Shrek's Adventure! London

New for 2015, go on a wild adventure with DreamWorks Tours to Far Far Away to meet all your favourite characters from the Shrek movies. This is a very popular attraction, so we recommended booking in advance and getting the earliest slot in the day to minimise queuing. We arrived upon opening at 10am to beat the crowds so we straight to 'check in'.

All the staff are super friendly, making this a really fun, hilarious and magical experience, even for adults! Right from the beginning, you are immersed in a high quality environment, which is up there with some of the best themed attractions at the theme parks. The adventure begins with a special elevator to the Magic Bus Depot, where there's a bit of a sing-song before you board a great 4D DreamWorks Tours bus ride with Donkey as your mischievous tour guide. 

You'll crash land in Shrek's Swamp where you meet Cinderella, head to Rumpelstiltskin's Carriage where Esmeralda invites you to look into her crystal ball, have an encounter with Puss in Boots at the Poison Apple Pub, take part in a Game Show with Pinocchio, navigate an elaborate Mirror Maze, cook up a magic spell at the Muffin Man's House before you make it to the DreamWorks Arrivals Hall. It's an action-packed adventure, with lots of audience participation.

Shrek's Adventure! London Tickets

London Dungeon

A couple of years ago the legendary London Dungeon moved from its old haunt on Tooley Street to its new home at County Hall, so it was great to check out the new experience. We had booked a midday slot, and after a half an hour queue (with some live rats for company!) it was time to descend into the dungeon, packed into a 'medieval lift' and along to the docks to board the Tyrant Boat Ride. A voyage through darkness and featuring much loved actor Brian Blessed as Henry VIII, it ends with a drop, but not quite as you might expect.

You'll go on to meet many legends including Guy Fawkes, The Torturer, The Plague Doctor, Sweeney Todd, Jack the Ripper and The Judge. In each live show, theatrical storytelling will bring the past to life, and be prepared to be picked on and have to get involved as some require audience participation.

Get lost in the Whitechapel Labyrinth, it's a lot like the Mirror Maze in Shrek's Adventure but for grown ups! The finale is where you'll be sentenced to death and face Drop Dead: Drop Ride to Doom, a short sharp drop in the dark - but those of a nervous disposition (or any medical problems) can skip this part. You might learn a thing or two about London's murky past, probably be grossed out with all gory tales, blood and guts, and likely suffer a few frights and scares, but most of all have a lot of fun.

London Dungeon Tickets

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

The largest and best themed aquarium we've seen, you'll travel the seas and rivers of the world, getting up close with all manner of marine life from sharks and turtles, to penguins and crocodiles. Be prepared to queue, unless you have priority tickets, but once you're in the numbers are controlled so that it isn't too overcrowded, and you'll be able to see everything just fine. It all starts with a walk over a glass window with great views into the impressive Pacific tank before you head down to the Atlantic Depths, Ray Lagoon, Rockpool, Ocean Tunnel, Pacific Wreck, Rainforests of the World and the Antarctic Adventure.

Our highlights were seeing the huge Sand Tiger Sharks and Black Tip Reef Sharks, graceful Stingrays, beautiful Green Sea Turtles and serious looking Cuban Crocodiles, but admit that we weren't too keen on seeing the Gentoo Penguins in their underground enclosure, although understand that the environment is specially designed for their needs. We were impressed with the sheer scale of the aquarium and quality of the theming. You can experience a taste of SEA LIFE in two of Merlin's theme parks, in Sharkbait Reef at Alton Towers and at Chessington World of Adventures. SEA LIFE London Aquarium is still the best.

SEA LIFE London Aquarium Tickets

London Eye

Now running for over 15 years and still just as popular, just like the ThemeParks-UK website! Avoid the crowds and get a totally different perspective on London from above by booking your 'flight' as late in the day as possible. Our slot at 9.30pm meant we enjoyed stunning views across the city on a clear night, with Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and The Shard all lit up, and the twinkling lights of the busy city for miles and miles. Each pod now has an interactive tablet that gives you more information about what you can see. Make sure you take lots of photos.

There is now a 4D Experience to enjoy too, so make sure you allow enough time for that. Fly over London, taking in all the sights, with an array of special effects from smoke and bubbles to sounds and lights. It's located in a large, all standing auditorium, so there's plenty of room and showings run constantly throughout the day so you'll never have to wait too long. It's a nice bonus, and if the weather turns out poor on your visit, it might make up for the views.

London Eye Tickets

Plan your day carefully if you want to experience all four attractions, but it's easily done and is a real alternative to a theme park day out. One word of warning, each has multiple 'photo opportunities' which are collated into a presentation book that is sold to you at the end. Unlike the individual photos at the theme parks, these aren't so easy to avoid and carry a higher price tag, so could add a lot to the cost of your day out if you decided to buy one at every attraction. To save some money, buy a multi ticket that covers all four attractions, or there are various other combination deals if you don't want to visit them all together.