Where to Find Nikolaus in London ... and who was this famous Victoria?

Last December, a business trip brought me to London, and like many working moms, I sometimes travel with my child. We landed in the beautiful small town of Marlow, just a short drive from London. 

While I attended to my business duties, my wonderful British nanny took care of my child, filling days with warmth and charm by baking muffins, exploring the town and visiting the gardens beloved by the British people. Thanks to her, my child experienced the magic of a cosy English town while I was able to concentrate on work with peace of mind.

Business trips are usually hectic for me, but this time I decided to stay in the UK one extra day to soak up the Christmas atmosphere. I’m so glad I did — that one extra day gave us the chance to explore London at its festive best, from Harrods’ sparkling Christmas displays to the family-friendly corners of the Science Museum

Visiting the Science Museum in London with small children can be a mixed experience. While the museum is world-renowned and full of fascinating exhibits, much of it can be too advanced for toddlers or preschoolers. That said, there are some interactive zones and hands-on areas—like the Pattern Pod, The Garden, and Experiment zones—that are designed for younger kids and allow them to explore, play, and learn in a more age-appropriate way. For families with small children, planning your visit around these areas and keeping expectations realistic can make the trip enjoyable without feeling overwhelming.

Visiting famous Science Museum was still a valuable experience, and I appreciated the opportunity to explore such an iconic museum.

The museum is spread across multiple floors, each with different themes and types of exhibits. Here’s the simple breakdown:

🏛 Ground Floor

• Energy Hall – historic engines and machines (great for a quick look, but not very hands-on for little kids)

• Exploring Space – rockets, satellites, and space tech (visually impressive!)

• Information Age – history of communication and technology

🏛 Basement (Lower Ground Floor) – BEST FOR SMALL KIDS

• The Garden – a fully interactive play area for toddlers and small children (water play, building blocks, sensory fun)

🏛 First Floor

• Wonderlab (paid entry) – very interactive, science demonstrations, hands-on experiments

  • Great for ages 6+, but some younger kids enjoy the sensory parts

• Flight Gallery – planes and aviation history

🏛Second Floor

• Who Am I? – genetics, the body, identity (interesting but more abstract)

• Agriculture and Mathematics displays – more suitable for older children

🏛Third Floor

• Medicine Galleries – huge collection about the history of medicine (more for adults)

🏛Fourth Floor

• Atmosphere – climate and environmental science (interactive but more for ages 7+)

• Engineer Your Future – for teens

Best Areas for Small Kids (your 5-year-old):

• The Garden (Basement) – absolutely the most age-appropriate

• Pattern Pod (Ground Floor) – colourful, interactive play for ages 5–8

• Space Gallery – big rockets and spacecraft are visually exciting

• Wonderlab (optional) – only if your child likes experiments and movement

Practical information:

no cost (besides time and maybe a small optional donation). If you decide to enjoy the interactive exhibits or a film show, factor in ~£10-£20 per person.

📍 Address & Location

• Science Museum is located at Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD. 

• That puts it in the “museum quarter” close to other major museums — very central.

Visiting London with kids is not only a wonderful way to explore the rich history of the UK, but also a great opportunity to boost their English — especially British English. My daughter’s English is already quite advanced, and on our last trip she even picked up a touch of Scottish English, thanks to my best friend from work, my beloved Nicola, who now lives in London but is originally from Scotland. I have to confess, my daughter understands “Auntie Nicola” perfectly — sometimes even better than I do! ;)

🐻🧳 A funny story we still laugh about

On our way back to Marlow, we had a little adventure of our own. In London, figuring out the right ticket can be a bit of a puzzle — rush hour, off-peak, the Elizabeth Line… it all feels like a mini challenge! Finally wee got completely lost at Paddington Station, just like Paddington Bear himself. For a moment, I felt exactly like the little bear arriving in London with his suitcase and no idea where to go...

We laughed about it the whole way back, and since that day, my daughter and I have become huge fans of the Paddington stories. Now, every time we read about the little bear's adventures, we smile and say, “That was us at Paddington!”

❄️ Winter Wonderland in London

One of the must-visited places in London in December is Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. It feels like stepping into a huge Christmas fairytale — full of lights, music, smells of roasted almonds and cinnamon, and more attractions than you can imagine.

Yes — but be prepared for:

• Lots of walking

• Crowds in the evening

• Many tempting rides (budget alert 😄)

Dress warm — Hyde Park gets chilly in December!

We traveled on St. Nikolaus Day, full of excitement, but quickly realized—where was Nikolaus in London? Despite our searches, we couldn’t find any St. Nicholas celebrations in the city. To our delight, we finally discovered him, not in London, but tucked into our Lufthansa flight back — a little chocolate St. Nikolaus was waiting as an in-flight treat! It was a small but perfect reminder of home, and my child’s face lit up with joy.