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10 attractions the kids will love in London

BY NANCY CHURNIN | The Dallas Morning News

July 27, 2008

Bringing kids to London? You can take them to the typical tourist attractions - if you can stand the crowds and the expense. But you can also sample some sites that Londoners prefer, which can provide their own quiet, satisfying and more affordable delights.

Here are 10 of our favorites, many of which are gloriously free.

Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop. You can go to the big toy shops such as Hamleys Toy Store with its Narnia stairs and wonderland of toys - and you should, along with about 6 million other visitors each year. But we think the kids might also get a kick out of Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop. The tiny, 300-square-foot world of enchantment on the first floor of Covent Garden Market wasn't the least bit crowded when we explored it.

Founded in the 1880s, it is now owned and run by actor Peter Baldwin and his brother, Christopher. They carry hundreds of toys, from small novelties to handmade collectibles (pollocks-coventgarden.co.uk).

Museum of Childhood. This is a favorite destination for London schoolkids. About 40,000 annually visit the Museum of Childhood to marvel over its displays of how childhood toys and objects have changed over time. Among the approximately 4,500 objects on exhibit, including games, puppets, toys, children's costumes and furniture, we were particularly taken with the dollhouses (www.museum ofchildhood .org.uk).

Unicorn Theatre. If you like children's theater that inspires kids to think, you should love the Unicorn Theatre. Founded in 1947, the repertoire brims with material from around the world. More than 100,000 people flock each year to the inviting building where a giant white unicorn can be seen through the high glass walls. We were moved by the magical interplay of puppetry and passion in the world premiere of "The Twin Stars," a show about Kenji Miyazawa, one of the most famous storytellers in Japan. But you will find a variety of shows for all ages, from "Beatrix Potter's Jemima Puddle-Duck" to "Lord of the Flies" (prices vary, unicornthe atre.com).

Peter Pan statue. "Peter Pan" author J.M. Barrie had a bronze Peter Pan statue erected in Kensington Park in the night, so that children finding it the next day would think he had flown there as Peter did in Barrie's book, "The Little White Bird," in 1902. Created by George Frampton in 1912, this lovely statue by Long Water Lake shows Peter standing on a tree stump playing a flute. Adding to the mystery is the challenge of finding the statue, only recently added to new maps. On a beautiful day, the search should be as much fun as the discovery in Kensington Gardens, where families find a children's wading pool and the terrific Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground with its centerpiece pirate ship (royalparks .org.uk).

Wimbledon Stadium tour. The one good thing about the Wimbledon Championships ending is that now the daily tours can resume. And what a thrill they are for tennis lovers of any age. The 90-minute tours include the No. 1 Court and the pressroom, where you can be photographed while pretending to give interviews. Visitors see historic pictures of tennis players past, wearing seemingly unplayable outfits. Corsets, really? Tours are daily 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. except during major events and some holidays. They cost about $30 for adults and $16 for kids. Book in advance (aeltc.wimbledon .org.).

Theatre Royal Drury Lane tour. Constructed in 1663 and known for a time as the "King's Playhouse," the original 700-seat wooden Theatre Royal has been rebuilt as a lavish 2,196-seat, four-level theater, complete with a colorful history of bankruptcy, fire and an attempted assassination of King George III. To add to the theatricality of this one-hour tour, famous characters from the theater's past may appear ($14-$18, ruthe atres.com).

Natural History Museum. Long before the American Museum of Natural History came alive in Ben Stiller's 2006 movie, "Night at the Museum," London's Natural History Museum had been roaring and shaking. The roaring comes from a life-size Tyrannosaurus rex (which might be a tad scary for the youngest kids). The quaking comes from an earthquake room in which they re-create a Japanese supermarket in Kobe on Jan. 17, 1995, the day a 7.2 earthquake hit. And there's so much more for young minds: butterflies and bugs and a webcam view of bees and ants (free, www.nhm.ac.uk).

Wembley Stadium. If you really want to do the British thing, you can catch a British rugby or football game at Wembley Stadium. Just remember that British football is what Americans call soccer (prices vary, www.wembleystadium.com).

The O2. You can see the Tutankhamun exhibit at The O2 through Aug. 31. Or you can check out this year-old complex's 11-screen cinema, a street of leisure attractions and the O2 arena, which has hosted such events as Disney's "High School Musical on Ice" (prices vary, theo2.co.uk).

Tower of London. This is the most obvious and well known of our 10 picks, but it's on every kid's wish list and it's not far from the Unicorn Theatre. There's something for everyone, from glamour to gore. You can't go wrong with the Yeoman Warder 60-minute guided tours, which are included in the price of the ticket ($33 for adults, $19 under 16, hrp.org.uk).