London is Calling With This Family-Friendly Travel Itinerary

Kids of all ages will love this trip to see where all eight "Harry Potter" movies were filmed. Young kids will enjoy the spectacle of the giant sets, like the candle-adorned Great Hall or the lightly creepy Magical Forest. Older kids with an interest in movie-making will adore the creature shops, props and costumes. Everyone will love the immersive feeling of being in Harry’s world.

For kids who like a bloody good tale, the Tower of London has plenty within its storied walls. The castle, prison and execution site is where kings and queens lived and sometimes met their end. A tour by a friendly Beefeater guard will give you all the dirty details, in the spirit of a spooky bedtime story. If that’s too much, just roam around and take in the Crown Jewels and armory. See if you can spot all the animal sculptures – a nod to when the Tower used to be a royal zoo.

There are loads of kid-friendly teas around the city and you really can’t go wrong, but an especially fun and delicious tea is the Jurassic Tea at the Ampersand Hotel. In addition to the usual assortment of savory sandwiches, buttery scones and sweet pastries are fun special effects (like billowing smoke) as well as non-alcoholic cocktails (and alcoholic for Mom and Dad). Also, be on the lookout for a Peter Pan Tea, a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tea and an Afternoon Tea Bus Tour.

Fans of the green ogre will love this immersive walk-through adventure. Expect to see all the classic "Shrek" characters like Fiona, Donkey and Toothless the Dragon while riding a magic bus, visiting the Swamp and casting spells at the Poison Apple Pub.

The view from the top of the London Eye, London’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel (AKA a humongous ferris wheel) can’t be beat. Not only do you soar up over the London skyline, but you do it in ride format. Have an amazing game of "I Spy" over 400 feet in the air. Go later in the evening or purchase fast-track tickets for the shortest wait times.

The attractions at this museum are on a large scale. There’s Dippy, a replica of a Diplodocus carnegii skeleton, Sophie the Stegosaurus and Titanosaur (Patagotitan mayorum), one of the largest creatures to have ever walked the Earth. There are also moon rocks, a 9,000-carat gem, and the cross-section of a giant sequoia tree. These items may make you feel tiny, but just seeing them makes little brains grow bigger.

The kids’ version of this popular tour bus has a narration track customized for the younger set. The route includes Big Ben, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey and more top spots. Relax on the upper deck and see the sights on this perfect-length 45-minute tour.

This stage adaptation of the Roald Dahl book features Matilda, a magical little girl surrounded by awful adults. Once she realizes her potential, she leads her fellow students in a revolt. This musical is a great introduction to musical theater for ages six and up.