London, England (Kara Schwabauer)
We ended up buying my son a scooter on the first day in London and he used it everywhere... Many kids his age and older are on scooters, so we felt a little bit like a local.
- More about your oliver guide: Kara Schwabauer
- Trip type: Family, City
- Activity level: easy
- Ideal length of trip: 4-5 DAYS
to & from
- Red eye direct from Newark, United Airlines. We traveled with our little ones, 18 month old daughter and 3 1/2 year old son.
- While there, Uber or tube (my son loved the tube). Uber is so easy and inexpensive in Europe.
Where to Stay
We stayed with friends in Chiswick, darling city in west London.
Where to Eat and Drink
- The Ledbury in Notting Hill. World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017. Superb! Very fun and attentive staff, felt like we had known them forever! 6 or 8 course set menu, presentation was everything and beyond! Food was amazing, the oyster(s) were the best of the best!
- Beach Blanket Babylon in Notting Hill. Very cozy, good lighting, fun cocktails, try the Porn Star Martini.
- Blue Boat in west London, riverside. Upscale pub food, perfect for kids, good craft beers. Great views of the river and fun to walk around after.
- Shack Shake-Covent Garden, because burgers and fries are always a good idea!
What to Do
- London Eye: Good way to see the city from above, you can get some great pictures. Buy tickets online, line is quick and efficient.
- Transport Museum of London (Covent Garden)-Best museum for little ones, especially those that love trains and buses. Very hands on, each child gets a map upon entering that they need to punch at various parts of the museum along the way.
- Diana Memorial Playground-huge pirate ship on sand with many nooks and crannies to explore inside. Very safe, only able to enter with a child, families everywhere, pack a picnic! Great slides and a water area on warmer days.
inside scoop
- We ended up buying my son a scooter on the first day in London and he used it everywhere, gave him a sense of freedom instead of being in a double stroller with his sister. Many kids his age and older are on scooters, so we felt a little bit like a local.
- When traveling with little kids plan one activity a day, otherwise it's too much pressure.
- Wander-we stopped at almost every playground we saw. Eat like a local-grab a cookie or croissant at the local bakeries.
skip it
We were limited because of small kids that still nap in the afternoon, but we had no expectations!
more...
We have loads of London guides for pub crawlers, culture seekers, history buffs and royalty followers.
Find Alice Johnson’s guide here.
Find Sterling Boyd’s (adults who like pubs!) guide here.
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