London, you’ve been incredible.
And honestly? Two days wasn’t nearly enough. But for our first big city adventure with my 12-year-old niece, Isabella, who loves shopping, loves sightseeing, but is not here for miles of walking, it turned out to be something really special.
Because that’s the thing about London…it meets you where you are. You don’t have to rush it. You just have to experience it.
The moment that really set the tone? Walking into Harrods and Selfridges and discovering what can only be described as Jellycat heaven…ideal when you have a niece in her Jellycat era!
I’m talking shelves and shelves of the softest, quirkiest plushies…and yes, the famous Fish & Chips experience in Selfridges (which even I enjoyed and honestly you even smell the fish & chip in the air!). If your kids love Jellycat, this isn’t just a stop…it’s a core memory. Just book ahead if you can, because the queues are very real.
After all that excitement, we slowed things down with dinner at Circolo Popolare and wow. It’s one of those places where you sit down and instantly feel like you picked the right spot. The kind of place that’s buzzing but still family-friendly. The pizza? Unreal. The tiramisu? Even better. And the decor…it’s like stepping into a little Italian dream!
One of my favourite moments though? No big attraction. Just an evening wander through Neal’s Yard after dinner. It’s colourful, a little quirky, tucked away…and perfect when little legs are getting tired. We wandered, we browsed, we paused. No rush. And somehow, those are always the moments that stick.
Mornings started slow (I’m usually up and out at the crack of dawn…but with the little one I slowed the pace down) and breakfast at Donutelier was one I’m still thinking about. Those almond croissants? Dangerous. In the best way.
Now let me tell you what really made this trip work with a kid…
I don’t even say this lightly, it was a game changer.
We saw everything without the “my feet hurt” or “are we there yet” moments! We hopped on and off, took in the views, added a river cruise and saw the city without getting tired (or lost!). It turned London into something easy. And that changes everything when you’re travelling with kids.
Of course, we had to do the classics.
We learnt that Big Ben is actually the bell, not the tower (which is the Elizabeth Tower)…I didn’t know that either!
Floating above the city on the London Eye was one of those quiet “wow” moments. No rushing, no climbing…just London stretching out in every direction. We went in the morning to avoid queuing. Ideally you want to get yourself a skip-the-line ticket as it can get pretty busy.
And yes, we had the classic confusion moment at Tower Bridge…because it’s not London Bridge! But seeing it up close, knowing it still opens for boats, it makes the city feel a little bit magical again.
We even dipped into the City of London, which feels like stepping into a completely different world. A tiny city within a city, full of history you don’t expect unless you go looking for it.
And of course…a stop at Buckingham Palace. Because some moments just feel necessary. And seeing it through a child’s eyes? It hits differently.
We had a fantastic stay at the Radisson Blu Bloomsbury Hotel, which proved to be the perfect base for our trip. The location is unbeatable, right in the heart of London and ideal for a shopping getaway, with everything just a short walk away. It’s also brilliantly situated for theatre lovers, making it a great choice for next time when we plan to catch a show in the West End.
So here’s the honest verdict?
London with kids isn’t overwhelming like you might expect.
It’s fun. It’s flexible. It’s full of these little in-between moments that end up meaning the most.
You just have to slow it down. Pick your highlights. And leave space for the magic to find you.
And just like that…our first London story is written.
But definitely not our last.
Happy travels xoxo
Dani ♥ Hearts 