London With Kids

Thanks to its engaging history, storied green spaces, and world-class institutions, the Big Smoke is a top notch destination for families.
For tips on the city’s best family friendly accommodations, entertaining activities, and kid-approved restaurants, read on.

La familia Marian Smith (left) with her husband Dan Montalbano and their two sons. The family of four traveled to Patagonia, Argentina to visit their beloved Granny, Rosanna Montalbano.

Where to Stay
Along with high-end design and first class service, these hotels deliver on little luxuries for the half pints. Opting for a vacation rental? We’ve listed our favorite companies for a London stay as well.

The Berkeley
Not only can kids enjoy family hours at the spa’s indoor pool and sign up for mini manicures, they’re also spoiled with coloring books, personalized linens, and board games upon arrival. Traveling with a baby? The Knightsbridge-based property also has bottle warmers and high chairs.
the-berkeley.co.uk

Claridge’s 
This stately redbrick hotel gifts goodie bags to littlest guests at check in, as well as monogrammed bathrobes at night. Parents can also arrange for babysitting and, with their well-earned free time, book a treatment at the Claridge’s Spa, or snag a table for (just) two at the property’s new restaurant, Davies and Brook.
claridges.co.uk

Corinthia Hotel
Sip a complimentary glass of bubbly while your kiddos sort through a Santa-like spread of welcome amenities such as stuffed animals, books, and Baby Bees bath products. And thanks to the Westminster hotel’s Family Escape package—a second room at discount, as well as complimentary breakfast—you and the littles will have plenty of space.
corinthia.com

Vacation Rentals

At Home Perks: Vacation rentals usually mean more space, flexibility, and ideally a patch of green. Many are also well-equipped for families.

Along with usual players HomeAway and Airbnb, look for properties on family focused Kid & Coe, which launched in London, as well as the luxury property-centered Plum Guide.

 What to See and Do
These activities go beyond sightseeing and get your kids engaged.

Drive the (Double Decker) Bus
Hop on old Tube cars and get behind the right-hand-side wheel of the Big Smoke’s iconic bus at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. A toy-filled play zone, complete with­—you guessed it—model cars and trains is also a great escape on a rainy afternoon.
ltmuseum.co.uk

Explore Pint-Sized History
From galleries of clothing through the centuries—1700s bathing costumes, Victorian-era suits, patchwork dresses crafted during World War II—to rooms of doll houses and vintage LEGOs, the exhibits at the V&A Museum of Childhood are all about the kids. Touching is also encouraged: hands-on activities include arts and crafts and play hours when kids can “have a go” at some of the pastimes on display.
vam.ac.uk

Get Artsy
While parents peruse works by da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Monet at the 1824 National Gallery, kids can smock up for events like Messy Mondays and Welcome Wednesdays, where singing, dancing, and painting are all encouraged. A regular professional storyteller also spins tales inspired by art in the gallery halls.
nationalgallery.org.uk

Lift a Pinky
Fancy a cuppa? At One Aldwych hotel’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea, kiddos spread snozzberry jam on scones and wash down meal-in-marshmallows with lemon sherbet tea. Parents can also get in the spirit thanks to fizzy lifting drinks—otherwise known as Champagne.
Onealdwych.com

Row Your Boat
Instead of a tiring tour on foot, cruise past London’s most famous sites—from the Tower of London and Saint Paul’s Cathedral to the London Eye and Tower Bridge—on the Thames. Families can book a trip with entertaining guides on City Cruises Sightseeing Tours; if you’re just in it for the views, board the Thames Clippers River Taxi, a public transportation line that ferries up and down the river.
citycruises.com

See a Show
If your kiddos aren’t quite ready for Shakespeare at the Globe, check out performances at the nearby Unicorn Theatre. The range of shows, from sensory plays for babies and tots to modern fairytales for elementary school students, are sure to instill a passion for the stage. The Polka Theatre in Wimbledon also has fantastic shows for half pints.
unicorntheatre.com; polkatheatre.com

Greenwich
This borough of London, known for the National Maritime Museum, the 150-year-old Cutty Sark ship, and the Greenwich meridian line, calls on mini explorers to play pirate, shipping merchant, and polar bear tracker in the museum’s children’s gallery. You can also run around Royal Greenwich Park, visit London’s Planetarium, and stand in both the east and west hemispheres at the historic prime meridian line.
rmg.co.uk

Natural History Museum
Along with this institution’s six free galleries—home to massive dinosaur and blue whale skeletons, exhibits on human evolution, and a rare piece of rock from planet Mars—budding naturalists should sign up for a private group tour, led by scientists and researchers, that take you behind the scenes at the museum to see things that aren’t on display.
nhm.ac.uk

Parks and Playgrounds
Green spaces are the backbone of a successful family trip. Fortunately, London has loads, all with storied gardens, urban animal life, and state-of-the-art playgrounds.

Hyde Park

Whether you’re coming from the Natural History Museum or leaving Knightsbridge with shopping bags in tow, this central city park is not to be missed. Along with several playgrounds—notably the Diana Memorial Playground, anchored by a massive pirate’s ship—you can watch the swans in Serpentine Lake and admire the blooms in the Kensington Gardens.
royalparks.org.uk

Kew Gardens
Future botanists shouldn’t miss a trip to this UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to 50,000 living plants, including rare orchids and—a kiddie favorite—carnivorous Venus flytraps. There’s also a children’s garden, designed with a canopy walk and climbing boulders, as well as a little explorers program, where kids use scientific tools like magnifying glasses to study plants and insects.
kew.org

Richmond Park

City overlooks: In Richmond Park, go for the deer, stay for the views.

London’s largest park is home to 600 red and fallow deer, known as the royal deer, which have lived in the park since the 1630s. The 2,500-acre green space is also known for the azalea-filled Isabella Plantation, oak-filled forests, and fern groves and grasslands—some of which have impressive city views—that are a joy to explore.
royalparks.org.uk

Peckham Rye Park

Can I play? Peckham Rye Park’s playground has thoughtful and imaginative playscapes.

If you happen to be staying in southwest London, make a point of visiting this playground, thoughtfully designed with incredible climbing structures and tools—diggers, levies, and more—that inspire an engineering mind. There are also impressive swings, faux dino footprints to hunt for, and cottages to set up house. Afterwards, grab lunch—sourdough pizzas and sausage, chips and beans make the menu—or an ice cream at the Round, an indoor/outdoor restaurant overlooking the park’s expansive green.
peckhamryepark.org

Where to Eat and Drink
Dining out with kids can be hard. At the spots below, you’ll be welcomed with open arms—and leave with your dignity in tact. (The food is delicious, too.)

Franco Manca

We all scream Kids end meals with a scoop of ice cream at Franco Manga, proof that we made it through an entire meal.

Napolitano-style sourdough pizzas pop out of wood-fired ovens at this popular restaurant with several locations around London. Along with classic pies like tomato and mozzarella, daily specials incorporate fresh ingredients from local farms. The original eatery is located in the Brixton Market, also home to a slew international groceries and street food stalls.
francomanca.co.uk

Hixter Bankside
It’s the kid’s menu—complete with activities, puzzles, and plate options like a mini chateau steak and roasted barn-reared chicken—that impresses us most about this modern British restaurant, smartly designed with exposed brick walls and warm leather banquettes. Parents, you’ll eat equally well, and can enjoy a heady cocktail.
hixrestaurants.co.uk

Mercato Metropolitano 
It’s worth the trip to Elephant & Castle, located south of the Thames, to visit this innovative market with a microbrewery and over 40 vendors that use local produce for their globally inspired foods, from Turkish barbecue to housemade Italian pastas. Kids have room to run around, and good behavior should be rewarded with scoops of gelato.
mercatometropolitano.com

Wagamamas

Healthy eating that’s fun Thanks to new foods and utensils called snackstix, the kids loved Wagamamas.

True, this is a familiar chain, but we recommend it for its game-filled menus and fun Snack Sticks (think of chopsticks in training) that inspire kiddos to dive into new foods like soba noodles and chicken with a curry dipping sauce. There are also locations all over the city, so it’s an easy remedy for hangry monsters.
Wagamamas.com

Street Markets

Maltby Street Market Salmon on rye was one of the many food stall options at this weekend market in Bermondsey.

Food markets are also ideal for energetic cubsters: You’ll find donuts and gourmet grilled cheeses at Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey (weekends only). The rest of the week, visit Borough Market—London’s oldest first market—to sample British cheeses, freshly squeezed juices, and heaping plates of risotto with mushrooms or seafood paella.
www.maltby.st; boroughmarket.org.uk

Neighborhood Spotlight
A city’s most family friendly place is where families actually live. It’s here that you’re going to find the best kid-tolerant restaurants, parks designed for all ages, independent toyshops, and more. In London, that neighborhood is East Dulwich: Kids love it—and you’ll be the only tourist you meet.

East Dulwich

When does the stick phase end? Asking for a friend. Thankfully there are plenty in Goose Green, a park in East Dulwich.

You’ll feel at home among the yummy mummies (yes, that’s an English term) pushing prams down charming Lordship Lane in East Dulwich, located in Southwest London. For breakfast, make your way to Brick House—you’ll know your close when you smell the fresh bread—where house made sourdough is topped with avocado and cinnamon buns get a citrus twist. You’ll risk maxing your credit card card at JoJo Maman Bébé, located around the corner, but your kiddo’s new wardrobe of high quality clothes in playful patterns and oh-so-cute designs might be worth it. Next door, stop in Just Williams Toys for old fashioned music boxes and then snag an outdoor table under flower baskets at the EDT pub and order a couple of pints (or make it a lemonade). Kids an also run around the beautiful neighborhood park, Goose Green, or check out its fantastic playground. And catch the 176 or 185 bus to the Horniman, a museum loaded with exhibits—a butterfly sanctuary, hands-on music room, and an animal walk—home to rabbits, lamas and more—that keep little kids in mind. The grounds also have some of the best views of the city.

Play On The Music Gallery at the Horniman Museum has walls of instruments and an interactive music room.

What are your favorite Kid-friendly spots in London?
Let us know below!

LONDON TRAVEL TOOL BOX
Make the best of your family trip with these London travel tips.

Weather
The weather is unpredictable in London, though summer is peak season and shoulder month September is particularly lovely. Winters are dark­—the sun sets between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM in January—and more rainy.

Getting There

Fly into Heathrow Airport, which, along with great shopping—hello Harrods, Hermés, and the Harry Potter Shop—has family friendly amenities like nursing rooms, family bathrooms, and a children’s play zone. British Airways, which has direct flights from Austin Bergstrom, also has family check-in at LHR.

Getting Around

While we love London’s Underground, keep in mind that only a quarter of the city’s Tube stations are step free, making them difficult with strollers. Buses, on the other hand, have designated areas for prams. Even if your kids are too old for buggies, we’re willing to bet that riding on the top level of a double decker will be the highlight of the trip. Ubers and black cabs—many of which are now electric—are also widely available.

Babysitting
Most hotel concierges can recommend reputable nanny agencies. Local London families also use Bubble (JoinBubble.com) as well as Sitters.Co.Uk.

White Glove Service
Considering a vacation upgrade? These travel advisors can do everything from booking private pods on the London Eye to scoring VIP tickets to Harry Potter World.

Keith Waldon
Waldon co-founded Global CommUnity, a travel advisory firm that specializes in luxury trips that are grounded in engaging experiences for children and families.
globalcommunitytravel.com

Sam McClure
Founder of travel advisory company Small World Travel, look to McClure to create bespoke family trips that are educational and inspiring.
smallworldtraveler.com