Noah, Eden, and Jonah have been traveling with me their entire lives. So far the three of them have been to at least 22 countries, 4 continents, and almost every state in the United States. Needless to say, when I ask them what the best family vacations were, they had more than a few opinions! 

They quickly fired off an assortment of places we have been. It was interesting to hear what they picked, some of them I knew, but other ones were a complete surprise. After some serious conversation with them, we’ve narrowed it down to 17!

Top 17 Family Vacations You will Never Forget!

1. Singapore

Singapore is in all of our top ten picks. My oldest, Noah considers Singapore to be a utopia because of its cleanliness and orderliness. Oddly enough, we were only in Singapore for two days, making it one of the shortest stays we have done anywhere. It only took one day for us to fall in love with this city. We recommend walking around Marina Bay where the architecture is insane and definitely visit some parts of the Marina Bay Gardens. I can assure you that your kids have never seen anything else like this! The kid’s favorite hotel here is the Fairmont Singapore. For more ideas on what to do and where to find the best milkshake see my article: Singapore Travel Guide.

2. Cancun

Cancun has so much going on, and don’t worry, it’s safe. We spent a week there and basically had a non-stop adventure! The entire area is set up well to accommodate any kind of family and literally any type of budget. Families will appreciate luxurious, all-inclusive resorts with kid’s clubs and teen clubs. While the kids are off doing their own thing parents can head to a spa or the bar. There isn’t a bad beach anywhere in the area, so plan to spend at least two full days beach bumming.  While you are there, be sure to see Mayan Ruins, swim in a cenote, eat lots of Mexican food, and go ATVing. 

For a list fun family things to do in Cancun check out this post: 12 Adventurous Things to do in Cancun. I recommend staying at The Grand in Cancun or at another one of the  11 Best All-inclusive Resorts in Cancun for Families.

If at some point you head over to Cozumel (you totally should), check out my post: 13 Things to do in Cozumel. I recommend staying at Allegro Cozumel.

3. Thailand

Thailand is absolutely incredible and I wasn’t surprised it landed in my kids top three places. You can basically go anywhere in Thailand and have an interesting experience. I recommend visiting at least these three places when you go: Phuket, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. Although they each have some similarities they are completely different experiences.

Phuket

Phuket is one of Thailand’s islands and it’s extremely kid friendly. My kids thought taking a Thai cooking class was cool and they loved going to the beaches and interacting with elephants and tigers. To find the elephants on the beach check out my post: Swimming with Elephants in Thailand. And for more help planning your trip to Phuket see my article: 5 Day Phuket Itinerary with Kids.

Bangkok

Bangkok is massive so there are loads and activities. The kids loved biking through the city despite the heavy traffic and they were thrilled when we stumbled across monstrous milkshakes. To read more about taking Bangkok to kids, check out my article: Two Days in Bangkok with Kids.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is an easy city to get around and it has tons to see and do. The city has an incredible night market where you and your kids could shop for hours. Here you will find interesting things to purchase like leather journals, bracelets, and tuk-tuks made out of soda cans. There is an elephant sanctuary where families can care for elephants and of course the food is outstanding! I recommend staying at the Shangri-la and taking a food and city tour by bike. Learn more about visiting Chiang Mai with kids in my article: 4 Things to do in Chiang Mai with kids.

4. New York City

New York City is currently Noah’s #1 and in Eden’s top 3 and in my top 15. The kids love the many dessert experiences here like Serendipity and  Black Tap. Both places have outrageous over-the-top desserts. They all enjoy hanging out in Central Park and Bryant Park, both parks have lots of free activities. At Bryant Park, kids can play kubb, while parents grab a drink at the little outdoor bar there. In Central Park, there are multiple playgrounds.

Visiting the 9/11 memorial is a must and if the kids are 10 or older tour the museum. Kids enjoy touring the Statue of Liberty, but not necessarily Ellis Island. If you do, go to Ellis Island to look for your family’s name on the wall. If you want to do a bus tour I recommend The Ride, especially if your kids are teens or tweens. I think going to a Broadway show is a must, but this is expensive and not worth it if your kids hate musicals or might possibly sleep through it. Good plays for kids are Wicked, Lion King, and Phantom of the Opera.

Remember the further out you can plan a trip to New York the cheaper the trip will be. Here are 15 Ways to save money in NYC.

We’ve been to NYC more times than we can remember. Check out our New York City Travel Guide to help you plan your own epic NYC getaway!

5. Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaii is another place that all three kids agree on and Oahu is their top island followed by Kauai. On Oahu, their favorite thing to do is sit at the pool or sit on the beach.

The kids recommend hanging out at the beach on North Shore to check out the waves and do some shopping. While you are up there have shrimp from Giovani’s Shrimp truck and get shaved ice at Matsumoto Shave Ice. If you feel like getting active rent a paddleboard at Sea N Surf and paddle up the Anahulu River and look for sea turtles. The last time we went we saw five huge sea turtles.

Also, fun in Oahu is parasailing in Waikiki and hiking to the top of Diamond Head. When you get done hiking Diamond Head, stop by Shimazu Shave Ice for massive shaved ice.

For more help planning your family’s Oahu vacation read our Oahu Travel Guide. 

I highly recommend staying at Disney’s Aulani if possible. 

6. Orlando

Orlando would probably make any kid’s list. With it being home to Disney World, Sea World, Discovery Cove, and Universal Studios a family could spend a month and do something different every single day. Universal Orlando is a must once each kid is tall enough to ride all the roller coasters and the new water park, Volcano Bay is fantastic. Besides the theme parks, there are all sorts of other fun things to do like swamp tours through alligator-infested waters, knight tournaments at Medieval Times, and within a short drive lots of beaches.

7. London

London also made it high on the list of the kid’s favorite places. We visited during Thanksgiving a few years ago and everything we did was awesome. There is so much to see and do that you can easily spend a week or two here and never run out of activities. Some of their favorite things were seeing the play Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, eating at Borough Market, and doing the Tower of London tour. Both boy’s least favorite thing to do is the bus tours. I personally appreciated how many free things there were to do in London. For more London ideas and tips, see my article: London with Kids.

8. Negril, Jamaica

Negril, Jamaica is Jonah’s #1 pick, and if I was his age, I think this would possibly be my #1 too. We recommend staying at Beaches Negril. This is an all-inclusive resort geared specifically for families. Highlights of staying here include:

• Sesame Street parade and BBQ party where families can dance with the characters, DJs lead dances, flame throwers perform, and more.
• Ice Cream Machine – The kids loved the ice cream machine which they visited a minimum of three times a day. (Don’t judge me, it’s vacation!)
• Snuba – Even kids can snuba at Beaches Negril and they do not have to have any experience to do this. The instructors are fabulous and it’s an activity the kids will never forget.
• Multiple pools, a lazy river, a water playground, and hot tubs.
• Miniature golf
• Video game lounge
• Kid’s club

9. Vail, Colorado

Vail, Colorado is another destination that is enjoyable year-round. During the summer the kids enjoy biking around town, riding horses around the mountain, and visiting the Epic Discovery adventure park set up on the mountain. In the winter the skiing is excellent. My kids have skied since they were little and appreciate the extensive skiing found in Vail. If you do not ski, this is a great place to learn.  For more info, check out our Vail Travel Guide. 

10. Silvies Valley Ranch

Visiting a dude ranch is a completely unique vacation. You can have an experience as a family that just can’t be had unless you are on a working ranch. Here you can shoot guns, interact with baby goats, hit the spa, experience gourmet dining, participate in a cattle round-up, and much more. They even have four golf courses on the ranch. Golf lovers will flip out over the reversible golf course that’s right I said reversible! With a little bit of everything, your family is sure to have an incredible time. To get a feel of the overall ranch read about our Silvies Valley Ranch Experience.

11. Greece

Greece is an epic experience because let’s face it, there’s no other place on earth like it. It basically doesn’t matter what part of the country you visit, you will never have a bad meal, you will experience history and culture like never before. I can state this as a fact because we’ve traveled all over Greece and it’s all been wonderful. 

Athens

Chances are high that one way or another a Greek vacation is going to take you through Athens at some point. Plan to spend at least a day here so you can visit the Acropolis before heading out to the islands. At night during the sunset dine at Savvas, their rooftop overlooks the Acropolis. Hotels can be difficult to get for a family, you may want to stay in an Airbnb.

Mykonos

A one of a kind city and gorgeous beaches await you in Mykonos. Teens and parents alike will love Mykonos City full of white-washed buildings. Also, if you can get a sitter or if your kids are old enough to stay at the hotel alone plan to go out. Mykonos has one of the best nightlife experiences in the world.

• For more advice, check out my post: Mykonos with Kids

Santorini 

Here you will have the opportunity to see things you’ve never see before like Red Beach. Perissa, the black beach is also worth visiting if you’ve never seen one before. There are two towns built into the sides of the island, both of which are worth spending time in, Fira and Oia. In Oia, you will see one of the greatest sunsets in the world. 

• For more things to do and where to stay check out my post: Santorini on a Budget. 

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is from biblical times and many of their historical sights have withstood the test of time. (Okay, I know what you are thinking. Yes, all of Greece is from biblical times.) They basically have ruins or a gorgeous church around every corner. The food scene is excellent here. For a list of things to see and do check out my post: Thessaloniki on a Budget. 

Kassandra

Can’t afford to splurge on the islands? Head here instead. Here you will be greeted with that famous aqua water and glorious beaches. Go shopping in Pefkochori and grab lunch at Agora Beach Bar. I highly recommend staying at Alexander the Great Beach Resort in this area. 

12. Australia

If you can get yourself to Australia, do it! Australia is just as fabulous as everyone says it is. There are so many varied experiences to be had throughout the country.  Try to plan a minimum of 9 days in the country. More than two weeks would be better. 

Whitsunday Islands

If swimming the Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list, then this should be your first stop. Whitehaven Beach should also be on your bucket list. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

Melbourne

If you’ve got a family of foodies, Melbourne is sure to delight. They have the most over-the-top, whimsical food creations you’ve likely ever seen. In between beautiful meals stop by the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes and the graffiti alleys. The alleys in Melbourne are really cool. 

• Where to eat in Melbourne

Great Ocean Road 

One of the top road trips in the world is driving the Great Ocean Road. Along the way, you can stop at dozens of scenic overlooks and take in the magnificent rock formations like Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles. You can enjoy one of the many nice beaches where kids can swim and play in the sand. Plus, there are animal encounters. Pull over to look for koalas in the trees and feed the birds at Kafe Koala. Be sure to stop at the Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park, where you can hand-feed kangaroos. 

13. Texas

We are originally from Texas so it was no surprise that Texas made the list. The kids have been all over Texas and they recommend eating lots of Tex-Mex food and visiting the following cities: Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi.

San Antonio

San Antonio has a ton of stuff for families to do. Here you will find a massive zoo, Fiesta Texas theme park, the famous San Antonio River Walk, and just outside of town is Schlitterbahn the #1 water park in the world. When visiting plan at least one full day at Schlitterbahn, half a day at the river walk, and float the Comal river. Our favorite restaurants in San Antonio currently are Ocho, Toro Kitchen + Bar, and Rita’s on the River. 

In San Antonio, I recommend staying at Hotel Emma.

Plan your entire trip with our San Antonio Travel Guide.

Dallas/Fort Worth

The Dallas, Fort Worth area is packed with stuff to do for families. Over in Fort Worth will love the rodeo at the stockyards. Be sure to go when they have bull riding. Also found in the stockyards is a fun maze and Texas-themed shopping. Plus, they do a daily cattle drive. Our favorite restaurants in Dallas include Meso Maya for dinner and El Jordan Cafe for breakfast. Just north of Dallas is Addison, TX which is jammed packed with great restaurants. 

14. Honduras

Honduras is easily one of our top vacations, according to me. Unfortunately, the kids remember very little of the trip. I recommend going to Roatan and Copan. These two places are no where near each other and two extremely different experiences. What they do have in common is affordability!

Roatan

Roatan is one of the Bay Islands and along the 2^nd best barrier reef in the world. The reef is near the shoreline making it extremely easy for kids to snorkel. Jonah was 4 when we visited and he was able to snorkel. Also fun here is zip lining and paddleboarding.

Copan

Copan is a Honduran city that borders Guatemala. Here you can go horseback riding up a mountain, go zip lining on one of the longest zip lines in the world, and visit an incredible hot spring.

15. Panama City Beach

Another family favorite in Florida is Panama City Beach. The beach has soft, powdery, white sand. It isn’t as big as many of the beach towns, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to do. Go mini-golfing and go-carting, spend the day at the beach, or shop around at Pier Park. Spend one day bopping around Scenic 30A, where you will find tiny beach towns like Seaside or Rosemary. Renting some bicycles is a perfect way to explore this area. Another interesting spot worth venturing out to is Sandestin’s Baytowne Wharf. Here, families can indulge in boutique shopping, zip-lining, ropes courses, an arcade, and unique eateries.

Use our Panama City Beach travel guide to plan your entire vacation.

16. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is super cool country with a wide variety of things to do. The food was consistently good, the activities were exciting and the people were so nice. Whether rafting down a volcano’s raging rivers in a tube near La Fortuna to chilling at a beautiful beach on the Pacific or the Atlantic everyone is going to enjoy the country. Costa Rica Travel Guide

17. La Paz

La Paz features miles of white sand beaches and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure including paddle boarding, kite surfing, kayaking, SCUBA diving, whale watching, swimming with whale sharks, sportfishing, hiking, mountain biking, and much more. If you want your kids off their devices and outside doing stuff you will love it here. Plus, the food is unbelievably good. 

Plan your own trip with our La Paz Travel Guide for Families. Plus, Best Places to Stay in La Paz, Mexico and Best Beaches in La Paz.

Conclusion:

So, there you have it, the best of the best family travel locations. There are hundreds of other places that could have made the list but didn’t. These were ones that just barely missed making our list: Las Vegas, Bavarian Alps in Germany, Paris, and house boating on Lake Shuswap in British Columbia. Like Honduras, my kids do not even remember house boating up in Canada, but if they did (well not Jonah, he had yet to be born), I am sure it would have made it onto the list.

Where are your favorite places to take your kids on vacation? We are always taking recommendations and planning our next family vacations. Yes, plural. Why take just one vacation? I think you should take as many as possible, big trips, weekend getaways, family reunions, you name it. These are all opportunities to have fun, spend time together and make the most memories possible. And don’t delay. Noah’s a high school senior and he’s about to move on with his life. (Oregon State University #Bragging) And y’all, I straight up ran out of time with him. You will run out of time, so make today count.

Read Next:

16 Insanely Awesome Girl’s Trips

11 Best Places to Snorkel with Kids Around the World

The post 17 Incredible Family Vacations appeared first on Mommy Travels.

History Highlights

Gin Craze

In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, London’s so-called “Gin Craze” was in full force. Until Parliament passed  the Gin Act of 1751, a tough set of ordinances that introduced unprecedentedly harsh punishments for the illegal gin sales that were rampant at the time, the crime rate rose and poverty increased as gin, the cheaper alternative to beer, was consumed at a rapid clip.

Gin & Tonics

In the mid 1800’s, as the British Empire broadened its power to take over the governance of India, Brits in the tropical climes began to consume gin with tonic water, made from bitter cinchona bark, as a refreshing way to ward off digestive issues, if not malaria. That bitter quinine takes London dry gin to an even more delicious place and the drink quickly becomes a modern classic.

Bright Young People

The 1920’s were particularly roaring in London, as the bohemian aristocrats known as the Bright Young Things and American expats escaping prohibition partied into the night fueled by cocktails and harder stuff,  with jazz as their soundtrack. 

Gin Cocktail Guide

A Martini at Duke’s

Duke’s Bar in Mayfair offers a slightly stodgy yet singular experience in a plush setting tucked in the cobbled streets of St. James’s. Barman Allessandro Palazzi’s white coated team will roll out the trolley and present an exquisite, expensive, ice-cold martini customized to your preference, finished with a fragrant Amalfi Coast lemon twist. Says Simon Ford, bon vivant and founder of Fords Gin, “Drinking a martini is the sophisticated way to do five shots of gin in one go.” Savor one and move along.  

A Martinez at The Connaught

At the Connaught, Agostino Perrone’s squad performs elegant cocktail acrobatics with high pours tableside, house “vermouth assemblages,” and a choice of bitters concocted from the likes of tonka beans, cardamom, or lavender. This art deco den would be the right spot to try a Martinez, the deep dark predecessor to the modern martini that was originally made with the whiskey-like Dutch Gin called genever. Perrone’s recipe adds a touch of balsamic vinegar which brings the gin’s juniper and other botanicals into focus. 

A Corpse Reviver #2 at The American Bar at the Savoy

Since 1893, the bartenders at the American Bar have been creating and nailing the classics. The absinthe-spiked up drink known as Corpse Reviver #2 was invented at the Savoy, and entered the gin canon as recorded in the 1930 version of the Savoy Cocktail Book. Stay perched at the bar for another OG–gin lovers recommend sampling a fernet-spiked Hanky Panky or a frothy White Lady.

A Vesper at the Spy Bar at Raffles

This clandestine bar hides in the basement of the Raffles Hotel in the restored Old War Office, where Sir Winston Churchill worked and Sir Ian Fleming found inspiration for his James Bond series surrounded by spy-types like Mansfield Cummings, Chief of the Intelligence Service and the basis for his character “M.” The split base Vesper is a dangerously drinkable version of a martini made with gin, vodka, and Lillet instead of vermouth. 

A London Calling at the NoMad

As classic cocktails go, the popular London Calling is just a baby, born at Soho’s now shuttered Milk and Honey in 2002. The NoMad’s soaring, vibrant atrium restaurant or their moodier Side Hustle bar would be quite the fun place to drink this tart, lemon juice and sherry spiked delight.

A Moonlit Gimlet at Lyaness

Moving from classic to contemporary, across the Thames to the South Bank, Lyaness presents fresh high concept drinks and friendly service off the lobby of the Sea Containers Hotel. By brightening the lime-y gin gimlet with the essence of fresh garden peas and a touch of elderflower, Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, has created a more savory take on the 1860’s scurvy cure that’s not to be missed. Your second drink could be the Fords Gin and potato based Diamante Swizzle, if you’re lucky. 

A Sour Cherry Negroni at Hawksmoor Borough

Stroll down the river until you hit the Borough Market branch of Hawksmoor, a fine steak and seafood house with a fantastic cocktail menu. Though Count Camillo Negroni, who dosed his Americano with gin in 1919 in Florence, might balk at the extra ingredient, the preserved cherries from the British countryside add an incredible juicy flavor to the classic drink. Try their sour cherry americano for a lower ABV, gin-free experience. 

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended but doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

The post Gin Jaunt: A Tour of London’s Iconic Gin Cocktails appeared first on Mommy Travels.

We have not stayed in very many hotels with special themed rooms other than at Great Wolf Lodge. Going into next year we are hoping to stay in some of these unique rooms found around the world. Here are 15 cool hotel rooms for kids we are hoping to stay in next year.

15 Cool Hotel Rooms for Kids

1. The Pineapple at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana 

Inspired by the famous pineapple under the sea, famed home to SpongeBob SquarePants, this sumptuous one-of-a-kind villa is the signature dwelling at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana – the world’s first and only Pineapple.

With 2,292 square feet of incredible indoor and outdoor living areas, including a garden, patio, signature infinity pool, and private butler caters to your every whim, the 2 bedroom / 3 bath villa is a palatial paradise in the Dominican Republic.

Rates at the Pineapple start at $3,800 per night, including the Gourmet Inclusive Experience of all gourmet meals served a la carte, premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service and full-service concierge. Granted, at that price we will never stay here!

2. Eloise Suite at The Plaza New York Plaza

Outrageous pink and black décor by Betsy Johnson adorns the walls of the 625 sq. ft. suite on the “tippy-top floor” of the Plaza Hotel.

Named for The Plaza’s famous resident in Kay Thompson’s Eloise books, the room features everything Eloise. From Eloise-themed tea for two at The Palm Court to Eloise-approved books and toys, kids will be absolutely delighted by the over-the-top suite that offers guest a day in the life of the precocious little heroine.

And yes, it is expensive to stay here. Check current rates. 

3 Day NYC Itinerary with Teens

The Most Instagrammable Food in NYC

3. UFO at the Treehotel in Harads, Sweden 

Kids are immediately transported to space in this out-of-this-world treehouse in the woods. Fashioned as a UFO, the intergalactic suite is built for two adults and three children, with a living room, in-room bathroom, and two large separate beds.  1..2..3…ready for takeoff to every child’s dream! Check current rates on Expedia. 

4. Wizard Chambers at the Georgian House Hotel

Immerse your child in magic and marvel in The Wizard Chamber, created for Harry Potter aficionados in London. Concealed behind a bookcase door, the Gothic décor evokes the magical style of Hogwarts lodgings. Each room features faux castle details such as stained glass windows, stone walls, cauldrons, four-poster beds hung with velvet curtains, and an abundance of other curious artifacts. Check current rates on Booking.com. 

Traveling with Teens in London

5. Legoland Beach Retreat in Winter Haven, Florida 

At the Legoland Beach Retreat, guests have the opportunity of staying in their own beach-themed bungalow decorated with whimsical LEGO^®décor inside and out. Designed to look like it’s made of giant Lego bricks, each bungalow room can sleep up to five people with one king-sized bed for parents and a small nook that has bunk beds for the kids.

In addition, each bungalow is centered around an expansive outdoor play area, all within view of the bungalow’s shaded patios, where parents can put their feet up, kick back, and relax while the kids play. Check current rates on Expedia. 

30+ Fun Things to do in Orlando

6. Hotel De Glace

Located just outside of Quebec City, Quebec is one of the coolest kid hotel rooms available according to my friend Sarah. As long as you are okay with sleeping in a -3 to -5 degree room. In past years, the Hotel De Glace won the hearts of little kids across the world with their Frozen suite. The animators of the film actually stayed at the hotel when drawing up plans for Elsa’s ice castle. 

Other incredible themed suites have included The Great Gatsby and the iconic Canadian Hockey Suite. The hotel melts away each year and so with each Winter comes a brand new selection of suites. Check current rates on Expedia. 

7. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando has Despicable Me suites. We stayed at a Universal hotel for the first time, but we stayed over at Cabana Bay where the rooms were 1950’s throwback rooms. The next time we are at Universal we plan to stay in one of these despicable me rooms. They look awesome! Check current rates on Hotels.com. 

8. The Palms Pink Suite

Hot Pink Suite at The Palms in Las Vegas. I love Vegas and I take my kids there fairly often. One of these days we are going to stay in this hot pink suite! Granted, I typically would not recommend staying here with the kids. The Palms would be better for a girl’s trip. Designed by the famous “Happy Chic” designer Jonathan Adler, this 2,350-square-foot suite is the ultimate bachelorette party pad. The suite’s dreamy décor features corseted, lace-up chairs, custom art, and terrazzo bubble floors.

5 Days in Las Vegas with Kids

18 Delicious Family friendly restaurants in Las Vegas

Things To Do In Las Vegas With Kids

11 Best Kid-Friendly Las Vegas Hotels

9. Fantasyland Hotel

Space-themed rooms in Edmonton, Canada. One of my friends stayed here a while back and it looked awesome! The room has one queen bed and capsule bunk beds for the kids. Plus, there is a two-person Jacuzzi. They have an assortment of other themed rooms including a Hollywood theme and Arabian themed.

10. The Shire of Montana

This is a Hobbit-themed house. This Hobbit House offers visitors an interesting underground lodging experience full of imagination. Inside the house isn’t really that cool, but the outside is neat. It is small, so it can only accommodate 3 people. Kids must be 12 years old or older to stay here. Check current rates on VRBO.

9-Day Summertime Montana Road Trip Itinerary

11. Grand Mirage Resort

The Grand Mirage Resort in Bali has some interesting rooms that kids will like, including rooms with bunk beds and themed rooms like this girl’s room. For the kids, Grand Mirage Bali Resort features kid’s mini water park, pool slides, an indoor playground, a kid’s club, kids e-lounge, a foam party, and many more. Check current rates on Hotels.com. 

12. Blue Hills Ranch

Just 15 minutes outside of Waco, TX you will find a Blue Hills Ranch, a 150-acre resort with green rolling hills, lakes, giraffes, zebras, otters, kangaroos, and more. Here you can rent one of their themed cabins, like the Hook cabin or the Kraken cabin pictured here. Both the animal encounters and the cabins have to be booked well in advance. 

13. Iniala Beach House

Iniala Beach House in Takua Thung, Thailand has some seriously cool rooms for those traveling with kids. You cannot book the room shown, but your kids can stay in it. It’s the kid’s club which is a kid’s hotel and should they want to they can stay the night. 

14. Graduate New York “Big” Suite

Located on the sixth floor of Graduate New York, the Loft Suite has been fully transformed into a toy-filled suite just as Tom Hanks’ character, Josh Baskin does to his NYC apartment in the film. Sleeping up to six guests, making for the perfect family getaway, The Loft Suite provides iconic childhood toys and games complete with a real Zoltar machine and themed bunk beds. A life-sized floor piano and mini trampoline are also included, and the most nostalgic part? Guests can watch Big on an old TV via VHS.  

15. The Curtis Hotel

The Curtis Hotel in Denver has a bunch of themed rooms but I think their video game-themed room is by far the best one. It even has an old-school Donkey Kong game in the room! In the lobby, they have board games you can play as well. Check current rates!

This list could keep going. We’ve stayed at Aulani in Oahu and we all love it. The rooms were not themed out, but they were nice and we enjoyed it. Same for a hotel in Portland, Riverplace. It was not themed but is one of our favorite places I’ve ever stayed in.

Read Next:

23 Best All Inclusive Resorts for Families

Top 9 Destinations for Teens and Tweens in the United States

18 Best All-inclusive Resorts for Teenagers

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!

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They are practically tailor-made for families and if you’re a fan of both sports, as well as traveling, you’ll enjoy every single second. From the dazzling Chelsea to the unstoppable Tottenham, you will see the greatest players in the world and enjoy the charm that only England can offer.

But, you won’t be standing at the pitch all the time – there are many amenities to enjoy, from behind-the-scenes stadium tours and cultural adventures to tasty bites near the stadiums. So, if you’re up for an adventure where football and family memories collide, it’s time to kick off this guide, and discover how London can be your family’s ultimate Premier League paradise.

London Calling

Let’s talk London. This city is a playground of endless possibilities for families. London isn’t just about the iconic landmarks you’ve seen online and red double-decker buses that can be seen on every corner. Like all other interesting cities in the world, it is full of different experiences just waiting to be captured and preserved in your memory, as well as in your family album.

Now, if you are a mom, you’ll definitely appreciate the unique charm of London’s neighborhoods. Whether it’s the historic beauty of the famous Westminster or the more modern vibes of Shoreditch, London’s urban landscapes mean there’s something for every taste and preference, which means that every member of your family will have something to enjoy.

Don’t forget about the parks. London has some of the most beautiful green spaces where your little ones can run wild while you enjoy the scenery. From Hyde Park’s vastness to the enchanting beauty of Regent’s Park that is hard to capture in words, London’s parks are little pockets of tranquility and beauty that will make you forget you’re in one of the most interesting cities in the world.

Premier League Match Breaks for Families

 Now that you’re fully aware of London’s unique charm, brace yourself, because the next aspect of your journey is centered around sports, or to be precise, the legendary Premier League. This isn’t about just watching a game as a common observer. No, it’s about diving into the very heart of the action with Premier League match breaks that are practically designed with families in mind.

Just imagine your family, right there in the midst of the football frenzy, feeling the chills that only football adrenaline can awaken, and maybe even catching a flyaway football (fingers crossed). So, you see, these match breaks can easily turn a regular match day into a full-blown family adventure.

Alright, now you may ask if there were any exclusive perks that would make the experience even better. Well, of course, there are. Premium seating? Check. Hospitality options? Absolutely. You’ll be watching the game, yes, but you will be the royalty of the day. As for the kids, it’s a chance to witness the magic of their favorite teams up close and feel a personal connection with their favorite players.

Team Spotlight

In case you just enjoy watching football and don’t care about one team more than others as much as your other family members, you can go through this short list of some of the most famous teams in the Premier League. Keep in mind that no one’s playing favorites here (but you’re allowed to, of course). The main goal is to show you that every team, from the elegant Chelsea to tenacious Tottenham, brings its own unique style to spice up the game.

Chelsea FC – Where Elegance Meets Power

You can consider Chelsea to be the sophisticated cousin of the Premier League. With a history as rich as the blue on their players’ jerseys, every match day here is a perfect blend of elegance and power. Plus, Stamford Bridge has an atmosphere that’s nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Arsenal FC – The Gunners’ Legacy

The Gunners of Arsenal have a legacy that echoed through the whole football world for decades. From the legendary cannon, you’ve definitely seen before to the lively atmosphere of the Emirates Stadium, an Arsenal match will offer you more than a simple football game – it will be an unforgettable journey through football history.

Tottenham Hotspur – Here Comes Tenacity

And then there’s Tottenham Hotspur – one of the truly unique teams in London. The tenacity of this team is both infectious and widely known, and a match day at their state-of-the-art stadium, complete with the wild crowd, is an experience that’ll have you hooked. The good energy that Tottenham’s fans spread through the whole stadium will leave you thinking about the game you watched for months.

The Ultimate Family Adventure – Behind-the-Scenes Stadium Tours

After getting familiar with some of the most famous teams, you should be ready to turn your family’s football outing into an unforgettable adventure with the help of exclusive behind-the-scenes stadium tours. This is a chance to step into the inner sanctum of football, where the magic happens and dreams are born. It’s not something that many people have the opportunity to witness.

Exclusive Access

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to walk through the players’ tunnel onto the hallowed ground? If you did, you’ll definitely be left speechless because these tours are your special VIP pass to the areas that are usually off-limits.

From the locker rooms where strong strategies are planned to perfection to the pitchside where the drama unfolds and you feel as if you’re playing the game, you and your family get to experience the very essence of what makes football so special and loved. This isn’t just a tour. This is your own journey into the heart of football.

Kid-Friendly Insights

So, what sets these tours apart? To begin with, they’re designed with families in mind. Your little ones won’t be bored to death as spectators. Instead, they’ll be completely immersed in the stories of the game. Imagine their little eyes widening as they step onto the pitch or sit in the dugout where their favorite players make career-changing decisions. It’s a visual spectacle, but also a fire that ignites young imaginations.

Interactive Fun – Touch, Feel and Imagine

Believe it or not, there’s more. These tours are also interactive, which means your family will get the chance to touch the rich history of the sport. It depends on the kind of tour you select, but maybe your kids can try on a player’s jersey or hold a piece of football memorabilia you’ve seen only in photographs. Every small moment will turn into a story to tell.

Final Thoughts

So, as you prepare yourself to explore the beautiful streets of London, get ready to also cheer for teams like Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham, when the time comes for a game. When the dust settles, try out behind-the-scenes stadium tours and create family memories that resemble the passion of football. All that’s left for you to do is to get ready for the cheers and the shared stories that will linger in your family’s tales for years to come. Your Premier League adventure awaits – let’s make it a family affair to remember.

Read Next:

London with Kids, Tweens, or Teens

6 Trendy Things to do in London with Kids and 6 Free Alternative Things to do

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Out of all the places I have traveled with my children London has got to be one of the best. To say there is a lot to do there would be an understatement. You could spend a week here doing multiple things a day and never run out of activities. London has a reputation as an expensive city to visit. But there are a wealth of attractions accessible for little or no charge, and it’s possible to spend several days sightseeing without spending very much money. In fact, you would need to spend a long, long time in London before all the opportunities for free activities had been exhausted.

The city has an architectural and cultural heritage spanning hundreds of years. It’s possible to spend days walking the streets or the banks of the River Thames taking in the wide variety of sights. There are buildings and monuments to be enjoyed across the city, from the regal splendor of Buckingham Palace to the contemporary arc of the London Eye.

Things to do in London

Tower of London

The Tower of London is a must. It is captivating how much history can be found in one place. The cost of your ticket includes a tour give by a Beefeater, a ceremonial guardian. Our tour was highly informative and entertaining. It included a lot of death talk. If you do not want your kids hearing about people having their heads cut off you may want to skip the tour. The world famous Crown Jewels are kept here and visitors are allowed to walk through and see them. I recommend taking a boat up the river from the London Eye to the Tower of London. The views of the Tower Bridge from the boat are unbeatable. Buy tickets in advance.

The London Eye

The London Eye is a the massive wheel that takes you into the air where you can enjoy spectacular views. In fact, it is the 4th tallest observation wheel in the world. For 30 minutes you can enjoy views of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, Thames River, and Westminster Palace. Depending on the time of year you visit the line can be atrocious. If you go by here and there is little to no line go immediately. Buy tickets in advance.

See a Play

The talent in London is phenomenal, so I highly recommend going to see a show while you are in town. 

We saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory during our visit and I must say London’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is phenomenal. It was hands down the best theater production I’ve seen. It can be difficult for younger children to sit all the way through a musical, but this one will better hold their attention. There are many discount ticket places near Picadilly Circus and Covent Garden. I was able to pick up cheap tickets right before the show, about 30 minutes before at a half price ticket place in between Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden

Remember not to take your kids to see a show on the same day you arrive. The jet lag will quickly catch up with them in a dark theater and they will end up sleeping through the show. I know because I’ve made this mistake before!

Walking Tours

Walking tours can be further enhanced by choosing different times of day. The London parks offer a haven of tranquility at all times of day, but their silence has a particular quality early in the morning, as the city wakes around them. The evening brings a different pleasure, when from viewpoints across the city the silhouettes of unique structures stand darkly against the reddening sky. Hungerford Bridge offers a fantastic view of the London Eye, the Thames, Parliament and Big Ben.

Walking across the London Millennium Footbridge at sunset towards St. Paul’s cathedral is amazing.

There’s more to walking in London than just looking at the buildings; the streets are alive with interest. In addition to the huge range of day-to-day characters to encounter there is plenty of deliberate street entertainment, particularly around Covent Garden or on the South Bank, but also popping up in other places from time to time. The Horse Guards and Life Guards, in their distinctive dress uniforms, can often be seen parading in the area around Buckingham Palace and St James’ Park.

Covent Garden

The day you go to the show plan to stroll around Covent Garden since it is near the theater. Covent Garden is a neat area full of little shops, restaurants and street performers “Buskers”. I recommend eating at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Union Jacks for dinner. They have reasonably priced kid meals and excellent sticky toffee pudding.

London Sightseeing Bus Tours

I have mixed feeling about the big double decker bus tours. Everyone says it is a must, but I disagree. Although my daughter and I enjoyed it, my two sons hated it. You know your children best, so make a decision based on their personalities. Also, keep in mind that they traffic in London can be a nightmare. There will be times where it will be faster to walk. The tour buses include the boat down the river that I mentioned before.

Free Museums

No guide to London for free can avoid mentioning the world-famous museums. Three clustered together in South Kensington – the Science and Natural History Museums. Both of these provide a day of entertainment and education for no charge, although donations are encouraged. The Natural History Museum is where you will find the dinosaurs. 

Victoria & Albert Museum

Nearby is the Victoria & Albert Museum, with its focus on art and design, is a little more serious. But it’s also free, and offers hands-on opportunities to the young and young at heart. There’s plenty to look at and touch, and the new theatre exhibition offers the opportunity to try on stage costumes. The ground floor of the museum has a wonderful gallery of statues that the kids will find interesting, be sure to find Thetis dipping Achilles in the river Styx. From there head to the opulently decorated, pleasant cafe serving lovely salads, sandwiches, cakes and more in the most beautiful setting. You may luck out and have a pianist accompany your meal.

Most visitors to London don’t realize that there are many smaller museums also accessible for free. The Bank of England, the Guildhall, the Museum of London – and many more besides.

The British Museum

The British Museum is another must while visiting London and it too is free. The British Museum offers presents visitors with thousands of years of human history. There is no better way to understand the depths of the pillaging and plundering the British did than to see all the “stolen” goods on display here. 

There are the predictable rows and rows of cabinets full of artifacts, but also the breathtaking gallery of massive Egyptian monuments, the glittering Anglo-Saxon treasure of Sutton Hoo and the contemporary architectural triumph of the Great Court. This was once an outdoor space containing the circular reading room, but the entire area is now beneath a transparent roof. The Egyptian display is fascinating for kids. Plus, the Rosetta Stone is here.  Located at Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG.

Borough Market

Not far from Shakespere’s theater you will find Borough Market. This market is bustling with activity during the day. Plan to visit during lunch to enjoy a sampling of their offerings. Be sure to try Ginger Pig sausage rolls if you fancy a true British treat. You can also try London’s famous Montmartre Coffee here, in addition to the cheeses, smoothies, sandwiches, honeys, jams, and mustards. There is an ATM located here. Located at 43 Borough Market, London SE1 9AH, UK.

Diana Memorial Playground

We do not visit any city without finding a fun playground to play at. Our favorite in London was the Princess Diana Memorial playground near Kensington Palace. This elaborate play spot was inspired by Peter Pan. Kids can roam all around a pirate ship, swing, slide, dig in the sand, and more. There are bathrooms at the playground and a snack bar right outside the playground.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral is a beautiful church dedicated to St. Paul. Unlike most churches in Europe, this one does not offer free admission. The cost for a family ticket is £48.50 and covers 2 adults and 2 -3 children. Tickets are cheaper if you order online. We walked in and could see some of it without paying. No large bags, large rucksacks or large suitcases may be brought into St Paul’s Cathedral.

Changing of the Guard

Everyone told us to go to Buckingham Palace to see this. The beginning was somewhat interesting, but there’s no way kids can make it all the way through. People get pretty pushy to get up close. Try to get as close to the center as you can otherwise you can’t see much. 

Where to watch the Changing of the Guard: James’s Palace, just on the other side of Horse Guards Rd, you can see the mounted regiment line up for inspection at 11am and then head over to the Victoria Monument in front of Buckingham Palace to see the big shoe with starts at 11:30. Alternatively (and closer to the St. James’s Tube station) you can head to the Wellington Barracks just off the Birdcage Walk near Buckingham Palace and catch the other regimental band warming up at 11, they will leave to go into Buckingham Palace at 11:30. The real crux of the ceremony should be seen at the palace gates at 11:30 (arrive early to get a view) or the monument.

Go Shopping

London shops supply another form of free entertainment. Most of us don’t go to Harrods or Fortnum & Mason to shop, we go to glimpse a world accessible to the rich and famous, and to be delighted at finding an apparent bargain in the midst of such exclusivity. Finally, there’s always plenty of fun to be had in Hamley’s, the huge toy store of Regent Street which is always full of toy demonstrations and more hands-on opportunities.

The Shard

The Shard is a 95-story skyscraper with great views of London from floors 68, 69 and 72. Tickets start out at £24.00. 

How to Get Around in London

Buy a tube pass for the days you will be there. This is cheaper than buying one ticket at a time. I do not recommend getting a car. When you see how they drive in London you will see why!

Where to Eat with Kids in London

Sadly, many of the places we ate I would not recommend, but there were a few. 

Murals on 54 Restaurant – I only had appetizers, but they were all excellent. It’s a fun place inside the Warwick hotel. The wait staff was friendly and efficient.

Queen Arms Pub – This is one of the cheapest places we ate while in London. The pizza, hamburger, and cheesy bread was good and the wine was super cheap as was the beer. The pie of the day is just okay.

Union Jacks – This is Jamie Oliver’s restaurant at Covent Garden and it is quite delicious. 

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London off or on a Budget

Spend a day at Thorpe Park

Free alternative: Princess Diana of Wales Memorial Playground

Learn about the making of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Ride a Speed Boat on the Thames River

A cheap alternative: Go Sightseeing on a River Cruise

TFL has river boats, that you can use with contactless or Oyster card. This is a cheap way to see London from another angle. Children enjoy boat rides. You will go under bridges, see kayakers and other boats and you can have fun racing who can point out London’s famous landmarks quicker as you pass them. 

Enjoy the Views From the London Eye

A free alternative: Enjoy the Views From Sky Garden

Visit London Zoo

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During the winter Hyde Park has an awesome festival, Winter Wonderland. It’s free to walk through and enjoy, including a large German Christmas market. The market has 200 Christmas lit Bavarian style wooden chalets with jewelry, accessories, clothing, handmade crafts, and traditional Christmas decorations.

The kids and I had a lot of fun walking around looking at all the stuff for sell. We stopped for some apple cider and spiced wine. I wish we had planned to have dinner here, but at the time I didn’t know about it. We just happened upon it when we were walking around one night. It would have been fun to listen to the band and eat German food.

Live Shows

During the Winter Wonderland there are multiple shows going on.

• Zippos Christmas Circus will take you through an array of the finest circus acts. With incredible aerial acts, colourful clowns and skilled jugglers, this day time show is a perfect treat for all the family.
• Sooty’s Christmas Show is a festive puppet show good for younger children.
• Nutcracker on Ice is a 60 minute ice show especially created for Winter Wonderland.

Ice Skating

For 9 – 15 pounds you can ice skate. Ice skating session times run every hour, on the hour, between 10:00 and 21:00. Each ice skating session will last 50 minutes.

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However, whatever you want from your visit there is something for everyone and this guide will help you find your way around and guide you to the best on offer.

A Guide To London for the First-Time Visitor

There are so many tourist attractions to see in London that it is best to plan out what you want to visit ahead of time, so you miss nothing. Then plot your route either on an Underground map, a street map or decide which open-topped bus you will hop on to see as much as possible, in the shortest time.

It’s often best to group attractions together, so for example, if you are heading to the South Bank you can take in Tower Bridge, The London Eye, the London Aquarium, and then move on to the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum are all worth a visit as are Trafalgar Square, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, and the Globe Theatre. You can choose which of them you are just going to view from the outside and which you will spend longer touring.

Here’s a Checklist for you to use as a guide to London, so you don’t miss anything:

Tate modern

London Zoo

London Eye

Natural History Museum

Tower of London

Churchill’s War room

Big Ben

Hyde Park

British Museum

National Gallery

Palace of Westminster

Globe Theatre

London Dungeon

Popular London Restaurants

All that walking and photograph-taking might have made you thirsty and a trip to London has to include a visit to a pub or two.

The pub is as much a part of British culture as fish and chips or a cup of tea and you can truly say you have mixed with the locals once you have bought a round or two at the bar.

Pubs can also tell you a great deal about British history and these five have just as much to say as a visit to a museum.

The Star Tavern, Belgravia

This establishment has seen many famous people pass through its doors including Diana Dors and Peter O’Toole. It also has the perhaps more infamous claim to fame of being the place where The Great Train Robbery was planned in the early 1960s.

The French House, Soho

This pub was used as a meeting place for members of the French Resistance, including General de Gaulle, during the Second World War. Today it retains a French flavor and even the alcohol is served in measures used across the Channel.

The Dog and Duck, Soho

It was here that the novelist George Orwell used to drink, maybe gathering ideas for his next book. It has been mentioned that in more recent times Madonna has dropped by on occasion.

The Lamb and Flag, Convent Garden

This pub can also boast that it has been the hangout of great writers with Charles Dickens frequenting the bar as well as 17^th Century poet John Dryden. This pub holds regular celebrations with the bunting being hung out every St. George’s Day.

The Viaduct, Newgate Street

Opposite the Old Bailey, this pub may have acted as a temporary jail at one time. It is also the last surviving Victorian gin palace in London and the perfect place to visit for a G&T.

If you prefer cocktail bars, then the world is your oyster in London, especially in recent years as the trend for cocktails has seen a resurgence. Callooh Callay, Love & Liquor, The Lucky Pig, Mr. Fogg’s, and the extravagantly named Opium Cocktail and Dim Sum Bar are all worth heading to. Party the night away without a care in the world as you can always burn those calories off with more sightseeing tomorrow.

London’s Hidden Secrets

If you like your drinking establishments a little more tucked away, try these out for size.

Tamesis Dock, Albert Embankment

Get on board for a pint or two at this floating pub. This 1933 Dutch Barge, which used to travel the waters of the Seine, now offers great food and cold beer and even better you can sit outdoors and watch the sunset over London as you eat.

The Mayor of Scaredy Town, Spitalfields

This truly is a secret, hidden away beneath The Breakfast Club. On arrival you need to say you would like to see the Mayor and only then will you be led downstairs to discover the bar hidden behind a door disguised as a SMEG fridge.  

Putt In The Park, Acton

 If you want a little exercise alongside your cold beer then head to the park next to Acton central railway station. Here you can enjoy a round of mini-golf while enjoying a pint or two. This is a tranquil destination where you will be surrounded by greenery and the sound of running water from the small streams dotted about.

London Nightlife

When you want to enjoy London nightlife you need not worry about being short on choices. Stand-up comedy, cabaret, clubbing or the enjoyment of fine wines or whiskeys, it’s all on offer.

The following three areas of the Capital are worth exploring as they have a great deal to offer in terms of nightlife.

Camden: Camden is a great place to visit day or night as it is a hub of the arts. During the day Camden Market offers a wide array of stalls selling handcrafted wares including clothing, jewelry, leather goods, and artwork. As the sun sets head to one or more of the quirky pubs, many of which offer live music. The Black Heart is the place to try locally brewed beer from the Camden Town Brewery, such as Camden Hells Lager.

The Dublin Castle is less about the look of the pub and more about the ambiance and the music. It is one of the pubs around London where new bands come to prove themselves and over the years it has featured Madness and Blur.

It bills itself as the only true pub left in Camden and with its roaring fire in the winter and relaxed atmosphere, you may just agree. It also features unknown indie and alternative bands so if you want to discover new music The Enterprise should be on your tour.

Mayfair: There are plenty of nightclubs on offer in Mayfair although you may need a slightly larger bank balance to make the most of them. For Seventies Chic and a groovy dance floor head to Loop Bar. Trader Vic’s is all about the South Pacific and thus you need to enjoy a cocktail or two as you soak up the atmosphere. By the same people who brought us the Playboy Club is Baroque which has lush surroundings and a mix of party nights, often with live music on offer.

Soho: Head to Soho in the West End for a mix of high energy nightlife. The Box has seen many celebrity clients over recent years. Bar Rumba and the St.Moritz Club are famous basement bars, and the latter has been a hub of entertainment for decades. If karaoke is more your thing, but you prefer to do it in relative privacy, then head to the pods inside Lucky Voice Soho where drinks and nibbles are also on offer.

London Museums

London is home to many national museums and art galleries, such as the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery, the Science Museum and Tate Modern. All of these are worth a visit, but what happens if you want to experience something just a little different?

Sir John Soane’s Museum

Sir John Soane was the architect of the Bank of England and this, his former residence, includes a range of his architectural drawings as well as the art and antiquities he surrounded himself with, including the Egyptian Sarcophagus of Seti.

Geffrye Museum

This museum is a fascinating insight into how we have all lived through the centuries. Taking us from 1600 through to the present day it explores the English Home with a focus on the living room, the place where we all spend the majority of our time.

The Savoy Hotel’s Museum

Naturally, you can enjoy a cocktail at the Savoy Hotel’s American Bar before heading next door to take a look around the museum. This features photos of many of the famous guests of the hotel and even a little vintage alcohol make an appearance.

The Grant Museum of Zoology

A wide range of specimens are on offer here and you can even take part in a ‘Dead Life Drawing’ class, although a glass of wine is on offer to lighten the mood.

The Viktor Wyne Museum of Curiosities

This museum really does offer an eclectic mix of exhibits. Live petting evenings when you can meet millipedes is a highlight.

The Pollock Toy Museum

If you find old dolls frightening this one might be worth a miss. However, if instead, they fascinate you, make sure you don’t miss out on this museum.

The Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

If medicine through the ages is one of your interests this museum doesn’t disappoint. Find out what patients experienced as they went through surgery before anesthetics and pain relief were discovered and find out when and why leeches were used.

Dennis Severs’ House

For an insight into life in the 18^th Century for a wealthy family head to Dennis Severs’ House. This has been recreated with food on the table and unmade beds, just as though the family has gone out for the day.

London Culture

It’s time to experience a little more culture around London, but all of these are relaxing as well as fun.

Wilton’s Music Hall: Located in Tower Hamlets this music hall harks back to the good old days of variety and is the oldest surviving grand music hall in the world. Offering a range of theatre productions it’s worth a visit to see the interior of the building alone.

Temple: This is an area of London known for its connections to the practice of law over the centuries. The name came about because it was established by the Knights Templar in the 12^th Century and because of this it also played a central role in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. It’s definitely worth a visit for any lovers of the book or film.

Fulham Palace: Surprisingly this is a National Trust property right in the centre of the capital. It is well known for the variety of events it runs throughout the year usually coinciding with seasonal events such as Apple Day in October and Bones, Bumps and Bats close to Halloween.

Guildhall Art Gallery: If you want to find out what life was like in Roman London then head to the Guildhall Art Gallery. During restoration in the late 1980’s they discovered the circular walls of an amphitheater which can now be viewed together with a fascinating insight into the history of the area.

Guide To London Shopping

London is packed full of world-renowned department stores such as Harrods, Liberty, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Hamleys and if you are visiting close to the Christmas season the window displays are not to be missed.

However, where should you head if you enjoy smaller boutique shopping?

Camden Passage: This is probably one of the most well known and loved centers of independent stores and it hosts a selection of shops and cafes. Many of the shops are catered towards vintage so this is definitely the place to head in London if you want to pick up something unique.

Little Venice: Little Venice is on the Thames and is a collection of waterside shops and cafes. What’s makes it, even more, fun is you can even hop on a canal boat and head off to your next destination, almost like being in Italy

Guide To London Outside Attractions

It’s not just the urban buzz that attracts people to London. What makes it so special is there is so much opportunity to get outside and experience green spaces in the fresh air.

The Thames Path: This stretches all the way from the Thames Barrier across the country to Cirencester. There are many shorter routes you can take within London to see the sights and if you head out by bike you could even make it to Windsor to visit the Castle. Stop off at any of the many pubs along the way for a hearty lunch to keep you going.

Japanese Roof Garden at the School of Oriental and African Studies:  If you want the perfect place to relax then head to this garden which was built during the 2001 Japan Celebrations at the college. The theme here is Forgiveness, and this is summed up by the Kanji character engraved on the granite water basin in the garden.

Postman’s Park: This park is home to The Watts Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice. It was built in 1900 by George Frederick Watts and celebrates the heroism of individuals who gave their lives to save others. The park acquired its name because it used to be the place where workers from the old General Post Office ate their lunch.

Guide To London Food

Street Food

Shoreditch is a great place to experience a wide array of street food. It holds many food festivals and markets, most notably the Urban Food Fest which happens every Saturday. This includes many street food stalls plus a changing selection of craft beers, wines, and even cocktails.

Another street food destination is Borough Market and this offers both food which is ready to eat straight away plus fresh produce. A foodies dream to find everything under one roof. In fact, there are many amazing spots dotted all around London, so wherever you are, there shouldn’t be one too far away from you.

Restaurants

There are so many restaurants to choose from in London that before you head out, it’s best to narrow your search down by deciding what kind of food you are in the mood for.

If you are craving ice-cream, then Chin Chin Labs in Camden take this sweet treat to a whole other level through the application of liquid nitrogen.

A trip to London wouldn’t be complete without that traditional trip to the pie and mash shop. You can even try the local delicacy jellied eels, but be warned it isn’t for the faint-hearted.

One of the latest trends in London restaurants has been the upsurge in venues that are tucked away and offer seclusion. Back in 5 Minutes, Freud, Four O Nine, and Old Tom and English all make it on to this list but remember most will need early reservation.

Where to Stay in London

Planning Using Our Guide To London

You will get the most out of any trip to London if you do some planning before you arrive. That way you can group together all the places you want to visit and waste less time on the Underground or in the back of cabs.

There are many guides covering numerous sectors specialized in what you want to do. London with Kids, London on a budget, London last minute, Southbank London, or London with teens are a few. 

Your friends and family can sometimes be the best people to advise you on what you will like so don’t be afraid to ask around in person and on social media to capture a wider network.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that there is so much to see and do in London that it’s unlikely you will get to visit everywhere, regardless of how long your stay is. So choose wisely and above all pace yourself so you intersperse sight-seeing with plenty of rest and relaxation in the pub or in the beautiful open spaces around London.  This guide to London is a great place to begin planning your itinerary.

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Get Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).

Book Flights

I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! Another option for finding deals is FlightHub.

Book a Place to Stay

I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.

If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.

Choose Activities and Tours

To find great activities in any area I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass, PogoPass, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.

When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.

Rent a Car or Get a Lyft

More often than not, Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Hertz or Discover Cars.

Save Money on Gas

Upside a free app gets you cash back on gas! Use promo code RV2Q2 to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus on your first purchase.

Get a Visa

I use iVisa to get all of my Visas.

Travel Printables

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The post London Guide for a First-Time Visitor appeared first on Mommy Travels.

A normal person would’ve probably said to themselves “Now would be probably be a great time to grab a room at the airport hotel. Catch up on sleep and the insane amount of emails I’ve been neglecting while spending a week and a half in Greece”.

But, as they say, curiosity killed the cat.

I wanted to see London and a severe lack of sleep coupled with a complete lack of knowledge of how I was going to accomplish this wasn’t going to stop me.

Meagan, my sister/travel guru, says her traveling philosophy is just to wing it. We definitely winged it in Greece and she taught me well. Aside from that, I’ll talk to anyone about anything… Including asking strangers in a foreign country where I am and then demand they tell me exactly how to get where I want to go. It’s not a perfect system, but it works for me.

Take a Night Tour

I arrived at the London Heathrow airport at 9 PM. My friend, Jordan, was kind enough to research night tours of London while I was mid-flight. The company is called See London By Night. Perfect! That’s exactly what I wanted to do!

The problem was that the last tour of the night began at 10:15 PM. I checked Uber and it would’ve been a 45 minute drive (not to mention expensive) to get to Green Park, where the tour began. After customs and waiting for my bag, I knew there would be no way I would make it. But, I still had hope.

Luckily it was late, so I breezed right through customs. Around 9:15 PM I stood by the baggage claim and it came to grinding halt! Dang it! I was on a mission! I decided to ditch the bag since I knew they would lock it up for safekeeping if it went unclaimed anyway. I didn’t want to chance an Uber and be late so I found the Heathrow train station! I bought a round trip ticket into Paddington Station, which is close to the heart of London. The train even had free wifi, which is clutch for international travel. The journey to London by train only took 15 minutes! While I was on the train I met some nice locals and persuaded them to say things like “cheerio” and “ello govna”. They laughingly played along.

Once I arrived, I got off the train and began to panic. What in the world was I doing? I’m alone in London with no idea what was going on. It was now 9:45 PM and I had to get to Green Park. I was scared, but soldiered on. I wandered over to a Hilton and scored free wifi after a quick explanation of my mission! Thank goodness for technology, am I right? Anyway, that made it possible for me to grab an Uber over to Green Park! The tour departure area was right in Piccadilly, which I guess is a London hot spot. I made my way over and bought my ticket!

I’ll spare the details of the tour because there are a million other articles describing what to see in London. But I will say that I think anyone visiting should see the city by night. The lights and the energy were whimsical. That’s right… I said whimsical. That’s how lovely it was.

After the tour I grabbed an Uber back to the train station and made my way back to the airport. It was now the middle of the night. I made my way back to the baggage claim and grabbed my bag, relieved to see that it was still there. Now with lots of time and energy to kill, I wanted to find something to do. There were people sleeping all over the airport in the departure check in area. Unfortunately, I was not blessed with the ability to sleep in public or even public transportation. It was also too early to check in and head through security to the restaurants and shops in the airport. I finally got tired enough to sleep. I stretched out on a row of seats and covered myself with a beach towel my sister bought for me in Santorini, Greece. I set my alarm to go off when it was time to check in. It was only 30 minutes, but a power nap did me well!

I checked in for my flight and headed through security. It was around 5 or 5:30 in the morning. Once I got through security and up to the gates it’s like I had entered a whole new world. Really, the London airport is nicer than most towns I’ve visited. I was exhausted and wanted to sleep. I saw signs for bedrooms in the airport. BEDROOMS! I was all over that… I followed the signs and they led me to a swanky lounge right there in the airport called No1 Lounge. I later found out that these lounges are located in different airports around the world. I unfortunately could not afford to use a bedroom lounge. The lounges and bedrooms are very affordable but alas, I was very poor after my big trip to Greece so I had to decline.

While I was waiting to ask, I met a nice family with two small children that I played and goofed around with. Once I found out I couldn’t afford the lounge I started to make my way out. The father of the nice family came running after me. They had a guest pass and offered it to me! I wouldn’t have a bedroom but I could access all other areas. I was floored at his random act of kindness! I happily accepted his offer!

The lounge is much nicer than most restaurants and bars I’ve been to. I ordered eggs Benedict and a mimosa from the friendly waiter who greeted me and helped myself to the coffee, croissants, and the fruit they put out for guests to enjoy. I sat there taking SnapChats and feeling fancy. I read a newspaper and a magazine and wondered how I’d gotten so lucky.

Then something random happened. A pipe burst and water started pouring out of the lights in the ceiling!

Needless to say, we were all asked to leave the lounge. It was a bummer, but I got a good two hours in to enjoy myself. While we were leaving I might have accidentally grabbed three ginger flavored beers out of the complimentary cooler. Classy, I know.

So there I was left to wander around the airport some more. A mild case of ADD prevents me from just sitting and waiting. I must always be doing something. I spotted a very good looking gentleman sitting close by and thought about offering him a beer. Too bad it was like 8 in the morning. So instead I wandered over to the Mac makeup studio right there in the airport. I ran out of foundation so I figured I would go play with some makeup to kill the last hour before I could board my plane. A very nice girl helped me color match my skin and pick out a new foundation. I put the rest of the foundation on and “looked” at more makeup… Basically, I used a bunch of samples to make myself look halfway decent. After awhile the girls working at Mac got into it and gave me a makeover! Score!

When I was finished at Mac I spotted a crying baby wandering around by himself! Hundreds of people were walking past him and no parent in sight! Nobody even seemed to notice. I walked over to the baby and tried to comfort him and luckily security happened to be nearby. His mother came up and grabbed him a few minutes later without saying a word to anyone. What the? Whatever. He was now back with his mom and safe so I guess that is all that matters. How frustrating that, with hundreds of people around, nobody bothered with this poor baby.

It was time to head to my gate! I wandered over and checked in since I was flying standby. Luckily for me, I was upgraded to first class! Score again! I sat to wait for boarding and drank half a ginger beer. Finally, boarding began and I was greeted in first class with a glass of champagne. Back to New York!

Morals of the story: Don’t be afraid to be spontaneous, be nice to strangers, and don’t ignore babies wandering around alone in airports!

The post 12 Hours In London appeared first on Mommy Travels.

One of my dear friends Sally is from England and she goes back off and on with her kids. She was kind enough to write this for Mommy Travels.

Traveling with Teens in London

Recently our family has arrived in the land of the teenager. The eye roll, the totally unimpressed stare and the lack of interest in anything but computer games. Spending hours at the beach making sand castles or family hikes up local waterfalls no longer cut it without an I-pod sealed into the ear canal. They have been there done that. It was with this scene in mind that I recently set off on a trip to England with my opinionated fourteen year old son.

Being a British citizen living in America for 17 years, one of my main desires for my kids is that they know and love my homeland England. As I contemplated a trip back home for my Dad’s 70th birthday party, I decided I would take my fourteen year old son. The week, as always, would be filled with family visits “haven’t-you-grown” and “last time I saw you were six”. I knew I would have to do something to sweeten the pot. I did, and this is how our trip turned out to be a huge success.

First, I asked him what he wanted to do, then added a little of what I wanted to do. The plan was a day in London that was all about him. Keep in mind this is his fifth trip to England (yes, spoiled I know). The usual candidates, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, open top bus tour were not on the schedule. This time the emphasis was Harry Potter, Doctor Who, souvenirs, British Museum and a bit of culture thrown in by Mum.

King’s Cross Station

So our day began with a train trip to King’s Cross station. You haven’t really been to England if you haven’t experienced the hectic but very efficient public transportation system. King’s Cross Station is the location of Platform 9 ¾. The famous platform where Harry Potter and his cohorts catch the Hogwarts Express and the real adventure began. We set off for Platforms 9 and 10 and what we found was that it was necessary to pay to get on to those platforms. You actually had to be going somewhere and planning to use the train! Can you imagine? DON’T DO THAT, because what you are actually looking for is a little to your right. It’s a photo opportunity and nothing more. A brick wall has been set up with a luggage trolley embedded into it. There was a short line and a small fee to get your picture taken entering the magical platform. My 14-year-old claimed it was lame and refused to line up. However, other people, perhaps bigger Harry Potter fans, clearly thought it was worth it. There is also a Harry Potter souvenir shop there. It was well stocked with all things Harry Potter, but it’s small and won’t take you long to navigate. The whole King’s Cross experience won’t take you longer that 20 minutes.

From there, it is easy to get around on London’s underground transportation system (from now on referred to as the tube). There is a huge information desk and maps in the middle of the station. What you want is an all-day travel pass for zone 1. If you’re sightseeing in London you will probably never leave Zone 1. The cost is about $6 for adults and $4 for children. Get yourself a tube map you will need to refer to it constantly. The tube map is easy to figure out really. Each tube line is assigned a different color. You find where you want to go, figure out what that line is called for example “the Piccadilly Line” or the “Central Line” or just the color of the line and follow the signs. Step two is to figure out which direction you need to go on a line. You can do that in two ways. You can figure out if its Northbound, Southbound, Westbound or Eastbound, or you can trace your finger to the end of the line and remember the name of the last station.

Okay, now I realize I may have misled you a little. This was the location of the first eye roll and “so embarrassing” quote. At first I wasn’t sure of the correct ticket zoning for what I wanted to do. My son was SO EMBARRASED that I asked for help and SO EMBARRASED that I was carrying a map, as it “made us look like tourists.” My thoughts on that.

The information people are super helpful and you could easily spend more than you need to, buying a ticket for all zones. Ask for help it’s their job.

Everyone on the tube is carrying a tube map. We ARE tourists after all.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Next stop for us is St. Paul’s Cathedral. Requested by my son who has some interest in architecture. So, at King’s Cross Station take the light blue line Southbound to Oxford Circus. Then the Red Line Eastbound to St. Paul’s. As you come out of the tube station St. Paul’s Cathedral is behind the station. My son just wanted to see the outside and it was, in fact, one of the few things he took pictures of. There is the option to go inside and look around with a guided tour. It costs $25 a person.

Right across from St. Paul’s was one of many, many, similar touristy shops. They are everywhere. They are fun and cheap and just the place for teenagers to get cool stuff for their friends back home. Many items such as pens, pencils, t-shirts, sweatshirts and bags with union jacks, tube maps and old red telephone boxes on them are available and deemed “cool”. My son spent about $15 and came away with several little statues o Tower Bridge, Buckingham Place, and Tower of London. He also acquired some Union Jack Pencils and a t-shirt. This is also a great place to get the most popular soccer team uniforms at cheap prices. They aren’t quite the real deal, but for $30 less than the authentic item price, picking up one for my younger son was a must.

Piccadilly Circus

From St. Paul’s we got back on the tube and made our way to Piccadilly Cirus, back on the tube eastbound two stops on the red line to Holborn station, then change to the dark blue line to go Eastbound to Piccadilly Circus. Piccadilly Circus is a bustling crossroads of streets with lots going on and a treat for teens and parents alike.

There is a frenzy of hustle and bustle here. What we were looking for was a bite to eat since walking and working our way through London can drain your energy quickly. There is every choice of fast food imaginable, just stepping out of the tube station, we saw KFC, Burger King and Fish and Chips. I’m not proud to say we ate fast food but when you have a teenager in London suddenly it becomes a great option. Every price point and every taste can be accommodated at Piccadilly Circus. This is a must stop.

Since we were totally on foot and public transportation, it was important to the success of the day that my son ate well and liked what he ate. It is expensive to eat in London. At least with fast food we know what we were getting for our money and that he would actually eat it. It was here that we stumbled across the M and M shop. Anything you could possibly want with M and M’s on it? M and M pajama pants? Whatever. I guess someone wants them. Not the reason we came all this way.

Forbidden Planet

After the visual bombardment of Piccadilly Circus, and a little lunch, we went back to Holborn tube and with the help of my trusty A to Z map, walked to the Forbidden Planet. Forbidden Planet is the best sci-fi shop in England with everything sci- fi you could possibly ask for. My son is a huge Dr. Who fan and he was very pleased to spend an hour there looking at posters, t-shirts and miscellaneous objects relating to any sci-fi series you can think of. (Note: you can buy all this stuff online and in America now where you don’t have to pay British prices but it seems that it meant SO MUCH more when it was actually bought in England). Teens will love this place and the hordes of young teens present in the store confirmed this.

The British Museum

A short walk from Forbidden Planet is the British Museum. An amazing building jam-packed with artifacts that the British “acquired” during their conquests (see “A Night at the Museum 3” which is set in the museum). From Egyptian mummies, to Spartan helmets to the Rosetta Stone, we spent three hours there. I loved the clock room. A room full to the brim with clocks invented and designed since the beginning of time itself. This museum like all the big London Museums is free and terrific. The museum closes at 5 pm so give yourself enough time.

Covent Garden

At 5 pm we walked the few blocks to Covent Garden, an area alive with street performers and every option of places to eat from around the world. We chose Gyros from Turkey. Keep in mind we have now been walking around and exploring for close to seven hours. A long day in London for anyone. We weren’t done yet. Covent Garden is the location of several great theaters and the plays they put on are amazing and are on par with the best of New York City. We had opted ahead of time to see “War Horse”.

Expensive at over $50 per ticket but well worth it. It was incredible and unless you have been to Broadway to see a show my guess is you have never seen anything like it. My son was gripped all the way through and claimed it was “the highlight of his trip”. No more eye rolls from my son. Eyelids firmly shut as we traveled home after the play. Awesome day, awesome memories.

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The post Traveling with Teens in London appeared first on Mommy Travels.