Taking the Kids to London: A Family Adventure Guide
Hey there, fellow parents! Thinking about crossing the pond with your crew?
I took my family to London last summer, and let me tell you—it was one of our best vacations ever.
The kids still talk about it! Here’s my personal guide to making your London family adventure absolutely amazing.
Taking the Kids to London
So You’re Thinking About London…
I get it – international travel with kids sounds daunting.
But London is honestly perfect for families.
It’s like stepping into all those storybooks and movies your kids love, but with modern conveniences everywhere.
My 8-year-old was spotting Harry Potter references while my teenager was snapping Instagram-worthy pics of street art in Shoreditch. Win-win!
Tower Bridge
First Up: The Not-So-Fun (But Super Important) Stuff
Passports for everyone! We nearly had a meltdown when we realized our youngest’s passport was expiring.
Learn from my mistake – check all passports NOW. Processing can take forever (up to 8 weeks), and there’s nothing worse than last-minute panic.
Flight strategies: We booked an overnight flight from Boston, and it was the smartest move ever.
The kids actually slept (miracle!), and we arrived tired but not completely zombified.
If you’re flying from Chicago or anywhere further west, try to find a flight with just one short layover – airport boredom is every parent’s nightmare.
Where to Stay (Without Breaking the Bank)
After cramming our family of four into tiny hotel rooms on previous trips, we discovered Sublime Stays Apartments, and it was a game-changer.
Having a separate bedroom meant my husband and I could actually talk after the kids went to bed (and enjoy a glass of wine without whispering!).
The little kitchen saved us a ton – breakfast at “home” before heading out and being able to heat up leftovers when the kids were too tired for another restaurant.
Our apartment in Kensington was close to the museums and had a washer/dryer (absolute lifesaver with messy kids!).
White and Brown Sailing Ship
The Fun Stuff: What Actually Worked for Us
Everyone will tell you to see the Tower of London – and they’re right!
Our kids were obsessed with the Crown Jewels and the slightly creepy stories from the Yeoman Warders (the tour guides in those cool uniforms).
Book tickets online and go early to beat the crowds.
The London Eye was worth every penny for the views, but here’s a tip: pre-book “fast track” tickets. The regular line can be brutal with impatient kids.
Surprise hits with our crew:
- Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens – magical pirate ship and no admission fee!
- Borough Market for lunch – even our picky eater found something delicious
- Thames River Cruise – seeing London from the water gives your feet a break and keeps kids entertained
- Natural History Museum’s dinosaur exhibit – my dinosaur-obsessed youngest could have stayed all day
Two Yellow and Red Parked Bus Near the Stop Light
Packing Hacks That Saved Us
London weather is no joke – it changed from sunny to rainy three times in one day! Pack layers and a lightweight rain jacket for everyone.
Our sanity-saving essentials:
- Portable phone chargers (the kids were taking SO many photos)
- A collapsible water bottle for each family member
- Comfy walking shoes (I tracked over 20,000 steps some days!)
- Small backpacks for the kids with their own snacks and entertainment
- Hand sanitizer and wet wipes (came in handy constantly)
Gallery
The Real Talk Part
Let’s be honest – there will be meltdowns (possibly yours and definitely the kids’).
When my daughter had a complete breakdown outside Buckingham Palace, we scrapped our plans and found the nearest park with ice cream.
Sometimes the best memories come from these unplanned moments!
Don’t try to see everything. We left plenty unseen for “next time,” which got the kids excited about returning someday.
And please, please enjoy yourself! I spent the first two days so focused on making everyone else happy that I forgot to soak it all in.
Some of my favorite moments were just watching my kids experience this incredible city for the first time.
Ready to start planning your own London adventure? Trust me – you won’t regret it! Your family vacation awaits across the pond!
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