Are you planning a family vacation in London? Our 4-day London itinerary for families will help you plan an amazing trip. You’ll get to enjoy and discover the beautiful city of London, but it will still be a vacation. This means that you’ll see all there is to see without returning home needing a vacation to recover from your London family trip.
But before we show you our ultimate 4-Day London itinerary for families, here are a few things to know about London.
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Your 4-Day London Itinerary With the Family
One thing we can assure you of is that you won’t be bored visiting London with your kids. There are so many awesome things to do around town that you’ll want to extend your stay. But here is a great 4 days in London itinerary.
Day 1: Kensington Palace & Some Museums
On your first family day in London, start off by visiting the beautiful Kensington Palace. You’ll enjoy a family trail through the palace where you can learn about Queen Victoria’s childhood. The Kensington Palace was also the home to young royals for many years. After exploring the place, you may want to stop at the palace cafe to grab a sandwich, hot drink and even ice cream.
Then head off to the Kensington Garden. You’ll wander in the garden and see the pond with birds, squirrels running around and green parakeets flying across the park. After a walk, stop by Princess Diana Memorial Playground, one of the fun London attractions for toddlers. It’s a lovely place where kids can run off some energy. You could also walk to the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and head to Hyde Park.
From the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, you’ll be only a short 15-minutes walk from the Natural History Museum. Make sure to visit the Natural History Museum, one of the best museums to explore with children. The entrance to this museum is free.
We recommend going on self-guided tour walks. Those tours will take you through all the amazing sights for families, including the popular dinosaurs gallery. For a quick bite, visit the Central Cafe which has a good range of sandwiches, salads, cakes and fruit. You’ll want to plan for at least 2 to 3 hours to really visit the museum.
Next to the Natural History Museum, you’ll find the Science Museum, another free museum that is worth visiting. There are plenty of family-friendly exhibitions and fun interactive galleries where your children can fuel their imagination.
After a long day of exploring, it’s time for a good dinner at Carluccio’s in South Kensington. It’s an affordable Italian restaurant with an extensive kids’ menu.
Day 2: Big Ben & the London Eye
On your second day in London, take the underground to Westminster to visit one of the most famous landmarks in London, Big Ben. Depending on your kids’ age and preferences, you can choose to take an educational family tour of the House of Parliament.
A Parliament tour may not be interesting for all children, especially the little ones, but it’s ok. You can simply take some time for a photoshoot outside Big Ben as it’s a beautiful building.
In the neighborhood around Big Ben, you’ll find plenty of family-friendly attractions, some of them being included in your London Explorer Pass. Some of families favorites are:
- London Eye
- SEA Life Centre London Aquarium
- Shrek’s Adventure
- London Dungeon (not suitable for children under 5 years old)
- Imperial War Museums and the Churchill War Rooms
You will most likely not have time to visit them all, but you’ll have plenty of options to choose from the day of, on either side of the Thames River.
You can break up your day by grabbing a takeaway sandwich and snacks in Prêt à Manger cafe. The Jubilee Gardens is a great park for a picnic. Plus, it has a lovely playground.
From here, head of St James Park. It’s approximately a 15 minutes walk from the Jubilee Gardens to St. James Park passing on the Golden Jubilee Bridges, a nice pedestrian walking bridge. During this short scenic walk, you’ll see the famous Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery.
Trafalgar Square is a famous public square. It’s even one of the most important squares of all London. It was designed back in 1830 to commemorate the British victory in the Battle of Trafalgar.
When you arrive at St James Park, you’ll have a few options.
Located in the southwestern corner of the park, close to Buckingham Palace, you’ll find a great playground with sand and rocks to climb. The kids might like the free time there.
The Buckingham Palace is another beautiful historic building filled with English history. Try to coordinate your visit with the Changing of the Guards parade. Kids will love that.
Once you’re done exploring St. James Park and the Buckingham Palace, take the underground from St James station, the nearest station, and head to the hotel to have some dinner.
Day 3: King’s Cross & Tower of London
Start your third day in London with kids by taking the underground towards King’s Cross St Pancras. As you’ll leave the underground, make a stop at King’s Cross Platform 9 ¾ inside the train station.
The King’s Cross Platforms 9 ¾ is a must-see spot for any Harry Potter fans. This is the famous platform where students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry catch the Hogwarts Express.
From here, go back to the underground and take the line that will bring you to the Tower Hill stop. You’ll be a 5 minutes walk from the Tower of London. This is a great educational attraction for children. But it may not be the best for babies and small children as there are tricky stairs and passageways. It makes the visit difficult if trying to push a stroller around.
The Tower of London is an historic castle located on the north bank of the Thames River. It was a royal fortress, but it serves also as a political prison, a place of execution, an arsenal and a royal mint.
We also recommend getting a family trail available at the Welcome Centre before you enter the Tower of London. The family trails are booklets with activities, quizzes and facts that children will love to complete during their visit. They would be the equivalent of the Junior Ranger Booklets found in US National Parks.
After your visit to the Tower of London, cross the Tower Bridge and grab some food at Parkside Kiosk. Don’t get confused between the Tower Bridge and the London Bridge. The Tower Bridge is the beautiful bridge that we all have in mind when thinking of London. London Bridge can be seen from the Tower Bridge and is only a short distance away, but is definitely not as stunning.
The Parkside Kiosk is next to Potters Fields Park, a lovely green park. It’s a great place to have a picnic on a sunny day. And it has spectacular views of the Thames River, the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
When you’re all ready, walk a few minutes to St. John’s Churchyard, a quieter community park with a children’s playground. You could also walk to Borough Market to grab from fresh food and snacks from the local market.
If your kids still have energy and enjoy art, you could continue talking to the Tate Modern Art Gallery. It’s located near the Shakespare’s Globe. The Tate has fun workshops where kids can create wonderful collages and use recycled materials to create their own work of art. And one of the cool thing is to take to Tate Boat, a boat tour that takes you from the Tate Modern to the Tate British, another art gallery.
It’s now time to head back, grab dinner and get some rest for your last day on your London itinerary. Brick Lane is a great street to go to to try some great Indian food.
Day 4: Hop-On & Hop-Off Bus Tour
After 3 full days of activities, the last day with big a little more relaxing day exploring London. By this point, the kids’ little legs are probably pretty tired.
You can start your day with a hop-on hop-off bus tour or an afternoon tea bus tour. The Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour is included in the London Explorer Pass or can be purchased online.
A bus tour is the perfect London sightseeing for kids.
If you decide to go on an afternoon tea bus tour, we recommend doing it with Brigit’s Bakery. Their buses are beautifully decorated with big teddy bears. The tour starts at Victoria coach station and lasts approximately 90 minutes. . It’s a lovely family activity. You’ll be served plenty of food and drink by friendly staff. Plus, you’ll learn about London’s main attractions.
After your bus tour, visit the famous Hamley’s Toy Shop with seven floors of toys, games and crafts. There are other stores you may want to add to the list such as the LEGO Store in Leicester Square or the M&M’s World London, situated halfway between Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus.
If you’re spending more than four days in London, you’ll want to add a few other hings to do in london with the family such as:
- the Victoria and Albert Museum,
- the London Zoo
- the Westminter Abbey
- the Warner Bros Studio Tour London for Harry Potter fans
- the British Museum
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- the Sky Garden
- the Hampton Court Palace
You could even do one of the family day trips from London such as:
- Windsor Castle
- Warner Bros Studio Tour from London (for Harry Potter fans).
All the listed attractions are worth adding to your London itinerary with kids.
Why Should You Visit London With Your Family
If you are looking for a city break family vacation, London is the perfect city to do so. Not only does London have incredible outdoor spaces (parks, playgrounds, etc.) but plenty of places to visit with children in London.
If your kids (or even yourself) are fans of Harry Potter, you’ll get to discover some of the places showcased in the movies. The City of London also offers many free activities for kids (or at discounted rates). London also has an excellent public transportation system
If you plan to visit many London attractions, purchasing the London Pass is a great investment.
Things to Keep in Mind When Planning Your 4-Days Family London Itinerary
Before starting our itinerary, you should know a few things before planning a trip to London with kids.
How to Get to London
There are 7 international airports around London. But the closest three (3) ones are: London City (LCY), London Heathrow (LHR) and London Gatwick (LGW). You can compare airfare on Skyscanner or Google Flights. From the airport, you can rent a car or use public transportation to get into the city centre.
How to Get Around in London With Kids
Driving in London is very chaotic. There is so much traffic. The best way to get around London with kids is by using public transport.
It’s great to know that children under 5 years old travel for free on different public transportation in London. Kids travel for free at any time on the Tube, the Docklands Light Railway, all buses and trams, and the London Overground. Children over 5 years old can travel for free in some public transports across London, or at a reduced rate.
If you’re planning on visiting more of the United Kingdom after your stay in London and do a UK road trip, I would recommend renting your car on the last day of your London itinerary.
There are many car rental options in London, but DiscoverCars.com is a great search website for finding the best deals on car rentals in the United Kingdom and Europe.
Where Should You Stay When Visiting London With Kids
South Kensington is a great area to stay in London. It’s where you’ll find some of the best free museums in the city (Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum). Plenty of beautiful green spaces and playgrounds for your children to play.
We love London Marriott Hotel Kensington because it is close to the main attractions and the tube. They also have comfortable rooms designed for families.
F.A.Q London With Kids
1. Is 4 days enough in London?
There is SO much to see in London that a multi-day trip is best. With 4 days, you’ll have enough time to see most of the city of London. Of course, you may not have a thing to visit all the museums you wanted, but you’ll have a great overview of the city without having to rush too much.
2. What is the best month to go to London?
London is a year-round destination, but it can be even rainier in the wintertime. The summer months are the warmest and driest, but it’s also the peak season. The ideal months to visit London would be March to May when the weather gets better, the flowers start blooming and there are still not too many tourists.
3. When should I go to Tower of London?
With children, plan to go to the Tower of London mid-week. It will be less crowded. And try to arrive early in the morning.
4. What month is Buckingham Palace open to the public?
Buckingham Palace is open to the public from July to October. You can walk through the State Rooms and explore the Palaces’ Garden. You can admire the Palace from the gates the rest of the year and participate in the Changing of the Guards ceremonies.
5. Is the tube free in London?
Children under 5 years old travel for free on other public transportation in London. Kids travel for free at any time on the Tube, the Docklands Light Railway, all buses and trams, and the London Overground. Children over 5 years old can travel for free in some public transports across London, or at a reduced rate.
Final Thoughts: London Itinerary for a 4-Days Families Trip
There is plenty to see and to do in London, from worldwide renowned tourist places to small hidden kids’ playgrounds, to keep the entire family busy for 4 full days.
Note that it’s important to book your tickets in advance to save money, but also to ensure entry. There is nothing worst than a promised activity to the kids and not being able to go because it’s sold out.
Enjoy your family trip to London!
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Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.