Planning your first family trip to London can feel overwhelming as there’s so much to see, do, and organise! Whether you’re wondering where to stay, what to prioritise, or if London is a good city to visit with kids, this guide has you covered. I’m going to share everything you need to know to plan the perfect family trip to London, with practical tips, family-friendly attractions, and budget advice to make your London vacation unforgettable.
I’m a London mum to two children, and we know this amazing city well. In this post, I’m going to be sharing everything you need to know to make your first time in London with kids perfect! This guide covers everything from getting to London from the airport to must-see places for families. So read on!
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10 AMAZING CHILDREN’S BOOKS ABOUT LONDON
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The Best Time to Plan a Family Trip to London
Honestly, there is no bad time to visit London. Even in the rain, it is an amazing city! Winter is usually cold and rainy, so it’s best to avoid this time if possible, unless you are coming for Christmas! London does Christmas very well.
You’ll find school holidays are the busiest times, especially in the summer. However, London is a perfect place for a summer city break as the weather should (fingers crossed) be the perfect temperature. Just make sure to book popular attractions in advance to avoid disappointment.
How to Get to London from the Airport with Kids
London is a big city served by six airports. If you haven’t already booked your flights, the most convenient options are Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, and London City airports.
I always try to use public transport rather than a taxi. It’s more budget-friendly, and with city traffic, it can be just as quick. If you’re travelling with young children, you have the added benefit of not needing to worry about car seats!
As I mentioned, London is a big city. Working out which station you’ll go to can help with planning where to book accommodation for your family trip to London. For example, if you fly to Gatwick, you could stay near London Bridge or Victoria stations.
Below, I will share how to get to London from each of the major airports.
London Gatwick Airport
The Gatwick Express will take you directly from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria Train Station in just 30 minutes.
You could also take a Southern Train from Gatwick to London Victoria or a Thameslink Train to London Bridge or St Pancras. Both these take slightly longer but are a cheaper option.
London Heathrow Airport
The Heathrow Express will get you to London Paddington train station in just 15 minutes.
Heathrow is also on the London Underground system, with tubes taking you to central London (including direct to Victoria) in under an hour.
London Luton Airport
The Luton Express will take you to St Pancras in about half an hour.
You can also take Thameslink Trains to St Pancras or London Bridge, again, this isn’t as quick but is a cheaper option.
Eurostar
If you’re coming via Eurostar rather than flying, you’ll arrive at St Pancras Station.
READ MORE: OUR FULL EUROSTAR WITH KIDS GUIDE
The Best Areas to Stay on a Family Trip to London
I would suggest factoring in which airport/train station you’ll arrive at when making your decision on where to stay during your family trip to London. When travelling with kids, cutting down any extra travel time is always a win. Everything is harder when you’re tired from a long flight!
Some central and family-friendly areas include Westminster, Covent Garden, Kensington, Chelsea, Belgravia, Mayfair, Notting Hill, Canary Wharf, or Marylebone.
Greenwich, Richmond, Battersea, and Chiswick are also lovely areas, but slightly further out, consider these if you’re on a tight budget or if you are spending longer than a few days in London.
How to Get Around London as a Family
Walking in London
Be prepared to do a lot of walking when you visit London. Walking the city is the best way to see it.
If you’re visiting London with small children, I would always recommend bringing a pushchair (stroller), especially if they might need an unusual nap due to jet lag. We use our Joolz Aer+ for travelling and I would highly recommend it!
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to walk everywhere in London due to the size of the city. Luckily, London has a fantastic public transport system, making it fairly easy to get around. Below, I will share some useful tips on how to get around London with kids.
The London Underground
Also called The Tube. You can view the London Underground Map and journey planner here. Any station marked with the wheelchair symbol has a lift (elevator). Try to stick to using these when planning your journey if you’re visiting with a pushchair (stroller), or be prepared to carry everything up steps.
The lifts can be hard to find when you don’t know your way around, so allow extra time on to your journey.
The easiest and cheapest way to pay is by contactless payment via card or your phone. You tap in and out on the Underground. Children under 11 travel for free with a paying adult, just use the wider barrier.
Try to avoid travelling at peak times when public transport is at its busiest, especially with a pushchair.
Ride a London Bus
I don’t think a first family trip to London would be complete without riding on the top of a London Bus! Especially if you’re visiting with a toddler or young child. The bus can also be a good way to get around.
They have space on the lower level that can accommodate two pushchairs. However, this space has to be given up if it is needed by disabled/wheelchair users.
Again, you can pay by contactless payment, but you only need to tap in on the bus (not when you get off as well.) Children under 11 are free with a paying adult.
TIP: A London Hop-On and Off Bus is a great way to get around, but if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, try taking public bus number 11. This route goes past a lot of London’s iconic landmarks!
Uber Boats
This is a fun activity for kids in London, as well as being a good way to get around. It is not the cheapest method, but cruising down the river is a relaxing way to travel through London.
Note: The boats run on a schedule; you can’t call them as you would an Uber Taxi.
Must-See London Landmarks and Attractions for Families
If you’re wondering what to do in London with kids? You’ll be spoilt for choice. There are so many family-friendly things to do in London.
In this section, we’ll be discussing the best attractions in London for families (plus tips on how to enjoy them fully) that you really must see during your first family trip.
1. The Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of London’s most famous landmarks and also one of the best things to do in London with kids! We really enjoy visiting here and would highly recommend it. You can learn about London’s history and also see the beautiful crown jewels!
You’ll want to spend a minimum of 2 hours here. 3-4 hours would be ideal, especially if you want to stop for a drink or food while you’re there.
TICKETS: Open daily. Adult tickets are £34.80, Children £17.40 and under 4’s are free.
BOOK TOWER OF LONDON TICKETS HERE
READ MORE: OUR FULL GUIDE TO THE TOWER OF LONDON WITH KIDS
VISITING THE TOWER OF LONDON
2. Tower Bridge
Located close to the Tower of London is the beautiful Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is often confused with London Bridge, which is actually very ugly! So don’t make that mistake.
You can walk across Tower Bridge for free, or you can actually go inside and walk across the 42-meter-high glass floor for unique views of London.
TICKETS: Open Daily. Adult tickets are £13.40, Children £6.70 and under 5’s are free.
BOOK TOWER BRIDGE TICKETS HERE
READ MORE: OUR GUIDE TO GOING INSIDE TOWER BRIDGE
3. St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral was the tallest building in London for over 250 years. It now looks small compared to its surrounding buildings, but it is still incredibly beautiful and worth seeing, even if only from the outside. Dont miss the Reflection Garden located just by the Cathedral.
The Cathedral is an iconic church in the heart of London. You can download activity sheets to keep children engaged throughout the visit. See the learning library, linked here and filter by audience.
TICKETS: Adult Tickets £26, children £10 and under 5’s go free. They also do family tickets at £62 for two adults and up to 3 children.
BOOK ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL TICKETS HERE
TOWER BRIDGE | THE REFLECCTION GARDEN AT ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
4. The Sky Garden
This is one of our favourite free things to do and I would highly recommend it for your family trip to London itinerary! I always advise people to skip the expensive Shard and opt for The Sky Garden instead.
It is free, but you do need to book tickets in advance. Tickets are released on Monday mornings, three weeks in advance, so set yourself a reminder to book them.
If you miss out on tickets, The Garden at 120 is another good option and doesn’t require advance booking.
READ MORE: VISITING THE SKY GARDEN LONDON WITH KIDS
THE SKY GARDEN
5. The London Eye
This is another of London’s most iconic landmarks. We really loved riding the London Eye, and you get unique views of London.
If you’re visiting with a pushchair (stroller), it will need to be folded before boarding.
TICKETS: They are much cheaper if you book online in advance. Prices vary depending on the date and time; however, they start from £29 for adults £26 for children, with under 2s going free.
THE LONDON EYE
6. Big Ben & The Houses of Parliament
Your first trip to London wouldn’t be complete without seeing the world’s most famous clock, the Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as Big Ben. Walk across Westminster Bridge for great views.
I only learnt when writing this post that you can go inside the Houses of Parliament for a tour, and have added it to my London bucket list.
If this is something you might like, find out more about a tour of Big Ben here. Note: this is for visitors aged 11+ only. Or a tour of the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) is available for the whole family.
7. Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a beautiful church located close to the Houses of Parliament. Used for Royal Weddings and Coronations, the architecture of this building is certainly impressive.
In full honesty, I have been past Westminster Abbey many times but have never been inside. I’m not sure how child-friendly this is, so maybe just see it from the outside unless you have a particular interest in this area.
TICKETS: Adult tickets are £30, children £13 and under 5s go free.
BOOK WESTMINSTER ABBEY TICKETS HERE
8. Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a must-visit. Street performers will keep the whole family entertained. There are also lots of shops, cute cafes and family-friendly restaurants.
Covent Garden is also very pretty and usually has good photo opportunities to remember your trip by!
SEASONAL PHOTO OPS IN COVENT GARDEN
9. Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard
Of course, you can’t come on a family trip to London and not see the home of the British Royal Family!
I would highly recommend watching the Changing of the Guard Ceremony. This is free to watch and takes place every other day at 11 am. See the full schedule here. This is a fun attraction for the whole family to watch. My children especially like to see the horses!
During the summer months, you can visit the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace. This isn’t specifically aimed at children, but people of any age are allowed to visit.
TICKETS: Adults £32, Children £16 and under 5s are free.
BOOK BUCKINGHAM PALACE STATE ROOM TICKETS
BUCKINGHAM PALACE | CHANGING OF THE GUARD CEREMONY
10. Hamleys Toy Store
Located on Regent’s Street, which is one of London’s most famous streets. Hamleys is a huge toy shop spread over 7 floors. It gets very crowded, but kids will love this experience as they have entertainers showing off all the toys.
Going into Hamleys is free, how much you buy when you’re there is up to you!
11. Harrods / Liberty London / Fortnum & Mason / Selfridges
As a Londoner, I don’t take my kids into luxury department stores often. However, I know it is very popular for tourists to go to these stores, and somewhere, a lot of people would want to see their first time in London. They are great places to pick up British souvenirs or other luxury items.
You can decide for yourself which / how many of these you want to visit!
11. London Museums
London is home to many amazing museums, which are perfect for your first family trip to London, especially if it’s raining! Lots of them are free, which is amazing for families visiting London on a budget.
The most popular museums to visit on your first family trip to London are The Museum of Natural History or the Science Museum. These are both free (book free entry tickets on their website in advance) and conveniently, right next to each other. Personally, we prefer the Science Museum if you’re going to pick just one.
READ MORE: OUR GUIDE TO THE SCIENCE MUSEUM
The British Museum is also a popular choice for your first time in London. Again, it is free, but advance booking is required. I would recommend visiting on a weekend or school holiday and renting an explorer backpack. These are a great way to keep kids engaged.
READ MORE: OUR GUIDE TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM
There are also lots of lesser-known museums that are great for families to visit. The Museum of London Docklands, The National Army Museum, Young V&A or The Horniman Museum are all good free options. You can choose to visit any of these depending on the interests of your family.
READ MORE: THE BEST MUSEUMS IN LONDON FOR KIDS
THE SCIENCE MUSEUM | THE BRITISH MUSEUM
12. London Parks
London also has some beautiful parks. We always find parks and playgrounds a great way to break up activities and let children burn some energy.
The two most central parks are St James’s Park and Hyde Park. You’ll most likely pass these when sightseeing in London. Both of these are well worth visiting.
Slightly further out, you’ll find the Regents Park, which is another beautiful park. Especially in spring and summer when all the flowers are in bloom!
ST JAMES’S PARK | THE REGENTS PARK
Planning Your First Family Trip to London: Your Itinerary
Planning your itinerary for your first family trip to London can be overwhelming. It’s a big city and there’s so much to do. Luckily, as part of this London family travel guide, I can help you plan your first-time in London itinerary!
I have written two detailed blog posts with London itineraries. The first is a one-day itinerary in London. This is perfect for families visiting for the first time as a day trip. It takes into account a lot of London’s iconic landmarks and family-friendly things to do.
READ MORE: GREAT ONE DAY IN LONDON ITINERARY
If you’re planning a London family vacation, you’ll hopefully have longer than a day. I have also written a guide on London in 4 days with kids: A first-timer’s itinerary. I feel like four days is long enough to get a good feel of London with kids and to see all of the main tourist attractions. At the end of the post, I have also included links to other day ideas that I would recommend if you’re planning to spend 5 or 6+ days in London.
READ MORE: PERFECT FOUR DAYS IN LONDON ITINERARY
I hope this post will help you to plan your perfect first family trip to London, and you have a wonderful vacation here!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
10 AMAZING CHILDREN’S BOOKS ABOUT LONDON
THE BEST ONE DAY IN LONDON ITINERARY
A PERFECT 4 DAYS IN LONDON ITINERARY
FULL GUIDE AND TIPS ON VISITING THE TOWER OF LONDON WITH KIDS
Happy Exploring,
