London can be an overwhelming place even for adults. There are lots of fantastic family attractions in London, but navigating the city with children can be a challenge. Whether you’re looking for the best activities or wondering whether you should brave the Underground, this guide to visiting London with kids will help you have the best time on your trip.
Carry Rain Gear
No matter what time of year you visit, you could encounter the famous London fog or a rainy day. The weather can be very changeable, and you could be rained on with very little warning. Pack rain gear for everyone and keep it with you, so you can carry on enjoying yourself and not have your day rained off.
Be Prepared
There are lots of options of things to do, which can be overwhelming. When you’re bombarded with choices for walking tours, bus tours, river cruises, and so on, make sure you understand what you’re signing up for. Avoid the expensive combo passes designed to part tourists with their money and consider some non-touristy things to do in London instead.
If you do want to do a tour, avoid the expensive tourist traps, and opt for one of the many, excellent free walking tours that are on offer all over the city. If the thought of a tour seems tedious to your family, why not suggest the Harry Potter Studio Tours, or the hop-on hop-off bus tour around London to experience some eye-catching scenery, these may pique their interest.
Get Around Town
London is a very walkable city, with lots to see along the way, from cool bridges over the river to interesting neighbourhoods to walk through. If your kids are too young to walk far, then the public transport system is the most efficient way to get around town or you could try a London Package tour.
Children can use most public transport in London for free, and it can be cost-effective for adults too if you buy an all-day pass that covers all the different transports systems. You can also pay-as-you-go, which can also be very convenient. Just tap in with your credit card, and you’ll automatically be charged the same price as an Oyster card. Doing this also means you can skip the queues at the ticket office.
You could also use taxis or getting an Uber can be a really great way of travelling around London, especially if there are a few of you. Once you add up the public transport options, it can sometimes get pricey. Ubers are usually lovely and clean, especially if the driver has hired it from KJ PCO. You can always do a mix of walking, public transport and cars across your visit.
Book In Advance
Whatever you want to do while you’re in London, buy your tickets in advance online. This is often cheaper and will save you the long queues at a lot of the biggest tourist attractions, like the London Eye, Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Churchill War Rooms, or Buckingham Palace. These tickets are usually for timed entries and can be bought the night before or the day of, for less money than buying at the gate. There are also lots of options for all-inclusive passes that can be ideal for families who want to pack in as many attractions as possible, as they’ll get you into many of the most popular places. Make sure these will actually be worth the money though.
You should treat where you’re staying exactly the same, whether you plan on using a serviced apartment, Airbnb, or a hotel for your stay. Booking well in advance is going to get you the best deal, and also give you the most availability.
Skip The Changing Of The Guards
Seeing the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace is a classic London tourist activity and some people will be horrified at the idea of skipping it. However, this spectacle is incredibly popular, making it very crowded, especially during peak tourist seasons and nice weather. Unless you get there well in advance and are able to secure a spot right by the palace gates, you probably won’t be able to see much. The crowds can be too much for kids, and they’re likely to get bored standing around in order to actually have a view. There are other places where you can see the Royal Guards that are much less crowded. You can see them at the Household Cavalry and the Tower of London, which has its own mini changing ceremony. You can also see royal carriages at the Royal Mewes. These locations are likely to be much more interesting for children.
Enjoy The Free Stuff
Most of London’s best museums are completely free to the public, including the Tate Modern, Museum of London, British Museum, National Art Gallery, and the National Science Museum. You can easily spend a very entertaining few hours in these museums, if not most of the day. The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are particularly good for kids. The money you save on activities can be put into getting around or food.
London can be a great holiday spot for families, as long as you do a little planning.