Our recent family trip to London was packed with adventure, and as a family of five with three kids, we found London had so much to offer! We averaged 26,000 steps a day as we tackled museums, stadiums, playgrounds, and markets, but every step led to a memorable experience. We opted to stay in a spacious apartment near Camden, which meant we had plenty of room to spread out and unwind after long days, making it the perfect and cheaper alternative to a hotel. Here’s a rundown of our three-day itinerary, plus some tried-and-tested tips for making the most of London with kids.
Day 1: Exploring London’s Sights and Sounds
Morning
- 7:15am: We took off from Shannon with Ryanair, arriving at London Stansted in no time. At €240 for all five tickets, it was a great deal—backpacks only, which meant less hassle getting around. Plenty of attractions have coat rooms to drop bags into when out and about.
- 9:00am: After landing, we hopped on the Stansted Express (a return family ticket costs £108). The train takes you to Liverpool Street Station, with a smooth journey that the kids enjoyed watching from the train windows. Worth noting that you can get discounts for London attractions if you buy a Stansted Express ticket, Check out the options here.
- 10:00am: Our first stop: Imperial War Museum which is free to visit. This place has a lot of exhibits designed to make history feel accessible to kids. Lot’s to see and learn and they were running a great workshop on Dazzle ships during our visit. The kids got to design and hide their own paper ships and won a badge each.
- 12:00pm: Lunch was at Wahaca Waterloo, where we all devoured delicious Mexican dishes. I love Wahaca – the food is great and reasonably priced and the kids are nachos fanatics so happy heads all round.
Afternoon
- 1:30pm: After refueling, we ventured over to the Sea Life Aquarium. Watching the kids press their noses against the tanks and gasp at the sharks and jellyfish was priceless. The aquarium can get quite busy and it’s an expensive spot to visit. Worth keeping an eye on boxes of Kelloggs cerals for discounts. You can also get discounted tickets for entry later in the day with Stansted Express/Train Tickets.
- Afternoon Playtime: We hit up the playground and skatepark at Southbank close to the aquarium for a much-needed break. Letting the kids burn off energy and meet other children before moving onto our next activity.
- 4:00pm: Next up was the Paddington Bear Experience. As Paddington fans, our kids loved every second of it, especially with Paddington himself there to “meet” them. It’s a really fun and engaging experience. We didn’t really know what to expect but honestly we all absolutely loved it.
- 5:30pm: Dinner was at Strada Southbank, conveniently located near the Paddington Experience. Italian food is always a winner with my kids , and it was so nice to relax and recap the highlights of the day.
- 7:15pm: We ended the day with breathtaking views at Sky Garden. You can prebook your tickets a few weeks in advance and it’s free! We got to enjoy amazing views of the city and different landmarks all lit up, from the 35th floor.
Day 2: From Football Fans to Bubble Magic
Morning
- 8:30am: We started the day with a hearty breakfast at Double J’s Café. Their pancakes and eggs benedict were perfect fuel for a busy day.
- 10:15am: The Wembley Stadium Tour was a major hit, especially for our football-loving crew! The behind-the-scenes peek at the stadium, player dressing rooms, and the pitch itself left the kids in awe. You can get 2 for 1 tickets for the Wembley Stadium tour if you travel by train/Stansted Express – more details here.
Afternoon
- 12:45pm: From there, it was on to Bubble Planet, a sensory wonderland that had all the kids (and adults) completely captivated. With neon bubbles, interactive experiences, and lots of photo ops, it was the highlight of our trip! You can use the discount code BUBBLELON15 for 15% off your tickets.
- 3:00pm: Lunch was at TGI Fridays Wembley, where the kids loved the food and decor, and we enjoyed some much-needed sit-down time.
- 4:30pm: Next we headed to Hamleys on Regent Street the world-famous toy shop. Be ready for sensory overload, it was insanely busy making it difficult to move around and see things. Mindful we did visit on half-term – but to be honest we enjoyed our visit to the toy floor in Harrod’s a lot more.
- 6:30pm: We had Dinner with family in Camden Town which was the perfect way to wind down. Camden’s food scene is eclectic and vibrant, and you’ll be spoilt for choice. We ate in Peron No4 which was a Mediterranean style restaurant with lots of mezze plates and fish and it was delicious.
Day 3: London Museums, Markets, and More
Morning
- 9:30am: We kicked off our last day at Camden Market. The colorful stalls are a feast for the eyes, and we found great little souvenirs for the kids to take home.
- 10:45am: From Camden, we headed to the Natural History Museum, where the dinosaur exhibits stole the show! It’s a good spot to visit particularly with older kids. Tickets are free so make sure to book them in advance to avoid long queues.
- 12:15pm: Right next door is the Science Museum, where we had a blast exploring interactive exhibits and getting hands-on with science. Tickets are also free and can be booked in advance ahead of your visit.
Afternoon
- 1:30pm: Lunch at Big Ferdinand South Kensington is a short walk from the museum and potentially the best burger I’ve ever eaten. Highly recommend.
- 2:15pm: A quick trip to Harrods was a treat for all of us. Even if we didn’t buy much, the kids loved seeing the themed rooms, iconic escalators and the toy floor was really great.
- 3:00pm: For our last activity, we headed to Hyde Park for boating and playground time. The kids’ playground was a relaxing spot for them to run around before our travel home. We hired a pedalo for the five of us for 30 minutes for £27.
- 4:00pm: We caught the tube from Knightsbridge to Liverpool Street, which was a 30-minute journey. The London Underground is easy with kids—those under 11 travel free, and adults can tap on and off with a debit or Revolut card, so no need for an Oyster card.
- 4:40pm: From Liverpool Street, we hopped back on the Stansted Express and arrived with time to spare before our 7:30pm Ryanair flight back to Shannon. Just like that, we were home, exhausted andhappy.
Where We Stayed: A Family-Friendly Apartment Near Camden
For a family of five, staying in a spacious apartment near Camden turned out to be the best decision. With three bedrooms, it offered plenty of room for the kids to unwind after a full day of sightseeing, and having a kitchen meant we could prepare snacks and breakfasts without heading out. Much better value than booking two hotel rooms, this setup gave us the comfort and flexibility we needed. Plus, being in Camden was ideal—we were close to the market, tube stations, and so many restaurants.
Tips for Traveling with Kids in London:
- Make Use of Free Tube Travel for Kids: Children under 11 ride the London Underground for free, so getting around the city with kids doesn’t have to break the bank. Adults can tap on and off with a debit or Revolut card, or an Oyster card.
- Plan for Breaks and Play Areas: London can be busy, and kids need time to recharge. Find playgrounds and green spaces like Hyde Park, or break for snacks and people-watching at spots like Southbank.
- Booking Attractions: London attractions can be pricy, so look into discounts. The Stansted Express offers discounted rates to several attractions when you purchase a ticket here.
- Pace Your Day: Having an itinerary helps to keep everyone on track and avoids aimless wandering around which tires kids out. We averaged around 26,000 steps daily, so mixing structured activities with downtime was key. I made little keyrings with a London Underground map and our itinerary for each of my kids to attach to their backpacks which were really useful. You can download a copy of the map here.
- Pack Light: With backpacks only, we were able to move more freely and quickly. London has plenty of shops for essentials if you need them, so no need to overpack. It also meant we didn’t need to stop off at our accommodation on arrival, meaning we had more time to explore the sights! We packed our Yoto Mini Players to keep kids entertained in airports/plane/trains. Don’t forget to pack lollipops for kids to help when their ears pop on the plane.
It was a busy but incredibly fun and memorable trip. If you’re planning your own trip with kids, I hope you find this useful. Having a plan and booking attractions in advance makes things cheaper and avoids long queues with kids. Happy planning!
*The Paddington Bear Experience and Bubble Planet were PR invites. I was under no obligation to post about either – all views and opinions are my own. Both experiences were wonderfully setup for families and we would without a doubt return to both.
