London with Kids: How to Plan a Family Trip Everyone Will Actually Enjoy
London is one of my favorite cities for a family trip—and not because you need to fill your itinerary with attractions designed specifically for children.
That’s actually one of the things I love most about London with kids.
They can see the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, ride on the top level of a double-decker bus, watch the Changing of the Guard, wander through a castle, have afternoon tea, spot Big Ben from across the Thames, and end the day at a West End show.
It feels exciting for them without the entire vacation having to revolve around them.
The secret is planning London at the right pace.
Here’s how I recommend approaching a first trip to London with kids—and the places I think are actually worth making time for.
First: Don't Try to See All of London
This is probably the biggest mistake families make.
London looks deceptively compact on a map, but sightseeing days can involve a lot of walking, stairs, Tube stations, and standing. Trying to squeeze Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Covent Garden, and the London Eye into one day may technically be possible.
I wouldn't recommend it with kids.
Instead, I like to plan London by neighborhood or area and build each day around one major experience.
A morning at the Tower of London can be paired with Tower Bridge and a Thames boat ride.
Westminster works beautifully with St. James's Park, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye.
South Kensington gives you the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and Hyde Park.
You see plenty without spending half your vacation getting from one side of London to the other.
The Tower of London Is Worth It With Kids
If you're wondering whether your children will appreciate visiting historical sites, start here.
The Tower of London has the kind of history that naturally works for kids: kings and queens, prisoners, ravens, armor, executions, and, of course, the Crown Jewels.
Admission includes the Crown Jewels, White Tower, battlements and other open areas, and Yeoman Warder tours when available.
Cassie's Tip: Go early and head to the Crown Jewels before the lines build. Then slow down and explore the rest of the Tower.
And don't rush off afterward.
Walk toward Tower Bridge and spend some time along the Thames. This is also an easy place to incorporate a boat ride, which doubles as both sightseeing and transportation—and gives tired little legs a break.
Let Them Ride the Double-Decker Bus
Sometimes the simplest things are what kids remember.
You don't necessarily need a formal sightseeing bus tour to give them the experience of riding through London on the top level of a red double-decker bus.
Several regular London bus routes pass major landmarks. TfL even publishes sightseeing suggestions for routes that pass places such as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, museums, royal sites, and Covent Garden.
Grab seats upstairs at the front if you can.
Make Time for London's Parks
Do not underestimate the importance of an hour with absolutely nothing scheduled.
London's parks are perfect for this.
St. James's Park is an easy addition when you're visiting Buckingham Palace and Westminster. Hyde Park works well with a South Kensington museum day. Kensington Gardens is another favorite if you're staying on the western side of central London.
Kids get room to move around, parents get a break, and everyone gets a reset before the next reservation.
Some of the best moments on a family trip happen during the parts you didn't schedule.
Pick the Right Museum for Your Kids
One of London's biggest family-travel advantages is that you don't have to spend a fortune every time you walk through a museum door. Many of its major museums offer free general admission.
For dinosaur lovers, start with the Natural History Museum.
For kids who want buttons to push and things to interact with, look at the Science Museum.
And for children who are completely fascinated by London's red buses, Tube trains, and transportation, the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden is a fun option.
You don't need to visit all of them.
Choose the one that fits your kids best and leave something for the next trip.
Do the London Eye—But Time It Well
Yes, it's touristy.
I still think it's fun for a first family trip to London.
A full rotation takes about 30 minutes, and from the pods you can spot landmarks across the city.
I especially like incorporating it into a Westminster/South Bank day rather than traveling across London solely to ride it.
Walk through Westminster, see Big Ben, cross the river, and suddenly the London Eye becomes part of the experience rather than another attraction you're racing to reach.
Buckingham Palace + St. James's Park
For a first trip to London, kids should absolutely get their royal London moment.
Walk through St. James's Park toward Buckingham Palace and, if your dates line up, plan around the Changing of the Guard.
But here's where expectations matter.
Young kids probably aren't going to want to stand in one place for ages waiting for the perfect view.
I would rather build the palace into a larger morning exploring Westminster than make your entire day revolve around one ceremony.
Add Something That Feels Like Their London
Not every child is going to care equally about palaces and museums.
Give them one experience that feels like it was chosen specifically for them.
That might be:
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London for a Harry Potter fan
Afternoon tea
Hamleys toy store
A West End musical
The Paddington Bear Experience
A Thames boat ride
A football stadium tour
Shopping for a special souvenir in Covent Garden
Visit London currently highlights the Tower of London, London Eye, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Paddington Bear Experience, London Zoo and several other attractions as popular family choices.
You don't need to do all of them.
One really memorable kid-focused experience is usually better than filling every day with them.
Yes, Kids Can Do Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea isn't automatically an adults-only experience.
For the right child, it can be one of the most memorable parts of London.
The key is choosing the right tea.
A formal, quiet two-hour tea may not be the best choice for a preschooler who has already spent the morning sightseeing. But there are family-friendly and themed options that make the experience much more approachable.
For older kids—especially ones who love dressing up or trying something special—I love the idea of including one beautiful afternoon tea during the trip.
Consider a West End Show
If your children are old enough to comfortably sit through a performance, London's West End is such a fun way to spend an evening.
And it solves another family-travel problem: what do we do after dinner when everyone is too tired for more sightseeing but we're not ready to go back to the hotel?
Choose the show based on your children's ages and interests and make an evening of it.
Dinner, a show, and walking through the lit-up streets of London feels completely different from daytime sightseeing.
Getting Around London With Kids Is Easier Than You Think
The Tube is usually the quickest way to get around, but don't assume it's always the best choice with kids.
Sometimes a bus is easier—and much more entertaining.
Contactless payment and Oyster cards can be used across London's public transportation network, and pay-as-you-go fares are capped.
One particularly nice perk for families: children under 11 can travel free on buses, trams, the Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and some National Rail services when traveling with an eligible fare-paying adult. Up to four children can travel free with one adult. Children ages 11–15 can qualify for discounted visitor fares using an Oyster or Visitor Oyster card with the Young Visitor discount applied.
Cassie's Tip: Don't default to the Tube for every journey. Check the bus route first. If it's only slightly longer, sitting upstairs and watching London go by can be much more enjoyable than navigating another Underground station.
What I Wouldn't Do
I wouldn't schedule three ticketed attractions every day.
I wouldn't choose your hotel based solely on the nightly rate without looking at where it is.
I wouldn't spend every day underground on the Tube when your kids could actually be seeing London from a bus or boat.
And I wouldn't assume you have to choose between a trip that's interesting for the adults and one that's fun for the kids.
You can absolutely have both.
Where Should Families Stay in London?
With kids, I care less about finding the absolute cheapest hotel and more about location.
Being able to walk to dinner, easily get back to the hotel for a break, or reach major sights without multiple train changes can completely change how a London trip feels.
Some of my favorite areas for families include:
Kensington
Great for museums, parks, beautiful neighborhoods, and families who want a slightly calmer home base.
Westminster & Victoria
Convenient for Buckingham Palace, St. James's Park, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.
Covent Garden
Fantastic if you want restaurants, shops, street performers, theaters and lots happening right outside your hotel.
Mayfair & St. James's
A beautiful option for families looking for a more elevated London stay while remaining close to parks, shopping and major sights.
The right neighborhood depends on your children's ages, your sightseeing priorities, and how you like to travel—which is why I don't believe there is one "best" London hotel for every family.
Choosing a Family-Friendly Hotel in London
Here's something I wish more families knew before searching for family-friendly hotels in London:
European hotel rooms don't always work like American hotel rooms.
A room that looks enormous in photos may still have a maximum occupancy of two or three. Two queen beds aren't standard. Connecting rooms may be limited. And fitting a family of four or five into one room can narrow your options considerably.
Don't choose your London hotel based on the prettiest Instagram photo.
Choose it based on how your family actually travels.
If you already know the property you want, I offer complimentary hotel booking and can take care of the reservation for you.
If you know you're going to Londo but have absolutely no idea which hotel works for your family, that's exactly what my Personalized Hotel Lookbook is for.
I'll narrow the options down to three hotels based on your dates, budget, family size and travel style.
London Is a Fantastic First International Trip With Kids
Especially for families traveling from the United States, London is a wonderful introduction to Europe.
There's history everywhere, but it's accessible. Public transportation makes exploring relatively easy. There are plenty of familiar foods when you need them, but also opportunities to introduce kids to something new. And you can balance museums and historic sites with parks, shows, shopping, afternoon tea and experiences they'll genuinely be excited about.
More importantly, London gives families the opportunity to experience a destination together instead of simply moving from one children's attraction to the next.
That's the kind of family travel I love planning.
Planning London With Your Family?
There are a lot of moving pieces to a London trip: choosing the right neighborhood and hotel, deciding which attractions are actually worth your family's time, securing tickets, arranging tours, figuring out transportation, and creating an itinerary that doesn't leave everyone exhausted by day three.
That's where I come in.
I design customized London itineraries around your family—not a generic list of must-sees—so you can experience the iconic parts of London while still traveling at a pace that works for your kids.
Ready to start planning your family's London adventure? Get in touch and let's create a trip that feels effortless, well-planned, and fun for everyone
And if you'd rather hand over the research, hotel decisions, transportation and logistics, I offer custom London vacation planning for families who want a thoughtfully designed trip without spending months figuring it all out themselves.
Meet Cassie
Hi, I’m Cassie, the travel advisor behind Enchanted Travels with Cassie—and a mom of three who has spent a lot of time traveling through Europe with my own kids.
I know firsthand that traveling with children changes the way you experience a destination. The right hotel, a realistic pace, and experiences that keep everyone interested can make the difference between simply getting through a family vacation and genuinely enjoying it.
I help families create thoughtfully planned European vacations that balance the places the adults have been dreaming about with experiences their kids will actually enjoy. From choosing the right neighborhood and family-friendly hotel to coordinating transportation, tours and all the little logistics in between, I take the research off your plate so you can focus on experiencing the trip together.
Planning Europe with your family? I’d love to help.