When it comes to finding places to visit with your children during the school holidays, you probably have all kinds of local attractions that your kids enjoy visiting. However, London could be an excellent choice if you want to take them somewhere farther afield.
If your children have never been to the nation’s capital before, it can be an exciting day out for them. Of course, being a busy city, London can also be stressful for parents! That’s why preparing for your day out to the capital well in advance makes sense.
With that in mind, how can you do that and achieve a fun time for all? Take a look at the following ideas and tips for some inspiration.
Don’t Make The Day Overwhelming
One of the best pieces of advice you can ever receive when it comes to visiting London for the day with children is to avoid making it overwhelming.
There are literally thousands of things to see and do in the capital, and there isn’t a way to do everything in just one day. With that thought in mind, you must be realistic about what you want to achieve from your visit.
An overwhelming day out, irrespective of the location will be memorable for the wrong reasons in a child’s mind.
Plan For Rainy Days
It’s no secret that the UK is quite a rainy place, and even if you plan to visit London in the height of summer, there are no guarantees that you’ll enjoy a dry and sunny day! That’s why it makes sense to plan for a rainy day trip to the big smoke.
For example, keep in mind some indoor points of interest as a backup if the outdoor attractions are untenable due to torrential downpours. Also, take some rain-proof clothing for your kids just in case.
Think Of Activities They’ll Love
One of the biggest questions that many parents ask themselves is, where are the best places to take kids in London? As you can imagine, there are attractions and places to visit to suit all interests.
You know your kids better than anyone else, so you should think about the things they love and plan visits to attractions and points of interest that will appeal to them the most.
For example, if your children find public transport fascinating, you could always plan a trip to the London Transport Museum.
Pack A Backpack Full Of Essentials
It goes without saying that you’ll need to carry out some essentials for your children. Examples include spare clothes in case of any accidents, water, food and snacks, and a travel-sized first-aid kit. It’s a good idea to carry all that stuff in a backpack for convenience.
Make sure that each child has a lunch box packed with their favourite sandwiches and snacks. Doing that means they won’t get grumpy when they’re hungry on the train or out and about, and it means you can save money on your food expenses during the day.
Pre-Book Attractions To Save Money
Even if you’ve never been to London before, one fact about the capital that everyone in the UK knows is how it’s an expensive place to visit. You’ll likely visit many tourist traps during your day, which will often mean inflated prices for attractions and points of interest.
Make sure you pre-book tickets to the places you want to visit. Firstly, online prices are almost always cheaper than those charged at the door. And secondly, if you book through sites like TopCashback, you can even get some money back on what you buy.
For more London inspired posts why not read – 5 Best Things To Do In London With Kids and Our Top 5 London Attractions.
Top-Up Your Oyster Cards
Driving in central London is pretty much a non-starter. Sure, you could take cabs or Uber taxis to get around, but it’s cheaper and easier to take advantage of the capital’s impressive transport network.
It makes sense to get some Oyster cards that you can “load” with prepaid credit to swipe in/out of barriers at underground stations, buses, ferries, and the Docklands Light Railway.
Another advantage of using public transport in London is that children under 11 don’t pay a penny to travel!
Book Your Train Tickets In Advance
Following on from the above point about using public transport, you should also pre-book your train tickets when travelling from your home town to one of the city’s mainline train stations like Paddington, Marylebone or Euston.
Use a website like Split Ticketing to find the best combination of tickets, as the National Rail network’s ticket options are confusing and often misleading.
It’s often possible to use your local train company’s mobile app to store tickets, meaning you don’t need to print any at your local train station before you travel.
Take A Phone Charger With You
Depending on how far away you live from London, you’re likely to spend all morning, afternoon, and probably some of your evening away from home.
With that in mind, is your smartphone battery likely to last that whole time – especially if you need to use it while you’re out?
If the answer is now, be sure to bring a charger with you (including the plug). You can usually charge your phone on the train there and back, and often at the places you all visit.
Avoid Rush Hour
Have you ever gone on a tube train during the morning or evening rush-hour? If so, you’ve probably told yourself it’s an experience you never want to repeat! That’s why it’s crucial to avoid travelling on London’s transport network during those peak periods.
If you’ve got to travel a long distance to get to London, it can make sense to book a hotel room for you and your family for the night.
Include Plenty Of Rest Stops
One final tip, and perhaps the most important one of all, is to make sure you add in plenty of rest stops during your itinerary.
Your children will not have the same levels of stamina that you do, and there will be plenty of times when they need to rest and have something to eat and drink.
Have a great time!
London has always seemed like such a great day out, there is so much to see and do. Planning the trip would be so important. x
Yep don’t get over do and ore booking always makes a family day out less stressful x #mmbc
We always book a cheap family room as one day never seems long enough!
I live in London and these are great advice. Don’t forget London doesn’t have to be expensive. There are plenty of free museums and parks to visit. Also stay away eating out in restaurants in the touristy areas. They are usually
overpriced and not very good. There are plenty of indoor food markets and outdoor ones if you’re on a budget and the quality there is usually very good. And yes, avoid taking public transport during rush hour. It can be very manic.
Seems ages since we’ve been – thanks for all your ideas
I live in London and I think these are great tips even for my family! Avoiding rush hour is an easy one to forget. Waiting just that little bit later in the morning can mean the difference between a highly unpleasant journey and a highly enjoyable one! Packing a spare battery charger is a great idea, too. Especially for my kids who love to take photos.