There is no denying that London is great for grown-ups, whether you are on a romantic hotel break with the hubby or a weekend of shopping and Champagne with the girls.
But did you know London is also the PERFECT destination for a fun-filled family break?
This busy, bustling mega-city lies only a short little flight away from home, and yet when it comes to the share selection of things to see, do, eat, shop and experience, London really is a world away.
It can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out exactly HOW you are going to chose between everything that London has to offer (you are not going to have enough time to do it all, anyway, so you might as well just go ahead and book that second trip already). But if you are traveling with littles in tow, here are some things you just cannot miss:
1. Climb a skyskraper at the Clip’n’Climb
Clip ’n Climb in Chelsea is a colourful landscape of specially designed climbing walls suitable for various ages and levels of ability. Completely safe for beginners, with challenges including ‘The Skyscraper’, ‘Jungle Gym’ and ‘Vertical Drop Slide’, this is a brilliant place for restless little monkeys to gain confidence clambering, climbing and dropping.
2. Make and discover at the Science Museum
No one’s too young (or old) to get a kick out of a visit here. Icons of science (Stephenson’s Rocket locomotive, Crick and Watson’s DNA model) are treated with due respect, but this place couldn’t be less stuffy with its games, simulators and interactive exhibits. The jewel in its crown is Launchpad, where 50 hands-on exhibits and experiments keep kids agog; here, they can make a rainbow or take a dizzying turn on the rotation station.
3. Sleep with dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum
You can actually now spend the night at the museum (yeah, like the movie!) as part of their Dino Snores adventure. Wow.
4. Explore the world KidZania
KidZania at Westfield White City is a slick attraction – a whole city built for child play. Kids can dress up and role-play with hands-on activities, becoming anything from a heroic firefighter or a chocolatier to a glamorous pop star or a dentist – testing themselves at a variety of life skills.
5. Play in Victoria Park
On the east side of vast Victoria Park, The Hub is a playground for bold adventurers. Along with climbing equipment and sand play (plus a pool play area that’s open in summertime), it boasts huge swooping slides for speedy thrills.
6. Eat dinner at the Rainforest Cafe
Based centrally in the heart of the West End, Rainforest Cafe is a distinctive jungle themed venue providing children with a little adventure as they dine.
7. Shop in Hamleys
Founded in 1760 as a small toyshop, Hamleys moved to its present location in Regent Street in 1881. Today it’s London’s most famous toyshop, with seven floors filled with every conceivable toy from all the popular brands.
8. Follow the Sonic Trail at the Tate Modern
Borrow a MP3 player – it’s free – and discover lots of different sounds around the museum, some linked to the paintings, others referring to the place at night… As if it had a life of its own.
9. Follow in the footsteps of 101 Dalmations in Regent Park
Featuring scenes of canines and their matching owners mincing around the capital, the famous SOS bark scene that saw the dogs of the capital unite, and Pongo’s mission to save his puppies from the dastardly Cruella DeVille, this is a somewhat forgotten London-based cartoon caper.
10. Drink hot chocolates at Choccywoccydoodah
This hot chocolate comes with whipped cream, large pink marshmallows (all the better for squidginess), a dusting of cocoa and a magic wand of curled chocolate.
11. Treat yourselves to sweets from Mrs Kibbles
Mrs Kibbles is something of a Soho institution. This place majors on old-fashioned sweet treats so that every visit is like a delicious trip down memory lane. Head here to stock up on everything from coconut ice to Caramacs.
12. Score a goal at Chelsea FC Studio Tours
See the Home and Away dressing rooms, the Press Room and sit in the dugout on a guided hour-long tour, with behind-the-scenes insights. The most popular tour option includes a museum visit with interactive exhibits to test your footie skills.
13. Go rollerskating at at Roller Disco
Fun for the whole family.
14. Walk through the light tunnel at St. Pancreas tube station
The colours change as you walk through – the kids will love it!
15. Visit the Diana Memorial Playground
Located next to Kensington Palace, this play area has a Peter Pan theme and a fabulous wooden pirate ship as its centerpiece. Specially designed to suit children of all physical abilities, the playground includes a beach, sculptures, teepees for make-believe games, and a sensory trail. It’s free to enjoy, but at busy times there might be a queue to get in.
16. Unearth a fossil at Grant Museum
The Grant Museum of Zoology could be a movie set for a mad professor’s home: jars of specimens, skeletons and mounted animals include examples of creatures that are now endangered and in some cases even extinct.
17. See all of London from the London Eye
This one is a must when in town.
18. Make your own comic at the Cartoon Museum
Explore different artistic styles and create comic strips, animations and models.
19. Ice skate at Sommerset House
Perfect for those frosty winter weekends.
20. Follow in Harry Potter’s footsteps
Via a tour from Warner Bros Studios you can visit all your favorite Harry Potter places. Perfect for little wizards.
21. Eat breakfast at the Cereal Killer Cafe
A funny little place stocking dozens of funky cereals and offering cereal cocktails (no alcohol involved!) with popping candy, chocolate sauce… and the milk of your choice.
22. Get scared at the London Dungeon
Possibly better for the over-8s.
23. Check in at The Rubens at the Palace
This hotel has its own Director of Fun and Adventure to ensure kids have an enjoyable stay.
24. Take a Paddington Bear Day Out
This little bear has sold more than 35 million books worldwide. Now you can follow in his footsteps all over London. Start at Paddington Station and the follow the trail around the capital of more than 50 small statues of the bear decorated by celebrities and artists.
25. Go see the HMS Belfast
Toddlers will love HMS Belfast, Europe’s largest preserved WW2 warship, where they can wear a captain’s hat and press buttons in the interactive operations room. Free for under-fives.
