Need help planning our upcoming London/Paris trip

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am super late planning our upcoming trip to London and Paris. We have our flights booked and that is it. We are leaving in less than a month.

We will be going to London 4.5 days and Paris for 5.5 days. We are a family of 5 and want to stay in a prime location where we can easily walk to restaurants, attractions and the train. Our kids are ages 5-12.

Can you recommend what areas we should stay? Specific hotels recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

We don’t have an exact room budget. I am ok with paying a premium for comfort and location.

Any must dos for kids? Dh and I have been to both cities but never together. Our kids have never been.

Would you bring a stroller for a 5 year old? She was only 3 when Covid started and we always traveled with a stroller. We live in the suburbs so we drive everywhere. I know she will likely get tired and complain if we walk all day.

I would not be super ambitious with your itinerary. If you drive everywhere, none of you are used to walking, so of course the kid will complain a ton, but the rest of you will be feeling it as well. I'd focus on getting centrally located hotels that are near attractions to minimize walking, and just plan 1-3 events per day.

[Anonymous]

We would like to find a good Indian, afternoon tea and fish and chips for Londong. Friend recommended Savoy for tea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a bit in awe of someone planning this type of trip less than a month out. I would have been planning this for much longer personally.

A stroller is not going to be practical many places so take that into consideration. If you do have to being one make it the lightest, most compact-able one you have (i.e. umbrella type). You haven’t really said what your kids or family enjoy so hard to recommend things. I would however figure out your must see things and get those booked ASAP.

The only thing we have planned is Wimbledon.

We have both been so have a rough idea of what we will do.

London:
Day on on off red bus
Piccadilly Circus
Harrods
Harry Potter tour
Tate modern
Buckingham Palace
Stonehenge

Hope to book hotel today.

Harry Potter studio tour you better book ASAP. The optimal times go fast, sometimes 3+ months in advance.

Buckingham Palace tour won't be available in less than a month. The tour dates are July 22-Oct 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a bit in awe of someone planning this type of trip less than a month out. I would have been planning this for much longer personally.

A stroller is not going to be practical many places so take that into consideration. If you do have to being one make it the lightest, most compact-able one you have (i.e. umbrella type). You haven’t really said what your kids or family enjoy so hard to recommend things. I would however figure out your must see things and get those booked ASAP.

The only thing we have planned is Wimbledon.

We have both been so have a rough idea of what we will do.

London:
Day on on off red bus
Piccadilly Circus
Harrods
Harry Potter tour
Tate modern
Buckingham Palace
Stonehenge

Hope to book hotel today.

Harry Potter studio tour you better book ASAP. The optimal times go fast, sometimes 3+ months in advance.

Buckingham Palace tour won't be available in less than a month. The tour dates are July 22-Oct 2.

Also, Stonehenge is probably going to be very boring for the younger kids, and its a big time commitment- 1.5 hour train ride, then 35 minute bus ride, plus the return of course. I probably wouldn't venture that far unless you had a week plus and were going to stay in the countryside some of the days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a bit in awe of someone planning this type of trip less than a month out. I would have been planning this for much longer personally.

A stroller is not going to be practical many places so take that into consideration. If you do have to being one make it the lightest, most compact-able one you have (i.e. umbrella type). You haven’t really said what your kids or family enjoy so hard to recommend things. I would however figure out your must see things and get those booked ASAP.

The only thing we have planned is Wimbledon.

We have both been so have a rough idea of what we will do.

London:
Day on on off red bus
Piccadilly Circus
Harrods
Harry Potter tour
Tate modern
Buckingham Palace
Stonehenge

Hope to book hotel today.

Harry Potter studio tour you better book ASAP. The optimal times go fast, sometimes 3+ months in advance.

Buckingham Palace tour won't be available in less than a month. The tour dates are July 22-Oct 2.

This is WAY too ambitious. You can see Piccadilly Circus from the bus, Harrods is easy enough, the Harry Potter studio is a full day, it’s a trek from central London and not worth it if you have a short trip, same with Stonehenge. And you can see the palace from the outside only at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a bit in awe of someone planning this type of trip less than a month out. I would have been planning this for much longer personally.

A stroller is not going to be practical many places so take that into consideration. If you do have to being one make it the lightest, most compact-able one you have (i.e. umbrella type). You haven’t really said what your kids or family enjoy so hard to recommend things. I would however figure out your must see things and get those booked ASAP.

The only thing we have planned is Wimbledon.

We have both been so have a rough idea of what we will do.

London:
Day on on off red bus
Piccadilly Circus
Harrods
Harry Potter tour
Tate modern
Buckingham Palace
Stonehenge

Hope to book hotel today.

Harry Potter studio tour you better book ASAP. The optimal times go fast, sometimes 3+ months in advance.

Buckingham Palace tour won't be available in less than a month. The tour dates are July 22-Oct 2.

This is WAY too ambitious. You can see Piccadilly Circus from the bus, Harrods is easy enough, the Harry Potter studio is a full day, it’s a trek from central London and not worth it if you have a short trip, same with Stonehenge. And you can see the palace from the outside only at this point.

OP here. I was just going to see the palace from outside, not a tour. I guess we will pick either Harry Potter or Stonehenge but not both. I would ideally book a half day tour to Stonehenge.

I am late in booking hotels. Plus it is Wimbledon time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a bit in awe of someone planning this type of trip less than a month out. I would have been planning this for much longer personally.

A stroller is not going to be practical many places so take that into consideration. If you do have to being one make it the lightest, most compact-able one you have (i.e. umbrella type). You haven’t really said what your kids or family enjoy so hard to recommend things. I would however figure out your must see things and get those booked ASAP.

The only thing we have planned is Wimbledon.

We have both been so have a rough idea of what we will do.

London:
Day on on off red bus
Piccadilly Circus
Harrods
Harry Potter tour
Tate modern
Buckingham Palace
Stonehenge

Hope to book hotel today.

Harry Potter studio tour you better book ASAP. The optimal times go fast, sometimes 3+ months in advance.

Buckingham Palace tour won't be available in less than a month. The tour dates are July 22-Oct 2.

This is WAY too ambitious. You can see Piccadilly Circus from the bus, Harrods is easy enough, the Harry Potter studio is a full day, it’s a trek from central London and not worth it if you have a short trip, same with Stonehenge. And you can see the palace from the outside only at this point.

OP here. I was just going to see the palace from outside, not a tour. I guess we will pick either Harry Potter or Stonehenge but not both. I would ideally book a half day tour to Stonehenge.

I am late in booking hotels. Plus it is Wimbledon time.

Harry Potter studio tour is MUCH closer to London than Stonehenge. HP studio involves a 20 minute train ride from Euston station to Watford Junction, than a 15 minute bus ride to the studio. Stonehenge is 1:30 train ride from Waterloo, then a 35 minute bus ride. It's physically impossible to go to Stonehenge as a half day tour because the transit alone will be 2:30 minimum in each direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a bit in awe of someone planning this type of trip less than a month out. I would have been planning this for much longer personally.

A stroller is not going to be practical many places so take that into consideration. If you do have to being one make it the lightest, most compact-able one you have (i.e. umbrella type). You haven’t really said what your kids or family enjoy so hard to recommend things. I would however figure out your must see things and get those booked ASAP.

The only thing we have planned is Wimbledon.

We have both been so have a rough idea of what we will do.

London:
Day on on off red bus
Piccadilly Circus
Harrods
Harry Potter tour
Tate modern
Buckingham Palace
Stonehenge

Hope to book hotel today.

Harry Potter studio tour you better book ASAP. The optimal times go fast, sometimes 3+ months in advance.

Buckingham Palace tour won't be available in less than a month. The tour dates are July 22-Oct 2.

This is WAY too ambitious. You can see Piccadilly Circus from the bus, Harrods is easy enough, the Harry Potter studio is a full day, it’s a trek from central London and not worth it if you have a short trip, same with Stonehenge. And you can see the palace from the outside only at this point.

OP here. I was just going to see the palace from outside, not a tour. I guess we will pick either Harry Potter or Stonehenge but not both. I would ideally book a half day tour to Stonehenge.

I am late in booking hotels. Plus it is Wimbledon time.

Harry Potter studio tour is MUCH closer to London than Stonehenge. HP studio involves a 20 minute train ride from Euston station to Watford Junction, than a 15 minute bus ride to the studio. Stonehenge is 1:30 train ride from Waterloo, then a 35 minute bus ride. It's physically impossible to go to Stonehenge as a half day tour because the transit alone will be 2:30 minimum in each direction.

Yes, HP studio is closer for sure but plan to spend 4-6 hours there once you get there. Either seems like overly ambitious if you only have 4 days in London. I’d only do HP if your kids are huge fans. It’s great but too much for a 5yo. I’d definitely skip Stonehenge, really not worth the 5-6 hours transit time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can avoid bringing a stroller, do it. And if you absolutely must bring one, make sure it is a lightweight, fully collapsable one.

We go to London every few years and after age 2, we didn't bring a stroller. Unless there are mobility or other factors, no way would I bring a stroller for a 5yo. At that age, we made sure that we alternated between adult stuff and kid stuff and incorporated playground and park stops each day.

Pretty much anywhere in Zone 1 (on London Underground map) will be walkable and have restaurants and be convenient for sightseeing.

We've stayed at most of the Marriotts in central London and all were fine. We tend to stay in/around Mayfair because that's where we lived pre-kids and it lets me pretend we never moved back to the US. Price point really matters. Finding a room for 5 will be tough, so definitely make that a priority.

The London Marriott Grovesnor Square has larger than average rooms, and has a 50% off on a second room. We liked the location- very walkable to either the Bond Street or Marble Arch stations, and there is a funky kids playground on the same street.

This Marriott looks great but sold out for our dates. We are actually Marriott Bonvoy Platinum and have a ton of Bonvoy points.

[Anonymous]

I might do either the Victoria and Albert toy museum or British museum (focus on the big stuff like the Egyptian and Roman stuff) with kids. You can rent bikes in some of the parks. Tower of London with the dungeons is also a bit with kids.
If you wanted a day trip outside London, I would do one of the castles. There’s one that is very touristy with stuff like archery and falconry. There are maybe 2-3 good choices but I can’t remember them now. If you Google London day trip castle kids, you will get some good hits. But if you are set on doing Wimbledon, you might not have time for that. I might spend longer in London and less time in Paris. I just think there’s more kid friendly stuff in london.
If your kids are big HP fans, there is a HP walking tour. You could let the older kids do that and let the little one hang out at the hotel with one parent if she can’t manage the walking. With three kids, our travels became so much happier once I decided not every kid needs to do every thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We would like to find a good Indian, afternoon tea and fish and chips for Londong. Friend recommended Savoy for tea.

There is good Indian near the Tower of London, good fish and chips near Covent Garden. With kids I would do the Orangery or maybe Fortnum & Masons for tea.

Horse Guards might be more interesting than Buckingham Palace from the outside— palace can be pretty disappointing to just see it through the gates but I get that sometimes you just want to cross it off your list.

[Anonymous]

Might consider Hampton Court, my kids always liked that because when they get bored of the indoors stuff there are the grounds and the maze.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you'd like the Sloane St. area near Harrods, Hyde Park, the palace, etc. Very walkable. Doable on your budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you'd like the Sloane St. area near Harrods, Hyde Park, the palace, etc. Very walkable. Doable on your budget.

I’m about to book my flights to Paris from London.

I remember liking the Harrods area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like you'd like the Sloane St. area near Harrods, Hyde Park, the palace, etc. Very walkable. Doable on your budget.

I’m about to book my flights to Paris from London.

I remember liking the Harrods area.

Meant train tickets, not flights. Wondering if we should stay in London 5 days and 4 days in Paris. Wimbledon is going to take a day and I really want to go to Stonehenge. I do not plan on doing any excursions in Paris besides Versailles.