Last Updated on 10 February 2025 by Colette
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London isn’t just about shopping and fast food chains, it’s a melting pot of activities. We’ve put together a 48 hour itinerary for families who likes to explore and adventure! Discover the most exciting sites in London and create memories which will last a lifetime.
We’ve even thought about your wallet as well – aren’t we nice! All of these London attractions can be visited with a London Pass, your family’s gateway to London. You’ll save between £15 – £25 per entrance fee ticket.
Getting to London
Our adventurous trip begins at London Zoo, so if your family are arriving by train, you’ll need to get off at Marylebone Station – and for a fun fact to get them laughing, it’s a Monopoly Square, so that should keep the kids entertained for at least 30 seconds!
Hotels in the area include the Travelodge London Central Marylebone at £69 per night and The Somerset, priced at £350 for two nights, both prices are for a family of two adults and two children sharing a family room.
Get Started
Once you’ve dropped off your luggage and gotten checked into the hotel, it’s time for the fun in London to start! Head over to London Zoo, which is a 5-10-minute walk from either hotel and spend a few hours getting close and personal with a range of exotic, rare and wild animals (including pygmy hippos!). The zoo is a great place for kids to learn and have fun at the same time, and gives parents the chance to make fantastic memories and take great pictures of both the wildlife and the children.
After the zoo tour is complete, head across the road to Madame Tussauds by cutting through Regents Park to get photo opportunities with lifelike models of your favourite celebrities, business moguls and influencers. Don’t forget to take a million photos to show off on Facebook and to show your family when you get home!
If you still want more action after Madame Tussauds, The Sherlock Holmes museum is across the street, so treat yourself to a mysterious, crime-solving adventure before dinner!
Dinner Time
After so much excitement, you’ll all be pretty hungry, so walk down the street for your choice of Nando’s, Chipotle, Zizzi, Carluccio’s or Strada. With so much variety in one place, you’re guaranteed to find something to keep everyone’s tummy happy! Or if you fancy more of an independent street food vibe, why not hop on the underground and pay a visit to Camden Market or Borough Market – both highly recommended and cheaper than a sit down meal in a chain restaurant!
A Good Night’s Rest
Surely, today has been enough to keep you active and tire everyone out ready for bed? More excitement awaits you tomorrow, so curl up with a cup of tea and some telly ready for another day!
Day Two
Be up and ready bright and early for a hotel breakfast to fuel you for the day, because there’s a lot in store and you’ll need the energy!
We’ll be travelling further out today, so be sure to wear sensible shoes and grab a jacket just in case. Start the day by catching the Orange route hop-on, hop-off bus tour from Madame Tussauds and sit back and enjoy the journey and sights as you are guided through London toward the city centre. Hop off when you get to Waterloo Station (Stop 31). This puts you in a central location to explore a wealth of attractions. The bus tickets allow you to hop-on and hop-off all day, so don’t worry if you missed anything, you can jump back on later today.
In this area, you have a choice of the Sea Life Centre (were you will find a these cute penguins pictured below!), Shrek’s Adventure, The London Dungeons and Churchill’s War Rooms. Take your pick from the above and enjoy your day in Westminster.
Finish the afternoon with a turn on the Coca-Cola London Eye and experience views from up high.
Grab some dinner in the local Greene King, or take a picnic to one of the surrounding parks for a more intimate family time, then hop back onto the orange route to be delivered safely back at Madame Tussauds before heading back to the hotel.
Be sure to pick up some souvenirs for Granny and Grandad along the way, take plenty of photos and spend enjoy your adventure fuelled trip to London!
And if some of these activities don’t take your fancy, have a look at this post of Educational Days Out in London
