ENGLAND

Tube:

Mind the signs (and the gap). Not all trains are wheelchair accessible, which means, there are no elevators at that station and the Gap to get on the train can be substantial. If you have a stroller (or wheeled suitcases), I’d suggest planning a route that has elevators at all start/stop/transfer stations. We had a few that did not and it was a haul to get the stroller up the steps in the midst of an afternoon crowd. On the train, it can be very loud and crowded. We used a rain cover to block germs/spills from other passengers, and also brought noise blocking headphones as some of the trains have open windows and are very loud.

Tower of London:

Amazing to see and navigate, but fully cobblestone and not at all stroller friendly. There is one stroller parking location that was so hard to locate we ended up just tucking ours in a corner and hoping it was there when we came back (it was!). There are lots of stairs and quite a few inclines to climb. While it is cool to see, and we had a 6-month old in tow who was happy to sleep while we explored, small kids would probably find it very boring with the exception of the Crown Jewels where you can see the stunning Jewelry and artifacts of the Royal Family.

Kensington Gardens/Palace:

The childhood home of Queen Victoria (our daughter’s namesake), this was a wonderful visit set in the beautiful Kensington Gardens. The Gardens are one of my favorite spots. We had a picnic, wandered around looking at the iconic statues, enjoyed the swans in the pond and had a coffee at the Italian Gardens within the area. The Palace itself is beautiful and has a wonderful history with lots to see. Not stroller friendly, I’d suggest wearing small babies.

Harrods:

This is a must-visit for me each trip. It’s a wonderful reminder of the history of department stores, but the food court is where I spend the bulk of my time (and money) and our daughter loved watching the chocolates being made, seeing the decadent desserts and trying the various cheeses. The basement has the bookstore and a special restaurant, and riding the elevators (original gilded design) and walking the staircases are treats in themselves.

Buckingham Palace:

An iconic stop with an adjacent park, we walked here from Westminster through the neighborhoods. It is amazing to see the castle and the pomp and circumstance, but didn’t feel like there was all that much to really “do” other than take a few photos. Then we went and played in the park.

Trafalgar Square:

This space is beautiful and iconic, but with kids, its little more than a photo stop that may not do much to entertain.

St. Paul’s Cathedral:

This was a very stroller-friendly space with a special elevator that staff help you use to get to the crypt below. Our daughter stared at the decorated ceiling and pillars, enthralled, from her stroller as we walked around listening the audio devices. The bathroom was very small and didn’t have very good changing tables, as it is a very old building, so just being aware of that may be helpful.

Closest Airport
London Heathrow[LHR]