I’ve spent a long time exploring London – visiting as a toddler myself, earlier than spending round 25 years dwelling right here, and now discovering the perfect of London with children with my very own daughter. As a result of this fascinating metropolis at all times has one thing new for households to seek out.
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However should you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of a household metropolis break in London, whether or not it’s questioning use the London underground with children, making an attempt to work out the place to go to first (and the place to skip), plus recommendations on the place to remain, the place to eat, and what to do if it’s wet (or in the midst of a heatwave), I’ve received the tried and examined solutions you want beneath.
Together with important info and a few of the practicalities of London for households, you may also discover issues to do for toddlers and teenagers, evaluations of household sights, seasonal enjoyable and particular vacation actions, and even the perfect books to purchase in my information to London with children.
For extra recommendation, ideas and concepts, take a look at the London with Children Fb group
Sensible information
Attending to London
Should you’re travelling from throughout the UK or Europe, there’s quite a lot of transport choices accessible to you, together with practice, coach, or airplane.
By practice or coach
Trains are sometimes essentially the most handy choice when travelling from different components of the UK. Nationwide Rail runs a complete practice community throughout your complete nation. You may as well examine ticket costs and verify routes utilizing websites like Omio.
Nationwide Specific and Megabus additionally run coach companies to London, which are typically extra reasonably priced than the practice.
London has a number of main railway stations, together with King’s Cross, Euston, Paddington, Waterloo, London Bridge, Liverpool Avenue and Victoria, in addition to bus stations, specifically at Victoria.
These all then connect with the Transport for London (Tfl) community – it’s a very good plan to verify your resort is near the station you arrive into or has straightforward connections.
Scroll down for extra recommendations on getting round London, together with utilizing the underground with children, or take a look at this submit
You may as well get the Eurostar practice to London from European locations together with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
By airplane
London has 5 essential worldwide airports; Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and London Metropolis. European airways arrive into all of those airports, with many funds airways specializing in Stansted and Luton.
Should you’re travelling from the US, many airways provide direct flights from main US cities to the bigger London airports of Heathrow and Gatwick. Nevertheless, if there’s no direct route, you may also take a connecting flight through some other place within the US.
There’s a sixth small airport, known as London Southend, in Essex however connections are usually not nearly as good to town so that you’re unlikely to land right here. For extra info on get from London’s airports to the central London, take a look at this submit for extra particulars.
When to go
London is a unbelievable metropolis to go to all yr spherical so it doesn’t matter what time of yr you go, you’ll discover a lot to see and do.
The height vacationer season in London is throughout the summer time months from June to August. That is when the climate is at its hottest, with the bottom likelihood of rain. There are additionally numerous enjoyable outside festivals and occasions happening throughout town throughout the summer time. Nevertheless, the crowds could be overwhelming, and resort and tour costs are normally increased.
Throughout the winter months, the climate is prone to be chilly and wet however the metropolis is the least crowded and costs are at their lowest, so it’s a very good time to go to on a funds.
The exception to that is the run-up to Christmas in December, which is one other common time to be in London. Superb Christmas lights illuminate your complete metropolis and there are a great deal of festive occasions happening in each neighbourhood.
The perfect time to go to London is usually throughout the shoulder months of March to Could and September to October. Throughout these months, the climate is usually gentle and nice, and there are fewer crowds and decrease costs than throughout the peak intervals – though college holidays for Easter, Could half-term and October half-term are an exception.
It’s value remembering that Britain’s climate is famously unpredictable, and London is not any exception – the summer time months may see heatwaves or unseasonably cool wet days, whereas superb solar in late September and early October isn’t extraordinary.
For extra recommendations on planning for London’s climate, scroll down
What to see
Most individuals know London’s most well-known landmarks: Massive Ben, the Homes of Parliament, the London Eye. However there’s a lot extra to the British capital than the postcard picture.
From world-renowned museums to stunning inexperienced areas like Hyde Park, vibrant markets to quirky immersive sights, there are limitless issues to see and do with children in London.
Beneath is a round-up of a few of our favorite neighbourhoods:
| Westminster | Iconic landmarks, Elizabeth Tower (Massive Ben), Homes of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Bridge |
| Southbank | River Stroll, The London Eye, Sea Life London Aquarium, Shrek’s Journey, The London Dungeon, Tate Trendy, The Globe Theatre |
| West Finish | London’s Theatre District, Shaftesbury Avenue |
| Leicester Sq. | Cinemas, Lego Retailer, M&M Retailer, Chinatown |
| Covent Backyard | Covent Backyard Market, Avenue Performers, London Transport Museum |
| South Kensington | Pure Historical past Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum, Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, Princess Diana Memorial Playground |
| Camden | Camden Markets, Avenue Artwork, Dwell Music, London Zoo, Regent’s Canal River Stroll, Views from Primrose Hill |
| Greenwich | The Cutty Sark, The Royal Observatory, Nationwide Maritime Museum, Outdated Royal Naval School, Greenwich Park, |
Information to London with children: detailed articles
For extra ideas and inspiration should you’re visiting London with children, take a look at a few of my posts:
Planning a go to to London
Go to London with out breaking the financial institution – get monetary savings on days out in London with children
London within the warmth – the perfect locations in London with air conditioning
Visiting the Warner Bros Studios? My ideas for the Harry Potter Studio tour, London
The perfect children’ books about London, together with information books and fiction for toddlers, kids and teenagers
Ideas for visiting London’s museums with toddlers and children
The place to remain in London with children
The place to remain in London with children
Household motels sleeping 5 in London
Household motels close to Harry Potter Studios, London
Getting round London with children
London Underground with children – ideas for utilizing the tube
Ideas for utilizing the London underground with toddlers
How one can journey from London airports to central London
Issues to do in London with children
The perfect issues to do in London with children
The perfect free issues to do in London with children
The perfect issues to do in London within the rain with children
Uncommon issues to do in London with children
The perfect issues to do in London with preschoolers and toddlers
The perfect playgrounds in London with children
The perfect bus excursions in London with children
The perfect boat journeys in London with children
The finest views in London with children
Royal locations in London with children
The highest Harry Potter places in London
The perfect Roman websites in London
A Nice Hearth of London stroll with children
The place to seek out Paddington Bear in London
London neighbourhood guides
The perfect issues to do in Camden with children and teenagers
The perfect issues to do on London’s South Financial institution with children
The perfect issues to do in South Kensington with children
The perfect issues to do round Leicester Sq. with children
The perfect issues to do close to Tower Bridge with children
The perfect issues to do at Wembley Park with children
The perfect issues to do in Greenwich with children
Issues to do on the Thames with children
London household sights
Visiting the Pure Historical past Museum with a toddler
Visiting the Science Museum with a toddler
Ideas for visiting the British Museum with children
Ideas for visiting the V&A with children
Visiting London Transport Museum with children
London Transport Museum depot – open day with children
Visiting the Museum of London Docklands with children
Visiting Twist Museum London
Visiting The Horniman Museum in London
London’s Museum of the Dwelling with children
Time out at Battersea Park Kids’s Zoo
Kensington Palace with children
A day trip in Greenwich – visiting the Cutty Sark
Horrible Thames assessment: the Horrible Histories boat tour
Discover London by water – GoBoat self-drive boat tour
Ideas for visiting Kew Gardens with children
London Wetland Centre in Barnes – household day trip
Visiting the Golden Hinde – an escape room aboard a Tudor galleon and the Night time Voyage sleepover
London seasonal highlights
February half-term in London with children
Issues to do at Easter in London with children
Could half-term in London with children
Summer season holidays in London with children
London sights with air conditioning for summer time
October half-term in London with children
Thrilling issues to do at Halloween in London with children
The perfect locations for Bonfire Night time in London with children
Issues to do for Christmas in London with children
The perfect Christmas theatre in London with children
Festive lights with children at Christmas in London
The perfect Christmas markets in London with children
Locations to ice skate in London with children
London’s Santa Steam Specific: assessment
Consuming in London with children
The finest desserts in London with children
The perfect sizzling chocolate in London
A donut tour of London with children
Days out from London with children
The perfect issues to do in Windsor with children
The perfect issues to do in Kingston with children
Visiting Hampton Court docket Palace with children
The perfect day journeys from London with children
Travelling inside London
Probably the most handy approach to journey inside London with children is through the use of town’s complete public transport community – the Citymapper app is likely one of the finest that can assist you navigate, in addition to the Tfl Go app and Google Maps (which is especially good should you’re utilizing buses).
London is well-served by public transport, with the tube (London Underground), buses, overground trains, and river boats accessible to get you wherever you want to go always of day. You should use your contactless card or an Oyster Card to make use of London’s public transport.
Contactless fee (together with contactless fee by telephone) is the best and least expensive approach to journey.
All the time be sure to use the identical card or machine all through to get the utmost fares capped, and at all times faucet the yellow card readers at first and finish of a tube journey (even when the gates are open) or at first of a bus journey. Every traveller wants their very own separate card or machine.
In case your contactless card fees you charges to make use of it overseas, then an Oyster card could also be a greater choice. There’s a £7 cost for the Oyster card itself and you may then high up credit score to pay as you go – fares are capped on the identical charge as utilizing contactless playing cards.
Whereas paper travelcards are nonetheless accessible, these are virtually at all times a considerably costlier choice, until you might be staying for lengthy intervals and likewise travelling exterior the central zones 1-2.
Kids underneath 11 journey free throughout the community with a paying grownup – be sure to undergo the broader accessible/baggage gates collectively to make use of the tube as the person gates shut rapidly.
Children aged 11-15 can get half-rate fares with a younger customer low cost added to an Oyster card by tube employees. Should you do go to London frequently, it’s value a Zip Oyster card – these price extra and are extra sophisticated to use for, nevertheless it saves having to arrange the low cost for every journey. There’s no approach to get the decreased fares utilizing contactless fee.
Throughout the totally different neighbourhoods, strolling is a good way to get round. However it’s in all probability finest to not try and stroll from one space of town to a different (until they’re subsequent door). London is HUGE and it’ll be an excessive amount of strolling for little legs.
Driving inside London is feasible however we undoubtedly wouldn’t advise it. Not solely will you spend most of your time caught in visitors, however you’ll additionally must pay a £15 congestion cost to drive throughout the metropolis centre and doubtlessly £12.50 to drive within the Extremely Low Emission Zone. Parking can also be extraordinarily laborious to return by, and costly once you do discover it.
Flight sources
Skyscanner is the web site I have a tendency to start out with to check charges for my flights.
Cash-saving tip: Don’t enter any dates to scan the perfect accessible instances to go OR merely enter ‘LON’ as an alternative of a selected airport – chances are you’ll get a less expensive flight!
Lodging sources
After I plan a metropolis break with children, I usually favor my very own condo – and together with as well-known favourites corresponding to AirBNB, I’m an enormous fan of Plumguide which has a spread of lodging that’s been individually vetted and there’s a sensible choice of AirBNB options in London.
You’ll discover a lot extra self-catering lodging in addition to family-friendly motels. Reserving.com normally provides the perfect offers, together with free cancellation, however you will discover extra inspiration on the place to remain in London with children right here.
For bigger households, there are additionally household motels in London sleeping 5 in addition to some nice motels close to Harry Potter Studios should you’re planning to go to the Warner Bros Studio tour and like to remain exterior town centre.
The same old main resort chains even have loads of choices for household pleasant motels for various budgets – the Park Plaza motels from Radisson are nice, whereas Hilton has every little thing from the Waldorf to cheaper central London motels close to main sights, in addition to the Doubletree and decrease funds Hampton by Hilton manufacturers.
Security ideas
London is mostly a reasonably protected place to go to. However like several huge metropolis, it’s essential to take precautions to make sure your individual security.
All the time concentrate on your environment, hold your valuables out of sight, and be cautious of pickpockets, particularly in crowded areas corresponding to on public transport and round common vacationer sights.
Cash saving ideas
It’s actually no secret that London will also be an costly place to go to. However with a bit little bit of planning, it’s doable to get pleasure from every little thing town has to supply with out breaking the financial institution – see my full set of tricks to get monetary savings on days out in London with children right here.
- Go to throughout low season to save lots of on flights and lodging.
- Use town’s wonderful public transport system slightly than taxis.
- Discover a free strolling tour, however do go away a tip should you can.
- Reap the benefits of free actions, corresponding to visiting museums and parks.
- Use low cost ticket web sites to get good offers on huge sights.
- Guide mixture tickets for a number of sights.
- Lower your expenses on meals by searching for meal offers in supermarkets (normally together with a sandwich, snack and drink) in addition to reductions for eating places utilizing a Style card.
For extra recommendations on methods to save lots of on a metropolis break with children, together with metropolis passes and discovering low-cost (or free) excursions, take a look at this submit.
Packing information for London with children
When packing for London, it’s necessary to arrange for the unpredictable British climate. Whereas climate extremes are uncommon, it’s value checking forecasts within the run-up to your journey – don’t be stunned should you’re confronted with sunshine, clouds and rain, typically throughout the identical day.
Even throughout the peak summer time months, rain and milder days are nonetheless doable, so guarantee you’ve got a couple of further layers and a lightweight raincoat or umbrella with you.
Ensure to pack snug footwear for strolling across the metropolis too as you’ll be in your ft loads. A day bag for carrying layers, water, and snacks can also be an excellent concept.
Guide record
You’re spoiled for alternative in the case of books about London – from the perfect information to London with children to fiction for toddlers, kids and teenagers, you’ll discover one thing to go well with the entire household.
Take a look at my full record of the perfect books about London for youths right here
The Metropolis Trails collection from Lonely Planet Children are one in all my favorite guidebooks for youngsters – we’ve used them in different European cities and Metropolis Trails London is simply as full of quirky details and sights.
Horrible Histories addicts can be delighted to find that there’s a London ebook within the collection –Ugly Guides: London – with all of the fascinating and foul, grotesque, gory and downright bizarre details you’d anticipate.
Youthful children will love Paddington’s Information to London, which makes a enjoyable approach to get them excited in regards to the journey upfront too. Or the Pop-up London ebook from Lonely Planet Children is one other vibrant choice for little ones.
For one thing a bit extra interactive, there are greater than 130 London sights to seek out within the pocket-sized i-spy London, with loads of details to find as you learn and discover.
Or the fabulous Usborne lift-the-flap books features a London choice: Look Inside London is full of details about town’s key websites – together with Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London – in addition to London’s different well-known sights, corresponding to purple telephone containers, black cabs and double-deckers buses.
From the identical publishers, See Inside London takes a journey by means of time (slightly than geography), displaying London all through its historical past from Roman instances to the Center Ages, the Black Demise and throughout the Blitz within the Second World Struggle. An incredible companion to the Look Inside London ebook.
Covid sources
Verify right here for present covid guidelines within the UK. For extra normal well being info go to the NHS web site, and obtain my household journey first assist guidelines.
Disclosure: This information to London with children incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Penguin/Tower Bridge at Christmas photos copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy of Depositphotos
