London Adventures: Big Ben, Bigger Toy Stores, and Three Little Explorers

After finding our footing in Southampton, we were ready for the bright lights and big city energy of London. What followed was three days of iconic sights, themed restaurants, and a toy store that redefined our understanding of retail excess.

Moving Day: Southampton to London

Packing up our Southampton Airbnb was straightforward enough with just our roller suitcase and two travel backpacks. We had 2.5 hours to get out, finish the laundry, and catch our train to London.

When we couldn't get a large Uber, we split up. Lindsay took Lily and our bags to the station while I walked the half mile with Cora and Harper. The girls handled it like champs, though Cora kept insisting she was "on the beach" despite walking through Southampton's city center.

The train to London was packed. We ended up standing in the community car with our luggage, but the girls found the jump seats and made it work. Sometimes the best travel lessons come from adapting to situations you didn't plan for.

London Base Camp

Our London apartment was a huge improvement over uncertain accommodation. It had a kitchenette, separate bedrooms, and enough space for the girls to decompress after busy sightseeing days.

Lily was still campaigning for bunk beds wherever we stayed, but the ceiling fan became her new fascination. Harper immediately tested the beds by jumping on them like a monkey, which we took as a good sign about the space.

First Taste of London

Fish and chips felt like the obvious choice for our first proper London meal. We found a local spot where the girls could try traditional British food without too much pressure. Lily decided she wanted eggs instead, which wasn't exactly fish and chips, but the restaurant accommodated her request.

While we ate, we soaked in the reality of being in London with our family. After the uncertainty of those first few days on the road, sitting together in a London pub felt like a small victory.

Hyde Park and Tourist Territory

Our first full sightseeing day started at Hyde Park with Starbucks croissants and bird watching. The Princess Diana Memorial Playground was a hit - after days of structured travel, the girls needed space to just run around and be kids.

Getting stuck at the train turnstiles taught us about London's transport system the hard way. The staff helped us sort out the ticket situation, and we learned that buying children's tickets when they're clearly small enough to not need them just creates confusion.

Walking across Westminster Bridge to see Big Ben and Parliament was everything you'd expect from London tourism. Crowds everywhere, street performers, people selling balloons and roses. The girls were amazed by the iconic buildings but also overwhelmed by the sheer number of people.

We tried to get to Buckingham Palace, but the Jubilee preparations had everything blocked off with barricades. By the time we headed back to the hotel, Harper had fallen asleep on my shoulders and everyone was ready for a break.

Jungle Cave Adventures

For dinner, we went to the Jungle Cave, a themed restaurant complete with animatronic animals and sound effects. The food was exactly what you'd expect from a tourist restaurant, but the girls were fascinated by the mechanical gorillas and thunderstorm simulations.

These kinds of experiences aren't about fine dining - they're about creating memories and giving the kids something fun after a long day of walking around the city. Sometimes embracing the tourist trap is exactly what family travel needs.

Seven Floors of Toys

Hamley's toy store is legendary for good reason. Seven floors of toys, games, and demonstrations that had our girls questioning everything they thought they knew about shopping. We arrived close to closing time, which was probably a blessing for our sanity and our budget.

The Harry Potter section sent the girls into overdrive, and they got to meet "the Queen" (a Hamley's employee in costume), which they still talk about months later. By the time the store closed, everyone was simultaneously exhausted and exhilarated.

We waited ages for a cab outside, but eventually made it back to our area where the girls spotted a crepe stand. After a day of sensory overload, sitting together eating Nutella crepes felt like the perfect way to end the evening.

London Lessons

London taught us that city travel with kids works best when you plan one major activity per day and build in plenty of downtime. The girls needed space to process all the new sights and sounds without feeling rushed from attraction to attraction.

We also learned that mixing famous landmarks with regular kid activities like playgrounds and casual meals helps everyone enjoy the experience more. London proved we could handle big city travel as a family, which gave us confidence for the adventures ahead.

After several days in London, we felt ready for our next destination: Paris, where expensive train tickets and Disney magic would test our travel skills in new ways.

Want to see our complete London adventure? Check out our video series:

Ready to plan your own family adventure in London? Contact Lindsay at lindsay.clarkson@fora.travel for help creating unforgettable travel experiences for your family.