London with a Family

London with a Family

Travelling to London with a family may sound intimidating, especially if you have never travelled with kids in Europe before. But the truth is, London and European cities in general are quite family friendly. With an extensive and convenient network of public transportation, an amazing number of parks and green spaces for blowing off steam, and family friendly activities all over the city, you’ll find that London with a family is no different than any other family vacation in terms of convenience and variety.

Family Activities in London

The quickest and easiest way to entertain the kids in London is spreading out a blanket in one of their many parks and allowing them to run around, free as birds. Long days of structured sightseeing can take a toll on your kids attitude and willingness to behave, so preparing a midday picnic is a great way to let them blow off some steam and you to regroup before the sightseeing continues in the afternoon.

Hyde Park and Regent Park are two of the most popular and centrally located parks in the city. If you forget your blanket, you can rent lawn chairs at Hyde Park and the grass goes on and on. Another great stop is Kensington Gardens, where you can glimpse one of the most famous statues in London: Peter Pan. This is the most quintessential family activity in the books, so be sure to stop by and say hello to Peter.

If your kids need a little more structured stimulation, a visit to the Mudlarks exhibit at the Museum of London Docklands is a fun way for them to learn about the importance of the River Thames to the city of London. You just might learn something too!

And for kids that are a bit older and on the braver side, a visit to the London Dungeon is a great opportunity for kids to learn the gruesome history of medieval London.

Family Hotels in London

Many hotels in London cater to families, and as long as you’re not staying in a 5-star luxury accommodation, it’s safe to assume that your hotel staff will be very flexible in accommodating your family. Rollaway beds are commonly available, and some hotels will let a certain number of children stay for free when using existing beds. There are a number of family hotels in London that will make your stay comfortable and enjoyable for all members of the family. You’ll be sure to find a family friendly accommodation in any part of the city and at any price range.

Family Restaurants in London

Frankie and Benny’s is one of the most family friendly restaurants in London. Even though it’s a chain, these fun little restaurants serve up some surprisingly delicious traditional English meals, and are especially famous for their English breakfast. They have a great children’s menu filled with child friendly versions of classic meals, and best of all, the food is pretty cheap by London standards.

Even more family friendly is the line of Giraffe establishments in London. English classics as well as meals with a twist are served up for all three meals of the day. The fun, colourful atmosphere is great for kids, and the wide selection of pizzas, sandwiches, and burgers is the best way to ensure that everyone in the family will find what they’re looking for.

The original Giraffe was so successful that a series of establishments were opened, including the Giraffe Bar & Grill, the Giraffe Cafe, and Giraffe: Burgers and Cocktails. So no matter the time of day and how picky your kids tend to be, any of these places are great for a cheap and flexible meal.

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