Best location for a family week in/around London

[SecondUsername4me]

We live in the Scottish Borders, and my dc are desperate to visit the Harry Potter Studios. They also fancy Tower of London, my son wants to see "where the King lives" and my DH hasn't been to London himself since he was a teen.

So we figured it given the distance, and wanting to see a fair bit, it might just make sense to do a full week and drive down. This gives us the car for the Studios, and gives us the option to drive out to places outside of London.

So we would need somewhere with its own parking, outside of the centre, and I assume on the northern side as we are coming that way.

Can anyone recommend a good base for ease of access with a car, tube line access into Central London, and some nice green space nearby the accomodation for park walks etc. I think an air bnb would be better than hotel as we will probably come back for dinner each evening.

Any suggestions greatly welcomed! Oh and also some good day trips outside of Central London, maybe up to an hour drive. Dc aged 9 and 12. Oh - best Theme Parks in that area would be good.

I'd drive down and stay out to the west of London, along or near the Elizabeth line between Iver and Reading. That way you have the car for day trips to Windsor and Harry Potter Studios but can get into town relatively easily for anything else.

We're staying in Waterloo at the County Hall premier inn for a couple of nights, February half-term. £255 for 2 nights. Great location for the sights, premier inn do the meal deal which is dinner and breakfast for £26 and kids get free breakfast, so pretty cheap. We usually do the LNER from Berwick which is also pretty cheap (worthwhile getting a railcard), and a relaxing start (& end) to a break.

St Albans is very nice and Thameslink into central London is quick and easy

Try the premier inn at Tottenham Hale, they have parking a few minutes walk away and the tube is around the same distance.

We did a week in an Airbnb in Windsor for that budget. Went into London on the train a couple of times, HP in the car and you've got Thorpe park or Chessington quite close. One day we went to a show and there were trains back late enough to get back (amazing to me as we live in the middle of nowhere with no public transport but that's another rant!) Lots of green space with Windsor great park, walks along the Thames or we drove about 20 minutes to another big park that I can't remember the name of. Enough to do in Windsor itself for a couple of days if you don't fancy traveling every day with the castle and Eton etc.

What about the Hoseasons lodges at Lee Valley? Just along the motorway from HP, easily accessible to London itself, not far from Paradise Park Wildlife Sanctuary or Whipsnade (which is beautiful), and Lee Valley itself has some attractions such as the water parks etc.

A week from 21 October in a Peaky Pod at Lee Valley (sleeps 4, self catering, looks quirky and fun for dc) is £459.

Maybe it would work better if you split your trip into two locations. One very central for the London sites and one further out for your day trips.
If are driving out for day trips check if you are in the ULEZ zone as that will be an additional charge.
How old are your children ?

OP, I lived in Central London for 29 years and didn't run out of things to do!

@Trundledagain we lived in Windsor for a while and I wouldn't suggest it because if you aren't used to being that low on the flight path- you will probably struggle to adjust to plane noise at 4.45am right through to midnight.

Personally @SecondUsername4me I would do the reverse and stay somewhere like Teddington, Richmond or Wimbledon - easy to get in- lots of lovely parkland on the doorstep and nice bars and restaurants also on the doorstep - Richmond is on flight path but it's nothing like as bad as Windsor

Depending on when you are going there are lots of 2 bed airbnbs for 200 a night in and around central London. I would be inclined to stay centrally and travel in rather than the other way around. You don’t need the car for Harry Potter etc
keep in mind that transport in London is ruinously expensive .

if you want outside Amersham is nice , on the tube line and short enough drive to Harry Potter etc. The roald Dahl museum is close by and a lovely visit

keep in mind that transport in London is ruinously expensive

What?? £1.75 for an adult bus journey anywhere?

Everyone always says how expensive London transport is but I think it is one of the cheapest cities to travel around. The cap on the tube fares is great for tourists

I don't know if your DC can share a bed? What about an AirBnB in beautiful Hampton Wick. Nearby Bushy Park, Hampton Court Palace, walk across bridge to Kingston, bus ride to Richmond. So much to do in this area and quick to get in to London (train from Hampton Wick)

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/6066828?adults=1&children=0&infants=0&check_in=2023-10-26&check_out=2023-10-31&source_impression_id=p3_1697031727_947AbfzXjDr%2FQqjN&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=aa332a61-fe39-4486-8c2b-3576f203f036

I see someone upthread has suggestion Teddington or Richmond. Hampton Wick is in the same area and yes, Richmond Park is very close too, as well as Bushy Park. Your DC will see wild deer roaming about.

@lemonraincoat nice place- I've saved that one for future use , as we often have to stay in the area . Personally I think that part of London is great with kids as lots to do on doorstep!

Thanks for all the suggestions, lots to mull over.

Probably summer holidays, so peak prices probably!

Family friendly walks outside of London?

We live in Richmond and have just gotten a car and would like to start doing little day trips with our 3.5 year old. In particular I was curious if anyone had any family friendly walks they could suggest? A lot of walks featured online sound great but are a bit long for our little- she’s not only young but she’s not used to going on longer walks to begin with.

TIA!