three days in london with the kids

7/29/2019 Three Days in London With the Kids

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Three Days in London with the Kids

LONDON London is one of the if not the best cities to visit with kids. Here are

highlights for all ages, palates, and interests, with South London as a base for exploringcentral London and the outskirts.

DAY 1 - Science and Nature

Gone are the days of exploring the Elgin Marbles at a leisurely pace, so don't even pretend.Keep your museum visits real by starting in South Kensington at the incomparable ScienceMuseum, which is full of interactive exhibits, steam turbines, space capsules, and the most

imaginative water play area ever.
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/


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Next, head down the block to the Natural History Museum, an architectural marvel in andof itself. Children will never tire of the dinosaurs, and the endless diamonds are a nicediversion for grown-ups. Refuel nearby atWagamama, where udon noodles, soups, and therequisite "chicken tenders" are served at festive communal tables in a light, airy setting.

After a little sustenance, go into Kensington Gardensand follow signs to thePrincessDiana Memorial Playground. The enclosed area is great for kids of all ages, witheverything from baby swings to a massive pirate ship with rope ladders and secret hidingplaces. Cool off with a soft-serve cone within the playground before exploring the rest of

heavenlyHyde Parkby bicycle or on foot. (The English really do excel at public gardens.)Swans, geese, and ducks provide entertainment, and you can rent old-timey lawn chairs for

the balance of the afternoon. If energy/attention spans allow, pop into the SerpentineGallerymid park for a quick shot of contemporary art in a classical setting.

DAY 2 - Toys and Museums

Sometimes with kids you just need to go with it.Legolandin nearby Windsor is one suchexample. Your kids will love you and they will be re-energinized for all the cultural eventsyou'll throw at them for the rest of your journey. The incredibly fun park is a hit with ages

3+, and, at just 40 minutes from London, you can pack quite a few rides, sweet treats, andgeneral amusement into a half-day.

Once back in the city center, head to theTower of Londonfor its rich history ofbeefeaters, guillotines, dark prisons, and the Crown Jewels. It gets crowded, so visit at off-

peak to avoid the masses andpre-order tickets. From here, you're across the river fromthe Embankment and theTate Britain and the Tate Modernmuseums. Depending onthe show, I've found the Modern, which is housed in an enormous former factory, is morekid-centric. The sheer spaces, enormous escalators, and colorful art installations willcaptivate virtually everyone, and a snack overlooking the river in the ground floor cafe is aplus.
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/http://www.wagamama.com/locations/showlocation/541http://www.royalparks.gov.uk/Kensington-Gardens.aspxhttp://www.royalparks.gov.uk/Kensington-Gardens.aspxhttp://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/diana_playground.cfmhttp://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/diana_playground.cfmhttp://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/diana_playground.cfmhttp://www.royalparks.gov.uk/Hyde-Park.aspxhttp://www.serpentinegallery.org/http://www.serpentinegallery.org/http://www.serpentinegallery.org/http://www.legoland.co.uk/http://www.legoland.co.uk/http://www.legoland.co.uk/http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/admissionsprices/toweroflondonadmissionhttp://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/admissionsprices/toweroflondonadmissionhttp://www.tate.org.uk/britain/http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/http://www.wagamama.com/locations/showlocation/541http://www.royalparks.gov.uk/Kensington-Gardens.aspxhttp://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/diana_playground.cfmhttp://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington_gardens/diana_playground.cfmhttp://www.royalparks.gov.uk/Hyde-Park.aspxhttp://www.serpentinegallery.org/http://www.serpentinegallery.org/http://www.legoland.co.uk/http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/admissionsprices/toweroflondonadmissionhttp://www.tate.org.uk/britain/http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/


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DAY 3 - Gardens and Shops

The best parts of London for kids are parks, playgrounds, and wonderful restaurants. Verysmall children will enjoy a quiet romp in St. Luke's playground in Chelsea and everyone willlove a tour through theChelsea Physic Garden, one of London's oldest botanic gardens. Forlunch, have wood-fired pizzas outdoors at the Chelsea Gardener if weather permits or fishand chips indoors atTom's Kitchenat Chelsea Green. Other Chelsea highlights include thegrounds of the Royal Hospitalfor running free and theNational Army Museum, which hasan interactive, indoor play space. (For more info, read the Fathom Postcard about thepensioners at the Royal Hospital.)No trip would be complete without a visit to the sprawling toy shop spread across an entire

floor at Harrod's. You'll find everything from Union Jack memorabilia to Barbies towooden building blocks. Spend the rest of the day soaking in local, small neighborhoodcolor: the bakeries, the butcher, the "ironmonger" (aka the hardware store). Have a light

supper at Itsu, where kids delight in picking tapas-style sushi plates from a conveyor belt:chicken teriyaki skewers, sashimi, white chocolate mousse and berries. The techno-vibemakes for the perfect mix of food and theater.

BEST FAMILY HOTELS

I am no fan of central London hotels with kids (unless you're living large and want to load it

up at Claridge's). I prefer one of these quiet, kid-friendly establishments with green spaces

and green grocers nearby.MyHotel Chelsea- Slightly mod, low-key, and absolutely well-placed near ChelseaGreen.
http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/http://www.chelseagardener.com/http://www.tomskitchen.co.uk/chelseahttp://www.tomskitchen.co.uk/chelseahttp://www.tomskitchen.co.uk/chelseahttp://www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/http://www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/http://www.nam.ac.uk/http://www.nam.ac.uk/http://www.nam.ac.uk/http://fathomaway.com/postcards/culture/chelsea-pensioners-london/http://fathomaway.com/postcards/culture/chelsea-pensioners-london/http://www.harrods.com/http://www.itsu.com/http://www.claridges.co.uk/http://www.myhotels.com/my-hotel-chelsea/http://www.myhotels.com/my-hotel-chelsea/http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/http://www.chelseagardener.com/http://www.tomskitchen.co.uk/chelseahttp://www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/http://www.nam.ac.uk/http://fathomaway.com/postcards/culture/chelsea-pensioners-london/http://fathomaway.com/postcards/culture/chelsea-pensioners-london/http://www.harrods.com/http://www.itsu.com/http://www.claridges.co.uk/http://www.myhotels.com/my-hotel-chelsea/


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Knightsbridge Hotel - One of theFirmdale hotels on a quiet square steps fromBrompton Road, Hyde Park, and Beauchamp Place. (Having a Pizza Express nearby isalways a plus.)

The Berkeley- It has a rooftop pool. Enough said. And it's near Hyde Park, Harrods, andYo Sushi! at the top of Harvey Nichols.

The Sloane Square Hotel- This one has family rooms a rarity in the UK and Europe where four can fit semi-comfortably. Well-situated to Peter Jones (department store whereyou'll inevitably end up after having forgotten some key piece of equipment) and the King'sRoad. Proximity to the Duke of Yorks Square is a plus.
http://www.firmdalehotels.com/london/knightsbridge-hotelhttp://www.firmdalehotels.com/http://www.firmdalehotels.com/http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/http://www.sloanesquarehotel.co.uk/http://www.sloanesquarehotel.co.uk/http://www.firmdalehotels.com/london/knightsbridge-hotelhttp://www.firmdalehotels.com/http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/http://www.sloanesquarehotel.co.uk/

three days in london with the kids

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