If you want to take your family to Europe but you are a little afraid of the language barrier, London is a great place to start.
London is great way to introduce your kids to international travel. We took our family there for a summer holiday a couple of years ago and the kids are still begging to go back. My best advice? Stop listening to the news and don’t let fear of the unknown stop you from seeing the world. Book your flight and get out there!
Getting there: One of the best things about traveling to London is there are always airline deals offered due to it having two major airports. Whether you decide to fly into Gatwick or Heathrow, be sure to keep in mind your final destination and how to best arrive. Express trains and the tube were our favorite modes of transportation. London cabs are also dependable but can be costly.
Where to stay: If you prefer a hotel, every major American hotel chain will be available but it can also be expensive. Also, keep in mind, hotel rooms will be much smaller than you may expect. With a family of five, we preferred to stay in an Airbnb in a central part of the city. It was close to a tube station and was also located near a Waitrose, which made breakfasts and a few evening dinners a bit cheaper as well.
Things to do: Depending on how much time you have, you may want to begin your trip with an easy Hop On/Hop Off bus tour. Jet lag is real and this could be the best way to spend the first day or so getting accustomed to the time difference. These bus tours also offer a great way to get an overview of the city and then you can go back to places that interest you most. There are also city ticket packages that can be very helpful when traveling with families. If you have enough time to visit most of the places offered in these packages, I highly recommend buying it online prior to your arrival.
It’s impossible to visit all of the historic sites, find out what interests you and make a plan. My oldest son was really into history and WWII so made sure we toured the Churchill War Rooms. My daughter had recently finished all of the Harry Potter books, so we made a side trip to the WB Harry Potter studio. Everyone loved the Tower of London, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Also, no trip to London could be complete without some shopping at Harrods or having a proper tea.
Like I said, London is a great way to start exploring Europe. It’s also a good home base for some fun side trips. We were able to fit in a trip to Paris as well as Scotland while we were there.
Happy Travels -BW
