London - Sat/Sun with young kids

[wong]

Is Central London manageable with kids?

The wife, three young kids (aged 6 and twins aged 3) and myself are visiting the UK in July. The 6 year old wants to see the sights - Tower bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham palace etc., as we got him a kids book to London. Now, wandering around the tube on a busy weekday would be very difficult and chaotic I imagine, but would Sunday (or Saturday)be OK.
We will be staying near Reading, So the train takes less than 1 hour to get to Paddington . I will have a hire car for the entire stay - will driving to London be a better and cheaper option? Any cheap car parks nearby to recommend?

Are the roads a lot quieter on Saturdays and Sundays?
Congestion zone - does this not apply on weekends?
Would I be able to "follow" the itinery of a tour that you normally do on these touristy open top buses?
Parking - rough idea of costs?

I have a Tomtom with ~ 3 year old maps.

[Puggit]

We live near Reading and have used the train and driving. Driving is far easier, and by the time you factor in parking costs, I think driving wins on cost if you don't use the tube. Kengestion charge does not get charged on Sat/Sun.

When driving in, the M4 becomes the A4, and parking is easy around the museums. We often use the car park on Harrington Road. Not based on cost, but sheer ease of use. It's near the museums and South Ken tube, and just off the A4.

(Kids now aged 3,4)

[sjg]

Driving is a lot easier than most people realise, and if you get familiar with what the various restriction signs and lines on the road actually mean, you'll see how many places there are to park on a weekend or evening.

All the sights you mention can be taken in with a walk of less than 3.5 miles, including a very pleasant stroll along the south bank taking the London Eye, Tate Modern, HMS Belfast, etc. A little detour over the Millenium footbridge takes you over to St Pauls. If your kids aren't up to walking it then a Jubilee line train from Westminster to London Bridge chops out a big chunk in the middle.

[wong]

Thanks for the replies. Some good info. as I haven't been back to the UK for 5 years.

Bearing in mind there will be three young kids:-

How much is Harrington road carpark per day? Rough car parking charges per hour/day?
Are weekends more manageable - less traffic/commuters?
But , then will museums/attractions be less crowded mid week and more crowded at weekends?
Does late night shopping still exist on Thursdays?

[Puggit]

Parking charges are here: http://www.unioncarparks.co.uk/Harrington%20Road%2... Bear in mind that weekend adult train tickets from Reading will be £20 each. Reading station will cost you £12 for over 6 hours at the weekend.

More parking options here: http://www.parkbcp.co.uk/london-parking.html (other carpark operators are available!)

Roads are much lighter at the weekend - queues are always large in London!

[wong]

Thanks - just found the Union car parks website, NCP seem to be more expensive (and further away from the museums)

Natural history AND Science museums - Doable in one day?

[Puggit]

wong said:

Thanks - just found the Union car parks website, NCP seem to be more expensive (and further away from the museums)

Natural history AND Science museums - Doable in one day?

You probably can't do either in a day

We visited the dinosaur bones and generally the ground floor of the natural history museum, had lunch outside South Ken station, then did the basement of the Science museum (it's a big play ground!) before heading home.

The kids are so young they were shattered.

[edc]

If you use public transport in HK then you will be fine in London. Main differences will be no aircon, no mobile phone useage, smaller platforms and fewer toilets/facilities.