ages 2 and 5) and I will have 3 weeks in London in August while my husband is on a project there. We're staying in Kensington and will definitely be visiting the Natural History Museum, Hyde Park & the Serpentine, Kensington Gardens & the Diana Memorial Playground,Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard ceremony. I'm looking for advice on "must see or do" activities, tips on traveling within the city (bus vs. tube, stroller or backpack for the 2 y.o., etc.), and cheap or free ways we can burn off kid energy. Finally, anyone know of a good farmer's market in that area? We'll have kitchen access and I'll be cooking most of our meals to keep costs down. Thanks!!

You can add the Science Museum to your list, it is also free.

There is also the Zoo www.zsl.org/london-zoo

and the London Aquarium www.londonaquarium.co.uk

and the Imperial War Museum
www.london.iwm.org.uk/
That last one may seem a bit odd for children, especially coming from a pacifist. My 3 year old loves it. We just go in to the main hall that is full of airplanes. It's free so I don't mind running in for 30 minutes while he checks out the planes and boats.

London's Transport Museum
www.ltmuseum.co.uk
We haven't seen this one yet, but the blurb in our book says that it's a great child friendly museum with 15 hand's on Kids' Zones.

Coram's Fields (do a search for other London farms -- there are more than you would expect!)

Do a search for Adventure Playgrounds. They run about 3-5 pounds and they are full of indoor play structures, ball pits, ropes courses, etc. Nice alternative on a rainy day.


check out www.kidslovelondon.com for other ideas.

Are you planning on getting out of London? York has a great (and free!) Railway Museum that any train (or Thomas) lover will love.

Legoland is out in Windsor and a fun day trip too. It isn't cheap but your 2 year old will be free and there is lots to do.

Brighton is a fun (and tacky) seaside town. No sandy beach but lots of rocks that are fun to throw in the water.

As for transportation, strollers are a killer on the tube. Elevators are almost nonexistent, and escalators and stairs are everywhere. It's easier to do if both you and your husband are there. If I take my 3 year old by my self we leave the stroller at home. I've never taken a bus in London so I can't comment on that.

Whew -- that's all I have for now! I'd get a good "take the kids to London" guide. There really are lots of things for you guys to do. Have fun!

Here's a site I love & you can check out other regions you might visit while there. I don't know of an open-air market in the area of Kensington.

http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/

Oh, and while not an open farmer's market there's a great Marks & Spencer grocery on Kensington High Street as well as the new Whole Foods market.

There is a Whole Foods!

What about visting a City Farm:

http://www.london.gov.uk/young-londo...to-do/farm.jsp

None in Kensington, I'm afraid, but you could combine a boat ride to Greenwich with a ride on the Docklands Light Railway (try to sit at the front - there's no driver so you can see where you're going) to Mudchute Farm (much nicer than it sounds).

There are some animals at Coram's Fields as well:
http://www.coramsfields.org/

My guess is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace won't be the fun experience you imagine. Especially w/ the crowds of August. You have to get there quite early to claim a decent place to view it, then you have to stand there - no wandering around - simply to save your prime location. The kids are awfully young to just stand/sit in the stroller fro 2 hours.

You can get up close and see the Changing of the Horse Guard though.

You received lots of good suggestions so far.

You can take a canal boat from Little Venice and get off at Regent's Park for the zoo.

Definitely go to the Transport Museum (at Covent Garden). I haven't been there since it reopened after its big refurbishment - but even before, it was wonderful and I'll assume they did it right and it is even better now.

Buses will be easier than the tube for lots of your travels. The tube could be a real slog w/ 2 kids and a stroller.

The Natural History Museum is next door to the Science and across the street from the V&A. It is great for little kids - especially w/ the dinosaurs etc.

The mention of the Horse Guards reminds me they have their own museum, though it strikes me as a bit pricy, and maybe the bits aimed at children would be more suitable for older ones. It might be enough just to go to see them on duty at Horse Guards Parade:

http://www.householdcavalrymuseum.org.uk/

Thanks so much for all of these suggestions! Would walking by Buckingham Palace be any fun? They read "Paddington" when he goes to see the changing of the guard, so they're interested in the Palace. Pretty much interested in all things Paddington, actually. The farms seem very cool and I'll definitely store away the Adventure Playground idea, since I hear that rain is inevitable. Does an Oyster card work on buses too? My husband is already there and said he just got one for his tube commute from our hotel/apartment and office. Has anyone been to the children's lido at the Serpentine? Just wondering if it's a crazy scene w/crowds or could we actually enjoy an afternoon of waterplay/swimming...
Thanks, thanks!!

The Oyster works on buses.

If you walk by the Palace in the afternoon when the crowds are gone the kids can walk right up to the fence/gates and see the 2 soldiers in their guard huts and marching back and forth. Plus there are always Bobbies standing there who will usually take time w/ little kids if they come up to talk.

In my observation, and from reports from friends who have visited London with very small kids, the children have enjoyed the double decker buses and the playgrounds of London's parks above all. They've also enjoyed Holland Park, with its many little hideaways, and they have enjoyed the kite flying on Hampsted Heath. In depends where you are. I believe in Hampstead Heath there is swimming in the summer. There are probably other places as well.

At Somerset House, there are small nozzle fountains that spring up gentle gushers from the patios that are a delight for small children in the heat. If it is raining, I would think the indoor public great courtyard of Tate Modern would be welcome-running-around-space for free.

If you have money, the various boats that ply the Thames are enjoyable.

This might be useful:

http://www.londontreasures.com/children.htm

and this list of London's playgrounds:

http://www.londonplay.org.uk/

PS: Regarding Buckingham Palace, even people well over 2 and 5 are often shocked at what a dreary, uninteresting place it is -- and the changing of the guard is as janis described. If anything, the children are more likely to be interested in the traffic whizzing about the roundabout -- or a short stroll to St James Park to find the geese. (My preference too!)

It's been many years since I have been to the London Zoo, but I did take a child there -- who quite understandably felt sorry for the animals.

London's parks, gardens and greenspaces are some of the most glorious in the urbanized world and they are underappreciated by most grown-up tourists. I don't hesitate to hang out in them when I'm London with children. They represent some of the best London has to offer.

I also think your five-year-old might enjoy running across the Millennium Bridge. And certainly he'll want to hear Big Ben bong.

Here's a video of the Somerset House fountains. When it is hot, I have seen happy toddlers there, in their underwear, running through the water spray.

Sorry, I forget the linK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP1AJ...eature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mQ0h...eature=related

Somerset House is a great suggestion. Bring bathing suits for the kids to run through the spraying water. Also, last time we were there (summer 2006), there was some sort of festival, with music, silly dancers in the fountains, and craft classes for the kids - all free.

The Science Museum has a great hands-on section for kids.

I just checked and the family festival at Somerset House is August 15 - 18 this year.

Here is the web site:
http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/family/25.asp

You've gotten great advice. If your two year old can manage, leave the stroller at home. It's a real bear on the tube and the buses take so much longer to get from A to B. Plus, you can't take the buggy upstairs on the bus, which your 5 year old will certainly want to do.

If they love Paddington, they have a small statue at Paddington station that they can visit.

Holland Park has a fantastic adventure playground. In the Kyoto Gardens, there are peacocks that will eat from your hand.

Kensington Gardens also has a great playground with a huge pirate ship.

&quot;<i> . . . the buses take so much longer to get from A to B.</i>&quot;

Not always. There are thousands of bus stops and often the long, difficult walks in the tube stations and from the stations to the final destination add more time than just taking a bus from point to point.

W/ little ones, especially a 2 yo, the buses would usually be easier - just avoid the busiest commute hours. But that goes for the tube as well.

I am amazed at all this great advice! Now if I can just get it into my PDA, I'll be set.
You all are so helpful - if the Londoners we meet are half as nice, we may never leave...I'd better go be helpful on the US board to keep the karma going. Thanks a million! I'll continue to check back for any more ideas/suggestions.