London with kids: 5 fab hotels that take family-friendly to a whole new level

Trine Jensen-Burke

Fancy taking a family break to London this spring?

We don’t blame you – it’s a city literally crawling with things to see and do that the whole family will enjoy.

As for accommodation when you are there – we think the kids (and you too) will feel right at home at these five seriously amazing hotels, where kids are pretty much treated like royalty from check in to check out.

1. Haymarket Hotel, Strand

This five-star stunner of a hotel os big on complimentary children’s amenities, and little guests will recieve a welcome gift, mini bathrobes, milk and cookies at bedtime, a London-themed activities book, board games and their own special bathroom toiletries.

Oh, and did we mention the magenta-lit swimming pool with free inflatable toys on offer and that they have a babysitting service available too?

Haymarket Hotel, doubles from £300

2. St James’s Hotel and Club, Mayfair

You know this hotel take the youngest guests seriously when they have even employed a dedicated kids’ concierge – who will recommend activities based on the child’s age and interests.

Don’t miss the board game-inspired afternoon tea at the hotel’s restaurant, featuring a snakes and ladders board fashioned from chocolate mousse and cherries, and a Monopoly top hat made of orange jelly and chocolate sponge.

St James’s Hotel and Club, rooms from £267

3. Brown’s, Mayfair

A stay at Brown’s is something nobody will forget – certainly not your kids. We are talking sheets embroidered with princesses or pirates, and a play tent, toys and biscuits bearing the name of your child waiting in the room on arrival and so much more.

There is also a vast selection of picture books, based on fictional characters who live in the hotel — In Brown’s, you’ll meet Albemarle, the monkey (a shout-out to Rudyard Kipling, who wrote The Jungle Book in the hotel).

Brown’s, doubles from £420

4. Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington

Warning: The kids might not want to leave the hotel once you have checked into the Royal Garden Hotel.

Why? Because inside the hotel there is a dedicated children’s entertainment duo (Sharky and George), plenty of food-themed fun, like a ‘make your own’ ice cream sundae menu, a children’s afternoon tea that features peanut butter jelly sandwiches and chocolate scones – oh, and did we mention there is free milkshake available every day?

On sunny days you can borrow (free) Micro Scooters for the kids and go for a whizz around nearby Hyde Park, or, should you happen to be in London on one of those really grey and rainy autumn days, why not take advantage of the ‘flicks and food’ option: unlimited films for 24 hours and pizza, coke floats and popcorn to accompany.

Royal Garden Hotel, doubles from £204

5. The Ampersand Hotel, Kensington

Hotels in London are notoriously expensive, so finding budget options can be near impossible. However, The Ampersand Hotel comes with a lesser price tag than many other boutique hotels in the same area.

What more, this hotel is ideal for families, with a games room filled with children’s books, board games like chess and backgammon, and even a full-sized ping pong table.

The Ampersand Hotel, doubles from £162