Family Holidays to London

London is the ideal destination for a family holiday, and a great introduction to Europe, as it offers plenty to do for the whole family.  Perhaps surprisingly, many of the city’s big name attractions, even the famous museums, really appeal to kids, and they’ll get just as much enjoyment from meeting a Beefeater at the Tower of London or getting a bird’s eye view from the London Eye as Mum and Dad will.

The key to a family-friendly holiday in London is to mix up your sightseeing.  Even the hardiest of adult travellers will soon tire of endless visits to museums and churches and standing in long queues, so it’s only natural that the kids could get a little cranky if you overload them with culture.

Plan your sightseeing so that everyone is happy. Include fun things that the kids will enjoy like a hop-on hop-off bus tour on a double-decker bus or a visit to Hamleys Toy Store, said to be the biggest toy store in the world!

Big Ben and London Dungeon are other popular with kids of all ages. Older children may be familiar with the original Monopoly streets such as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Mayfair and Park Lane, and it always creates a buzz to actually stand on the real street.

Sports fans will enjoy visits to famous sporting arenas such as Lords, The Oval, Wimbledon or Wembley Stadium.  All offer tours to the general public but you may need to book ahead.

Rainy days are the perfect time to visit museums like Madame Tussaud’s, the British Musuem, London Science Museum and the London Planetarium. All offer endless options to while away a few hours, whilst the whole family will get a kick out of visiting Harrods, the most famous department store in the world.

If you want to watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, arrive early.  The changeover takes place every day at 11.30am (during summer) and is free, but as one of London’s most popular attractions, it pays to be early to get a good viewing spot.

The whole ‘parade’ takes around 45 minutes and may be a little tedious for younger children but many visitors leave after 20 or so minutes.  If you are visiting outside of summer, check the schedule in advance as the ‘changeover’ takes place on alternate days.

If you still need convincing that London is a good destination for your family holiday, perhaps a behind-the-scenes tour of the making of the Harry Potter movies might sway you. Imagine the excitement on your child’s face as they pose next to the original ‘Hogwarts Express’ sign and explore the Great Hall!

Another family favourite, Legoland, is just 40 kilometres west of London at Windsor, and is easily accessible by car or public transport.

If you are anywhere in Europe, you can make the most of cheap flights to London and enjoy a couple of days in this amazing city. There are great options for a short itinerary.

Some careful pre-holiday planning can go a long way to helping you and your kids enjoy a trip to London. Here are my top tips to enjoy a family-friendly holiday in London:

• There’s no doubt that London is expensive so opt for an apartment rather than a hotel.  Most hotel rooms will only accommodate up to three people, anyway, and apartments give you the option of cooking your own meals. The added space in an apartment also allows plenty of room for everyone when some ‘down time’ is in order. Find and compare the best apartments in London on cozycozy and book the one that you like the most!
• Plan your sightseeing so that all family members are happy. Alternate your days of visiting castles, museums, churches, etc with visits to amusement parks or gardens where the kids can kick a ball around.
• If you know you’ll definitely visit some of the major museums and attractions, pre-purchase your tickets before you leave home.  Pre-purchased tickets allow you to skip the queues, saving heaps of time.
• Not everything you do in London will hurt your hip pocket.  The Visit London website lists numerous activities and attractions that you can enjoy in the English capital for free.
• Let your kids take part in planning your day’s activities.  Ask them what they’d like to see and do – you might be surprised by their answers.
• Be relaxed – your holiday routine will be different to what the kids are used to at home, but what they learn from their London holiday experience will benefit them for life.

About the author

Carolyn Schonafinger is the editor of Holidays to Europe and author of Europe with Kids – How to travel Europe the easy way. Having experienced numerous holidays in Europe with her children, Carolyn loves sharing her travel tips and destination ideas with others and encouraging them to enjoy a European holiday. Her work has been featured in French Provincial Magazine and on numerous travel websites including FrenchEntree.com and the Eurail blog.  You can follow Carolyn’s European travels on her Facebook page.