During February half term, we decided to take a different kind of holiday and head to London for a few days to see the landmarks and the sights it has to offer. Our son has been learning about London at school so we decided to see if it lived up to his expectations, and boy did it do that! You will know from reading our other blogs that we LOVE camping and caravanning but we couldn’t not share with you our experience of London.
Our 3-day trip through the heart of the British capital was nothing short of brilliant, filled with laughter, exploration, and educational wonders. In this blog, we’ll take you through our action-packed itinerary, perfect for families with children.
Day 1: Exploring the Wonders of Science and History
Our first day kicked off with a visit to the Science Museum located at South Kensington, a treasure trove of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities that captivated both us as parents and the kids alike. From space exploration to robotics, the museum offered a fascinating journey through the world of science. The children were particularly enthralled by the Wonderlab, where they could engage in exciting experiments and witness live demonstrations. We spent approx. 2 hours here as we had quite a jam-packed itinerary, however, you could easily spend 4-5 hours here if you wanted to do the other activities such as the IMAX cinema. Entrance is free but most of the activities inside are chargeable so it can soon turn into an expensive visit. You can pre-book your free entrance tickets online which is what we did but there wasn’t a queue and they were letting non-ticket holders in too.
Hot Tip! Visit the Shake Lab on the third floor – they serve some of the best ice cream we have ever had!
Next up we headed down the road to the Natural History Museum, literally a 2 minute walk from door to door. Dinosaurs, ancient fossils, and interactive displays brought history to life, sparking the curiosity of our young explorers. The highlight was the iconic Dinosaur Gallery, where life-sized replicas of these prehistoric creatures left everyone in awe, including us! The animatronic dinosaur is a must see for all dinosaur fans! We spent approx. 2 hours here too but you could perhaps spend 4-5 hours here if you like to read all the exhibits and visit every room, it was quite busy so navigating through the rooms was a little trickier but doable.
Hot Tip! Entrance tickets are free BUT we would advise to pre-book as the queue for non-ticket holders was very long! Luckily we had pre-booked and we breezed in at our allocated time (which you get to choose when you book).
Next up we got the tube from South Kensington over to Baker Street which is where Madame Tussauds London, is located. The journey took approx. 25 minutes from start to finish on the tubes and was an easy route to follow. We had booked the last slot of the day hoping it wasn’t too busy and although the queue looked long when we arrived, inside it didn’t feel busy and we were able to easily move around the wax works. What a treat this place is! We weren’t expecting much but we all loved it, we felt like we were meeting the celebs and the photo opportunities are fantastic! You can touch them and pose however you like with them. Our son got to “meet” his idol – Cristiano Ronaldo and our daughter was happy she got to pose with Little Mix!
Included in the ticket price is a small ride on a London Cab which takes you through the history of London with lots of iconic people through the decades. After the ride, you are ushered to the Marvel 4D experience (which used to be the Planetarium) for a 6-8 minute fun show with water, lights, music, air and a few prods in the back!
It was a memorable day of celebrity encounters and plenty of photo opportunities – don’t forget to have your phone fully charged as you will be snap happy here!
All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed Madame Tussaud’s London and it was one of our children’s highlights.
Money saving tip! Find a pack of Kellogg’s cereals with a buy one get one free voucher (they are in date until 30th May 2024). We used 2 vouchers so paid half price for a family of 4.
Day 2: Royalty, History and Leisure
The following day, we headed over to the London Eye, an iconic landmark offering breath taking panoramic views of the city. The slow rotation of the giant observation wheel allowed us to soak in the beauty of London’s skyline, providing an unforgettable experience for all of us. Just across from the London Eye is the London Dungeons and Shrek’s Adventure – we didn’t have time to visit either but they are located all in the same place if you fancy visiting all three in one day.
After our trip on the London Eye, let the walking begin!
We strolled over the bridge to see Big Ben and admired the architecture of the Houses of Parliament, taking in the historical significance of these iconic landmarks. A leisurely walk-through St James Park provided a welcome respite, with the children enjoying the sight of ducks and swans in the serene surroundings, and we stopped for a quick pit stop in the café in the park.
We then took a visit to the Horse Guards Parade which was spectacular to see, they do let you have photo’s with them (but don’t expect a smile!) and that led us over to Buckingham Palace. The grandeur of the palace and the picturesque surroundings was beautiful to see and this was one place we all wanted to see! We then headed to Trafalgar Square to see the phenomenal Nelson’s Column and the lions, with our adventure concluding at Leicester Square, offering a vibrant atmosphere with street performers, theatre’s, and a variety of dining options.
Day 3: Shop til you drop (literally!)
Our daughter wanted to visit Sephora which is located in the Westfield Stratford City shopping centre (for anyone with a teenager into make-up and skin care, I am sure you will have heard of this shop!). It was definitely the highlight of her trip but Westfield Shopping Centre has lots to offer with many Highstreet and boutique shops and a diverse range of dining experiences.
Conclusion:
London, with its rich history, iconic landmarks, and interactive attractions, proved to be a fantastic destination for our family trip, filled with fun and learning. From the wonders of science to celebrity encounters, the city offered a range of experiences that left a lasting impression on both us as parents, and the children!
We hope you enjoyed reading about our trip to London. Head over to our Facebook page if you have any questions about the places we visited and we would be happy to answer.
Thank you for reading.
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