Our Guide to Where to Stay in London with Kids

Travelling to London with the little lords and ladies in tow? Thanks to this fantastic Plum Guide-approved list of where to stay in London with kids curated with your children (as well as you) in mind, you can enjoy your family holiday stress-free. Yes, really.

Explore our handpicked collection of homes in London.

Pretend you’re a dapper Hugh Grant or smiling Julia Roberts by staying in the posh and lovely Notting Hill, from which yours and our favourite 90s romcom takes its name. Known for its pastel-coloured houses, your phone-obsessed teens will love you for choosing to live within walking distance of these candy-hued homes which are on every Instagrammer’s list of where to take photos in London. Although peacefully residential overall, Notting Hill is also fun and lively, making it a great choice of where to stay in London with kids. Portobello Road hosts a weekly antiques, vintage and food market on Saturdays and at the end of August, the world’s biggest street party, Notting Hill Carnival, takes over the area for a weekend of fun and celebration. There’s great shopping on Westbourne Grove as well as family-friendly restaurants and cafes. Nearby Holland Park is even home to a few peacocks who roam around thrilling passersby all year long. Even if you don't end up staying here, a trip to the neighbourhood is a must for any 4 day itinerary in London.

See more of this home.

Explore our collection of Airbnb alternatives in London.

The elegant and upmarket neighbourhood of South Kensington is among the best options when it comes to where to stay in London with kids. It's also a great place to stay if you're looking to celebrate something special like a birthday in London. Boasting a super central location, choosing a family home around these parts means you’ll have two massive green spaces to pretend are your own during your stay – Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. In the latter, don’t miss the Diana Memorial Playground. Inspired by the Peter Pan stories, this is the playground you wish you were taken to as a child, complete with a pirate ship. Crashing in South Ken, you’ll also be within walking distance to the Natural History Museum, V&A, and the Science Museum (all great options to tire out the kids without boring yourself in the process). These museums also make fantastic rainy-day activities because, yes, if you’re travelling to London, there will almost certainly be a need for a few of those.

See more of this home.

Explore our selection of apartments in London.

Another fantastic choice of where to stay in London with kids is St. James’s, which borders many popular and kid-friendly attractions, including Buckingham Palace. We think your toddlers and teens alike will enjoy the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place just outside the Queen’s humble abode so you and yours can watch the action from outside the gates. Nearby, St. James’s Park and Green Park make for idyllic family picnics on a sunny day. You’re also dangerously close to Bond Street, which is home to the city’s high-end designer shops. And when you need a small break from the little ones, the Wolseley restaurant turns any date night with your better half into an evening to remember.

Find the perfect accommodation in London.

Staying in Paddington is also a roaring good shout (see what we did there) in terms of where to stay in London with kids. Don’t miss popping over to the Peter Pan statue, a 1912 bronze sculpture of J.M. Barrie's renowned never-grown-up. Commissioned by Barrie and made by Sir George Frampton, the sculpture is on view in nearby Kensington Gardens close to the author’s former residence in Bayswater Road. You’ll also be a quick Tube ride from the West End, so this is a good pick for anyone with kids who enjoy the theatre or simply agree to sit quietly through it while you do. The Grand Union Canal and Little Venice are similarly within walking distance. There you can enjoy a family-friendly show at the Puppet Theatre Barge or make your way to ZSL London Zoo to meet the animals.

See more of this home.

Explore our selection of bed and breakfast alternatives in London.

Live your 101 Dalmatians dreams with a stay in beautiful Primrose Hill. You’ll love the people watching here, as this posh residential Northwest London neighbourhood is home to a host of celebrities. Primrose Hill makes for one of the best places to stay in London with kids because it’s very uncrowded and chill without being far from the city centre. A host of cute cafes and restaurants run up and down the high street, so sit back and enjoy a Pimms while your kids snack and inevitably practice Tiktok dances in their seats. The namesake Primrose Hill is also a great spot for picnics – or to let the kids burn off their energy before bedtime.

See more of this home.

Find the perfect boutique hotels in London.

If you or your kids love the outdoors, don’t think twice before choosing Hampstead as your temporary London neighbourhood. Hampstead Heath is an ancient London park covering 320 hectares – it feels like an endless secret garden. There are trees to climb and greens to run across, ponds to bathe in and lush hills with panoramic views of the city. Just a few minutes walk from the Heath is Hampstead Village, a truly charming cluster of cobblestoned roads that feels almost frozen in an earlier, more relaxed time. When it comes to where to stay in London with kids, you’ll love the quaintness and natural beauty of Hampstead. It also happens to be one of the safest areas to stay in London.

See more of this home.

Sit back and stay awhile at our long-stay rentals in London.

So, after you've chosen your favourite of these neighbourhoods, next is to choose the perfect plum home in London for the whole family. Our home critics expertly curate our collection to ensure you're choosing from the cream of the vacation home crop (the top 3% of them to be precise). We're serious about standards here at Plum Guide, and we know you are, too.

Explore our handpicked collection of homes in London.