London Family Trip Planning:
Food, History, and Zero Wasted Days

London is one of the most walkable, food-forward cities in the world — and it works brilliantly for families. Here’s how I plan it so you eat well, see the right things, and actually enjoy every day of it.

London has a reputation for being expensive, grey, and maybe a little formal. And look, I get it. But after spending a couple of days there with my husband and my son, I can tell you that the city is warmer than its reputation, the food scene is genuinely world-class, and walking around it is one of the best ways to spend a trip. We covered a lot of ground on foot… Borough Market in the morning, pints in random pubs along the way, Big Ben and the Thames, Buckingham Palace (yes, the one with the guards in the red hats), the London Eye, and a Peppa Pig themed afternoon tea on a double decker bus that absolutely made my kid’s entire year. It was two days. It felt like so much more.

That’s what London does. It rewards wandering. And when you’ve got the right plan, even a short trip delivers.

Why London Works So Well for Families (and Foodies)

Most people assume London means museums, rain, and very expensive sandwiches. And while the sandwiches at Borough Market will cost you a bit, what you get for that money is absolutely worth it. London is walkable in a way that genuinely surprises people. The neighborhoods flow into each other, the sights are spread out but connected, and the food at every level from street stalls to Michelin-starred dining rooms is among the best you’ll find anywhere in the world.

For families, it hits differently than most European cities. Kids are welcomed everywhere. There are world-class museums that are free. The double decker buses are a novelty that never quite wears off. And the mix of history, spectacle, and very good food means everyone in your group has something to be excited about.

For anyone with a food-first lens on travel (that would be me, always), London is legitimately one of the best cities on the planet. Borough Market alone is reason enough to book the trip.

What I Actually Recommend in London

Borough Market

This is non-negotiable. Borough Market is one of the oldest and best food markets in the world and it is exactly what you want it to be: stall after stall of incredible food, an energy that feels festive even on a Tuesday morning, and the kind of place where you plan to browse for 20 minutes and end up staying two hours because you keep finding one more thing. Oysters at 10am. Chocolate-covered strawberries that I still think about. Street food in every direction.

My full guide to Borough Market is on the blog if you want the full breakdown of what to eat and when to go. The short version: get there early, go hungry, and budget a little extra because you will absolutely spend it.

The Afternoon Tea Bus Tours

This is one of my favorite things we did in London and it’s the kind of experience you genuinely cannot replicate anywhere else. B Bakery runs a fleet of vintage double decker buses that do themed afternoon tea tours through London’s most iconic streets. You eat, you drink tea (or something stronger), and you watch the city go by out the window. It’s brilliant.

We did the Peppa Pig themed tour with our son, who absolutely lost his mind over it. Tiny sandwiches, Peppa-themed treats, and the look on his face when he realized he was surrounded by his favorite cartoon character while riding a double decker bus through London… that’s the kind of travel moment you don’t forget.

But the Peppa Pig tour is just one option. Depending on who’s in your group, there’s also a Paddington Bear tour (perfect for slightly older kids or anyone who grew up with the books), a classic afternoon tea tour for families or mixed groups, and an adults-only gin afternoon tea tour if you’re traveling without kids or want a grown-up night out. I’d researched all of them before we booked and honestly every version looked wonderful. The gin one is going back on my list for a future trip.

Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard

We walked to Buckingham Palace and just… stood there for a while. It’s one of those places where you know exactly what it is before you arrive and it still manages to be genuinely impressive in person. The scale of it, the gates, the guards in their red tunics and tall black hats doing the changing of the guard… it’s one of those quintessentially London moments that’s worth every step it takes to get there.

It’s free to walk up and see the exterior. If you want to go inside, the State Rooms are open to visitors during certain parts of the year. We stuck to the outside and it was plenty.

Big Ben, the Thames, and the London Eye

This stretch of London is spectacular to just walk through. Big Ben is one of those sights that hits harder than you expect in person. The Thames is wide and the whole area along the South Bank has great energy: street performers, food stalls, views back across the water to the Houses of Parliament. We did the London Eye and the views on a clear day are worth the ticket price.

Pub Stops (Non-Optional, and One Worth Seeking Out)

One of the great parts of London is that there are wonderful old pubs on approximately every corner, and ducking into one for a pint and some snacks is genuinely one of the best things you can do. We did this several times, completely unplanned, and it was perfect every time. Don’t over-schedule London. Leave room to wander in.

If you want to be intentional about at least one of those stops, go to Ye Olde Mitre. A lot of pubs in London will tell you they’re the oldest in the city… Ye Olde Mitre actually has a legitimate claim. It’s tucked down a tiny alley in Holborn, it’s small, it has character, and it was genuinely packed when we were there. It feels like exactly what a centuries-old London pub is supposed to feel like. Worth seeking out.

Getting Around: The Tube and the Black Cabs

The London Underground is genuinely one of the easiest metro systems in the world to navigate, and the tap-to-pay situation makes it even simpler. You just tap in with your phone or your contactless card, ride, and tap out on the other end. No fumbling with tickets, no figuring out fare zones in advance. And kids under 11 travel free with a paying adult, which means you don’t have to think about it at all with your family in tow. They just walk through with you.

We used the Tube nonstop and it made the whole trip feel less stressful. It’s fast, it runs constantly, and it gets you everywhere.

And then there are the black cabs. I was completely obsessed with them and deeply regret that we never actually got in one. They’re these old-fashioned, boxy, very distinguished-looking vehicles and they look exactly like a London cab is supposed to look. Very charming. Very iconic. Getting into one is firmly on my list for the next trip. If you’re there, do it for both of us.

The Only-in-London Moments

Some of my favorite memories from London have nothing to do with a specific attraction. We yelled ‘double-decker bus!’ approximately every time we saw one, which was constantly, and somehow it never got old. The iconic red phone booths are everywhere and we took so many pictures in them… they’re just genuinely fun to stumble across. And if you’re interested in a proper activity, the London Transport Museum has a stamp trail where kids collect stamps through the museum and get a little prize button at the end. It’s a small thing but my son was absolutely delighted by it.

If you or anyone in your group is a Harry Potter fan, London will make you very happy. There is Harry Potter content everywhere: the studio tour outside the city, the Platform 9 3/4 photo spot at King’s Cross, shops, experiences, all of it. I’m not personally a huge Harry Potter person but I appreciated that it was clearly a very big deal to a lot of people walking around looking genuinely thrilled. If that’s your family, build time in for it.

One Practical Note: Keep Your Wits About You

London is safe. I want to be clear about that. We felt completely comfortable the whole time we were there. But within two hours of landing, we watched a guy on a bike swing by and swipe a phone right out of someone’s hand at a crosswalk. My friend had warned me about exactly this before we left, and then we saw it happen firsthand. So I’ll pass it along: don’t walk around looking at your phone. Keep it in your bag or your pocket when you’re not actively using it. Stay aware of your surroundings. It’s the same common sense you’d apply in any busy city, but London moves fast and the bike snatches are real. Just don’t be an easy target and you’ll be completely fine.

Punk Royale London (For the Serious Food People)

If you want one elevated dinner in London that you will be talking about for years, Punk Royale is it. It’s a tasting menu restaurant with a no-phone policy, an absolutely wild vibe, and food that is genuinely unlike anything else I’ve had. I wrote a full post about it on the blog because it deserved the space. The caviar bump alone is worth the trip. This one is a grown-ups only evening out while the kids are with a sitter, and it is absolutely unmissable if elevated dining is your thing.

What I Plan For You

When you work with me on a London trip, I’m building an itinerary around your specific travel group, your food interests, and how you actually want to spend your days. That means knowing which hotel neighborhoods make sense for your itinerary, which Borough Market stalls are worth the line, and which afternoon tea bus tour fits your family best. It also means booking the experiences that sell out early (the bus tours, Punk Royale, the London Eye) so you’re not scrambling when you arrive.

For hotel and cruise bookings, my planning service costs you nothing. I earn a commission from the supplier, not from you. And through my partnership with Fora Travel, I have access to perks and upgrades at certain properties that you genuinely cannot get by booking direct or through an OTA. Early check-in, room upgrades, resort credits… these come up more often than you’d think, and they make a real difference.

Ready to Plan Your London Trip?

I never thought I’d say this but London is one of my favorite trips to plan. Whether you’re going for a long weekend or building it into a bigger Europe itinerary (the ferry to Normandy is one of the best travel moves I’ve ever made… read about that here), I’d love to help you put it together. Reach out and let’s talk about what your trip could look like.

Start planning your London trip here. The conversation is always free.

Adding Paris? Here’s how I plan that too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Planning a London Trip

Is London a good destination for families with young kids?

Yes, London is genuinely excellent for families. It has world-class free museums (the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are kid favorites), iconic sights for all ages, double decker buses that are a novelty kids never get tired of, and a food scene that goes far beyond fish and chips. With a little planning, it works beautifully for kids as young as three or four.

How many days do you need in London?

You can get a real sense of London in three to four days if you’re focused, though most families find five to seven days the sweet spot for seeing the highlights without feeling rushed. Two days is enough for a taste if London is part of a bigger Europe trip, which is exactly what we did before heading to Normandy on the ferry. The city rewards as much time as you can give it.

What is the best area to stay in London for families?

South Kensington, Kensington, and Notting Hill put you near the free museums and excellent restaurants. Covent Garden and the South Bank are great for walkability to major sights. For families, I generally recommend central neighborhoods where you can walk to a lot. But no matter where you end up, the Tube is easy to manage and will get you where you need to go. I’ll suggest specific hotels based on your budget and itinerary when we plan your trip.

Is London expensive for families?

London has a reputation for being expensive, and the hotel prices are genuinely on the higher end by European standards. That said, many of the best attractions are free, the food scene offers excellent options at every price point, and with the right planning you can control costs significantly. Working with a travel advisor also means access to hotel perks and upgrades that effectively reduce your cost per night compared to booking direct.

What is the afternoon tea bus tour in London?

B Bakery runs vintage double decker buses through London’s most iconic streets while serving afternoon tea on board. There are several themed options: a Peppa Pig tour for young families, a Paddington Bear tour, a classic afternoon tea tour for all ages, and an adults-only gin afternoon tea tour. Each runs about 90 minutes and winds through central London past major landmarks. Tickets sell out early, especially for the themed family options, so booking ahead is essential.

What is Borough Market and is it worth visiting?

Borough Market is one of London’s oldest and most celebrated food markets, located near London Bridge in Southwark. It’s worth every minute. Expect artisan food stalls, fresh produce, international street food, excellent coffee, and the kind of energy that makes it hard to leave. It’s best visited on a weekday morning when it’s slightly less crowded. Go hungry, budget more than you think you’ll spend, and don’t skip the oysters.

Can you fly business class to London without paying full price?

Yes, and this is one of my favorite things to help clients with. Business class to London from the US West Coast can run from 40,000 to 100,000 points per person in each direction when transferred to the right airline partners from cards like Chase Sapphire or Amex. The key is transferring points rather than booking through card portals, where you’ll get roughly a third of the value. I can help you figure out whether your current points stack is enough for a premium cabin upgrade.

How do you get around London with kids?

Walking is genuinely a great way to see London, and the city is more manageable on foot than it looks on a map. For longer distances, the Underground (the Tube) is easy and affordable. The tap-to-pay system means you simply tap in with your phone or contactless card and tap out when you exit, no tickets to buy or figure out in advance. Kids under 11 travel free with a paying adult, so you don’t have to think about their fares at all. Black cabs are iconic and worth taking at least once, and Ubers are also widely available.

Is London safe for tourists?

Yes, London is a very safe city for tourists. That said, phone snatching by cyclists is a known issue in busy areas and something to be genuinely aware of. Keep your phone in your bag or pocket when you’re not actively using it, especially at crosswalks and in crowded areas. The same awareness you’d apply in any major city applies here.