Best Itinerary for 3 Days in London with kids in June 2025?

You mean you'll be doing a lot of walking! Definitely do the Tower of London! See a play/musical in London's west end.

You are not alone - I have been to London a number of times, and I plan to return, yet I struggle to decide on what to do each trip!

Some suggestions - Tower of London, a west-end play, walk around Westminster Abbey-Buckingham Palace-Trafalgar square, a museum or two, at least one park, a market, either the London Eye or Skygarden for views of London....I think this is possibly the "top" ones, but I don't believe in must-dos....

You will be there when the days are long, so strolling in the parks or walking around can be done in the evenings. Also walks along the Thames Path. I like the Notting Hill area for shopping/eating. Have you asked your kids what they want to do? Any special interests? There are a lot of Harry Potter related sites.

Have a wonderful trip!

Begin with the mindset that you will be back. The Tower of London will be crowded in June, so arrive as soon as it opens. When you're finished catch a Thames boat to Westminster (or maybe Greenwich if your family likes boats or science - the observatory was a hit with my boys). On second thought you could spend a full day in Greenwich.

If you haven't already, get a guidebook and read the descriptions of everything that appeals to you. Then get a map and some sticky notes to see which of your favorites are near each other. Or use the smartphone app and website Wanderlog to group them for you.

It can be hard to search this forum, but these posts may be helpful:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/3-full-days-in-london-with-teens

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/itinerary-suggestions-10-nights-in-england-w-teens-london-and

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/london-with-9-and-12-year-olds-activity-suggestions-and-what-needs-to-be-booked-ahead

Have a great trip,

Marty

Yes to the Tower. We cut out of the beef eafers tour towards the end when it went into the chapel. My kids were done by then. St..Pauls.and climbing up to the whispering gallery they loved it. Be sure to see the chapel in the back dedicated to our servicemen who fought and died in WWII after being stationed in England. Enjoy trip with the children.

What we did that the kids really enjoyed: In addition to the Tower, rib boat ride on the Thames, London’s huge Lego store, the boys did the War museum. We did a black cab tour, family tour of Globe Theater and the Lion King play. There’s a whole variety of kid themed afternoon teas, Natural History Museum had dinosaurs and a great hands on geology exhibit. Non-stop fun!

Definitely see a show. Matilda, The Play That Goes Wrong, Six and Operation Mincemeat are all great family options.

The London Eye is iconic and I think worth doing. You can combine it with a really nice walk along the South Bank as far as Tate Modern (free and kids like it) then over the Millenium Bridge to St Paul’s.

Greenwich is a good day and you can take the boat at least one way. A lot of open space to get away from the crowds of central London.

The Science Museum is probably of most interest to your age group and it’s less busy than the Natural History Museum which gets mental.

Do your kids have anything on their wish list?

English schoolchildren are not on summer holiday in June, so I'd aim to do the attractions that most attract kids on weekdays (although you may get several school parties visiting), although they tend to be leaving around 2.30pm.

The science museum and Natural History museum are pretty much next door to each other (and free) and I would try to go into both, if only to look at the dinosaurs in the NHM. The 'Wonderlab' in the Science museum is charged for but probably worth the cost as it is the most 'hands on' part of the museum. It does get full, so maybe a good idea to book in advance.

Both museums are very easy to get to - Undergound (subway) to South Kensington and then through the tunnels to the museum entrances.

A few additional suggestions from our time in London:

-most of the London museums are free, so pick a section and spend just an hour or so. Many of them have free docent tours on highlights or specific topics which are also very good. Best for that are V&A, Natural History or the British Museum. Find those on their websites.

-the online magazine Time Out www.timeout.com/london is great for what's on currently whether theater, special events or exhibits.

-we usually planned each day based on "3" - 1. a big site (like Tower of London), 2. a shop (like a specialty shop for cooking or whatever your interests are) and 3. an experience (like a guided or self guided walking tour, theater or a special meal). The rest of the time is for more spontaneous, either in the moment or something we realized one day that we would like to do on another day.

Enjoy the planning!

Hi! Your lucky kids - London is such fun!

I am going to cut against the grain and note that the London Eye is expensive and might not be a good use of your time on such a short visit. You can see drone shots of the city if you want to - but spending a few hours waiting in line to stare out at a view doesn’t seem productive to me. You could be down there in the city you are admiring from on high, actually doing something! :-)

Lots of kids like the London Transport Museum, and it’s in Covent Garden, which is itself fun for kids, with plenty of cool stores, both of the toy variety and the fun-for-older-teens variety. The street performers are also wonderful and of very high quality. Their performances are always thronged with kids.

Yes!!!! to the Tower of London, and walking over Tower Bridge. I’d call the Tower a “must see.” It’s astonishing!!!

If your children like horses, I suggest a visit to Horseguards. The changing of the King’s Life Guard happens every day (at 11:00am - but double check me) and is so much fun! Lots of color and pagentry - gorgeous horses - and fewer people to jostle against than at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. This suggestion fits firmly into the category of “very cool touristy stuff,” but is a touch more “Europe Through the Back Door” than other major sites.

Dunno how you might react to this, but kids are welcome at pubs, so maybe a pub lunch near Paddington after exploring Little Venice? Little Venice is pretty magical and kids would like it. I’d recommend the Prince Alfred in Maida Vale, a couple minutes walk from the canal. It is a perfectly preserved Victorian pub with tiny little interior doors that you have to crouch to get through. It might seem quaint and amazing to your kids - it would have to me at those ages. And you can get a nice pub lunch! So, two birds.

Another classic tourist thing that I always highly recommend is a tour of The Globe Theater. Or catch a show there! Groundlings tickets are dirt cheap and it is sooooo much fun. Productions are world class, too.

Borough Market is close - you could have a wonderful street food lunch before catching a matinee at The Globe. Both Borough Market and The Globe are top tier sites, IMHO.

Another theater suggestion: Hamilton. Great for kids.

Well, I could obviously go on, but I will stop. You have definitely come to the right forum for amazing ideas! Have a blast!

Parliament Square ( Parliament Bldg , Elizabeth’s Tower with the Big Ben bell which chimes on the hour) then walk down the Crown Passage to the small Red Lion Pub. If Parliament is in session you may find Parliament members enjoying a pint and discussing matters of interest.

Or after seeing Parliament Square follow Birdcage Walk towards the Palace and take the Cockpit Steps down to the Two Chairman Pub. Believe they still serve food. Can then walk up Queensgate which is has been filmed due to the architecture.

Or from Parliament Square follow Birdcage Walk up to the Palace. If before 10 or 11 am you can stop at the corner of Spur Road and watch the Horseguards ride to the Palace for the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

Or from Parliament Square walk up Whitehall towards the National Gallery. If you walk on the left side of the road you’ll pass the gated road leading to number 10 Downing Street.

Once at the National Gallery and taken countless pics of the Lions and looking Back down Whitehall cross the road and have a meal inside Cafe In The Crypt inside St Martins in The Fields Church.

Once at Leicester Square Definitely check out ( on your phone or in person) the 1/2 price ticket booth.

From the Cafe in the Crypt walk outside and over to the London Transport Museum or simply walk along the Thames River path.

If your kids are interested in history, the Churchill War rooms. My young teenage boys got alot out of the visit.

Borough Market -- it is a mad house, but fun and lively and filled with all kinds of delicious treats.

Have tea somewhere. Yes, it is touristy, but there are lots of fun, kid-themed teas that are informal.

Victoria and Albert -- there is something to interest every one.

When I’ve been to the London Eye I’ve always booked ahead and never had to wait very long. Definitely not hours.

Helen - good point about booking a time for the Eye! :-)