LONDON WITH CHILDREN - London 2015 - page 683

The Making of Harry Potter: Warner Bros. Studio Tour
A nirvana for Potterphiles, this attraction (in Leavesden, a 20-minute train ride from Lon-
don) lets fans young and old see the actual sets and props that were used to create the Harry
Potter films. Shuttle buses run to the studio from the Leavesden train station; for details,
see here .
Kew Gardens
These famous 300-acre gardens include the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway,
which lets kids explore the canopy 60 feet above the ground on a 200-yard-long scenic
steel walkway. Younger children will love the Climbers and Creepers indoor play area and
kid-size zip line (see here ) .
London Museum of Water and Steam
This impressive collection of steam-powered pumping engines that once powered water-
works across the UK is mesmerizing for children. The engines operate only on week-
ends—search the website for “What's On” to make sure they're “in steam.” An outdoor
water-play area is fun in nice weather ( £ 5 kids, £ 12 adults, check for discounts online;
daily 11:00-16:00, Green Dragon Lane, tel. [phone], www.waterandsteam.org.uk ) .
FUN TRANSPORTATION
Thames Cruise
Young sailors delight in boats. Westminster Pier (near Big Ben) offers a lot of action, with
round-trip cruises and boats to the Tower of London, Greenwich, and Kew Gardens. For
details, see here .
Hop-On, Hop-Off London Bus Tours
These two-hour double-decker bus tours, which drive by all the biggies, are fun for kids
and stress-free for parents. You can stay on the bus the entire time, or hop on and hop off
at any of the nearly 30 stops and catch a later bus (every 10-15 minutes in summer, every
10-20 minutes in winter, see here ) . The Original London Sightseeing Tour's “City Sight-
seeing Tour” bus (marked with a red triangle) has a kids' soundtrack on the earphones.