Cruising London's Waterways: In addition to the grand River Thames, London has a working canal system -- with towpath walks, bridges, and wharves -- that once kept goods flowing to and from the city's busy docks. However, the best trip of all is aboard the Thames Clipper from Westminster to Greenwich, passing under Tower Bridge.
Asking How, Where, and Why at the Launchpad: Inside South Kensington's Science Museum, Exhibition Rd., SW7 (tel. 0870/870-4868; www.sciencemuseum.org.uk), this specially commissioned children's area is packed with more than 50 interactive exhibits designed to keep inquisitive minds occupied for a morning. Regular free family shows never fail to entertain and amaze. Then there's the main museum collection, the most significant and comprehensive in the world, with everything from King George III's scientific instruments to the Apollo 10 space module.
Losing Your Way in the World's Most Famous Hedge Maze: The green labyrinth at Hampton Court, East Molesey (tel. 0844/482-7777; www.hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace) twists and turns for almost half a mile. When you manage to extricate yourselves from its clutches, stroll through the centuries of architectural styles of this stunning palace, home of many an English monarch. With little ones in tow, grab an activity trail and don't neglect the gift shops.
Parading Rotten Row on Horseback: You'll feel like a character from a Victorian novel as you pass Hyde Park's plethora of joggers, rollerbladers, and cyclists. There's no better way to admire and enjoy the "green lung" -- central London's largest and most popular green space.
Riding the Routemaster on Heritage Bus 15: London's traditional hop-on, hop-off buses have been retained in service on two "heritage routes" that criss-cross the capital. Forget the expensive open-top tours: For just £1.30 you can see Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Monument, the Tower of London, and much more. Sit on the front seat on the top deck for the prime panoramas.
Going Botanic in Royal Kew: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (tel. 020/8332-5655; www.rbgkew.org.uk), house more than 50,000 plants from across the planet, including Arctic and tropical varieties. Youngsters will love the 200m (656-ft.) high Treetop Walkway, up in the Garden's deciduous canopy. After all that greenery, head across the Thames for hands-on engineering displays at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford (tel. 020/8568-4757; www.kbsm.org).
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
