By Megan Tucker
Hotels
We love the Bloomsbury area. It’s walkable to many central sites and well-situated next to Kings Cross/Euston for broader train travel. The best location we’ve personally stayed at is what is now the Kimpton Fitzroy, right on Russell Square. There’s also a Holiday Inn adjacent to the Brunswick Centre which has a grocery store, pharmacy, and a few good restaurants. But we haven’t stayed there.
Tips and Advice
The Tube stations are clearly marked if they’re handicapped accessible (and thus easy with strollers) from street to platform. There is a spot on buses to leave strollers as well. You don’t technically need a photo Oystercard for your child, as they’re free up to a certain age, but got one for my 6 year old (need to order ahead of time and set a day for pick up) and it’s a nice souvenir.
Things To Do
Transport Museum, Cadbury World, and the many playgrounds were where we had the most fun!
Photographer recommendations for a family photoshoot
We used Luis Arturo through AirBnB experiences in January 2019. He was great with my son.
Family-friendly Itineraries
Trip 1 (early October with a young kid):
- Playground and toy store hopping
- Transport Museum and high tea at Chesterfield Mayfair (they do a great kid’s option)
- Princess Diana Playground, shopping at Hamley’s and along Oxford Street, our neighborhood playground in the evening
- Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Westfield Stratford Mall for shopping and food
- Spitalfields Market and Tower of London
- Covent Garden, London Eye and adjacent playground and Boat Tour with London Pier River Cruises
- Harrod’s and the Natural History Museum, shopping and food in Angel
- Cadbury World (train Euston – Bourneville with change at Birmingham)
Trip 2 (Over New Years with a grade school-age kid):
- Lights of Carnaby and Soho plus Hamley’s
- Snacks at Borough Market, St. James Park and Buckingham Palace, tea at Chesterfield Mayfair, lights at Kew Gardens
- Shopping at Harrods and Science Museum, Christmas at Leicester Square and dinner in Soho
- Brunch in an “igloo” at Coppa Club Tower Hill, walking the West Bank (Big Ben, London Eye/playground); Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
- Eurostar day trip to Paris
- Covent Garden for Transport Museum and shopping; dinner at Duck and Waffle above London
Where To Eat
Belgo (we like the Central location), Duck and Waffle, Chesterfield Mayfair (for tea), Pizza Express and Wagamama.
Helpful Local Apps
Citymapper was excellent to get from place to place.
Why London?
There is so much to do in London and its surrounds, that you can’t possibly take it all in during one, two or even a half dozen trips! While that choice can be overwhelming, it’s such an approachable city that you can conquer neighborhoods at a time and move your way across town and the region over time, tailoring to your family’s interests! Going at different points of the year is fun too with all the seasonal activities.
About the Author
Megan Tucker blogs about her family travels on her own website. Check out her posts about London here.