City

London, UK

Red buses, royal parks, and a toddler who loved the Tube

Toddler score:9/10

Best from:12m+

London is one of the great family cities in the world — and it surprised us with how toddler-ready it is. Free world-class museums, enormous royal parks, double-decker buses that Edison treated as the main attraction, and a culture that genuinely welcomes children in restaurants and pubs alike. We'd go back in a heartbeat.

Getting there

Fly into Heathrow (LHR) or Gatwick (LGW). Heathrow has the best connections and the Elizabeth line now connects it to central London in 30 minutes. The journey with a toddler and luggage is manageable — lifts (elevators) are well-signposted. Book accommodation in South Kensington or Notting Hill for easy access to the best family attractions.

Free museums

London's free museums are among the best in the world. The Natural History Museum is the crown jewel for toddlers — the blue whale skeleton in the entrance hall alone is worth the trip. The Science Museum next door has a dedicated Under 5s play area. The Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green is a hidden gem. All free, all excellent, all very stroller-friendly.

Royal parks and playgrounds

Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, and Regent's Park all have excellent playgrounds and vast open spaces for running. The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens (themed around Peter Pan, with a wooden pirate ship) is one of the best playgrounds in Europe. St James's Park is perfect for feeding the pelicans and watching the Buckingham Palace guards.

Getting around

The Tube is efficient but has limited lift access — check the TfL accessibility map before planning your route. Buses are fully accessible and the top deck is Edison's favorite seat in London. Black cabs are spacious and accommodate strollers easily. The city is very walkable between major attractions in Zone 1.

Food and pubs

British pub culture is more family-friendly than Americans expect — most pubs welcome children until 9pm and have outdoor beer gardens perfect for toddlers. Sunday roast at a good pub is a London institution and toddler-friendly. Borough Market is excellent for a food-tour lunch. Edison's London obsession: a proper sausage roll from Greggs, eaten on the Tube platform.

Edison's pro tip

Sit on the top deck of a double-decker bus for any journey — it's free entertainment for a toddler and gives you a great view of the city. And the Natural History Museum is genuinely one of the best toddler destinations on earth.