What makes for the perfect family weekend getaway? Well, it requires a delicate balance of things like food and activities that parents and children alike will enjoy. This is what makes London so appealing for a family getaway; there’s no shortage of activities that will delight people of all ages and interests.

Try adding these ideas to your family weekend in London, from accommodations to things to do and food to eat, for a perfect weekend getaway for everyone in the family.

Accommodation

When choosing a place to stay, consider one of these family-friendly options that will have you and the kiddos enjoying your visit in comfort and style. Below are inviting and enjoyable options for a range of budgets.

Travelodge London Excel

If you want to spend a little less on accommodations (so you can enjoy the city more or save for more future getaways), the Travelodge London Excel is a comfortable, family-friendly stay. The hotel is highly rated by guests, particularly for its cleanliness, service and value.

It’s a quick car ride (or public transit trip) to attractions like Big Ben and many of London’s museums. If you’re flying there, it’s conveniently close to the airport, so you can enjoy your getaway immediately.

President Hotel

The President Hotel offers a comfortable and stylish stay in central London, plus it’s conveniently located near public transit links, making exploring the city easy and convenient. Of course, you can also enjoy food and live shows within the comfort of the hotel itself.

The Chesterfield Mayfair

If you have a little extra room in your budget, The Chesterfield Mayfair delivers a luxurious place for families to stay in central London.

They’ll help you take care of everything you can think of — including a kid-friendly menu filled with plain and fancy toasties and plenty of sweet and enticing treats to kids getting robes sized just for them.

The design and beauty of the hotel and the in-house nanny service make this stay appealing to parents who want to relax in luxury and style — and maybe even sneak away for dinner on their own.

The proximity to many of London’s most popular tourist destinations adds even more incentive to spend the weekend here.

Activities

To avoid any major hiccups, have activities planned that are suitable for different types of weather so that regardless of drizzly days or blue skies, you all can still have an amazing time. The activities and attractions below are family favourites for all kinds of weather.

Buckingham Palace

At Buckingham Palace, you can see the official British royal residence, watch the Changing of the Guard (ideally on one of those blue-skied sunny days), tour the State Rooms, and see where royal celebrations and ceremonies take place. It’s a widely known tourist destination for people visiting London — generating millions for the London economy.

Big Ben

This iconic British landmark is another huge tourist attraction that’s fun to see, rich in history and just a stone’s throw away from Buckingham Palace. You and the family can enjoy the two sights without wandering too far.

The London Eye

This thirty-minute ride lets you see London from a whole new perspective, day or night, rain or shine. You can take in popular tourist attractions like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace from the ride. For a truly enjoyable experience, Trip Advisor recommends buying fast-track tickets to avoid a long wait.

Natural History Museum

With wildlife, dinosaurs, human evolution and more, this museum will keep everyone entertained and educated! This is a rainy-day friendly excursion with a little something to engage and entertain people of all ages.

Victoria & Albert Museum

This is another perfect rainy-day activity in the heart of London, right across the street from the Natural History Museum, which is the place to visit if you’re into exploring art and design through the ages. You can see art exhibits and get creative with free admission.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Another rainy-day experience that allows you to see the sets, costumes and props that went into the making of the magical world of the Harry Potter series that people of all ages love.

Sea Life London Aquarium

This interactive and visually stunning attraction allows you to see hundreds of sea species from around the world. The diversity of life and habitats makes for an adventure that impresses people of all ages.

Food

When it comes to food and kids, it can be tricky to find something that doesn’t set off picky eaters. Here are a few ideas that indulge in British fare while being delicious and satisfying for the whole family.

A few British favourites include a full English breakfast, afternoon tea, fish ‘n’ chips and bangers ‘n’ mash. You can find them in London’s family-friendly establishments like:

• Kennington Lane Cafe
• The Golden Chippy
• The Prince of Wales
• The Hayden
• Bond St. Tea Rooms
• Cafe Van Gogh

With these restaurants, you’ll have options that foodies will enjoy and where picky eaters can find something appetising. And if your little ones aren’t that little (18 and over), there are excellent fine-dining options like the Heliot Steakhouse at the Hippodrome Casino — one of the most popular spots featuring slots where UK players can play for money.

Pulling everything together for an amazing weekend getaway

The best part about these attractions, restaurants and accommodations is that you can group them by area and not worry about travelling to different parts of London to see everything on your list. And, if you do decide to jump from attraction to attraction, there are many methods of travel that make it easy, from public transit to taxis and car rentals.

You and the family can enjoy a getaway that gives you a taste of London, history, nature and enjoyable food that will have you longing to return.