London Restaurant with Outdoor Seating & Kids Can Run Around?

[Anonymous]

I was in London with a elementary age kid just last week. I don't think it's realistic to have a place you can sit down AND the kids can run around in London. There are large playgrounds with cafes nearby so you can have a drink or snack while watching them run around. But not a full on restaurant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, relax OP. I think the pret recommendation was offhand like a 'macdonalds' recommendation is. Just take them to playland; they won't bother anyone. Not because it's particularly even good. It is not.

Exactly. That was the spirit. Nobody will complain that their Pret visit was ruined by running children. And it could be a source of takeout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a specific site but I would try to do lunch at a Pret a Manger with outdoor seating (this is London's version of Panera) OR I would review indoor museum cafeterias to see which would work.

Possibly try Kensington Palace area? Holyrood Palace in Scotland had open air informal seating in the sandwich bar area.

Is it always the same poster who is enamored with Pret? If Pret is London’s version of Panera than Pret is DC’s version of Cafe Nero. There are like 10 Prets in DC. We may have a higher pret per capita than London has. Drop it with the Pret obsession like it’s something uniquely London.

I didn’t get the impression it was being recommended because it was uniquely London but because Prets are ubiquitous.

But then you can't be snide about your sophisticated taste and style.

[Anonymous]

The Garden Cafe at the V&A. Enclosed courtyard, open air, with tons of little kids running around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a specific site but I would try to do lunch at a Pret a Manger with outdoor seating (this is London's version of Panera) OR I would review indoor museum cafeterias to see which would work.

Possibly try Kensington Palace area? Holyrood Palace in Scotland had open air informal seating in the sandwich bar area.

Is it always the same poster who is enamored with Pret? If Pret is London’s version of Panera than Pret is DC’s version of Cafe Nero. There are like 10 Prets in DC. We may have a higher pret per capita than London has. Drop it with the Pret obsession like it’s something uniquely London.

DP. What are you talking about? Pret a manger originated in London. They have expanded but it is a London thing.
I agree with PP that they are a godsend for kids like my DS who had multiple food allergies. Fast but healthier food than McDs etc.

Agree with others to pick up food and go to a park. Kids running around in a restaurant or pub is really annoying. Please don’t do it.

Yes, of course, Pret is a London thing. You simply must go to the McDonalds in San Bernardino… and the Starbucks in Seattle… it’s a “thing”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a specific site but I would try to do lunch at a Pret a Manger with outdoor seating (this is London's version of Panera) OR I would review indoor museum cafeterias to see which would work.

Possibly try Kensington Palace area? Holyrood Palace in Scotland had open air informal seating in the sandwich bar area.

Is it always the same poster who is enamored with Pret? If Pret is London’s version of Panera than Pret is DC’s version of Cafe Nero. There are like 10 Prets in DC. We may have a higher pret per capita than London has. Drop it with the Pret obsession like it’s something uniquely London.

DP. What are you talking about? Pret a manger originated in London. They have expanded but it is a London thing.
I agree with PP that they are a godsend for kids like my DS who had multiple food allergies. Fast but healthier food than McDs etc.

Agree with others to pick up food and go to a park. Kids running around in a restaurant or pub is really annoying. Please don’t do it.

Yes, of course, Pret is a London thing. You simply must go to the McDonalds in San Bernardino… and the Starbucks in Seattle… it’s a “thing”

Not the person who recommended Pret, but I mean Pret is not the McDonalds of the UK, that's Greggs.

Pret is fine for a grab and go. Eating sit down food for every meal gets expensive fast. The cafeteria food at some tourist attractions is surprisingly good. I ate a few coronation chicken sandwiches (it's curry chicken salad) one summer.

[Anonymous]

Cyprus Mangal on Warwick Way. A simple neighborhood Turkish restaurant, but the food was excellent, it was our kids' favorite please in London, and they have a lot of outdoor tables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a specific site but I would try to do lunch at a Pret a Manger with outdoor seating (this is London's version of Panera) OR I would review indoor museum cafeterias to see which would work.

Possibly try Kensington Palace area? Holyrood Palace in Scotland had open air informal seating in the sandwich bar area.

Is it always the same poster who is enamored with Pret? If Pret is London’s version of Panera than Pret is DC’s version of Cafe Nero. There are like 10 Prets in DC. We may have a higher pret per capita than London has. Drop it with the Pret obsession like it’s something uniquely London.

DP. What are you talking about? Pret a manger originated in London. They have expanded but it is a London thing.
I agree with PP that they are a godsend for kids like my DS who had multiple food allergies. Fast but healthier food than McDs etc.

Agree with others to pick up food and go to a park. Kids running around in a restaurant or pub is really annoying. Please don’t do it.

Yes, of course, Pret is a London thing. You simply must go to the McDonalds in San Bernardino… and the Starbucks in Seattle… it’s a “thing”

People do go to see the Starbucks in that Seattle market.

https://www.pikeplacemarket.org/vendor/the-first-starbucks/

Also it's fun to go to MacDonalds in other countries. They have some pretty decent things. For example, curry spice fries I had in Windsor and fresh caprese salad in Paris. Also hardback French children's picture books as Happy Meal toys in Paris.

But do go on being a pompous a$$ about mass culture...

And what part of kids running around during a meal didn't you get?

[Anonymous]

The Diana playground near Kensington is a good suggestion, there's a food stall just outside it and one entrance/exit so you can let the kids just go.

If you want to combine some sightseeing with playgrounds Hampton Court Palace has this insanely nice play area that had a Cafe in it (clear enter exit and timed wristbands). On a nice day there is a bit of a line to get in but it moves.