London With Kids: Our Favorite Places, Best Bites, and Where to Stay

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly international trip that’s equal parts exciting and approachable, London may be a great fit! The city is packed with incredible museums, beautiful parks, creative dining, and amazing places to stay. It felt like the perfect mix of adventure and ease, with enough comfort and familiarity to make travel smooth, but plenty of magic to make it memorable.

Here’s how we made the most of our time in London (and what we’d recommend to other families):

Our Favorite Hotel Stay: The Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington

This charming small hotel instantly won us over. Located just steps from the Natural History Museum and a quick walk to Hyde Park, The Ampersand Hotel was a perfect home base for exploring the city with kids.

Rooms are playfully themed. You’ll find nods to music, botany, ornithology, geometry, and astronomy throughout the hotel. When we arrived, the kids were greeted with child-sized robes, cozy slippers, and triceratops-shaped hot chocolate. Safe to say, they were hooked.

In addition to incredible afternoon tea options, Apero, one of the hotel’s restaurants, impressed each morning with its delicious pastries and full English breakfast.

Afternoon Tea With a Jurassic Twist

The Ampersand’s Jurassic Afternoon Tea was one of the standout experiences of our trip. This wasn’t your traditional dainty setup, it was science-meets-dessert with just the right amount of theater.

The kids sipped hot chocolate while I enjoyed tea and a Jurassic-themed cocktail course (delicious, and maybe necessary). Everything arrived in a swirl of fog, making for some exciting “science magic.” The kids got to excavate chocolate “fossils,” drizzle sauce from test tubes, and stack their plates with themed treats.

Highlights:
– The little one devoured the unlimited “fancy hot dogs”, and asked for another round
– The older one sampled every treat, and afterwards we had plenty to satisfy his sweet tooth for days
– Mom stole the scones and the passionfruit curd (no regrets, these were truly eye opening for me!)

Even if you’re not staying at The Ampersand, this tea is well worth it and should be booked in advance.

Hyde Park & The Princess Diana Playground

One of our favorite places to unwind was Hyde Park. Just minutes from the hotel, it somehow manages to feel a world away from the city, with birds singing, trees swaying, and no traffic noise in sight. It became our go-to green space for breaks between busier stops.

The kids’ favorite part? The Princess Diana Memorial Playground, which features a giant wooden pirate ship in the center. We enjoyed hours exploring this playground and the interesting play areas surrounding it.

Tastes of Borough Market

Calling all foodies: The Borough Market is a must. It’s on the southern edge of the London Bridge and packed with everything from gourmet snacks to street food treasures. We came hungry and still didn’t have room to try everything on our must-eat list.

As someone from the US Midwest, the history of this market is humbling and impressive! Vendors have been gathering in this spot for around 1,000 years.

Our top bites:
– Bao buns from BAO Borough (soft, savory, simply perfect)
– A flaky, rich sausage roll from The Ginger Pig
– The paella that looked incredible, but we were simply too full (next time, we’re coming with backup stomachs, but I still have to recommend it here based on what we heard from others)

A Whole Day at the Natural History Museum

One of our biggest (and best) surprises in London? How much we loved the Natural History Museum. We spent an entire day there, and honestly, we could’ve gone for two or three. From the iconic dinosaur skeletons to the hands-on science exhibits and stunning architecture, it kept all of us engaged for hours. There’s truly something for every age and interest, and best of all - admission is free! It was just steps from our hotel in South Kensington, and an absolute must if you’re visiting London with kids. If visiting from another neighborhood or during a short trip, visit the museum early, follow it with a mid-afternoon tea at Apero or one of the other locations offered at the Ampersand, and finish your day with a stroll through Hyde Park.

Sightseeing & Unexpected Joys

We checked off the big names: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and it was so cool to see these iconic places. But our favorite moments came from the less crowded corners.

We enjoyed a visit to Abbey Road, mostly for my son Jude, who naturally picked out a “Hey Jude” music box at the nearby gift shop. The area is quiet and residential, but it’s a short walk from the Tube station and easy to find thanks to the small crowd gathered for photos. We waited our turn and got the classic crosswalk shot. Barefoot posing was discussed and vetoed.

Other highlights came from simply strolling the streets, where we enjoyed unexpected parks, snacks, friendly encounters, and art. On a trip to London or anywhere else, don’t forget to leave room for the unexpected to happen!

Bonus Stay: Canary Wharf

We spent a few nights in Canary Wharf, and honestly, it was a pleasant surprise. It’s not typically on a first-time London itinerary or any list of tourism hot spots, but it gave us a whole different view of the city with its modern buildings, corporate vibe, waterside walks, art installations, and amazing food.

While the area leans more business and adult-focused, there were still great parks, open spaces, and family-friendly sights. Plus, with easy Tube access and in some cases affordable accommodations, it could be worth considering for its different perspective or a possible deal on a roomy suite (which attracted us to this spot this time around!)

Final Thoughts

London delivered way more than we expected. We got the big sights and iconic landmarks, but it was the pirate ships, science-themed sweets, and quiet neighborhood moments that made it truly special.

If you're planning a London adventure with kids, we’d love to help make it incredible! Reach out to get started.