30 Hours in London

Our first European adventure with the kids, we made a quick stopover in London. They wanted to go to the Harry Potter Studio tour – The Making of Harry Potter, so we spend 30 hours in the city. Though it wasn't in my initial plan, I had never been to London so I was excited to tick off a few iconic London landmarks.

From the airport, we took an "English cab" to the hotel. I'm sure it was just a cab to most people who lived there, however, it was super cute with the raised top and back passenger seats that face each other. We checked into the Bankside Hotel, a small boutique style hotel with friendly staff. The hotel is chic and modern and even had a smart vending machine on each floor. After dropping off our bags, we set out to explore the city. Our first stop was Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, followed by a visit to the vibrant Piccadilly Circus. Then, we indulged our inner child at Hamleys, the world's oldest toy store. The girls were particularly fascinated by the Lego creations, including a stunning replica of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles. We even scored a unique Lego double-decker bus, a Hamleys exclusive.

Later that day, we headed to the Harry Potter Studio Tour, where I pre-purchased tickets online. The studio has a family package (2 adults, 2 kids) for $160 Euro which was cheaper than a la carte. I wanted to add on afternoon tea, but unfortunately it was sold out for the time we wanted. I generally don't like theme parks and other similar venues, however the tour was incredible. All the exhibits were interesting, the sets were intricate, and of course I'm a sucker for well curated gift shops. This is definitly a must see in London, regardless if you are a Harry Potter fan. The end our very long day, I wanted to try Indian food in London as it's supposed to be some of the best in the world. We ended up at Dishoom and the line was down the block but we were seated in about 30 minutes. The food was amazing, and we ended up with an unplanned "date night" as both girls passed out at the table. Their loss, our gain! 

The next day before flying to Naples, we had a few hours before our flight and went to the London Eye. Luckily it was a clear morning and we had a great view of Westminster bridge, Parliament, and River Thames. My daughters love going to parks, so we stopped by Jubilee Gardens where they had a playground made entirely of wood. It's always so interesting to visit playgrounds in other cities and compare and contrast the design and materials they use. We did so much in the few hours we were in London, but there is still so much to do and see we will definitely be back.

Tips

• Pre-purchase Harry Potter Studio Tour tickets online several months in advance to ensure the date and time you want.

• Grab a double decker Lego bus exclusive to Hamley's if you're a Lego fan.

• Don't miss out on the Butter Beer at Harry Potter Studio Tour, you won't regret it especially on a hot day.