Best age to take kids to visit london?

[Shopperami]

Looking at taking DC to London. When is a good age would you say?

5-10
Definitely when they are out of buggies etc

It depends what you want to do. A dinosaur mad 6 year old would love a trip to the natural History Museum, a stage struck 13 year old would be delighted to go and see Hamilton. I’d avoid talking any child who still needs a buggy if possible, London isn’t especially buggy friendly but other than that there’s so much to potentially do you can tailor your trip to the child(ren).

I'd avoid talking any child who still needs a buggy if possible, London isn’t especially buggy friendly

People who live in London do have young children you know!

There is plenty to do for all ages!

It totally depends on what age they are and what they are interested in

We first took our when they were about 5, 7 and 9 but they found it very tiring.

We went again a couple of years ago when they were 10,12 and 14 and had a brilliant time. Got on a bus from Victoria to Regents Park, walked to Camden then on to Primrose Hill then the tube back to Victoria.

And yes, I'm from London and had a buggy but didn't spend my time hopping off on on the tube/bus with it and traipsing round museums!

I know people in London have children in buggies, I’ve been one of them. However a lot of tube stations don’t have lifts, last time I went to the natural History Museum they didn’t let you take buggies in and the crowd levels in the popular tourist spots don’t make life easy with one. If you’re spending money making a special trip to London you want to get the most out of it.

8-12 is the best age I think for a one off visit, but plan carefully to minimise unnecessary walking.

Every age, many times!

1-2 yo
London aquarium
Bach to Baby
Chase pigeons in Trafalgar square, and pop into an art gallery for them to have a quick peek and enjoy the space!

3-4 yo:
(take scooter rather than buggy)
science museum ('garden' hands-on area in basement)
transport museum
Battersea Park zoo
Diana Memorial playground
boat trip on the Thames
Brilliant childrens theatre at Unicorn, Polka, Little Angel, My First Ballet at Sadlers Wells

5-6yo
(top floor of buses and let them go through tube barriers themselves!)
Dinosaurs at the science museum
South Bank (buskers, carousel, the river and the London eye. Also a playground)
Hamleys/Harrods
Changing of the guard, Buckingham palace (outside), Trafalgar square
Tower of London

7-8yo
British museum
London zoo
Greenwich museums
London dungeon
The Shard

9-10
Houses of parliament
Cabinet war rooms
The Old operating theatre and herb garret
Thames RIB trip on Thames (speedboat)
Art galleries, children's concerts and theatre, courses and experiences

Older
Everything an adult would enjoy! Historic sights, shows, music, art, food, shops...

*Dinosaurs are at the Natural History museum if course..

Space and various brilliant interactive areas at the science museum.

nordic has it right!

I think not only out of a buggy but also old enough to walk quite a bit cos you'll do that even if you are trying not to! So I'd guess from about 8yo.

Generally, don't be too ambitious in how much you try to achieve in a day. One or max two big tourist sites is more than enough, preferably close together.

Hamleys...OK if you are prepared to be pressurised into spending quite a lot of money on toys, or are capable to resist it and just let them watch.

Add the Victoria & Albert Museum to the list for kids interested in dress, fashion through the ages.

The London Transport Museum is always packed with little kids. I think three is a great age for it.

Mine was 7 when we went to London. We did something cultural in the morning, lunch at a child friendly place and then something she wanted to do in the afternoon, so Hamleys etc.

We walked a lot but an ice-cream got us from Buckingham palace to Downing St. (to try and see the cats). She loved the tube and I'd looked up playgrounds (there is a small one near the Tower of London) when she wanted something else.

Ds loved it at 4 and wants to go again.

@nordicwannabe.. thanks for the list of places to visit for each age group..really useful. We are planning a trip soon and our 5 yr old DS is transport crazy so top deck of buses and the transport museum will be great for him.

6 + mine loved it, but it's a trek for a day trip for us. And there was no way I was schlepping a buggy around!

As others have said, it depends on what they are interested in and what you plan on doing.
We took our 2.5yo and 4.5yo in half term, and braved not taking the pushchair. They both did amazingly well as there was so much to interest them they didn't feel the tiredness. My fitbit had recorded 7 miles by the end of the day. 4yo walked all day, 2yo needed two 20min stints in the carrier we'd stuffed into a rucksack 'just in case', but children less used to walking may struggle. A buggy on the tubes is a PITA with either only 1 adult, or if 2 adults but another child who needs their hand held.
We visited the Natural History Museum, China Town (for lunch), Leicester square (for buskers), and Hamleys. We planned on the Science Museum too but it was sadly temporarily shut due to a security incident. We had taken DD1 there previously when she was 2yo and she loved it.
We have annual zoo passes and they have been there a number of times too.

Agree Nordic is right and what an excellent guide!

We're in the Midlands and try to go to London every couple of years with DD. We LOVE it! Apologies to London MNers who I probably get totally in the way of when in tourist mode

Dinosaurs - be aware that "Dippy" The diplodocus in the entrance hall of the NHM isn't there right now, it's on tour (currently here in Glasgow - hooray!!).

We've had short breaks in London with kids at several different ages, first time they were 6.8 and 10 and the highlight was getting to stay up late and walk to Westminster bridge to see Big Ben and hear the chimes at 9 o'clock! Most recently we were there last summer with them 14,16,18 and the most important thing was finding a handy pub for a sit down and a beer (now17 year old ds looks older than his age, we discovered!!). And we went to see "The Mousetrap", which we all loved. Other trips have highlights of staying in Greenwich and getting the riverboat each morning (with a Greggs breakfast), going to see the Lion King musical, going to the Harry Potter studios, Camden Market, going shopping (by themselves) on Oxford Street (dh and I went for lunch) etc ....

Go! And have a great time!

Thanks for the advice everyone you have all been really helpful

I have 3 dc aged from 12 months to 12 years. Recently visited London but won't be returning for a few years now. The biggest problem I encountered was transport issues (we went by train into London and there were issues there too). It is an adventure and I am glad I went, hopefully it was memory making for the dc but I don't plan to return in a hurry, my stress levels seemed to go through the roof!

I would say 5+, but depends on the child.

Whatever age you think they will actually enjoy what there is to do over and above what there is to do at home

A one year old may well like the aquarium and chasing pigeons in Trafalgar Square, but chances are they'd like a pet shop with fish and a pigeon in the park just as much! It's cheaper and easier to stay closer to home!

There is something for every age, but if you want it to be a special trip and it's expensive or stressful or time consuming to come into London then wait until they will properly appreciate it!

We took ours to London a couple of years ago and they loved it. Now at 12 & 14, we've booked a surprise couple of days there in the Easter holidays. I can't wait, they'll love it 😁

Sufely there's so much to do that it doesn't matter how old the kids are, there will always be somewhere to visit?

I don't understand why and people are so nervous about London as if it's a completely different place or something. It is the capital city, full of culture, cultures, interest and opportunities. Why anyone would want to limit their child's visit to one event every 4 years I can't imagine. Just get the carrier out and get stuck in, like London mums do every day.

I don't think anyone is nervous or wanting to limit their child's opportunities. If you live far away it's expensive and time consuming to visit. People just want to make sure their child's enjoyment will make it worthwhile. Lots of people probably can't afford to visit more than once every four years!

I live in London, but I don't regularly visit every other city in the UK. I don't have the time or money.