For the first time, we went to London for 3 days as a family . For this getaway, we organized our program around the must-see and must-do things and free visits. Follow our itinerary and our good addresses to discover London for a long weekend with the family!
Itinerary idea for 3 days in London with the family
Here is our rather sporty itinerary to visit the must-see places in London in 3 days . Of course, if you like to take your time and stroll, this itinerary will surely be too busy. On the other hand, it will allow you to see as much as possible by combining walking and the metro! Otherwise, you could take inspiration from it or adapt it for your 3 days in London with your family.
DAY 1: THE CITY & SOUTH BANK
We began our discovery of London in the City district where our hotel was located, which we talk about at the end of the article.
THE GARDEN AT 120
Located in the City district, this garden on the roof of an office building is still not very touristy and above all free ! It is accessed by 2 elevators after passing a security check. Once on the 15th floor, this green rooftop offers a superb view of the city’s skyscrapers. You can admire for example the Sy Garden or the Gherkin.
Open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 9pm and weekends from 10am to 5pm (in summer). The venue is sometimes privatized so check the times on The Garden at 120 website.
LEADENHALL MARKET
In the City district, very close to the buildings, is the Leadenhall Market, one of the oldest markets in London. This covered market houses cafes, restaurants and shops. But beyond that, what charmed us the most was its architecture! As you walk through its gallery, you can admire magnificent facades with arcades and glass roofs.
THE SKY GARDEN
Much better known than The Garden at 120, the Sky Garden has become a must-see place! It has a superb rooftop located at 20 Fenchurch Street in the heart of the City. Besides its garden (not as lush as you might imagine), people mainly come for its panoramic view . And we can say that from the 37th floor of this building, the panorama is truly exceptional. You can see the emblematic places of London such as the Tower Bridge, the Shard, the London Eye and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
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ST DUSTAN IN THE EAST CHURCH
Continuing our discovery of the City, we stop at St Dustan in the East. Located in the heart of the ruins of an old 12th century church, this garden is a haven of peace. This green corner allows you to take a little break not far from the hustle and bustle of London.
TATE MODERN
The rain having invited itself during our first day in London, we went to shelter at the Tate Modern. This contemporary art museum is located in Bankside on the right bank of the Thames. We recommend it if you are a fan of modern art. It is not necessarily the art form that we prefer, so we did not linger there!
Free entry without reservation, open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
BOROUGH MARKET
After our visit to the Tate Modern, we went to see the largest and oldest food market in the city. This is good because visiting London makes you hungry, so what could be better than trying street food ?! In this colorful market with a thousand flavors, there are stands offering cuisine from all over the world. It’s a really nice place to eat on the go and the kids love it!
Open Monday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm. Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 5pm.
TOWER BRIDGE
It is impossible to come to London without crossing its most famous bridge : the Tower Bridge. You will not be alone on this emblematic bridge but I find it much more beautiful from afar! So whether on the south bank or the north bank of the Thames, you will find many places where you can admire it day or night.
DAY 2: WESTMINSTER, SOHO & COVENT GARDEN
On the program for our second day in London: visit to the historic district and shopping session!
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, SAINT JAMES’S PARK & TRAFALGAR SQUARE
We arrived at Buckingham Palace around 10:30 am, which is the official residence of the King of England. We absolutely wanted the children to attend the famous and traditional changing of the guard . It is an event that attracts a lot of tourists and the gates of the Palace are very quickly black with people. Unfortunately, that day, the changing of the guard was cancelled probably because when we arrived, London was preparing for the coronation of the king which was taking place a week later. So, we took advantage of this time saved to take a little walk in Saint James’s Park , the oldest royal park. Then we went back up The Mall to reach Trafalgar Square, both closed due to upcoming festivities.
LEICESTER SQUARE & PICCADILLY CIRCUS
We continue our morning stroll by going to Leicester Square . In this London district of the West End there are two stores to discover with the family: the M&M’S World London and the Lego Store . Needless to say, it’s a hit with both young and old!
Then it is impossible to come to London without taking a trip to Piccadilly Circus . With its illuminated screens , this very lively square has a little air of Times Square . Around its square and its fountain, there are many cinemas, theaters, restaurants and shops.
REGENT STREET & SOHO
In London, there is a great place to go shopping, it’s Regent Street, one of the most famous shopping streets in London. And to please the children, there was no way we were going to miss Hamley’s , the oldest and largest toy store in the world with no less than 7 floors. Of course, we left with a royal guard bear plush toy stamped Hamley’s and named Charles by Miss E. 8 years old!
Close to Regent Street, we discover Soho and particularly the famous Carnaby Street . There are as many small boutiques as there are big fashion brands. At Christmas, this street is richly decorated!
Then a little further back from the street, is Kingly Court where we stopped to eat a bite. Around this inner courtyard, there are small restaurants with different flavors (pizza, Mexican, Japanese, Indian, etc.). There is something for everyone. It is a very pleasant place for a little taste break!
BRITISH MUSEUM
This museum of history and human culture, which is the oldest in the world, was on the program of our 3 days in London with the family. Located in the center of London in the Bloomsbury district, it has more than 7 million objects (Egypt, Greece, etc.). The British Museum attracts many visitors every year. It would seem to be very interesting to visit (and very large too). But unfortunately, due to a strike, the museum was forced to close its doors on the day of our visit.
Finally, this “non-visit” allowed us to take the time to stroll through the streets of London!
DAY 3: FROM CAMDEN TOWN TO KENSINGTON
Heading north of London for this last day in the English capital!
CAMDEN TOWN
Located in the north of London, Camden Town is a surprising and unusual district that attracts many tourists. Famous for its markets and extravagant shop fronts, it has long been considered the punk, rock and alternative district of the city. This is where the singer Amy Winehouse lived!
As soon as you get off the metro, you arrive on Camden High Street , the main street, with the impression of being somewhere other than London! This area is definitely worth a visit and deserves a few hours of time when you spend 3 days in London with your family.
Then we got away from the crowds to take a nice walk along the Regent’s Canal. By the way, you can even take a boat trip on the Camden Lock .
PRIMROSE HILL & REGENT’S PARK
We radically change the setting by going to Primrose Hill, a chic district of London yet so close to Camden. The pastel facades of the houses and the calm that reigns there make Primrose Hill a truly charming place.
On Primrose Hill (78 metres high), you will have a nice view of the whole city. It is also a nice park where it is good to sit down when the weather is nice to take the time to have a picnic!
Next to Primrose Hill, there is a very nice walk to do in Regent’s Park , one of the royal parks, where London Zoo is located . Note that the park has an outer circular path (Outer Line) and an inner path (Inner Circle). GPS error or misunderstanding, but we ended up going along Regent’s Park by the outer path which is much longer. The walk along the canal is nice but we recommend the inner path which surrounds the Queen Mary gardens .
