Mentioned by mummytravels
Top tips for London museums with toddlers and kids
"For a lunch date to remember, 155 meters high at the top of the famous ‘Walkie-Talkie’ building, the Sky Garden offers spectacular views of the city. But it’s the incredible tropical garden which makes this iconic London landmark a must-see. There are multiple restaurants and bars to choose from, but for informal yet stylish lunchtime dining, we highly recommend Darwin’s Brasserie to take in some of the best views of the city."
"Day 1: Arrive in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the London EyeDay 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Whitehall, Covent GardenDay 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky GardenDay 4: National Gallery, Greenwich, Prime Meridian, Up at the O2Day 5: British Museum, Portobello Road Market, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrod’s"
"Get the lift to the top of 20 Fenchurch Street and let your toddler explore London’s highest public garden. There are 360 degree views of the London skyline, gardens to run around in and a café where you can buy cakes and pastries. Cost – Free, but you need to prebook."
"What started as an ice cream store dedicated to liquid nitrogen creations, Chin Chin Labs has come a long way in delivering some of the best bites in town. Burnt butter caramel ice cream pies and loaded tiramisu sundaes join this mouthwatering brownie cookie ice cream sando (from £5.45) that can be customised with the likes of black sesame ice cream, molten chocolate, bee pollen honeycomb and whatever else takes your fancy. Now that's our kinda sandwich."
"For truly breathtaking ice-cream creations, head on down to Chin Chin. This little dessert spot is famous for its extravagant flavors (you can find things like meringue pie and tonka bean on the menu!), and you can even grab a signature hot chocolate if you want something to enjoy on the go. Such a great option if you’re looking for the best desserts in London."
"The sweet treats get scientific at Chin Chin Labs, where all the ice cream is hand-churned with liquid nitrogen. Its short but inventive menu of regular flavours includes tonka bean and burnt butter caramel, with an array of topping options including bee pollen honeycomb and truffle crumble."
"This North London bakery describes itself as ‘a bit health conscious’: cakes contain low fat and sugar, but enough to ensure they taste delicious. Cutter & Squidge cakes make the perfect centrepiece for a big celebration too: the Macron Drip Cake, for instance, is a layered creation decorated with macarons, topped with chocolate shards and finished with 24 carat gold. Vegan cakes are also available, and everything can be personalised."
"From show stopping dripped cakes to the glossiest salted caramel we’ve ever seen, Cutter & Squidge is the bakery to go to if you’re in need of a special birthday treat or serious ‘I’m sorry’ gift. All products are made with 100% natural products and as little sugar as possible – don’t worry, they still taste devilishly sweet. Where:Various locationsWebsite:www.cutterandsquidge.com"
"Vanilla sponge with apple jam, cinnamon buttercream – custardy, sweet, perfectly spiced – crispy white chocolate pearls, biscuit crumbs and an apple crisp to finish. It has all the flavours of a traditional apple pie, but it’s lighter and wonderfully soft. 20 Brewer St, London W1F 0SJ. Currently online only."
"Located in Canary Wharf, Smollensky's is a fill your boots sort of place, with an emphasis on American-style dining. Grab a space on the terrace on a sunny day and work through the likes of steaks, burgers, and cajun-spiced chicken."
"Churning its way to the top is Snowflake after founder Asad and gelato Chef Paolo opened up their first shop in 2012. With eight years now under their belt, they have several stores across the city delighting the busy commuters, tourists and passers-by with their specialities, handmade with love using some of the world’s finest ingredients. Despite expanding, each gelato is made by hand using the traditional Italian method, allowing each one to be naturally unique, just like a real snowflake."
"Their core product is made using raw organic Jersey milk from a Somerset family farm and pure spring water from the Wenlock mountains. Their chocolate ice cream uses only the very best 70% Valrhona which is a super high standard used by the world’s top pastry chefs. This is basically the Michelin star of ice cream making."
"Where: Selfridges, Westfield, Bayswater, South Kensington, Marble Arch, Soho & The O2. Winner of no less than 25 Good Taste Awards, founder Asad and gelato chef Paolo named their ice-cream company Snowflake because all their ice-cream is made by hand, no two batches are the same."
"Lofty ceilings, gentle light and oodles of classic white space – with sister galleries worldwide (Paris, New York and Beijing), the team behind Pace know what they’re doing. Found right in the heart of things near Piccadilly, a stone’s throw from Marylebone and just along from Oxford Circus, Pace is easy to fit into a day’s itinerary. Recent exhibitions include James Turrell’s Materiality of Light and Chinese artist Song Dong’s Biscuit City, in which viewers were invited to eat the city."
"A chic, sleek contemporary art gallery in Mayfair, Pace has shown everything from established artists like Julian Schnabel to right up to date digital art by Japanese collective teamLab. The first Pace gallery opened in Boston in 1960, and set a high standard for promoting vibrant, vanguard-leading work from around the world. 6 Burlington Gardens, W1S 3ET Free entrypacegallery.com"
"Not to be confused with the preceding listing, this gallery does what it says on the tin: housing a huge collection of portraits that depict important and famous British people from throughout history. It was the first portrait gallery in the whole world when it opened in 1856, so this place really is the OG. The gallery is set to close for three years, so if you want to see it before 2023, you better get there sharp-ish."
"The gallery houses pictures of the major (and not-so major) figures of the nation’s history from King Henry VIII to David Beckham. It makes a great introduction to British history for both kids and adults. Kid-friendly audio tours are available."
"One of London's most beloved art collections, the Courtauld is to your right as you pass through the archway into the grounds of the…"
"It’s a cultured pairing and the precise reason why Bel Canto is so unique amongst the best French restaurants in London. The waiters at this Hyde Park eatery are talented opera singers with professional training, singing to guests every 15 minutes in solos, duets and group arias. On top of that, there’s classic French dishes prepared by Gilles Martin, the Brittany-born and Parisian-trained head chef."
"This opera-themed restaurant near Hyde Park serves up French fine dining with a difference: it’s delivered by waiters singing opera classics. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the music – don’t worry, you’ll not have to sing for your supper."
"Come and see for yourself that you can get superb Michelin star food in central London without breaking the bank. Fitzrovia's Pied à Terre has some amazing lunch and pre-theatre offers under £40. They've been serving superb French inspired food to the likes of Robert De Niro, Nicole Kidman, Kanye West, Brad Pitt and Colin Firth for more than 25 years."
"Pied à Terre has held at least one Michelin star since 1993, making it one of the oldest Michelin-starred restaurants in London. Restaurants need to evolve, however, and with an imaginative young chef at the helm in Asimakis Chaniotis, who mixes classical French and Greek cooking, it remains contemporary."
"White asparagus with samphire, bitter leaves and gem lettuce from the vegan tasting menu at Pied à Terre. Got a special occasion coming up?. Looking to treat someone special?"
"In response to the second lockdown Le Comptoir Robuchon began delivering its signature high-end food for lucky Londoners. The restaurant endorses the legacy of chef Joël Robuchon – who held the accolade of the most Michelin starred chef in the world at one point. Menu highlights include ‘Le Thon’, a smoked tuna tart with avocado guacamole and citrus dressing, ‘Le Poireau’, a smoked leek dish with mimosa eggs and Shitake mushroom and ‘Le Burger’, which combines beef with foie gras and peppers."
"In a nutshell: Paris burger chain returns to London Where is it?. 39 Thurloe Place, South Kensington, SW7 2HP Why should you care?. After an initial attempt at cracking the London market in 2015, French burger chain Big Fernand is back, attempting to woo Francophiles in South Kensington and hoping to replicate their successful business in France and also the UAE."
"Not all romantic restaurants need to have candlelight and dark corners. Consider Le Comptoir Robuchon instead, a light, bright, marble and velvet-clad temple to classic high-end French cuisine by the late, great Joel Robuchon. It's on the pricier end of the spectrum but so worth it for the indulgent flavours, rich dishes and sleek surroundings."
"Bakers Mathew and Andrew met while working in Melbourne and decided to return to London to set up their own business. Chewy Cookie is all about quality, ethically sourced cookies. The doughs are aged for 24 hours before baking (and we can attest to how great they taste)."