My youngest daughter will be joining her sisters in college next year, so my husband and I spend as much time as we can with her before our nest is left empty. As a former international flight attendant, my travel bug never subsided, and luckily my daughter feels the same. For her March spring break, we traveled to London on a mom-daughter trip. London is a great destination for family travel. It’s safe, clean, exciting, friendly and offers something for everyone. Here are our tips and what we did:
Getting There
This is the time to upgrade your outbound flight to business class if possible. Flights to London are mostly overnight and arrive early in the morning. Carry toiletries and an eye mask so you’ll be fresh for hitting the ground running.
Lodging
I recommend a boutique-style hotel for British charm. We stayed at The Rembrandt in Kensington. It was the perfect location and a substantial English breakfast was included each morning, which saved time for exploring.
Getting Around
Set up your wallet on your phone. I never once used cash or a credit card – everything is contactless. You’ll use your phone to tap onto buses, the Tube and Ubers/taxis. You can buy an Oyster Card that’s preloaded with fares but your phone will be easier. We used the City Mapper app which shows how to get around and updates in real time. Also download the Lime and the Santander (“Boris Bikes”) apps for renting ebikes, and the Zip Car app if you’ll need a car. We spent one day driving and I recommend trains whenever possible!
Dining
In my opinion, London serves up the best food in the world. The streets are lined with every type of restaurant you can imagine and we never had a bad meal. Tuck into a classic British pub for an old-fashioned experience. Other favorites include Dishroom for Indian small plates, Straits Kitchen Singaporean, and the ubiquitous Pret a Mangers (aka “Pret”).
Day One
Drop your bags, freshen up and get outside! Rent ebikes off the street and take a ride over to Hyde Park. Bikes aren’t allowed inside the park but you can stow them, walk around, then pick up new bikes later. Things to see in Hyde Park: Kensington Palace and Gardens, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, enjoy a café snack or boating on the Serpentine Lake or take a horse riding lesson at Hyde Park stables. Afterwards, head to Buckingham Palace, where you just might see the King (we did)! In the afternoon, hop aboard city bus 24 and sit upstairs to catch views of various neighborhoods.
Day Two
Catch the Tube to Westminster and spend an Instagram-worthy day sightseeing around Central London. Take an iconic photo with a red phone box (“K6”) near Big Ben, visit the Tower of London and see the Crown Jewels, walk across the Tower Bridge, see the Houses of Parliament and attend an Evensong inside Westminster Abbey. Be sure to walk over to St. Paul’s Cathedral and listen for the ringing of the church bells, and ride along the River Thames on an Uber boat.
Day Three
If you visit Notting Hill before seeing the rom-com of the same name, you’ll be confused. Hugh Grant plays a simple bookshop owner who falls in love with an American actress played by Julia Roberts. Much of this village pays homage to the movie and tourists take photos by the bookshop and the movie’s “Blue Door.” Decide if the movie is appropriate for your travelers and if it’s not, you’ll still enjoy the thrift shops and open-air market on Portobello Road, and the colorful houses made famous in various films. A Notting Hill tote bag is pretty much a must-buy. Later that day, go for high tea at one of London’s many luxury hotels. We sat in the garden room at The Goring and loved it. Advance reservations are required and most hotels have a dress code.
Day Four
Trip to Windsor. This historic Berkshire market town is a short train ride from London’s Waterloo or Paddington stations. The main attraction is Windsor Castle, especially fun if you watch The Crown. Tour St. George’s chapel, and stroll across the river to the quaint town of Eton, home of the famous boarding school. Pubs and restaurants abound and you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time.
Day Five
Attend a football fixture! Football (what we call soccer) is extremely popular in England and games can be a lot of fun. Premier League tickets are hard to come by but try getting hospitality level seats, or you can attend a championship, league 1 or league 2 game. Warning: Don’t purchase tickets from a scalper (“tout”). Scalping is illegal and the tickets are often forgeries. The spectacular London Stadium has events all year and is worth the tube ride to get there. This is also a good day to fit in shopping and browsing on Carnaby Street, in Covent Garden and at Harrods.
Day Six
Day Trip: Bath
“Bridgerton” fans will especially get a kick out of this unique town, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its history and architecture. The Great Western Railway travels between London Paddington Station to Bath Spa throughout the day and evening. Visit Ryan at the Bath World Heritage Centre and see what you’d like to do. Be prepared to walk all day and be awed by the scenery. Visit the Holburne Museum, which you might recognize as Lady Danbury’s house from the show; see Jane Austen’s house and the downtown museum, and enjoy high tea and bath buns (an airy bread treat) upstairs at The Bath Bun Tea House. Pack your bathing suit and end your day at the exquisite Thermae Bath Spa, with multiple floors of saunas, steam rooms, pools, and indoor/outdoor hot tubs.
Day Seven
Check the weather forecast and make the rainiest day your museum day! There are many to choose from depending on your interests. We like the Victoria & Albert Museum for decorative arts and design, the British Museum where you’ll see the Rosetta Stone, and the National Gallery for creations by Michelangelo, Matisse and Cezanne.
Nighttime Events Not To Miss
1. See a show in London’s West End. Tickets are less expensive than New York’s Broadway shows and the theaters are stunning.
2. Abba Voyage is a must-do for fans of the music, the Mamma Mia musical or the movies. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the specially-designed Abba theater so you can take in the atmosphere in the complex. We recommend buying tickets on the dance floor. You’ll dance with hundreds of new best friends.
3. Check listings for concerts, sporting events and other entertainment and you might get to see your favorite band or team when they pass through town. End your nights chatting with locals in the pubs or in the many dessert cafes with their elaborate floral displays.
We hope your holiday will be brilliant.
"Catch the Tube to Westminster and spend an Instagram-worthy day sightseeing around Central London."
"London serves up the best food in the world. The streets are lined with every type of restaurant you can imagine and we never had a bad meal."