London, Paris or Madrid with 7 yr old child in May?

We just returned from a trip with our 7 year old son (we were also traveling with our 4 and 2 year old sons as well so it a was a somewhat different experience) and we decided on London before heading to Poland for a family wedding. London was perfect for a 7 year old and I would highly recommend it as there was so much to do. To give you an idea of just some of the things we did, we toured Buckingham Palace (it is open in August), the Tower of London, The Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Museum, and the London Transport Museum. We visited Greenwich and the Prime Meridian, we went to the Cabinet War Rooms, visited Harrods, rode the London Eye and visited the Tate Modern Museum. We climbed the Tower Bridge and walked across the Millenium Bridge. We visted Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's. We went to the Musuem of the Docklands where the kids did an archecological dig (this was a temporary exhibit so I do not know how long it will last but it was great). We did brass rubbings at the Brass Rubbing Center at Trafalgar Scquare, we took a cruise on the Thames and we visitsed Hampton Court. The boys loved everything and most, if not all, of the musuems have special programs for kids including scavenger hunts and other things. We were in London for 8 days and my sons would have been delighted to spend another week in London. They loved playing in the parks and viiting the palaces. I think one of the things that made London so excisting for the kids is that it was clear that we were in a foreign country but they were still able to understand everything. Although they loved Poland and have been to France and other places where they do not speak the langauge (and they enjoyed them all), since they are learning to read they loved being able to understand everything. While Paris and Madrid are wonderful cities and do have lots of options for kids, I think London offers more for children to see but that is just my opinion. We ended up staying in a flat in Notting Hill which was great since we were able to cook a few meals. London is not cheap but it was a great time. In terms of hotels and areas, it really depends on your budget. Some of the hotel I really enjoy staying at are One Aldwych in the West End, The Berkeley in Knightsbirdge and the Halkin in Belgravia. Although very different from each of these, the Marriott County Hall offers great views and is nicely located along the Thames and right across from Big Ben and Parliament. It largely depends on your budget and what amenities you need (for example, pools are hard to come by in London). The only thing I would recommend for sure is that you chose a hotel near a tube stop as this will reduce some of the walking. Hopefully this helps. If you have additional questions, please let me know.

I have been to all 3 cities and I decided to take my daughter (age 12) to Paris for 9 days.
She loved it. There is too much to do there. It was my 2nd trip and I didn't have to repeat anything. There is a Paris for Kids guidebook which you could check into, but I brought the Rick Steves one with us.

My first trip, we stayed in the Latin Quarter and the second in Montmartre. It was important to be near a Metro Stop.

I agree that London would be a great choice too for all of the above reasons listed by bowdoin.

Skip Madrid for this trip. It was my least favorite European city and I've seen most of Western Europe. We loved eating tapas and drinking wine. Glad the kids were at home.

Bowdoin - I couldn't agree more. I have been to London and Paris as well, albeit some 20 years ago (post marriage and child). I knew London would be a winner among the three but figured times have changed and I'd "put it out there" to see. Looks like London will win even though the hubby is fluent in Spanish. As lovely as Madrid is, it just doesn't have enough to offer children. Now it looks like we just have to work on accomodations as there is a possibility i might have someone's timeshare for 7 days. thanks so much for your input.

I would do London - as most accessible for a child. Madrid can already be very hot then - and while Paris is a great city I think it would be more enjoyable for an older child.

As for where to stay - that depends on your budget. We always stay in either Mayfair or Knightsbridge - to be within walking distance of some sights and several parks. With a small child I would probably rent an apartment, so you can go to bed at different times and have breakfast and snacks whenever you want without dealing with room service.

However - have you considered asking the child? Let her look at some brochures with some of the major sights - and parks, etc - and see what seems to interest her most.

(We went with my stepdaughters who preferred Paris to London - but they were older - 11 and 14 - and loved the idea of trying out their French and being SO sophisticated.)

nytraveler - I'm totally on your page with the whole travel thing. My DD is jhust starting with the French so I don't think she'll appreciate it yet...but most defintiely by 11 and 14 so she cna really soak it up. My DD did have her say after given all the information and after all of us voted it was 65/35 for London over Paris. Even though the hubby still insists his fluency in Spanish should have made Madrid the winner. Not so in this case. As for rooms, as I said earlier I may have a weeks timeshare at my disposale. If I do not, apartment will be our next choice as we always prefer more room anyway. thanks again.

My 6 yr old granddaughter loved Paris this past April. If you want to skim through my report, go to http://tinyurl.com/mkv9kd

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time wherever you choose.

If you do choose London then there is more than one guide book to London for children. If you have time go to the V&A Museum of childhood. Very close to Bethnal Green station on the Central Line. Permanent displays on toys and the experience of childhood. It has a website with information on the changing exhibitions as well as practical stuff.

Frankly, go where you want to go. Your child will probably not remember much about the trip if she's only 7 years old. How much do you remember from when you were 7?

My daughter's memory serves her well, quite frankly. And as for how much I remember, ONLY the moemntos occasions such as TRIPS!

I think you should go where you want to go because you're daughter will enjoy being with you and sharing your excitement.

But that said, be aware that people eat dinner very, VERY late in Madrid.

And I'm surprised people think London is "more accessible" than Paris for a young child. Paris is filled with extraordinary wonders and fancy places, chocolates, bon bons, the Eiffel Tower, a pretty river, gargoyles, a zippy metro, fantastic parks. marvelous carousels, boat trips, lights all night, fishbowl cafes.

London seldom sparkles like that.

Oh! I see you already made your choice. I hope your husband is reconciled to spending that kind of dough to go with a six year old's preference when he wanted to go someplace else and use his language skills.

Zeppole - in this house, my daughter has more pull with my husband than I do!!! LOL! But we have not conclusively decided just yet. These airfares are playing tricks on us now so destination is still in FLUX! besides, the DH has his heart set on the bull fihgts - STILL!!!!!

If bullfights were a requirement in Madrid, then I would absolutely choose a different city--but I'm not you.
Madrid is only a few hours from the white shining villages along the coast, and even Andalucia isn't that far away if you use high speed rail.
A lot of your daughter's experience will depend on the choices you make within what's available. Thanks to a babysitter so poor I had to fire her midconference (left the 5-yr-old alone in the room in a hotel with a back staircase after I had clearly said not to), my son had much more fun in Bryan TX (children's museum, little train statues all over town, and a babysitter who could 'never' find him in hide-and-seek in the park) than in San Francisco.

My first overseas visit was to London when I was 5 and my daughter's when she was 4 and again at 6. I totally disagree that your little one won't remember this or that this doesn't count, somehow. Its just that the things that are meaningful to kids are different. The following is a brief list of the things that DD and I recall of those "firsts".

Beefeater Guards, eating fish and chips from newspaper cones, the Peter Pan statue in the park, the dolls house in the V&A, the interactive exhibits in the British Museum, Pearly King and Queen busking in Cockney London, the story of the little princes in the Tower of London, London Bridge not falling down, eating ice "lollies", the boat ride on the Thames down to Greenwich, how different "spaghetti-o's" tasted in England, riding on top of a double-decker bus, going on a train...

But mostly, being with a Mum and Dad who are pleased as punch with life and not fretting about work!

IMHO, this first big trip sets kids up for a life-time of adventure: have a ball with yours and she will love you for the memories years from now!

She is very likely to remember a bull fight.

I wouldn't give a child -- even one older than that -- so much of a voice in a destination choice without a compelling reason (like an unusually pronounced interest or talent, or to further learning another language).

I went to Europe with my parents at ages 7, 8, and 9. Our very first place was London. All I remember were the toy stores - amazing - and the parks. Switzerland really stands out in my mind. But if I were to choose now I would go to Paris. I love Paris. We are taking our 1 year old daughter to Madrid and San Sebastian in a few weeks only because of miles and my husband said no to France but I think any place you go will be wonderful.

westcoastdreamer, saacnmama and LJ - so refreshing to receive advice and comments from fellow Fodorites who have common sense and realytravel knowledge. Thanks so much for your unbiased responses from real life experience! LJ, wahat you expressed is the exact verbage I fed my husband on the numerous nights we have discussed this trip. it was as if you read my mind. My DD has been travelling since she is 7 days old and I cry everytime we are able to provide her with another travel memory. It not only builds an everlasting bond and memories, but it fills her with such love for adventure and really stirs the curiosity too! Not to mention the incredible HIGH I get foir being able to share it all with her. So unlike my own childhood. The final decision is still to be determined.

Do let us know and then, if you can do a Trip Report that reflects true life traveling-with-child adventures...there are some great ones (like the Elmo tales) but still too few of them on here!

For the record: DD is now 26 and recently married to another whose parents innoculated him with a love of travel. Between them they speak 5 languages and are on their way to postings in Belgium...the price? privilege? you pay for giving your child a taste of the world is having to visit them in foreign lands for years and years to come!

I just got an email that United has a new flight from Wash. D.C. direct to Madrid. Price seems to be $199. Worth checking out.
It seems to me that of those of you who traveled to Europe as children, you remember highlights of where ever it was that you were. So back to my original thought......parents should go where THEY want to go. Kids will remember what they remember.

My daughter who just turned 9 has been to all three in the last two years. She ranked Paris #1, London #2 and then Madrid. I tried to get specifics from her but didn't get much feedback. I do remember that she was very upset about bullfights. She hated seeing photos of the bulls, spears in the gift shops and the thought of matadors made her mad. She loved the dancing horses of Jerez, windmills and the processions during holy week in Seville (all three quite a distance from Madrid).
Paris was wonderful with the various museums, tons of walking, awesome gardens and we even did disneyland paris at the end of the week. Good luck in your decision.