Family Things to Do in London: Plans Not To Be Missed

Family Things to Do in London: Plans Not To Be Missed

A trip to London with children is one of those classic and motivating travel plans for the whole family. In few places will we find a city with such a strong personality, such a wide and varied offer of museums, culture, shows, monuments, parks, attractions as well as that incredible ability to reinvent itself and always be up to date.

London needs few introductions being a prominent part of our list of essential getaways in Europe. As a result of our 4-day family trip, we share with you in this essential guide the best plans and recommendations to enjoy summertime in London with children, many of them for free.

Apartments And Hotels in London with Kids

From experience and given the demand we recommend you to book accommodation in London well in advance. You can check out comparison websites online for both hotels and London apartments. Among the family options we highlight:

• Meininger Hotel London

Outstanding option in London for visiting with children. Great value for money and an unbeatable location The Meininger Hotel is ideally located 10-minute walk from the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Hyde Park, very close to the Gloucester Road and South Kensington subways.

Functional and modern as all of this hotel chain. Rooms for large families, all with en-suite bathrooms and wooden floors. Bar with breakfast option and terrace.

• Central Hotel London

The charming Central Hotel London is a great budget option. Located in Central London, this hotel is within walking distance of many of the area’s sights, including the British Museum. Luggage storage is available. The hotel has rooms equipped with a kettle/coffee maker, iron and hairdryer. All rooms have in-room closets and in-room dining is available too.

• Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington

Apartments with excellent value for money. Residence Inn by Marriott Kensington is one of London’s favorite accommodations for families. Modern, just a 4-minute walk from Kensington High Street and less than 10 minutes from Hyde Park and Notting Hill subway stations, these apartments offer a well-equipped kitchen and washing machine as well as free WiFi in public areas. 24-hour reception in English. Fitness center. Buffet breakfast available. Pets allowed.

• Royal London Hotel

The Royal London Hotel is a great practical and affordable option. Here you will feel like a London family because it occupies the space of the typical big house of the capital. 3-star accommodation, laundry and 24-hour room service. Refurbished rooms with bathroom, microwave, cable/satellite channels and refrigerator. In-house restaurant.

• Meliá White House

The Meliá White House is very family oriented. Close to Regent’s Park and London Zoo, Meliá White House offers amenities and activities and a kids’ club. Family rooms can accommodate two adults plus two children under 11 at no extra charge. All front desk staff speak English.

What To See and Do In London With Children

Travel Through Its History, Through Its Monuments

London retains much of the architectural heritage of a city that became the capital of a world empire. Most of them are centrally located in a relatively short radius which allows you to trace some routes walking between them. They are the most iconic buildings in London that are not usually missed in the typical things to see and things to do in London in 3 days. In this sense it is highly recommended to sign up for a tour of the city to see it all.

Located on the north bank of the Thames is the Tower of London (London Tower). Its visit can take you almost a full morning. Along with the Tower of London built in the eleventh century as a fort, prison and place of executions is shrouded in legends where myth and reality merge. The recommendation is to go as early as possible to avoid queues and if possible and buy the ticket in advance.

The Tower of London is ceremonially guarded by the famous beefeaters and is truly one of the best guarded buildings in the world. Its most precious treasure is the rooms where the most valuable collection of British royal jewels in the world is kept and exhibited!

You can book skip the line tickets for the Tower of London and the British Crown Jewels at this link. Despite its enormous interest and taking into account that you have to dose the extras we left this visit for a better occasion and settled for enjoying the views from the deck of the ship HMS Belfast of which we will tell you more later.

The second must see monument is Westminster Abbey, the most important temple of worship in the city. Romanesque style and Benedictine origin, was consecrated in 1065 and rebuilt between 1245 and 1517 with a Gothic style and the subsequent extension with its two towers of the main entrance.

Since the SXI all English kings have been crowned in Westminster Abbey using a medieval coronation throne that is still preserved. The birthday of Queen Elizabeth II or the funeral of Princess Diana of Wales have been celebrated here.

The abbey occupies a privileged place in the British national consciousness. Its beautiful walls and decorative figures house some of the finest examples of medieval London architecture and treasures an impressive collection of tombs and mausoleums of great British personalities and great geniuses of English and universal letters such as Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer, Samuel Johnson and Rudyard Kipling.

Entrance to Westminster Abbey is not exactly cheap, nor is it exactly a playground. It will be up to you, depending on the age and interests of the whole family, to decide whether it is worth it or leave it for a better occasion.

Leaving the abbey and moving towards the river you will find another of the main symbols of the city, Big Ben next to the Palace of Westminster.

We did not miss that one. Next time however we will do the extra to visit the Parliament that houses the Palace of Westminster, seat of one of the most traditional democracies in the world (in Britain not paying a simple traffic ticket can cost you the political office… some comparisons are more than odious).

The Westminster Abbey and Parliament buildings are very close so it’s a good idea to visit them on the same day.

And from Parliament to royalty. Another of those quintessential British emblems that fascinates children of all ages. A real queen! The visit to the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace which takes place at 11:30 am with a parade from 10:00 am from St James’s Palace to the outside of the palace is one of the attractions that make more furor among tourists in London.

A recommendation is to start the visit before 10:00 from Marble Arch subway taking a walk through the park to its southern part, in Wellington Arch.

The ceremony does not lack pomp and military band. Where the changing of the guard between the two battalions takes place properly is inside the Palace grounds so it is next to the gates of the palace where it is best seen.

To occupy the places of the first line you will have to get up early competing with hundreds of other onlookers and wait between 2 and 3 hours something that with children… I don’t know. In our case, although we did it this way, we also enjoyed the parade.

A highly recommended experience in London with children. The changing of the guard is not celebrated every day. To find out where it takes place and what kind of guard is held each day see the schedule of the changing of the guard in London.

Guest Article.