London is a fabulous city, and there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy some of the things it has to offer without it costing a fortune. Here are three ideas for cheap family days out in the capital.
Complete a treasure hunt in London
When you take part in a treasure hunt, you will be guided around parts of the city you may not otherwise have visited and discover many fascinating facts about the area. There are a number of pre-prepared treasure hunts available for London. The hunts produced by Huntfun Treasure Hunts are available to buy in printed or electronic form, and consist of route instructions together with a large number of clues, ranging from simple to cryptic.
Children of all ages and adults too will enjoy looking out for the answers, and everyone will learn something new about the area. The hunts offer a chance to view familiar landmarks in a new light, and are an excellent way to turn a simple walk into an exciting adventure.
With older children, you could join forces with another family to prepare your own treasure hunts for one another in the area of your choice.
Visit a London museum
Many museums in London now offer free entry making them much more accessible to all. The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are big favourites with families, and both offer several days worth of entertainment with interactive activities as well as the more traditional exhibits to keep kids amused If you plan to visit these museums though, it is worth arriving early as in busy times you may have to queue to get in.
There are numerous other museums which may be of interest to older children, including the Tate Modern and the Imperial War Museum. Each family can consider their own personal interests when choosing a suitable museum to visit.
All these museums provide places to eat, but the food is often quite expensive, so you may wish to consider bringing your own packed lunch in order to keep costs to a minimum, especially if you have a large family.
Picnic in the open air in London
London has many beautiful and stimulating open spaces, so when the weather is good there is no shortage of places to visit for a picnic. Hyde Park is an example of a lovely place to spend the day. There is plenty of open space for picnicking and ball games. There are also numerous interesting things to see and do, from the large children's play area to the Diana Memorial Fountain and the Serpentine lake where you can hire pedaloes or rowing boats, or just feed the ducks. If you are lucky you might even see the Household Cavalry out on exercise. If you are planning to visit it is worth checking the Hyde Park website as from time to time it hosts large events which may be best avoided.
Other examples of good places to visit with your picnic include the South Bank, where you can walk next to the river through the capital. There is lots to see both on the river and on the bank itself, with street acts and tradesmen as well as a variety of interesting buildings and attractions such as the Golden Hind. Greenwich is also an interesting place to wander around, with a number of attractions such as the Royal Naval College, the large park and the covered market.
Veronica Mitchell - Veronica studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge University before becoming a secondary school science teacher. She enjoys writing about ...
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