Tips and tricks on travelling in London with children.
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London with Kids Tips and tricks on travelling in London with children. |
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And don't be afraid
of getting lost or of walking on London streets. You will
rarely, if ever, feel unsafe.
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Let's say you're visiting London for five days with your children
who are somewhat beyond the "rugrat" age range. You want to enjoy
your visit yourself, but you also want your kids to have fun.
I don't know about you, but some of us (myself included), can only deal with "museums" for just so long. In fact, I've come to cringe even at hearing the word, "museum." I think I learned that from my kids. So the first thing you could do, because some of the - ahem - museums in London are terrific and your kids will love them - is to perhaps change the names a bit.
Let's see - OK, for example - instead of telling the kids that you're thinking of visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum - to which news they will groan and twist their bodies in agony - why not say you're thinking that today would be a good day to stop by the Victoria and Albert Pantechnicon?
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Before they figure
out that a Pantechnicon has nothing to do with Star Wars,
you'll be inside.
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But perhaps you've found, as I have, that manipulating others ends
up blowing up in your face. My suggestion is that you sit down and
talk honestly as a family group about what you'll do during your London
visit.
If you have something wonderful, or simply fun that each person can look forward to, planned, your family members will be much more willing to partake in activities that aren't exactly to their liking. It's a win-win situation. Everyone wins. Some of the time.
Everyone needs to agree to the itinerary and to the notion that no one will grumble about events they don't care too much about. If each day is planned well, you'll have a brilliant time together without anyone feeling overly burdened, bored, or stifled.
Mix things up a bit and don't be afraid to go from one end of London to another for two activities. It's easy to get around in London using their superb underground system and the traditional London buses. The ride itself on the bus or tube will be fun and educational, as long as that's the mindset of your group. And Mom and Dad can set the tone to make sure that it is just that.
Here's a five-day itinerary that should give you a good
taste of London, allowing the adults in your group to feel that they've
really visited the city of all cities, and given the children the
fun breaks that all of us need, no matter what the age.
Preliminaries:
Want to start out on a fun note for the kids - and some luxury for
yourself? How about booking a room at a hotel with a "resident ghost?"
In other words, the place is haunted! Right in London, there are two
hotels (five-star, mind you) that qualify as "haunted":
The Dorchester
Park Lane, London W1A 2HJ.
(In the western section of London, on the Piccadilly Line, Consistently
ranked one of the world's best. This opulent 1931 hotel offers the
friendliest, almost "telepathic" levels of service (see? What did
I tell you?), an outstanding choice of restaurants and a glorious
Spa.
Behind the grand Art Deco exterior, bedrooms in a traditional English Country House style provide every comfort and luxury. Superbly located opposite Hyde Park.
Price guide:
Double/Twins from about $198.
Tel: 020 7629 8888
Fax:020 7409 0114
Tel Toll Free in USA: 1 800 727 9820
Grosvenor
Park Lane, London W1A 3AA.
The Hotel stands on the original site of Old Grosvenor House which
was Richard the Earl of Grosvenor's 18th Century private residence.
This place has got to have footsteps echoing in the dead of the night!
Similarly priced. From about $168 per night per person, kids up to
16 years of age free.Telephone +44 1 71 499 6363.
Of course, for family bedtime reading, you'll want to have some wonderful ghost stories for the children to make it a little more fun and enchanting. Try "The Banshee Train" by Odds Bodkin. A person with a name like that just has to be able write a scary story, no?
Then there's the "Christmas Ghost Story" by Nick Demartino. Or, you might choose "The Berenstain Bears in Maniac Mansion" (Berenstain Bears Big Chapter Books) by Stan and Jan Berenstain.
One that is being touted as a great story for young adults and all ages, is "For Mike," written by Shelly Sykes. Better yet, make up your own scary stories! Light some candles, or hold a flashlight under your chin for a great spooky effect, put your p.j.'s on and sit around together in your hotel room. Each person takes a turn adding a few lines to the story.
Keep a pen and paper handy! These stories are often "classics" that your kids will love. Be sure you write them down so you can remember them later on! Of course, parents must use their own discretion regarding scary stories. Small children could be too frightened by inappropriate things. You don't want nightmares that will keep Mom and Dad up half the night and not able to get around London Town the next day!
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Tip
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When you arrive in London, the first thing you might want to do after you go to a money exchange, is buy some London underground postcards for all reading members of your group. These only cost about 20p and can be carried around and referred to easily. If you know what tube stop is near the activity you are heading to, you can quickly figure out your route. It is cheaper than buying a map and will make you look less of a tourist (but rarely less like an American!) |
Next:
Day One Itinerary
Day Two Itinerary
Day Three Itinerary
Day Four Itinerary
Day Five Itinerary
article by Geri Wagner
geri@starshiptravel.com
Internet Marketing Specialist
1.888.430.6464 or 315,337,6463
We're LEAN because we offer the lowest fares for flights to London, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, plus great cruise specials, London/UK hotel bookings at 10% off and London/UK car rentals! We're MEAN because we regularly beat quotes!
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