Trip highlights
- 1Natural History Museum — free and extraordinary
- 2Tower of London Crown Jewels
- 3Harry Potter Studio Tour (Watford)
- 4Thames boat from Westminster to Greenwich
- 5Hyde Park Playgrounds and Princess Diana Memorial
Daily spend
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & South Kensington Museums
Thursday, July 1
Est. spend
$170
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick
Heathrow Airport, London
Heathrow (LHR): Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) to Paddington takes 25 minutes (£12.80/adult, children under 11 free). Gatwick (LGW): Gatwick Express to Victoria takes 30 minutes (£19.90/adult). Oyster cards work on all London transport — top up at the airport.
Get Oyster cards for all family members at the airport — children under 11 travel free on all TfL transport. The Elizabeth Line from Heathrow is seamless with luggage.
☀️ Afternoon
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7
The NHM is free, magnificent, and endlessly fascinating for children. The diplodocus cast in the central hall, the blue whale skeleton in the Hintze Hall, the earthquake simulator in the Earth galleries, and the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition (small charge) are the must-see sections.
Book the free timed entry tickets online at nhm.ac.uk to avoid queues in summer. The wildlife garden behind the museum (May–September) is a lovely outdoor escape.
🍽️ Meals
Dishoom, Covent Garden
Indian · $55 · The best Indian restaurant in London with a kids-friendly atmosphere. The black dal and naan are the dishes. Book weeks ahead or queue.
Tower of London & Thames
Friday, July 2
Est. spend
$160
per person
🌅 Morning
Tower of London
Tower Hill, London EC3N
1,000 years of history in one fortress — the Crown Jewels (including the 530-carat Cullinan I diamond), the Beefeater Yeoman Warder tours, the ravens (the Tower must never be without 6 ravens — legend says the kingdom will fall), and the White Tower with its medieval armour collection. Entry £29.90 adult, £15 child.
Book online at hrp.org.uk for slight discount and to skip ticket queues. The Beefeater tours depart every 30 minutes from the main gate — the guides are former military and excellent storytellers.
☀️ Afternoon
Thames Clipper boat to Greenwich
Tower Pier → Greenwich Pier, London
The Thames Clipper river bus from Tower Pier to Greenwich takes 30 minutes — an excellent Thames perspective past Canary Wharf and the O2. Greenwich: the Cutty Sark (clipper ship museum), the National Maritime Museum (free), standing on the Prime Meridian (GMT 0°), and Greenwich Park.
The Royal Observatory admission (£16 adult) includes standing on the Meridian Line — all children find this exciting. The view from the hill over Canary Wharf is the best in East London.
🍽️ Meals
Flat Iron, Covent Garden
British steak · $45 · Excellent flat iron steak for £12 — the best value steak in London. Kids get free ice cream. No reservation required.
Harry Potter Studio Tour
Saturday, July 3
Est. spend
$250
per person
🌅 Morning
Warner Bros. Studio Tour — The Making of Harry Potter
Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Watford, WD25 7LR
The original studio where all 8 Harry Potter films were made — the actual Hogwarts Great Hall, Diagon Alley, Dumbledore's office, Hagrid's costume, the Gryffindor common room, and the full Hogwarts model. The Butterbeer (non-alcoholic, cream soda with vanilla cream) is obligatory.
Book tickets at wbstudiotour.co.uk minimum 3 months ahead — they regularly sell out. Allow 4–5 hours minimum for the full experience. The studio is in Watford — 20 minutes from Euston by train.
🌙 Evening
Carnaby Street and Soho for dinner
Carnaby Street / Soho, London
Return to central London, walk Carnaby Street (1960s fashion heart), and dinner in Soho.
🍽️ Meals
Afternoon tea at the studio
British · $30 · The studio has a café with themed food. The Butterbeer is the signature drink — sweet, creamy, and worth the £5.
Science Museum & Hyde Park
Sunday, July 4
Est. spend
$165
per person
🌅 Morning
Science Museum
Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7
The Science Museum is free and brilliant for children — the Launch Pad interactive gallery (hands-on physics and engineering), the Space Hall (Apollo 10 command module, the actual capsule that orbited the Moon), and the History of Computing section. The IMAX cinema (£12) shows space and nature documentaries.
The Energy Hall on Level 1 has the original Boulton and Watt steam engine (1786) — the first practical steam engine that changed the world. Surprisingly moving.
☀️ Afternoon
Hyde Park — Princess Diana Memorial and Serpentine
Hyde Park, London W2
Hyde Park (350 acres) is London's greatest open space. The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain is popular with young children (they paddle in the water). The Serpentine lake has pedalos and rowboats for hire. The Albert Memorial and Royal Albert Hall are at the south end.
The Serpentine Gallery (free, south side of the Serpentine lake) often has excellent contemporary art shows including the annual Serpentine Pavilion by an international architect.
🍽️ Meals
The Ivy Chelsea Garden
British/International · $80 · Family-friendly upscale London dining in a beautiful garden space. The children's menu is genuinely good.
Buckingham Palace & St James's
Monday, July 5
Est. spend
$150
per person
🌅 Morning
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, London SW1A
The Guards ceremony runs daily at 11am in summer (alternate days November–April). The full ceremony takes 45 minutes — bands playing, guards in red tunics and bearskin hats. Free to watch from the gates. Arrive 30 minutes early for a position.
The Changing of the Guard also takes place at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall at 11am (Monday–Saturday) and 10am (Sunday) — smaller and less crowded than Buckingham Palace.
St James's Park and Westminster Bridge
St James's Park, London SW1
St James's Park has pelicans (fed daily at 2:30pm near the Duck Island Cottage), a lake with swans, and a view of Buckingham Palace, Westminster, and the London Eye simultaneously.
The pelicans have been a feature of St James's Park since 1664 — a gift from the Russian ambassador to Charles II. They are surprisingly aggressive during the 2:30pm feeding.
☀️ Afternoon
Westminster Abbey and Big Ben
20 Deans Yard, Westminster, London SW1P
Westminster Abbey (burial place of 17 monarchs, location of every coronation since 1066) entry £27 adult, £12 child. Alternatively, the exterior of Parliament Square (Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey) is free and excellent for photos.
Westminster Abbey is best visited early (10am opening) before tour groups arrive. The Poets' Corner (Chaucer, Dickens, Shakespeare memorial, Hardy, Tennyson) is the most moving section.
🍽️ Meals
Pizza Pilgrims, Soho
Neapolitan pizza · $40 · Family-friendly Neapolitan pizza chain. The Nduja and the Margherita are both excellent. Best value Italian in London for families.
British Museum & Covent Garden
Tuesday, July 6
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
British Museum
Great Russell St, Bloomsbury, London WC1B
Free and unmatched — the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, the Lewis Chessmen, the Sutton Hoo Helmet, and Egyptian mummies. The Great Court (Norman Foster's glass roof) is the largest covered public square in Europe.
The Egyptian mummies are in Room 62–63 on the upper floor — the most popular room with children. Book free timed entry online at britishmuseum.org in peak season.
☀️ Afternoon
Covent Garden — street performers and the market
Covent Garden, London WC2E
Covent Garden's main piazza is London's open-air entertainment venue — professional-quality street performers (selected by audition), the covered market halls, and shops. The London Transport Museum (£20 adult, children free) in the corner of the piazza is excellent.
The London Transport Museum is one of the most child-friendly museums in London — driving simulators, original horse-drawn trams, and the story of the Tube. Included in the Oyster card's annual pass.
🍽️ Meals
Shake Shack, Covent Garden
American · $30 · Excellent burgers, good milkshakes, and no fuss. Reliable family lunch near the British Museum.
Final Morning & Departure
Wednesday, July 7
Est. spend
$180
per person
🌅 Morning
Portobello Road Market (Saturday)
Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, London W10
The world's largest antique market (Saturday morning, Notting Hill) — Victorian jewellery, vintage clothes, art, and the food stalls that serve jerk chicken, crepes, and Spanish chorizo. The colourful Notting Hill houses and the classic London streets are the backdrop.
Portobello Market is Saturday only for the antiques. The food stalls run Thursday–Saturday. The surrounding Notting Hill neighbourhood (Primrose Hill, Ladbroke Grove) is pleasant for an hour walk.
☀️ Afternoon
Airport transfer
Heathrow Airport
Elizabeth Line from Paddington to Heathrow (25 min). Gatwick Express from Victoria (30 min). Allow 3 hours before international departure.
🍽️ Meals
The Electric Diner, Portobello
American diner/British · $40 · All-day diner on Portobello Road. The full English breakfast and pancakes satisfy children and adults equally.
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
May–September for warmer weather and outdoor activities. July–August is peak season — museums can be crowded. Book the Harry Potter Studio Tour at least 3 months ahead year-round. Late May (half-term) and August are the busiest family periods.
🛂 Visas
US, EU, Canadian, Australian citizens need a UK ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) from January 2025 — apply at gov.uk/apply-uk-visit-visa (£10). EU citizens no longer get automatic visa-free access; ETA required. Process takes minutes to days.
💱 Currency
British Pound (GBP). London is expensive — £15–20 for a pub meal, £4–6 for a flat white. Children under 11 travel free on all TfL transport (with a paying adult). The London Pass (£55 adult/£39 child per day) covers most paid attractions and can save money on a museum-heavy itinerary.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 999
ambulance: 999
non-emergency: 101
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- The free London museum trio (British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, Tate Modern, National Gallery) represents the world's best free museum cluster. These alone could fill 4 days.
- Fish and chips from a proper chippy (not a restaurant) — find a chip shop away from tourist areas. A portion costs £7–9 and should be eaten from paper with salt and malt vinegar.
One thing worth not skipping
A 7-day trip to London, United Kingdom without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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