Before we had kids, Ben and I took a trip through the South of France, Monaco, Paris and London. We started in Nice, spent time along the French Riviera, visited Monaco and then continued to Paris. London was our last stop, and it brought such a fun energy to the end of the trip.
We took it all in the second we stepped outside. Red buses passing by, black cabs, old pubs, beautiful buildings and people everywhere. We spent our days walking between landmarks, stopping for food and exploring neighborhoods that each felt completely different. There was always something else we wanted to see, which made the days feel exciting rather than overly planned.
London is definitely a sightseeing trip, but that is what makes it so fun. The history, restaurants, shopping and energy of the city give you plenty to fill your days without making every minute feel scheduled. We went without the boys, but I would love to bring them back when they are a little older. I would probably pair London with somewhere slower or near the water, just to give the trip a little bit of both.
How Many Days Do You Need in London?
I would plan for at least four full days, especially for a first visit. There is far too much to see in a weekend, and the city is much larger than it looks on a map.
London also works well as part of a longer European itinerary. Pairing it with Paris is especially easy, but I loved the contrast of visiting after the South of France and Monaco. You get the coast, sunshine and slower meals first, followed by a few busy days filled with history, museums, restaurants and city energy.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at The Nadler Soho, which is now called The Resident Soho. It is a stylish four-star hotel in the middle of Soho, close to Oxford Street, the West End, restaurants, theaters, and several Underground stations. The rooms also have small, concealed kitchenettes, which are useful if you want to keep drinks, breakfast, or snacks in the room. The Resident Soho.
The biggest reason to stay here is the location. London requires a lot of walking and time on the Tube, so being centrally located made it much easier to see different parts of the city without spending half the day getting around. Soho is busy and lively, but it is a great base if you want restaurants, shopping and nightlife right outside your hotel.
London Neighborhoods to Explore
London is a city I’d explore neighborhood by neighborhood. Grouping nearby sights together makes the days more manageable and leaves time for the little shops, coffee stops and streets you didn’t have on your list.
Soho
Soho is where we stayed, and we loved being able to walk out and have so much nearby. Explore Carnaby Street, Ganton Street and Newburgh Street, then stop inside Liberty for its beautiful interiors, fabrics and homewares. Kingly Court is an easy place to stop for food, and nearby Chinatown is worth exploring when you’re hungry. This is also a great area for dinner before a West End show.
Westminster and St. James’s
This is where you’ll find many of London’s most recognizable sights: Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Walk through St. James’s Park between the palace and Westminster, leaving yourself time to enjoy the gardens along the way. If you want to go inside Westminster Abbey, give it a proper place in your itinerary rather than squeezing it between everything else.
South Bank
Walk across Westminster Bridge from Big Ben and you’ll reach the London Eye. Take a ride for sweeping views over the Thames and London’s landmarks, or enjoy the views from the riverside. Afterward, follow the river past the Southbank Centre, stopping for something to eat or drink along the way. It’s an easy area to pair with a morning in Westminster.
Bankside and Southwark
Continue east along the river into Bankside for Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe, then head toward Borough Market in Southwark. Come hungry and give yourself time to browse before deciding what to eat. Between the market, museums and riverside views, you could easily spend an afternoon here.
Mayfair
Mayfair is a good excuse to browse beautiful shops and sit down for a long lunch or afternoon tea. Walk along Bond Street, explore the smaller streets around it and stop into a gallery. Maddox Street is where we photographed the gallery covered in rainbow flowers, although the displays change. Pair this area with Regent Street or a walk through nearby Green Park.
Kensington and South Kensington
Visit Kensington Palace, see the Sunken Garden and leave time for a walk through Kensington Gardens. The formal garden in my photos is right beside the palace. Farther south, South Kensington is home to the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. I’d choose one museum and leave time for the park, especially with children.
Marylebone
Marylebone is where I’d plan a slower morning: coffee, a walk along Marylebone High Street and time inside Daunt Books. Browse the smaller shops or visit the Wallace Collection if you enjoy art and beautiful interiors. It’s close to Oxford Street, making it an easy addition to a shopping day when you want to explore beyond the big flagship stores.
Covent Garden
Explore the market building and piazza, watch the street performers, then wander toward Seven Dials and Neal’s Yard. Plenty of shops and places to eat, so leave room for a few unplanned stops. Covent Garden also works well before a theater evening: spend the afternoon exploring, have an early dinner and walk to your show.
Notting Hill
Head to Notting Hill for colorful houses, antique browsing and a morning without a long sightseeing checklist. Start around Portobello Road, then explore the shops along Westbourne Grove and the surrounding streets. Stop for coffee, browse and take your time. Nearby Holland Park is a lovely addition if you want to keep walking.
St. John’s Wood
If you’re a Beatles fan, head to St. John’s Wood to see Abbey Road Studios from the outside and the famous zebra crossing from the album cover. After taking your photo, walk over to St. John’s Wood High Street for coffee and a browse. It’s a leafy, residential part of London that makes a nice change of pace from the major sightseeing stops.
Greenwich
If you have an extra half day, Greenwich gives you a reason to venture beyond central London. Browse Greenwich Market, explore the maritime sights and walk up through Greenwich Park toward the Royal Observatory for the views. Give this area its own stretch of time so you can enjoy it without rushing back to your next stop.
What to See on a First Trip
London can become overwhelming if you treat every landmark as a separate outing. It makes more sense to group the city by area and explore a few nearby places together.
Start with Westminster, where you can see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. From there, walk through St. James’s Park toward Buckingham Palace. This is the London everyone comes to see, and it deserves time even if the area is busy.
For another history-heavy day, visit the Tower of London, walk across Tower Bridge and continue toward the South Bank. The South Bank gives you some of the best views across the Thames and is a fun place to wander without following a strict itinerary.
London’s museums could easily take up an entire trip. The British Museum is the obvious choice for history, while South Kensington has the Natural History Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum. With children, I would choose one museum at a time rather than trying to rush through several.
You should also leave room for the city’s neighborhoods. Walk through Soho and Covent Garden, browse the shops in Notting Hill, stop in a pub and spend time at Borough Market. London’s biggest landmarks matter, but the old storefronts, theaters, flower stands, tiled pubs, and side streets are what make the city so fun to explore. We also loved taking the Tube to St. John’s Wood to see Abbey Road Studios and walk Abbey Road. If you’re a Beatles fan, it’s a must-see.
What to Eat in London
London is a city where you should mix reservations with casual stops. Make time for a traditional Sunday roast, fish and chips, a proper pub meal, Indian food and afternoon tea. Borough Market is also worth visiting when you want to taste several things without committing to a formal lunch.
We had dinner at Chiltern Firehouse, the hotel and restaurant inside a former fire station in Marylebone. It was already known as a major celebrity hotspot, so part of the fun was the atmosphere and seeing who might walk through the door. The building itself is beautiful, and the entire evening felt very London.
A note for anyone currently planning a trip: Chiltern Firehouse suffered a major fire in February 2025 and has remained closed while the building undergoes repairs. I would still include it as part of our experience, but readers should check its status before planning a visit.
London is also a good place to plan one memorable meal and keep the rest flexible. Some of our favorite travel days are the ones where we walk until we find a pub, bakery or busy little restaurant that looks good.
Where to Eat in London
For a first trip, these are some of London’s best-known dining spots to have on your list:
- Dishoom | Soho or Covent Garden: A popular choice for Bombay-inspired Indian food. Go with an appetite and order a few dishes to share.
- The Wolseley | Mayfair: A classic London stop on Piccadilly, known for its grand dining room, breakfast and afternoon tea.
- Gymkhana | Mayfair: One of London’s most celebrated Indian restaurants. A splurge dinner worth planning ahead for.
- Padella | Borough / Southwark: A well-known spot for fresh, handmade pasta, right by Borough Market.
- Brat | Shoreditch: A favorite among food lovers for Basque-inspired cooking over fire and its signature whole grilled turbot.
- St. JOHN | Smithfield / Farringdon: A London institution known for traditional British ingredients and nose-to-tail cooking.
Borough Market | Southwark: One of London’s most famous food stops. It’s a market rather than a single restaurant, with plenty of options for lunch, pastries, and something sweet. Come hungry and browse before deciding.
Is London a Good Trip With Kids?
We traveled to London without our children, but I would bring them back when they are old enough to enjoy the history and handle full days of walking. So much would feel exciting to them: double-decker buses, palace guards, castles, boats on the Thames, the Natural History Museum, Paddington Station, and the Harry Potter connection throughout the city.
I would not make London the only stop on a longer family vacation, though. It is busy and sightseeing-heavy, without the beach or built-in downtime we usually love on family trips. I would pair it with the English countryside, France or another destination where we could slow down afterward.
For younger children, I would also avoid overplanning. One major attraction each day, time in a park and a centrally located hotel would make the trip far more enjoyable.
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
London involves more walking than you expect, even when you use the Underground. Comfortable shoes are essential, and the weather can change quickly, so bring layers and something waterproof.
Book the attractions that matter most to you in advance, but do not schedule every hour. Travel between neighborhoods takes time, and London is better when you can stop for a pub lunch, wander into a shop or change plans because you find something more interesting along the way.
It is not a slow vacation, but it is a memorable one. London is layered, historic, and full of things to see, eat, and take in. Paired with the South of France, Monaco and Paris, it gave us a completely different ending to the trip and made me want to return with the boys when they are ready to experience it for themselves.
Leave a Reply