London with kids ★★☆
What do do in London that will make the whole family happy—Sights, experiences, restaurants, tours, and more
First off: Skip the obvious sights that seem aimed at famlies but are, in fact, a snore.
The Changing of the Guard bored me to tears at age 11 (still does), and Madame Tussaud's is an insanely overpriced house full of waxy mannequins of famous people the kids probably never heard of anyway. The London Dungeon is a lame attempt to make history ghoulishly fun (think: mediocre haunted house exhibits) and also grossly overpriced.
Classic London family fun
Much more exciting would be a Beefeater tour of the Tower of London (lots of good, bloody history to recount, and they try to make it particularly entertaining for the lads and lasses).
The Churchill War Rooms are pretty cool—a warren of hallways forming the underground bunker from which Churchill and his aides waged World War II, an odd mix of avant-garde interactive exhibits that go way beyond touch screens and frozen in time mannequins-and-maps tableaus in (you may have to explain what a "telephone" is to younger kids when they see the line of color-coded Bakelites in one room).
And you know, even though it's a museum, all the mummies and gigantic Persian statuary and the cool mummified dude from the bog and the glasses of glittering Celtic gold and other awesome stuff inside the (totally free) British Museum tend to be a highlight of a London trip for kids of all ages.
Children visiting London might also enjoy romping about the stalls of Portobello Road flea/antiques market on a Saturday, hanging out in one of London's vast urban parks, climbing to dome of St. Paul's to gaze out over the city—or do the post-millennial version, a ride in the massive Thames-side London Eye Ferris wheel.
Get your Harry Potter fix
You must, of course, make a pilgrimage to Kings Cross Station to look for Platform 9-3/4, from which the Hogwarts Express leaves in the Harry Potter books. (The station, showing a whiff of whimsey, has sliced a lugagge trolly in half and planted it in one out-of-the-way brick wall, as if in the process of pasing through it.)
There are other Harry Potter filming locations scattered around London that will be of varying interest to fans (die-hards can even take a Harry Potter walking tour, or head of town to visit some of the Harry Potter sets on the Warner Brothers Studios lot—or go all-in on a studio lot tour plus guided excursion to Oxford, where several Hogwarts scenes were filmed). » more
Go to Greenwich
Take a boat ride out to Greenwich to see the magnificent Cutty Sark clipper ship, then picnic and play on the grassy lawns of the city park leading up to the now-free Royal Observatory where they can set their watches by the official Greenwich Mean Time clock and have fun jumping back and forth between hemispheres on the Prime Meridian.
Kid-friendly food
When it comes to meal time, pub grub is a perennial favorite.
Also check out:
- Belgo Centraal, serving sausages and mashed potatoes, roased chickens, and other hearty Belgian grub served at communal picnic tables by waiters dressed as monks. » more
- Pollo for cheap, heaping platters of spaghetti and other classic Italian favorites. » more
- Wagamama, a popular Japanese noodle house chain with multiple London locations. If they like Ramen, tell the kids this is the real thing, stocked with real meats and veggies andp spices, not just powder from a pouch. » more
- Harry Potter Walking Tour of London including River Thames Boat Ride - Immerse yourself in the magical world of Harry Potter on this 2.5-hour walking tour around the muggle capital of London. Follow in the footsteps of one of the world's most famous fictional wizards as you step into the real Diagon Alley, catch a glimpse of the Leaky Cauldron, pose by the mythical Platform 9¾, and visit other fantastical locations featured in the Harry Potter movies. Hear insider gossip and see some of the city's most famous landmarks as you tour London with a guide.Partner
- Tower of London for Families - The Tower of London is one of London's most famous landmark. Known for its feathered inhabitants, its gruesome executions, and its famous prisoners, the Tower is the site of intriguing stories that inspire and fascinates young visitors. Why do the ravens live in the Tower? Was the Tower really used as a zoo? In this 2.5 hour tour, led by a specially trained family-friendly historian, we'll provide an engaging way to experience London with kids. Includes hands-on activities.Partner
- Warner Bros. Studio: The Making of Harry Potter with Luxury Round-Trip Transport from London - Step into the mystical world of Harry Potter™ with a behind-the-scenes visit to Warner Bros. Studio London. With luxury round-trip transport from London Victoria to the north London studios included, this 5-hour experience enables you to discover the magic of the Harry Potter films without any hassle. After a relaxing journey, explore film sets like the Ministry of Magic and Diagon Alley, and see incredible costumes, props and more. You’ll also be able to pose for photos at Platform 9 ¾ and stand next to the original ‘Hogwarts Express.’Partner
- British Museum for Families - Join one of our archaeologists in the discovery of the British Museum: one of the largest repositories of ancient art in the world, and an amazing backdrop to a family-oriented exploration of the ancient world and its traditions, religions, and lives. By all means, one of the best things to do in London with kids.Partner
- A World of Stories, The National Gallery for Families -
Retaining one of the greatest collections of western art in the world, the National Gallery is a wonderful repository of stories, from the magical to the everyday, from epic tales to biographies, and from the imaginary to the factual.
- Led by an art historian.
- Interactive activities
- Detailed explanation of stories that have inspired painters.
On our journey, we will hear the legends of the Greek and Roman gods, including Mars, the god of war, and Venus, the goddess of love, as well as the fate of Ariadne, who was deserted on an island by her lover, Theseus, and later discovered by the god of wine, Bacchus. We will also see how artists interpreted the stories of the holy books and meet the Queen of Sheba on her journey to test the wisdom of King Solomon with gifts of gold. Or perhaps we will find out the secret of Samson's superhuman strength and discover who betrayed his secret.
As we explore, we will learn to decipher the signs and symbols that give us clues to the meaning of different paintings, including which saint always holds an arrow, and who is dressed in animal skins? Who holds a golden apple, and what does an hourglass symbolize? What does a dog, or a dove, or a horse represent in a painting?
Partner - LEGOLAND® Windsor Admission with Transport from London - Get ready for this extraordinary adventure in the magic world of LEGOLAND®, a place where imagination knows no boundaries! With over 55 interactive rides, live shows, building workshops, driving schools and attractions all set in 150 acres of beautiful land, LEGOLAND Windsor is a unique family theme park. Meet Star Wars™ characters, including Stormtroopers, and climb aboard the life-sized Landspeeder replica at the LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience.Partner
- Drawing London: A Hands-on Art Workshop -
Drawing London is a hands-on tutorial on how to engage and hone your powers of observation and expression. Under the auspices of a professional artist and art teacher, we will start your private tours at your hotel, in central London. Here, we will have an introduction to materials and a demonstration of some basic drawing techniques.
- Led by an artist and art teacher
- Take home your masterpiece!
- Private and fully customizable
- The Blitz - London During the War -
One of our most unique walks around London, discover how close the City of London has come to destruction and learn about the life of Londoners during the War. In 1666, the medieval city all but disappeared in the Great Fire of London. The city was rebuilt on the footprint of its predecessor and then seriously damaged again during the Blitz of 1940-1941. One of the worst nights was the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's Day, December 29, 1940, when the warehouses and offices were empty and people were at home enjoying Christmas break. That night, the area around St Paul’s was devastated and those working on the ground dubbed it 'The Second Great Fire of London’. In general, only those buildings with firewatchers on their roofs survived.
- Led by a local historian.
- Includes visits to the Museum of London and St Paul's Cathedral.
- Small group walks—6 people max
- Dinosaur Hunt: Discovering the Natural History Museum -
Ever wondered about the dinosaurs? They arose from a group of unpromising-looking lizard-like animals and cousins of the crocodiles, and went on to dominate the world for one hundred and sixty-five million years. They were as small as chickens, and as large as double-decker buses. They ate grass, meat, each other and their own children. They were the lions and tigers, the cows and birds, the dogs and cats of the ancient world; they walked the land, swam in the sea and took to the air. And 65 million years ago their story came to an abrupt end.
- Led by an archaeologist
- Learn about dinosaurs in a world class museum
- Hands-on activities for the children
- Jack the Ripper Tour and London Ghost Walk - See the sinister side of London as you follow the blood-soaked footsteps of murderers Jack the Ripper and Sweeney Todd down gas-lit alleyways on a ghost walking tour of London. Arrive at each scary spot by motor coach as you listen to your guide dish out the gory details of the infamous killers on your provided headsets. Expect goosebumps as you approach Drury Lane, the most haunted theater in the city, and Fleet Street, but it's the stories of Jack the Ripper on the East End that will have you trembling with fear!Partner
- Family Menagerie: Animals at the National Gallery -
From corgis to stallions, animals have always been important companions to kings, queens, knights, and saints. On this 2-hour walk, we will have an adventurous visit to London's National Gallery to meet tamed dragons, alluring cats, and trustworthy dogs. We'll learn about these beloved animals' relationships with their owners as well as the painter depicting them, and how the stories of history's greatest personalities are often linked to that of their pets.
- Introduces children to art through familiar tools
- Led by an art historian trained to work with children.
- Incorporates activities to stimulate learning in a fun and engaging way.
- Minitime.com - A trip-planning site aimed at families.
- Familytravelnetwork.com - Nancy Schretter's family trip-panning site has impressivley been around since 1995 (as has, apparently, its site design), with lots of good advice but a clunky presentation.
- Familyvacationcritic.com - Family travel advice from the same folks who bring you Cruisecritic.com, including decent coverage of London, Edinburgh, and Wales.