4 days in London for marathon with 9 year old!

I've been in London twice during the marathon and except for the crowds along the route and some congestion at tube stations near the route, there is little difference between marathon day and a normal day. London is crowded all the time. I don't have kids, but I would think that kids would like the London Eye, a Thames boat ride, and the Tower of London. If the weather is bad, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum have some great exhibits for children.

Jenni - London is crowded all the time, so other than the marathon route, it wont be too much different than normal. Sites - in addition to what was mentioned above, the London Transport museum might also be a hit, as well as watching some of the street performers in Covent Garden. Also, check out whats on at theaters in London. Live theater in London is fantastic. Since you plan on doing some walking, check out the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. You could also spend days in the the British Museum. Jet lag - I've done the flight you are taking before. It wont be too bad. While everybody is different, what I liked to do was go from the airport to the hotel. You usually cannot check in until 1400 or so, but you can leave your bags with the concierge. Once you do that, explore the town until check-in time. Once checked in, I'd shower and have a SHORT nap (no more than a couple hours), then get up and power through until about 9pm. Always seems to work for me. Enjoy London - its a great town!

We too have been in London during Marathon Week and it did not feel any more crowded than usual. It is a beautiful,time to be there, with the daffodils in the parks in full bloom. We like to combat jet lag with a long walk in the sunshine on our arrival day, after checking in to our hotel. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens would be nice for that- look for the statue of Peter Pan which your daughter will enjoy. Another walk we like is across Westminster Bridge for views of Big Ben and the Parlaiment buildings, then along the Thames south bank past the London Eye to the Millenium Bridge to cross back. For museums, our daughters enjoyed the Tate Modern for modern ( and quirky) art, the British Museum for ancient Egyptian and Greek art and sculptures, and the Natural History museum for the dinosaurs. Remember that most museums are free so you can pop in for a look,mot see if it is interesting, without making a $$ commitment. We prefer the Changing of the Guard at the Horse Guards Parade over the crowded ( and impossible to see for short people) spectacle at Buckingham Palace. If you wish to see the Tower of London, I suggest you buy tickets in advance, or plan to arrive before they open and standing the queue. For dinner try Wagamama for fast and tasty pan- Asian food.

Helpful information! Thank you for responding. If you think of anythings else, please post!