Our Dorset Life

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We left Dorset bright and early on the 7am train, with snacks packed, kids excited, and plans to make the most of a quick family getaway.

Just over three hours later, we arrived in London shortly after 10am, ready for a full day of exploring. Our first stop was to drop our bags at the Premier Inn London Waterloo (Lambeth North). We’d booked a family room and were lucky enough to have an early check-in, which made all the difference. After a quick refresh, we stepped straight out and jumped on the 159 bus from right outside the hotel one of the best-value ways to see some of London’s biggest sights. Top tip – kids aged 5-10 travel free on London transport!

From the top deck, we passed Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Trafalgar Square. It gave the kids a brilliant view of the city and felt like a proper adventure.

Top tip: if you have a slightly older child who loves to take pictures, get them a cheap digital camera, Amelie loved snapping away! We bought her this one – it does the job perfectly and she loves it!

We hopped off near Hamleys on Regent Street, which quickly became a highlight for the children. Between the Lego displays, toy demonstrations, and seven full floors to explore, you could easily spend an hour or more there. After a bit of browsing (and a couple of small purchases), we wandered down Regent Street toward Oxford Circus.

Next, we walked over to Chinatown for a colourful pit stop. The kids loved the lanterns, we grabbed a snack before heading over to the South Bank for dinner.

The South Bank is one of our favourite spots in the city, full of street performers, river views, and family-friendly restaurants. During school holidays, lots of places run Kids Eat Free deals, so it’s worth checking before you go. Pizza Express, Giraffe, and Marks & Spencer cafés are just a few that often have seasonal offers, making it easier to keep costs down when eating out with children.

We stayed overnight at the hotel, which made everything so much easier. No rushing for a late train home, and we could enjoy a slower start the next morning.

After breakfast, we walked back along the South Bank and arrived at Tate Modern just as it opened at 10am. It’s one of many incredible free museums in London and a great one for families. The big open spaces, creative installations, and views from the upper floors make it a really engaging stop, even for little ones.

There are so many other free museums to explore in London too. Some of our top picks include the Science Museum, full of hands-on experiments and space exhibits; the Natural History Museum, home to dinosaurs, blue whales, and volcanoes; and the V&A, which has some brilliant trails and creative spaces for families. Most of them are free to visit, but it’s worth checking if you need to pre-book, especially during weekends and school holidays.

If you’re planning a similar trip, here are a few tips that helped us make the most of our 24 hours. Bring refillable water bottles, there are plenty of refill stations across the city. Download the TfL Go app to make it easy to navigate routes and plan your day. If you’re travelling with little ones, a lightweight buggy is a lifesaver for tired legs. And finally, check in advance for free museum tickets or Kids Eat Free offers to make the most of your time (and budget).

And for the journey here are the things we took to keep them all occupied; a great colouring book – we love these cosy ones, a sticker book – sticker dolly ones are a favourite here and finally for book lovers the Kindle kids is a great one!

You don’t need a full week or a big budget to enjoy the magic of London with kids. With a bit of planning, even a quick 24-hour visit can be packed with iconic sights, fun pit stops, and family-friendly memories that last. If you’ve done a short London trip with little ones, I’d love to hear your tips too, drop them in the comments!

Love Sarah x