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With spring in the air, now’s the time to be first out of the blocks and beat the masses racing to London for the Olympics. What’s On gives the family-friendly lowdown on how to enjoy five of the city’s top attractions with the kids in tow.
London Eye
It may no longer have the tag of the tallest observation wheel in the world (it’s now only the third biggest) but the Eye is certainly the most famous. In fact, a bit like Big Ben and St Paul’s you can’t really imagine the London skyline without it. On a clear day it has views as far as Windsor Castle; that’s 25 miles away, and is a real must for a day out in the capital. You can fit around 25 people in each of the 32 pods (that’s one pod for each of the London boroughs). The pods are far bigger than they seem and offer plenty of space to walk around and have your picture taken from every conceivable angle. Booking is advised but a number of tickets are held back to be sold on the day, so it may be worth turning up and taking pot luck. Fast-track tickets, which have you up in the air, just 15 minutes after buying your tickets, are also available. If you chose to chance your luck with the crowds, make sure you get there early, with Sunday mornings (when a lot of tourists are heading home) a good option.
There are a number of flight options, for instance you could take a champagne flight (£29.50) or book a private capsule (from £440).
Madame Tussauds
Here’s your chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Cheryl Cole, Tom Hanks and other A-listers at one of the capital’s top attractions that has been pulling in the punters for more than 200 years. The attraction’s gallery-style ropes are long gone and now every visitor has the opportunity to get up close and personal with their favourite celeb. From the moment you arrive it’s red carpet all the way as you come face to face with sporting legends, political heavyweights and historical icons. From Cameron to Churchill, Beckham to Becker the kids will have plenty of fun hunting down their favourite and they even get the chance to ring the doorbell at No 10. As well as the waxworks there’s the Spirit of London – an interactive trip through the capital’s history in the back of a black cab – and the Marvel Super Heroes Movie. The 4D film is the last stop of the Madam Tussauds adventure and the one the kids will be talking about most on the train home.
Madame Tussauds is just a two-minute walk along the road from Baker Street tube.
Home to one of Europe’s largest collections of global marine life, the aquarium will keep the kids entertained for hours as they come face to face with stingrays, octopuses, piranhas and even sharks. The family-friendly attraction has the Wow! factor around every corner, especially a floating glass walkway which will have the kids squealing with delight as the sharks almost tickle their toes. There’s also a winding tunnel made from a 25-metre whale skeleton which lets you take in a tropical ocean of fish, coral and green turtles. Don’t miss the penguins in the Ice Adventure section. The aquarium’s latest addition is the Rainforests of the World area, complete with exotic vegetation, a tropical waterfall – and dwarf crocodiles.
The aquarium is well placed for the attractions of the South Bank; it’s right alongside the London Eye and a leisurely 20-minute walk along the river from Tate Modern.
A Thames riverboat cruise
Slap bang alongside the London Eye, the Millennium Pier is the launchpad for a whole range of cruises along the river. From speedboats to clippers there’s something for thrill-seekers as well as those after a more gentle way to explore the city. One of the options, the London Eye River Cruise, is a 40-minute circular sightseeing trip on the Silver Bonito. A fascinating live commentary brings the city to life. It also reveals plenty or quirky facts such as how the Oxo company got one over on the London authorities, why Big Ben was given its name, as well as how you can enjoy five years’ good luck when you’re sailing under Tower Bridge.
The London Eye River Cruise is available all year and in any weather. There are currently six cruises each day but that increases to nine from the start of April.
London Dungeon
This rollercoaster of a day out is packed with the city’s scariest rides and most terrifying live shows. A celebration of torture, death and disease, the dungeon reveals everything from hideously rotting corpses to the ghastly symptoms of the plague. The death-dealing exploits of Bloody Mary are explored alongside those of Sweeney Todd and the Ripper. Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom re-enacts an execution – with you as victim. At first glance the London Dungeon may seem way too expensive (as well as a trifle silly) but if you turn your brain off, it’s worth every penny.
Housed in the Victorian arches of London Bridge, the London Dungeon is extremely unsuitable for young or easily-scared children.
DETAILS
Make sure you visit www.londoneye.com to snap up a special combined ticket to four of the attractions listed on this page and you could save 35% on separately purchased tickets. Combined ticket for four attractions are £60.30 for a single ticket or £207.60 for a family of four. Tickets are valid for a month from the day of your visit to the London Eye. This ticket is not available during the Olympics.
This is what you get for your money.
»A London Eye ticket that allows you to visit at any time during the date of your visit.
»Priority access to SEA LIFE London Aquarium
»Entry to The London Dungeon
»Priority access to Madame Tussauds
Combined tickets for the London Eye and the riverboat cruise only cost £25.34 and £68.48 for a family of four.
If you want to stay the night, the five star Marriott Hotel is housed in the magnificent old County Hall building which looks directly out at the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye. As far as London goes, the location simply couldn’t be better. Rooms cost from £283. You can make substantial savings by booking a hotel stay and attraction tickets at the same time.
