Where to Stay in London With Kids: Why We Loved South Bank
Wondering whether South Bank is a good area to stay in with kids?
Short answer: Yes, absolutely. It’s within easy walking distance of major attractions and restaurants, which removes a layer of stress when exploring a new city with kids.
When planning our family vacation, we stumbled upon a great deal for flights to London—but we needed to find a hotel!
We had no idea where we should stay in London. There are so many different iconic neighborhoods.
Luckily for us, when we looked into hotel options, Black Friday specials were available. So, we looked into a few of the best deals we found.
One of them was in South Bank.
The more we looked into the area, the more it appealed to us due to its central location and convenience.
After spending six days in London, we are so happy that we chose South Bank and would definitely stay in that area again.
At a Glance: Is South Bank a Good Place to Stay in London With Kids?
Our verdict: Yes, it was a great location with easy access to transportation, restaurants, and major sites.
Best for: First-time visitors looking for a hotel in a convenient location
Biggest advantage: Convenience
What we loved: It’s a short walk from Big Ben and the London Eye.
Potential downside: It’s a touristy location, so it may not be ideal if you’re looking to live like a local.
How We Chose Our London Hotel Location
We actually stumbled upon our hotel after a series of happy coincidences. We realized we had enough AMEX points to get our family of four to London cheaply.
As soon as we book flights anywhere, we always secure a hotel to make sure we have a place to sleep (we can always change our reservation later).
It just so happened that we were looking around Black Friday, and we found a good deal for Park Plaza County Hall London.
We checked the location and realized how close it was to the major attractions. The reviews were good, so we went ahead and booked it.
We stayed there for six days in May of 2025.
Why We Loved Staying in South Bank With Kids
We Could Walk to Some of London’s Most Famous Sights
As we researched more about the South Bank area, we quickly realized that it was an amazing location for easy access to iconic sites. The hotel is mere minutes away from the London Eye.
When we landed in London early in the morning, we dropped our baggage off at the hotel and then set out on a sightseeing walk to help beat the jet lag.
Within minutes, we could see Big Ben (which is technically called the Elizabeth Tower) and the Houses of Parliament.
From there, we continued our walk past Westminster Abbey.
Then we strolled through St. James’s Park (and made a quick stop at the playground there) before arriving at Buckingham Palace.
This was a great way to force our bodies to try to adjust to the time difference. It was also nice not to have to figure out transportation when we were extremely jet-lagged. And while we saw a lot of famous landmarks, the walk was easily manageable for our kids (7 and 9 at the time).
Yes, South Bank can feel a little touristy, but tourists flock there for a reason. The location is hard to beat!
We enjoyed strolling past iconic sites like Westminster Abbey on our first day in London.
South Bank Made Our First London Trip Feel Less Overwhelming
On past trips, we’ve stayed further out to save money. It can be nice to feel like you’re getting more of a local experience, but that also comes with longer travel time to/from the hotel and fewer options for restaurants.
We’ve had experiences where we were completely exhausted, dying of hunger, and wandering around aimlessly trying to find a restaurant.
After our experience in South Bank, being centrally located has forever ruined me for future trips.
It was so refreshing to have everything we needed within a short walk from where we were.
It made the trip feel much less stressful to me. With so many restaurants near the hotel, we could return to the South Bank area after a long day, grab something to eat, and then go back to the hotel and crash.
Restaurants and Food Options Were Easy
Having restaurants close by was a really big deal for us. Trying to find food kids will actually eat when everyone is tired and hungry is rough.
Luckily, breakfast was available at the hotel. It was surprisingly good for a hotel breakfast.
We also frequented Nando’s. The kids loved the plain-ish chicken wings.
We enjoyed eating at Locale Southbank a couple of times, too. The pizzas were delicious!
While we do try to find local dishes when traveling, they’re not always hits with everyone. We’ve found it helpful to eat some familiar things, too.
Transportation Was Convenient
The hotel is within walking distance of Waterloo Station, which has access to The Tube (Underground) and trains (National Rail). This made our day trips much easier!
There are bus stops nearby, too.
Plus, many major attractions are within walking distance.
Buckingham Palace was within easy walking distance from our hotel in South Bank.
What We Didn’t Consider Before Booking South Bank
If you’re looking for more of a quiet London experience where you can live like a local, this may not be the area for you.
It definitely feels tourist-heavy.
Westminster Bridge became insanely packed in the middle of the day. That was okay with us, though. We were able to enjoy seeing sites like Big Ben and the London Eye early in the mornings before the crowds hit, and then the afternoons were just a matter of getting through the crowds to continue on our way.
Is South Bank the Best Area to Stay in London With Kids?
There’s not necessarily a perfect place to stay in London. But if you’re looking for convenience, South Bank fits the bill.
Choose South Bank if you:
are visiting London for the first time
want to see major landmarks
enjoy walking
want convenience
You may prefer another area if you:
want a more local feel
have already visited London
want a specific neighborhood experience
Our Hotel Experience: Park Plaza County Hall London
While we initially stumbled upon Park Plaza County Hall London through a Black Friday deal, it proved to be a great find.
We booked it mainly because of the price and location.
Our room was spacious enough for a family of four. There was one bed and one foldout sofa. While it was one room, there was a half-wall that divided the space. There were also two TVs, which came in handy when, in our jet-lagged haze, a couple of us would wake up at 1 a.m.
Our room did not have a view of the London Eye, which would have been cool. (Some rooms there do!)
And our bathroom could have been cleaner. There was some black stuff along the caulking in the shower, which was a bit off-putting.
The included breakfast was nice, though. They had croissants, eggs, bacon, fruit, and many other options. We were pleasantly surprised by the choices that were offered.
The staff was also very kind and offered us to-go boxes when we were in a hurry to catch a train right after the breakfast hours began.
Ultimately, the location, convenience, comfortable beds, and great breakfast options made this hotel a great fit for our family.
How We Fit This Into Our Trip
South Bank proved to be a great base for our six-day visit to London.
The proximity to Waterloo Station allowed us to have easy access to the Tube and trains so that we could explore areas outside of South Bank.
Here's what our six-day itinerary looked like while using South Bank as our home base:
Day 1:
Buckingham Palace
Natural History Museum
Princess Diana Memorial Playground
Day 2:
Stonehenge
Science Museum
Day 3:
Windsor Castle
Day 4:
Tower of London
Borough Market
Globe Theater
Day 5:
Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour
Day 6:
British Museum
British Library Treasures Gallery
Staying in South Bank allowed us easy access to tour pick-up locations, like when we took a day trip to see Stonehenge.
Final Thoughts: Would We Stay in South Bank Again?
Yes, we would absolutely stay in the South Bank area again. We loved the convenient location with easy access to attractions and restaurants.
Because our hotel was so close to Big Ben, we were able to get some great family photos and enjoy the area before the tourist crowds swarmed in (it was packed when we walked through later in the day).
Our kids especially loved the playground at Jubilee Gardens. They would want us to return to the area for that playground alone!
While London has lots of great neighborhoods, if you’re traveling there for the first time as a family, we think you’ll enjoy the South Bank area due to its proximity to major sites, easy access to transportation, and variety of restaurants to choose from.
Continue Planning Your London Trip
Planning a trip to London can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be.
We've put together practical guides based on our family's experience to help you make the most of your vacation—from choosing what to see to building a realistic itinerary.
Check out the articles below to continue planning your trip:
