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Off to London this weekend, something I try and avoid if at all possible but the missus wants to see something at the Tate Modern so we're taking the kids and making a day of it.
Only there for the day and expecting to be out the Tate by 1ish/2ish - is there anything anyone would recommend that'd absorb a few hours before we need to be back at Kings Cross for 5.30 (got a meal booked with friends). Rover cruise worth doing? Jumping in an Uber across to the Science Museum (kids are 13 and 10 so might enjoy it?). Anything else?? Wife is in a wheelchair if that restricts us with choices... Quite like the idea of chilling on a river cruise to be honest...
River cruise is quite a nice way to see everything , one that goes all the way to the barrier , not sure how long that will take (did ot on an all-night party once)
Camden market is still good fun , and thoug busy manageable in a wheelchair
Science museum is great I think!
All sorts or interesting stuff in there.
Subscribe to The Londonist weekly what to do. Some gems.
Canal Museum near Kings Cross is interesting.
Science Museum or Natural History Museum are both great, can lose a full day in each. You MUST prebook though!
We enjoyed the food at Borough Market but that might not work if you have food booked later.
If you're going to the TM with kids, start at St Paul's and walk across the footbridge to the Tate.
And the first couple of floors of the IWM are great too for all ages.
Graffiti walk around east London is good, as is a ghost walk around Whitehall, kids will love that if they like horrible histories, both are walking tours.
If going to the Tate, you have to see the Yayoi Kusama infinity mirror display.
Also at the Natural History Museum, they do a behind the scenes tour which is fantastic. Might be a bit late to book now, but worthwhile if you go back.
If you're leaving the Tate at 1 , let alone 2, and need to be KX at 5.30 that rules a lot of the above out. London eye?
London Eye and the Aquarium are both good, if a little spendy. Best to pre-book.
The South Bank is a good place to wander. Quite a lot to see from the Houses of Parliament to Tower Bridge. I wouldn't go heading off elsewhere.
Another option would be to go to the last-minute show tickets outlet in Leicester Square and get some cheap show tickets. Matilda is on at the moment and it's very good.
Thanks all for the suggestions so far. Maybe it'll be best not rushing the Tate and just having a general wander around afterwards before making our way back to KX.
Re. the South Bank, I've walked bits of it before when I was down there with work... can you walk alongside the river all the way from Tower Bridge to the Eye/Big Ben??
i too am off to the big smoke for the first time this weekend.
we opted for an open top bus tour of the sites friday and will get off at Buckingham palace and covent garden for a wander and an ice cream .... we have a 3 week old and a 3 year old in tow so wont be doing too much.
Wedding in Harlow on saturday 🙁
YMCA of India makes the best and most authentic curry I have had - I go every time I am in London. You do have to put up with self service, plastic tables and wonderful conversation with a real mix of people. yummy.
http://www.indianymca.org/our-restaurant/
Science / Natural history museum might be a bit of a stretch if you want to eat lunch on the way there. Assuming a couple of ~20min tube hops you've realistically got ~3 hours to fill.
Borough Market +1, tell your friends you only want salad for dinner. It'll be busy, but not gawping tourist busy. Then get the tube to Westminster, walk past the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben*, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Horse Guards Parade, through St James Park, pay £20 for 4x 99's because it's London, to Buckingham Palace. Then jump on the tube back to Kings Cross from Green Park.
Ticks off a mix of London that's actually enjoyable (borough Market for food), and getting to see all the bits you see on the news.
*yea yea
Re. the South Bank, I’ve walked bits of it before when I was down there with work… can you walk alongside the river all the way from Tower Bridge to the Eye/Big Ben??
With a wheelchair you may need to divert "inland" here and there as I'm pretty sure there's at least a couple of places where you need to go up and over the bridge / go round a few side streets.
I used to walk that way a lot when I worked near London Bridge and sometimes to our old head office but a bit rusty post Covid with spending less time in London last year or two.
Iirc London Bridge is one of those that needs a detour.
Tate, Southbank Centre Food Market (around the back), London Eye And Aquarium….you’ll be rushing to get to KX for 5.30.
You don't really have much time, try the British Library almost next to the station something there for all ages.
Tate Modern is close to Shakespeare's Globe and the Golden Hind, and then walkable back to Waterloo area - few detours as noted. I love Borough market but can be very busy at weekends and might be a bit tricky with the wheelchair in some of the tighter alleyways. I'd second coming back to Southbank centre and the food market there, or just before there Gabriel's Wharf has pizza, toasties, mexican street food, etc.
Then you can get a bus to KX - they are all wheelchair friendly - #59 iirc - if you don't want to Uber or tube it. There's actually a bit to see at KX now, the Coal Drops yard, a few art installations, and platform 9 3/4 if the kids are Harry Potter fans yet.
As you walk along the south bank, casually mention that one day you're coming back for a romantic weekend, and you'll be taking her up the OXO tower as a special treat.
Science Museum or Natural History Museum are both great, can lose a full day in each. You MUST prebook though!
Eh? What the whatting what? Since when? In all the years I’ve been to London and just wandered along when there’s nothing else specific to do and been able to walk in. I can imagine if there’s a specific special thing on, like one of the big photography events, then yes you do, but the general public areas should be open access.
Science/NH museums are rammed and just too much for me. Especially the dinosaur stuff. Same as all the big names, half the world is queueing up.
The Museum of London is great though, nice and quiet.
I think it depends on the kids' capacity for walking around looking at stuff! I can't realistically take in much more than half a day in a museum or art gallery, so as good as the Science and Natural Museum is it may not be good to do on the same day.
If you have the patience though consider the British Museum as it's pretty close to Kings Cross. Makes me feel a bit sick seeing the stuff the British stole on display for everyone, but still...
Thanks all - think Tate and then a wander down the South Bank towards Buck Palace, grabbing an ice cream etc on the way might be the plan...