London, United Kingdom is one of the world’s most visited holiday destinations. Free museums, amazing sights, rich in history, everything to do with Harry Potter and great food – no wonder London is ever popular with families. Best of all, many of London attractions are free of charge!
Of all the holiday destinations we have been to, London is one of the most family friendly cities we have visited. You can be in a historic site one minute and easily reach a magical toy shop the next. Overall London is relatively stroller friendly. Change tables and parent rooms are readily available. These little things definitely takes the worry out when travelling with younger kids.
So, here is our London holiday best things to do with kids list:
Take a stroll along the River Thames
This is postcard perfect London. It cost your family absolutely nothing and you will be greeted by countless famous landmarks. Start at the Westminter Bridge and make your way along The Queen’s Walk.
If you want, you can walk as far as Tower Bridge! Consider exploring different parts of the River Thames over several days.
Why not Try dining at a nice restaurant with great views like The Ivy at Tower Bridge – we had a great breakfast here!
Transport: start at Westminster Station
Enjoy a great view from above
Opened in 2000, the London Eye has become an iconic London attraction. It is Europe’s tallest ferris wheel and offers a 30 minute panoramic view of the city. On a clear day you will get to enjoy breathtaking views across the city with views stretching up to 40km.
It is ever popular with tourists so it is best to arrive first thing in the morning before the queues start building up. Otherwise at an extra cost you can purchase Fast Track tickets which will give you priority entrance.
Transport: Waterloo Station
Visit Hogwarts: Warner Brothers The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour
No Harry Potter fan should miss this incredible Warner Brothers studio tour. This studio is about 1 hour outside of London. You will need half a day to visit this studio. Here you get to see movie sets used in the Harry Potter films including Hogwarts’ great hall, Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley.
The studio decorations are updated throughout the year based on the holiday seasons. It was Christmas themed when we visited. Thousands of props and costumes are on display. There are interactive displays including Hogwarts Express train ride and Quidditch broomstick riding.
Transport: Watford Junction Station + shuttle bus
If you are not that big of a Harry Potter fan, you can still experience a bit of Harry Potter magic at King’s Cross Station’s platform 9 ¾ where you can have your photo taken pushing a luggage cart through the station wall. There are professional photographers there to take your photos but they are also more than happy for you to take photos with your camera phone. Warning: wait line can be verrry long!
Transport: King’s Cross Station
Cheer on your favourite London football club
For our family, there is only one football club in London: Chelsea Football Club. We went to watch a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge, did the stadium tour, went to their museum and was very lucky to be able to meet the players before the game!
To attend a Premier League match you will have to be a member of the club or buy a hospitality ticket. Most clubs run stadium tours daily except on game days. Check directly on the club’s website for more info or to prebook tours.
Transport: Fulham Broadway Station
Get lost exploring London Markets
Camden Market gets about 10 million visitors each year! It is a complex of markets comprising of stables market, lock market, Camden lock market and buck street market. We especially loved the stables market complex for its interesting antiques and Asian artefacts. As you step inside, you feel like you have been transported to another city. We found a lot of Nepalese shops here which inspired our Nepal trip!
Transport: Camden Town Station
Another market worth visiting is Portobello Road. Portobello is really several markets combined into in one, Saturday is the main day. If your kids are fans of the Paddington Bear movie, Mr. Gruber’s shop was filmed at Alice’s Antiques Arcade (86 Portobello Road).
While in the area you can also explore nearby Notting Hill.
Transport: Notting Hill Gate station
Visit the World’s Biggest Lego Store!
Opened in 2016, London’s Lego flagship store is the biggest Lego store in the world! The now expanded two storey store has many cool displays including replica of the Big Ben.
Just outside in Leicester Square there is a movie characters sculptures trail, which include our boys’ favourite – Mr Bean!
Transport: Leicester Square Station
See Museums for Free!
Yes. Absolutely FREE! And we promise, your children will not be bored to death.
One of the great things about London for families is that admission to many of the museums are free. They also offer dedicated activities, audio guides and interactive apps for children. Most museums are very family friendly with change rooms and breast feeding facilities
Stop 1: Natural History Museum
This one is our favourite museum in London. Many kids will recognise this museum from Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures series. This museum can be busy on weekdays with many school groups visiting. So best to go early or late in the day. Even though it is free you will need to Book a free ticket here.
Transport: South Kensington Station
Stop 2: Victoria and Albert Museum
Right next to the Natural History Museum, kids may not enjoy V&A museum as much, but we still highly recommend families to drop by the really nice museum café for a quick break.
Stop 3: the British Museum
This iconic museum is rated one of the best in the world. Just about every culture is represented here and may take you more than a day to explore its entire collection. Here you get the chance to discover the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt. This museum offers free children’s audio tours. And on weekends, they host free kids workshops.
Transport: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn Stations
Stop 4: Tate Modern
London’s best contemporary art gallery has plenty of interactive activities for children. They have dedicated under 5 year old zone, as well as activities for older children.
The viewing platform on Level 4 is a not to be missed. It gives you fantastic views across the river Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Transport: Blackfriars, Southwark or London Bridge Stations
Shop at the oldest toy shop in the world!
Hamley’s – located on Regent Street, is just a short walk away from Oxford Circus. There are five storeys of toys awesomeness! Staff members are stationed at different spots to keep kids entertained with many toys demonstrations.
Transport: Piccadilly Circus or Bond Street Stations
Visit St Paul’s Cathedral
When in London it is hard to miss this building. Looks grand from the outside, even more stunning on the inside. Tickets is a bit pricey and can be pre purchased online.
Transport: St Paul’s Station
Eat at Mercato Mayfair
Don’t feel like visiting St Paul’s? How about a church that is converted to a food court? Then go to Mercato Mayfair.
Deconsecrated in 1974, St Mark’s church on North Audley Street is now a cultural hub for sustainable authentic food, offering two floors of worldwide cuisine (from Italian to Malaysian), a rooftop terrace, wine cellar and community space.
Despite its Mayfair location, prices here are surprisingly reasonable. Bookings are not allowed so come early to get a table.
Another great food court to your family can visit while in London is: Seven Dials Market food court near Covent Garden.
Transport: Marble Arch or Bond Street Stations
Watch changing of the guards (with countless other tourists)
For first time visitors, changing of the guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace is one of the most popular tourist things to do. From April to July, it takes place daily at 11.30am. While between August to April it takes place on alternate days. To have a good viewing point, best to come about one hour prior.
We do recommend to allow extra time exploring St James’s Park or if you are visiting London between July to September – to go inside Buckingham Palace!
Transport: St James’s Park or Green Park stations
Celebrate Chinese New Year
Yes – you read correctly!
Chinese new year celebrations in London is the largest outside Asia and attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year.
If you are visiting London during the lunar new year, the grand parade usually starts at 10am, featuring lion dancers which starts from Trafalgar square, making their way to Chinatown.
Transport: Charing Cross
Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel
One of London’s coolest street art spots – it is within a short walk from London eye, near Waterloo Station. Many artists work on the tunnel which means that there is always something new to see.
Transport: Waterloo Station
Watch a musical
Children over the age of 5 can enjoy a West End musical such as the Lion King, Matilda or Aladdin. Tickets for popular shows get sold out early, so make sure you reserve well in advance for a famous musical.
Other things to do
- People watch at Piccadilly Circus
- Visit Harrods
- Organise an afternoon tea
- Walk through Covent Garden and SOHO
- Explore Knightsbridge
- Say hello to the British Prime Minister at Palace of Westminster
- Go to Old Royal Naval College Greenwich
- Day trips to Windsor, Oxford or Cambridge
ACCOMMODATION
There is certainly no shortage of accommodation options is London. Catering to all budgets, there are plenty of family friendly hotels. We chose to stay at Premier Inn County Hall – positioned right next to the London Eye!
Premier Inn is UK’s largest hotel brand. In London alone they have some 19 locations! They provide spacious, clean, no frills 3 star accommodation across the UK. It is very affordable (we paid $250 per night for two double beds). We also chose this hotel because it is very close to Waterloo Station, enabling us to easily reach all major sights.
For more great hotel deals, we make reservations via Booking.com . If your plans change or you find better deal closer to your travel date you have the flexibility to cancel and make changes. Otherwise you can also consider staying at an AirBnb.
TRANSPORT
London Underground (& those famous red buses)
The London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world. The tube is convenient, easy and safe for families. Trains come frequently and the city is well covered. Most stations are beneath street level and require a lot of steps. Though stations have elevators they’re often awkwardly positioned or simply takes too long to each. Escalators take most commuters from street level to the train platform.
So if you are going to travel with a younger child, be prepared to fold up the stroller and do some carrying. Best to avoid peak hours as it can get really busy inside the trains.
Rely on Google Maps to get the best route by combining the London Underground and bus network.
Children under 11 years old travel free on London public transport. Pay as you go using contactless card or smart phone is the easiest way to pay for London public transport. Just make sure you use the same card or device to touch in and out. If you use a contactless card to pay going around central London, the maximum amount deducted from your card is £5.25 per day.
Booking.com
Pre-Booked Cars
A few times we have used Addison Lee. We like the fact that their prices are very competitive (no peak hour surcharge) and we could book their services online or via their app up to three months in advance. You can pay with cash, card or PayPal.
Taxis
The iconic London black taxis are everywhere and they are super convenient. You can just flag one down. Although taxis are metered, it is typically cheaper to organise a pre-booked car.
London has six major international airports; City, Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Southend airports. Arriving from any of these airports, you will be able to get yourself to the city centre via the tube, bus or easiest if you are travelling with children and lots of luggages: by using a pre-booked car.
FOOD
London has all sorts of food even for the pickiest eaters!
You will have no concerns of your child not eating while travelling. London has you covered from British classics, authentic Indian curries, to Chinese roast ducks. Most restaurants we encountered in London had high chairs, and changing table.
These restaurants are generally very family friendly providing colouring pencils and paper for the little ones. As well as having dedicated Children’s menu.
If you have time, try sampling endless variety of food at the Borough Market.
Bored of eating out all the time? Look out for the nearest Marks & Spencer Food Hall. There you will find awesome and cheap sandwiches, pizzas and pastas at a fraction of the cost!
For other places we have visited, checkout our website’s travel Destinations section. We buy our travel essentials online via Ebay
