If you’re planning on spending 3 days in London with kids you need a three-day itinerary that will enable you to get the most out of London as a family. There are so many places to visit in London, but also so many places to take the kids, that narrowing the options to plan the perfect trip to London as a family may not be easy!
And that is why we have designed this three-day itinerary – being parents ourselves, we know what it’s all about! We understand that your itinerary will also depend on the age of your kids, especially when it’s time to choose which London attractions you want to visit the most. So, whilst we have designed this guide for you to visit London with kids, we have also put together a list of the 10 most famous attractions to visit in London with kids as well as a list of 30 things to do in London with kids – so that you can easily adapt the itinerary to your family needs.
Three days in London with Kids
If this is your first time visiting London with children, we would recommend visiting some key places such as Hamleys, the most famous toy store in London, riding on a double-decker bus and going on the London Eye. But we would also recommend that you include a trip to at least one of London’s child-friendly museums – such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum or the London Transport Museum.
For older kids, the HMS Belfast, the Churchill War Rooms or the Imperial War Museum are firm favourites for a day out. Depending on the time of year, there will also be different activities to do in London. In the summer, the south bank (from London Eye to Tower Bridge) is a good option for children, as it is a traffic-free zone and there is so much to see and do. If you’re planning on spending Christmas in London you simply must visit Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, a magical Christmas fair with a Christmas market where the little ones will have a great time.
For ticketed attractions, we recommend checking the official site and booking timed entry in advance where required. Advance tickets can be cheaper and guarantee a slot, but they do not always remove security checks or every queue—an important distinction when planning with children.
If you are visiting several attractions in London, don’t forget to check if it would work out cheaper for you to get a London Tourist Pass, such as the London Pass.
Three-day itinerary in London with Kids
Here is our three-day itinerary in London with kids which will help you make the most of your time in London, but if you’d like to consider a slightly different itinerary check out our Itinerary for three days in London.
Day 1: First day in London with children
For the first day of your trip to London, we would recommend the sightseeing bus tour, but as we understand this is not everyone’s cup of tea, we have designed two different itineraries for this first day in London – one that includes the sightseeing bus tour and one that doesn’t. Just choose the one that you fancy the most!
Option 1: Sightseeing bus tour + Thames river cruise + London Eye: If it’s the first time you are visiting London we would highly recommend the sightseeing bus tour, as it’s such a great way to see London. Selected Big Bus ticket types currently include a one-way Thames cruise between Tower Pier and Westminster, but this is not an automatic inclusion with every sightseeing-bus product—check the exact ticket before paying. Kids will be incredibly excited when you tell them they’re about to go on an open-top bus and then a boat! This can also reduce the amount of public transport you need for the main sights.
We would suggest starting the day at the most convenient live bus stop for your hotel and following the Red Route towards the Tower of London. Stop numbers and routes can change, so use the operator’s current route map rather than an old PDF. Allow at least a couple of hours for the Tower. If your ticket includes the cruise, walk to Tower Pier and sail west towards Westminster; the one-way journey is about 40 minutes. The London Eye uses timed tickets and its closing time varies by date, so reserve a realistic slot rather than assuming it is always open late.
2: Without the sightseeing bus tour: If you would prefer not to go on the sightseeing bus tour, then we would recommend taking public transport to the Tower of London. Start your day by visiting the Tower of London, then cross Tower Bridge on foot, and walk along with the South Bank towards the London Eye. If you have older children with you a visit to the HMS Belfast, a warship that has been converted into a museum, is a must. See our London Itinerary>Tower of London and South Bank for more detailed information on this walking route of London.
Included attractions Day 1:
- Sightseeing bus tour and River Cruise: Information and Tickets
- Tower of London: Information and Tickets
- HMS Belfast: Tickets
- London Eye: Information and Tickets
Day 2: Second day in London with children
If you are planning on taking the kids to the Harry Potter Studios in London then it’s probably a good idea to do this on your second day. We would recommend going there first thing in the morning, as you might have some time to explore a little more of London when you return.
The other option is to start your second day at one of London’s family-friendly museums. Our favourites are the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. The dinosaurs in the Natural History Museum are always a big hit, and the Science Museum has interactive galleries that can keep children busy for hours. Pick one museum for an unhurried visit, or choose a short list of galleries if you want to see parts of both. They are next to each other in South Kensington and general admission is free, but advance free tickets are recommended. The Natural History Museum currently opens daily 10.00–17.50, while the Science Museum opens daily 10.00–18.00; both close 24–26 December. Check for temporary gallery closures before travelling.
If you’re not too worn out (or have decided to visit just one of the museums), you could go elsewhere afterwards. South Kensington is very close to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, so during the summer months, you could take the kids to explore Hyde Park and take them to the Diana Memorial playground. If you are visiting London during the Christmas Holidays, then this would be a good day to visit Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.
In the evening, why not take the family to one of London’s most famous musicals? Two strong family options are The Lion King and Wicked. Performance times and days vary, and both productions have minimum admission ages, so check the exact date and age policy before building the evening around a show.
Day 3: Third day in London with children
We start our third day in London with kids by strolling through Covent Garden. Here you will also find the London Transport Museum, a wonderful museum to visit with children. From Covent Garden, walk through Leicester Square towards Piccadilly Circus. The former Rainforest Café/Jungle Cave has closed, so choose a current option from our guide to where to eat in London rather than planning the day around it.
From here you can make your way to Hamleys at 188–196 Regent Street, with seven floors of toys, demonstrations and displays. Afterwards, explore Carnaby Street and continue towards Green Park, Trafalgar Square, St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace, adjusting the route to your children’s energy.
Tips for spending more than three days in London with kids
Suppose you plan to spend more than 3 days in London with your children. In that case, you should look into visiting attractions that children will love, such as Shrek’s Adventure, Legoland, Hampton Court Palace – or even visit another nearby city like Stratford Upon Avon (Shakespeare’s birthplace.)
Top tips for travelling to London with Children
» Transport from the airport to the city centre: A direct taxi or pre-booked transfer can be convenient with children and luggage, but rail or coach may be faster and cheaper depending on the airport and hotel. Compare the complete door-to-door route, including changes and step-free access. If you book a car, request the correct child seat in advance. More information: London airport transfers.
» London public transport with kids: Children under 11 travel free on London buses and trams. On the Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line, up to four children under 11 can travel free with a fare-paying adult. National Rail rules can differ, and children aged 11–15 need the appropriate ticket or discount. More information: Travelling in London with kids.
» Accommodation in London with children: If you are visiting London with children, it is advisable to book a hotel that is fairly central. This means you can avoid taking long journeys by tube or by bus from the hotel to the city centre. More information: Recommended hotels in London.
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Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.