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Things to do in London with Children
London is not really known as a child-friendly city. It's not Orlando, but that's not to say there aren't things for children to do and enjoy while in London. We're not talking about small childen. You can take them anywhere and entertaining them isn't an issue. For children seven or eight years old and older, London can be fun and an education too. Just taking the Tube is an adventure and everything is new and different and the people talk funny. To them, London is one big theme park... come to think of it a lot of adults think of it that way too!
Take the kids on a tour with you. The Hop-on, Hop-off open air, double-decker bus tour is great for kids, especially when the weather is agreeable. They get a wonderful view and will be entertained and educated as well. For most, it will be their first experience with a double-decker bus and memorable. Other memorable experiences are the London Eye... here again, probably a first for you and your children. Fun, entertaining, memorable, a shared experience that you will both savor and recall.
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Kids Friendly London Tours |
| 30 minutes -Daily 9:30am and 10:00pm
A 135 meter high attraction built over the Thames close to County Hall. The world's highest observation wheel provides a 30 minute slow moving flight over the capital in a fully air-conditioned capsule. You will get a 360 degree view of the city and surrounding area's. On a clear day, you will enjoy 40km panoramic views as far as Heathrow Airport and Windsor Castle. After dark, passengers delight in seeing London's landmarks floodlit against the night sky.
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| Experience the essential introduction to London aboard the original hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour. You'll see all the magical sights of London in a comfortable and secure environment, above the crowds at street level aboard our open top buses. Get a unique view of all the sights with full commentary provided.. Your ticket also includes a FREE Hop-on Hop-off Thames River cruise as well as three FREE walking tours: a Changing of the Guard walk, a Rock 'n Roll walking tour tracing the history of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and David Bowie and a Jack the Ripper walk following in the footsteps of the world's most infamous serial killer.
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Kid Friendly Attractions |
| A lot more than a wax museum. You can see the stars, try out as a Pop Idol, be snapped by the paparazzi, have your DNA checked, get scared witless by serial killers, and explore the galaxy. One of the greatest shows on earth - and you'll be starring in the lead role!
WHERE: Marylebone Road, just one minute's walk from Baker Street underground station
Click here for tickets |
| The London Aquarium experience is for anyone and everyone who appreciates the stunning and unusual natural world.
WHERE: On the southbank of the river Thames within the historic County Hall building (TUBE:The best station is Westminster on the District, Circle and jubilee lines)
HOURS: Normal opening hours are 10am - 6pm, with the last entry at 5pm, seven days a week.
ADMISSIONS: Peak season rates are Adult £9.75, Child (3-14 years) £6.25, Students (15-18) and Seniors (60+) £7.50, Family (2 adults, 2 children) £29.00.
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| Escape into an oasis of wildlife and unwind with the animals.
WHERE: London Zoo
Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY
HOURS: Open every day except Xmas Day.
10AM - 5:30PM - March through 10/24. Fall closing at 4PM. Last admission 1 hour before advertised closing time
ADMISSION: Adult £13,
Child (3-15) £9.75,
Under 3 FREE,
Student/Senior Citizen/Disabled £11.00,
Family Saver ticket: 2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children = £41.00. Parking for cars - £7.
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| Charles Darwin was a fellow of London Zoo and visited regularly. Now you can follow in his footsteps with skip-the-line entry to London Zoo. Even better, by purchasing your ticket ahead of time you'll jump the queue. Don't waste time waiting in lines on vacation! New at London Zoo is Rainforest Life, a new indoor experience that brings the tropics to London! See the free-roaming monkeys, sloths and even a tree anteater in London's only living rainforest.
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| The museum covers a wide spectrum of materials and media, including vehicles, rolling stock, posters, signs, uniforms, photographs, ephemera, maps and engineering drawings, the Museum's collections make up the most comprehensive record of urban mass transit in the world. A fun experience for the family.
WHERE:
Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB
HOURS: Daily 10.00-18.00 [Fridays 11.00-18.00], Last admission 17.15, Closed 24, 25, 26 December
ADMISSION: Adult £5.95, free for accompanied children under 16.
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Walking into this wonderful museum's cavernous hall that houses a huge Brontosaurus fossil - now supplemented by a life-size, animatronic-type T-Rex - is one of the standout memories of many a childhood, and just a corridor away there's the only slightly less inspiring thrill of the Blue Whale room. These days, regular hands-on exhibitions and a much improved walk-though design have only added to the fun. Better still, it all comes free.
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7, 020 7938 9123
Tube: South Kensington
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| Deep in the heart of London, buried beneath the paving stones of historic Southwark, lies the world's most chillingly famous horror attraction. The London Dungeon brings more than 2,000 years of gruesomely authentic history vividly back to life....and death.
HOURS: 1 September to 3 November: Daily - 10:00am to 5:30pm; 4 November to 31 March: Daily - 10:30am to 5:00pm
Click here for tickets
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| Large screen entertainment. As many as 10 films showing at one time. Buy tickets online.
WHERE: 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk,
South Bank,
Waterloo,
London,
SE1 8XR
TICKETS: Adult £7.90,
Child (4-14) £4.95,
Children under 3 FREE; They also have family packages.
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| ADMISSION FREE WITH LONDON PASS
Okay, we've cheated a bit by lumping all Greenwich has to offer together but this time cheats, and those who take their advice, will prosper. From the romantic seafaring allure of the Cutty Shark sailing ship, and the Maritime Museum on the hill with astonishing views over London, to the slightly spooky pedestrian tunnel that runs to the other side of the Thames, this part of south east London has plenty to offer. It's even fun to get to these days, thanks to the riverbus that runs from various piers in central London.
Greenwich, SE10
Docklands Light Railway: Island Gardens/Isle of Dogs, then foot tunnel
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| A British war ship you can tour. The HMS Belfast saw action in WWII, playing a leading part in the destruction of the German battle cruiser Scharnhorst at the Battle of North Cape and in the Normandy Landings.
WHERE: Morgan's Lane,
Tooley Street,
London SE1 2JH
HOURS: Open daily except 24, 25 and 26 December.
Mar. - Oct: 10AM - 6PM (last admission 5.15 pm),
Nov. - Feb:10AM - 5PM (last admission 4.15 pm)
ADMISSIONS: Adult: £7.00,
Children (under 16): FREE, Senior citizens: £5.00,
Students: £5.00,
Concessions: £1.00
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Chessington World of Adventures Chessington, Surrey
Years ago, Chessington had a zoo. Then it had a theme park tacked on. Now, the zoo merits only a quick trip round as starter to the ever-expanding main course where new and bigger rides turn up every holiday season. The season runs from March to mid October.
Rail: Chessington South
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Thorpe Park
(owned by Tuassauds - open March to mid October) 20 miles from Central London
Their website has information on how to get there from London.
Thorpe Park is London's answer to Six Flags and is Britain's largest amusement park. There are lots of rides and lots of space at the park which is actually set around a big lake with a delightful farm for those who find the frenetic pace too much.
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Alton Towers
The UK's largest theme park, Alton Towers is home to many spectacular rides. Including, Nemesis, the world's first legs free inverted roller coaster, lasting 160 seconds, reaching speeds of 110km per hour and achieving a total G-force of 4.5G's. A visit to Alton Towers isn't limited to thrill-seekers though, there is also has a motor museum and a children's farm. Plus Staffordshire gardens that the Theme Park is set in. Without which there probably wouldn't have been a theme park here at all.
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