The Handy Stuff

Everything You Need To Know About Planning a Family Trip to London

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Let’s face it, going away with the family is great, but – my god – it can be stressful at times. From sorting travel plans and keeping the kids occupied (iPad, packet of crisps – jobs a good’un) to knowing where’s actually worth a visit. It’s all, well, a lot.

Luckily, we’ve got the knowledge and experience to guide you to a more organised, relaxing and (most importantly) FUN family trip to London. Need to know where to stay? Gotcha. What to do there? Oh yes. Can we help you save cash with cool offers? Absolutely.

Enough rambling, let’s get stuck in.


Where to stay in London with kids

Unless you’re bringing a tent (good luck trying to pitch it in Hyde Park), you’ll need somewhere decent to stay in London.

Everyone loves staying in a (good) hotel, and there are some great options in London that go the extra mile for kids. Mayfair’s Athenaeum has a special kids’ concierge to make them feel at home by pre-arranging their favourite movies and treats. Make’s getting cosy in your family room or apartment much easier.

Prefer being amongst the action? The Safari Hotel at Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a stone’s throw away. Plus, you can have brekkie while watching animals like lions, tigers and giraffes.

Airbnb is a good option for families too – you can book an entire place to yourself (read: more space).


What to do in London with kids

You’re never going to be short of options in London, that’s for sure – squeezing it all in (and making sure everyone is happy) is the hard part. Luckily, there are some real crowd pleasers that the whole family will love.

The London Eye is a no-brainer really with amazing views of the city’s most famous sights in one fell swoop (well, as long as it’s not too cloudy). Each rotation is only thirty minutes too, so you don’t need to worry about boredom-induced tantrums.

Shrek’s Adventure! London is a solid choice for keeping younger kids entertained. They’ll see all their favourite characters from the films, like Donkey (who’ll be driving a 4D flying magic bus) and Puss in Boots (the Poison Apple pub’s number one punter).

Got a Marvel fan in tow? Madame Tussauds London is the only spot to get selfies with the likes of Black Panther, Thor and Spiderman (great for the family photo album), and they’ll love Marvel Universe 4D experience. Alien Escape and Kong: Skull Island are not to be missed either. Look out for other stars including Beyonce and (selected members of) the Royal Family.


How to save money on a trip to London with children

A trip to the capital doesn’t have to break the bank – and saving money doesn’t have to mean missing out.

Opt for accommodation that has use of a kitchen (Airbnb is your best friend here) so that you can prepare a packed lunch for your day out and, if you wanted to, cook in the evenings. You’ll save a small fortune on eating out.

Get a good deal on tickets too. A Merlin’s Magical London Pass saves you cash on tickets for attractions like the ones we’ve mentioned, as well as the likes of London Dungeon and SEA LIFE London. It’s a combo ticket that includes your favourite spots and means you can save up to 50% compared to booking tickets individually.


Free things to do in London with kids

The best things in life are free – and some of the best in London are too. The British Museum has Egyptian mummies and the Rosetta Stone. The Natural History Museum has a massive T-Rex and an earthquake simulator. And Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross station is a mandatory selfie spot for Harry Potter fans. Find out more ways to save some cash in the capital.


There you go – the perfect London staycation sorted. Send us a selfie wherever you go.

Read our ultimate guide to the best days out in London and find all of our family days out


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