FIRST TIME IN LONDON WITH KIDS: PLANNING YOUR PERFECT TRIP

WRITTEN BY A LONDON MUM

Are you considering if London is a good place to take kids? Or maybe you’ve already booked your first trip to London as a family and now you need some help planning your time there. This blog post has got you covered. I’m a London mum to two children under five 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 the city from the airport to must-see places for families, making visiting London for the first time a success. So read on!

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT LONDON WITH KIDS

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.

GETTING 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, or Luton, London City airports.

I always try to use public transport rather than a taxi. It’s more cost-effective 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.

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.

THE BEST AREAS TO STAY IN LONDON AS A FAMILY

I would suggest factoring in which airport/train station you’ll arrive at when making your decision on where to stay. 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 Marelybone.

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 WITH KIDS

WALKING

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 jetlag. 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.

Try to avoid travelling at peak times when public transport is at its busiest.

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 was around so allow extra time on to your journey.

The easiest 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.

LONDON BUS

Riding on the top of a London Bus should be every child’s first time in London itinerary! 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 TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

If you’re wondering what to do in London with kids? Yo’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 visit.

THE TOWER OF LONDON

The Tower of London is one of London’s most famous landmarks and also onethe 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. Adults tickets are £34.80, Children £17.40 and under 4’s are free.

BOOK TOWER OF LONDON TICKETS HERE

VISITING THE TOWER OF LONDON

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. Adults tickets are £13.40, Children £6.70 and under 5’s are free.

BOOK TOWER BRIDGE TICKETS HERE

ST PAULS 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 PAULS CATHEDRAL TICKETS HERE

The Reflection Garden at St Paul's Cathedral

TOWER BRIDGE | THE REFLECCTION GARDEN AT ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL

THE SKY GARDEN

This is one of my favourite free things to do in London! 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.

BOOK THE SKY GARDEN HERE

THE SKY GARDEN

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.

BOOK LONDON EYE TICKETS HERE

THE LONDON EYE

BIG BEN & THE HOUSES OF PARLIMENT

Your first time in London wouldn’t be complete without seeing the worlds 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 Parliment 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 Wetminster (Houses of Parliment) are available for the whole family.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Westminster Abbey is a beautiful church located close to The Houses of Parliment. Used for Royal Weddings and Coronations, the architecture of this building is certanally 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

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

BUCKINGHAM PALACE / CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Of course, you can’t come to London and not see the home of the British Royal Family!

I would highly recommend watching the Changing of the Guard Ceromony. This is free to watch and takes place every other day at 11am. 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

Changing Of The Guard Buckingham Palace London

BUCKINGHAM PALACE | CHANGING OF THE GUARD CEROMONY

HAMLEYS TOY STORE

Located on Regent’s Street which is one of Londons 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 in to Hamleys is free, how much you buy when your there is up to you!

HARRODS / LIBERTY LONDON / FORTNUM & MASON / SELFRIDGES

As a Londoner, I don’t take my kids in to luxury department stores often. However I know it is a 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 souverneers or other luxury items.

You can decide for yourself which / how many of these you want to visit!

LONDON MUSEUMS

London is home to many amazing museums. 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 Musem if you’re going to pick just one.

The Britisn 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.

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 chose to visit any of these dependant on the interests of your family.

THE SCIENCE MUSEUM | THE BRITISH MUSEUM

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, this is another beautiful park. Especially in spring summer when all the flowers are in bloom!

ST JAMES’S PARK | THE REGENTS PARK

PLANNING YOUR FIRST TIME IN LONDON WITH KIDS ITINERARY

Planni your itinerary for your firs time in London can be overwhelming. Its 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 itineries. The first is a one day in London itinery. This is perfect for families visiting for the first time as a day trip. It takes in to account a lot of Londons iconic landmarks and family-friendly things to do.

If you’re coming to London on 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.

I hope these posts will help you to plan your perfect first time visit to London as a family!