LittleBird: How to Do London with the Kids

Many parents worry about taking the kids to London, fearing the crowds, the expense and feeling unsure of what to do and see. However, there's nothing to be scared of, and London is in fact a fantastic day out or weekend destination for families.

London can be expensive, so make sure that you're well-armed with as many deals, vouchers and money saving coupons as possible. LittleBird is a fantastic daily deals website that offers family friendly deals in the Capital, so be sure to check there regularly for the deal of the day in the run up to your trip.

Other daily deals providers such as Groupon, KGB and Living Social all offer some fantastic London deals for families and children, so why not regularly check D3ALS.co.uk, which pulls together all of these deals to one easy to use website?

London accommodation can also be expensive, so keep an eye on destination deals websites such as Groupon Getaways for good deals on London accommodation. Alternatively, budget hotel chains such as Travelodge, Premier Inn and Holiday Inn offer family rooms at affordable prices, in some fantastic central London locations.

If travelling to London by train, a Family and Friends Railcard can save pots of cash on fares. At £28 for a year, a railcard can make its money back in just one family trip.

It's also worth bearing in mind that kids under the age of ten can travel for free at any time on the London underground, overground and on London buses and trams. Older children, between 11 and 15 years, can also travel for free on buses and trams and on the underground for a maximum of £1.30 per day, with an Oyster photocard.

On arrival to London, the first stop for any young Harry Potter fans should be Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross. From there, why not jump on the tube and head to the Natural History Museum? This vast, free to enter, museum is both fun and educational for adults and kids, and the famous Dinosaurs gallery shouldn't be missed.

Other great museums for kids in the city include the V&A Museum of Childhood, the Museum of London, the Science Museum, the Horniman Museum and HMS Belfast - all of which are free to enter.

On sunny days, London has some fantastic parks and open spaces to explore and enjoy, including the vast Hyde Park, Regent's Park and Richmond Park. Little pirates will love the Princess Diana playground in Kensington Gardens, or the fabulous, child designed eco-themed park in Somerford Grove.

Also, don't miss the fountains and lion statues at Trafalgar Square, or a stroll Thames side taking in some of London's most iconic landmarks including the magnificent London Eye, the Thames Bridge, the Tower of London, the OXO building, St Paul's Cathedral and more. Alternatively, save tired legs with a boat trip down the river - Littlebird recently ran a half price deal of the day on family tickets, so keep checking for similar deals.

While London offers fantastic shopping opportunities, trailing up and down Oxford Street may not sound so appealing to little city slickers. However, a trip to Hamley's toy store simply can't be missed - with seven floors of toys and treats for kids to wonder at. With plenty of interactive stalls and displays, this world class toy store can pass a happy hour.

Covent Garden is also a good shopping area to find sweet shops and toy shops, including Build a Bear, Benjamin Pollock's traditional toy shop, The Disney Store, Peter Rabbit and Friends and The TinTin Shop. Whatever character is your child's favourite, you're sure to find great toys and merchandise at Covent Garden.

London is full of family friendly places to eat to suit all budgets. Treat the kids to a blow out meal at Planet Hollywood on Leicester Square, or grab some tasty street food for a cheap eat. Whatever type of food is your family's favourite, you'll find it in London.

It's a shame to visit London without making the most of the fantastic theatre scene in the city. Big productions such as Matilda, Shrek and Wicked are a real treat, but there are many smaller theatre companies with more affordable shows to choose from.

The Little Angel Theatre Company is one such group, which recently offered discounted tickets to their production of Ugly Duckling on LittleBird. Check D3ALS.co.uk for similar offers for shows, attractions and more, to complement the free stuff, for trips to London that don't cost a Queen's ransom.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

The Article is written by Roxanne Wells at www.D3ALS.co.uk providing and aggregation of Daily Deals, Hotel Deals, Holiday Deals, Spa Deals including LittleBird.co.uk. Visit http://www.D3ALS.co.uk for more information on www.D3ALS.co.uk Products & Services. Copyright information. This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included. Visit www.D3ALS.co.uk before you shop.