The Complete 7-Day London Guide For First-Timers
London is such a city that has a beautiful blend of cultures, food, and historical landmarks. When booking our London trip, we weren’t sure if it would be family-friendly since most major cities are hard to navigate with children. London, however, was so nice to walk around with our stroller! This is the complete family-friendly guide for how we spent one week in London and it’s perfect for those visiting for the first time with or without families.
When is the best time to visit London?
Summer or June-August is the best time. Mid-June is the perfect time because the weather was warmer during the day, a bit cooler in the evening and fortunately, there wasn’t any rain we went but rain does happen year-round.
Where to Stay in London
The city is so large, it’s hard to decide where exactly to stay. The main areas I recommend are around Hyde Park, Paddington, and anywhere close to bus stops and tram stations. 3 hotels I recommend:
1. Mariott Marble Arch – very central to Hyde Park, St. James Park and Buckingham Palace
2. Renaissance St. Pancras – this hotel on its own is so beautiful and HUGE and right next to an above-ground train station
3. Radisson Blue– great location near Camden market so perfect for those wanting to do some shopping
What is the best form of transportation?
Whatever you do, do NOT rent a car. The transportation system is so easy to use where you have the option between bus or tram. We mostly used the bus because the tram was underground and since there are no elevators and limited escalators, it’s hard to navigate with a toddler and a stroller. Both the bus and tram systems do not need a pass, you can use a credit card or tap to pay to pay for each ride which was the most efficient thing I saw and loved. Keep in mind though, that it’s only one person per card used but children under 11 are free. You can park your stroller in the handicapped section but be mindful of those in wheelchairs, you will have to move.
Places to Visit
Hyde Park
One of the best parks in London, this is a great area to spend the whole day walking and exploring. There are so many little spots to see, I recommend Serpentine Lake where you can rent a boat and ride around the park or sit on the bench, eat some ice cream, and enjoy the views with the ducks. If you keep walking down past the bridge, there’s a mini playground for toddlers and older kids up to 10 years old. On Sundays, if you’re interested in politics, stop by the Speakers’ Corner where people come together to have friendly debates about current events, religions, and opinions.
Kensington Gardens/Palace
Another beautiful walking area where you will find the famous Kensington Palace and the gardens right outside of the palace. This and Hyde Park can be done on the same day as the locations aren’t very far but if it’s too much walking for you, you can break it up into multiple days if you enjoy slower travel. Take a tour inside the palace or just walk around the gardens and even make your way to visit the Albert Memorial/monument which is free to access and has been featured in various movies.
Buckingham Palace
The most popular place for tourists to see, the Palace is great to see at any time and if you have time, be sure to check out the changing of the guards ceremony that happens throughout the week. You can check the schedule out here since it changes depending on the month. You can also book tours to get the best viewpoint during the ceremony and even a small tour inside the Palace.
Borough Market and Camden Market
If you’re looking for things to eat and try from all around the world, I recommend going to both Camden and Borough Market to try food and snacks throughout the day. At Borough Market, you’ll find the viral chocolate-covered strawberries that are worth making the trip alone but I also recommend trying the mushroom risotto, lavender lemonade, truffle mac and cheese and getting some pudding from Humble Crumble. At Camden Market, I recommend trying Funky Chips where you can try fries (or chips) with different toppings, a steak sandwich and mini pancakes. The best time to visit both markets are during the weekdays as the weekends get very busy and hard to move around especially if you’re going with children and have a stroller.
Big Ben, London Eye and Westminster Bridge
All three of these landmarks are very close to each other and easy to see in one day. I recommend getting on the hop-on-hop-off bus to be able to see all the most popular tourist landmarks and attractions including St. Paul’s Cathedral that way you don’t have to worry about getting from point A to point B over multiple days. This area is heavily populated all throughout the day but easy to walk around if you have small children. Be sure to walk towards the London eye as this is the perfect family-friendly area to enjoy fish and chips, a merry-go-round and just sitting and taking in the beautiful views.
London Bridge and Tower Bridge
These two of these are in the same area and can be seen on the way to Borough Market. Start on Bank Street and make your way to Trafalgar Square or take a bus straight to Tower Bridge. I do recommend going through Bank Street as it was the “Wall Street” of London and it was nice to see the historic buildings and architecture. The London Bridge and Tower Bridge are right across from each other and the iconic bridge you know when you think of London is Tower Bridge. London Bridge is more of a port but the pretty views are all from the Tower Bridge. You can also book an Uber boat instead of walking down the bridge and you can just book it on the Uber app which is a very different experience and a great option for those wanting to take a mini walking break (taxis don’t go this way).
Oxford Street
The most popular street for tourists, this area is perfect for those wanting to shop at any and every store. You’ll find a mix of stores including Selfridges, Marks and Spencer, Harrods, etc. I recommend walking around Selfridges and going up to the third floor perfect for kids of all ages. There’s a toy section where kids can interact with the toys and even a floor piano for the kids to walk on and create music. End your stop on the 4th floor with a mini food court and get some coffee from Elan, an aesthetic cafe with cute drinks and snacks.
Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus
The most lively area and full of tourists, Picadilly Circus is a great spot for starting the hop-on-hop-off bus tour or even just walking around for a quick bite to eat. Any restaurant you want to try in this area though will need reservations since most have long wait times. Trafalgar Square is a short walk to see this iconic landmark and if you keep walking a bit more you can see the Mary Poppins Statue, Harry Potter Statue, and Paddington Bear Statue in Leicester Square.
Covent Garden
This was such an aesthetic stop on our trip with options for more luxury shopping. This area is great for families and has a nice food hall area where you can grab some lunch, grab a seat and enjoy the views and sometimes even live music. This is a great area for shopping for smaller items like perfumes, handbags, jewelry, and makeup but for more clothing shops visit Oxford Street.
Notting Hill and Portobello Road Market
The cutest area for shopping handmade items and supporting small businesses, the Portabello Road Market stretches quite a bit with little booths set up of different mini shops including clothing, jewelry, shoes, and accessories. If you keep walking down the Market, you’ll come across Notting Hill where you’ll find the popular colorful homes which is the perfect picture-perfect spot but be mindful that people live in these homes so take photos at your own discretion.
Regent’s Park
The best place for the most calming walk, Regent’s Park has great areas for children of all ages to play. This can be combined with Camden Market, however I recommend keeping this for a separate day because this park is massive. Places to see in Regent’s Park include the London Zoo, Primrose Hill, and the London Central Mosque. Start in Camden and start your walk through the canals up to the start of the park for the most beautiful views. There’s even a mini zipline for all ages to go on in the park!
A guide isn’t complete without food but if you know London you know that food is equally as important when planning your trip. Be sure to read the Restaurant Guide for the best places to eat in London here.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you’re able to create your very own itinerary using this guide for your next trip to London!