Here’s the play we ran with the Goldbergs: Four adults. Three kids. Two bedroom flat. One grin after another at the wonder of making this trip happen.
On the first walk to the playground, it was clear the Goldbergs had laid substantial groundwork to prep Jake for this vacation. He immediately spotted double decker buses, and knew the lingo was ‘tube’, not ‘subway’. He remarked that we should see Big Ben, and requested numerous times that we ride in a black taxi. Each day, we planned a full itinerary to ensure Jake and Adam’s first London trip would make any tourist envious.
‘That’s a black taxi!’ 
Iconic red phone booth 
Riding the tube for the first time
At three years old, Jake’s stamina for museums was impressive. He zipped back and forth between the hands-on features in the children’s section of the Science Museum, and attempted to read many of the placards alongside his dad. Saya wasn’t pulling up on things at this time so we mainly sat her on top of the museum’s features. Adam was cosy in his carrier against his mom’s chest. We were tried to explore the DNA and genetics exhibit when we recognized that lunch time for the little ones should take priority.
The Science Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel is award-winning. It’s interactive experience is genuinely exciting for children and adults. Alison and I couldn’t help but ooh and ahh with each element presented for Jake. From the dry ice to the test tubes to the paleontologist chocolates, we left with many sweets that we couldn’t finish in a single sitting. Jake was on a sugar high, and was jet lagged. It was a team effort to get him to bed- meaning all four adults had rounds with him, and I recall that Jake still came out on top!
Being a scientist at tea 
Add the drops and stir carefully 
Tasting his creative drink 
The following rainy day, we walked around Buckingham Palace, and ate at a pub on Trafalgar Square. Remember I said Jake had museum stamina? At the National Gallery, he spotted artwork that he’d read about in his mini masters books. Basically, he could spot a Matisse and I couldn’t. I was so floored by his knowledge that the Goldbergs gifted us the board book set so that I could start schooling Saya asap.
No trip to London would be complete without a tour of the South Bank. Borough Market is a great starting point when you finally get everyone out of the house at 11am. We took family portraits with Tower Bridge in the background, and walked to the Tate Modern, which is now my favorite pit stop for families. It’s free and includes baby-changing bathrooms plus a children’s section that is easy to navigate. We walked Millennium Bridge to St Pauls Cathedral before catching a double decker bus back home.
Whew…I’m impressed with how much we’ve done so far. Ready for the cuteness that we woke up to each morning? (Nighttime was a different matter, but wine makes everything ok as well as numerous read alouds by Goldberg. Jake picked the longest books from our bookshelf every night: The Name Jar and Ada Twist Scientist.)
We agreed the Museum of Natural History’s facade is incredible, yet once inside, the layout of the museum leaves much to be desired. Jake felt this as well because we asked him his favorite part of the museum, and he replied “The carousel” (which was outside of the museum –and he didn’t even take a ride!)
The last museum was the Transport Museum in Covent Garden. Jake climbed aboard everything but I wouldn’t say we spent as much time learning the history here. Parents be warned: it’s more like an indoor playground for toddlers rather than an educational experience.
Between major sites, tt was also fun to retrace steps from the Goldbergs’ previous visit to London: basically all things dessert and museum gift shop goodies. We hit Fortnum and Mason, Ottolenghi, and introduced Alison to Dark Sugars for their hot chocolate experience. Of course, we also had to eat at Lahore, and reminisce about our lives sans kiddos. However, based on the pictures below, I bet you can tell we’re pretty smitten with these sweethearts.
l o n d o n f o r r e s t 