Around Town

The problem
Julia, NW1 ‘Half-term is looming, and I've got an impatient couple of kids to entertain – one is five, one is eight. I need to plan a day out with somewhere to eat and some activities that will keep them (and me) entertained. And not too much walking or trips on the tube, please.’

The prescription
There’s masses of family-friendly entertainment on offer on the South Bank, with very little walking required. You’ll all get a kick out of a London Duck Tour, particularly the moment when, after a sedate road trip, the amphibious vehicle splashes straight into the Thames.

It costs nothing to watch the skateboarders perfecting their stunts against a background of riotously graffitied concrete in the undercroft of the Queen Elizabeth Hall and when hunger strikes you’ll find Giraffe, Strada and Wagamama on the South Bank’s new parade of Thames-side restaurants, although if your kids are the restless variety you might prefer to grab soup or a sandwich in the Royal Festival Hall, where there’s plenty of room for them to roam around.
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What next? The London Eye and London Aquarium (with its daily feeding sessions for sharks, coral and sting rays) are just a couple of minutes away, or you could head for the BFI IMAX cinema (the 3D films seem to have a strangely calming effect on all ages).

If you’re up for hiring bikes from the London Bicycle Tour Company (56 Upper Ground), you could pedal east along the riverside to the Golden Hinde, a full-size replica of Sir Francis Drake’s flagship. Another possibility is to visit Shakespeare’s Globe, which during half-term will have special family tours, opportunities for kids to try on costumes and sword-fighting demonstrations. Beyond that there’s Tate Modern (ask at one of the information desks about the gallery’s special activities for children).

For more half-term inspiration see our kids listings. Have fun!

Do you agree? Post your suggestions for Julia's day out.

Email your cultural problem to cultureclinic@timeout.com.