{"id":29959,"date":"2022-07-08T17:04:43","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T16:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/?p=29959"},"modified":"2023-10-10T21:07:47","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T20:07:47","slug":"things-to-do-westminster-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/things-to-do-westminster-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to do in Westminster with Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Finding things to do in Westminster seems easy as the internet is teeming with suggestions on what to see in Central London. The difficulty is choosing attractions matching your whole group&#8217;s interests. As a London family of 5 trawling through the capital for years, we&#8217;ve curated a collection of places great for families with kids ranging from teens to toddlers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Top 10 things to do in Westminster with kids<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Buckingham Palace &#8211; Changing the Guard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Houses of Parliament and Big Ben<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>St James Park<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hyde Park<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trafalgar Square<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>London Transport Museum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Westminster Abbey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Churchill War Rooms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Gallery<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Covent Garden<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Check out the Change of Guards <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most iconic attractions in London is the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace. It is a ceremonial event that involves the exchange of duties between two groups of soldiers who guard the palace. The ceremony is accompanied by music and marching, and it lasts for about 45 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are visiting London with young children, this can be a fun and educational experience for them. They can learn about the history and culture of the UK, and see the colourful uniforms and hats of the guards. They can also enjoy the lively atmosphere and the music of the band. My kids loved waving at the guards and trying to make them smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you decide to watch the Changing of the Guard, here are some tips to avoid the biggest crowds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Arrive early. <\/strong>The ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and 11:00 a.m. on weekends, but you should get there at least an hour before to secure a good spot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Choose a good location<\/strong>. The best places to watch are near the palace gates, along the Mall, or near St. James&#8217;s Park. Avoid standing behind the railings or near the Victoria Memorial, as you will have a limited view.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check the schedule. <\/strong>The ceremony does not take place every day, and it may be cancelled due to bad weather or security reasons. You can check the official website for the latest information: https:\/\/www.royal.uk\/changing-guard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consider alternatives.<\/strong> If you want to see a similar ceremony with fewer people, you can visit Windsor Castle or Horse Guards Parade instead. They also have guard changes at different times of the day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Houses of Parliament and Big Ben<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are planning a trip to London with your family, you might want to visit the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, two of the most iconic landmarks in the city. The Houses of Parliament are where the British government makes laws and debates important issues, and Big Ben is the famous clock tower that chimes every hour. You can learn a lot about the history and politics of the UK by taking a guided tour of the buildings, or just admire the architecture from outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Visiting the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben can be engaging for young children, especially if they are interested in stories, legends, and mysteries. For example, did you know that there is a secret tunnel under the river Thames that connects the Houses of Parliament to the other side? Or that there is a hidden room where Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the parliament in 1605? Or that Big Ben is not actually the name of the clock, but the name of the largest bell inside it? You can discover these facts and more by joining a family-friendly tour that includes interactive activities and quizzes for kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I visited the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben with my family, we had a lot of fun exploring the different rooms and halls, such as the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and Westminster Hall. We also enjoyed listening to the stories and anecdotes that our guide told us, such as how a fire destroyed most of the original buildings in 1834, or how a suffragette chained herself to a statue in 1909 to protest for women&#8217;s rights. We also got to see some famous artworks and statues, such as the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the statue of Winston Churchill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of my favorite moments was when we climbed up the stairs to see Big Ben up close. It was amazing to see how big and intricate the clock was, and how loud it sounded when it struck. We also got a great view of London from the top of the tower, and we could see other landmarks such as the London Eye and Westminster Abbey. It was a memorable experience that I will never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to visit the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, here are some tips to avoid the biggest crowds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Book your tickets online in advance, as they sell out quickly and there are limited spaces for each tour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid visiting on weekends or public holidays, as they are usually more busy and crowded.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when there are fewer people and less noise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, as you will have to walk a lot and go through security checks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bring some snacks and drinks for your kids, as there are no cafes or shops inside the buildings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope this helps you plan your visit to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. I&#8217;m sure you will have a wonderful time with your family!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">St James Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/st-james-park\/\">St James Park<\/a> is a tranquil oasis in the heart of the city and a great place to take kids. It offers stunning views of Buckingham Palace and has a range of activities for families, including playgrounds, a lake with ducks and swans, and plenty of space for picnics and games. Kids will love spotting the different birds and wildlife that call the park home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hyde Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/family-activities-hyde-park\/\">Hyde Park<\/a> is one of the largest green spaces in London and a perfect place to spend a day with kids. It has a range of activities, including boating on the Serpentine Lake, horse riding, and cycling. The park also has several playgrounds and a water play area for younger children. Families can also visit the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, which is a beautiful tribute to the late princess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trafalgar Square<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/things-to-do-trafalgar-square-kids\/\">Trafalgar Square<\/a> is one of the most famous public spaces in London and a must-visit for families. It&#8217;s a great place to relax and people-watch, and there is always something going on, from street performers to festivals and events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">London Transport Museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/transport-museum\/\">The London Transport Museum<\/a> is a fun and interactive museum that offers an immersive experience of London&#8217;s transport history. Kids will love exploring the museum&#8217;s collection of historic vehicles, including buses, trains, and trams. There are also interactive exhibits and workshops that offer a hands-on learning experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Westminster Abbey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Westminster Abbey is a stunning Gothic church and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the final resting place of many famous people, including kings and queens of England. The audio tour is suitable for children aged 6 and over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Churchill War Rooms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Churchill War Rooms offer a fascinating insight into Churchill&#8217;s underground war rooms during World War II. Children aged 5 and over are welcome, and audio guides are available to help them explore the museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">National Gallery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The National Gallery is a world-renowned art museum that offers a range of activities suitable for children of all ages, including family trails, interactive workshops, and art-making sessions. The gallery&#8217;s collection includes works by many famous artists, including Van Gogh, Monet, and Da Vinci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Covent Garden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Covent Garden is a popular destination for families, offering a range of shops, restaurants, and street performers. Kids will love watching the street performers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cool facts for kids about Westminster in London<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Here are some fun facts that you might not know about this amazing place:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Westminster Abbey is not just a church, it&#8217;s also a royal peculiar. That means it belongs to the country&#8217;s monarch, not to a bishop or a diocese. It&#8217;s also the place where all the kings and queens of England and Britain have been crowned since 1066.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Westminster Abbey is also known as Britain&#8217;s Valhalla because it&#8217;s where many famous people are buried or commemorated. You can find the graves or memorials of 17 monarchs, as well as scientists like Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, writers like Charles Dickens and Geoffrey Chaucer, and prime ministers like Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Palace of Westminster is where the British Parliament meets. It used to be a royal palace but was destroyed by fire twice, in 1512 and 1834. The current building was designed by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin in the Gothic Revival style.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell that chimes the hour in the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster. The tower is officially called the Elizabeth Tower, after Queen Elizabeth II. It was renamed in 2012 to mark her Diamond Jubilee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can hear the bells of Westminster Abbey from far away. There are two Elizabethan bells that call people to worship and 10 modern bells that ring in different patterns. Sometimes, they ring a full peal, which is at least 5,000 sequences without a break. This happens only on special occasions, like royal weddings or national events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;ve curated a collection of things to do in Westminster with kids ranging from teens to toddlers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9814,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[192,203,193],"tags":[156,157,218],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29959"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29959"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34660,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29959\/revisions\/34660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/londonducklings.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}