2 Nights in London

Sorry, but if you and /or your children don't sleep well on the plane, you will be miserable at the Tower of London. Maybe swap London Eye and Tower of London, but this all sounds too much for young children. Or skip Westminster Abbey. It's an important sight but will probably bore your children.

I agree with Cala. The Tower of London will probably be the most interesting of your stops for the kids, provided they're not sleep walking through it. The Shard will give you better views of the city than the London Eye.

The 2 Chairmen Pub is on the way from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Reservations taken for upstairs dining room, but downstairs is livelier.

You say you don't want to spend too much time at these sights. Do you already have tickets? Buckingham Palace State Rooms will take about 90 minutes without the gardens. Westminster Abbey audioguide, at a quick pace, is about 45 minutes without the Queen's Galleries or the cloisters.

How old are the kids? A fun day would be a double decker bus ride to Buckingham Palace, walk through St James Park arriving at Horse Guards Parade by 10:50am to see the Changing of the Kings Lifeguards, horses and helmets with plumes, what's not to love?

Then walk to Westminster Abbey. From there mosey over to Westminster Pier, passing by Palace of Westminster and hearing Big Ben chime. Take a boat to Tower Pier and visit the Tower of London with the Yeoman Warder tour.

You know your family, so do what works best for you. Enjoy London!

I highly doubt you can make tea at 1:15. That assumes your flight is on time, you clear immigration and get your luggage in record time, there is zero traffic between the airport and your hotel (it will take at least an hour, probably more on a Friday), the luggage drop is indeed "quick", and that you can get your family and littles navigated to the tube or bus (including purchasing tickets), and make your way to the Shard (which will take at least 30 minutes on the tube, with transfers). A cab will take just as long with traffic (and you might need two cabs, as per your other post you have 6 people correct?). I suggest booking a later time or find a different afternoon tea option closer to your hotel (search this forum for ideas).

Saturday is a very busy day at Westminster Abbey, I went on a London Walks tour on a Saturday late in June and it was wall to wall packed with people. I myself would not schedule any "must see" things on my arrival day and I'm an adult, but you know your family best.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I have arranged for our private transport to wait while we drop our bags at the hotel, and bring us to the Shard, so that should help a bit. I think that we'll select a later time for the tea, and switch Tower of London to Day 2 after lunch. After the tea, if we have any energy left we'll head to Westminster Abbey just to go inside and light a few candles and take a quick look around.

Vvece, I didn't realize you were 4 adults and 2 kids

Here's an idea. How about splitting up on Saturday morning? Everyone goes together to see the outside of Buckingham Palace, then walk together through St James Park with some of you splitting off to go to Westminster Abbey for an inside visit with the 10:30-11 time slot and 1 or 2 adults taking the kids to see the Changing of the King's Lifeguards and then everyone meeting up outside the Abbey to continue your day?

Also, I arrived at Terminal 3 last month on American Airlines. I stepped off the plane shortly after 10am and was checking into my hotel across from the Gloucester Road Underground Station at 11:30am. I took the Piccadilly Line from the airport.

On Westminster Abbey and kids, I respectfully disagree- our kids loved the Abbey when they were young, And I think the first time we took them there was when they were two or three years.old. They have visited many times since.

After the tea, if we have any energy left we'll head to Westminster
Abbey just to go inside and light a few candles and take a quick look
around.

The last ticket entry time at Westminster Abbey is 3:30 p.m. and I think you'll have a hard time getting there by then if you make your tea a later time. Also, you can't just wander in to light a candle and have a quick look around without a ticket. Even if you go to a service you're not really allowed to check out the rest of the place. If this is a "must see" for the adults, you may have to divide an conquer on Day 2.

The Grenadier is a nice pub in that part of London. Food is very good.

"Also, you can't just wander in to light a candle and have a quick look around without a ticket"

Actually you can do the first bit (enter for private prayer and light a candle in front of the icons). You just need to speak to the marshals at the West Door for admission, and you don't need a ticket.

But this has to be for genuine private prayer, and not to have a look around.