Depending on what time you’re in London. Hyde park has an amazing Christmas festival, Hyde Park winter wonderland. I got to experience it last November it was so much fun.
Big Ben is currently under renovation and covered in scaffolding and to protect the workers doesn’t chime. Unless you happen to be there around Veterans Day. They did ring it last year for that. Otherwise it was silent.
I’m a big rugby fan and soccer fan. Fall is time for the rugby autumn internationals and it was a great experience. My h and I want to experience a premier league soccer match the next time we are in the UK. The atmosphere on tv seems like so much fun. I just reread that your kids are small so that may not be the best idea.
We also spent thanksgiving in Paris. We didn’t do a ton to touristy things just enjoyed being in Paris.
Post by mrsukyankee on Sept 5, 2018 5:45:52 GMT -5
Go on a London walking tour - they hit things tourists don't normally see and they are easy in pacing for all: www.walks.com. I usually do one a summer, at least. Definitely go to Borough Market - you can go during the week and on the early side (11:30am) so it won't be insanely busy and to grab lunch (yum). It's kinda tough not to go somewhere touristy in London as it's pretty much all touristy. But I'd go for a walk through one of the parks - Regents, Hyde, etc. It'll still be lovely then.
For the Cotswolds, are you going to be driving? If not, I'd go to Bath, Cheltenham and Cirencester as they'll be easy to get to via train. If you are driving, then I've really enjoyed these other locations as well (definitely go to Bath, it's gorgeous): Bourton on Water, Stow on the Wold and the Slaughters.
Bath was fun and a lot cheaper than London lol We had some great meals and one day took a row boat out on the river for an afternoon which was a lot of fun but perhaps not something to do in November. If you go to Bath, I can dig up some places we went for you.
For PAris in November I would plan a lot of back-up activities indoors because the weather could be very rainy grey and cold. Where are you staying? that would change my suggestions but usually I suggest the cite des enfants, you wouldn’t pay for your 1.5yr old but the younger kids part of he museum is 2-7yrs so I think he/she would still have some interest. the entrances are timed for 2hrs and you arrive at a specific. “Appointment” But it is by far the best indoor activity for young kids.
If you are by the Eiffel tour and need to go inside the aquarium has gotten better and usually has a themed exhibit.
On a sunny day the promenade plantée (or la coulée verte) is a beautiful walk with a couple of playgrounds on the path but if you arent In that area it isn’t necessarily a must see.
The Jardin des plantes with the natural history museum would also be on the top of my list, there are a few different exhibits that a 4.5yr old might like and a small playground (there is also a zoo depending on how you feel About zoos).
Finally for art, centre Pompidou is the best for kids imo.
Outdoors - it you are looking to just be outside the paying playground inside of the Jardin de Luxembourg is really great (like 1.5euro per kid and a cple euros for the adults but it is super clean and has bathrooms). Or the Jardin d acclimatation in the bois de Boulogne has just had a major renovation it is great, also the pre-catelan area is bois de Boulogne has a great free playground.
If you tell me where you are staying I might have some additional refs.
Oh the new playground at Chatelet/Les Halles in the 1st arrondissement is really nice, it is a crowded area for locals and I suppose some tourists but on a week day there won’t be that many people because there are no school holidays in November.
Bring rain coats and umbrellas and good shoes and warm clothes
ETA I know you said not a lot of museums but Paris in November you definitely need to have some indoor options. I do not recommend Versailles, the Louvre, or Musee d Orsay with kids. Th grdens of versaille are nice for kids to run around but it is a long train ride out there on a very specific train that isn’t easily accessible depending on where you are staying and my kids at that age would have had no interest in following tons of tourists through a castle haha and especially if you only have 3 days. But if you must go then check the weather because you would definitely have to be outside at some point to see the castle.
If you are in Paris on sunday there are a lot of kid friendly brunches let me know I can suggest some.
Post by mrsGreeko on Sept 10, 2018 16:02:23 GMT -5
We took our tree kids to London a couple years ago. They were 4.5, 7, and almost 10.
My 4.5 year old only wanted to ride a double decker bus so when we did that we “unlocked all his dreams!” So definitely ride a double decker bus.
Avoid the Tube at commute times. It was not easy keeping track of my children and avoiding them getting squished was hard. I had to pick my little guy up and then hold him the whole time all while being smashed from every angle, not fun.
My kids really liked going to Harrod’s. And they actually liked a little of the British Museum (free so you can just pop in for a little bit). They liked the mummies, especially the mummified animals. It has created quite a love affair with Egyptian history in our house (particularly in my little guy who 2 years later is still obsessed with it).
My kids really liked taking the boat to Greenwich because boat, and then running around in the park near the royal observatory and standing on the prime meridian.
We also did the science museum (okay, but not very hands on), Tower of London (kids liked it), and all the usual picture taking opportunities near Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, buckingham palace, etc.
Avoid the Tube at commute times. It was not easy keeping track of my children and avoiding them getting squished was hard. I had to pick my little guy up and then hold him the whole time all while being smashed from every angle, not fun.
This. Please. Commuters in London will give you no slack at all and most tourist things are in very busy locations for travel between 7:30am and 9:30am and then 4pm to 6:30pm. Kids going to school do not ride school buses so most of them ride either the tube or bus to get to and from school/home, so that is why I put the earlier times.
There is a place called Birdland that we went when we visited the Cotswolds with our then 2 and 3 year olds. It’s a great children’s museum type experience. In London, they really enjoyed the Eye, double decker bus and Peter Pan playground. We wore them both in ergos everywhere we went which made the tube experiences better than if they were “loose” or in strollers. We also spent some time at Legoland, though that’s in Windsor.