Weekend away with a baby advice
I bought tickets to the Harry Potter Studio Tour for my husband's birthday, and we've booked to go in March. We're driving down,as it's cheaper than getting the train to Watford, so we've decided to make a weekend of it.
Can anyone recommend any activities suitable for a family with a young baby? We're a bit unsure about going into London city centre, but we'd be happy to stop somewhere on the way down, even if it means taking a detour.
We're going from north Wales to London via Birmingham, so any recommendations for things to do would be appreciated. We like museums, sports, guided tours - but obviously we'll have a little baby with us, so fine dining or skiing is out!
So far all we can think of is Cadbury World.
Can anyone recommend any activities suitable for a family with a young baby? We're a bit unsure about going into London city centre, but we'd be happy to stop somewhere on the way down, even if it means taking a detour.
We're going from north Wales to London via Birmingham, so any recommendations for things to do would be appreciated. We like museums, sports, guided tours - but obviously we'll have a little baby with us, so fine dining or skiing is out!
So far all we can think of is Cadbury World.
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Comments
London has got a lot of stuff. However if using a push chair then the underground can be a bit of a pain though we used a lightweight one that folds up easily and been London plenty of times, even just myself and the kids.
She'll be six months in March, and yes, will be in a pushchair. We could stay in Watford and get the train in, but husband isn't keen to try the underground. Having caught the tube with a big suitcase and really struggled,I'm not either.
Timing is not ideal, I'd prefer to wait until she's a bit older, but the tickets expire soon.
I would save going to London till they are two or three if you are going because of the children. However at 6 months old the baby isn't really going to appreciate much, might as well go to a park. However at that they are starting to get easier to travelling with and I would still consider going to London just because of the items that are available to adults. If OP is into museums, guided tours, sight seeing, etc then London can't be beat.
Or if you husband isn't keen on the Underground, why not get a train from Watford to Euston and walk to London Zoo about 30 minutes.
I agree and I think I misunderstood the question slightly. If it's museums for adults, my absolutely favourite museum in London is the National Portrait Gallery.
If you are into modern art, then maybe Tate Modern, but be careful not to leave the pushchair standing around for too long or it might get confused with an art exhibit.
Otherwise just walk around Trafalgar Square and then to Buckingham Palace and the Royal Parks. If the weather is nice it's ideal for for children and adults.
And again easily walkable without the need to use the underground.
indeed, add southbank from the eye down to tower bridge to the list. However you will need the underground to get there in the first place.
Is it cold under your bridge this time of year?
I don't know, depends how fit and active they want to be, if they come into Euston as an example, and walk to Trafalgar Sqaure, Big Ben, The Eye, The Globe, Tower Bridge, London Tower, St Pauls and back to Euston, at average walking speed a 3 and half hour walk, or take it slow and would equate to a nice day out, providing the weather is fine.
Then again I love walking around London whenever I go....oh just for the record I have done that before with my daughter who was also in a pushchair and made a good full day out also took in Buck Palace/St James, the only real difference I started from Kings Cross and that isn't even really that different.
I would imagine OP would want to go and actually visit some of the attractions rather than just walk.
Thanks for the idea, but as it happens we live right by a Sealife centre and the OH's siblings have worked there for years, so no doubt when she's old enough to appreciate the touch pool, we'll get free tickets!
I've got a sling and while it's fine for walking around town, I think it would be difficult to carry her for the whole day.
We're really going as a mini-break for us, as we won't be going on holiday for the next few years. But we're new to this baby business and obviously we need to pick attractions which are child friendly.
Good idea! Haven't been to a zoo in years, and I'm sure little one will like seeing the different animals. We don't have pets, so even dogs are an oddity!
For some reason multi-quote has stopped working at this point, so bear with me...
newyorkcitygirl - yes, this trip has the potential to become incredibly stressful unless we plan it carefully. Which is what I'm trying to do.
Xela, dearmrman and everybody else who suggested things - thank you very much. We've been to London several times before and have done Big Ben, the Globe, National Portrait Gallery etc, and we've been to Buckingham Palace (to a garden party - slight brag!:D), but perhaps if we could find some new sights a walking tour would work, as baby is perfectly content in the pushchair - as long as she's moving!
The original plan was to go down to London on a Sunday, do one activity, get an early night at a travelodge and then up and out early for the Harry Potter tour on the Monday morning. I'm wondering now whether it might be less stress just to focus on the studio tour. Husband is a huge HP fan and has been waiting to go on this tour for ages, and I don't want to jepordise that by having a hugely stressful time and an over-tired baby. But I will research the zoo and some other attractions we can walk around. Thanks again all. x
PS - ducky, will PM you about baby.:)
Read what the OP has said, the suggestions are for additions to Harry Potter, as they want to make a weekend off it.
You could walk up to Camden Town, and then follow Regents Canal down to Little Venice, it passes the Zoo if you wanted to visit, there is also a canal ride you could do as well from Camden to Little Venice but it is a limited service in the Winter...then just walk back to the station from Little Venice.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d510136-Reviews-Regents_Canal-London_England.html
In fact you go even go via Kings Cross & hubby could get his photo taken at platform whatever it is (not a HP fan so don't know it of by heart)
I LOVE Camden! What a great idea - thank you!