From the magic of Matilda and Hogwarts to the fascinating (and bloody) history of the Royals, London has plenty to engage all ages.
And thanks to a healthy mix of airline competition, families from Northern Ireland planning a trip to the city have plenty of choice to match their budget and final destination.
GETTING THERE
For our fun-packed trip (two adults and two girls aged eight and ten), we opted for British Airways, primarily for the convenience of Belfast City and Heathrow airports, and the inclusive baggage allowance for our three night stay.
My first useful tip for anyone journeying from Heathrow to Central London is: Don’t take the Heathrow Express, take the much cheaper (and still relatively pleasant) Elizabeth Line.
You needn’t concern yourself with an Oyster card, because a contactless card (or phone) does the same job, just make sure to tap at the start and end of every journey.
There’s also an automatic daily cap on how much you’ll pay, so don’t stress.
In most cases, Transport for London (TFL) offers free travel for children under 11.
In our case, I pre-ordered two ‘5-10 Zip Oyster photocards’ for our girls online (for a small fee), which aren’t essential, but mean you can use the unmanned barriers at busy times.
After some slight rail delays (it is London after all), we departed the Elizabeth Line at Farringdon Station and the four of us set off on foot for a short walk to the fantastic Leonardo Royal London St Paul’s hotel, which as its name suggests, nests just below the majestic dome of St Paul’s Cathedral.
I have a fond place in my heart for Jurys Hotels, with many fine memories of great breaks in Dublin.
Now styled as Leonardo Hotels, Royal London St Paul’s was unlike any Jurys I had experienced before.
Nestled on Godliman Street, the hotel’s lobby opens into a stunning glass-roofed atrium that immediately captures the smart bustle of the City of London.
The sophisticated upmarket accommodation was juxtaposed with the gentle bells of St Paul’s, offering a constant reminder of how central our location was.
GETTING AROUND
Getting around London depends on your experience and confidence with public transport.
If you feel unsure, Uber is a good place to start. The app provides certainty on price before you get into a car, and its map will show you how close your driver is.
Otherwise, Citymapper is an essential tool for getting around London on public transport.
Input your start and end locations, and this amazing app will offer a number of options to include bus, tube and walking.
By the third day of our trip, this was easily our mode of choice.
THE MAGIC
If you want the maximum benefit from a two or three night stay in London (or any city for that matter), you better be organised.
I made sure our family itinerary was full of activities, but not too packed. Leave some breathing space, or else you risk sapping out the fun.
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of ‘Matilda The Musical’ was our first major outing.
The Cambridge Theatre is right in the centre of the Seven Dials. If time allows, an evening dander around Covent Garden’s boutique shops and cafés is an option.
Matilda is one of the longest running active shows in the West End, and it’s easy to understand why it has attracted more than 100 international awards.
Even if you have seen the fantastic film version of the musical, this will absolutely blow you away.
The RSC production left us thrilled and buzzing. Truly a show for all ages.
West End tickets aren’t cheap. We opted for the dress circle on the middle balcony.
The seats were excellent, but I would consider coughing up a little more next time to be closer to the front (budget permitting).
From the magic of the West End to magical Watford. Our next stop was the Warner Bros Studio Tour.
Getting there involves a 20 minute train ride from Euston Station to Watford Junction, where a bus (included in the tour price) takes you on a 15 minute drive to the studio door.
Having two young Harry Potter fanatics with us, made this a tour to remember.
The incredible sets and seasonal interactive productions are something to behold for even the uninitiated.
Queues can be avoided, but be prepared for some standing if you want the full experience, from green screen broom rides to walking through the Hogwart’s Express.
The food offering is less than magical, and I can promise you, the older (and very young) Gryffindors will likely be worn out by the end.
But two little (and two not so little) people, left the Warner Bros Studios with stars in their eyes.
THE CITY
A bus tour is a decent way to experience the major tourist hotspots of any city.
Where possible, a human tour guide is a much better experience than the pre-recorded offering, which will simply skip on if the driver finds the traffic flowing in their favour.
On the plus side, you can take in most famous landmarks in a short space of time, and even hop off at your leisure, if you have the time.
Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the London Eye were all on our bucket list, and we easily crossed those off in a few hours.
Rising above the Thames in the London Eye on a beautiful evening is an incredible experience.
Queues are quite long, so if time is not on your side, you may want to consider coughing up the extra for the express queue.
If the energy and legs can manage it, dandering around London is also well worth your time.
From Whitehall to the South Bank, there is much to absorb and enjoy.
‘HORRIBLE HISTORY’
Our final day in London was split between the majesty of St Paul’s Cathedral and a trip to see the Crown Jewels.
Guided tours are available at St Paul’s, but if like us you happen to visit on a Sunday, the morning service is a very different and reflective experience without the admission fee.
The location of our hotel meant getting to St Paul’s was a matter of crossing the street, while the Tower of London was as a short bus journey away.
I recommend taking the guided tour of the infamous tower. The Beefeater guides are both entertaining and full of insider knowledge.
If like our kids, yours are fans of the BBC’s fantastic Horrible Histories series, then the bloody stories of executions potentially offer more intrigue than the glittering jewels behind the glass.
Luckily for us, we toured the Tower of London off-season, with no real queues to speak of.
Peak season can involve many hours queuing to see the Crown Jewels.
Personally, I was left underwhelmed by the jewel experience, and much preferred the Beefeater’s tales to clambering among Americans for a sight of the shiny Royal regalia.
One last thing to consider for families taking a London trip is food.
If you’re staying a few days, eating out constantly is expensive and can prove repetitive with little people in tow.
Do your restaurant research in advance and be prepared to pack some sandwiches for day trips.
But if you’re stuck, Pizza Express is hard to beat!
