On first sight London seems a hostile place for children, with its crowds, incessant noise and intimidating traffic. English attitudes can be discouraging as well, particularly if you've experienced the more indulgent approach of the French or Italians - London's restaurateurs, for example, tend to regard children and eating out as mutually exclusive concepts. Yet if you pick your place carefully, even central London can be a delight for the pint-sized, and it needn't overly strain the parental pocket.
Covent Garden
's buskers and jugglers provide no-cost entertainment in a car-free setting, and there's always the chance of being plucked from the crowd to help out with a trick. Don't underestimate the value of London's
public transport
as a source of fun, either. The #11 double-decker from Victoria, for instance, will trundle you past the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square and the Strand on its way to St Paul's Cathedral for 40p per child. The driverless Docklands Light Railway is another guaranteed source of amusement - grab a seat at the front of the train and pretend to be driver, then take a boat back to the centre of town from Greenwich.
Museums
Lots of London's
museums
will appeal to children. Below are those that are primarily geared towards entertaining and/or educating children - some are covered in the main part of our guide, and are cross-referenced accordingly. Most offer...
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Parks and city farms
Central London has plenty of
green spaces
, such as Hyde Park, which has playgrounds and ample room for general mayhem, as well as a diverting array of city wildlife. If you want something more unusual than ducks and squirrels, though, head for...
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Theatre
Numerous London theatres put on
kids'
shows at the weekend - for full listings, see
Time Out
- but there are one or two venues that are almost entirely child-centred. Ticket prices hover around the £5 mark for children and adults...
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Shops
Benjamin Pollock's Toy Shop
44 Covent Garden Apple Market, WC2 tel 020/7379 7866; www.pollocks.cwc.net. Tube: Covent Garden. Mon-Sat 10.30am-6pm.
An old-fashioned outlet selling puppets, traditional teddies and dolls, as well as...
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