If you’re bringing an 11 year old to London and want to know where to take them here’s where I would go. As a mum of an 11 year old and as a Londoner! I’ve created a walkable route and added maps with arrows to show you where to go.

I recently was asked by a friend coming from Rome where to take her 11 year old son when she arrived in the city. It can be overwhelming and you do slightly different things with them now they’re older.

Should you only be here for a few days and you just want to quickly tick off the sites, an open top bus tour can be great. There are millions of companies doing this and they are all pretty similar. Here’s one we have used. Like any city these are useful to pick a route where you get in the main sights and the best part of London. Maybe you just want a photo in front of Buckingham Palace etc. Understandable, who doesn’t?!

However, below you will find a walkable route which will take in a few more places not everyone sees, and you can still slot in places like Trafalgar Square.

So here’s my list and route starting at London Bridge…

Please see attached the map images so you can print them if you want as well. I’ve circled the main sights at London Bridge and then if you follow the red line you end up at the London Eye. It’s a very walkable distance for an 11 year old.

First up…

Hays Galleria and HMS Belfast - The first is a gallery ceiling cafe area and you walk through it to get to the river. Once you come out of the end by the water you will see to your right the warship HMS Belfast. It’s very close to Tower Bridge as well so you get a bit of everything in one place. If you want to go on board the ship you have to pay. It is worth it but it takes a long time to see it all so probably not best for a first visit. If you have 2-3 hours to spare and your child loves army/navy topics they will really enjoy it.

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/282255-hms-belfast

Then back close to the station is The George, one of London’s Oldest Pubs, mentioned in the Charles Dickens novel Little Dorrit. You can view it from the outside in the old courtyard before crossing over the road to Borough Market.

https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/george-southwark

Borough Market - for amazing street food and atmosphere. This is a place that locals go for flowers, oysters, hog roast sandwiches and all sorts of delicious foods. It’s also been in films such as Bridget Jones’ Diary.

https://boroughmarket.org.uk/

The Golden Hinde is Sir Francis Drake’s Ship - you can walk to this in a couple of minutes after leaving Borough Market. 

https://www.goldenhinde.co.uk/

Then head to the river path and walk towards Waterloo. See map! 

Download here.

South Bank

I’d really recommend having a walk down the ‘South bank’ as we call it. This is the part of the river between London Bridge and Waterloo. It’s where Londoners go on a weekend for a stroll and there are always street performers, there’s a skateboard park, ice creams, cafes, second hand book stalls under the railway arches and much more. 

The main thing is it allows you to take in a great area of London from the water so you see all the sights. From London Bridge walking down you will see Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern (which is free to go in and has a great cafe on the roof), and the ‘wobbly bridge’ as we call it, which is outside the Tate and it’s official name is the Millennium Bridge. You can see St Paul’s directly opposite you from here. 

Then you’ll get to the Royal Festival Hall which has fountains outside in summer and all the children run in and out of the water. Then the British Film Museum which has the book stalls outside, the skate park and then you get to the big Bridges and the London Eye. 

You can check it out or go for a ride on the London Eye (I would recommend booking). My eldest found it really frightening when he did it and he’s 11 as well. He’s not afraid of heights but it does feel a bit precarious and my husband and I were happy to be down! 

But after this you can cross the river on the bridge and you are at Embankment station. 

Embankment, Covent Garden and more. 

So if you look on the map below you will see a red line going across the river. That’s you walking over the bridge! When you come down the steps from the bridge you are on a little street called Villiers street which slopes upwards away from the river. 

On your right there is a bar called Gordon’s Wine Bar which is the oldest bar in London. It’s underground and although they don’t do a lot of soft drinks (just orange juice, water and shared food platters) it’s worth going down the tiny steps and having a walk around. It’s very cool very few tourists go here as you can walk right past the doorway. https://www.gordonswinebar.com/

I’ve attached a second map of this different area. Download here.

After you’ve walked up Villiers Street you are on The Strand and on your left is Charing Cross station. If you walk left past the station you will very quickly find yourself at Trafalgar Square! So this is a good stop off point if you want to take photos. If your child likes art the National Gallery is the huge building directly behind the Square and it’s free to enter. 

I would retrace your steps back to The Strand where you arrived from Villiers Street, cross on to the other side and walk up to Covent Garden (see map). There is so much going on here, food, shops, performers, it’s all cobbled streets and very old buildings. 

Then as you can see on the map it’s very close to lots of other attractions and all the famous places such as Leicester Square, Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus, Carnaby Street, Liberty of London (for adults). I’ve added a Waterstones on the left of the map. This is the largest bookstore in Europe and my children love it. https://www.waterstones.com/bookshops/piccadilly

It’s also very close to Fortnum and Mason which is a bit like Harrods, so it’s worth a look they often have amazing displays in the windows and in the main entrance. It’s good for gifts like biscuits in nice tins and teas etc. 

Greenwich 

On a different day, because it’s too much to do in one day, you could visit Greenwich. You can take an overground train from Waterloo East or London Bridge stations to Greenwich station, and get off there to look around. Or take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) which is a train that goes above ground in between the buildings like you’re in Gotham City https://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/information/product-catch-all/docklands-light-railway-dlr-p1372871

As you are probably coming from central London I would get an overland train from Waterloo East or London Bridge and go to Greenwich. 

Once you’re here there’s the famous Greenwich Park, Greenwich Market, the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark ship. https://www.rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark/attractions/see-cutty-sarks-copper-hull

Obviously the main attraction here is the Royal Observatory at the top of the hill in the park where you can see the Greenwich Meantime plaque. To stand on the Meridian Line you have to pay for entry to the Observatory. But many people come and have photos by the plaque and look at the great view of London from here as you can see everything. It’s considered one of the best views of the city. https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory/attractions/enjoy-best-view-london

If you are not completely exhausted after all that you can walk back down into Greenwich village and go to the DLR station called ‘Cutty Sark’.

From here you can take the DLR to Canary Wharf which is like a mini Gotham City. It’s technically the financial district of London now and is all glass buildings and sculptures. Funky cafes and lights. There’s a garden on the roof you can visit here: https://canarywharf.com/open-spaces/crossrail-place-roof-garden/

Many families live here so it’s gone from just being a day time place for workers to a fun environment with green spaces and all sorts going on. 

Another great resource to check for new events is: https://www.facebook.com/SecretLDN/

Have an amazing trip and ask any questions below and I will try and help!

Kristie x