London is a wonderful place to have your first family holiday. There are so many different adventures to experience and lots of things for your children to divulge in. In fact, there are so many things that there is no way that we’d be able to list everything in this post. Of course what you decide to do in London will depend on your children’s age, interests, budget, time of year, visit duration, queues and weather.
London Eye
One of the most popular attractions in London is the London Eye. This is a must do when you’re in the area. You can view the whole of London, and the children will enjoy having a ride on Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel. Included with the ticket is a 4D movie which is great for the children. If you’re planning on visiting the London Eye, then you might want to consider pre-booking fast-track tickets to skip some of the queue.
Madame Tussauds
This is ideal if you have older children, as most younger children won’t know who most of the famous singers, Royal family or Hollywood actors are. Madame Tussauds is full of celebrity wax figures, and even if you do decide to take younger children, there is bound to be someone that they will recognise from the array of celebrities in the room. You may also have a choice to watch a 4D movie, which is great for children and adults of all ages.
SeaLife
SeaLife is a great choice for the whole family. It isn’t the biggest aquarium, so it would only take about an hour and a half to visit, but it’s a wonderful place, and will definitely take up some time. It was aquariums, interactive games and interesting exhibits. Your children will really enjoy all of the creatures of the big blue ocean.
Toy Stores
If you want to keep your children entertained for a short period, or they’ve been well behaved and you think they deserve a treat, then there are many toy stores around London that you could visit and have some fun with. There is the Lego Store and M&Ms store, which are both located on Leicester Square. Harrods is an amazing toy shop with lots of departments for everyone. They even have fish and fruit departments, an Egyptian escalator and luxury elevators. There is also the ever so famous Hamleys, which every child will adore and enjoy visiting all 6 of their floors!
Parks and Playgrounds
London is a great place to enjoy the sunshine and play areas. There is a specific park called the Jubilee Gardens which is located at the food of the London Eye. If you’re close to Buckingham Palace then St James Park is great, and also Hyde Park is a popular park which you can even take some time boating on.
Harry Potter Studio Tour
If you have children that are Harry Potter fans then this is definitely a great place to visit. There is also The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio Tour which is located near London. Your children can really involve themselves in the Wizarding world and they’ll really enjoy looking at all of the special features and they can see how the film was made. It’s great for imaginative children.
London Zoo
If your children love animals, London Zoo is a great place to visit. London Zoo is one of the most famous zoos in the world and it’s a great experience. You can see a huge variety of different animals, from mammals to reptiles. Whatever animal is your child’s Favorited, you’re bound to find it here!
Buckingham Palace
You might be able to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. There are horses, a band, a march and guards in uniform. It is a moment that will be one to remember for the rest of yours and your child’s lives. The guard is changed every 30 minutes during the summer and every hour during the winter.
Shrek’s Adventure
If you have children that love watching cartoons, and they’re especially fond of Shrek, then this is a definite place to visit for your first family holiday in London. You will have the opportunity to visit the land of Far Far Away and encounter all different obstacles and challenges. You will also see the different characters, such as Donkey, Princess Fiona and of course Shrek. There are 10 themed shows and you can visit the key locations from the movies.
London Transport Museum
This is based in Covent Garden and it showcases iconic vehicles and even the world’s first Underground steam train which dates back to the 1890’s. Your children will love the different mobiles and also possibly the part of history that comes with them. There are interactive galleries which you can be sure will keep the children entertained for hours.