If your kids aren’t ready for a Harry Potter Studio Tour yet, London has plenty of other great attractions to keep them entertained.  Over three days Little Misses Seven and Five sampled a few. Here are five of their favourites.

The London Eye

“A better name for the ‘eye’ would be the ‘bicycle wheel’,” declared my seven-year-old daughter as we hopped on board one of 32 air-conditioned, glass-encased capsules. She makes a good point. That’s exactly what it looks like along the South Bank of the Thames river.  Regardless, the 30-minute ride on one of the world’s largest Ferris Wheels is a grand way to see the city sights while resting young, tired legs (the bus tour just didn’t cut it for them). My kids delighted in spotting iconic city landmarks like the Big Ben clock tower, the Houses of Parliament and watching the river action stretching towards the Tower of London and its famous bridge. We handed them our cameras and let them shoot away to their hearts’ content. Our ticket also included entry to a 4D cinematic experience (best seen before you embark on the real thing), with special effects thrown in.

The Crown Jewels

Not all aspects of the Tower of London are gruesome. While it may be where King Henry VIII had his second wife Anne Boleyn executed, and numerous traitors of the British monarchy including Guy Fawkes were imprisoned – the former riverside palace and prison is also home to an impressive collection of Crown Jewels. My girls’ imaginations ran wild after seeing this treasure trove of shiny gems and baubles – all symbols of power used by generations of royals during elaborate dinner parties and countless coronations. Dress ups at home haven’t been the same since.

 Hamleys Toy Store

If your kids are like mine and their pocket money burns a hole in their hands, then you need to visit this store on Regent Street for a little holiday retail therapy. Keep a close eye on your littlest ones    though as, in the excitement, I very nearly lost Miss 5. It features seven floors of wall-to-wall toys for pre-school ages and up. From cuddles with Paddington Bear to the latest Lego and arts & crafts;  on and on we climbed. While she’s never seen a Harry Potter film or read a book (yet), the wands soon caught Miss 7’s eye. “Do they work?” she whispered.  If only. But seriously, this has to be the world’s most child-friendly shop. The hip, young staff are a marketing bonanza – drawing kids (and parents) in with their hands-on demonstrations of all the hottest new products in town. Warning: set your price limit before you enter (and plan your visit before the Christmas crowds)!

 Kensington and Hyde Park gardens

What child doesn’t love to play in the park? Two of eight royal parks in the city, these lungs of London have plenty of space for children to run around and expel some loud and boistrous energy.  My daughters renamed Serpentine Lake, which snakes through Hyde Park, ‘Swan Lake’ after we came across a family of graceful birds (with three fluffy cignets) taking a dip. Horse riders and picnickers abound throughout the 350 acres of green space. Kensington Gardens, home to the Peter Pan memorial, is where you’ll also find the Princess Diana Memorial Playground with its popular pirate ship.

  The Natural History Museum

No matter what your child’s age, this is a spectacular way to give him or her a better understanding of the natural world around them.  The collection of dinosaur bones, including a T-Rex’s head and jaws and full scale cast of a Diplodocus even had me in awe! The girls were fascinated to discover rocks and animals that glowed in the dark and learning why man is no match for a camel in the desert had them in a fit of giggles. It must have been the way the model of the man ‘keeled’ over at the end. Best of all this museum, like so many others in the city, is free to see.

For more information: http://www.visitlondon.com