Exciting Family Trips in London

London is an urban jungle of excitement, bursting at the seams with fantastic family days out. Here are a couple of ideas for families on a trip to London.

Duck Tour

If you are looking to take a tour of London and are not sure whether to go by road or by river then why not do both and take an amphibious Duck Tour. Starting on the road, the bright yellow tour bus takes you past London landmarks such as Big Ben and Trafalgar Square before taking a rather unexpected dive into the River Thames. Don’t worry though: this vehicle is half car half boat, so is just as at home on the water as on the road. With enthusiastic guides taking you though London, the Duck Tour is something that will entertain the whole family.

London Zoo

Another favourite for children is the London Zoo in Regent’s Park which first opened its doors in 1847 and is home to over 750 species of animal. Watch the penguins down at penguin beach as they duck and dive after fish at feeding time, or see flying, leaping and climbing animals in action in daily displays.
For those who want to get more involved, booking ahead can give you the opportunity to become a keeper for the day, and there are even sleepovers in the bug house for those that are feeling very adventurous.

Up at the O2

Keeping on the adventurous theme, the newly opened ‘Up at the O2’ challenge is not for the faint hearted! The O2 dome, once known as the Millennium Dome’, sits on the edge of the River Thames in North Greenwich. Up at the O2 offers adventurers the chance complete an exhilarating climb over the roof of the dome to get a unique perspective on the capital.

The experience is open to anyone over the age of 10 who feels up to the challenge. There are a couple of restrictions so be sure to check before you book. After a full briefing you are kitted out in suits and harnesses, ready to begin the ascent, led by an experienced guide. At the highest point the dome is 52 feet from the ground, and it is here you come to the central viewing platform which offers 360 degree views over London – a pretty amazing sight, and something you definitely won’t forget in a hurry.

Tickets on the day are £30-39 each, but booking online for a weekday visit reduces the price. Groups can be up to 15 people.

Dining

After all that daytime adventure head for a well-earned bite to eat at Ed’s Easy Diner in Soho, near Piccadilly Tube station. This 1950s style diner has a juke box playing rock and roll tunes as you settle down to your burger and fries. With its easy style and fun atmosphere it is a great place to go with the children. Other good restaurants include the Rainforest Café in Picadilly Circus which brings the sights and sounds of the Amazon rainforest to London or Sticky Fingers, a fun restaurant opened by one of the members of the Rolling Stones which boast about having ‘the best ribs in London’.

Matilda the Musical

If you have any energy left in the evening then make time for a trip to Matilda the Musical, an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s brilliant book [amazon_textlink asin=’B00BZBPRBA’ text=’Matilda’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’chrischrissho-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’e378b2dd-a233-11e8-9b5f-15513dae1829′], playing at the Cambridge Theatre in Covent Garden. This multi-award winning show DEFINITELY won’t disappoint, but be sure to book tickets early as they are snapped up fast. You’ll be singing the songs all the way home!

Accomodations

Finding hotels in London that are child-friendly is not always easy, but vacation rentals company onefinestay offers a service that makes travelling all the easier for families. They offer travellers the chance to stay in unique homes while the owners are out of town. While in these homes guests have access to all the services of five star hotel, as well as receiving a free iPhone for the length of their stay loaded with recommendation from the home owner on things to do in the local area.  Many of the homes are family homes so they are well equipped for children – even with bedrooms full of new and exciting toys to explore! There are over 600 homes in London to choose from, so you live the luxury life in Kensington, head to South London to explore some of the best green spaces in town or be on the doorstep of some of the best galleries and theatres in town in bustling Central London. The only tricky thing is deciding which house to go for!

This post is sponsored by Onefinestay which specializes in family travel.