By Anne Taylor Hartzell, on November 10, 2013

A day in London with kids

There is a reason we chose London, England as the destination for our kids’ first European stamps on their passports. First, London is an easy way to acclimate your children to a big international city without the shock of having to speak and read signs in a different language. London is also rich with history, museums, and opportunities to learn and meet people from around the world. On our most recent trip to London, we had three days to experience this beautiful city and found one day of touring particularly very productive in seeing many of the main sights of London. And of course, we did our homework on hip places to stay in London. Is there more to do and see in London with kids? Absolutely. But if I had just one day to see the highlights of London, here’s where to stay, what to do, and how to see London in style with kids in just 24 hours.

The Metropolitan London 

Located in the Mayfair neighborhood and perfectly suited for families, the Metropolitan London is a posh and unpretentious hotel with excellent service. The hotel sits across the street from Hyde Park and is close to the London Underground and bus stations. The rooms are spacious and many floors offer connecting rooms. The food is absolutely divine and some hotel packages offer daily breakfast. The Metropolitan is also just around the corner from Shepard Market, where you can pick up wine at the market or experience legendary London pub life. You may even spot a celebrity!

The Metropolitan London is a posh pad for families

Hop-on Hop-Off Bus

The best way to get your bearings on the major landmarks in London is to jump on a double decker hop-on hop-off bus with a guide and a map. The Metropolitan’s concierge recommended The Original Tour. They have several tours and we chose the yellow tour with English commentary and live guides. The longer, red, city sightseeing tour with recorded language commentaries is more comprehensive and will take you approximately two hours if you don’t jump off to explore. In my opinion, it is well worth the money if you have limited time to spend in London with jet-lagged kids in tow.

Viewfinder Tip: The best way to get your bearings on the major landmarks in London is to jump on a double decker hop-on hop-off bus with a guide and a map.

Tower of London

If you choose one historical landmark to explore in London, the Tower of London should be on the top of your list. Have the hotel concierge pre-purchase tickets for you so you can skip the long lines at the queue. When you enter the gates, hang left near the drawbridge at the gate to tag along with one of the free, 40-minute Yeoman Warder tours. You will laugh, cringe, and marvel at how much you learn from these very informative and fun guides. Make time to view the stunning collection of the Tower of London’s Crown Jewels and explore one of the tower’s meandering staircases.

London Eye

Once you have your bearings on the ground, take to the sky in this spectacular wheel on the banks of the Thames River. The London Eye has 32 giant capsules, one for each borough of London, and offers sweeping views of the Thames, Big Ben, and the entire city on a clear day. There are few other international cities that offer a view like this.

The London Eyef

London Eye River Cruise

I know, it’s a lot to do in one day, but we did it with two kids, ages five and nine, in tow and they did great. You’ve already seen London by foot, bus, and high atop the London Eye; now take a break on the river to explore London’s many beautiful bridges and historic architecture along the banks of the Thames. The London Eye offers a river cruise that leaves several times a day year-round, where you can get more guided commentary as you snap pics of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and sail under the Tower Bridge past the Tower of London for magnificent photos of London.

Shepherd Market

With all of the sightseeing, your family will have worked up a big appetite and may want to take a break from the tourist crowds. Tucked away around the corner from busy Piccadilly in the borough of Mayfair, is the quaint square of Shepherd Market. In the 1920s, it is said that Shepherd Market was the place to see and be seen among London’s posh crowd. Today, Shepherd’s Market is still bustling with fun London pubs, and boutiques on every corner. During week nights, Shepherd Market is full of business professionals huddled around crowded pubs for a pint after work. Because we arrived at 6:00 p.m., before the peak dinner rush, we were able to quickly get a table for four adults and six kids at The Little Square, one of the many small restaurants lining this main center square.

What is your favorite way to spend a quick trip in a big city with kids?