It’s been almost three years since our trip to London, but I still wanted to share some of our trip details that could help others plan a trip with younger kids. I had already been to England a few times before our Summer 2023 trip with kids who were one and three at the time. After our trip to Vienna and Budapest the summer before, we wanted to plan something slightly less intense for our second trip overseas as a family of four.
Why London?
At the ages of one and three our kids were into all things Peppa Pig. This fascination combined with the fact that there are so many family friendly things to do in London, made London an easy vacation choice for our family.
Planning:
This was our first big trip after Hilton saved us in Vienna, so we decided to stay at the Hilton London Metropole. We knew we could easily access the Heathrow Express to get into the city from the airport, and the Two Bedroom Family Suite would allow us to relax while the kids napped every day, and eat some meals in the room. By booking with the American Express Centurion Card we were guaranteed breakfast every day plus happy hour at the hotel which makes for an even better hotel stay. Since we took this trip when both kids needed to go back to the hotel most days for an afternoon nap, being able to take turns working out in the Hilton gym was also a nice perk. I was able to log a few Peloton rides while the kids slumbered.
We were lucky to find the Peppa Goes to London book in the free library by our house before our trip. The kids read this book several times before we left to learn more about London and what to expect during our trip.
I found out about the Brigit’s Bakery Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tour before we left, and booked tickets for our last day in London. I wanted to end the trip on a memorable note, and hoped this would achieve that goal.
Experience:
The Hilton London Metropole exceeded our expectations for our stay. The family suite had a separate kitchen area, and a massive bathroom with a soaking tub which was perfect for bath time with little kids. Also, the hotel was across the street from Marks and Spencer, so we were able to get groceries there for lunch and dinner when needed. When traveling with such young kids some days we just needed to relax at the hotel after a day of exploring.
Hampton Court Palace was such a treat for the kids. Our older child enjoyed turning meat on a spit in the palace hearth, and then both kids had so much fun playing in the massive play area adjacent to the palace. The castle playground was a great way for the kids to burn off energy and have fun after having to behave in the palace. The tickets to the play area were timed entry, and we stayed for the duration of our allotted time.
I’m glad we booked tickets to the London Eye in advance because the line was somewhat long. Once on the ride, the kids got a lot of joy from seeing Big Ben and other buildings from the air which made for a really great experience and some great pictures for our annual holiday card. After the London Eye, we went to The Children’s Play Area Jubilee Gardens Playground so the kids could play more before we went to dinner at Giraffe. Giraffe was a very kid-friendly restaurant and we were able to eat outside which made it more relaxing for everyone in our family.
We skipped the crown jewels during our half day visit to the Tower of London because it had super long lines that we did not think the kids could tolerate. BUT, we also found the coolest souvenir for the kids in the Tower of London gift shop. We found a set of London themed wooden cut out toys like a double decker bus, a moving London Eye, a Beefeater etc. that the kids still play with three years later. During our trip they made for a fun quiet toy to play with in the hotel at night, and since our return they have also worked well for show and tell items at school.
A nice perk of the Transportation Museum tickets is that they are valid for a year after your visit. If you plan on going to this museum located near Covent Garden, you should go early on your trip. We ended up going to the Transportation museum multiple times so the kids could play on the indoor bus and other items in between our sight seeing trips around the city. It was also nice to be able to duck into the museum to use the museum’s restrooms while out and about.
Since it’s been a few years since our trip, I have forgotten every playground that we went to; but Hyde Park, Regents Park, and St. James Park all had playgrounds I remember being very impressed with. We spent a lot of time at playgrounds on this trip, and they did not disappoint.
Lessons Learned:
As I mentioned at the start of this post, I booked the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea London Sightseeing Bus Tour for our last day in London. My youngest was just under two years old at the time of travel, and I booked them a ticket despite the fact that the booking page said the minimum age was two. I was a bit nervous getting on the double decker bus that the bakery would ask for some kind of age verification, and they did not, which was amazing since my kids had so much fun during the bus tour. The tea was adorable for the kids, and a great way to see the city a final time before we flew home. Next time, I will book our Brigit’s Bakery tickets even further in advance so we can sit on the upper level of the bus to get better views of the city. The bakery has several other themed bus tours, so I would happily take the kids on another tour like Paddington Bear when they are older.
Travel Gear:
We were loaded down with all of the young child travel gear for this trip. What came most in handy though was the Ergobaby Carrier. Not all of the underground stations have elevators which sometimes made it challenging to navigate public transportation with young kids.
Our OXO Tor 2-in-1 Go potty was also a must have on this trip. We carried in while out during the day to help with public restrooms, and also used it in the hotel at night. It was such a huge help with two young kids who were learning to use the potty while on the go.
Final Thoughts:
We really enjoyed our playground tour of London, and I can’t wait to take the kids back when they are a bit older so we can take advantage of more of the cultural offerings of the city. Maybe we can book a long layover in London before exploring a new part of Europe.
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