Tourist Information: Child Friendly London

A capital city may not be the best place to bring children, or so some would have you believe, but London is a fantastic city for children.  There are well over a million children who live in London, and so they are very well looked after, there is plenty for them to see, and do, - many more things than you would find in a smaller town or village -, and getting around the city is simple. 

Here, we look at some of the key concerns parents have with bringing their children to London.

Transport

Getting around with small children is never easy, but Londoners go a long a way to creating an environment that is child friendly.

The London Underground

Parents are often afraid to take their children on the underground, but they shouldn’t be.

Firstly, all the escalators (moving staircases) that take passengers to the platforms are designed to take buggies and pushchairs.

Many of the underground stations have lifts (elevators) to the platforms.

Once on the platform, if can be a little daunting as they are usually busy, but the people tend to move out of the way for people with pushchairs and babies.

Once on the train, there is allocated seating for parents and children, and people will stand up and give you their seat if needs be.

The Buses

The buses all have a lowering system, so that when they stop, they sink to curb height, making it easier for pushchair access.

Once inside the bus there is allocated seating for parents and children, and again, people will give you their seats if no others are available.

Taxi

The taxis are very large inside, allowing for plenty of room for children. Some taxis have onboard child seats; otherwise, you take the children on your lap.

By Foot

The pavements in London are wide, and relatively well kept, making them easy to navigate with pushchairs.

Accommodation

When choosing hotels accommodation London, be sure to select a child friendly hotel, this helps to ensure that children are not disturbed at night (by drunken revellers, for example), but also that the children will not disturb other guests.

There are many child friendly hotels in London, and they normally offer gifts, such as colouring books.  We know of one hotel that offers complementary ice cream and in house movies, too.  Best of all, however, are the hotels that offer babysitting services.  At night, staff will make sure the kids are safe and sleeping, while parents go out and enjoy the nightlife.

The Fun Part

There are so many fun things for children to do in London, and some of them are even educational.  Here is our top list of places to visit with kids.

• The London Dungeons: Always a favourite, here, kids will learn the gruesome history of London’s darker side, while experiencing all the fun of the fair with real theme park rides, performances, and shows. 

• The London Eye: most children love Ferris wheels, and the London Eye is a giant one, they will love soaring high above the city, and so will you, unless you’re scared of heights!

• The Science Museum: there is no entry fee to the museum, so that’s a bonus.  Once inside, children can take part in various science experiments, all of which are presented in a fun, interesting, and interactive way. 

Find out more information on child friendly hotels at http://www.londonpremierhotels.com/