Despite popular misconception, a family day trip or vacation does not have to be stressful, even when visiting busy cities such as London.
In fact, with some good planning, you’ll find the entire trip a breeze, meaning that you’ll be able to focus on what matters the most: spending quality time with those you love.
With that in mind, here are some useful tips for planning a family-friendly trip to London!
Arrive early.
While your kids may grumble a little about waking up early, the earlier you arrive in London, the more time you will have to explore. Furthermore, this means that you can maintain their usual bedtime/sleep schedule by ensuring you arrive at the hotel at a reasonable time each evening!
If you arrive too early to check in to your accommodation, do not make the mistake of trying to lug your bags and suitcases around with you for the day. After all, this will make everything from getting on the tube to visiting attractions a lot more difficult. Instead, store your bags at Kings Cross lockers. Not only does this save you a lot of hassle, but you’ll also be able to relax knowing that your belongings are stored safely and securely while you head out on your adventures.
Put together an itinerary.
While putting together an itinerary can be time-consuming, it’s one of the easiest ways to make the most of your time in the big city. After all, it means that you can tick everything off your bucket list and follow the most strategic route from place to place.
This way, you aren’t zig-zagging across London, wasting time on unnecessary tube journeys. This also helps when travelling with younger children, as you can minimise the amount of time they spend walking by figuring out the most convenient way to get from A to B – remember, children aged 10 and under can travel on the underground for free.
When putting together an itinerary, start by writing down a list of everything you want to do or see during your trip. Popular kid-friendly destinations include:
- London Zoo
- The Natural History Museum
- The Science Museum
- The London Eye
- Shrek’s Adventure!
- London Aquarium
Pack plenty of snacks.
While there’s no shortage of places to eat in London, whether you’re looking for a sit-down meal or a quick bite, having snacks on hand is also essential. It ensures that everyone has enough energy to get through your itinerary each day and can help reduce the amount of times you hear “I’m hungry” between meals.
On a similar note, if you are travelling on a budget, keep an eye out for restaurants and eateries that allow kids to eat for free when an adult pays for a main course, such as the Real Greek (Sundays only), Cafe Rouge, and Purezza.
Watch a matinee show.
There’s nothing quite like live theatre, and if you are wanting to introduce your children to the arts, there’s no better place to do it than in London. However, as most shows start later in the evening (around 7-7.30 pm) and finish rather late, the timing isn’t always ideal for younger children. Fortunately, this does not mean that a theatre trip is out of the question, as you can simply catch a matinee instead.
Matinee or afternoon performances tend to take place on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays, though this can vary depending on which show you are seeing. Again, there are a wide range of shows to choose from, but some of the best options for children include:
- Frozen the Musical
- The Lion King
- Matilda the Musical
If you’re willing to take a chance, try waiting until the day to book your tickets using the Today Tix app. At 10 am, they release a set number of available tickets for just £25. Alternatively, you may be able to get a great deal by visiting the box office directly!
Be prepared to take breaks.
City breaks are a marathon, not a sprint. While you may have crammed as many activities into your itinerary as possible, you should be willing to take breaks when your kids need them. Otherwise, you’ll feel tired and burned out and will no longer be having fun – which is the whole point of the trip.
There are plenty of places to take a quick break during your trip. For example, you could stop for a picnic at one of London’s parks or greenspaces, or even head back to your hotel for a quick nap!
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