Around London with kids [antikvár]

GET READY, GET SET.'Packed with museums, famous buildings, and all kinds of culture, London has appeal for every kid, from tots to teenagers. Since the millennium year, just about every institution in the city has had an interior face-lift, with updated displays and more button-pushing computer games and devices that help kids find out more about what they're seeing. Outside, walks by the Thames or cruises on the river reveal London both old and ultra-new. A ride in an open-top bus gives a sense of the location of the city's neighborhoods and landmarks, or you can simply stroll from park to park to escape the noise and bustle. That's London on the cheap, and if the weather's sunny, at its best.If you're planning a trip to London, the options can be overwhelming. That's where this book comes in, with 68 ways to have a terrific couple of hours or an entire day, from historic sights to the hands-on, whiz-bang activities of the Science Museum. To ensure that kids don't get culture-dazed, break up a museum day with a picnic in a nearby park or some other outdoor activity. Use the neighborhood directory (All Around Town) and the thematic directory (Something for Everyone) at the back of the book to help you make your plans.SAVING IAOS/BYMost national museums and galleries, such as the National Gallery, Science Museum, and National Maritime Museum, have free entry. You'll pay only for special exhibitions. Some attractions offer free admission one day a week or after a certain time in the afternoon (usually an hour or two before closing). Still, London's independent attractions will dig into your wallet big-time. We list only regular adult, student (with ID), and kids' prices, in pounds sterling; children under the ages specified are free. In early 2006, the exchange rate was $1.78 to the pound sterling.