The perfect first-timers London itinerary with kids

Last updated on June 1, 2026

I grew up just outside of London and spent much of my early adulthood living there. I remember visiting as a child and being awed by the pure size and grandeur of it all. And that’s a feeling I wanted to share with my kids.

We’ve visited many times with the boys, but normally we’re in the local neighbourhoods, seeing friends and visiting old haunts. So on this trip, I wanted to go full tourist and show the boys the classic sights during a family weekend in London.

It’s obviously an enormous city, and there’s enough to fill weeks or even a lifetime, but for this 48-hour London itinerary, I’ve stuck to the central sights, many within walking distance of each other. It’s a greatest-hits version of the city, taking in the most iconic spots in a way that’s manageable as a family.

One of the great things about visiting London with kids is that the city itself is entertaining and many of the most memorable experiences, like sitting on top of a double-decker bus, spotting Big Ben, playing beneath the London Eye and even visiting world museums, are free or budget-friendly. A family trip to London is easier than you might think.

So here’s my full 48 hours in London itinerary, including ways to adapt it if you have more time or want to focus on different areas.

How to spend 48 hours in London with kids

Day 1: The South Bank, afternoon tea and Soho

Morning: Walk the South Bank

If I’m introducing someone to London for the first time, this is almost always where I bring them. A walk along the South Bank is one of the best ways to experience the city, and there’s enough to see and do that you can easily tailor it to your family’s interests and energy levels.

Start around Borough Market and make your way west towards Westminster.

I’d recommend arriving hungry because Borough Market is one of London’s great food destinations. Yes, it’s touristy nowadays, but it’s still genuinely excellent. Grab pastries, toasties or a proper hot breakfast from one of the food stalls and eat in the market or beside the river. A big breakfast here can easily keep you going until afternoon tea later in the day. I also love nearby Where the Pancakes Are for a parent-and-kid-pleasing meal.

From Borough, head west along the South Bank towards the London Eye. You can either walk the full route (around 30 mins at pace) or take an Uber boat for all or part of the way. A single boat fare in the central zone costs around £10 per adult and £5 per child, so it’s pretty expensive, but it’s a good option if you want to conserve energy and aren’t planning to actually go into any of the sights along the way.

If you take the boat, I recommend getting off at the London Eye so the kids can let off steam in the Jubilee Gardens playground, but you could also get off at Big Ben to save the walk across Westminster Bridge.

If you walk, here are some places to pick and choose from along the South Bank:

• Tate Modern – great with kids thanks to the enormous turbine hall and ever-changing installations. They also have cool digital drawing area where you can bring sketches to life. And the shop has a craft area too. See their website for specific family events.
• Golden Hinde – a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship. You can go on the ship and explore below deck too.
• Southbank Centre – hosts many family-friendly performances and events. Check the latest family listings here.
• Jubilee Gardens – one of the best central playgrounds in London, just beside the London Eye.
• London Eye – it’s fun to just see the London Eye, but you could also go on board for epic views of the city. Be warned, it’s pretty slow, so impatient kids may struggle. Definitely book tickets beforehand to avoid the mega queues.
• SEA LIFE London Aquarium – a reliable crowd-pleaser with underwater tunnels, sharks, rays and tropical fish. Especially good for rainy days.
• Shrek’s Adventure! London – an immersive walkthrough experience with actors, sets and interactive storytelling based on the Shrek films. Best for primary-aged kids.
• The Paddington Bear Experience – an interactive Paddington-themed adventure through recreated sets inspired by the books and films. A lovely option for younger children and Paddington fans.

Children also tend to love some of the smaller details along the route: the skateboarders beneath the Southbank Centre, the street performers, the book market beneath Waterloo Bridge, and simply watching the boats go by.

If you have younger kids, I’d keep this section of the day fairly loose. The joy of the South Bank is that it doesn’t need to be rushed.

Afternoon: Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and afternoon tea

From the South Bank, hop on a red bus towards Trafalgar Square. Sitting on the top deck is basically an attraction in itself for children. You could hop off to see Big Ben (or walk across Westminster Bridge to get to it, and catch the bus from there), but for kids, the view from the bus might be enough.

Next, I recommend heading to the Haymarket Hotel for afternoon tea. After a busy morning sightseeing, it makes a lovely calmer pause in the day. The grown-ups get beautiful interiors and exquisite treats, while kids usually enjoy the novelty of tiny sandwiches and elaborate cakes. The London’s Calling afternoon tea is perfect for a weekend like this, as the entire thing is themed on London’s major landmarks.

You could also spend a little time around Trafalgar Square itself, where children often enjoy watching the fountains and street performers.

Evening: Hamleys, Soho and Chinatown

Depending on where you’re staying, you could pop back to your hotel for some downtime. We stayed at the Haymarket, so enjoyed some time in the pool before heading back out into the city (their pool is one of the most beautiful in London!)

Next up is a stop not every adult will want to include, but pretty much any kid will! It’s a visit to Hamley’s, one of the world’s biggest toy shops. It’s busy and overstimulating, but also pure magic for children. Between the toy demonstrations, bubbles floating through the air and performers on every floor, it feels more like an attraction than a shop.

Afterwards, wander down through Soho and Chinatown for dinner.

This is one of my favourite parts of London in the evening. The streets buzz with energy from late afternoon to the early hours. While far more gentrified than when I was a student, it still has that classic London feeling – slightly scruffy, atmospheric and full of possibility.

For families, I’d keep dinner fairly relaxed and casual. Chinatown is fun with kids thanks to all the bright lights and window displays, and if they’re into noodles or rice, there are plenty of quick, family-friendly places to eat.

On our most recent trip we went to Inamo in Soho where the tables double as screens that you can play games on – it was a fun novelty, but the food was pretty poor (painful when you’re so close to an abundance of incredible restaurants!). To play it safe, I’d stick to Pizza Pilgrims, which is fun London chain.

If your kids are old enough, you could also fit in a West End show. Or if they’re younger, swap out Hamleys for a matinee performance.

Day 2: Royal London, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London

Morning: Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park

Start your second day at Buckingham Palace.

If you want to see the Changing of the Guard, aim to arrive early as it gets extremely busy. But to be honest with younger children,I don’t think it’s really worth the wait. I’d either risk getting a bad view or skip it altogether.

Afterwards, walk through St James’s Park, which is one of the prettiest royal parks in the city and a good opportunity for children to let off some steam.

Late morning: Tower Bridge

Next, make your way east to Tower Bridge, one of London’s most iconic landmarks.

You can simply marvel at it from the outside, but I highly recommend exploring inside Tower Bridge too. The highlight is the glass floor walkway suspended above the traffic and river below. The kids loved the thrill of walking on the glass and peering down at the tiny people below.

You can also learn about the history of the bridge, and there’s a fun trail for kids to follow where they collect stamps along the way. Finally, you can also visit the engine rooms to see how the inner workings of the bridge are controlled. The whole experience was a highlight for our kids in London.

Afternoon: Tower of London

Grab a bite to eat somewhere simple – Pret is always an easy win! And then afterwards, right beside Tower Bridge, is the Tower of London. Make sure to book tickets as otherwise the queues get pretty big!

I love the fact there’s a thousand-year-old castle right in the middle of the city. And for children, it’s exactly the sort of place that makes London feel exciting and larger than life.

Older children will likely enjoy hearing the dramatic stories of prisoners and executions, while younger ones usually just enjoy exploring the towers, viewing the Crown Jewels, spotting ravens and seeing the guards in their distinctive uniforms.

If energy levels are fading by this point, don’t feel pressure to see every single part of the complex. London works best as a family when you reduce the pressure to do it all!

Other places to consider in London with kids

You could easily spend a week in London with children and still barely scratch the surface, so if you have extra time – or want to swap out parts of the itinerary depending on your children’s ages and interests – these are some of my favourite additions.

Science Museum

This is one of the best museums in London for children and the place my eldest loves the most. He’s obsessed with space, so can spend hours looking at rockets, satellites and astronaut paraphernalia. But even younger children tend to enjoy it because there are so many interactive exhibits. I’ve written a guide to visiting the Science Museum with kids.

Natural History Museum

If dinosaurs are the priority, head here instead. The giant dinosaur skeletons and animatronic T-Rex are usually the main draw for kids, but the building itself is also spectacular. It’s one of those museums where simply walking through the entrance hall feels exciting.

The museum can get extremely busy during weekends and school holidays, so I’d aim for either first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon.

London Transport Museum

This is a great option for younger children. Kids can climb aboard old buses and trains, explore interactive exhibits and burn off energy in the play zones.

It also works brilliantly as part of a wider central London day because it’s right in Covent Garden, close to street performers, cafes and easy transport links. If you don’t want to do Hamley’s, this would be a good choice as you’d still be keeping things central.

Princess Diana Memorial Playground

This is one of London’s best playgrounds, and a good stop after the Science Museum or Natural History Museum. The huge wooden pirate ship is the centrepiece, but there are also sensory trails, teepees, sand play and plenty of shaded seating.

Young V&A

This beautifully redesigned museum in Bethnal Green is aimed specifically at children and is much more imaginative and interactive than a traditional museum. Everything is built around creativity and play, with exhibitions designed to encourage children to touch, build, explore and invent.

London Zoo

London Zoo makes a good choice if you want a slightly slower-paced day after lots of city sightseeing. It’s set within Regent’s Park, so you can combine it with playground time or a picnic if the weather’s good.

Greenwich Park

Greenwich is one of my favourite parts of London because it somehow feels village-like despite being packed with famous sights. You can get there via the Thames Clipper, which makes the journey part of the adventure.

Children will love the huge playground in Greenwich Park, and older kids might enjoy visiting the observatory or planetarium. The views across London from the top of the park are also gorgeous.

Horniman Museum and Gardens

This is one of my favourite family spots in south London and somewhere that feels much more local than the major tourist attractions. There’s a small aquarium, butterfly house, gardens with sweeping city views, and a lovely outdoor musical play area.

It’s especially good if you’re spending longer in London and want a break from central sightseeing.

Tips for visiting London with kids

Don’t try to do too much

This is probably my biggest piece of advice. London is exciting, but it’s also tiring. Distances are bigger than they look on a map, there’s a lot of walking, and simply being in such a busy environment can be overstimulating for children (and adults).

I’d strongly resist the temptation to cram in every major attraction. You’ll enjoy the city much more if you leave space for spontaneous stops, playground breaks and long lunches.

Think of transport as part of the fun

One of the joys of London with kids is that the transport itself often becomes a highlight.

Sit upstairs on double decker buses whenever possible, take the Thames Clipper boat, and maybe even ride the London Cable Car. If you go on the DLR, let the children stand at the front and pretend to drive it. London is one of those cities where getting from A to B can feel like an attraction in itself.

I also generally prefer buses over the Tube with children because you actually get to see the city as you move through it. But don’t underestimate how tiring travelling around can be. That’s why I kept our 48 hours in London largely tube-free.

Download Citymapper

This is the app most Londoners use and it makes navigating the city infinitely easier.

It gives live journey updates, tells you which carriage to board on the Tube, and often suggests buses or walking routes you wouldn’t otherwise think of. And always avoid the tube at rush hour. It’s unpleasant at the best of time, but with kids it’s pure stress.

Build playgrounds into your itinerary

Even older children benefit from downtime between sightseeing. The city is filled with loads of green space and playgrounds where you can have some downtime or let off steam. Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank and the Diana Memorial Playground are particularly good central options.

Use contactless instead of buying paper tickets

London transport is very easy once you get the hang of it. The simplest option for most visitors is to use contactless bank cards or Apple Pay rather than buying individual tickets. Children under 11 travel free on London buses and the Tube when accompanied by a paying adult.

Stay somewhere well-connected

When choosing where to stay, I’d prioritise transport links over almost everything else. London is huge, and what looks “central” on a map can still involve long journeys.

On our most recent trip, we stayed very centrally at the Haymarket Hotel, which is a pure luxury 5-star option. For something more budget-friendly, we’ve also enjoyed the Novotel at London Bridge (you know I don’t love chains, but in London, they’re often the most economical option with a reliable level of quality). We’ve also enjoyed Hotel Marrable’s in the past.

See my other London guides

I also have a guide to how to visit London with a toddler, and a whole collection of posts on how to get the most out of the city, from the best afternoon teas to where to find the village feel in the city. See all my London posts.