A Week in London with a baby

We chose London as our first trip abroad for several reasons. It is a relatively short flight from the US East Coast, lots to do without having to spend much time commuting, easy to navigate with public transportation, and most importantly, it was somewhere we hadn’t been! Ideally we would have travelled with him abroad before he started crawling but due to life events, 10 months was the earliest we could make it happen. I thought it was the perfect trip to prove what a great travel buddy JL is growing up to be. If you’re nervous to travel with your new family member, I highly recommend London with a baby!

Day 1: Holborn/ British Museum

Getting to London with a baby

We took a red eye flight into London. We opted to buy JL his own seat so that we could try to get some rest on the flight. We brought on his car seat and booked our seats so he could sit in between us (we learned you can only put the baby between you in the middle rows of the plane so the car seat does not block the adults exiting). He slept pretty well, although we were constantly checking on him anytime he made any noise.

If he was younger, less than 6 months, we probably would have just flown with him in lap. I definitely think it was worth the extra money for him to have his own seat because I was able to get a few hours of sleep on the flight too.

Additionally, you need a passport to travel with your baby no matter the age. See my helpful tips for getting a newborn passport photo here!

Where to Stay in London with a baby

Thistle London Holborn is where we stayed because we liked that it was only a short walk from a train station. Only a few blocks and less than a 10 minute walk. Also, the rooms were slightly larger for the same price point as we would have paid to stay in Mayfair. Having a larger room when using a pack n play is really important to use because we do not like breaking it down everyday. A larger room allows us to move around while leaving the pack n play up. One less thing to do before heading out of the room to see the sights. Thistle London Holborn has infant cribs (pack n plays) available upon request.

Every morning we enjoyed breakfast in the hotel lobby. The service was excellent, they had a high chair available, and it opened early so we could go eat when JL woke us up early. It is buffet style. They serve a traditional English breakfast, etc. We really enjoyed it!

We chose to stay in Holborn based on a recommendation of a friend who had traveled to London several times. Originally, I thought it was a little farther away from some of the attractions we were seeing than I would have liked. The main attraction close by is the British Museum. It was a very short walk from our hotel. However, I was happy there because it was fairly quiet at night which is important when traveling to a busy city like London with a baby.

Hotels Near Tourist Attractions in London

If you want to stay in short walking distance from the main tourist attractions in London, such as Buckingham Palace, I recommend staying in Mayfair. There are lots of options so it all depends what fits your budget and needs. The Chesterfield Mayfair is a quintessential London hotel with classic charm, 4- star luxury, with a restaurant, room service, and afternoon tea. If you prefer a recognizable brand, The May Fair, a Radisson collection hotel, is a 5 star hotel with a spa, gym, and restaurant. Booking with points? IHG’s InterContential London Park Lane is a 5 star hotel located in a perfect location between Hyde and Green parks. It offers multiple restaurants, a spa, and rooms with balconies so you can enjoy London while children are napping or when they go down for an early bedtime.

Transportation from the airport and riding the Underground in London with a baby

Getting to our hotel from the airport was an easy straight shot on the underground on the Piccadilly line to the Holborn stop. We bought an Oyster card at the airport station kiosk and loaded the machine’s recommended amount for a 7-day trip.

I read that strollers were not ideal for the Underground and when we got to this stop we learned why. Not all stops are accessible and the Holborn stop was not! We had to get our luggage and the baby up several very steep escalators. One of us was in charge of the luggage and the other lifting up the stroller. Definitely not recommended for safety. Had we known, we could have put him in a back pack carrier and folded up the stroller to carry up. We were unprepared and I do not want you to be.

British Museum

I never plan too much for our first day. The main idea is to check out what is surrounding the hotel, get adjusted to the time change, and get in bed early. Our hotel was close to the British Museum so I booked us afternoon tickets. We were able to check our luggage at the hotel, grab some breakfast and coffee at a cafe close by, then head to the museum for a few hours before heading back to the hotel to get settled in before dinner.

Based on our experience, they were not super strict about your entry time into the museum but that could have just been the people working our day. The best part is its free! So we did not feel obligated to stay longer than we could handle. Book your tickets here: https://www.britishmuseum.org/visit

I love language so I had to see the Rosetta Stone while we were there. Otherwise, just follow your interests and spend as much or as little time there as you would like. We spent about 2 hours. With older kids, they have scavenger hunt like activity books you can use to keep them interested but JL was too young for that so he took a stroller nap while we navigated the museum.

Day 2: Harrods, Museum of Natural History, Hyde Park

Harrods

I feel like a trip to London is not complete without a trip to Harrods. I am not a huge shopper but I have a bear from Harrods that my mom bought there over 3 decades ago and saved for me all these years so it was special for me to go somewhere I know she went on her travels to London. Finding the elevators can be tricky when you have a stroller. We tried just following the signs in the store but ended up having to ask a security guard. So save yourself the trouble and just ask for directions!

The store is huge and you could spend hours there if you wanted. We mostly just browsed the children’s section and athleisure wear then headed down to grab some sandwiches from the food court before heading over to the Museum of Natural History.

Museum of Natural History of London with a baby

I loved this museum! It is very popular for kids but I really enjoyed it as an adult. The best part is it is free! We booked a time but once again, they did not check the entry time on our ticket too closely. We spent between 2-3 hours here and could have spent much longer. It was easy to navigate with the stroller and JL took a nap when he was ready while we checked out the exhibits.

I had so much fun learning about volcanos, earthquakes, gemstones, dinosaurs, etc. I probably had more fun than some of the kids there. When you exit there is a large green space where you could have a picnic if it is a nice day.

• Book your Museum of Natural History tickets here: https://ticketing.nhm.ac.uk/events/GENAD-ADM

Hyde Park

One of the best parts of visiting London with a baby is the number of fabulous parks throughout the city. My husband has a solid one museum a day rule so we have to find other ways to fill our time in the historic cities of Europe. History is definitely more my thing. Plus after being in the stroller all day we figured JL wanted to run around and burn some energy so we headed to Hyde Park for the rest of the afternoon. The weather was beautiful while we were there in May so it was a perfect day to go for a walk, stop at the kiosks in the park to grab a drink, and let JL run around in the grassy areas.

We tried to grab dinner at one of the restaurants in the park but we did not realize that the kitchen closed at 5pm. We headed back on the train to Holborn and ordered from the restaurant at our hotel because it was too late to figure something else out. Lesson learned, if you want to get dinner in the park, plan on an early dinner.

Day 3: Harry Potter Studio London with a baby

Book at Tour

I’m a huge Harry Potter fan so I could not go to London without doing a studio tour. When traveling with a baby, it was definitely a full day trip since it is an hour outside the city. Tickets can be booked directly through the website but I would recommend booking a tour that includes transportation from London so you do not have to figure it out yourself. If you are staying closer to Buckingham Palace, I would recommend this tour so you do not have to take the underground to King’s Cross.

I would have loved to do the full guided tour because the reviews were amazing but it was not being offered on the date of our trip. Here is the link if you’re interested. I was also really interested in this tour that included Oxford but we ultimately decided that a 10.5 hour tour might be too long of a day for JL. In hindsight, he did great napping in his stroller and we could have done it.

Getting there:

We really enjoyed this tour and it was super easy to navigate the studio with a stroller! We took the train from Euston station, then a Harry Potter studio bus picked us up from the train station. We were the back of the line to get on the bus and had to wait for the next bus but luckily it came within the next 15 minutes. We had a timed entry into the studio so once we got there we had some time to kill so we had lunch at the cafe in the lobby. It was delicious! If you’re wanting to keep your food budget low, you could also pack a lunch to eat in the lobby.

How much time should I plan to spend here?

Once we entered the studio we spent between 2-3 hours in the studio exploring the exhibits and participating in the activities. JL took a nap in the stroller as we went through but if traveling with older children I would plan for an extra hour so that they can get the pictures on the broom playing quidditch, boarding the Hogwarts Express and all the other fun things to document your trip.

Also they give out a passport for each guest to get stamps as you go through the studio. Sometimes there are lines for the stamps so if you have several people in your group this can take additional time as well.

The gift shop at the studio has Harry Potter merchandise I have never seen anywhere else. I had to resist the urge to buy everything so if you want to come home with plenty of souvenirs, definitely work this into your trip budget.

For dinner, we grabbed sandwiches from a Pret A Manger and had a picnic in a park on the way back to the hotel.

Day 4: Changing of the Guard and Churchill War Rooms

Changing of the Guard

Changing of the Guard is not a daily occurrence so make sure you check the schedule before you plan your day around it. It can get crowded so be sure to get there early. We rushed here after JL’s morning nap so we did not get the best spot but were happy we made it in time to catch it!

Unfortunately during our trip to London tours of Buckingham Palace were not available. Dates for tours vary every year but are typically July through September. There are options to see Changing of the Guard with a tour guide to explain everything that is going on that include an entrance ticket to Buckingham Palace that would be a great way to see both. Check those out here: Buckingham Palace Tour and Changing of the Guards

Green Park/ St. James Park

There are two parks right beside Buckingham Palace, Green Park and St. James Park. We chose to walk through St. James Park since we were headed to the Churchill War Rooms. It gave JL a chance to burn some energy at the playground. One of my favorite things about London parks were these box style swings that were great young babies. We popped into the Cafe at Storey’s Gate for coffee and sandwiches before heading to the Churchill War Rooms.

Churchill War Rooms

If you enjoy learning World War II history, Churchill War Rooms is not to be missed. We spent 3 hours here and I could have stayed longer. It was easy to navigate with a stroller. This is not one of the free museums in London so tickets must be purchased. If you’re truly a WWII history buff, you might enjoy this walking tour of Westminister that includes admission to Churchill War Rooms.

Day 6: Tower of London and South Bank

Tower of London with a baby

Tower of London exceeded my expectations, we spent over three hours here. We just bought our tickets at the gate because we were not sure what time we would make it over there after the morning nap. We got there just in time for a 45 minute tour by a Yeoman warder. Definitely try to catch one of these as they are informative and included in your ticket.

Next, we checked out the Crown Jewels, had a snack at the cafe, and checked out the fortress. There are some stone stairs that are not accessible with strollers so if you are not comfortable leaving your stroller unattended in the stroller parking area I recommend bringing a baby carrier for this day and leaving the stroller in the hotel room.

Globe Theatre

After the Tower of London, we took an Uber boat over to the Globe Theatre and had lunch at The Swan. I actually do not recommend taking the Uber boat such a short distance because of the price but I had not researched the price and I was tired so we hopped on.

If I could do it again I would have booked this tour that includes the Hop on Hop Off Bus and the London Eye that we enjoyed later this day to take us over to this part of town and includes a River Thames cruise ticket.

The Globe Theatre offers shows and fun things for kids but once we got there we opted just to enjoy a long lunch at the Swan instead of going inside. Traveling with a baby sometimes requires flexibility and taking breaks so no one gets cranky (baby or parents).

London Eye

For great views and photo opportunities, London Eye should not be missed. There are a number of tours or passes that include tickets to the London Eye such as this one mentioned above. Otherwise tickets can be booked at the attraction website.

There are a number of restaurants nearby that are laid back enough to bring a baby.

Day 7: Kensington Palace/ Regents Park/ Theatre District

Kensington Palace

Since Buckingham Palace was not open for tours during our visit, we headed over to Kensington Palace for our tour. Of course you do not get to tour the part of the Palace where the royal family resides but there are beautiful gardens outside the palace and royal history to be learned inside.

We did not stop at the cafe but we did pay a visit to the gift shop to pick out a cute onesie for JL.

We just went with a basic tour, but if I had older children I would have gone with a tour that included royal high tea. I mean high tea at a palace! I can’t think of a more royal experience!

Churchill Arms

If you don’t mind bringing your baby to a bar, Churchill Arms is an authentic British pub experience. It is one of my top recommendations for London with a baby or without. It is Churchill themed so it is a can’t miss for those WWII history fans who loved the Churchill War Rooms. There is a Thai restaurant next door where you can order food delivered to your table in the pub. Delicious!

Regents Park in London with a baby

After lunch we took a walk through Regents Park while JL took an afternoon nap. Like several other London parks, it has a cafe where you can stop and have a drink during your walk. Then we found the playground so he could burn some energy before dinner.

Opera Tavern

London is definitely well known for having excellent restaurants but since we were visiting London with a baby we did not do many dinners out. Mostly because we wanted to pack as much sightseeing into the day after the morning nap in the hotel.

We headed to Opera Tavern for a very early dinner, around 1645, so we could get in and out before the dinner rush. It is in prime location in the Theatre District so it would be a great stop before a show if you’re in London with older children (most shows have age limits so be sure to check that out before booking).

Day 8: Portobello Rd Market/ Notting Hill/ Covent Garden

Portobello Rd Market

If you like to shop, don’t miss exploring the Portobello Rd Market. Saturday is the best day to catch the most street vendors. We grabbed a coffee to go and walked down Portobello Rd browsing the vendors. We only ended up with one purchase but we could have bought so much more. We bought this cute sweatshirt for JL to remind us of our trip.

Notting Hill

We started on the Notting Hill end of Portobello Rd. Notting Hill is a super cute neighborhood but it also has some sights from the movie, Notting Hill, if you’re a fan.

Bertie’s Blossoms

After a long morning of shopping we stopped at this restaurant towards the end of the market for a late lunch. There was another family there with a baby so definitely baby friendly!

Harry Potter store at Kings Cross

After lunch we hopped on the Underground and headed to Kings Cross to check out the Harry Potter store. It definitely did not have nearly as much as the gift shop at the studio but it had a few things I did not notice there. I wanted to grab some more souvenirs and check it out. They do a fun photo opportunity at the entrance of the store where you can where your Hogwarts house scarf (Gryffindor!!!).

Covent Garden

When we were first planning our trip I really wanted to stay in Covent Garden but we ended up going with Holborn so we could have a larger room at the same price point. I am so glad we did because while Covent Garden is more of a happening place at night, it definitely was not as quiet and accommodating for JL’s early bedtime. There are lots of shops and restaurants to check out but is very crowded with tourists.

We did not have dinner reservations and went in 3 restaurants before we found one that had a table for our party of 3. So definitely make a reservation if you want to eat somewhere here!

London with a Baby

That is our full itinerary for London with a baby! It was a great first international trip with JL and proved to us that we can definitely handle more in the future.

We could have fit more into our day but we wanted to make sure he started the morning with one nap in the hotel room before we were out and about for the day. Depending on your baby, you can definitely leave earlier and do more with naps in the stroller during museum, tours, etc. You know your baby best and what they can handle.

Hope this helps make your trip planning easier and shows you how easy it can be to travel with your baby!

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