Are you planning a trip to London with kids and aren’t sure where to stay? Keep scrolling to check out my top 10 picks for the best family hotels in London!
This list of the best family-friendly hotels in London, England, was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
We walked into the Georgian House Hotel at 9pm with two exhausted kids, and the person at the front desk told us we had to go through a secret bookcase to get to our room. My youngest thought I was joking.
I wasn’t.
That’s the thing about London hotels. The descriptions online always sound reasonable. Then you show up with your family.
Suddenly you’re trying to decide if “cozy” means charming or claustrophobic. And whether “near Victoria Station” is a five-minute walk or a 20-minute trek with luggage.
I’ve stayed in London with my boys (6th and 3rd grade now) on three separate trips. We’ve made mistakes.
We’ve booked hotels that looked perfect online and turned out to be a 45-minute commute from everything.
We’ve stayed in places where the “family room” meant two beds pushed so close together that nobody slept.
But we’ve also found hotels that genuinely made traveling with kids without stress possible. Not perfect. Not Instagram-worthy every second.
Just… functional in ways that mattered when we were tired and jetlagged and someone needed a bathroom immediately.
These are the ones that worked.
What Actually Matters (That Hotel Websites Won’t Tell You)
Location sounds obvious until you’re there.
Our first London trip, we stayed somewhere that looked close to everything on the map. Except the Tube station was a 15-minute walk, and after a full day of sightseeing, that 15 minutes with tired kids felt like an hour.
Now I check: Can we walk to a Tube station in under 10 minutes? Are there restaurants within a couple blocks? Because sometimes you just need dinner without it being A Whole Thing.
Room size in London is… weird. American hotels trained me to expect space. London hotels laugh at that expectation.
A “family room” might mean four people can technically sleep there if nobody moves. Or it might be surprisingly spacious. You can’t tell from photos.
I’ve learned to look at the square footage if they list it, and read reviews from other families specifically about space.
The breakfast question matters more than I thought it would. Some hotels include it, some don’t, and both can work fine.
But what killed us once was booking a hotel with no breakfast, then spending our first morning in a jetlagged haze trying to find somewhere to eat with two hungry, cranky kids. Not our finest family moment.
Now I at least figure out the breakfast plan before we arrive.
And honestly? The thing that actually makes the biggest difference is whether the hotel “gets” families.
Do they have cribs available? Can they recommend kid-friendly restaurants nearby? Will someone help carry luggage up stairs?
It’s not about being fancy. It’s about whether the staff acts like families are a normal thing or an inconvenience.
Where We’ve Stayed (and What We Learned)
Victoria and Pimlico is where we stayed that first trip when my boys were younger.
I picked it because it was “close to Buckingham Palace” but really it’s just a nice residential neighborhood that happens to be near tourist stuff.
We could walk to the palace (about 15 minutes), Victoria Station was right there for getting around, and there were grocery stores where I could grab snacks and drinks. Not exciting, but practical.
The whole area felt way less crowded than Westminster, which mattered when we needed to just… breathe for a second.
Seven Dials is where I wish we’d stayed years ago. We finally booked there on our last trip specifically because we wanted to see Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre, and I found a hotel literally across the street.
Best decision ever.
The neighborhood feels like a little village – independent shops, cafes everywhere, Covent Garden is five minutes away.
It’s more expensive than Victoria, yes, but we saved money on transportation because we could walk everywhere. The boys loved exploring the little streets and discovering random chocolate shops.
South Bank is tourist central, but if this is your first London trip with kids and you want to be right next to the London Eye and all those big attractions, it makes sense.
We haven’t stayed there (we’ve visited from other neighborhoods), but multiple friends have and said it’s perfect for ticking off the major sites without constantly taking the Tube.
Just know you’re paying for that convenience and it’s going to be crowded.
The 7 Hotels That Actually Worked
Radisson Blu Hotel, London Mercer Street (Our Last Trip – Seven Dials)
Check current rates here on Expedia
I booked this hotel for one reason: Matilda the Musical. The Cambridge Theatre is literally across the street, and after years of hearing people rave about the show, I wanted to see it without the stress of getting two kids across London after a night show.
That decision accidentally led us to the best hotel location we’ve had in London.
You walk out the door and you’re in Seven Dials, which my 3rd grader described as “like if a fairy tale village and a city had a baby.”
There are seven streets that meet in a little junction with a sundial pillar in the middle.
We found coffee shops, bakeries, a chocolate shop that my kids made us visit three times, independent bookstores. It felt like a neighborhood, not just hotels for tourists.
The Matilda thing worked exactly as planned.
We walked to the theatre in three minutes, watched the show (which legitimately blew my mind. It’s the best thing I’ve seen in London, full stop), and walked back with two very tired but happy kids in under five minutes.
No hunting for taxis. No navigating the Tube with exhausted children. We were back in our room before other families had even found their ride.
The room wasn’t huge. London rooms never are. But it was well-designed in that way where everything has a place and you’re not constantly moving luggage to get to the bathroom.
Two double beds, enough floor space that we weren’t climbing over suitcases. The bathroom had one of those rain showerheads that actually worked (I’ve stayed in hotels where “rain shower” meant sad dribble).
My husband particularly appreciated that the water pressure was strong and the shower got properly hot.
One thing I didn’t expect: there’s a Peruvian-Italian restaurant downstairs called Monmouth Kitchen. We didn’t eat there (there are so many restaurants within walking distance), but we kept seeing other families coming back with takeout containers and everyone looked happy. They do breakfast too if you want to pay for it separately.
The hotel has a 24-hour gym. My husband used it a few times. I’m the early riser on vacation, not him.
Neither of us are big gym people, but he said it was surprisingly well equipped. It wasn’t just the bare minimum to call it a gym.
Location-wise for other stuff: Covent Garden is five minutes walking. Leicester Square is close. The British Museum is maybe 15 minutes if you walk at kid-pace.
We found ourselves just… walking everywhere from this hotel, which saved us so much time and energy compared to constantly taking the Tube.
If you want the theatre district and incredible walkability, and you’re okay paying a bit more for location, this hotel solved a lot of family travel logistics for us.
Georgian House Hotel (The One With the Secret Harry Potter Door)
Book your wizarding chamber here on Expedia
Okay so. My kids are Harry Potter obsessed. Like read-all-the-books-three-times obsessed.
So when I found out there was a hotel in London with Harry Potter-themed rooms that you access through a secret bookcase, I knew I had to book it. Even if it turned out to be cheesy.
It was not cheesy.
We checked in at the front desk like normal, and the person working asked if we were ready to find our room.
Then they walked us down this hallway lined with portraits and lit with actual candles (probably fake candles for fire safety but they looked real), while Harry Potter music played.
My youngest grabbed my hand because it was genuinely spooky in the best way.
Then we got to a bookshelf. A regular-looking bookshelf with books on it. The hotel person reached behind one of the books and pushed, and the entire bookshelf swung open like a door.
My 3rd grader’s face. I wish I’d taken a photo of his face in that moment.
The room itself was on the lower ground floor, which means it’s below street level. So there are no windows with sunlight streaming in. You’re basically in a basement.
But that completely added to the Hogwarts vibe. Four-poster bed with dark velvet curtains. Stone walls. Little details like potion bottles on shelves and an owl sitting on a perch (stuffed, unfortunately). There were Harry Potter books on a desk in the corner.
The room stayed cool even though the hotel doesn’t have air conditioning. They gave us a fan when we checked in, and we were fine.
It’s an old Victorian building, so no AC is just part of the deal. If you visit in peak summer and you’re someone who needs serious air conditioning, factor that in.
Practical stuff: They only have four of these Wizard Chambers, and they book way in advance. We booked ours eight months out.
I joined a waitlist at one point before we got confirmed dates, and they notified me when someone canceled. If your kids are Harry Potter fans, book as soon as you even think you might visit London.
Breakfast is included, which saved us probably £40-50 a day. They have a buffet with pastries, fruit, yogurt, cereals, plus you can order cooked food. My picky eater found scrambled eggs and toast and was happy.
They also have a special “wizard breakfast” menu if your kids want to lean into the theme.
The hotel is near Victoria Station, so getting around London was easy. We walked to Buckingham Palace in about 15 minutes. There are grocery stores and Pret a Mangers within a couple blocks when we needed quick food.
The biggest downside is stairs. This is a Victorian townhouse with no elevator. We were on the lower ground floor so we actually didn’t have to go up many stairs, but some rooms are three or four floors up.
The staff will help carry luggage, but if you have mobility issues or a stroller, ask specifically about ground-floor rooms when you book.
Would I stay here again? Absolutely. My kids still talk about the secret bookcase door. That alone was worth it.
London Marriott Hotel County Hall (The One Everyone Photographs)
See photos and current rates on Expedia
Full disclosure: We haven’t stayed here. But I’ve had three separate friends stay at this hotel with their kids, and they all came back with the same report: it’s expensive, it’s fancy, and their kids thought it was the coolest hotel ever.
The reason it’s on this list is simple: location and the pool.
This hotel sits right on the Thames. Like, you walk out and you’re looking at Big Ben across the river. The London Eye is next door. Westminster Bridge is right there.
One friend told me their 7-year-old stood at the window for 20 minutes just watching boats go by on the river, which in kid-years is basically forever.
The family rooms have two double beds, and according to multiple reports, they’re actually spacious. Not “spacious for London” where that means you can open your suitcase. Actually spacious.
Some rooms have balconies with river views, which costs more but apparently makes kids feel very fancy.
The pool is the thing everyone mentions. It’s 25 meters, indoors, and when you’re on day four of a London trip and it’s raining (it will rain), having a pool where kids can burn energy is huge.
One friend said it saved their vacation when their daughter was melting down and just needed to not look at another museum.
They have family packages sometimes that include breakfast. Worth checking because breakfast for four in London adds up fast.
If you book a premium room or have Marriott status, you get access to the M Club Lounge, which has snacks and drinks all day.
I’ve heard mixed things about whether it’s worth it for families. It depends if your kids will actually eat the snacks they have.
The big caveat: this is a historic building that’s been converted to a hotel. It’s huge. Some rooms are far from the elevators. Like, really far.
When you book, specifically ask for a room near the lifts if you have little kids or you’re hauling lots of luggage.
One friend ended up walking 200+ steps down hallways to get to their room, which got old fast with tired kids.
Price-wise, yeah, it’s expensive. But if you’re doing a special trip and you want a hotel that genuinely impresses kids and puts you right in the middle of everything, this is the one people remember.
Marlin Waterloo (The Budget-Friendly South Bank Option)
Check if they have space on Expedia
If you want South Bank but can’t afford the Marriott, this is the practical choice. Studios with kitchenettes, which means you can make breakfast and pack snacks instead of spending £50 every time someone’s hungry.
The rooms are basic. Clean, spacious for London, but nothing Instagram-worthy. Free breakfast is included (continental like pastries and cereal, not a full English).
About 10 minutes walking to the South Bank riverfront and the playground at Jubilee Gardens, which our kids loved.
This is the hotel where you’re paying for location and practical space, not fancy amenities. If that’s what you need, it works.
Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt (For Museum Days in Kensington)
We haven’t stayed here but it’s on my list for next time because of one thing: it’s housed in 19 Victorian townhouses that were converted into a hotel, and you’re walking distance to the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and V&A.
When we did museum day on our last trip, we stayed across town and by 2pm my kids were exhausted. Having a hotel where you can walk back for a break, then go back out later, would have changed everything.
The rooms have actual bathtubs (not common in London hotels), Gloucester Road station is close for getting elsewhere, and Kensington Gardens with the Diana Memorial Playground is nearby. Restaurants on-site for when you’re too tired to go out.
The Apartments by The Sloane Club (When You’re Staying More Than 4 Days)
Check apartment availability on Expedia
After about day four of a hotel room, someone in our family always hits a wall. Too many people in too small a space, living out of suitcases, eating out for every meal. An apartment fixes this.
These are 2-bedroom units in Victorian townhomes in Belgravia (fancy neighborhood). Full kitchens mean you can cook actual meals.
Washing machines mean you pack less and stop worrying about spills. Separate bedrooms mean parents get privacy and kids can go to bed while you stay up.
You’re near King’s Road for shopping and restaurants, three Tube stations are close, and they offer childcare services if you want an actual date night in London.
Not cheap, but when you split it per person and factor in saving money on food and laundry, it’s more reasonable than it looks.
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate (For Families of 5+ or Extended Family Trips)
Most London hotels max out at four people per room. If you have three kids, or grandparents are joining you, your options get limited. This hotel has 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom suites with full kitchens, washers/dryers, and actual living spaces.
You’re walking distance to Buckingham Palace (watching the Changing of the Guard doesn’t require planning). Five restaurants on-site plus 24-hour room service. Childcare available.
Expensive, yes. But when you’re sleeping 6+ people and splitting the cost, and you factor in the kitchen saving you money on meals, it becomes more reasonable than booking multiple hotel rooms.
If You Have More Than Two Kids
Yeah, London hotels make this complicated. Most rooms stop at four people. We have two kids so it’s manageable, but I have friends with three kids who’ve had to get creative.
Your options:
- Book two rooms (most families do this). Try to get connecting rooms or at least the same floor so kids aren’t wandering hotel hallways alone.
- Get an apartment like The Sloane Club or Taj 51 that actually sleeps more than four people.
- Some hotels have “family suites” that fit five. The Marriott County Hall has 2-bedroom suites if you’re willing to pay for them.
I wish I had better news here. London just wasn’t built for American-sized family rooms.
Booking Stuff Nobody Tells You Until It’s Too Late
Book direct or through Expedia? I check both every single time. Sometimes the hotel website has a deal. Sometimes Expedia is £50 cheaper.
There’s no pattern I’ve figured out, so I just open two browser tabs and compare.
The timing thing is weird. For those Harry Potter rooms at the Georgian House, you basically need to book the second you know your dates – like 8 months out.
But for most other hotels? 2-3 months ahead is fine unless there’s a huge event happening. We once tried to book during Wimbledon and everything was either full or triple the normal price.
Cribs and pack-n-plays exist but you have to ask. They don’t just magically appear in your room. We learned this the hard way our first trip when we showed up exhausted and they told us all the cribs were already being used.
Request one when you book, not when you arrive.
The elevator thing is real. Some London hotels are in 200-year-old buildings that never had elevators. Some have elevators that only go to certain floors.
One hotel told us they had “lift access” but it turned out the elevator went to the second floor and then you had to take stairs to the third floor where our room was. With luggage. And jetlagged children.
Ask specific questions about this when booking if stairs are a problem.
Which One Should You Actually Book?
Honestly, it depends on what matters most to you and what your kids care about.
If your kids are Harry Potter fans and you want them to remember this trip forever, book the Georgian House Wizard Chambers and just accept that you’re paying extra for magic.
We did and it was worth every pound when I saw my son’s face at that secret bookcase door.
If you want to see theatre and actually enjoy London without spending half your time on the Tube, the Radisson Blu in Seven Dials is where we’ll book next time. The walkability alone saved us so much energy.
If you want your kids to feel fancy and you’re okay spending more, that Marriott with the river views and the pool is the one people remember years later.
And if you just need something clean and affordable that puts you near the big attractions without drama, Marlin Waterloo works. It’s not exciting but sometimes boring and functional is exactly what you need.
The thing nobody tells you about family travel is that the “best” hotel isn’t the one with the best reviews or the nicest photos. It’s the one that makes your specific trip easier.
We have two boys who get restless and need to move around a lot, so walkability matters more to us than fancy amenities. Your family might be different.
Book something that actually solves your problems instead of creating new ones, and you’ll spend way less time stressed about where you’re staying and more time watching your kids get excited about London.
Need help planning everything else? I have a free email course that walks you through planning a London trip step by step: How to Plan a Trip to London Like a Pro
Want family photos in London that don’t involve bribing strangers to take them? Book through Flytographer – you’ll save $20 with my link and actually get decent photos for once.
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