Cheap Days Out for Families

	A CHEAP DAY OUT For Families
	london-footprints.co.uk

Here are some ideas for budget days out in London with children based on material on this site

Useful pages: [places to visit] [newsletter] [walks] [articles] [research] [links]

Before: involve children in the planning - where to go, how to get there, maps etc.
During: be flexible - if you come across somewhere you would like to spend more time do so, save the rest of the plans for another day.
After: if anything has sparked an interest try to follow it up (online, at the library, with more visits)

	RIDE THE BUS The RV1 runs between Covent Garden and Tower Gateway. Hop on and off to visit Covent Garden, Somerset House, National Theatre, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe, Golden Hinde, HMS Belfast, City Hall & St Katherine's Dock. Bus number 15 connects the Tower with Aldwych to complete the circuit. Routemaster buses sometimes run on this route.
	GREENWICH Lots to see and do including the Royal Park, Maritime Museum, Queen's House, Old Royal Observatory, Discover Greenwich, Painted Hall & Chapel. In the town centre are a bargain bookshop, a game shop and market stalls. Use the foot tunnel to visit Mudchute Farm or take a river trip. [walks]
	GO LION HUNTING! I've found 100 lions in London. How many can you track down? [listing] Interested in Elephants? [click here]
	LONDON WALL Trace the remains of the defensive wall built around the city by the Romans. On the way round view the sundial at Tower Hill, Guildhall, Museum of London and Postman's Park. [walk] [sundials]
	QUIZ WALK Try a quiz walk where you follow instructions and find the answers to questions. Routes around Beckenham, Deptford, Southwark, Covent Garden and the City are available. There are also other puzzles & quizzes to print out [quizlist]
	WANDER THE WANDLE An 11 mile waymarked trail runs the length of the River Wandle from Croydon & Carshalton to Wandsworth. It goes through some attractive parks including Beddington Park and Morden Hall Park. The route also includes Sutton Ecology Centre, Honeywood, Merton Abbey Mills and Deen City Farm. [walks] [trails] [farms]
	HOLIDAY AT HOME The South Bank makes a good substitute for a seaside holiday [details]
	BATTERSEA PARK Lots to see and do here - children's zoo, adventure playgrounds, spectacular fountains, trim trail, bike hire, boating lake, gallery, gardens. [walk]
	LAW & ORDER Explore the Inns of Court (weekdays only). Some of the buildings and gardens open to the public at lunchtime. In Lincolns Inn Fields are the Soane Museum (closed Mondays) and the Hunterian Museum. Older children (over 14) can go into the Law Courts and view any of the trials taking place (not lunchtimes). Young children may like to look for 'Wings' whilst walking round. [walk] [Wings Quiz]
	CRIME & PUNISHMENT Explore the sites and remains of some of London's prisons, courthouses and places of execution in Southwark or between Blackfriars & Mount Pleasant. Older children (over 14) can go into the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) and view any of the trials taking place (not lunchtimes). [Southwark walk] [Blackfriars walk]
	EAST END PARKS My walking route includes the canal towpath, Ragged School Musem (limited opening), Mile End Park, Victoria Park (pictured) and Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, now a nature reserve with a numbered trail. [walk]
	CANARY WHARF Ride the DLR to Canary Wharf. There are public areas with water features, sculptures, exhibitions and entertainment. View some ships (especially from West India Quay) and visit the excellent Museum of London Docklands. [ships] [walk]
	SOUTHWARK THEATRES Explore the sites and remains of theatres from the Elizabethan period to the Unicorn for children. Be a groundling at the Globe for only a fiver or watch free shows outside the National Theatre (seasonal - check dates/times). [walk]
	WIMBLEDON Take the tram to Wimbledon to view the splendid Buddhist Temple (pictured), Windmill, Tennis Museum and Local History Museum (check openings). The Common and Cannizaro Park provide open spaces and there is the Polka Theatre for children in the Broadway. [walk]
	WOOLWICH Woolwich spans the River Thames which you can cross by the free ferry or foot tunnel. Also served by the DLR. Visit Barrier Park with cafe and playground. On the south side explore the Arsenal site including the Heritage Centre (check openings). The Thames Barrier visitor centre is also on this side. Woolwich is on the Green Chain and Capital Ring waymarked walks. [walk] [trails]
	BLOOMSBURY As well as big places like the British Museum and British Library this area has a number of lesser known museums including Pollocks Toy Museum, the Petrie Museum of Egyptology and the Foundling Museum. Coram's Fields are only open to children and their parents/carers. Children may also like to visit Jeremy Bentham and view the large model of London at NLA. [walk]
	BECKTON Take the DLR to the end of the line and explore Beckton which has a number of green spaces including a city farm and a nature reserve in the old churchyard (check openings). [walk] [farms]
	SYDENHAM COMMON My walk includes Sydenham Wells Park or you could detour to Hornimans (see below). The additional information page has follow up ideas which you could adapt to use on other walks. [walk]
	HORNIMANS A family friendly museum and garden with a programme of events. There is an aquarium (charge) inside and entertainment & animals outside. There are trails around the grounds including a railway trail and sundials. [sundials]
	CIRCLING ROUND Take the Circle line making stop-offs to see places of interest - South Kensington (museums), Paddington (new development), Barbican (Museum of London & Postman's Park), Liverpool Street (Spitalfields markets etc), Kings Cross/St Pancras (British Library & revamped stations), Westminster (Battle of Britain Memorial), Monument (Fire Monument & Bank of England Museum).

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