Moving to the UK is exciting because after all, London is the 3rd most visited city in the world. It offers great selling points to your children if they are apprehensive about moving abroad or even a long flight to visit from the States. For us, planning the first visit to London with kids was top of mind immediately upon moving to England. It’s the perfect reward for all the hard work to relocate overseas. And will be even better if you prepare yourself with these tips for London with kids first!
5 London Day Trips With Kids & What It Taught Me
After 5 day trips to London with kids, there are things you really must know to ensure the best time. For this family of four with an 8 and 5-year-old, here’s what we did and would NOT do again for a day in London with kids.
If you’re in London for just a weekend or on a term break, the biggest thing is to plan ahead, prioritize your day according to your family’s walking tolerance level and dress for cold or wet weather. And there’s more.
Here’s what we did and what we would NOT do again for a day in London with kids.
1st Day Trip To London – NHM & Piccadilly
Kids love London’s Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
Two really convenient things about the Natural History Museum: it’s free, and there is a cafeteria. This makes finding food for the children easy – particularly if you’re still trying to find your way around the city.
Top tips for the Natural History Museum with kids:
- Free educational talks on deep open creatures. Upon arrival at the museum, ask if they have any free talks/lectures scheduled for the day. Be sure to request a map because the museum is quite large, making lecture rooms hard to find.
- Don’t give up finding the lecture room because it’s not overcrowded like every other aspect of the museum, and you can sit down. It gives the whole family a break and y’all learn something new, too. This is a MUST do.
Piccadilly Circus
Mix up history and education from the NHM with fun sightseeing at Piccadilly Circus. There are events throughout the year in London hosted on Regent Street. In the fall you can participate in NFL on Regent Street weekend which is exciting for young football fans to see all the NFL and American flags. It also makes Americans feel a little closer at home.
The shopping on Regent Street is high-end so depending on your budget, love for street performers (there will be many), crowds and tolerance level for walking will determine how much time your family wants to spend.
Top tips for Piccadilly Circus:
- Add Piccadilly Circus into your day trip if you want to squeeze in one more thing to see after the Natural History Museum.
- Be sure to check for events on Regent Street first. There are events to avoid with kids, like the annual London Naked Bike Ride.
2nd Day Trip To London With Kids – South Bank
View from top of the London Eye. Pee first!
South Bank London
Visiting South Bank is a must for any first-time visitor, especially with children. Buy tickets in advance online to the London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure, and the London Aquarium. If you do not book London South Bank attractions in advance you could be standing in a line for an excessively long amount of time – making the visit with kids a challenging one.
The London Eye should be a highlight of your trip but avoid my mistake:
Don’t skip the bathroom before getting on the London Eye.
Just as we were entering our London Eye vessel, my daughter says, “I have to go to the bathroom.”
The next 45 minutes were torture for her, us, and every single person in the vessel with us. It was A-W-F-U-L. Everyone was offering to help because she cried for the entire rotation, including suggesting she pee in a water bottle!
I still managed to get one picture with a half-smile from our daughter, but that was it. And she managed to not pee herself – thankfully. But, we mad dashed it off the ride as soon as the door opened and pretty much missed “the moment” of the London Eye.
So, big lesson here: take your kids to the potty before getting in line.
After the London Eye we did go to Shrek’s Adventure which is very interactive and cute for little kids. The attraction was a little long, but it was the pick-me-up we needed after near disaster on the London Eye. If you have older kids, the London Dungeon may be a better option or this alternative itinerary in London with tweens.
After South Bank rides, take a walk over the iconic Westminster Bridge, get a close-up with Big Ben and then Westminster Abbey. From Westminster Bridge you can easily access the tube to return home.
Despite the rought start for another day in London with kids, we ended quite well and would do this again (minus the pee incident).
Top tips recap for South Bank with kids:
- Buy tickets in advance online. You do not have to see all attractions on the same day. Buying a bundle online is cheaper than paying individually or in person.
- Book your slot to the London Eye to avoid waiting in line for a long time.
- Make sure everyone uses the toilet before getting on the London Eye. It’s a 45-minute rotation.
- Couple South Bank London with Westminster Bridge, Big Ben, and seeing Westminster Abbey (but hold on taking the tour for another time).
3rd Day Trip To London With Kids – Hamley’s
Arrive before noon at Hamley’s with kids
Hamley’s, of course! This is kids’ toy heaven. And to make the kids’ first visit to Hamley’s even better is to couple it with one of the store’s special events. You can check What’s On at Hamley’s to arrange your visit around special venues (we met the new Power Ranger) some of which are free.
Plan early for the kids to enjoy themselves. For an 11 am Power Ranger Event, we had plenty of time to meet the Power Ranger without waiting and also shop around the store without feeling cramped. After a couple of hours though, Hamley’s was mobbed.
Don’t plan your Hamley’s visit on a weekend afternoon.
A visit to Hamley’s can take a couple of hours. There are stations and demos for toys on every floor. It’s truly fun for the whole family. As such, it will take a long time for the kids to decide which toy they want for their very first Hamley’s visit.
We knew that a couple of hours at Hamley’s would tire everyone. Thankfully Carnaby Street is nearby which offers a number of pubs and restaurants away from the more busy Regent Street.
Visit Soho for a London kid-friendly pub
Blue Posts Pub is a great kid-friendly restaurant that does just that. Blue Posts offer a great bar area, tv for the kids to watch, food that we all liked, and great service.
We continued the shopping theme after lunch by hitting a few shops on Regent Street as we made our way to Nike Town London in Oxford Circus. This is where we went wrong.
The streets were mobbed with people on Saturday and it was quite impossible to shop. As soon as we entered Nike Town, I quite frankly wanted to leave. It was difficult to shop with the kids when you’re running into people every way you turn.
We overdid it by walking up Oxford Street to shop at the flagship John Lewis store and Selfridges. Both are must-see stores in London but at this point both kids are ready to go home due to the overcrowded nature of London on a busy weekend.
Top tips for a day trip to Hamley’s with kids:
- Plan a Hamley’s day trip with a nice lunch, leisure walk around Carnaby Street, and then head home.
- Check for Hamley’s special events in advance. (But avoid Father Christmas – explained below)
- Arrive before 11am for a first-time visit at Hamley’s with kids. Preferably a weekday or a weekend.
- Avoid shopping on Saturdays in Oxford Circus with kids. A Saturday afternoon is bonkers!
4th Day Trip To London With Kids – Mayfair
Mayfair is magical for everyone at Christmas
The London Aquarium
If you purchase a bundle of tickets during your 1st day trip to London, the SEA LIFE London Aquarium makes a great place to start the day with the kids. The London Aquarium exceeds expectations. It’s much larger than expected, with far fewer people than other attractions.
Highlights for the kids include the crocodile, jellyfish tank, giant turtles, and shark tank. The London Aquarium is truly impressive and the perfect attraction to mix up sightseeing for everyone to enjoy. After all, there is only so much Shrek an adult can take. 🤪
Once the kids are pumped up from the aquarium, walk across Westminster Bridge through St. James’s Park to Buckingham Palace. The walk takes about 20 minutes but the park gives the kids an opportunity to run around and play along the way.
Pack snacks to give the kids time to refuel while in St. James’s Park.
Buckingham Palace
Once at Buckingham Palace, stay long enough for the kids to see the guards and take it all in. You can plan your arrival around the changing of the guards’ schedule. Important: Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace doesn’t occur every weekend.
Arrive at least 30 minutes early (maybe an hour) because it’s very hard for the kids to see beyond the crowds. Buckingham Palace offers instructions for securing a best spot with kids.
After changing of the guards, walk through Green Park towards Mayfair. There is a souvenir cart along Picadilly to buy any last-minute hats to keep the kids warm on a chilly day (if you forget to pack), and coffee, too.
The streets of Mayfair are beautiful any day of the year but Christmas is spectacular. This is where and when I personally fell in love with London.
The gorgeous Christmas lights, decorations, and overall holiday vibe are magical – and the kids feel it too. Despite Mayfair being known for its high-end shopping, it’s a section of London to not miss with kids.
Old Bond Street in Mayfair is where every woman’s dream flagship store resides (Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Prada…). And the kids don’t seem to mind because they are equally mesmerized by the fancy cars parked along the street.
Old Bond Street is like walking through Rodeo Drive.
You might not buy anything, but you just need to experience it.
Just off Old Bond Street, diagonal from Gucci is a charming pub for light snacks and drinks: Goat Tavern. It’s a quaint little pub and was quiet for a Sunday afternoon which suited us perfectly with the kids.
We closed out our evening with a final stop to see Father Christmas at Hamley’s. It is listed in every London book published as a “must-do” at Christmastime with the kids. Honestly, this was a pass.
We will not do Father Christmas at Hamley’s again.
Santa’s grotto at Hamley’s is in one room where the kids do an art and craft. The kids then rotate around to hear a story from Santa. There are a few candy jars that the kids get to select from to take home, and they receive a Hamley’s stocking which includes colored pencils, a Hamley’s teddy bear, and the book that Santa reads them. I wanted to absolutely love it, but the truth is it is overrated.
The kids thought it was OK but nothing to rave about. In fact, they threw the candy out when we got home. We’ll save our money next year. The funniest moment was when Santa was leaving the room and said, “Thank you all for coming to Selfridge’s”. !!
Yes, that happened. 😳
Top tips for a day trip to Mayfair:
- Consider starting the day at the London Aquarium.
- Bring warm clothes and snacks for a walk through St James’s Park.
- Plan to visit Buckingham Palace with kids during a changing of the guards hour.
- Visit Mayfair any time of year, but Christmas is extra special with the family.
- Avoid the Father Christmas event at Hamley’s.
If planning a visit to London in winter, read Christmas in London England: 18 Things You Must Do If It’s Your First Time.
5th Day Trip To London With Kids – Tower of London
Most of what to see at the Tower of London is outside
Grab lunch before starting the Tower of London tour at this pub, Minories. It’s a huge sports-focused pub, so not as quaint as many London favorites, but the location is perfect. Minories offers a kids’ menu, and the food is delicious.
Even if you visit the Tower of London on a super rainy day, it’s still amazing. However, wear or pack appropriate layers and rain gear if the weather is poor and you can’t change the day of your visit.
Experiencing all that the Tower of London has to offer is primarily from the outside. Wait for a more warm or dry day if the conditions are poor. Otherwise, carry on but plan accordingly with the children so that everyone can still have a good time.
The Tower of London is simply amazing.
You can spend an entire day exploring all of the halls and buildings, and the view of London Bridge is superb.
Before you enter the main gates, go to the Welcome Centre and ask for the free activity books for the kids. You can not get the activity books for children inside the Tower; you can only get these at the Welcome Centre.
Due to the cold and rainy weather on the day of our visit, we tried to do as many things inside vs. outside. Attractions to see indoors at the Tower of London: The Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, The Crown Jewels, and the White Tower.
Top tips for a day trip to the Tower of London:
- Plan spending 4+ hours at the Tower of London.
- Eat immediately before or after the Tower of London.
- Try to visit the Tower of London on a dry day – reschedule if the weather is unruly.
- Be sure to get the quintessential London Bridge family photo.
Final Tips For Day Trips To London With Kids
For first-time visitors in London with kids, be sure to organize just enough activities for everyone to enjoy without overdoing it. To recap:
Do this when planning a trip to London with kids:
- Make sure everyone wears comfortable walking shoes
- Find the free lecture/talk at the Natural History Museum
- Book South Bank London tickets in advance
- Pee before getting on the London Eye
- Pack snacks and water because you’ll need to hydrate and London is expensive!
- Take the kids to every pub you can…it’s fun for everyone
- Bring an umbrella even if the sun is shining
Stroll through St James’s Park on the way to Buckingham Palace
Don’t do this when planning a trip to London with kids:
- Don’t go to Hamley’s on the weekends or at least avoid the afternoon
- Don’t waste time in Picadilly Circus until you’ve done all the iconic things with kids in London first (ie, Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London)
- Don’t go shopping in Oxford Circus on a weekend afternoon or at the end of your day in London (kids will be miserable!)
- Don’t book Father Christmas at Hamley’s…save your money
- Don’t plan outdoor London sightseeing on terrible weather days – reschedule if you can!
And lastly, bring cash! You never know when you’ll need to stop at a souvenir shop or grab a tea or coffee to warm up.
If you’ve visited most of these London attractions and looking for things to do with older kids, try this London with tweens itinerary.
Looking for ideas for England with kids? Try these.
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