London offers endless fun for travellers both big and small. Here are some tips for making the city your very own playground.
Steeped in history and filled to the brim with activities, London is the ideal place for families looking to have a blast on their holidays. It’s accommodating to travellers of all sizes, offering everything from royal crowns dripping in jewels to the sight of Big Ben from a ferris wheel pod on the London Eye. With a little advance planning, you can make a trip to London for kids and parents a real thrill.
London for kids: From London Zoo to Madame Tussauds
For great family days out in London, it’s important to first get the lay of the land. Consider a hop-on hop-off bus tour that carries you through central London. This way, you can get a quick peek at places like Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, South Bank, Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square, just to name a few. Tickets can be valid for 24 or 48-hour time slots and kids under 5 years old are free. Other tickets to consider getting in advance are the Tower of London, to see the Queen’s crown jewels, and the Tower Bridge Exhibition for a bird’s-eye view of the River Thames. There’s also a London Pass that combines these attractions with kids’ favourites like the London Zoo and the Science Museum.
Make time for posh nosh
With all this excitement, you’ll want to refuel with some delicious London cuisine that will make the kids happy too. Fortunately, there are loads of restaurants at your fingertips that welcome families. Big appetites can make a beeline for Tredwell in Covent Garden, as they offer upscale taste in a laid-back atmosphere. There’s even a ‘tasting menu’ for kids who want to try a little of everything. Lovers of Italian food can venture to South Kensington to Rocco di Papa. You’ll be among all the trendy local families as you nosh on freshly made pastas and pizzas.
The Warner Bros Studio Tour
There are endless things to do in London with kids in the very heart of the city, not least a visit to the very first Madame Tussauds. But it’s well worth making the journey north to check out the Warner Brothers Studio, home of the Harry Potter movie sets. A Harry Potter-emblazoned shuttle bus will take you there from Watford Junction station. You can easily spend most of the day exploring rooms chock-full of costumes, movie props and animatronics. The tour starts in the massive Great Hall and ends with a surprise room of wands!
To explore some of London’s amazing outdoor spaces, take a train west to Kew Gardens. This is a great park for letting little ones run through forested patches, down manicured lawns and through a beautiful, tropical greenhouse. While St James and Hyde Park in central London are pretty, this offers the family a chance to really get back to nature. There’s a small aquarium to delight kids on the bottom floor too.
Perfect family days out in London are just a hop, skip and a jump away. Start planning with the ideal place to stay.