Are you debating Paris vs. London for your next family vacation? Keep scrolling for a comparison of London vs Paris to see which city you should visit!
This comparison of Paris vs. London 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.
My youngest literally sobbed when we left Paris.
Not cute travel tears either. Full-on meltdown in the taxi to the airport because he wanted one more chocolate croissant.
My oldest?
He sailed toy boats at Luxembourg Gardens when he was 3. Now he’s 12 and we’re heading back to Paris for Spring Break specifically because he asked if we could do the boats again.
That probably tells you which city won in our house.
But here’s the thing: I’ve been to both Paris and London twice with my kids. We’ve done the tourist stuff, made expensive mistakes, found hidden gems, and figured out what actually works for families.
Both cities are incredible. Both have moments that’ll make your kids’s eyes light up. But they’re completely different experiences.
If you’re trying to decide between Paris and London for your Europe trip with kids, I’m going to tell you exactly what worked, what flopped, and which one’s genuinely easier to navigate with children who get hangry and tired.
Want the planning done for you? My free Paris email course and free London email course give you day-by-day itineraries so you’re not googling “things to do in Paris with kids” at 2am.
The Biggest Difference Nobody Tells You
London is fast. Everyone’s rushing. The Tube is packed. People walk like they’re late for something important.
Paris? Totally different energy. Nobody’s rushing you out of restaurants. Kids can take forever at playgrounds and nobody cares. You can actually sit at a café for an hour without feeling guilty.
For traveling with kids (especially if you’re trying to avoid travel burnout) that slower Paris pace changes everything. My kids could process what they were seeing instead of sprinting from attraction to attraction feeling overwhelmed.
In London, we felt like we were constantly behind schedule. In Paris, we never felt rushed.
That matters more than you’d think when you’re planning realistic family trips.
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How Long You Actually Need (Not What Travel Blogs Say)
Paris: 5-6 Days Minimum
We did 5 days in Paris proper plus 2 days at Disneyland Paris. If I could redo it, I’d do 6 days in Paris and 1 day at Disney.
Five days gave us time to hit major attractions, take a day trip to Versailles, and still have mornings where we just wandered and found random bakeries. We never felt like we were cramming too much in.
The pacing was perfect for balancing fun and downtime with kids.
London: 4-5 Days Works
We spent 4 days in London including a full day at Warner Bros Studio. It felt right for our must-sees plus catching a West End show.
We skipped museums (they’re free so we figured we’d save them for next time) and didn’t take side trips besides Harry Potter. Five days would give you breathing room for those.
But honestly? Four days in London felt more exhausting than 6 days in Paris because of the pace.
Full itineraries: My 5-day Paris itinerary and 4-day London itinerary break down exactly how to pace each day so nobody melts down.
Public Transportation: Both Great, Different Vibes
You’ll use public transport constantly in both cities. Good news: both systems are easy even if you’re nervous about navigating Europe with kids.
Paris Metro
The Metro is straightforward even if you don’t speak French. Signs have clear maps. Trains run frequently. It’s affordable.
Get a multi-day pass if you’re staying several days. We used the Metro everywhere and my kids thought each ride was an adventure.
The RER trains connect to Versailles and other suburbs for day trips.
Avoid rush hour (8-9am and 5-7pm) if possible. Packed metro cars with tired kids isn’t fun.
London Tube
The Tube is cleaner and runs more frequently than Paris Metro. Use contactless payment or get an Oyster card—it caps your daily spending automatically so you won’t overpay.
My kids loved studying the Tube map and planning routes. It connects to everything including trains to Warner Bros Studio.
The Tube just works. We never waited more than 5 minutes for a train.
Download my complete London guide for Tube navigation tips that actually help with kids and strollers.
What to Actually Do (And What’s Overrated)
Let me save you some money and disappointment.
Paris: What Actually Worked
The toy boats at Luxembourg Gardens – This cost maybe 5 euros and my 3-year-old was obsessed. Now at 12, he still talks about it. You rent sailboats and push them around the fountain with long sticks. Sounds simple. It’s magical.
Eiffel Tower – Yes, do it. My kids loved going to the top. Yes, it’s touristy. Do it anyway. Skip-the-line tickets are worth every penny because regular lines are 2+ hours.
Arc de Triomphe – Better view than the Eiffel Tower, honestly. You see the whole city layout plus the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Way less crowded. Book here.
Sainte-Chapelle – My kids normally hate churches. They were mesmerized by these stained glass windows. The blue light inside is incredible. Get tickets.
Notre Dame – Good news: it reopened in December 2024 after the fire! You can go inside again. The restoration is beautiful. Free to enter but you’ll want to book a time slot online in advance.
Disneyland Paris – Budget a full day minimum. We did two days but one would’ve been enough. My kids loved it but honestly, regular Paris was more memorable for them. Park tickets here.
Where to stay matters – We’ve tested different Paris neighborhoods. These are the best areas for families based on proximity to Metro and kid-friendly restaurants.
London: What Worked (And What Flopped)
Matilda the Musical – Hands down our best London memory. Pink was in the audience with her family which my kids thought was the coolest thing ever. Book West End shows in advance for better seats and prices.
Warner Bros Studio – Any Harry Potter fan needs a full day here. We walked through actual movie sets. Saw real props and costumes. My kids couldn’t believe Diagon Alley was real. Book way ahead because it sells out weeks in advance.
Tower of London – The Crown Jewels are legitimately impressive. Beefeaters walking around make it feel authentic. Worth it. Reserve here.
Thames River Cruise – Way more fun than expected. Gave our legs a break and we saw tons of landmarks from the water. Book the cruise.
London Eye – The Ferris wheel moves slowly which is perfect for kids. Views are great. Get tickets.
What’s overrated: Changing of the Guard – My kids were bored. We couldn’t see anything through the crowds. The ceremony takes forever. Skip it or watch from the side and don’t fight for a front-row spot. Seriously overrated.
Buckingham Palace – Beautiful from outside. Tours inside are fine if you really want to see the state rooms but honestly, looking at the palace exterior and gardens was enough for us. If you do want to tour, book tickets here.
Where to stay – London is huge and location matters. Best family-friendly London hotels breaks down which neighborhoods actually work for families.
Museum Situation: Free vs Incredible
London’s Free Museums
This is huge for budget-conscious families. Most major museums are completely free.
British Museum – Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, massive collections. Free entry though some special exhibits charge admission.
Natural History Museum – Giant dinosaur skeleton. Interactive exhibits. Totally free.
Science Museum – Kids actually enjoy it. Free.
These free museums make London way more affordable if you’re traveling with kids without stress about entertainment costs.
Paris Museums
Louvre – See the Mona Lisa (it’s smaller than you think). The rest of the museum is honestly more impressive. Budget 3+ hours. Kids under 18 are free. Skip lines here.
Musée d’Orsay – This surprised us. The impressionist art is stunning and they offer family tours that keep kids engaged. We did a private tour where my kids got to paint in front of famous paintings. Worth it. Book here.
Real Budget Talk: What Actually Costs Money
Both cities are expensive. Here’s what we spent money on and what we saved.
Free Things in Paris
Luxembourg Gardens is free (boat rentals are a few euros). Walking along the Seine costs nothing. Notre Dame is free to enter. Place des Vosges has free playgrounds.
Random neighborhood playgrounds saved us multiple times when kids just needed to run around.
Free Things in London
Hyde Park is massive and free. South Bank has free street performers. Most museums are free which is huge.
We spent entire afternoons in Hyde Park and it didn’t cost a penny.
Where We Spent Money
Skip-the-line tickets – Worth it in both cities. Waiting 2 hours in line with kids kills the whole day’s vibe.
Sit-down restaurants – Budget at least €20-30 per person for decent meals in Paris. London was similar, around £15-25 per person.
Attractions – Eiffel Tower was about €70 for our family of 4. Warner Bros Studio was around £150 total. These add up fast.
Public transport – Multi-day passes in both cities saved money. We spent about €50 total on Paris Metro and £40 on London Tube for our whole trip.
Carousel Situation (Yes, This Matters)
Paris has the most gorgeous carousels I’ve ever seen. They’re everywhere and each one feels special.
The carousel by the Eiffel Tower? My kids rode it three times. The Eiffel Tower as backdrop makes it magical. Cost maybe €3 per ride.
Carousels near Luxembourg Gardens, Sacré-Cœur, basically everywhere.
London has carousels but they’re not as stunning. The one near London Eye was fun because it went crazy fast.
If your kids love carousels, Paris wins hands down.
Where to Eat (Real Recommendations)
Paris Restaurants That Worked
Ladurée on Champs-Élysées – Yes, touristy. Yes, expensive macarons. But breakfast here felt special. My kids ordered giant macarons and I didn’t stop them. Sometimes you splurge for the memory.
Le Relais de l’Entrecôte – Only serves steak and fries. They bring you as much as you want. My meat-loving kids were thrilled. No menu decisions to stress about.
Random boulangeries – Honestly, we got chocolate croissants from random bakeries almost every morning and they were all fabulous. Can’t go wrong.
Chez André – Traditional French restaurant with steak tartare and a good kids menu. They were genuinely welcoming to our family.
London Restaurants That Worked
Harrods Tea Rooms – Our best London meal. Kids’ afternoon tea comes on a teddy bear display stand. My kids still talk about it months later. Expensive but worth it.
Bread Street Kitchen – Gordon Ramsay restaurant with shepherd’s pie and traditional British food. Dedicated kids menu. Quality was excellent.
Borough Market – Not fancy but delicious. Tons of food stalls. We grazed for an hour. Kids loved picking different things from different vendors.
Day Trips: Both Cities Have Great Options
From Paris
Versailles is stunning but exhausting with kids. Give yourself a full day. Giverny (Monet’s house) is smaller and easier to manage.
More day trips from Paris by train if you have extra days.
From London
We loved Bath and Oxford on previous trips. Stonehenge is cool but honestly less exciting than kids expect.
Best day trips from London by train has all the options.
The Language Thing (It Matters)
London: everything’s in English. Easy. Done.
Paris: learn basic French phrases. “Bonjour,” “merci,” “excusez-moi.” Parisians genuinely appreciate the effort and it makes everything smoother.
My kids practiced French phrases and thought it was fun. Made ordering food less stressful.
This is part of realistic family travel planning—knowing language barriers exist and preparing for them.
Can You Do Both Cities in One Trip?
Yes. The train through the Chunnel takes about 2.5 hours between city centers. Lots of families visit both.
Just know they’re in different time zones (Paris is 1 hour ahead). Plan for a little jet lag and tired kids.
If you’re doing both, I’d suggest London first because the faster pace gets you energized, then Paris where you can relax and wind down.
So Which City Actually Wins?
My kids vote Paris. The slower pace, endless pastries, toy boats, gorgeous carousels, and the general feeling that nobody’s rushing them.
But they also loved London. Harry Potter Studio was incredible. Matilda the Musical (with Pink!) was unforgettable. The energy was exciting.
For a first Europe trip with kids, I’d pick Paris. It’s easier to navigate as a family travel expert, the pace is more manageable for avoiding travel burnout with kids, and there’s something magical about watching your kids experience the Eiffel Tower.
But London’s also amazing. You honestly can’t go wrong.
Ready to plan? Grab my free Paris planning course or free London planning course for complete itineraries.
Quick FAQ
Same time zone? No. Paris is 1 hour ahead of London.
Best time to visit? Summer (June-August) is crowded and expensive. Spring or early fall has better weather and fewer tourists. That’s my recommendation for planning realistic family trips that won’t break the budget.
Which is more expensive? London’s generally pricier for hotels and food. Paris can be expensive for shopping and attractions. Both are pricey.
Worth visiting in winter? Both cities are cold and gray in winter but holiday decorations and Christmas markets make them magical. If you’re okay with indoor activities, winter works.
How many days for both? Plan at least 4-5 days per city if visiting both. That gives you time for highlights without feeling rushed or dealing with travel burnout.
I’m heading back to Paris for Spring Break specifically because my 12-year-old wants to sail those toy boats again. That probably tells you everything.
But we’ll be back to London too. Both cities are incredible for families.
Pick the one that matches your travel style. Or visit both and let your kids decide.
More Europe planning help: Europe travel tips, Paris with kids tips, London travel tips.
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