AboutMK Expertise I am highly experienced with traveling with small children abroad. I enjoy enriching experiences for my kids as well as myself. I have much advice on having a happy travel experience for both you and your child. I am also a resource of information regarding unique experiences such as learning languages abroad as a family in immersion settings and how to really get to know a culture.
Experience I have worked in international business for 20 years. I have been traveling successfully with kids as young as 6 months- and I continue to do so happily.
Question We will be in London for about a week (and Scotland for a few days) this summer. My kids both like museums and historical sites (luckily) but they are also very active and need to burn energy. They are 6 & 10. Any "must see" places in or around London? Do you think it is OK to just take the subway (tube?) or should we get a car since we have the kids with us? We are all in excellent health and don't mind a little walking. Also, do you have any tips on packing clothes for the kids, weather wise? I am not familiar with London in July but I understand it can rain quite a bit. We are in Florida and it is sure to rain every day in the summer, but only 10 minutes at a time. Is rain in London like that or an all day affair? Is Stonehenge worth the drive with kids? Thanks for any advice.
Answer Ahhhh, London.
This is probably my favorite place to travel with my kids any time of year. Love to answer your questions.
Traveling with the tube with kids? YES YES YES
Once you arrive in the airport, take you and your luggage down to the tube entrance. Make sure you can easily roll or carry your luggage yourself. There are automated kiosks that allow you to purchase single trip or all day tickets for adults and kids easily with cash or visa. If you know that you are traveling each day, you can pre-purchase day tickets in advance as well. My best recommendation is that you purchase an OYSTER CARD, one for each family member. It is an automatic system, as you enter any tube, any day it will calculate the appropriate best fare. If you only ride one time a day, it debits the one ride. If you then ride another ride and then the day rate is best, it will charge you only up to the day rate. I also believe that they do not expire, so if you have funds left, you can use them next trip. The live agents and the window where they issue the cards can help you estimate the right amount to put on each account, have your number of days your need available. Standing in lines to pay for tickets gets old, do it once and get moving!!!!
Must see places for 6 & 10? LOTS!!!
* Have tea at Fortnum and Mason, downstairs is casual upstairs is prebooked high tea with a piano. I like downstairs by a window. Order a few of the high teas, scones and all!!
* Ride a double decker bus (they are safe too!!!!), use your oyster card!
* Take in a live show, I recommend a musical. You can pre-book on-line and pair it with a pre-fix dinner. If you have not prebooked, then go to Leicester Square, and buy half price tickets a few hours before (most start around 7). I have booked many a rear balcony seat with my kids for 10-20 pounds and loved it. Lion King is a great show. Blood Brothers is a sad story. Ask the folks at the counters for current advice. There are many Kiosks in Leicester Square, there is an official one in the middle of the park. It has great prices and great seats but there are longer lines and closes earlier. There are many more little booth shops located together near food and trinket shops, these all have about the same prices so just find a short line. My rule, see the cheapest if we have not seen it yet. Come back often, every night we are in town.
* Check out the British museum. They have a very entertaining section of mummies and the Elgin marbles are a must see. This is free.
* Pollock's Toy Museum- a must see for the young and old toy lover, well, really for the old toy lover!!! Amazing place!
* Check out the clothing shop Jigsaw for kids and adults.
* Ride in a taxi- just a short trip, too fun to miss.
* It does rain, just bring a small compact umbrella in your bag. You can wait out the rain most times.
* City tours of London are great to get an overview and see it all in a short time. You can hop on and off, which is nice.
* Tower of London is also worth your time, you can take the tube there. Try taking the boat back as well.
* Find the stables of the palace, horse are so fun!
* Hyde Park. Take a stroll through any part that enchants you. I love the part with the Monet garden trellis covered in roses. There is a lovely snack shop in the park by a pond for break, worth the scenic factor. Great place to find a not-camera-shy squirl.
* Visit Hampstead heath. It is a park just outside of London. It is a lovely day trip. There is a museum/house there- the Kenwood House- with Vermeer (the girl with the pearl earring fame), Van Dyke and Turner. There is a charming cafe with great tea and local charm. Then the grounds with a pond and room for flying kites. I think it was in a scene in Notting Hill where Hugh Grant over hears Julia Roberts speak ill of him. Running space, great nibbles and a 30 minute museum- it was a hit with my family!! You can get there by rail from west hempstead tube, exit the tube and look for the rail signs across the road to connect to the rail. Or, take a taxi or walk! While in west hempstead, ask for the local crepe stand- it is the best in London. The wait can be up to an hour, but it is worth it!
* BATH- I liked the journey to and in bath. There is also the locals swim hall, with slides and the like. It is indoors but the kids loved it. Bath has a small park with many events, tea shops, the "Bath House" tour (very entertaining), a costume museum and evening outdoor tours of the city as well. And great beer!
* Oxford- A great stop near London. the city tour was riddled with Harry Potter trivia. There is a local attraction, a Disney land-type indoor ride that was entertaining on a Mr. Toad's wild ride level. Bookstores here captured our interests, even at 3 and 5 years.
* Stonehenge is interesting if they have seen it before otherwise it is a pile of rocks.
If you have anymore questions, please contact me at mk@familylanguagevacations.com
