EUROPE | BRITAIN | LONDON
Planning your family-friendly trip to London
THE BEST WAY
From LAX, Air New Zealand, American, British, United and Virgin Atlantic offer nonstop flights to Heathrow. Continental, American, United and Delta offer connecting service (change of planes). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $664. Heathrow is an hour's drive to central London. Taxis are $90 to $100 to central London. Underground trains take about an hour to central London and cost $8.
TELEPHONES
To call the numbers below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code) and 44 (country code for Britain).
GETTING AROUND
Children under 11 travel free on the Underground, or Tube, if accompanied by an adult; children under 16 travel free on buses. See www.tfl.gov.uk for fares and rules. Adult one-day Travelcards allow easy travel on the same ticket for the Tube and buses and start at about $10; Travelcards for children (ages 11 to 15) start at $6.60.
WHERE TO STAY
County Hall Premier Travel Inn, Belvedere Road, London SE1; 870-238-3300, www.premiertravelinn.com. Great location on the Thames opposite Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Rooms start at $200.
La Gaffe, 107-111 Heath St., Hampstead, London NW3; 207-435-8965, www.lagaffe.co.uk. A family-run hotel with a well-priced Italian restaurant. Rooms are small and families of four will need a triple for about $250 a night.
The Langorf Hotel & Apartments, 20 Frognal, Hampstead, London NW3, 207-794-4483, www.langorfhotel.com. Triple rooms, $240, are best for families; negotiable for longer stays. A 10-minute walk to Hampstead Heath and five minutes to Finchley Road Tube station.
WHERE TO EAT
Garfunkels, 19 Irving St., London WC2H; 207-930-8087, www.garfunkels.co.uk. A chain of family-friendly eateries with more than a dozen locations in London. Entrees $12 to $30. Kid's meals $10.
Spaghetti House, 30 St. Martin's Lane, London WC2N; 207-836-1626, www.spaghetti-house.co.uk. A chain of family-owned Italian restaurants with locations around London. Entrees $12 to $30. Kid's meal $10; it comes with a children's activity pack including puzzles and coloring pictures.
ATTRACTIONS
Kenwood House & Gardens, Hampstead Lane, NW3; 208-348-1286, www.english-heritage.org.uk. Children will probably be bored by the house, which includes a collection of paintings by Gainsborough, Rembrandt and Reynolds but will enjoy running and rolling around the sloping, manicured lawns. Entrance to the house and grounds is free.
Covent Garden, a popular district for tourists and locals in London's West End; www.covent-garden.co.uk. Children love the street performers, who expect a generous tip. Open daily.
TO LEARN MORE
Seasonal events and other attractions for children can be found at kids.visitlondon.com.
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