A birthday trip to London

My eldest son will be 10 next month and asked if just he and I could take a trip to London for his birthday. I love London but what can I do with a 10 year old?

Hamley's!

What's Hamleys?

It's an enormous toystore. Biggest in London? Biggest in the world? I'm not sure. But it's every kid's dream, and I would imagine, every parent's nightmare
http://www.hamleys.com/web/

London is fantastic for kids!  

Chinese New Years is next month-it's amazingly crowded but fun for meal, watching the lion dancers and buying a souvineer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/yourlondon/cny2005/index.shtml

The Science Museum and The Natural History Museum are right next to each other.  They're both free and have really cool exhibits(dinosaurs ) and lots of things to do and see.

The British Museum is also free and has loads of Mummies and the Rosetta Stone.  There is also what is supposed to be a great special exhibition about Mummies-you need to book though, it's very popular. If he's in year6, it might even be his topic

There's an IMAX near Waterloo.

London Zoo is nice-lots of focus on conservation and you can recognize where Harry Potter was filmed in the reptile house.

Kids love the Tate Modern.

The Rainforest Cafe is also pretty cool.

Hamley's -- ya gotta DO Hamley's

Hamley's is to kids like Harrods is to Adult women

There's also a special Theatre promotion going on.

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/getintolondontheatre

Definately do the Science Museum, my hubby is a big kid, and he loves it there,,lol.  It makes me think of EPCOT when we go there, lots of hands on things for him to do and expirence.

Also, gotta echo Hamley's,, nearly lost my hubby in there,, did I mention that he's a big kid? 

Take him to see 'The Lion King', or my personal fav, "The Reduced Shakespeare Company's, The Complete Works of Shakespeare",, very funny,, and they love seeing kids in the audience to play off of My younger daughter has their dvd, and makes me watch it with her alot,, it totally cracks her up

One thing you can do to get around easier, is to buy a ticket on one of the tour bus circuits, and hop on and off whereever you want to   The ticket is a 24 hour thing, altho the last bus is in the late afternoon.  Have done this a couple of times, it passes Hamley's, the Science Museum, and lots of other places you may not have thought about,, also some of them give you a ticket for a free boat ride from the Tower of London to whereever it stops,, I forget,,LOL.

I think it's Time Out that has a whole book published about London for kids.  You might want to check that out. 

Also, I'd highly recommend the RAF museum in Hendon.  There's a ton of cool planes you can wander around, and they have a great adventure area for kids.  If your son is into planes at all, I wouldn't miss it.

The Imperial War museum is pretty cool.  It has a trench that looks and smells like the real thing as well as a Blitz experience thing.  And a cool gift shop.   

So many great ideas. Im so glad I asked.
I went to the Science museum website and they have a "science night sleepover". It has activities for kids starting at 6:45pm and doesnt end till 1115 when everyone camps out in sleeping bags. In the morning they have breakfast, drawing, prize draw and an IMAX show! Its very cheap also. Just £25 for adults and £30 for kids. (between 8-11). I dont know anywhere in the world you can get an overnight stay, meal and activities for that price!


Uh oh. Just read the details and there is a group minimum of 5 kids and one adult. They only have one science night a month. Next one 11 Feb.

Anyone out there with kids aged 8-11 wanna do science night?? 

Actually, Pebbles - that sounds like a fab idea - my youngest is 11 and I'm sure he'd love it...let me mull - how soon does one have to make the reservations for it, if at all?

Hi Peedal. Its on a first come first served basis. Im gonna call this morning. They will send me a registration form and if we get in they will send a confirmation.
Would be so much fun! Ill do some checking around. In the meantime if you decide youre up for it let me know.
Are you in London by the way?

I'm in the Medway area of Kent - which is about a 45 minute train ride to Victoria Station.

Well just called and the Feb science night is about full. Next one not till 23 April. And there must be at least 5 children accompanied by no more than two adults.