London: our first FRAMILY trip
- akhilapamula
- Sep 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 22
London has often acted as our gateway to Europe. We've taken many trips where our transatlantic haul would be through London, using it as an excuse for an extended layover at either the beginning or end of our journey. As a result, it’s a city that feels familiar, yet never fails to surprise. This time, we were wrapping up our long European summer, which kicked off in Ireland and included an extended stay in Sintra, Portugal, before heading to London. What made it even more special was that we were playing tour guides for our close friends, Rob and Lisa (whom we spent time with in Ireland) and Josh and Ellie (who we met up with in Portugal).
Between the three couples, we had four kids in tow. That’s a total of six adults and four kids, ranging from 19 months to 7 years old. Keeping everyone sane and entertained was definitely a tall order; kids, as it turns out, get bored fairly quickly. Looking at big buildings and historical sites probably doesn’t mean much when you’re three, and listening to a history lesson when you’re seven can get tedious real quick.
Kid-Friendly Museums
If you have to pick a museum, the British Museum is definitely one of the more kid-friendly options. When you enter through the neoclassical entry cascade and into the Great Court, you are met with a massive open space that showcases a modern glass and steel roof, spiraling in concert with a sweeping marble staircase. I swear, Jai and the older boys would have been happy just running around this space! The exhibits, especially the ones featuring ancient Egyptian artifacts, are actually interesting for older kids. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see a real mummy?
Parks and Playgrounds
But like I said, you’re gonna have a rough trip if you’re trying to drag kids from one museum or landmark to another. Luckily, London boasts some of the most beautiful and expansive parks I’ve ever seen. And there are so many of them! The big ones in central London include Regent's Park (home to the London Zoo), Hyde Park (probably one of the most famous parks in the world due to its sheer size and associated music venue), Kensington Gardens (which is actually connected to Hyde Park), and St. James's Park (in the heart of government, bordered by Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace, Downing Street, and Westminster Abbey).
Every neighborhood has its own green space, each with its own charm, giving kids and adults a chance to enjoy the outdoors and escape the city. Perhaps the most impressive kid’s park I’ve ever been to is the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground. Nestled in a corner of Kensington Gardens, among lush trees and greenery, this is a kid’s paradise! The centerpiece is a large wooden ship surrounded by a sea of sand, complete with ladders, nets, and everything in between to spark a kid’s imagination. There’s even a large fountain and interactive water play feature that Jai LOVED. We didn’t even have time to find the swings or play teepees. Just a heads up: you have to have a kid with you to enter; there’s a manned gate, and they won’t let you through without a child in tow.
A Self-Guided Walking Tour
To showcase the big sites of London, we have a self-guided walking tour that one of our good friends created for us the first time we visited, almost a decade ago. What makes it interesting isn’t just seeing the sites; it involves all different modes of transportation: taking the tube and/or bus, crossing bridges, and cruising on boats. It breaks up what could be a monotonous day with everything a little boy would want to do.
We started by taking the tube to just outside of Millennium Bridge, which allowed the boys to experience running across the main pedestrian bridge in London. From there, we walked by the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare’s work was first presented to a broad audience, and made a pit stop at the Golden Hinde, a full-scale replica of Sir Francis Drake’s famous ship that circumnavigated the globe. They even have a pirate experience that is every kid’s dream!
Just as everyone started getting hungry, we made our way to Borough Market. Here, you can snack on everything from buttery croissants and flaky hand pies to fresh pasta and paella.
After successfully avoiding hangry meltdowns, we continued our walk along the Thames to Tower Bridge, the iconic blue Victorian-Gothic style bridge that is often mistakenly called the London Bridge (which is far less interesting). Once you cross, you can see the famous royal jewels and learn about the macabre history at the Tower of London. Instead of walking towards the next royal stops, we hopped on an Uber Boat (yes, Uber has boats now) to see London from the water. It offers one of the best views of Parliament and the famous London Eye. You get off at the steps of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, so be prepared for a barrage of people.
Escape the crowds by walking through nearby St. James's Park, where you can enjoy the manicured greens and gardens, feeling as if the city is miles away. We had a little picnic here, picking up some amazing to-go food (and beer) at Inn the Park restaurant. Once everyone had been fed and watered, it was a short walk over to Buckingham Palace. By this point, it was nap time, and the kids were done. You can obviously tube back easily, but if you’re really in a time crunch, you can pick up a traditional London cab. Interesting to note: car seats are actually not required within the city of London if you’re using a traditional cab.
Accommodations and Dining
Now I’ll come out and say it: London in the summer is pricey for accommodations. It’s the best shot at having clear and sunny days, so I get it. We had ten people and, at minimum, needed five bedrooms so that everyone could actually sleep. We could have all easily gotten hotel rooms, but since we all wanted to hang out after the boys went to bed and didn’t feel like splurging on suites, we rented a house through Airbnb. It worked out wonderfully! We had a kitchen for making breakfast and cooking if someone was being picky one day. Plus, we had multiple living spaces to keep things interesting for the boys. When someone was having a meltdown, it felt a little less onerous and embarrassing since we were amongst friends and not strangers.
When it comes to dining in London, there’s no shortage of options. From fast food to fine dining, London has it all. This trip, we needed to please four kids with varying levels of pickiness, as well as six adults who enjoy food like it’s their job. As odd as it sounds, going to a pub is likely to appease everyone. For better or worse, pub dining has become more streamlined, with franchises buying out many institutions because owning an independent pub is now so difficult. In fact, in the last decade, almost 1,000 pubs have closed. Fuller’s and Young’s are the two most common chains I saw, but at least each pub still maintains its unique flair despite being under one umbrella.
Pub dining, while not fancy, will always have fan favorites like fish and chips and bangers and mash. For the kids, you can’t go wrong with macaroni and cheese or a toastie. Our favorite fish and chips in London is at The Victoria in Paddington, and their sticky toffee pudding is still worth every calorie.
The Best Indian Food in London
One would be remiss not to mention the Indian food in London. Quite simply, it’s the best. And on that note, you have to go to Dishoom. With 10 (!) locations, there’s no excuse to miss it. I still salivate when I think about the black daal and paav bhaji, and I’m very jealous that New York City is going to be blessed by their presence soon.
Conclusion: A Timeless Adventure
London is an amazing city with so much to see and do. We’ve been back many times, but it never bores us, and we always find something new with each visit. This time, we got to revisit the classics and do so through the eyes of a child. And man, was that a trip!
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