First Time in London with Kids: A Perfect Day of Adventure
London Blogger and Mum Alex Mills aka @MumintheCity takes us on a trip around London to see the sights. Perfect for anyone visiting for the first time or is on a time limit!
If you're visiting London for the first time with your kids, here's an easy-to-follow one-day itinerary to make the most of your trip. It takes you past some of London's most iconic places and attractions that the whole family can enjoy.
This is a circular route starting and finishing at London Victoria Train Station.
First Stop - Buckingham Palace
Photo by @MumintheCity
Just a 15-minute walk from the station is Buckingham Palace, arrive here by 10:30 to get a spot to watch the Changing of the Guard Ceremony which starts at 11 am, every other day .This is completely free to watch and enjoyable for all the family.
Stop 2 - St James's Park
Located just across the road from Buckingham Palace, is St James's Park. Kids will love to burn some energy in the playground close to the park entrance. As you walk through the park, keep an eye out for the wild pelicans that live in the park. You can often see them up close which is a special experience. Stand on The Blue Bridge for the best views!
The park is a perfect place for a picnic or visit St James's Café for delicious hot food or tea and cake. They also have a great kid's menu.
Photo by @MumintheCity
Photo by @MumintheCity
Stop 3 - Horseguards Parade
Walk through the park and under the arches of Horseguards Parade to a road called Whitehall. Here you can see the guards on horses up close. This is a perfect photo opportunity!
Stop 4 - Victoria Embankment for Big Ben and The London Eye
Contine down Whitehall which merges in to Parliament Street towards the river. Bonus Stop: this route takes you past Dowining Street, you cant see much but it is cool to see where the British Prime Minister lives!
We usually don’t cross the river, opting to walk down Victoria Embankment instead. This gives you the best views of Big Ben and the London Eye. If you want to ride on the London Eye, cross the river to Southbank instead. TICKETS FOR LONDON EYE LINK HERE.
Photo by @MumintheCity
Stop 5 - Trafalgar Square
Photo by @MumintheCity
Trafalgar square is another iconic London landmark. Kids especially will love to see the giant lion statues that guard Nelsons Column. Also, see if you can find London's smallest Police Station, hidden in the South East corner!
Stop 6 - Leicester Square
The LEGO store and M&M's world located here are favourites with kids. There’s also a movie character sculpture trail. Most of them are close together so ideal for little kids (and tired parents!). Batman, Bugs Bunny and Paddington were our favourites!
Final Stop - Covent Garden
This is one of our favourite places in London. There’s plenty to see here. The whole family will enjoy watching the various street performers. There are also plenty of shops and two markets where you can pick up gifts or souvenirs.
This is also a great place to get dinner. Our family-friendly favourite places to eat in Covent Garden include: Franco Manca, Maxwells, Wagamama and Pizza Pilgrims. Seven Dials Market is slightly away from the main square but also has lots of family-friendly options.
Photo by @MumintheCity
Returning to London Victoria
Walking back from Covent Garden to Victoria will take about 40 minutes, by this time, you'll all likely be tired from a full day exploring London so hop on a London bus. The number 26 bus Savoy Street (Stop U) will get you back in about 20 minutes. Sit at the top and if you're lucky, get the front seats!
