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Seeking feedback on itinerary for 2.5 days in London

Posted by on

Hello! I am hoping for feedback on my loose itinerary for 2.5 days in London.

Some details about us:
* I will be traveling with a 7 year old that is not interested in art or history but loves all things transportation.

* My travel style - general framework (maybe 1-3 sights a day) and then be flexible to roam the rest of the time. Scheduling our days down to the hour as that isn't practical with my child and stresses me out.

* We will be there half of a Monday and all day Tuesday and Wednesday in July.

* We will be staying in Kensington.
* We will be acclimated to the time zone as London is our last destination on a 4-week trip.

* My child has never been to the UK and it's been about 30 years since I was last there.
* We enjoy food/eating. :)

Sights I had thought of visiting:
- Transportation Museum
- Tower of London
- Tower Bridge
- Millennium Bridge
- London Eye
- Horse Guard
- Changing of the Guard
- Royal Mews
- a Thames cruise
- The Shard (we visited its equivalent in Hong Kong and kiddo loved it)

Too much? Not enough? Did I miss anything? Should I skip any of these? Should I buy advance tickets for any of them?

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

Posted by
14892 posts

You could consider doing the Tower of London (view Tower Bridge from there) first thing on your full day, have lunch in the Armories cafe there (cafeteria style) then take the boat up the Thames to Westminster Pier. From there head to the Horse Guards to see them standing in their boxes (facing Whitehall St) then walk thru the arches there to St James’s Park to Buckingham Palace, then along the left side to the Royal Mews (great carriages on display). It’s just a short walk from there to Victoria Station Underground.

Posted by
996 posts

I'm an overgrown child sometimes, but I loved seeing the Horse Guard! We wound up arriving when they were changing out the Horse Guard and met some of the friendliest London police officers working the event.

Perhaps also make a point of trying out the various types of transportation which London has to offer as part of the day's fun. The cabs. The trains. The Tube.

Does your child like watching any BBC shows? Is he a Harry Potter fan? You could always include Platform 9 and 3/4 in that case.

Hope you have a great time!

Posted by
9282 posts

Maybe consider exploring the following:

Stroll through Covent Garden, all the buskers will be performing.

Mud Chute Farm https://www.mudchute.org

The Golden Hinde ( near the Shard) full scale replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship.

See if tickets are available for Postal Museum underground railway https://www.postalmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit/tickets-prices/

Lady Diana Memorial Playground https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington-gardens/things-to-see-and-do/diana-memorial-playground
You could then walk over to the Round Pond in front of Kensington Palace. Too bad you aren’t there on a Sunday as the model yacht club sail there boats http://www.mysa.org.uk

Unless you want to go very early to secure a good viewing spot for the Changing of The Guard at Buckingham Palace consider this easier option for some pomp and circumstance https://changing-guard.com/queens-life-guard.html.

There are 3 Pelicans at St James Park. They are fed every day at 2:30pm. Lovely Park in front of Buckingham Palace. https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/st-jamess-park/things-to-see-and-do/wildlife/pelicans

See if Tower Bridge is scheduled to open on the days you are there http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/lift-times/

https://piccadillylights.co.uk

Hamleys Toy Store http://www.hamleys.com/explore-life.irs

Posted by
31 posts

I would second the postal museum train. We're probably going to do that (I have 12 and 13-year-olds)...something unique for kids of all ages!

Posted by
282 posts

Here's a link to a tour guide's video of that postal museum and train that was mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVMUq1uSlF4

That tour guide's You Tube channel has many others, good stuff.

If I were traveling with a kid that age, we'd have to go to Paddington Station gift shop, because my daughter loves her teddy bears. But that's a personal preference :)

Have fun :)
Alison

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