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Visiting London next Weekend for 3 nights. Going with wife and 12 year old excited son. Just sorting out what we intend doing. Ideas much appreciated.

must go on the eyewe went on it a couple of years ago, after we went on the duck around the streets then splashed in the river and continued the tour there
marg

What do you like doing?  Budget?  Good things like walking, also theatres and museums.  Give us an idea of what you want.

Agree with the eye though, provided you are not scared of heights, it is an absolute MUST!

Hi there

Where are you staying?

Agree with the London Eye and the Aquarium is always good, although the queue can be long. 

If the weather is OK, take a river boat to Greenwich and walk through the market and then into the park and the observatory.  From the top of the hill in Greenwich Park you can see across to Canary Wharf and back down at the river you could walk under the Thames to Silvertown - the foot tunnel is by the Cutty Sark.

How about London Zoo? and a walk through Hyde Park.

There are the usual - The Tower, Tower Bridge (a walk along the top and a look at the lifting machinery is quite interesting.  My boys still like visiting HMS Belfast.

The whole South Bank has really regenerated and is worth a visit on a Weekend morning.

If the weather is nasty, then the Science and Natural History Museums are excellent

That should keep you occupied!

Have fun

I agree with Shelle that a lot depends on your taste and budget, not to mention your mobility as London is a massive place with attractions well spread.  But plenty of things are free and having lived here for over 30 years and currently working in Westminster I'd say a walk along the south bank of the Thames, a visit to the Tate Modern, and a wander through one of the royal parks (St James is my favourite because I love the pelicans) are all musts.  Covent Garden is bustling with lots of free street entertainment, Spitalfields Market is good on a Sunday oh I could go on and on.   ;D

G x

Definitely the Eye, China town is fun, Borough market in Southwark is interesting - open on fridays and saturdays. Also in Southwark - the Britain at War museum, the London Dungeon and HMS Belfast.

Agree with Tinshed that the Britain at War museum is very good and on a similar theme Winston Churchill's War Rooms are fascinating. Also for something different I remember going to a display of literally hundreds of mosaics a few years ago. I think it was in the rejigged Somerset House but someone will correct me if I am wrong. They were absolutely beautiful and a place where you could spend all day.

natural history museum - a must for any twelve year old boy.   science museum is good too.

Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Thames Cruises are always lovely (special offers can be had if you book a cruise and the eye at the same time - even bigger offers if you book them in advance via the website) Natural History Museum, The Rainforest Cafe for lunch (It's fantastic in there! Try to prebook if you want to go on a Saturday) St. Pauls Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, The Britain at War Museum is superb because it's really interesting and not too long that a 12yr old would get bored and want to leave half way through.  Also, by the London Eye, there's an inside amusement type area (next to the aquarium) with somewhere to eat (fast food) dodgems, fairground type games and a bar.  Kew Gardens (slightly further out but easily accessible) The Sherlock Holmes Museum (and Baker Street!) The Planetarium (fantastic star and planets show in the 'theatre'), Madame Tussauds (next door to the Planetarium)  The good thing about Sherlock Holmes, the Planetarium, Madame Tussauds and London Zoo is that they are all pretty close together as far as the travel is concerned.

http://www.britainatwar.co.uk/page1.html
http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/
http://www.londoneye.com/
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/
http://www.stpauls.co.uk/
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page555.asp
http://www.londontrocadero.com/
http://www.kew.org/
http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/
http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/planetarium.htm
http://www.madame-tussauds.co.uk/

I was down in the smoke last weekend, we got on the boat and went down to Greenwich - then walked around the royal college of music, pianted hall and chapel etc, very impressive - then walked up to the Greenwich obsevatry at dusk for some spectacular views..

I used to live there in my student days and have fond memories of Camden and the market, don't know what its like now though!

The natural history museum is a must, http://www.nhm.ac.uk/ lots of things in there for kids too!

Have a great time  ;D

you can get an all in one ticket for the eye and the river cruise which goes down past greenwich, documenting what is happening from the thames, great from another perspective rather than walking.

tea at the Ritz for your wife, we were given a voucher for our birthdays, it was a lovely experience.

the houses of parliament, you can get a tour and as we see it on tv all the time, seeing it in 'real life' is interesting.

Covent garden, there are always street artists there, last week we saw pavement artists, spanish dancers and an opera singer performing magic to people having coffee!  There is also a great sweet shop called cybercandy, here you can get sweets from all over the world that are not sold in britain, try the cherry ripe!

Chinatown ~ very interesting and fun and you'll be able to go into loads of small supermarket type shops with interesting vegetables!

Whatever, have a great time!

Thanks for your input brilliant as usual. Like you say a lot depends on the weather. We are staying out of the centre at East Acton 30 mins away on the tube. The hotel being next to the station. The Eye /Rivercruise and Natural History Museumis a definate. Thans for the links Savage its a good day for surfing.

Make sure you do the 'Duck' tour rather than just a cruise....much more fun! ;D
http://secure.conciergedesk.co.uk/dtaddtobasket.aspx?source=gadwords&group=duck_tours&kw=text_ads

Oops, forgot The London Dungeon!  It's a good couple of hours for both adults and children of your son's age  ;D ;D  The last time I went (about three years ago) it took about 1 - 1.5hrs to go around, so it's pretty good and if I remember rightly, it's around Tooley St, quite close to The Britain at War Museum if you wanted to do two things on the same day.

http://www.thedungeons.com/en/london-dungeon/index.html

If you haven't been for a while, the British Museum is always worth a look and the new covered Great Court is amazing. Short walk from there to Oxford St, Soho, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, from there to Westminster, the Eye etc.

Hi northener,  hope you have a great time in London.

Just beware though where you go to eat and get a drink, it can cost a fortune.

Great suggestions from everyone.

Sinbad

Northener, when you do the eye, try and catch it at dusk.
Been up 3 times and the best by far was going up in the light and coming down in the dark! Spectacular. ;D

St Paul's Cathedral is pretty impressive but expensive.

If you go to the Natural History museum look at the wildlife photography competition - but is £6 each.

Also remember that much of London is walkable, once you're in the centre. Most of the places mentioned here (with the exception of St Pauls, and the natural history and science museums I think) could be done in a single day. Added bonus of exhausting your 12 year old! As for food and drink, if you like Chinese you can get something half decent in Chinatown without breaking the bank (and keep an eye out for Sam Smiths pubs! Lots near Soho)