*This is a collaborative post.
London is a fabulous city, sprawling across the meandering Thames and through a variety of neighbourhoods which range from aristocratic estates to low-income areas. And sometimes these areas can lie next to each other in a way that is idiosyncratically London! Because of this it can be hard for visitors to realise when they are straying out of one relatively safe area into one where it is not so safe… Here are some family-friendly tips so you can explore London safely and experience the best of the city with peace of mind.
Where Will You Stay while exploring London?
You might be planning on booking a hotel for the duration of your stay, but often modern hotels are ill-suited to families, which can mean that you have to book two rooms, and divide the children up between you – it is not exactly fun to spend the best part of your holiday evenings without your partner next to you – and this can become inordinately expensive. Why not opt for a serviced apartment instead of booking a hotel? Serviced accommodation usually takes the form of a fully furnished, well-equipped flat, with all the mod-cons you might need and enough space for the family to sprawl comfortably after a busy day exploring the city. You can also make sure that even the fussiest (or most allergic) child will eat while you are out and about by preparing snacks for them at ‘home’ and taking them with you on your explorations. (This is also a cost effective way to travel, avoiding expensive restaurant bills!) Check out London serviced accommodation here.
Go on Tours
Sign up for some of the many tours on offer in London. There are tourist buses which are hop-on/ hop-off for the duration of your ticket, allowing you to travel safely from destination to destination, spending as much time as you like at each place, before ‘hopping on’ to another bus to continue your voyage. Boat tours ply the Thames, carrying you from Westminster to Greenwich – look out for the Cutty Sark along the way – and they are a great way to experience a different view of the city’s iconic skyline.
Do the Tourist Beat
People sometimes sneer at the idea of the tourist round, but for first time visitors trekking from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace to Piccadilly Circus is a great way to see some of the best bits of London. The museums are clustered close together in Kensington, and most have interactive displays and fascinating creatures, minerals and displays that will keep your children absorbed for a surprisingly long time! Be prepared to devote a couple of days to the museums as each offers a lot of information, education and entertainment. The shopping along Oxford Street changes from time to time, but is always worth visiting – and with children (or even without them!) Hamley’s toy shop is always worth a visit – make sure you set a budget before you go in!
Plan Your Route
If you do decide to explore a bit further afield, Londoners can be a little cool to unwary or lost travellers, so make sure you have plotted your route and know all the places to change. Also let your children know where you will be going and in what order, so that if you do become separated at any point, they will know where to go to find you again – although hopefully that plan is one that you do not need to test! Children under 11 travel free with a paying adult, making public transport relatively painless to your budget.
Great tips for traveling. London is a place I’ve always wanted to explore. #MMBC
I have never traveled to London but really hope to one day! You have some great tips here, thank you for sharing!
While our kids are plenty old enough to stay in their own hotel room we still usually opt for some sort of house or apartment rental when we go on vacation because it’s so nice to have those extras like a kitchen or even a washer/dryer so we can pack less clothes.