London w/ Kids

[Coffee Warlord]

We're toying with the idea of a trip to London next year, with the kids (would be 6 & 9 next year) in tow. Anyone who has been thataway have any recommendations for a good, kid friendly hotel in the thick of things?

[Lathum]

We go every other year. My wifes sister lives there. We usually stay with them. I can reach out to my family over there for suggestions. Happy to provide other suggestions as well.

Do your kids like Harry Potter?

[Coffee Warlord]

My son does, we're introducing it to my daughter right now.

[Lathum]

My son does, we're introducing it to my daughter right now.

The Warner Brothers studio tour is amazing if you are fans of the series. You have to get tickets pretty far in advance.

[Lathum]

Copies directly from a friend who’s husband is from there so they travel back somewhat frequently

We stayed at the Hyatt Tower Bridge earlier this summer. There is a massive disco ball pit in the lobby. My boys loved it and close proximity to lots of sites.

[Lathum]

another London friend posted this

H10 London Waterloo, London – Updated 2019 Prices (https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/h10-london-waterloo.en-gb.html?aid=898224&app_hotel_id=175978&checkin=2019-08-21&checkout=2019-08-22&from_sn=ios&group_adults=2&group_children=0&label=Share-84fHjZ8%401566420104&no_rooms=1&req_adults=2&req_children=0&room1=A%2CA%2C)

[Edward64]

another London friend posted this

H10 London Waterloo, London – Updated 2019 Prices (https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/h10-london-waterloo.en-gb.html?aid=898224&app_hotel_id=175978&checkin=2019-08-21&checkout=2019-08-22&from_sn=ios&group_adults=2&group_children=0&label=Share-84fHjZ8%401566420104&no_rooms=1&req_adults=2&req_children=0&room1=A%2CA%2C)

Wow, that looks great.

I was going to recommend ...

London is a pretty expensive place so find the cheapest reasonable accommodations/hotel that is walking distance to the key tube/subway lines (btw - how do those taxis stay in business with their outrageous prices?).

We stayed at the Holiday Inn around the Kesington area and rode the tube everywhere.

Just a thought - if you have time, plan for a visit to Paris. I personally think more to see in Paris. We took a train under the chunnel. Possibly fly US-London-Paris-US?

[Lathum]

The tube is great, super easy.

[Coffee Warlord]

Unlike normal trips for us....price isn't as much of an issue this time. If, and this is a big if, this trip happens, it'll be a five star run.

[Lathum]

Did this ever happen?

[Edward64]

Wouldn't mind visiting London again. I would like to visit Shakespeare theatre (rebuilt version) and Brighton.

[Coffee Warlord]

Did this ever happen?

Sadly no. Combination of things resulted in this never going through.

[Lathum]

Sadly no. Combination of things resulted in this never going through.

Thats too bad, hopefully it happens at some point. Great city with kids.

[Lathum]

Finally came out again for the first time in a couple years, thanks Covid. We leave Saturday and it has been a fantastic trip. We stay with my SIL so it makes things really easy. Saw Mathilda on the West End Easter Sunday, it was absolutely fantastic. Monday Wife, Son, and I went to a QPR game where they scored the game winner in the 88th minutes, what a game! Tuesday we went to a smallish but fun amusement park called Chessington. Wednesday drove to the country and saw Stonehenge and a zoo/drive through safari.

Today was the big one. Went to the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour. It was mine, my wife and my sons second time. Daughters first. Both kids loved it as they changed up some stuff. It was also my sons 12th bday and he told me it was the best bday he has had.

Highly recommend people visiting.

[Ksyrup]

Wife and I are considering planning an international trip in the next few years. We've never been out of the country (unless you count my family excursions to Ontario as a toddler or the time we accidentally crossed the border into Mexico at Brownsville).

I assume UK would be a good starter destination putting aside Canada/Mexico?

[Lathum]

For sure. People speak the same language, easy to get in and out of. Easy to navigate.

[Icy]

One nice place to visit near to London with kids is Legoland in Windsor. I went there 2 years ago with mines and it was a nice experience besides visiting the London city. The Windsor city itself is also nice with the royal castle.

LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort: UK's Favourite Kids Theme Parkhttps://www.legoland.co.uk