Suggested Route: Madame Tussaud ’s – Regent ’s Park / Primrose Hill – Camden Town
Start your first day in the English capital in Marylebone. At the corner of Marylebone Road and Baker Street, and right next to the Baker Street station, is the world famous Madame Tussaud’s Museum. Superstars and villains, buy lunch to go from one of the many cafes / restaurants lined up on Baker Street and head eastwards via bus to Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill for a picnic. Then head northwards to gothic central, Camden Town, for some very unique and interesting sightseeing and shopping. Bus C2 outside Regent’s Park will take you straight to the Camden High Street.
Madame Tussaud’s
What to Expect
A wax museum depicting several celebrities and athletes, and powerful world figures like David Beckham, Rafael Nadal, Albert Einstein, Michael Jackson and the Royal family – gives you a sense for their exact size and likeness.
Logistics
Address:
Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR, United Kingdom
Hours:
09:00-18:00
Cost:
Adults, £30; children, £25.80
Phone:
+44 871 894 3000
Website:
Your Kids Should See It Because
The original idea of Madam Tussaud’s wax museum was to bring famous ideas and people to life – relatively speaking – for the masses. Allow your children this same joy by taking them up close and personal to their favorite bands and celebrities. It’s a rollicking good time.
Basic Background You Can Tell the Kids
Madame Tussaud’s opened its doors at the present location in 1884, but this was many, any years after Madame Tussaud’s perfected her craft in Paris, France. She became an art tutor in Versailles in the direct years before the royalties’ heads were chopped off. But she scaped to England, where she began this traveling sideshow!
Some Facts
- Madame Tussaud was an art tutor at the French palace of Versailles.
- The wax exhibit started out as a traveling show, giving wax faces to names.
- The traveling show came to its present location in 1884.
Tips and Tricks
- Book your tickets online on the listed website and choose the hour timeslot in which you’d like to arrive—skip the lines!
- You will need to leave your baby buggies at an offered location and take one of the museum’s proffered baby buggies; a £10 refundable deposit is required.
Regent ’s Park /Primrose Hill
What to Expect
Regent’s Park – 410 acres of green space – is another of the several Royal Parks of London and boasts a wealth of activities: from picnicking to boating to experiencing the beautiful London Zoo.
Logistics
Address:
Chester Rd, London NW1 4NR, United Kingdom
Hours:
05:00-21:30
Cost:
Free
Phone:
+44 300 061 2300
Website:
www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park
Your Kids Should See It Because
Regent’s Park is the largest green space in the area, allowing kids to run free and experience natural beauty within the greater city. Rent a boat from the boathouse – 30 minutes for £5.50 – and paddle around the lake.
Basic Background
Regent’s Park was originally commissioned by Prince Regent – the late King George IV. It was opened to the public in 1835. Many of the interior gardens were built later. The Queen Mary’s Gardens, for example, were created in the 1930’s.
Some Facts
- Regent’s Park is the park featured in One Hundred and One Dalmatians. It is the park in which the dogs and their owners meet for the first time.
- In 1867, the frozen lake in Regent’s Park broke open, plunging forty people into the icy depths, and subsequently, to their unfortunate deaths.
- Queen Mary’s Gardens boast over 12,000 roses.
Tips and Tricks
- The Hub sports facility has a whole range of showers for a bit of “cleaning up” after running around.
- The park has three child-friendly jungle gyms. Opt for a “family hire” boat tour and pay just £20 for sixty minutes on the lake.
Camden Town
What to Expect
Experience the lively marketplace feel of Camden Town – the hub for street food, punks and a collectibles market in horse stables from yesteryears. Camden Town has character and you will discover that within one minute of setting foot there.
Logistics
Address:
2.4 miles Northwest of Charing Cross
Hours:
All hours
Cost:
Free
Phone:
N/A
Website:
N/A
Your Kids Should See It Because
It’s a lively borough featuring a plethora of outdoor markets. Your kids will love looking at souvenirs and helping themselves at the fast food stands.
Basic Background
Hundreds of years ago, Camden Town was a poor residential neighborhood. In the 20th century, however, it exploded with tourism, music venues and marketplaces – no longer a recognizable Charles Dickens area.
Some Facts
- Camden Town was once the home of Charles Dickens. He placed many of his characters there including Bob Cratchit’s family in ‘A Christmas Carol’.
- Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow also lived there, prior to their divorce.
- Chain stores are not permitted to operate within the Camden Town Markets.
Tips and Tricks
- If looking for fruits and vegetables, opt for the Inverness Market, which is a century old!
- Clothing can be found centrally in the Buck Street Market.
- Weekends are people-packed but also feature the most options. With children, however, it will be best to go on weekdays when you can keep an eye on them in the crowded areas.
Alternate Plan
If you have time, or if you’d like to skip either of the attractions we’ve suggested for day 1, you might want to consider the following options in the same vicinity:
- Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street
- The London Zoo in Regent’s Park
For more info – Parents’ Travel Guide – London
The post Daily Trip in London (from “Parents’ Travel Guide – London”) appeared first on FlyingKids.