Ideas for London with Kids

#1: London Zoo. Great place to spend an afternoon with kids. Behind the zoo runs Regents Canal. Hop on a canal boat and take a ride to Little Venice, a place where lots of beautiful boats are moored; then return trip to the pier behind the zoo. #2: Tower of London. All kids are interested in visiting a real castle, seeing the jewels on display, and hearing the grisly tales of the executions. #3: British Museum. All kids love seeing the Egyptian stuff, especially the mummies. #3: Tower Bridge Experience. Go up in it and the children will have a great view of the River Thames below and all the boats passing beneath the bridge. #4: Natural History Museum. Simulated volcanoes and earthquakes; dinosaur bones and a working, snarling, full size T-rex. Also Hamley's Toy store is great. Walking around the parks and feeding the ducks is fun.

Time out has a section on things to do with kids in London. http://www.timeout.com/london/kids/ Most museums have itineraries for children eg quiz trails etc. This from the British Museum and the Natural History Museum. http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/family_visits.aspx http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/whats-on-kids/index.html The Museum of London is very child friendly and one of my favourites. http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/ You will also find children's areas in the many Parks for them to let off steam from time to time.

My daughters were that age their first trip to London. Talk to the girls before going tell them about London, all little girls like princess, tell them that they will be able to see where real princess lives, got married, etc. Get them disposable camera's let them take pictures of what ever they want, you will be surprised, my daughter took some great pictures. I wouldn't bother going to the zoo, you can see a zoo here. Take them to The Orangery at Kensington Palace for tea, our daughters loved it there. If you take the tube (undergroud/subway) to St. James Park station take the Broadway exit and follow the signs to the park, shortly after entering the park you will see a bridge over the lake about half way across you will be able to get a beautiful view of Buckingham Palace, walk thru the park up to the Palace. As you face the Palace, go to your left and walk down the side of the Palace to the Royal Mews, there your girls the see the Royal horses and carriages. They say that all the swans in England belong to the Queen (but its a myth) but they are protected, against the law to hurt one. While in the park let the girls feed the birds, ducks and swans. Hamley's toy store on Regent Street, is fun to visit. I would take them out to Windsor, get the train at Paddington Station it's a 35 minute train ride. Let them see Queen Mary's doll house, it's a seven story palace with electricity, running water and working elevators the details are incredible, it is well worth the trip to Windsor for your girls to see it. Take them to Westminster Abbey and let them see the Coronation Chair. They will have a great time. When you use the tube, show them on the tube map which stop you are at, then show them the stop you want to get off at, let the count how many stops between so they can tell you when it's time to get off, it's fun to let them do things like that. Send me a message if you have any questions.

Absolutely take them to Windsor, the dollhouse is fantastic as well as the dolls given to Elizabeth and Margaret and the doll clothes. I seem to remember they are in the same room as dollhouse. Also, don't bother with changing of guard, they probably will not see anything, go down the street to where horses assemble to see the parade. Also, go to top of the dome at St. Paul's which I think is called the Whispering Gallery, I could't reach it with broken toes but son loved it. Great fun. If you go to the Tower, which you should not miss even just for the jewels, I think you can get tickets ahead of time or if not, go very first thing in AM to avoid crowd. Take a double decker bus. Was not impressed with toy department at Harrods but just going there itself was an experience. Have memorable time.

The Science Museum has all sorts of great hands-on and interactive exhibits for kids. I suspect sitting on top of a double decker bus or taking the boat ride down the Thames would also be fun for this age.

Laura is right; the double decker buses are fun to ride. There are many double decker city buses to ride; different routes. Also consider taking one of the Hop On Hop Off bus tours that takes you all around the city with a narrator pointing out all the sights. It's a good way to get a glimpse of everything without running yourself ragged. Narrated tour lasts 2 hours, but your ticket is good for 24 hours, so you can hop off anytime you want, look at a sight, then hop back on the next Hop On Hop Off Bus that comes along, and continue listening to the narrated tour. Your ticket is also good for a boat ride on the river. Robin is right; you must take them to Westminster Abbey and out to Windsor Castle. If they are not afraid of heights, take a trip up on the London Eye. Wait until after you go to see a few other sights, such as Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace. That way, they can point to some things they recognize and say, "We went there!" More fun that way.

Are they into Harry Potter? London Walks has Harry Potter themed trips out of London, to the Warner Bros. Studio, for one. Also Harry Potter Walking tour in London to see the filming locations. http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Home/Harry_Potter/default.aspx They have many different walks around London that may interest you and your children. Check out their website for the others; www.walks.com

Get tickets (in the stall area) to see The Lion King, I've seen it 3 times in London and twice here and love it every time. Took my granddaugher to see it in 2011 when she was 4, she loved it, she can't wait till it comes back to the area so she can see it again. If you do go try to get seats on the aisle, some of the performers come down the aisles when the show starts and after intermission.
Also, Covent Garden is a fun place for kids so they can watch the street performers.

Thanks so much everyone for the great ideas. I'm sure I'll be back with itinerary questions later in the year.