Visiting London as a Family? 5 Tips for a Smooth Experience

London is a massive city; traveling there with kids certainly has plenty of opportunities for both fun and education, but if you’re like most parents the idea of battling through the large crowds or standing in long queues with your little ones might be filling you with dread. The good news is that London is filled with plenty of kid-friendly things to see and do, and getting around doesn’t have to be difficult when you plan ahead. Here are some top tips to keep in mind to make sure that your family trip to the UK capital runs smoothly. If you’re looking for a list of activities, check out Social Playlist London – there’s plenty on there!

Book Your Tickets in Advance:

The last thing that you want is to spend a huge portion of your trip to London waiting around in queues to get entry to the attractions. If you want to visit popular attractions like the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, London Sea Life Aquarium, or the London Dungeons then it’s definitely worth booking your tickets in advance and paying a little bit extra to get skip the line tickets, so that you can bypass the queues and walk straight in. Some attractions and tours, like the Harry Potter studio tour, require you to book tickets in advance online.

Choose the Best Located Accommodation:

London has no shortage of accommodation options that are excellent for families. You can choose from a huge range of family-friendly hotels or if you’d rather go for that home-from-home experience and have a little more space for everybody to enjoy, a serviced apartment or Airbnb could be the perfect option for you. But of course one of the most important factors to consider when choosing your accommodation is the location. Try to find somewhere to stay that’s located centrally or as close to the center as possible, so that you don’t waste time getting into London.

Stay Safe:

One of the biggest concerns for parents when visiting London with small children is staying safe in the city. The good news is that London is one of the safest cities out there and there are plenty of police patrolling the streets, to put your mind at rest. If your kids are old enough, then it’s worth coming up with a plan for meeting up if you end up seperated from one another – it’s unlikely to happen, but it’s always good to be prepared. Make sure that your children know that they can always approach a London Underground staff member, a police officer, or a member of staff in a store if they are lost.

Fit it All In:

There’s so much to see and do in London – and when you’re traveling there as a family, it can feel like there’s not enough time to do everything that everybody wants. One of the best ways to do as much as possible – plus get your money’s worth – is to purchase a London Pass for your family. This will give you entry into a lot of the main attractions, including all the historical sites which can be a hugely educational experience for little ones. And, travel passes are included. You can even use their itinerary planner online to make sure you have the time to visit everywhere you want to see.

Take it Easy:

Last but not least, take it easy and don’t be afraid of being flexible when it comes to visiting London. Most of the attractions are open all day long and you can get tickets that allow you to enter at any time, making it easy to plan as you go and spend more time than expected at certain places, if you enjoy them more than you thought you would.