London Victoria - things to do with a kid?
Posted by Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 19 comments
We'll have the afternoon/evening in Victoria before heading to Euston for the Caledonian sleeper to Scotland. What could we do to pass the time? Child is 11, neurodiverse, and prefers active things, not sensory-overload stuff. So far I have:
- pelican feeding at St James's park
- Royal Mews (not sure about this option, how busy is it?)
- theatre
Pyjama365@reddit
Dinosaur exhibition at the NHM, which isn't very far away? Not sure that it fits the 'active things' part perfectly, but the walk through the tunnel from the main South Ken tube station helps burn a little energy. There is also and opt-out route if you think walking through the room with the T-rex animatronic might be too scary/noisy/overstimulating, but personally I found the crowding more overstimulating (that was on a Sunday though, would expect it to be calmer in the week).
Science Museum is also nearby, but that felt distinctly less exciting recently than when I was a kid.
Transport Museum sounds nerdy as hell but is continually reviewed as being much more interesting and fun than people expect. That's a bit more central though and probably involves more crowded transport to get there, so depends if their neurodiversity gels ok with that kind of thing. Would recommend always traveling in the end carriage on the tube to reduce this potential issue, and finding a route avoiding covent garden tube station, where the exit is via quite large lifts, which can be quite overwhelming and crowded.
There's also the big Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Park, but I think currently being renovated so might whether it's open may depend on your travel dates.
Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit (OP)
Really helpful, thank you so much. Yes tubes are not fun for us, last carriage is a great tip, thank you. I appreciate that tip about Covent Garden tube station too.
Pyjama365@reddit
Oh, also Citymapper is an excellent free app that is particularly good in London (both bus and tube). So if you want to avoid tubes or too many changes between different lines/modes of transport, set it to "bus only" (or walking) and it will figure out routes for you, including with real-time info on how long the next bus is and which bus-stop you need.
Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit (OP)
oh how bloomin' clever! Adding that one...! Thanks
Pyjama365@reddit
Should have also added, if by chance you go to the British Museum (not so kid-friendly in my opinion, so that's why I didn't list it originally), then also avoid Russell Square tube station, which is also a crowded lift-only exit (or a lot of stairs).
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Coram's Fields - near the Foundling Museum, 20min walk from Euston.
It is a big space dedicated to children - sand pits, petting zoo, paddling pond etc.
https://coramsfields.org/
Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit (OP)
oh wow I've never heard of Coram's Fields! Thanks
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
Around King's Cross, there is a lot of good eatingplaces. Gymnasium my favourite. Coal Drop Yards.
https://www.kingscross.co.uk/eat-and-drink
DameKumquat@reddit
The playground at St James's Park may be fun briefly, it's near the Buckingham Palace end. And then you could walk past Buck House and Little Ben, and have a look in Westminster Cathedral (the Catholic one by Victoria station) which is free and impressive, then perhaps bus or 1 tube stop to Vauxhall for the City Farm and adjacent Tea House with board games, and there's a playground next door - all in Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. There's some decent Portuguese/South American food nearby.
Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit (OP)
City farm is a great shout! Thank you! And the food, yum!
escapingfromelba@reddit
Buckingham Palace walk to see where the King lives.
RapidMango1@reddit
Walk to Buckingham Palace. See how lavishly people are living
Double-Tune-5835@reddit
Seeing the outside of a palace is very boring for a child.
EyeAware3519@reddit
The pelicans in St James' Park have been re-homed. I was gutted when I went there last week.
Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit (OP)
oh I think it's because of bird flu, they're caged them. They might be out again by May...(she says, clutching at avian straws)
Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit (OP)
nnoooooooo!!!! What??! That is a tragedy. I have such fond childhood memories of seeing them! Geez I'm glad you told me, that would've been a really sad start to our holiday. Supercar spotting is right up my son's street, that's a great idea! I'm the animal lover, he's the mechanics-lover, so the swap will go down well!
BulkyAccident@reddit
Tate Britain is really good to wander around if he's into art.
The theatre stuff around there I suspect is going to be a bit noisy/overwhelming (Wicked, Hamilton) unfortunately if he's sensitive to stuff like that.
Victoria Market Halls is fun for dinner and has street food-ish stuff and a roof terrace. If he's into bowling, Lane7 might be fun.
Buckingham Palace is obviously there to look at as well.
Hour-Acanthaceae7081@reddit (OP)
Ooh we love street food! Great shout. Yes I see Wicked and Hamilton are our options, they're not really our sort of thing, so I think the theatre is out this time around. I think Tate Britain is perfect! Thanks
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