London and England with kids
London With a Baby or Toddler: How I’d Plan the Days
Yes, London works with a baby or toddler. Plan one big thing each morning, then a nap or a park in the afternoon, and lean on buses and the Elizabeth line, since not every Tube station is step free. Kids under 5 ride free on all TfL services with a paying adult, but even a baby needs the £20 UK ETA.
London is a really good city for little ones.
Huge parks. Buses everywhere. Ducks to feed and playgrounds around every corner.
The trick is the shape of the day. A toddler gives you a great morning and a short fuse after lunch, so I build every London day around that.
If this is your first trip abroad with a baby, start with the London with kids plan and come back here for the stroller part.
A day that works
A London day with a napper
- 1Morning
One big thing
The Natural History Museum, the Changing of the Guard or the Tower. Go early, while everyone is fresh and the lines are short.
- 2Late morning
Lunch close by
Eat near the morning stop. Crossing the city at lunchtime with a hungry toddler is how a good day turns.
- 3Early afternoon
Nap
A stroller nap on a long walk through a park, or back to the room. Pick your hotel so this one is easy.
- 4Afternoon
The park
Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, St James’s Park. Let them run, feed the ducks, find a playground.
- 5Evening
Early dinner
Eat early and walk home. London is lovely in the evening and you’ll all sleep better.
Where the little ones are happy
Parks, buses and room to run
Kensington Gardens
Picnic, run, nap in the stroller. This is where I’d spend most afternoons.
The red bus
Street level, no stairs to a platform, and the kids get to watch London go by.
Near a park
A base by a big park makes the nap and the afternoon so much easier.
With a stroller
Tube, bus or Elizabeth line?
Not every Tube station is step free. Plan the route before you go, not on the platform.
| How | With a stroller | My tip |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Easiest. You stay at street level. | My first pick for short hops with a baby. |
| Elizabeth line | Most stations list step free access to all platforms. | Plan around it, and it runs from Heathrow. |
| Tube | Some stations are stairs only. Lifts can be out of service. | Use TfL’s step free planner and check lifts that morning. |
| Ticket gates | The wide gate at the end fits a stroller. | Skip rush hour, it’s packed. |
| Escalators | Fold the stroller first. | Carry the little one, or use the lift. |
| Walking | Easy in the parks and along the river. | Kensington down to Chelsea is a great stroller walk. |
Before you book
The baby and toddler checklist
- A UK ETA for every passport in the family, baby included
- Passports first. Here’s how long a child’s takes
- A travel stroller that folds with one hand
- A carrier for stairs and crowds
- The crib requested in writing
- A room near a park and a step free station
- Contactless card or Oyster for each adult
- The nap planned into every day
“The walk from Kensington down to Chelsea is one of my favorite London afternoons. With a toddler I’d do it with the stroller, a stop in the park and no plan past that.”
Nicole Damiano, ASTA Verified Travel Advisor with FG Luxury Travel and FTA Certified Family Travel Advisor. Former social studies teacher, mom of three.
Read next
More for London with kids
Tell me who’s coming.
Ages, nap times, how you like to travel. I’ll sort the base, the routes and the order it all goes in.
Quick answers
Is London easy with little kids?
Yes. The parks are huge, the buses are easy with a stroller and there are playgrounds all over the city. Plan one big thing a day and let the afternoon be the park.
Does a baby need a UK ETA to visit London?
Yes. The UK government says each person traveling needs an ETA, babies and children included. It costs £20 and you can apply for your kids yourself.
Do toddlers pay on the London Underground?
No. Kids under 5 travel free at any time on all TfL services, as long as they’re with an adult who has a valid ticket or a contactless card. Kids under 11 also ride free with a paying adult.
Can you take a stroller on the London Underground?
Yes, but not every station is step free. Plan the route with TfL’s step free journey planner, check for lifts that are out of service, use the wide gate at the end of the ticket line and fold the stroller on escalators.
Is the Elizabeth line step free?
Most Elizabeth line stations list step free access to all platforms, with a few exceptions. It’s the line I plan around with a stroller, and it runs from Heathrow into central London.
Where should you stay in London with a toddler?
Near a big park and a step free station, in a room or apartment with a lift. Ask for the crib in writing when you book. Here’s where I’d stay in London with kids.
How many days in London with a baby?
Four or five days in one base. Every hotel change costs you half a day with a little one. My 5 day London itinerary works with a stroller if you keep the afternoons light.
When is the best time to visit London with a toddler?
Late spring and early fall are what I’d pick, with long enough days for the parks and fewer crowds than August. Here’s when to go on a US school calendar.
Keep planning: London and England with kids, your first international trip with kids and kids’ passports.
Nicole Damiano, ASTA Verified Travel Advisor with FG Luxury Travel. Adventures We Seek is my travel blog and planning resource. Trips are booked through Favorite Grampy Travels. Fares and entry rules last checked October 2026 and change often.
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