London is known for it’s history and famous landmarks, but there is more to the city than Big Ben and Tower Bridge.  We’ve put together a list of 5 unique London experiences to try on your next visit.  Encounter some of TV’s most lovable characters, take in sweeping views of the city, and enjoy delicious food and afternoon tea. Experience a different side of London with kids on your next holiday.

Take a Trip to the Kingdom of Far Far Away:

DreamWorks Tours: Shrek’s Adventure is a unique experience that combines live shows and special effects. Let Donkey take you on a 4D bus tour through London to meet Shrek, Pinocchio, the Muffin Man and the Magic Mirror. After escaping from witches and Rumpelstiltskin, have your adventurer pose for pictures with Shrek and play games with the Penguins in Madagascar.

*This experience is best with younger children and should be reserved in advance.

Afternoon Tea with a Kid-Friendly Twist:

 

No trip to London would be complete without afternoon tea. Typically served between 4pm – 6pm, this British tradition can make for a magical experience when visiting with children. A couple of fun recommendations for kid-friendly afternoon tea include:

Charlie and the Chesterfield Afternoon Tea At The Chesterfield Hotel. This will be a delight for Willy Wonka fans. This chocolate themed tea features traditional finger sandwiches and scones plus children can enjoy their own special treats from the kids menu. Get your golden ticket and savor an afternoon of tea with a fizzy lifting cake.

The Mad Hatter Afternoon Tea At The Sanderson Hotel is an experience based on Alice in Wonderland. Guests can enjoy “Alice” China black tea, King of Hearts parmesan croque-monsieur stack and more.

*Look for special offers online before reserving at table.

Discover the Wizarding World of Harry Potter:

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is an experience no Harry Potter fan, young or old, should miss. Visit the sets of Diagon Alley and the Great Hall, find out how the special effects team created the films, and admire props such as Potions Class and Puking Pastilles. Visitors will want to take time to enjoy a Butterbeer and can even pre-order a souvenir tankard.

*Reservations required

Marvel at 360° Views:

Up at The O2 is a completely unique experience to share with older kids (ages 9+). Take a 90 minute climb over the Arena rooftop to see historic Greenwich, Olympic Park, and Canary Wharf. See some of the sights of London from above while the kids take selfies to impress their friends.

*Book online

Enjoy a Day Out with Paddington Bear:

The Paddington Bear movies rekindled our love of the children’s literary character from the 1950’s. Start your day at Paddington Station to pose with the bronze Paddington Bear statue, then follow the Pawprint Trail to find more Paddington statues. Even if you can’t follow the full itinerary, kids will love taking selfies and even getting their own bear at the Paddington Bear Shop, either at the station or the famous toy store, Hamleys.

London is one city that I can’t seem to stay away from. It’s constantly calling my name with something new and exciting to experience. While we love traditional sightseeing, it’s always great to get out and try something unique. Jump on a bus with Donkey, hunt down Paddington Bear, sip tea like Alice and see London from the rooftops. Kids won’t stop talking about their unique London experiences!

Do you have any unique London experiences to share?

See more top family attractions in London before planning your trip.

 

 

It’s really no surprise that London is a top vacation destination.  It’s full of history, culture, food, shopping, theatre, nightlife, royalty and more all lumped together in England’s capital city. And you don’t have to look far to find countless family attractions there to entertain the entire clan.  We recently spent 5 days in London with our tweens.  While it wasn’t nearly long enough to experience all the kids attractions in London,  we were able to visit many of our must-see spots.

Getting around London is easy with the extensive public transportation system.   We alternated between the bus and tube, depending on where in the city we wanted to go. Grab a tube map when you arrive to help navigate all the different lines. We found everyone to be super helpful and willing to answer our questions when we weren’t sure how to get to our destination.   Having the Oyster Card made it easier (and cheaper) to get around as well.  The city is also extremely walkable.  While we used public transport to get us to from point A to point B, we walked whenever possible.

For our London itinerary, we tried to balance the wants of both parents and children.  We typically strive for at least one youth activity and one adult activity per day. As my kids are older, this is a lot easier than traveling with little ones.  Many of the attractions listed will be fun for teens as well as adults traveling without kids.   Keep reading to find the best family attractions in London.

Family Attractions in London:

Fun things to do with kids in London

• Platform 9 3/4
• Hamley’s Toy Store
• Piccadilly Circus
• British Museum
• Changing the Guards
• Westminster Abbey
• Big Ben
• Kensington Palace & Princess Diana Memorial Playground
• Tower of London
• London Bridge
• Shrek’s Adventure
• London Eye
• Sea Life London Aquarium
• Afternoon Tea

London Day #1 – Apartment, Relaxation & Cars

Lucy and I stayed in the apartment during our first day in London.  Lucy was on a high dosage of pain medication from her surgery, so she was sleepy and spent the day resting.

Derrick & K explored the Chelsea neighborhood with the goal of seeing how many exotic cars they could find. They couldn’t get over how crazy it was to see $200,000+ cars parked all along the street!  I think Derrick wanted to go around with a bucket and sponge to wash the dirt and grime off the high priced McLarens and Bentleys parked throughout the neighborhood.

Prior to the accident, our plan was to take a sightseeing tour of London which included an early look at the Crown Jewels and watching the changing of the guards.  The tour would have lasted until 12:30pm.   Afterwards we planned to have lunch at Piccadilly Market, then wander around sightseeing for the rest of the day.

If you don’t want to take a tour and would like to follow the rest of our itinerary, you could visit the ZSL London Zoo and Platform 9 3/4 for my fellow Harry Potter fans.  The Camden Market is near the zoo, so that’s an option for another activity if you have time.

[Read more…]