London is a fantastic city packed with fascinating history and iconic sights. It has fun attractions and some of the best cultural experiences. With so much to do, it can be hard to know where to start, especially if you’ve only got time for a short visit.
With good planning, you can have an unforgettable time with the family in London. And you can still experience the best attractions and capture family photos of all the famous sights.
To help you, we’ve put together a family-friendly 3-day itinerary. This itinerary will allow you to get the most out of your trip to London without getting exhausted or spending too much time travelling. If you feel it is too much, you can replace any of the activities with something more relaxing.
Day 1 – Westminster sightseeing; London Aquarium; London Eye; West End musical
Tickets from £15.00: Changing of the Guard
9:00 am Westminster sightseeing
London is brilliant for sightseeing, with many recognisable and memorable places to take photos. It’s the perfect way to begin your trip and get a real feel for London. You could start off at Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard at 11 am (be sure to check the dates) and then walk through St James’s Park and Horse Guards Parade. From here, walk down Whitehall, passing Downing Street and the Cenotaph war memorial.
It’s easy to then continue to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben, and the River Thames. Alternatively, you could book a sightseeing tour with a local guide.
Guided tour of London – Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Parliament Square
This guided tour of Westminster lasts 4 hours and covers Parliament Square, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace. It also includes admission to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.
Explore more tours of Westminster
With so many sights in Westminster, there are all sorts of tours available. These focus on areas such as the British Royals or World War Two.
See what other tours of Westminster are available.
1:00 pm lunch in Southbank
The Southbank has some fantastic options for lunch. To get here, cross over Westminster Bridge. At Royal Festival Hall, you will find family-friendly restaurants such as Giraffe and Wahaca.
You could also explore the Southbank Centre Food Market, which has many different street food vendors.
Tickets from £27.50: The London Aquarium; Tickets from £29.00: London Eye
2:00 pm visit the Southbank attractions
From the Southbank Centre, you can walk back along the Queen’s Walk river path to County Hall. Here, there are lots of attractions. We recommend choosing the London Aquarium or the London Eye. Or visit both if you have the time!
The London Aquarium
The SEA LIFE London Aquarium lets you explore life underwater with an array of wildlife to discover. You can learn about a range of habitats from rainforests and coral reefs to the Open Oceans with the immersive tunnel.
London Eye
Take a ride on the London Eye for spectacular views over London and a bird’s-eye view of its iconic sights.
5:00 pm early dinner in Covent Garden
From the Southbank attractions, it’s a delightful 20-minute walk over the Golden Jubilee Bridge and up to Covent Garden for dinner. Or take the Northern Line from Waterloo Underground station up to Leicester Square (17 minutes).
Inamo is an Asian restaurant with interactive tables for ordering food and playing games to entertain the kids.
Tickets from £20.00: Matilda; Tickets from £44.10: The Lion King
7:00 pm take in a West End show
London’s West End is one of the best places in the world to see musicals. There are many classic and new musicals, as well as family-friendly shows such as The Lion King and Matilda.
Day 2 – St Paul’s Cathedral; Borough Market; Tower of London
Admission from £25.00 for 2 people: St Paul’s Cathedral
10:00 am views from St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s Cathedral was built by the UK’s most famous architect, Sir Christopher Wren and has been part of London life for hundreds of years.
You can explore inside the Cathedral and crypt. Then, ascend the many stairs inside the dome to the famous Whispering Gallery and onwards to the top with panoramic views of the city.
12:30 pm lunch at Borough Market
There’s a brilliant view of St Paul’s Cathedral as you look back from the Millenium Bridge. You can cross the Thames here on route to Borough Market. It takes 20 minutes from the Cathedral to the Market. Head east along the Thames Path, passing Shakespeare’s Globe, to Borough Market. Or you can ride the 133 bus to London Bridge.
At Borough Market, you can try some food samples from the different vendors before getting lunch at London’s most famous food market.
2:00 pm Explore the 900-year-old Tower of London
Tickets from £34.80: Tower of London
It’s best to walk to the Tower of London from Borough Market heading east along the Thames. It takes 23 minutes but feels far less with sights like the HMS Belfast and views of Tower Bridge. Take your time crossing the famous Tower Bridge, which offers views down the Thames.
Tower of London
One of London’s oldest buildings, the Tower of London is the ultimate place to explore London’s history. You get to visit the White Tower, Line of Kings, and the Crown Jewels and see the resident ravens. (1)
You can also book guided family tours of the Tower of London with kid-friendly commentary. This tour lasts 3 hours and gives you entry to the Tower of London with a guided tour of the key sights sharing facts, history, stories, and legends.
5:00 pm dinner in the Sky Garden with a view of London
With free entry, the Sky Garden offers one of the best views of London from the top of a city skyscraper. Three different restaurants offer views as the sun sets and the city lights up. Book well in advance, as tickets go quickly.
Day 3 – Natural History Museum; Hyde Park; Kensington Gardens; Royal Academy of Arts; Hamleys
Tickets from £172.00 for a group of up to five: Dinosaur Discovery Tour
10:00 am discover Earth’s history at the Natural History Museum
Explore 4.6 billion years of history at one of London’s most popular attractions which makes for a fun and fascinating visit. You can do a self-guided family tour.
This includes the Dinosaurs gallery, blue whale model, fossilised marine reptiles, and the Volcanoes & Earthquake gallery. There are also new gardens with Fern the Diplodocus to discover.
You can also book guided family tours like this Dinosaur Discovery tour with a professional art historian. It takes you through the Earth galleries to look at geology before the Dinosaurs gallery.
1:00 pm Picnic in Hyde Park
Hyde Park
It’s a short walk up to Hyde Park for a picnic lunch. You can also get something to eat at one of the park’s cafes. The kids can play at the Hyde Park Playground before walking along the Serpentine Lake to Kensington Gardens.
2:00 pm play at the Diana Memorial Playground or see art at the Royal Academy
In the afternoon, you could explore Kensington Gardens or head to the Royal Academy of Art for a gallery visit.
Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens makes for a lovely afternoon. Feed the ducks on the round pond and the kids can play at the Diana Memorial Playground. The playground is Peter Pan themed with a wooden pirate ship, sand play, and sculptures.
Royal Academy of Art
Under 16s go free to all Royal Academy of Art exhibitions. These show the very best of art history alongside contemporary artists. The chameleon symbol under key paintings helps guide families around the collections. It highlights key works with questions for engaging with art.
You can also download a free Art Detectives sketchbook to use at home or during the exhibitions. The Royal Academy of Art hosts workshops with Family Studio and Early-years Studio sessions that are free with no booking needed.
5:00 pm dinner in Soho
You could then have dinner in Soho. Pizza Pilgrims or Heddon Street Kitchen are family-friendly restaurants just off Regent’s Street.
Pizza Pilgrims
There’s a location on Kingly Street of this fun and easy pizza chain.
Heddon Street Kitchen
Heddon Street Kitchen is a Gordon Ramsay restaurant serving classic dishes. Kids eat free on weekdays too!
6:00 pm play at Hamleys
The world-famous toy shop Hamleys stays open until 9 pm Monday – Saturday. It’s more than just a toy shop. Across seven floors, Hamleys features toy demonstrations, detailed displays, events, shows, and the chance to test out many of the toys.
You can then explore Regent’s Street and Oxford Circus. If visiting during the Christmas season, it will be lit up with magical lights along the streets.
What to do for 3 days in London?
Things to do for 3 days in London with kids are sightseeing in Westminster, the attractions on the Southbank and a West End musical on Day 1. On Day 2, climb to the top of St Paul’s Cathedral for views over London before eating at Borough Market.
Next, visit the Tower of London, one of the oldest buildings in London. Go even further back in history on Day 3 with a visit to the Natural History Museum featuring dinosaurs and volcanoes. Play at the Diana Memorial Playground or see famous art at the Royal Academy of Art. Finish off your 3 days in London with a look around Hamleys toy shop.
FAQs
What is the best way to get around London?
The best way to get around London is to use the public transport network with buses or the underground, which covers most of the city. Walking between attractions close to each other is also very easy in London. The Thames Clippers boat rides are a fast way to get up and down the River Thames. Read more on travelling with kids on Loopla.
What is the best thing to do in London with kids?
For younger children, the best thing to do in London with kids is the London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure, or the London Zoo. For older kids, the best thing to do in London is visiting the free museums such as the Natural History Museum.
Exploring the Tower of London and seeing a family-friendly West End musical are also great things to do with kids. Find more things to do in London on Loopla 20 Amazing Things to Do With Kids in London.
Is it worth going to London for 3 days?
It is definitely worth going to London for 3 days as there are many attractions and sights to see. These include the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, and Natural History Museum as well as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and the Tower of London.
You may also like to see our other London itineraries:
