h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm bringing two of my kids to London for the first time tomorrow. I have great plans for the morning and afternoon with the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum?, the parks, the London Eye and possibly Hamleys to visit before shops close.

I'll still have a few hours to spare in the early evening before heading back to the airport and I'm wondering how best to spend this time. Any suggestions? The boys are 8, hugely curious and completely clueless about the plans I have set out for them.

To be honest, I'd give Hamleys a miss. When I was a kid, it was this storied wonderland, the biggest toyshop in the WORLD!!! Today, however, to a child who has ever visited a branch of Toys'R'Us, it seems poky, claustrophobic, crowded, noisy, full of shouting shills for whatever gadget they're pushing that week (usually helicopters of one stripe or another), badly laid out and generally not worth the effort. If you must "do" a shop, make it Harrods, which has a good toy department among a lot else. It's also close by the museums.

Furthermore, if they're truly the kind of kids who like museums, and you have any intention of doing things properly, you need to be in the Natural History Museum first thing and abandon any plans to do anything else for the day. You might, possibly, have them all NatHisted out after a while, in which case you might barely scratch the surface of the Science Museum. But when I went to the NHM as a kid we were there all day, and I still knew I'd missed bits.

Mainly, though, make sure they see Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace, so that when, inevitably, they see these things in establishing shots of London in films, they'll recognise them as places they've seen with their own eyes.

Also, if there are any films they've seen with scenes shot in particular places, be sure to visit those places (e.g. if they liked the first Sherlock Holmes movie, get thee to Tower Bridge).

Depending on the age of your kids... and if you happen to be within shouting distance of Kings Cross Station - get a photo of them on Platform 9 3/4...

It's in the wrong place of course (In reality, plaforms 9 & 10 are either side of a pair of tracks), but every time I've been through there over the last couple of years there have been dozens of people waiting to get a photo of them pushing a luggage trolley through a solid wall (Yes, there is actually half a luggage trolley sticking out of a brick wall)

I agree with Hoovooloo. Two museums is way too much in one day - these places are enormous. If they're the kind of kids who prefer history to animals, you might prefer the British Museum, but otherwise, go for the NHM and its dinosaurs.

A boat trip from Westminster to the Tower of London is highly recommended too, as is the London Eye (if you're made of money) but you'll spend a while queueing.

Great - thanks Hoo. I'll give them a sample of the NHM this time: a couple of hours first thing to see the dinos up close and then the sights around Westminster and Whitehall. I know what you mean about Hamleys too.

Maybe in the evening I can bring them to Leicester Square and the movies? It will be too early to go back to the airport, yet too late for a lot of the main attractions.

Thanks Icy. I think you are right. One museum usually has my brains dripping afterwards, not to mind two. The river tours sound like a good idea, although these also finish early in the evening.

Thanks Whisky, My twins have not started on the Harry Potter books yet (which is the only way to go), so I might wait until the next time. Also, just checking now, I thought Kings Cross was in a totally different part of the city - you learn something new every day.

How long are you coming for?? Other people have said that's a lot for one day, I think you'd be better staying in one place maybe and doing a few sites. Have you thought of duck tours? http://www.londonducktours.co.uk/

*sights*

Covent Garden for the street entertainers, Piccadilly Circus for the lights and sights and sounds. Leicester Square is over-rated, I think, if you're not actually going to go inside anywhere. A trip in a bicycle rickshaw might be worth a go, too - it's the nearest you'll get to a white-knuckle ride in the city...

The London Dungeon Tooley Street near London bridge.

I'm only over for the day, but arriving in early and leaving very late. From doing this before, there is more than enough to do during the day, but the early evening can be a bit more difficult to find something to do. After 5.30, a lot of the attractions are closing. I might just cop-out and bring them to a movie.

Covent Garden for the street entertainers - you can get dinner alfresco there, then get a rickshaw to Leicester Square, probably cost about a tenner.

Ok - good one. I'll try to keep them hungry for the day.

I like Hoo's idea, esp the rickshaw, but of it is raining or particularly cold (it's chilly today) you might try China Town for a meal before the rickshaw, or the Rainforest Cafe: http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/ or even the Hardrock Cafe http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes3/cafe.aspx?LocationID=91&MIBEnumID=3 or Planet Hollywood (depends what you've got at home/ what they'd be impressed by): http://www.planethollywoodlondon.com/ (other dining options are available).

Oh and you may know this but th NHM cafe's are a) rammed and b) extortionate. They do have quite a nice a picnic area in the basement, though. The science museum's cafes are a bit better, esp the Energy Cafe but their picnic area is a bit grim.

Note: I meant the RICKSHAW will cost a tenner. Dinner, substantially more. But there's entertainment...

Mayflower pub in Rotherhithe.

Has a bit jutting out over the foreshore where you can sit outside and feel all Dickensian this time of year.

It seriously *is* centuries old...and not Disneyfied.

And its great to go down on the Thames foreshore at low tide and collect all manner of rubbish from past centuries.

I've always preferred the Science Museum but it's not everyone's cup of tea - although it is rather brilliant.

My two absolutely insisted on Hamleys, and they've been too old for toys for years, they still talk about it now well over a year later. What about the Eye? (and looking over at battersea power station and shouting "where's the pig?"

The London Eye runs until quite late and is worth doing after dark.

My kids love the underground. The Docklands Light Railway in particular is good - it's a driverless train and if you get on right at the front, it's like a very gentle roller-coaster (plus you can pretent you're driving it yourself). And you get to see the Dome and Canary Wharf (ie London landmarks - Hoo is absolutely right, and our most exciting London bits have always been spotting landmarks we've seen in Doctor Who).

Ordinary buses are also quite good for this - top deck of course - you'll have tired feet after the NHM.

Have a lovely time

Mol