8-Day Family Trip to London with Kids

Our family of four, with two girls aged 6 and 7, enjoyed a memorable Spring Break exploring London, Bath, the Cotswolds, and Paris. We stayed for the full week at the Marriott County Hall, which we highly recommend! The kids loved the upstairs reading nook in our room with a view of the Thames. However, we did receive a handicap-accessible room, which meant the shower was designed in a way that water splashed everywhere, resulting in a perpetually wet bathroom. While it was a bit bothersome, it wasn’t enough to warrant a room change.

Travel Day: We departed at 6:25 PM on Virgin Atlantic—let’s just say, it was a mediocre experience. We landed at 6:50 AM the following day, and none of us managed to get much sleep during the flight, which set the tone for our trip.

Day 1: After taking the Heathrow Express and a black cab to our hotel, we freshened up and ventured out. We enjoyed a Jurassic-themed high tea at the Ampersand Hotel (a cab ride away). We then strolled through Kensington Gardens and visited Kensington Palace (tickets were pre-booked). Dinner that night was at Dishoom, and we went to bed early to recharge.

Day 2: We allowed ourselves to sleep in a bit before heading to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard at 11 AM. The kids played in the St. James’ Park playground while we savored some much-needed coffee. We encountered a surprise parade, which added to our excitement! We then visited Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese for a drink and took a guided tour of the Globe Theatre. Afterward, we enjoyed dinner at the Founder’s Arms, which offered both great food and a scenic view. The girls capped off the night watching their iPads while we relaxed at Gillray’s Bar with its stunning view of the Thames and Big Ben.

Day 3: We spent the day at the British Museum, then visited Hamleys toy store. After another stop at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, we toured St. Paul’s Cathedral, admired the Roman walls, and took a black cab back to the hotel. Dinner was at Wagamama near County Hall—surprisingly, the kids loved it! We returned to Gillray’s in the evening.

Day 4: Our day started at the Tower of London, where we utilized the audio guide. We had lunch at a nearby Giraffe restaurant, which was decent. In Covent Garden, one of our daughters got unexpectedly pulled into a street performance for 30 minutes, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip! That evening, we enjoyed the Lion King musical—absolutely amazing.

Day 5: In a bit of a blunder, we hired a driver to take us to Bath, thinking it’d be nice to see the Cotswolds along the way. In hindsight, taking the train to Bath would have cost a fraction and allowed us more time to explore. Still, the picturesque Cotswolds were lovely, and I wish we could have spent a few days just relaxing there.

Day 6: Our adventures continued with a visit to Westminster Abbey, followed by some downtime for the girls to swim at the hotel. We enjoyed a delicious curry at a pub near the Wicked theater before catching the show—it was fantastic!

Day 7: We took the 6 AM Eurostar to Paris, where the girls, despite minimal sleep after seeing Wicked, managed to stay energized. We caught a taxi to the Louvre, enjoyed a leisurely walk in a nearby park with coffee and hot chocolate, and let the kids play at a playground. We then strolled along the Champs-Élysées, visited the Arc de Triomphe (though we skipped going up), and capped off the day with wine and