The Ultimate London with Kids Itinerary

London is an amazing city, and London with kids is even more fun! It’s one of those places where most of the same things that appeal to adults, also appeal to kids. Therefore, you don’t have to do a totally kid-centered itinerary, and everyone still has fun. This is a one-week itinerary I did with my husband and our 9-year-old. At the end of the post I will also include activities that we didn’t do but you could swap out for anything on list. If you’re worried about your budget, check out my post on budget travel to London.

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Quick Tips:

1. Stay somewhere central where you have quick access to the subway.
2. Get a London Pass (which I explain at length in the budget blog post linked above), so your admissions to many attractions are pre-paid.
3. Get early in the morning to beat the London crowds and avoid standing in line at \ the attractions.
4. Bring comfy shoes! You will walk many miles a day!
5. You can probably cut down the timing on this itinerary by going in the off-season and using more transportation as opposed to walking.

Day 1: Arrival in London and Getting Oriented

• Arrival:  The Heathrow express is a great, relatively inexpensive way to get to your hotel You can buy tickets ahead of time (make sure to buy your return ticket, too!)

• Getting Oriented: If you arrive to your lodgings by mid-day or early afternoon, a great way to avoid jet lag is to drop off your bags and just get out there! Take a personal walking tour of the city to get your bearings: Start at Trafalgar Square, take your obligatory lion statue pictures, then headed towards Covent Garden. Then walk towards the Thames river, and alongside it to London Bridge and Westminster Abbey. This is a great way to get a feel for the city. It is also a great way to make sure your child doesn’t fall asleep during the day and then get off track for the whole trip. Head to bed early to make sure you’re up bright and early for your first full day in London with kids!

Day 2: London Hop on Hop off Bus, Changing of the Guard, Natural History Museum

• Hop on Hop off Bus Tour (Included in the London Pass): This tour is so much fun! They have great guides, with tons of knowledge about the city and it’s a comprehensive tour.
• Changing of the Guards: Time your bus tour right to get off at Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guards. Get there EARLY or you won’t be able to see over the crowds.
• The Natural History Museum: Check out the dinosaurs, whales, volcanoes and more. If this isn’t your (or your kids’) cup of tea, the Science Museum is right nearby and has equally great exhibits. Both museums are free.

(Tip: eat dinner in Kensington, since you’ll be close by. My fave is Nando’s  , inexpensive, healthy and good for kids with a nut allergy!

Day 3: Hampton Court

• Hampton Court (included in London Pass):  This is an all-day event!
  • Take the train from Waterloo station (35 minutes)
  •  Kids can dress up in period costumes, turn the giant spits in the Royal Kitchens, sit in Henry VIII’s chair in the Great Hall and more!
  • Don’t miss the gardens:  The gardens are massive and there’s a separate “Magic” garden for kids, complete with a huge dragon to climb on and other play structures. Their gardens are also home to the world’s oldest maze. If you have really little kids, the gardens are a peaceful place to sit on the grass, have a snack, let the kids run around or even nap in the stroller.
  • There are several choices for lunch, including kids’ meals, in the palace.

Day 4: Shakespeare’s Globe, Bankside & Borough Market, Westminster Abbey

• Shakespeare’s Globe (included in London Pass): There’s a great gallery that has costume displays and all kinds of displays about Shakespeare and the early Globe Theatre. Then there’s a funny and engaging guided tour that takes you inside the theatre itself.
• Bankside: This whole area across the river is interesting; you can visit the new and popular London Shard or check out the view from the top of the Tate Modern (free and no long lines).
• Borough Market: is amazing and full of food stalls featuring absolutely everything you can imagine – giant oysters, fresh baked bread, charcuterie, sweets and more! Pick up items for a picnic lunch and walk over London Bridge to eat along the river.
• Westminster Abbey (included in the London Pass): There will be lines, but it’s worth it. Kids will like Poet’s Corner where so many great literary figures are commemorated; they can look for authors they might know like C.S. Lewis or Jane Austen.

Day 5: The V&A, Kensington Palace and Gardens, Harrods

• The Victoria and Albert Museum (free admission):  is a collection of decorative arts, which doesn’t sound super exciting for kids, but don’t be fooled! This museum has so many interesting collections and curiosities, it’s impossible to see them all. There are also kid-friendly activities in many of the exhibits. In the courtyard, there’s a café and large wading pool that kids can run around in while you grab a cold drink and a snack.
• Kensington Palace (included in the London Pass): a must-do. Kids can see Queen Victoria’s nursery and playroom, as well as have fun playing in the Diana Memorial garden. The gardens are extensive, and are right next to Hyde Park, which almost always has something going on – concerts, speakers, etc.
• Harrod’s:  No trip to London is complete without it! The food halls and the Princess Diana statue make it totally worthwhile, but I love just wandering through and seeing how the other half lives. Buy something small, so you can bring home a Harrod’s bag.

Day 6: Tower of London, Churchill’s War Rooms and a play

• Tower of London (included in London Pass): Get there EARLY! Arrive about 30 minutes before it opens, it will be worth it because you can go directly to the Crown Jewels and not wait in the gigantic line that starts to form about half an hour after opening. Kids will love the tower! Take the Beefeater tour and watch the changing of the guard in front of the Crown Jewels.
• Churchill’s War Rooms (included in London Pass): I recommend it for children 10 and above unless they have a special interest in WWII. It includes fascinating displays that show how these underground rooms were used to strategize and conduct the war from England. ** If this isn’t something you think your child will be interested in, substitute for Tower Bridge, which will appeal to all ages.
• See a play: London is known for its theatre, so it’s worth it to see at least one. There are usually kid-friendly musicals to see and there’s a half-price ticket booth in Leicester Square where you can get great deals on same day tickets.

Day 7: British Museum, Brass Rubbing at St. Martin in the Fields

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• British Museum (free admission): Fun for all ages! Kids will love the mummies. There are tons of kids’ programs, ask at the information desk or look online. There’s a program where kids can get backpacks full of activities for certain galleries. They also offer scavenger hunts for bigger kids and play programs for kids 5 and under. You will easily spend 3-4 hours here.
• Brass Rubbing:  Kids will have fun creating their own brass rubbing to take home and frame! There’s more than one place to do this in London; I recommend St. Martin in the Fields. You can choose from a vast assortment of rubbings that include kings, queens, monuments and more.

The best children’s books on London

If you want to get your kids familiarized with the city or just excited for the trip, here are some great kids’ books on London:

Other fun activities in London with Kids

• Windsor Castle: if you have an extra day – take a tour, kids will love it!!
• The London Dungeon: gruesome and cheesy but fun for middle grade to teenage kids
• Mudlarks at Museum of London Docklands: interactive hands on gallery for little kids (under 8)
• Tower Bridge: fun for all ages
• Hamley’s: Giant toy store
• London Zoo