London with three kids- hacks and secrets welcome! ;0

How old are they? 2? 13? 30?

take a look at atlasobscura.com for off-beat things to see

In addition to the kids' ages, when you are going may be important too!

Sorry. You all can see that thinking is not a forte of mine. They are 12, 10 and 6 and we are going next summer, in August. Thanks to all!

The online magazine for London www.timeout.com/london/kids has a great kids information with things to do and see. They also have good restaurant reviews. Like this one https://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/the-best-child-friendly-restaurants-in-london Many museums are free so you don't mind to pop in for an hour or less before the kids get cranky. And many have kids activity kits if you ask. There are also mummy blogs like this. https://notanothermummyblog.com/7-family-friendly-activities-in-london-your-kids-will-love/ Finally here is an RS thread with lots of good kid information. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/kids-in-restaurants-pubs-in-london-current-situation-and-kid-friendly-places I second the suggestions for Giraffe but its not just for lunch. Enjoy the planning!

If you are not aware, many of the museums in London are free (though they appreciate a donation), so it is not a major investment to head to the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, or the Young Victoria and Albert Museum. Even if you just hit the highlights due to attention span, your not out much but time. Depending on age, the John Sloane Museum is a quirky menagerie of things, and the Imperial War Museum might be appropriate and the British Museum I always find interesting. All of the above are free of charge...plus more.

The HMS Belfast (does cost) is docked along the Thames, maybe exploring a warship has interest.

We went to Greenwich to visit the Cutty Sark, and The Maritime Observatory. We found the location sign for Greenwich Mean Time/Prime Meridian 0 degrees longitude, (lots of good things for kids to learn about) and it a quaint little village center.

And we thoroughly enjoyed visiting Richmond Great Park with all of the red and fallow deer; dating back to 1637; descendents of King Charles I's deer. And then strolling along the Thames after, for a meal.

If you would like to go to the theatre, My Neighbour Totoro is reopening next year. This would be a great show for all the family to see as it’s suitable for all age groups.

Greenwich is a good day trip. The Tate Modern is a huge unstuffy space and always has kids activities during school holidays. Young V&A well worth visiting. Not exactly a hidden gem but kids do love the London Eye.

London has lots of green space and play areas in all the main parks. Definitely allow time to explore them. London can be tiring with kids because you need to keep a close eye on them in such a busy environment. The parks are great for allowing everyone time to relax.

I'd say the top thing the long ago 5-10 year old boys I traveled with enjoyed was the Tower of London. Don't rush this. Allow enough time to have a break in their cafe for something to drink and maybe cake, lol. IF you can get them moving in the morning I'd go early as you can.

Also Leadenhall Market - it was the setting for the pub The Leaky Cauldron in the Harry Potter movies.

https://leadenhallmarket.co.uk/filming/

There is also a London Walks walk of Harry Potter filming locations.

https://www.walks.com/our-walks/harry-potter-film-locations-in-the-city/

Kids need a time to run around. My kids loved the Princess Diana Playground in Hyde Park. In a week in London with 2 10 year old boys, I spent 2 1 1/2 hour times sessions just sitting on a bench while they played. In all my travels with the kids in Ireland and England, the playgrounds in the big parks (St Stephens Green Dublin, Kilkenny castle, Hyde Park, etc.) were always hits and gave them a break from the looking at things

Also, they like to touch and explore things, not look at things behind glass. The National Science Centre has a good hands on area. The dinosaur part of the Natural History Museum is fun. I watched little kids talk to the animated dinosaur that scared them for about 2 minutes when they first saw it move. The Tower of London is great for kids. Anything Harry Potter is good if they are into the movies.

If you get out of London, go somewhere with a castle (ruins are fine) that they can climb on. Nothing like learning how they lived in medieval times by walking on and in a castle. Day trips near to London would include Dover Castle, Richmond Castle, etc. Check out English Heritage's site for others. They are in charge of most of the ruins in England and Wales.

The Richmond in South West London does not have a castle. The Richmond with a Castle is in North Yorkshire- no reason why that could not be a day trip but it would be a very long one, well beyond the length of those which are "approved" by most members of this forum.

The Yorkshire Richmond is well worth a visit, if not for this OP- a very fine Market Square, a rare surviving curfew/apprentice bell (still used), a very rare survivor of an authentic Georgian Theatre and on the edge of wonderful walking in the Yorkshire Dales.
The Castle there IS an outstanding one, used as late as WW1 by the Non Combatant Corps (conscientious objectors).

Just before his marriage Lord Robert Baden-Powell (founder of the Boy Scouts) lived in the old barracks at the Castle.

The Green Howards Museum there is also a very good Military Museum.

Take https://www.londonwaterbus.com/ from Little Venice to https://www.londonwaterbus.com/, and perhaps visit https://www.camdenmarket.com/. To me that would be an entire day.

Consider staying in an apartment rather than a hotel. You can get

• a kitchen/living room where you can eat
• - a relaxed breakfast - while watching TV,
• - a take-way dinner if you are tired in the evening
• a washing machine
• several bed rooms and bath rooms with one common living room

We usually use https://www.vrbo.com and have always been satisfied.

My mistake - Rochester, not Richmond, was my recommendation. Old Norman keep with a good audio guide. Second cathedral built after Canterbury. Roman founded it due to first place they could cross the Thames. Charles Dickens partially grew up there. Easy train access.

We took our grandson/granddaughter, 9 & 6 at the time and their parents, to London last summer. They loved the Natural History Museum for the Dinosaurs and the geology exhibits. We did the family tour of the Globe Theater, a kid’s tea at the Chesterfield Mayfair, Terrible Thames a boat ride geared toward families on the Thames, there’s also rib boat rides, the Tower of London had a treasure hunt for kids, the grandson raved about the War Museum (the girls went to the park), we saw The Lion King play, the granddaughter loved the Princess Diana playground, the British Museum is huge and overwhelming but the grandson really wanted to see the section on Egypt (so did I), the Lego Store is said to be the largest in the world (I sat outside), we did a black cab tour. We had lunch one day at The Anchor, one of the older pubs we found walking along the Thames. They loved riding the tube.
I think the one thing that turned out to be important was that there was so much to see and do but the adults had to remember to give the kids some down time during the day or we would have cranky pants by dinner.

I took my daughter to London when she was 5, 8, 9, 11, 15 & 16. Where there are children, there is everything you can think of to keep them busy and entertained. Especially, in a big city. Especially in London.

If they are Harry Potter fans, the Studio in Watford will keep them entertained all day. We have been 4 times and our record was 12 hours. Book now, it's 20 minutes by train to Watford from Euston and the shuttle buses are free. Book a morning time slot, stay all day or leave after three hours.

I heartily recommend the museums. If they are into art, I recommend timing a visit to one of the big galleries with their family events: workshops, art talks, all age appropriate, some free. I have booked workshops at the National Gallery, the Tate Modern and the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay (daughter fluent in French).

Lots of shows - Kids Week is in August and tickets are considerably cheaper.

The Diana playground is lovely and now adults can't use the toilets unless accompanied by a child. Probably a good thing but I was a bit miffed when I was desperate for facilites! I found the playgrounds better and more plentiful in Paris but there are good playgrounds in London. If they like nature and open space, go to Hampstead Heath. Lovely walks in the forest, beautiful village feel.

If you can figure it out, I would get Zipcards for each child. You need to plan ahead but they get free fare on buses and child fare on Tube. I think the cards are (edit) £10 each for the younger kids and you add stored value. Free buses. The admin fee for the 12 year old is $20. Otherwise, you need a different payment method for each person. I wouldn’t want to fiddle with four or five payment cards at a turnstile. May not be worthwhile. Check the daily caps or the group Travelcard.

I would suggest a day trip on the train to Brighton or Hastings. It is quintessentially British, the weather may be crap but that is the experience. Just sitting, eating ice cream and people watching on a pebbly beach is great. Bonus points to go on the pier at Brighton. There is a very nice fish and chip restaurant in Hastings. It's right amongst the fishing boats and gear.

Don’t forget the Pavilion at at Brighton

Yes! The Pavillion and The Lanes!

Definitely the playgrounds, my daughter (almost 8) loved the one in the Jubilee gardens by the London Eye.

We went to Hampton Court Palace, she really liked all the Henry VII / Wives content (we had been listening to the Six soundtrack a lot). And they have amazing gardens and a cool kids play area - even int he rain in June my daughter had a blast running around with kids.

We did the tour at the Globe, and I wish we had been able to book a performance aimed at kids, I think she would have really enjoyed it.

Thanks to all of you wonderful people for helping make this vacation special. You are the best.

I echo other's suggestions of museums (British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Etc). The British Library also has a free exhibit with items from it's collections, which may be of interest. For context, the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and main V & A Museum are within easy walking distance of each other (10-15 minutes walk max), and within walking distance to both Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (both of which had playgrounds and open green spaces to run + play). The London Transport Museum in Covent Garden is great for all ages, and has lots of different types of buses and trains to see (and many to walk through). Tickets are good for a year (and kids go free), so you could go back more than once if you so desire. There is a Cable Car over the Thames (IFS Cloud Cable Car, located near the O2 arena in Greenwich), which is neat.

Coram’s Fields is an outstanding playground for kids right in the centre of town, close to Russell Square and the British Museum. Adults can only go in with a child. My two year old granddaughter loves it.

Thanks again to all of you great folks.

Definitely plan on some breaks and food every day. Our grand kids (7 and 4) with their parents met us in London last year. In London we stayed at The Resident near Victoria Station as the hotel provided adjoining rooms with each room having a small kitchen. Keep your schedule somewhat loose.