London Itinerary

 

Immerse yourself in history and your children’s favorite stories! Travel down the paths of royalty and visit the sites where famous and infamous historical moments occurred. Explore the places that inspired some of our favorite childhood stories like Harry Potter, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Paddington, Mary Poppins, Robin Hood and King Arthur.

London is the perfect destination for your family’s first international trip, and it’s much closer than you’d think! With direct flights from New York and Boston less than 6 hours long, it’s extremely manageable for kids. Most flights are red eyes so you may even be able to get children to sleep for most of the flight. And to top it off, you won’t have to worry about much of a language barrier.

Day One: Arrival 

Arriving in London! If you are coming from the East Coast you will most likely take a red eye and land first thing in the morning. Take it easy today as you adjust to the time difference. 

Personally, I like to get tickets for the Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour. Just enjoy riding it around the city, get your bearings, and if you’re not experiencing jet lag, hop off and see an attraction or two. 

Day Two: westminister abbey and convent garden

Start the day at Westminster Abbey, take some photos at Big Ben and walk down the mall to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guards, which takes place daily at 11:30. 

Let the kids blow off some steam in St. James Park before grabbing lunch and visiting the Churchill War Rooms (for older children) or the Queen’s Horse Guards (for the little ones). 

After a refresh at the hotel, if you and your kids have more touring in you, check out the London Transportation Museum. It is located in Covent Garden, a great place to shop and have dinner. If you’re theater lovers, get tickets to a show in the West End.

Day Three: Tours, museum of london, and st. paul’s cathedral

Take a themed walking tour of the city depending on your interests. There are tours for Jack the Ripper, The Beatles and, of course, Harry Potter. 

After lunch, spend time in the Museum of London, where you can view a collection of over a million objects of a thousand years’ worth of London history. From the prehistoric and Roman discoveries found in London, items include antlers and pottery from the Stone Ages as well as Bronze Age weapons. 

Visit or at least walk by the nearby and iconic St. Paul’s Cathedral. Have dinner in Piccadilly Circus and visit Hamley’s Toy Store.

Day Four: Greenwich 

A Greenwich day trip takes you “out” of London – but not really. It feels like a small community within a stone’s throw of London that still gives you a different perspective on the city. You can take the tube, a taxi, or if you didn’t get a chance yesterday, a cruise down the River Thames. 

The biggest attractions by far in Greenwich are the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Prime Meridian. Kids will love exploring The Cutty Sark, a British clipper ship built in 1869. Grab lunch at Trafalgar Tavern or the food stalls at Greenwich Market. 

Spending the afternoon at Greenwich Park is perfect for your imaginative kids. The Park playground has a lovely nautical theme, with innovative water installations to provide a summery feel. Older kids will love the nearby Zipline and Adventure Park. 

Day Five: Tower of London and Southbank

Start the day at the Tower of London. When I lived in London, it was my favorite place to take visiting family. There is something interesting for everyone. Inside the Tower of London you will discover a royal palace, extensive armory, and a formidable fort. 

After your visit, walk over the Tower Bridge and head towards Southbank. A popular haunt in London, Southbank is one of the best areas in London that’s just perfect for a stroll. Follow the promenade on the bank of the Thames and stop off at all the joints that strike your fancy and grab something to eat at the famous Borough Market. 

Take a cruise up the River Thames ending at the London eye where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Day Six: day trip 

Today, take another opportunity to get out of the city. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, take the train from King’s Cross (Platform 9 ¾ of course!) for the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. 

If you love royal history you can visit Henry VIII’s Hampton Court. Kids will love the 300 year old maze and amazing play area with their huge Magic Garden adventure playground. Kew Gardens is over 300 stunning acres of breathtaking botanical garden with an interactive Children’s Garden, bee hive experience, and Treetop adventure. 

For something more cerebral consider Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury, or head down to Brighton for a day at the beach.

Upon return to London, you could take an evening trip over to Harrods department store to see the iconic location.

Day Seven: Kensington

Kensington is one of London’s most scenic neighborhoods. There are elegant rows of pretty white Victorian houses, plenty of leafy parks, and the most lovely little cafés and local restaurants. 

Fuel up with a full English breakfast at one before you start touring Kensington und, many sections are inspired by the stories of Peter Pan that were written in the park. 

Make a reservation for afternoon tea, there are many options in the area from traditional at the Royal Albert Hall to the epically themed events at Ampersand. 

A good night always begins or ends with a stop at the pub, and for a perfect day in Kensington, you can’t go wrong with the Churchill Arms on Kensington Church Street.

Day Eight: Regent’s Park and Departure 

If you have time before your flight, head over to Regent’s Park where you will find the Queen’s Rose Garden, Sherlock Holmes Museum, Madame Tussauds and the London Zoo. 

With even more time I would recommend adding a few days in Windsor, where you can visit the castle, and spend a day at Legoland.

 

Need a vacation but the idea of planning-it-all is overwhelming?

If you are ready to have the family vacation you’ve been dreaming of, without spending time researching, planning and making it happen, schedule a call today. I’m here to help busy working Moms plan, organize and book the perfect family vacation. With me, all you have to worry about is enjoying your well-earned time away with your family. If you are ready to stop trying to do everything on your own and see how I can help you schedule a complimentary trip planning session now.

 

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