Days out in London

London never fails to capture the imagination - making it the perfect destination for a family weekend.

From interactive history lessons and an idiot’s guide to modern art at museums and galleries, to watching tiger cubs play at play at London Zoo - the capital will hold their attention from beginning to end. But first, breakfast.

Just a few minutes’ walk from London King’s Cross Station, Caravan is a great place for breakfast for those wanting something different to a high-street chain. Enjoy poached or scrambled eggs on toast or take on the Caravan Fry if you’re feeling extra hungry. Not a big early-morning eater? Sourdough toast with butter and house spreads washed down with a flat-white or orange juice for the kids should suffice. Time Out London rates this among the best restaurants in the King’s Cross area. 

Alternatively, grab some coffees, juices and pastries from Starbucks or Pret A Manger in King’s Cross before boarding The Tube to our first destination.

Where is it? 1 Granary Square, London, N1C 4AA – just  a few minutes’ walk from King’s Cross

How much? Reasonably priced

A short ride from King’s Cross Tube Station and you can be at The British Museum. A TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award winner in 2013, the museum showcases some of the greatest treasures from around the world. 

The British Museum will bring your brood within touching distance of ancient Egyptian mummies, an Anglo-Saxon helmet dating back to the 7th century and much more. Watch your kids’ eyes light up when they see the remains of ancient Egyptians. With coffins and other artefacts, the story of how this ancient culture lived and (and died) is captivating. 

Where is it? Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG

How much? FREE!

From ancient Vikings to modern-day celebrities rendered in wax - take the short Tube ride from the British Museum to Madame Tussauds London. Here your kids can come face to face with the biggest stars in the world. Give Harry Styles a hug or take a selfie with Kim Kardashian, while you realise yours of draping your arm around Brad Pitt or George Clooney on the red carpet at a film premiere. As well as pop megastars and Hollywood legends you can also find famous footballers, royalty, politicians and cultural figures.  

Where is it? Marylebone Road, NW1 5LR

How much? From £29 (discounts available if you book online)

You’ve no doubt worked up an appetite now, if it’s summer why not enjoy lunch al fresco? The splendour of Regent’s Park is but a few minutes’ stroll from Madame Tussauds. Let the kids run off a bit of steam across this vast 395-acre Royal Park before choosing where to eat. Sit outside the Garden Café and tuck into chicken and bacon club sandwiches, falafel wraps with harissa mayo and much more. 

Alternatively, grab some sandwiches and treats from a nearby deli or supermarket and hold your own picnic. But make sure to read the picnicking guidelines. 

If it’s a nice day take a leisurely stroll across Regent’s Park to London Zoo. The kids will love the Sumatran tiger, while even the grown ups will flinch when face to face with full-size tigers investigating the wall to floor glass. Tigers take themselves pretty seriously, but there’ll be plenty of laughs on hand with the funny-looking pygmy hippos and acrobatic black-capped squirrel monkeys. 

Where is it? Outer Circle, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY

How much? From £25 (book online to save money)

Take a 30 minute bus and Tube ride to show the kids where the King lives. Buckingham Palace serves as both the office and London home of King Charles III. Stroll up the Mall on a summer’s day before taking a tour of the 19 state rooms that “form the nucleus of the working palace”. Be prepared for some serious opulence - and endless questions from the kids to which you may not know the answer.

Where is it? London, SW1A 1AA

How much? From £24

Travelling with children or teenagers with an interest in art? A visit to Tate Modern is essential. There’s no way you can miss this shrine to modern art, which has a setting as contemporary as some of the art within its walls. Tate Modern sits on the banks of the Thames in the brooding, industrial former Bankside Power Station. Inside you’ll find works from seminal works from Pablo Picasso, abstract painter Jackson Pollock and pop art legend Andy Warhol. An education for all. Be sure to pop up to the top of the recently opened Switch House, for some breathtaking views across the city. 

Where is it? Bankside, SE1 9TG

How much? Free

What a day. You've tangled with mummies and tigers, met 1D and Brad Pitt, laughed at monkeys, ran around the park like you don’t give a damn and taken in some art on the banks of the Thames. No wonder you're all hungry. And what better way to end this perfect, action-packed day than with a pretty perfect burger? 

At Planet Hollywood they can choose from gourmet burgers such as the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger with fries and salad, while at Hard Rock café the original legendary burger with fries and salad looks pretty special. Find your way from the Tower to Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood.

If you’re staying overnight why not catch a show, now you’ve travelled over to the West End? Just a short walk from Planet Hollywood is Theatreland. West End shows are among the top 20 attractions in London, according to TripAdvisor. Choose from the Lion King at the Lyceum, Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre or Hamilton at Victoria Palace Theatre.

Ready to catch the train home? King’s Cross Station is a short Tube ride from Leicester Square.

Have a great day out with the family in London.