London with infant and toddler

We're off to London in a couple of weeks with our infant and toddler. The archives on this city are a few years old, so I am hoping for updated advice on places to go, things to do, places to eat, etc. I'd especially be interested in any advice on what NOT to do. If you've been to London recently with your young kid(s), please pass on some helpful tips! Thanks so much!

We approached via Kentish Town tube station, taking a short bus ride to Highgate Road, where there is a nice child friendly bakery/cafe just outside the park (much better than the cafe in the park). Note: Hampstead tube station is closer, but it's very hilly right around there and not much fun with a stroller and a slow walker. In the summer, there is also free kids' entertainment at the bandstand (we saw a magician).

It's also where the locals go (mums and nannies), so it's easy to start up conversations and get some good advice on kid friendly things to do. You can download a pdf map at the City of London website. http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/living_environment/open_spaces/hampstead_heath.htm#visitor Mom of Two

London place to stay for family of 4

Our family of 4 (kids ages 2 and 16) will be visiting England early July, and plan to spend about four nights in London. I'm looking for recommendations for centrally located hotels or small apartments that would be comfortable for four. I'd love to be near a nice park for my 2 year-old, but it would be great to be near the major sights, theatres and museums too. I'd be open to staying a short tube ride away from central London if people have a good recommendation for such a place. I want to spend no more than 150 pounds ($300.00) per night. Thanks a lot, Kate

Family of 5 visiting London & Scotland<

We are traveling to London and Scotland in late July/early August and are looking for suggestions on where to stay in central London and Scotland as a family. We would love to know what other families have enjoyed doing with teenagers. We have two 15 year olds and one 12 year old. Thanks for any help you could offer. Dana

We stayed at Morgan House B&B (taking 2 rooms) on Ebury St just behind Buckingham Palace. I've stayed there before, so familiarity helped make the decision. The folks there are beyond wonderful, and the place itself is beautiful.

Activities we enjoyed: First, a tour on the top of a double-decker bus to get oriented. Then, in no particular order: Tower of London (go as soon as it opens in the morning & you get a private look at the Crown Jewels!), St. Paul's (to the very tippy top), London Eye (13 year old went bungee-jumping next door to the Eye--height of the trip for her), River trips to Hampton Palace, Kew Gardens, & Greenwich, shopping, British Museum, Nat. HIstory museum, Chelsea Physick garden (they do one of the best teas in London! Kensington Palace Orangery's tea is also not to be missed), the V&A, John Soane museum (a must see if you're interested in unusual architecture or interior design), a few train trips (Cambridge--leave from King's Cross & see platform nine-and-three-quarters--Kent, & Canterbury in our case), walks along the Thames, (esp. at night when the bridges are lit up in Chelsea), tour of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey (one kid was into the Da Vinci Code bigtime--so WA was a pilgrimage for her--she would have also visited Temple Church if she could have), Trafalgar square, concerts at St. Martin-in-the-fields, the Imperial War Museum, the Garden History Museum (in a deconsecrated church--Captain Bligh's tomb is there). Also, if you stay in Belgravia as we did, DO NOT miss The Chocolate Society on Elizabeth just off Ebury, the deli across the street from it, or the great Italian restaurant nearby (called Oliveto!)

Also, when you have teens (as opposed to toddlers or tweens) you can split up & do what different people want to do, which was an incredible boon. Just give them some money, put them in one of the wonderful cabs, & agree on a time & place to meet up again! My kids loved the freedom & feeling of being intrepid world travelers. We also bought some of the wonderful needlepoint kits that they sell in the museum shops & oldest daughter & I whiled away evenings, waiting time, & resting time soothing our travel-roughened nerves with handwork.

One further suggestion--save brochures, tix stubs, postcards, etc. & take these & your photos to do a family scrapbook project when you get home. We did this one night a week in the months after the trip, and it was like we got to go back to London every week. The more elaborate the book, the longer you get to prolong your ''trip.''

Oh, this is making me wish I could go again! Bon Voyage! And have a wonderful trip. Laura

In Edinburgh, I'd highly recommend the Knight's Residence to stay. It is located just south of the Castle in a quiet neighborhood, and is either newly built or recently renovated set of apartments. We had a 2 bedroom with kitchen, washer/dryer, and dishwasher, and very comfortable rooms for reasonable rates. The staff were very friendly, and there is a library of movies to borrow. Rosalyn chapel was an easy bus ride away, if anyone has read Da Vinci code. St Andrews is a bit further by bus. Sterling Castle sounds nice; we didn't go, but should be an easy train ride.

York is a well-preserved medieval walled town, but it is very touristy. Still, it is worth a stop. We stayed at a B&B about a half mile outside of the walls and walked in to town. If you stay at any smaller towns, there is a tradition of Sunday roasts for lunch. Most pubs will advertise them, either turkey, lamb or Roast beef with all the trimmings. Nice local custom to try, and most pubs outside of city centers have a family area.

London is expensive, but the tube is so easy and convenient, don't hesitate to stay out further and take the bus/tube. I've stayed in both Earl's Court area and Chelsea, and found them convenient. We rented a 2BR at the Chelsea Cloisters last time, but I think their minimum stay is a week. The Tower of London shouldn't be missed for you and the kids. Across the river from the tower is giant outdoor food market on the weekends.

LondonWalks has a huge set of guided tours; the one we took was a great way to see an area. They also have things like a Beatles tour. I would assume Da Vinci code too :-) The options for day trips is huge as well. Bryan

London in December with Teenagers

We will be going to london in decebmer for about 16 days. What are places to visit that teenagers will enjoy? any money saving tips? we are on a tight budget. thanks for the advice.
excited but a bit apprehensive

Shopping:
TopShop reasonably priced teen heaven like H&M
Accessorize-Fab accessories
Covent garden-outdoor street stalls
Camden town

Sights
London dungeon -Gory wax musuem
Tower of London- a don't miss
Hampton Court Palace-good castle has re-enactments around xmas that are
pretty amusing
Walk around the Parks, Big Ben etc.

Amesbury is a free alternative to stonehenge, it's messier but still pretty cool, also there are usually some pretty interesting characters wandering round take the chunnel to Paris for the day-it's not that much and you can go in the morning and be back for dinner

Don't drive if you can-it's terrifying, roads are tiny, zillions of cars, tickets are rampant due to CCTV it's everywhere (almost no speeding-which is good)

Take the tube, bus, or train all cheaper than driving and easier public transportation is excellent there.

Have fun -you'll love it! london calling

A semester in Oxford with 2 kids

We'll be in Oxford for a semester or two with our young kids (1 and 3). We'd love advice on life there, including where to live (preferably close to the university), how to find childcare, things to do, places to visit there or further afield. Thanks! Temporary Expat

Babysitter in London & Oxford

I will be in London and Oxford for three weeks from 13 June-5 July. I need someone to play with my 3 yr old while I work from home in the mornings or afternoons. We'll be staying near the Hammersmith tube station. Any recommendations of babysitters? Or suggestions how I might find a babysitter? Mary

London family-friendly hotels

We will be traveling to London with our 11-yr-old this summer and are looking for an affordable place to stay for about a week. Ideal find would be between $100-$150 USD (or less!) per night. Has anyone been there within the last year who can make a recommendation? Would also love to hear of any out-of-the way discoveries or tips people have for visiting London, great day-trips, places to score cheap(er) theatre tickets before we leave the US, etc. Thanks.

One of those attractions we went to was Dennis Severs' House (more information here: http://travelguides.wanadoo.uk.com/sisp/?fx=event&event_id=59776). This is a combination historical house/museum. The house consists of several rooms, all of which have been restored to 1900 and before. We did the candlelight tour, which is a bit pricey at 12 pounds per person. But it's well worth it as one gets the feeling of how people actually lived at this time. You do need to make reservations in advance, and their hours that they are open vary. Lori

Bringing Baby to London

We're planning a trip to London with our then 8-month-old baby. Trying to figure out logistics of getting around with stroller (worth it?), where to eat, how to get a baby used to the new time zone, will I be able to breastfeed in public without offending people (have heard ''no'' but wonder), any London hotspots for changing diapers on the go?, etc. Also, does anyone know if you can push a stroller through the British Museum? Any advice and recommendations welcome!
Baby-Packin' Mama

The main way to get around in London is the subway/tube, and some of the stations have plenty of stairs, though mainly escalators. I imagine most, if not all, have elevators, but you'll want to try to plan your tube-trips outside the rush hours! British Museum should be fine; even if there's trouble with elevators the 1st floor has enough to see for many days :) (Bring plenty of water & something to snack on for yourself, too!) Areas like Camden and Brick Lane (highly recommended!) are great for walking.

The Brits are probably not too impressed with public breastfeeding. And diaper-changing should absolutely take place in restrooms - there are plenty of MacDonalds' there to utilize... I've been to London many times, although without baby/stroller, but feel free to e-mail me offlist if you'd like further inputs, if so, tell me what you like/would like to see, and I'll be glad to share :)

(A hot tip is to get a copy of London's Time Out Magazine, either before you go or as soon as you get there, to check out basically everything that happens.) http://www.timeout.com/london/ http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/ Good luck! Kat

jet lag is a pain. i always find that we'll be up for some part of the night ... like 1am till 4am.... for a week. be ready with snacks and toys. it's nice if you staying where you can turn on the lights and not worry about waking anyone.then plan a nap in the afternoon. it's a great city. have fun. Kristin

As for catching up on the jetlag just be prepared to take your time, our kiddies have gotten through the time difference in their own time, sometimes waking up a little more at night, sleeping more in the day but after a couple of days it all balances out.

Getting around with a stroller in London; the Tube system is pretty old, and deep underground, not many elevators around (as far as I remember) so take a light umberella stroller to get up and down those escalators. Go ahead and have a great trip, London is full of life and a lot of fun!! Cathy

Have fun. I love London and can't wait to take my two boys back there...when they are much older and can appreciate the history. Susan

That being said, it is NOT easy to get around London with a stroller. Remember, London is an old city. Most of the Tube stations are old and don't have lifts (elevators). An 8-month old is easier to lift up and down stairs, of course, but you should be prepared. And, people are generally really nice and may offer to help you. Once you're on the platform, it's easy just to push the stroller on to the train. If you are going around with your partner, you'll have an easier time. The newer buses are easy to get on and off of, but the double decker ones can be trickier. We resorted to cabs more often than we would have liked, but the drivers were always patient as we collapsed the strollers and helpful.

We did go to the British Museum. You didn't say what time of year you're going, but in late December, it was so crowded and difficult to wheel a stroller through. It wasn't the most relaxing trip in the world, but I am really happy we went. Hope this helps. Mollie

When I was last in London (pre-baby), I found good, fresh deli-type take-out for picnics in Marks & Spencer food departments, and at a deli chain called Pret-a-Manger, though there are lots of other possibilities. As far as feeding the baby, we pretty much regressed temporarily to exclusive breastfeeding for convenience, though it helped to always have a few Cheerios on hand to keep her occupied while the adults were eating. Hope you have a great trip! Evette

Yes, you can bring a stroller to the British Museum, and every other museum as well. Breastfeeding - like anywhere - just be tactfully discreet. You may even find breastfeeding rooms or comfy ''Ladies Lounges'' in hotels or department stores, which usually happen to be near enough to most of the tourist sights.

If you're going soon, it'll be cold and wet, so remember to get a rain cover for your stroller and probably even one of those ''sleeping bag'' type things they sell in colder climes that slip over the end to keep your baby's feet warm (the UK baby shop Mothercare calls them ''cosytoes''). Have a great time! Ellen

I don't know if you can take strollers in the British Museum, but I know that you can take baby backpacks in. I never had any problems or bad vibes breastfeeding anywhere in public (including on a bench in the British Museum and on the steps in front of St. Paul's Cathedral). One nice thing about England is that, unlike in the US, you can take your baby with you into the pubs if you and your husband want to have a pint of ale or a meal. The downside is the amount of cigarette smoke, but it's simply unavoidable and our baby hasn't seemed to have suffered any effects from it. Again, the baby was a great conversation starter and we met many locals that way.

As far as getting used to the time change, I admit that it did take a few days, but it was tolerable. Have fun! Katy

I found, regarding the time change, it was best to just bite the bullet and get onto local time as quickly as possible. My daughter woke up in the night for a few nights, but proved to be remarkably adaptable. And she went back to her old schedule almost immediately when she returned. Have a great trip! mom of UK baby

Lake District

This is a vacation we've done and I'd do it again at the drop of a hat.

One of our favorite places in the world is the Lake District of England, just south of the Scottish border. Beautiful scenery, walks about marvelaous lakes ranging from the easy (Tarn How) to strenous (Wastwater), Beatrix Potter land for little kids, easy day trips to Yorkshire (Fountains Abbey should not be missed) and Hadrian's Wall, boat rides on Coniston Water. I'd rent a house or houses (depending on how much time you want to be in each other's company) in Ambleside and spend a week. Fly Continental into Manchester via Newark and rent a car for the easy drive to the Lakes. Then I'd drive down to London (unless I wanted to hop up to Scotland for a few days to see Loch Lomond and Loch Ness), with a stopover in Warwick (Warwick Castle is hecka fun, although now run by Madame Tussaud's) or Stratford (Shakespeare country). Drop the rental car at Heathrow (no way will I drive in London) and have transport company pick you up for drive to hotel or, again, rental flats. We love having the extra space/privacy of a flat and the ability to have breakfast and the occasional dinner in rather than always having to go out for food. Theaters (there's something for every age group: Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, Queen's We Will Rock You, Les Miz, Shakespears at the Bobe Theatre, etc. etc. etc.), history (the Tower, Buckingham Palace), museums galore (and most of them free). Day trips to places like Windsor (not just the castle, Legoland Windsor is 10 times better than San Diego), Stonehenge (touristy, but still magnificent), and Hampton Court (Henry VII's place and fantastic tour guides in period costume). No problem finding a week's worth of things to do. For a third week, you could take the channel tunnel train over to Paris.

If this sounds interesting and you want any specifics, like rental agencies for the Lakes and/or London and ideas about getting around (e.g., best buys for Tube passes), drop me a line and I'll be happy to give you web sites, phone #'s, etc. Happy travels, wherever you go. norm

As to cheapest stays: With families your options are more restricted, but there are hostels with family rooms (so family all sleeps together) still much cheaper than other options. Next best bet are B and Bs but quality varies tremendously to great to awful, so again cull through travel guides before you book. Book ahead as summer is a difficult time to find accomodations.

In London, the tower of london and madame tussauds are what kids usually like to see. Greenwich is a lovely outing as well (loads of green space views lots of other kids and play areas, some deer...). Get to greenwich on a double decker bus, and sit upstairs it gives you a great view of the city and the kids will love it. Have a good trip. Christina

London B&Bs - parent + 14-year-old

I'll be in London with my 14 years old in March for a few days and I wonder if anyone could recommend a clean, affordable (up to $150 per night)B&B or hotel (with private bath) in a nice location. Thanks.

I can't give specific recommendations because my children are much younger, although a boat ride along the Thames to Greenwich would probably satisfy all of you. I would suggest that you look into the White Card (family and individual cards available). This gets you into a number of museums for one price. You buy it at the first museum that honors it and it's good for a full week. (I think there are also 3-day cards available too.) Anyway, check out your guidebooks for this deal.

Also, if you go the public transportation route, be sure to look into the various passes available. For some, you need a passport size picture, which you can pay for at a machine at some tube stations, but it may be more convenient to get the pictures here before you go.

It has been almost ten years since I was in London, but I do remember that the theaters sell half-price tickets the day of the show. They go on sale at noon, I think. However, I don't remember the name of the square where the sales are. We bought tickets to see "Bent" with Ian MacClellan and Paul Rhys, and our seats were in the Orchestra, 6th row center -- for half price (I think 6 pounds each). I highly recommend going this route. I assume you can call any theater in London and ask where the half-price tickets go on sale, or you can ask your hotel concierge. Good luck, and have fun,

To the woman asking for recommendations for a trip to London and Wales: London tends to tempt adults into visiting museums non-stop, but the British Museum is definitely fun for all ages, especially the archaeology section (the Rosetta stone, the huge Egyptian artifacts etc). To make the typical 15 year-old happy, go to Camden market. It's a HUGE market in an old factory area featuring lots of antiques, interesting second hand and flea market stuff, but also high quality ethnic art and all kinds of curiosities (I forgot on which weekdays it is - ask when you arrive in London).

Practically every 11 year-old is delighted if you let him/her figure out how to use the "tube" system and how to get from one place to another. It's vast compared to BART and is the fastest way to get around, and fun to use.

If you get to Wales and you and your kids are into books, go to Hey-on-Wye (spelling?). It's a small village in which one out of three houses is a second hand book store, worth a visit if you like that kind of treasure hunt. Nearby Black Mountains are a great hiking area, with remains of medieval churches and monasteries along the trails.

Does anyone have any recommendations for activities a 2 year old might enjoy in London? Are there restaurants in central London which are particularly toddler friendly? I am particularly interested in indoor suggestions, as it will undoubtledly rain much of our stay. Thank you.

London Hotels & Rentals

Cristina

My husband and I need to travel to London the third week of Sept. for an interview. We both need to be there and will be taking our two year old daughter. I am six months pregnant as well, and a bit overwhelmed about the logistics. Can you recommend an inexpensive place to stay but most importantly, advise us on how to set up childcare arrangements in advance? We will need one afternoon and one evening of care. Or, does anyone know of someone coming from London from the 22-29th of Sept. to the Bay Area who needs a place to stay? We could trade houses. Any help would be greatly appreciated. gia

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