I think London is one of the best cities in the world for kids. We have been a number of times over the years and are always looking for fun things to do. On our summer visit this year we decided to go to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter tour as Ava had just finished all the books and we also planned a trip to to Kidzania as I had just discovered it online and it looked amazing. We also did a lot of hanging out on the Southbank. Here’s how our trip went……
Warner Brothers Studio Tour (Harry Potter)
With the Harry Potter Studio Tour you get a behind the scenes look at how the movies were made. All 8 movies were made in this studio over 10 years. You can see all of the sets, costumes and props from all of the movies. You can walk through the Great Hall at Hogwarts and stroll down Diagon Alley, visit Privet Drive and see Dumbledore’s office.
Verdict : The tour is a great day out and Harry Potter fans will absolutely love it, well worth a visit.
Getting there:The studio is just outside Watford. If you are taking public transport from London you take an over ground train from Euston to Watford Junction. From there, there is a shuttle bus that will take you to the studio.
The cost A standard adult ticket is £41 sterling and a child £33 sterling.
Top tips Get there early because the crowd builds throughout the day. Be prepared for the high prices in the gift shop and I can confirm that they are high high high!!!
Kidzania
Kidzania is an indoor city run by kids. Kids get to choose real life activities/jobs within a 4 hour time period. The activities range from pilot, doctor, firefighter, fashion designer and burger maker to police officer, newsreader, dancer and dentist. For most activities you earn Kidzos (the Kidzania currency) and for some activities you must pay Kidzos. You can spend whatever Kidzos you have left at the end in the gift ( but be warned, 90 Kidzos which you might earn from about 10 activities will only get you something very small in the giftshop such as a key ring) If you intend to return you can lodge your Kidzos in the ‘bank’ and withdraw when you return again.
Verdict: Ava absolutely loved Kidzania. It is a really fun interactive experience for kids and they feel independent as they get to choose their ‘jobs’ and no adults are allowed inside the ‘job’ area (but don’t worry you can look in the window!) I think that it’s good value for money and in a really acessible location . You could go there in the morning and spend the rest of the day shopping in Westfield. Highly recommend it .
Getting there Kidzania is located within Westfield Shopping Centre. Get the tube to Sheperd’s Bush and its just a minute walk around the corner to enter the shopping centre. It is on the first floor in between Gap and M&S.
The cost A standard kid tickets (which allows for 4 hours entry) will cost £37 sterling and an adult £17 sterling. Ticket prices differ slightly depending on time slot and day.
Top tips: Get there early! I had booked an early slot on a weekday and it meant we had our choice of the activities when we went in. The busier it gets the longer the queues at the different activities. Also it is worth noting that the Kidzania currency that the kids ‘’earn’ will not buy you much in the gift shop so it might be worth adjusting little ones expectations of what they might be able to buy at the end of their time there.
The Southbank
We stayed near the Southbank and I think it is one of the best places to stay in London with kids. We walked down to the Southbank every evening to eat, stroll and people watch. The skateboarders , the urban beach , food trucks, restaurants , outdoor and indoor bookshops, great kids friendly restaurants ( Giraffe, Wagamama, Wahaca ) the views, the London eye, street performers and the Tate Modern – the Southbank has it all!
What are you favourite things to do in London with kids?
Thanks for reading
Trish