Suggestions for London activities after morning arrival?

[Anonymous]

When I was 14 the day we arrived in London my cousin met us and drove us to Heaver castle. Napping in the car and then powering through the day worked really well. I returned when I was 17 (sadly haven’t been back) and similarly had a car trip. If there’s somewhere you want to go by car one day that might be the day for it.

[Anonymous]

We've done some of these: HOHO, KP Orangerie, walking, but ended up with cranky or sick kids (& parents). Our best strategy has been reserving a hotel room or flat from the night before arrival so it is available to us for napping on arrival. We stay for two weeks, and the jet lag resolves quickly enough even though we cave in to our bodies need for sleep.

[Anonymous]

Maida Vale? I've done this many times:

To Abbey Road studios

To Primrose Hill for lunch

To Regent's Park for an hour or so

Back to hotel for check-in

That's an easy walk without reason to step foot on the tube.

[Anonymous]

We just arrived around 8 am in in a different country, went to the hotel to drop our bags and they had one of our rooms ready so they let us have it. It was a double bed so three of us laid normally and dad laid across the bottom and we all fell promptly asleep for two hours. I thought it was pretty funny. I had considered booking the room for the night prior but in the end decided to take our chances and it worked out well for us.

[Anonymous]

Book the hotel room the night before arrival and allow the kids a morning nap.

[Anonymous]

One way to prep for UK timezone changes is to set your alarm a half hour early every day for a week before you go. If you are getting up at 4AM east coast time on the day you leave, that's 10AM UK time.

I recommend dropping of bags at the hotel and then going for a big breakfast. Let your teens have coffee. Then walk in the sun (if there's sun) for a couple of hours. Then check in and nap.

[Anonymous]

Regents Canal to Kings Cross is a good idea. I walked it recently with my 12 year old (from Paddington Basin)…or even just to Camden for the food markets.

Could also walk from the Tate along the Thames via the South Bank. There’s some chains along that path like Wagamama.

Or ride a river boat?

[Anonymous]

One note - we had some delays on arrival at Heathrow, so we didn't end up with as much time as we expected before check in.
We dropped our bags and walked along the South bank and ate lunch. It was near where we were staying. A different day we walked the canals and through Regents Park - that was fun. Since that is closer to where you are staying, I would suggest walking the canals and Regents Park. I don't have any lunch suggestions, but you will want to eat lunch during that time. We also went to Camden Market, but that would have overwhelmed my teens (16) on arrival day since they were so exhausted.

We don't have allergies, but every single restaurant asked if anyone had any allergies. I don't know what they would have done if we did, but every one asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One note - we had some delays on arrival at Heathrow, so we didn't end up with as much time as we expected before check in.
We dropped our bags and walked along the South bank and ate lunch. It was near where we were staying. A different day we walked the canals and through Regents Park - that was fun. Since that is closer to where you are staying, I would suggest walking the canals and Regents Park. I don't have any lunch suggestions, but you will want to eat lunch during that time. We also went to Camden Market, but that would have overwhelmed my teens (16) on arrival day since they were so exhausted.

We don't have allergies, but every single restaurant asked if anyone had any allergies. I don't know what they would have done if we did, but every one asked.

Pro-tip on Camden Market is to visit the food halls across the street in Hawley Wharf. They are a bit nicer than the market stalls by the canal and there’s loads of covered seating. Or you can walk a bit further down to KingsX and Coal Drop Yard. Then hit the tube back to your hotel.