Top Ten London for Kids

While London may not seem the best place in the world for kids, there are a lot of things that the little ones should like about the place. The Tube is an amazing bit of business and there is something interesting about riding a train underground. Of course, those really long escalators can be a bit scary, as The Wife found out when we rode up one for close to four stories on one of our trips. But if the kids like escalators, then your set.

There are tons of parks, street performers, and just interesting people of one sort or another all over London. Riding Double Decker Buses, Thames Ferries, and other sightseeing forms of transport can be as much fun for kids as for adults. But for the kids who wants real entertainment, items on the following list should do the trick.



London's Top Ten Attractions for Kids

Legoland-Hey, its an amusement park in Windsor. Gotta love amusement parks. Legoland theme park with lots to do for children, Lego model village, rides, gold panning, car racing and lots more. The theme park has spectacular models made entirely from Lego blocks-I know shocking for a park called Legoland, but they are pretty impressive. The kind of things you wanted to make from Legos but never had enough Lego blocks laying around. Allow between six and seven hours for your visit. Daily shows.

London Aquarium-I've always been a fan of aquariums. There is just something about being in a cool, dark place surrounded by fish swimming around in tanks ranging from small to ginormous. Kids also seem to find these places fun to hang out. It's a place for kids to point out the odd little fish that adults can't seem to find. There are 50 displays with about 400 forms of aquatic life.

London Eye-the giant Ferris wheel on the banks of the Thames that brought back the fun of going around a very large circle. These rides on the London Eye are called flights and offer great views of the city and mild thrills for those afraid of heights. A flight on the London Eye will last about 30 minutes taking you to a height of 135 metres. Children under 5 go free but do require a ticket and children aged under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+ years. Any children on a Champagne Flight will be served fruit juice instead of alcohol. No adults aged under 18 years are permitted on a Cupid’s Capsule.

London Zoo-I have always loved zoos. Kids love zoos, too. Next Easter The London Zoo will be launching its new Children's Zoo. This exhibit will provide thousands of children with the chance to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, smells and experiences of life in the animal kingdom. Winnie the bear once lived in London Zoo and became Winnie the Pooh.

Syon House and Gardens-Described by Sir John Betjeman as 'the Grand Architectural Walk', Syon House and its 200 acre park is the London home of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family have lived here for over 400 years. Syon House is widely featured in the Robert Altman feature film Gosford Park and has also appeared in The Madness of King George, The Wings of the Dove, Emma, The Golden Bowl and The Avengers.

Tower of London-The Tower of London an amazing place filled with all kinds of fun stuff. There are Beefeaters in loudly coloured clothing and Ravens here and there. The Crown Jewels are very pretty. There are suits of armor and lots of weapons of one sort or another. The Tower of London is big-so there is a lot of room to roam around and look at all the cannons and stone walls. The Tower of London is a great place for kids of all ages.

London's Transportation Museum-London Transport Museum explores the heritage of London and its transport system, and the stories of the people who have travelled and worked in the city over the last 200 years. The Museum's collections include original artworks and posters-and more than 80 road and rail vehicles in its collection. There is also an impressive assortment of toys and models.

National Maritime Museum-The National Maritime Museum comprises three sites: the Maritime Galleries, the Royal Observatory and the Queen's House. The Museum's beautiful setting in the Greenwich World Heritage Site, with its array of historical and hi-tech architecture, its stunning views over London and the Thames and its position on 0º longitude offer an unrivalled set of visitor attractions.

Natural History Museum-When I was a kid it was the Dinosaurs that always got my attention at a Natural History Museum and the dinos here are pretty amazing. Set in an old Victorian building with walkways set at Dinosaur eye level, the Central Hall helps make this a great museum. London's Natural History Museum has more to offer than dinosaurs-70 million items collected over 400 years.

Kew Gardens-Kew has all kinds of gardens and activities to keep children entertained. There is a Tree Top Walk where you climb 18 meters up and get a great view of Kew. For the kids who like insects there is a Stag Beetle Loggery, home to many of Britain’s largest native beetles – males can grow up to 50mm. The Waterlily Pond has a lot of ducks and coots. Temerate House and Palm House are great glass houses which bring back the age of Victoria.