London Itinerary with Kids – The Perfect 3 Day Trip to London

(This post was updated June 2025.) London is one of the very best places to travel with children – there are so many fun things to do in London with kids! There is so much variety – everything from world-class museums to outdoor space to live theater, much of which is free. Planning a family trip to London? Keep scrolling down for our 3 Day London Itinerary with Kids!

Planning vacations to London is easy with a good itinerary. Now that we’ve lived in London for about 6 months, it’s fun to start sharing some more London family travel tips. It’s been a blast getting familiar with the neighborhoods across the city to find the best family-friendly activities in London!

If you wondering how many days in London with kids, you could definitely spend a week in London or more and still barely scratch the surface of this incredible city. Still, three days is often the amount of time people have if they’re traveling through Europe, or want to venture out to other parts of the UK. So it’s a great starting point for seeing some highlights in our 3 day London family itinerary.

Be sure to pick up an Oyster Card for public transportation – it works for the Tube as well as the bus. Kids under 11 are free on London public transit (up to 4 kids with each paying adult). For kids ages 11-15, it’s worthwhile to get an Oyster card with a Young Visitor discount. You can either purchase a visitor Oyster card prior to your visit (it will be shipped to you and you can take the card to a station manager upon arrival to add the youth discount), or you can purchase a regular Oyster when you arrive (and still take it to the station manager to add the discount). While the Tube is great for getting you longer distances, we loved taking the bus for short hops. It’s just so fun riding on the top deck!

Best Places to Stay in London With Kids: Family-Friendly London

The top family-friendly London areas I’d recommend are South Kensington/Knightsbridge, Mayfair/Marylebone/Soho, and Westminster. Some of these areas sort of blend together, but they’re all great pockets that have lots to do (and eat!) and have excellent access to the rest of the city. These are perfect spots to stay in London with kids to be near the best things to do in London with kids. See this post for some great London accommodations options for each!

What to Pack for a European Vacation: Minimal Packing Essentials for Families

Especially with a big family, it’s important for us to pack minimally so we don’t feel totally overwhelmed when we travel. Here are some of our favorite minimal packing essentials for families!

• eSim – I purchased an eSIM before going to Japan, and have been using it for travels since then. Most phone plans cost $7-10 per DAY, which adds up quite a bit, but the plan I purchased through Saily was only $19.99 for 20GB that I could use over 30 days. I constantly use it for things like navigation (I definitely can downloaded Google Maps offline, but then I wouldn’t have real-time updates for public transport), looking up info about places we’re going, figuring out foods, and more. To purchase, I just bought and loaded it into my phone while I had wifi and it was very easy to activate.
• Merino Wool Base Layers, Socks, & Sweaters: Here are my favorite base layers to use as pajamas or to layer under clothing in cold weather. All our favorite merino wool base layers and wool socks for the whole family are linked HERE!
• Diaper Belt Bag: I absolutely love this little bag because it holds so much but is really compact and easy to wear with a variety of outfits.
• Packing Cubes: I love packing cubes for keeping things organized, contained, and compact. These are my favorite expandable packing cubes, and I also love these.
• Lightweight Women’s Pants: I absolutely adore these pants for travel because they’re SO comfortable, fold super small, and dry in a flash. More about why I love them HERE.
• Lightweight Packable Coat: I love this lightweight packable parka because it is really warm and good for layering, and folds into a bag a little bigger than a water bottle when not in use. My kids have also used these coats for years and they’re excellent because they fold up easily but are warm and layer well. They have a big line of them for the whole family.
• Shoes: I often only take one pair of shoes – either my favorite white sneakers or my beloved black Chelsea boots. More about both shoes HERE. For my kids, we really love Keen shoes because they’re durable and waterproof. For summer, we love these hiking sneakers or these close-toed hiking sandals. For winter, we love these boots or these waterproof hiking boot options.
• 40L Backpack: I love this kids backpacking backpack because it’s roomy, easily fits in most carry on requirements on airplanes, and fits really comfortably. (My 6 year old uses the smaller 18L version, and my 3 year old uses the even smaller 12L version.)
• Pop Up Tent Baby Bed: We’ve had this super lightweight baby travel bed for over a decade. We love it so much because it’s so lightweight and fits easily in a suitcase without having to take a bulky and heavy pack n play.
• Lightweight Folding Baby Carrier: I absolutely love this baby carrier because it’s supportive but still lightweight and weighs about a pound.

For more packing ideas here’s what I packed for:

• Spring in Egypt
• Summer in Asia
• Fall in the Balkans
• Winter in Switzerland/France/Germany

MAP: Best 3 Day London Itinerary

See THIS MAP to view all the stops on our 3 day London family vacation!

London with Kids Itinerary – 3 Days in London

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Family Trip to London – Day 1

• Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard
• Walk through St. James Park – see animals at the lake, play at the playground
• Early lunch
• Younger Kids: Head to the Royal Mews
• Teens/Adults: Churchill War Rooms
• Westminster/Big Ben + Westminster Abbey
• Optional: London Eye

So quintessentially British, if you’re interested in watching the very famous Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace (residence of the British monarch), make it your first stop. Try to arrive by 10:00 am to get a good spot to watch. (Here’s lots of info about timing and schedule.) If this is a high priority for you, I highly recommend booking a guided tour – they’re excellent at finding the perfect spots for different parts of the ceremony, and will allow you to view much more than you’d be able to on your own. This activity tends to be very crowded so having a guide often makes the difference between seeing it and not. This tour is very affordable and extremely well done.

If you’re not set on the Changing of the Guard (or if it’s too crowded, or not taking place on the day you have available), some other great options are watching the band from Wellington Barracks, seeing the Horse Guards parade (usually much less crowded and fun for kids to see), or seeing the guards at Windsor or the Tower of London.

Take a short stroll over to St. James Park. It’s a beautiful park to walk through and watch the animals at the lake. There’s also a wonderful playground if the kids need to run off some steam before grabbing an early lunch.

If you’re with younger kiddos, visiting the Royal Mews in London with kids offers an exciting glimpse into the historic stables and carriages used by the British Royal Family. Children love seeing the horses and the iconic Gold State Coach. The interactive displays and engaging guided tours ensure a fun and informative visit for the whole family.

If you’re traveling to London with older kiddos/teens/adults, head to the Churchill War Rooms. Visiting the Churchill War Rooms in London with kids provides the opportunity to be immersed in the secret underground bunker where Winston Churchill led Britain during WWII. Older kids will enjoy the interactive exhibits and original wartime artifacts, along with the museum’s hands-on activities and compelling stories.

Next, head over to Big Ben. It would be impossible to visit London without seeing the famous clock tower. While you can of course just walk around outside, touring the Parliament building (aka Westminster Palace, of which Big Ben is a part) is a great option. The audio tour is excellent, and includes a family-friendly option for kiddos. If you’re traveling with kids ages 11+, walking up Big Ben is another amazing option – you’ll have to book in advance and be online within about .2 seconds of them releasing tickets, but it’s worth trying. 🙂

Westminster Abbey is just down the street, as well, and is worth walking by. If you’d like to tour, now is a good time for it, or you can just see the outside (Evensong is free to enter but you must stay for the whole service – check here for times).

If you’d like to do the London Eye, now is a good time to head over to do that. I recommend booking your tickets in advance, though know that the experience is pricey.

London Itinerary with Kids – Day 2

• Natural History Museum/Science Museum/Victoria and Albert Museum
• Lunch
• Diana Playground
• Stroll through Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park
• Science Themed Afternoon Tea at Ampersand
• Evening Option: Royal Albert Hall

Start day 2 in London with a museum morning! Three of our favorite kid-friendly museums are right in the South Kensington area: the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum. All three are excellent and worthwhile. Plus, they are all free to visit!

Hintze Hall in the Natural History Museum is worth a stop just to see the gorgeous hall, some of Mary Anning’s findings, and the blue whale suspended high above. The Science Museum‘s Wonder Lab requires a small fee and must be booked in advance, but is so fun for kiddos, and there are plenty of other amazing (and free) exhibits to explore, as well. The Victoria and Albert Museum focuses on applied & decorative arts, which may not seem the most fun with kiddos. BUT they have hugely entertaining family backpacks you can check out for FREE with wonderful activities to keep kids engaged and excited. They also have family-friendly games and digital guides on their website.

After the museum(s), grab lunch and then head to Kensington Palace. The audio guides are included with the cost of admission and are excellent, including and especially the kids’ version. Kids will love all the little activities they have inside, including some little toys like those enjoyed by Queen Victoria. The Princess Diana exhibit is dreamy with all her beautiful outfits, so this will be especially fun if you have some little fashionistas!

Tip: If you’re traveling as a family to London and plan to visit this and even one other attraction on the list of Historic Royal Palaces, it may be worth it to get an annual pass. Or here’s a combined ticket for the 3 most popular ones.

On your way to Diana Memorial Playground, walk by Kensington Palace for quick views of the outside. Then, head to the playground to run off some energy. The giant ship is iconic, and kids of all ages will love climbing, playing in sand, and exploring. In warm weather, the little water features are especially fun! Depending on how long you stay, consider grabbing a picnic while kids play – there are lots of nearby restaurants, and every little grocery will have “Meal Deals” that are easy to grab and go. After that, stroll through Kensington Gardens, which is a must-see for any London family trip. Be sure to stop at the Peter Pan statue, and pause to visit the parakeets who flock around you! My kids were mildly terrified at first but quickly found it was a delight. Consider crossing over to Hyde Park, as well; if it’s warm, it’s fun to rent a pedal boat or rowboat.

The Science Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel is a must-do. It’s a fun, hands-on experience where you mix your own lemonade in beakers, watch dry ice swirl around your food, and snack on treats like chocolate spacemen and petri dish jellies. The savory bites are great for both kids and adults, and even the scones come with toppings in little test tubes. The desserts are more fruity and fun than rich and chocolatey, but the whole thing is super creative and definitely makes for great photos and memories.

If you’re looking for a classy way to spend the evening, consider visiting the Royal Albert Hall. One of the world’s most iconic concert venues, there’s always something exciting on the calendar, from classical music to contemporary shows.

London Trip Itinerary – Day 3

• Tower of London
• Sky Garden – free view
• Walk across Tower Bridge to Borough Market for lunch
• Visit Transport Museum or Postal Museum
• Evening West End show

The Tower of London is such an iconic part of the city and is a must do on any London visit. Historic castle and former residence of many monarchs, you’ll love hearing the history of power and executions, as well as seeing the Crown Jewels. And playing knights and swords, of course. Be sure to make time to take a tour with a Yeoman Warder (aka Beefeater) – the Tower guards are knowledgeable and entertaining and a tour is included with your admission. Be sure to check the hours for the tours in advance.

Visiting the Sky Garden in London with kids offers breathtaking views of the city’s skyline from a public garden in the sky. Children will love exploring the lush indoor gardens and open-air terrace, providing a unique and exciting experience. The best part is that it’s totally free!

Next, walk across the Tower Bridge – free for pedestrians, but if you want to see the engine room or use the glass walkway, you have to purchase tickets. Have lunch at Borough Market, London’s premier food market, and explore the many stalls and stands. Keep your eye out for samples!

If you have a vehicle lover, the Transport Museum is a must. Adults will love some history on London’s various transportation systems, while little ones will be occupied for hours with all the wonderful, hands-on exhibits. It’s a dream for the toddler through elementary crowd! Alternatively, make your way to the Postal Museum, which offers a unique and interactive exploration of Britain’s postal history. Kids will enjoy riding the underground Mail Rail train and engaging with lots of hands-on exhibits from sending mail through a working pneumatic tube and dressing up as postal workers through the ages. I recommend purchasing tickets in advance during busy seasons.

For the evening, take in a West End show. Matilda, Wicked, Lion King, and Frozen are all great for younger kiddos, though note that shows generally require kids to be ages 4+.

More Options for a London trip with Kids

Let’s be honest, there’s just too much good stuff to see it all in a London 3 day itinerary, so here are a few options for your final afternoon:

London Harry Potter Sites with Kids

If you or your kids are Harry Potter fans, it’s definitely worth finding a few sites. Platform 9 3/4 is almost always crowded, but it’s fun to see, regardless. We opted not to wait in the line for a photo and just paused by the side of it.

The Studio tour in Leavenworth is an all-day event, but I’ve heard it’s fantastic. It sells out quickly, so be sure to purchase tickets in advance.

If you’d like to stay in London itself, THIS Harry Potter walking tour would be perfect for all the Muggles in your group!

London Neighborhoods Walking Tour

London is filled with amazing, walkable, beautiful neighborhoods. Consider strolling South Kensington or Notting Hill; the Portobello Road market is always buzzing with activity next door. There are plenty of opportunities for self-guided tours or just wandering, and lots of beautiful buildings and markets along the way. If you’d like something more organized, there are more OPTIONS than you could imagine!

Thames River Cruise

It’s always delightful seeing London from a boat! This evening cruise sounds dreamy, or you could do a hop-on-hop-off London river cruise to get to various sites along the way. Or if you’d like to visit the London Eye, this combined ticket would be perfect.

(Even without the river cruise, if you choose to visit the London Eye, I’d absolutely recommend an advance purchase Fast-Track ticket. The lines get crazy!)

British Library

We REALLY loved going here and seeing so many incredible manuscripts, including an original Magna Carta. If your kids are into books, this would be a wonderful (and free) stop.

Any of these would be wonderful options if you have extra days in the city, as well. Truly, you could spend a lifetime in London with kids and not do it all! If you do have some more days, there are a number of fantastic day trips in the area, as well – here’s a great one!

Hope you enjoyed this 3 day London itinerary with kids! And to help with your planning, here are some tips on how to explore London when on a Budget!

NOT PLANNING A TRIP TO LONDON WITH KIDS JUST YET? PIN THIS POST FOR LATER!