London on a budget with kids

Whether you love musical theatre or history, London has it all. Museums come together with high end shopping, and historical monuments meet lucious parklands making it the perfect place to travel with kids. And regardless of what you may think, London doesn’t have to be an expensive trip. 

Getting to and around London

Getting to London is easy so it makes it the perfect quick getaway from anywhere in Europe. Both London Heathrow and London City airports are close to the city. And there is no need for the added expense of hiring a car. Both airports are well connected by public transport and can take you straight into the heart of London. We arrived in London from The Netherlands via London City Airport. Just having carry on, it was easy enough to get out of the airport and to the DLR (Docklands Light Railway). 

Once in Central London, you can take the underground or use the significantly cheaper bus network. Taking the bus was our preferred option as not only is it a great way to see the city, but what kid (and some adults) don’t want to ride on a red double decker bus on the top level!

Now if you have older kids like we do, the other way you can see London is to wander the streets. With over 2000 years of history to see in the city, checking it out this way offers a chance to really soak up the city vibe. 

Free things to do in London

With only two days in the city itself, we wanted to see the sites and balance that with some relaxation. And of course, we wanted to try and do things on a budget. 

Check out the free things that we did with the kids in London

Hamleys Toy Store

Now for some parents, heading to a toy store may not be a free outing. However, now that we were on the home stretch to move home, the children knew that purchases were not an option. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the world’s coolest, and biggest toy store. 

Built in 1760, not only is Hamleys the world’s biggest toy store, it is also the world’s oldest. Surviving all the disasters that London has faced throughout the centuries, this wondrous and magical place has evolved with the times and showcases every toy you could imagine.

As you enter the store you are in awe of the sheer size and are greeted by bubbles from bubble guns, flying objects and friendly faces. It oozes fun before you even see the toys. 

Lego statues, remote control cars you can play with, and instruments to make beautiful music are just some of the hands-on activities that our kids (and big kid) did while visiting the toy store. Children are encouraged to try different activities while wandering the store. There was a table with magic textas for drawing, a staff member performing magic, and game consoles set up to try the newest games. There was even some filming of a Rubix Cube challenge. Of course your kids would love you to make a purchase in the store, but it is certainly not a requirement to visit. We spent about an hour here, and left empty handed but happy. 

British Museum

I am not going to lie to you. Our kids purely wanted to come here because of the movie, Night at the Museum – Secret of the Tomb. One of our family favourites, the kids had fun finding the “characters” in the movie, while Rog and I enjoyed the actual point of the museum, especially seeing the Rosetta Stone.

With a selection of trails children can follow, as well as other family activities that are offered during school vacation time, your kids won’t seem like they are learning while seeing some of the best exhibits in the world.

Entry to the museum is free, and they even have late night openings on Fridays during the summer.

Imperial War Museum

We visited the Imperial War Museum London, and I can honestly say it is one of the best museums I have been to around the world. As part of the Imperial War Museum group, this particular location is easily accessible by public transport and of course, has free entry. Kids will love the interactive experiences, and special activities offered during the school holidays. For our family, it was a great addition to the sites of the great wars that we have visited over the last few years.

Visit St. James’s Park

This stunning, green area right in Central London is perfect for a dose of nature while in the English capital. There are places within the park to grab a quick bite to eat or an ice cream. Or do what we did and grab some lunch at the local Tesco and picnic while gazing at iconic landmarks.

Iconic landmarks of London

Before you arrive in London, set a challenge for yourself to get photos with the landmarks. This fun task can be done either walking or by public transport. The other thing you can do is to do a hop on hop off bus tour. Sitting on the top you not only can get an audio tour, but you can get great views of landmarks and enough stopping and starting to get some great photos. 

Final Thoughts

We only had two days in the city itself when we visited, and as we are getting ready for a few months of traveling, a budget visit was the way to go for us. If you are heading to London for your main vacation, keep these budget tips in mind, as well as these handy tips

• Remember other times of the year are cheaper to visit and less busy.
• Search for great deals on tours before you leave and book in advance.
• Research where the best place to buy discount show tickets for the West End