If you spend a weekend in London, there are almost endless things you can do. However, we recommend a good mix of sightseeing and attractions for children, because when the little one's eyes shine, the day is usually a success for the parents too.
Here are travel ideas for two or three days in London and general practical tips for your UK holiday.
Day 1: Madame Tussauds, the Royals and the London Eye
Why not start your first day in London by meeting members of the royal family? Near Baker Street Station is Madame Tussauds London, where your Merlin's Magical London Pass lets you skip the line to meet wax personalities like Beyoncé and David Beckham, Marvel heroes and of course the royals. You will be amazed at how tall or how small some of the stars are and make sure to take great souvenir photos with the celebrities.
Afterwards, you can take a walk from Hyde Park, where you will find the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, to Green Park. Here is Buckingham Palace, the residence of King Charles - if you want to visit the magnificent building, you can find our Buckingham Palace tickets.
Once through the beautiful St. James's Park where you will see an idyllic lake and lots of ducks, swans and squirrels, it is only a short walk to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, which is actually called Elizabeth Tower.
From here you will already be able to see the London Eye, the next stop -and with your Merlin's Magical London Pass you can skip the queues again. Now head into one of the glass capsules, which will rotate in a circle over the course of around 30 minutes, offering you some of the most beautiful views of London - the ideal end to an exciting first day!
If you need a longer break in between, a special afternoon tea is ideal. In London you will find several themed afternoon teas, such as the Wizard's Afternoon Tea experience at Wands and Wizard Exploratorium, the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych or the Sherlock Holmes Afternoon Tea. Here the whole family will be amazed at the cleverly served delicacies!
Day 2: Fun for young and old
Today is a day full of adventure as we go to SEA LIFE, Shrek's Adventure and the London Dungeon.
All three attractions are included in Merlin's Magical London Pass. At SEA LIFE London Aquarium, explorers young and old will be amazed on a journey from the coasts to the depths of the ocean and discover over 600 species of marine life. The variety of sea creatures, from sharks and rare turtles to rays and jellyfish to cute penguins, will delight the whole family.
At Shrek's Adventure, located right next to SEA LIFE, you'll explore the world of Shrek, Donkey and his friends in about 75 minutes. The crazy adventure begins with a magical 4D bus ride and then extraordinary animations and ten fairytale live shows await. The whole family has fun here!
Also, just a minute's walk from SEA LIFE London Aquarium is the London Dungeon. This attraction is recommended for children aged 12 and over (children under 5 are not allowed) as it immerses you in the city's dark past. In 17 stations, including the Plague Doctor, the Great Fire of London, the Free Fall Tower and the Torture Chamber, you will discover a different side of the city in around 90 minutes. Let the actors and actresses frighten you and be horrified by the macabre stories!
After these diverse impressions and a well-deserved breather, you can discover other highlights in London. If you're still near the London Dungeon on Southbank, you can now walk along the waterfront, passing some of London's most famous buildings along the way, such as Shakespeare's Globe and the Shard. Depending on how far you want to walk, you will end up at the famous Tower Bridge. Here you can discover the Tower of London with our Tower of London tickets and marvel at the famous crown jewels up close.
If you prefer to protect your feet, you can alternatively take the tube, or get a London Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket, which will take you from one attraction to the next in a relaxed manner.
Are you spending a long weekend in London? If you are travelling with Harry Potter fans, the Harry Potter Studio Tour with transfer is ideal for the last day!
Another great alternative is to experience London like a local and visit some of the most beautiful and unusual corners of the city.
Day 3: Experience London like a local
We have put together several of London's most popular things to do for you to choose from to really feel like a local!
The best food in London
For all foodies, we recommend delicious food at markets or restaurants.
Borough Market near London Bridge.
Camden Market near Camden Town Station.
Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill.
Broadway Market near Victoria Park in the east of the city.
Meanwhile, Brick Lane has a number of Indian and Pakistani restaurants where you can eat delicious curries. Want the tastiest beigels in London? Then head to Beigel Bake on Brick Lane!
Shopping in London - the most beautiful markets in London
One of the best vintage clothing markets is on Brick Lane, and Portobello Road Market has everything from antiques to souvenirs, crafts and clothing.
If markets aren’t your thing, a mix of classic brands and higher-priced shops await you in Covent Garden and the famous Oxford Street.
If you're in London on a Sunday and get up early thanks to the kids, you shouldn't miss Columbia Road Flower Market. A hustle and bustle of plant and flower dealers await here, offering fauna in all colours on their tables.
Mini farms in London
An ideal activity to do in London with kids is to visit one of the city's many City Farms! Spitalfields City Farm, where donkeys, goats, ducks, a pig and other animals are waiting to be admired by your little ones, and the Oasis Farm Waterloo are quite centrally located. However, there are also other options a little further outside the centre to spend an hour or two in a little animal paradise.
The most beautiful parks in London
The British capital's most famous park is certainly Hyde Park, but London has several other beautiful green spaces worth visiting.
Visit Greenwich and Greenwich Park to discover Greenwich Mean Time and the planetarium and enjoy fantastic views of the city. Not far away is the Cutty Sark, a museum ship that is an interesting stop. In Regent's Park, you can stroll for hours or have a relaxed picnic and before or after the beautiful hours in the park you can visit London Zoo, which will especially delight the little ones. Additionally, the park is right next to Primrose Hill, a smaller park which (after a short but tough climb) offers outstanding views of London.
Are you now interested in London? Book your Merlin's Magical London Pass and other London tickets in advance and enjoy the anticipation of your trip.
