Request for help planning 13 nights in London in June & July 2016

The Museum of London is well worth a visit, especially with kids. Look at the London Walks website. They are excellent, and the guides I've had have been very good with kids on the tours.

When you're in Trafalgar Square/St Martin's, pop in to the National Portrait Gallery, with paintings of just about all the kings, queens and other prominent historical figures. You'll see Piccadilly from the Big Bus - you probably won't need to go back there.

On the south side of Millennium Bridge you'll find Borough Market - best times Thurs/Friday/Saturday midmorning before the lunch crowd.

I was surprised to see you had ommitted the National Gallery and St Pauls.
A little re organisation would allow a day to Hampton Court &/or Kew Gardens.
Borough Market would be a good starting point on your Saturday monring.
On Thursday start at the smaller Transport Museum and finish at the enormous British Museum.
St James's Palace is nothing particularly impressive and not open to the public. Prince Charles lives at Clarence House around the corner.

• Thu 30 June: Big Bus tour, Natural History Museum
• Fri 1 July: Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament (Big Ben), Roald Dahl exhibition, London Eye
• Sat 2 July: Borough Market, The Globe tour, Tate Modern, Millenium Bridge
• Sun 3 July: Day trip to Cambridge, including evensong at 3pm
• Mon 4 July: Kidzania followed by Kensington Palace & Gardens, Hyde Park
• Tue 5 July: Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Tower Bridge
• Wed 6 July: Harry Potter studio tour
• Thu 7 July: Transport Museum, Covent Garden, British Museum
• Fri 8 July: St Pauls, Trafalgar Sq, St Martin-in-the-Fields (concert 1pm), National Gallery
• Sat 9 July: Hampton Court Palace and/or Kew Gardens
• Sun 10 July: Science Museum, Matilda at Cambridge Theatre at 3pm
• Mon 11 July: Quiet day - V&A, afternoon tea?

Have you started learning about Oyster cards? You'll be using buses and the tube and can save a lot with Oyster, and it's so convenient.

Thanks very much for all of the feedback. Sorry, I omitted that our children are 9 and 7.

The Borough Market sounds like a good addition for the Saturday so I'll look into that.

Thanks to djp_syd for the suggested reshuffle. I'll try to think that through. I note that Hampton Court Flower Show will be on at that time - although I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing!

Just on the museums, one of the reasons we are staying in South Kensington is that my father-in-law is very keen to take us all to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. I've put them early on the itinerary because they are non-negotiable. If I leave one or both until one of our last days, I will be in all sorts of trouble if we don't end up going there.

Given what we're read about the changing of the guard, we are probably happy to see that at St James's Palace. But I think that means that we're unlikely to be able to see that on the same day that we go to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.

I've read about the Oyster cards which look like the way to go. Put some money on to each adult's card and the kids are free - is that right?

Thanks again for all of the help.

If you are going to Borough Market, go on a Friday, as it will be hideously busy Saturdays, even early. It's become a victim of its own success. You have lots of things planned for inside and if the weather is decent (it does happen occasionally), you may want a plan B. Rather than Hampton Court, I would go to Greenwich by river boat and spend the day at the Royal Observatory. Great for children and adults.

I prefer the National Gallery to Tate Modern, but that's just personal taste. You can't work out at the Tate what is "art" and what's part of the building at times.

It's good to leave some flexibility in your schedule.

Another outdoor activity in case of nice weather: http://www.londonwaterbus.com/

If not too tired your night of arrival take the big bus tour. Parliament Square ( Big Ben et al) look wonderful at night. Next morning stop at the South Kensington underground station and get your Oyster cards, then visit the Pret a Manger thats across old Brompton road and grab sandwiches, chips, bottled drinks for a picnic lunch. Explore the natural history museum. when finished head towards the Royal Albert Hall and then into Hyde Park. (10 minutes at most) Walk toward the Round Pond and From here into Kensington gardens past Kensington Palace and over to Diana's playground. Hopefully all of you will enjoy being outside, seeing the waterfowl, etc AND finding a spot where you can picnic.

Try the London Eye that night.

The hustle and bustle of Camden Lock Market might be something to consider. Food stalls are great. Go early then you can walk along Regents Canal and into Regents Park past the zoo. Head toward the boating lake and rent a paddle boat . Great family outing. If you didnt do the big bus tour the night u arrived do it this night.

The day you do the Tower of London and Tower Bridge take the kids to the nearby glass covered Leadenhall Market and search for the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron from Harry Potter. Lunch there then either tube to or walk to Brick Lane and Spitafield's Market.

You will be surprised how much you can see and do in a day in London by using the tube. I'd also consider trying a London Walk . www.walks.com.

July will have huge crowds. Get out as early as you can each day. Walk along the Thames path, picnic, don't plan every minute. Be flexible. In all honesty cannot imagine the kids will have any interest in the Tate Modern. Try Mud Chute farm on a weekday instead. Take a river cruise. See if you can get tickets to the White Chapel Bell Foundry.

Great city but don't try to see it all at once. Its not going anywhere. Pace yourselves!!

I'll be in South Kensington most of your stay!...My 13th Wimbledon, the fifth based in SK after three staying near the High St Kensington tube stop...maybe I'll see you in one of the many breakfast places near the station! I know the area restaurants well (check the TA site for my reviews of places to eat, things to do!).

So most people over-schedule...mostly love your plan, but do think you've gone a bit in the other direction on some days, even with two young ones. I haven't been to Cambridge and don't know Roald Dahl or Kidzania or Harry Potter tour, but I'm sure they are appropriate. Buckingham Palace won't be open while you're there, so it's just a walk by/photo op...so plan on the Changing of the Guard (ignore the reviews that say it's not worth the time). But, in the morning beforehand, hit the Royal Mews right there. Horses, carriages and one of the Queen's cars. You still could put something into your afternoon July 9. Someone suggested Camden Market...Yes!....but get there via the gondola ride! Kids will love. If you can combine or drop things to free up a whole day, here's great ideas: Greenwich via a Thames River ride, an Evan Evans bus trip to Windsor Castle/Bath/Stonehenge, or that Brighton day trip sounds good for kids...I hope to do it some year. Enjoy!

Good for you for not cramming every day to the max and taking the time to explore this great city. We've spent three weeks in London in the past 4 1/2 months and still have things to see. We so enjoy just walking and the idea from Chani to look at London Walks offerings is a good one. Takes the pressure off of you as tour guide.

Unless you are big fans of contemporary art, skip the Tate Modern. We like modern art but not so much true contemporary art. I think your kids would be bored there. They might, however, enjoy the H.M.S. Belfast. Not many chances to tour an historic warship. The audio guide is good.

Kids would like the Museum of London more than the British Museum, I think. Remember you do not have to try and see every exhibit. When we go to a big museum, we select an area, a wing, a theme, and do that, not everything.

St. Paul's definitely worth including, again a great audio guide with super videos. Your kids can self-guide. Takes the pressure off of mom.

If you are thinking about the changing of the guard, be aware you'll be standing in the sun (weather permitting!) for up to 3 hours with the waiting and the ceremony. Time better spent elsewhere, IMO. The Palace is a nice walk-by with a stroll through St. James' Park. You could probably add that to your Friday and do something else Saturday. I think the idea of a day trip to the seaside, weather permitting.

British Museum - kids usually like the Egyptian section (esp. the mummies) but much of the other collections can be boring for kids. Check for any activities for kids, sometimes there are gallery talks (about 30 minutes) geared to them.

Oyster card - not sure how it works with families (but it looks like kids up to 10 yrs travel free). In general, you to pay for each card (about £5 deposit plus as much travel money as you want). You can top it up as you go and bus drivers and tube agents can easily tell you how much you have left. If you buy the card and top it up, always paying the same way, and if you have less than £10 left on the card, you can get an immediate refund when you leave (at just about any tube station with an agent on duty). If you've paid cash, you get a cash refund (the balance on the card plus your deposit). If you've paid always with the same credit card, you get a credit to that account. But if you've mixed them, or you have more than £10 left on the card, they send you a check (in Sterling, of course) to your home address. Your bank's handling fees may be more than the amount of the check! You will want a week-long travel card. You can get that when you buy the card, but if you aren't planning to travel much at the beginning, tell the agent the day you want it to start. The visitor oyster card may not be your best option, be sure to add the price for shipping to your home. You can only get it outside the UK.