Welcome to London!
Earlier this year we spent an incredible week in London with our 9-month-old daughter, and I can’t wait to share our experience! Having traveled to many destinations, London holds a special place in my heart and ranks among my top favorite places. The city perfectly blends vibrant urban life, world-class art, delicious food, and even a touch of countryside charm—all within a few hours’ reach.
In this post, I’ll break down our adventure into sections covering our hotel, must-see attractions, fantastic museums, and the delightful food we enjoyed. Let’s dive in!
Hotel:
The Londoner Hotel at Leicester Square – This was a splurge for us and goes down as the nicest hotel we’ve ever stayed at. A room will run you $500+ per night but if you are looking for world-class service and an aesthetically pleasing environment, this is the place. There are multiple restaurants on site, a full spa, hair salon, pool, hot tub, saunas and smoothie bar. Our favorite part was “The Residence” which is a private space for guests to enjoy coffee, cocktails and light appetizers and snacks throughout the day. We came here multiple times a day to rest and recharge in between activities.
The rooms are exceptionally modern and ours had a view of the city and Leicester Square. Since we were traveling with our daughter, the room was equipped with a separate cot for her (Nuna pack and play). We had a full bathroom with shower/tub and separate toilet area with a bidet. There was a full side wall closet with plenty of space for a weeks worth of clothing for 3 of us.
Attractions & Landmarks:
Harrods – This is a multi-level shopping mall with luxury stores and dining options. Beware that the food halls do not have a corresponding food court to eat at, so if you purchase food from the food hall you will have to exit the mall and find somewhere else to eat. We didn’t realize this and ended up finding a Starbucks nearby to crash at and eat lunch. Harrods was recommended to me by a few friends but it didn’t live up to the hype for us being hungry and having a baby in tow. I could see this being a fun way to burn some time in between activities but wouldn’t recommend it as a place to recharge as there are no common areas to relax in.
Sky Garden – This free admission sky garden sits 509 feet above ground with panoramic views of London’s iconic landmarks, including the Thames, Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Sky Garden is multi-level and has gardens throughout creating a peaceful place to get a cup of coffee and overlook the city while being surrounded with plants and trees. Although admission is free, reservations are required to enter so be sure to visit their website to schedule a time to visit. With reservations we ended up waiting in a 20-30 minute line before getting to the top. There are restrooms and restaurants/cafes at the top and a gift shop across the road from the Sky Garden.
The Shard – We didn’t go up to the top of the Shard but it’s another iconic sight in London. It’s the tallest building in the UK and similar to the Sky Garden it has an observation deck with 360 degree views of London. A ticket is required to the observation deck and we’ve heard that sunset is the best time to visit.
Buckingham Palace – The official residence of the British Monarch where you can see the changing of the guard and explore the queens gardens. This was my favorite place to walk around the gardens and enjoy the lake. With London being such a large city, it was nice to escape the buildings and enjoy nature. Tons of wildlife flocked to the gardens around the palace and it was drizzling while we were there making it feel extra cozy and peaceful.
St Pauls Cathedral – We were walking around the city and stumbled upon the cathedral thinking it would just be a quick walk by when we realized that a special event was going on. There were police everywhere and lots of areas roped off. It turned out that the King and Queen were inside for an event and we were able to watch them leave the cathedral. Neither of us had ever been to the UK and experienced the monarch so it was really interesting to see how excited everyone was. It was definitely a once in a lifetime event to see the King, especially with our daughter!
Westminster Abbey – A historic gothic church where many royal weddings and coronations have occurred and a beautiful landmark of London. If you are into literature and poetry, there is a Poets corner within the abbey dedicated to some popular British writers. This is a beautiful place to take photos at and enjoy a bite to eat across the water from the abbey.
Big Ben – An obvious stop on any London trip, the iconic Big Ben! I remember seeing this for the first time as a child in Peter Pan and thinking I wanted to see it one day. It was so special to stand outside and look up at the huge clock tower with my family. Due to its popularity, it’s very crowded and gets congested quickly. I’d recommend getting here early (6-7am was wide open) if you want clear shots with limited background noise. Also beware of pick-pockets in this area as it’s an easy tourist trap.
Tower Bridge – Although we didn’t walk the tower bridge, we saw it from the Sky Garden. It’s a bridge that goes over the Thames River and is a popular spot for tourists. I wouldn’t go out of my way to see it, but it’s worth taking a peep at if you’re nearby.
Millennium Bridge – Another popular bridge that looks interesting due to it’s construction and has also become popular through movies like Harry Potter & Guardians of the Galaxy. Again, I wouldn’t go out of my way but if it’s along your path it’s not a bad view.
Graffiti Tunnel – As a previous art major, this was a really fun walk for me! The graffiti tunnel goes under the Waterloo station and offers a place for artists to do street art/graffiti legally. The idea came from Banksy (a popular street artist) and was opened in 2008. We spent 30 minutes or so walking around looking at the various artworks and got to see a few people working on pieces live.
Hamleys Toy Store – A huge multi-level toy store that has every possible toy imaginable. We didn’t buy a single thing but had fun walking around window shopping.
Museums:
Tate Modern – Housed in a former power station, this museum features contemporary and modern art from the 20th century onwards. The collection includes works by Picasso, Warhol, and Hockney. Admission is free and it’s a great way to spend a rainy day.
Churchill War Rooms – We did the war rooms tour and while it was interesting, it focused mostly on Winston Churchill and his life before and after the war. It was an eery feeling to be below the city and image what it would have felt like to be there during the war wondering if you would survive or not. If you are a history buff, it’s definitely worth doing but it wasn’t something that we would do again on a second trip.
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) – The world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, the V&A has collections ranging from fashion to sculpture. The architecture of this building is phenomenal and it’s amazing how many different rooms they have filled full with historical art.
The National Gallery/Portrait – Another free admission art museum dedicated to portraiture. This was probably my favorite museum because I enjoy portraits, all 200,000+ of them! It’s near Trafalgar Square which makes it an easy stop.
Natural History Museum – I had mixed emotions about this museum because it was heavily populated with school groups. I think going during off season would have been more enjoyable. There were a lot of dinosaur exhibits but my favorite was the butterfly exhibit. There was an admission fee for the butterfly exhibit but admission to the main museum is free.
Markets & Squares:
China Town – Near Leicester Square, china town is a vibrant little bubble within the city with tons of food and shopping options. There are lanterns that hang from the sky and beautiful pillars at the entrance that make for a great photo spot. This is another popular tourist area so it gets crowded quickly but is worth visiting if you like Chinese culture.
Trafalgar Square – Famous for the large central fountain, this square is a hub for cultural events and gatherings. It’s also right beside the National Gallery. We got to see lots of live musicians around the square in the afternoons.
Leicester Square – Known for the cinemas, theaters, and bustling atmosphere this square is a central spot for West End shows and events like the annual London Film Festival. It’s where our hotel was and is really close to multiple train stations.
Piccadilly Circus – A major traffic intersection and a popular meeting point, surrounded by shops, theaters and a train station. Very crowded at all times of day!
Soho Square – A charming green space in the heart of Soho, it’s surrounded by restaurants, bars and outdoor events. We had lots of great street food and desserts in Soho and enjoyed walking around the shops.
Parliament Square – Close to the Houses of Parliament this square has views of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. It’s another very crowded area with lots of 9-5’ers.
Covent Garden – A fun buzzing bubble with a famous multi-level market, street performers, and shops. There are lots of dining and shopping options here and it’s a great place to spend the afternoon after a full day in the city. There’s a seating area in the middle which I appreciated!
Borough Market – My favorite food market where you can sample different vendors while walking around. If you walk the surrounding streets you’ll also find lots of interesting street art and architecture. I liked this area because it felt more industrial with lots of new modern buildings and it wasn’t as touristy.
Camden Market – Another market with tons of vendors and food/shopping options. We didn’t visit this one but I’ve heard it’s similar to the others but with more vintage/old timey vendors.
Food:
Bill’s Soho Restaurant – There are a few of these throughout the city (it’s a chain) and I was worried that it wouldn’t be a great experience due to it being a chain but I was proven wrong! We loved this place and tried 2 different locations. It was the perfect place to eat if you are in a semi-rush to be somewhere with fast but friendly service. The food and drinks were great and it was family friendly with high chairs and a nice ambiance. It felt like we were at a “nice sit down” restaurant in the states but not for a hefty price tag.
Lina Italian – I always love a good Italian place and this one didn’t disappoint! Lina offers a restaurant store-front with a market, bar and dine-in service. The food was great and the drinks were enjoyable as well (they had mock-tails). There are multiple locations making this an easy place to stop at no matter where you are in the city. The restaurant offers a pastel green subway tile vibe that goes nicely with the Italian dishes and makes you feel like you’re popping into an Italian villa.
Empanada Circle – In between Soho and Convent Garden, this cute empanada shop hit the spot one afternoon after a long day. They have a wide list of choices for fillings and a few dessert empanadas as well. I’d recommend getting 4-5 of them to get full and try out a few flavors. The owner was also extremely welcoming and sent us a few doors down for a dessert recommendation.
Santa Nata – This was the recommendation, hands down the best dessert we’ve ever eaten.. Pasteis de Nata. Wow. That’s all I have to say. MUST GO HERE! It was so good I didn’t take any photos.
Survival Tips with Kids:
A major requirement if your child is under a year old and/or doesn’t weigh much is a baby carrier. We used our Baby Bjorn everywhere and rarely used the stroller. We have a Doona that we use while traveling and although it’s compact and lightweight, it doesn’t scream 10 miles a day in the city. London is very walkable so we walked on foot for 80% of the time with our daughter in the carrier and used the tube the rest of the time. The tube isn’t bad for getting around but we prefer walking when we can. The tube offers different pass types that vary in price so if you are planning on using it for an extended time, be sure to check the most affordable pass option. We opted to pay with Apple pay for each trip since we didn’t use it much.
Another thing to consider for some parents is nap time and your normal routine for sleep. We had our daughter nap on the go so we weren’t limited in what we could do, but there was a time or two that we were too tired and came back to the hotel for nap time. If you want to have a “hotel day” be sure to check for any specific rules around children at your hotel. Our pool had limited hours that children were allowed, so we planned one day around those times. I was breastfeeding during our trip so bottles/formula/hot water weren’t a factor but you’d obviously want to make sure you have a way to prepare your child’s food as well. We had a Keurig in our hotel room and could have easily prepared hot water to make a bottle had we needed it.
It may seem like a no brainer, but be sure to have rain gear for the baby! During our European excursion we had to stop in Paris to buy a rain coat for our daughter because the wind was blowing sideways and the umbrella wasn’t cutting it. We ended up getting some additional layers for her as well and stripped her down later in the day when it got warmer. Luckily the weather in London was on our side and we only had rain on the day we arrived and the day we left!
Final Thoughts:
We had an absolute blast in London, and it has quickly become my favorite city! I was particularly impressed by its cleanliness, the abundance of free or affordable entertainment options, and the overall walkability. I love how the British clock out at 5 PM to unwind at the pub with friends and enjoy the afternoon—a refreshing contrast to the work-life balance we often struggle with in the US. Having co-workers who live in London, I can see why they’re so happy, it’s such a charming place!
During our week in the UK, we spent four days in London and took day trips to Canterbury, Oxford, and Windsor (each deserving their own post!). While we didn’t manage to see everything on my list, we’re already planning a return visit to explore Stonehenge and take a Harry Potter tour, along with a few other cities. Until next time!
