The Whole of Us

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Our entire UK trip was done on quite the budget! This meant opting for national parks and free activities in lieu of the more expensive tourist attractions. We like that type of travel anyway, but London, especially for the girls, was a city that could not be missed. We decided to do two days in the city, walking around and absorbing all of the wonder. It absolutely helped that we had perfect weather!

Accommodation

Initially I was determined to stay in the city, but after researching the cost and then finding the most epic housesit we chose to stay in Sevenoaks, just a 25 minute train ride from the city.

Trusted Housesitters has been such a brilliant tool to save money and find community around the world. We almost exclusively used this platform for accommodation during our two months in the United Kingdom. Make sure you check the responsibilities outlined by your pet parent. In this case our hosts beautiful dogs went off to a farm during some days, meaning we were free to do as we liked.

Getting around

Throughout our time in England we hired a car but when visiting London, public transport is the best option, and in our experience, quite the dream. I mean is there anything more London then the red double-decker bus? Kids are free on buses and trains and for adults all you have to do is tap your credit card as you go. There is a cap to what you will pay meaning when you reach it, travel for the rest of the day is free.

Things to do

See a Show in West End

Surprising the girls, we booked Matilda the Musical, the multi-award wining show at the Cambridge Theatre in West End. We found booking early or closer to the day didn’t really change the price of tickets. Where you sit and what show you want to see does. We settled with some seats right at the back of the theatre (they also happened to be the only ones left), which was totally fine and made even more exciting by the tiny binoculars you can use.

The girls have fallen in love with theatre after seeing Mary Poppins in Australia. Watching them witness the magic of Matilda in London of all places, will forever be a core memory for me.

Circolo Popolare

This place is delightful. A sunny Sicilian trattoria in the heart of London’s lively Fitzrovia district with a menu to die for, Circolo Popolare was the perfect early dinner treat before our show.

In the words of our 6 year old ‘this is the nicest place I’ve ever been’. From the ceiling covered in greenery and festoon lights, walls made into bookshelves with brightly coloured bottles and the best Italian food, there was little not to love. The girls had their first ever mock-tail which was both hilarious and delicious. We couldn’t have picked a better pre-show dining experience.

Diana Park London

Located in Kensington, Diana Park is a brilliant place for kids to run off some steam. We did a ton of walking and sight seeing on this day, yet still at the mention of a playground, energy just magically appeared. Surprisingly, this is the first park we’ve come across with such stringent safety measures, as you’re only given admittance if you have a child you’re supervising. The park itself encompasses a lot of free play with a huge wooden ship at the centre. There is also a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the pirate ship and various play sculptures.

It really is a must-visit if you’re in London with kids!

Science Museum

For Alessia’s birthday we visited the London Science Museum. The main museum is free and there are different exhibitions you can pay to enter. We chose to visit the Wonderlab, an kid focussed exhibition with over seven different zones, where you can interact with real scientific phenomena.

We spent so much time at the Wonderlab that by the time we were finished we were ready to head home. You could easily spend a few days at the Science Museum. It’s free which is wonderful, although you’ll need to make sure you book online before hand.

Big Ben and Parliament House

After nearly two months of ‘English summer’ a.k.a. cold and rainy, we finally had a brilliant sunshine day which coincided with a London day trip. Look at that blue sky! We jumped off the train at Waterloo station, walked along the river and across the bridge to get the best views of Big Ben and Parliament House.

Apparently Big Ben recently underwent a bit of a restoration and boy does it show…it was absolutely gleaming.

Changing of the Guard

With hundreds of other tourists you can watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. At 1045am every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the streets surrounding the Palace are packed with people waiting to glimpse the Regimental Band and New Guards.

It’s a great free thing to do while in London. We watched from the sideline near St. James’s Palace as they were inspected by the Captain of the King’s Guard before the contingent marched toward the palace. Honestly this spot felt like a bit of a secret. Most people want to be closer to the palace so the crowds are a lot thinner here much to our delight.

It surprises me the amount of tourists who view the King’s Guards as simply an attraction.They are in fact highly trained soldiers, so make sure to not get in their way or touch them. You’ll also notice an increased police presence during the change over. If you do get in their way the guards will absolutely shout at you, as we witnessed on more than one occasion. It’s a good idea to talk to your kids about what they can expect so as not to be alarmed.

Buckingham Palace

After watching the Regimental Band and New Guards march towards Buckingham we also headed that way. The crowds are huge so if you’re wanting to get close to the palace you’ll need to be there super early. In my opinion if you want to really enjoy seeing the palace go at a different time – we did not enjoy the busy crowds, but did love seeing it from a distance.

The weather, the flowers and the excitement among the people made it all worth it. It was quite the ‘pinch me moment’ and I could have spent a long time just taking it all in!

Shopping

Shopping, or window-shopping, is all part of the London experience. Oxford and Regent Street are the obvious choices, although busy and a tad overwhelming. For a more unique shopping experience head to Carnaby and Covent Gardens. You’ll still find some of the more well known brands but in a quieter charming setting.

Of course there is SO much more to do in London. There are some great deals online to be found that give you entry into multiple sites at a discounted price. Long term travel has meant you just can’t see it all, nor would we want to suffer trying to. London is overflowing with history and art and is a must-visit for any family traveling to the United Kingdom.

Have you been to London? What did you love?