I am considering taking the family (spouse and two girls 11&14) to London over a school break in November (yes, November). I have not been to the UK in almost 20 years, so, I am not sure where to even start. Weather-wise, I know what to expect, but am looking for suggestions as to family-friendly lodging (B&B or quality hotels) as well as opinions on sightseeing during the late fall. Thanks!

We were just there in January and properly dressed (in layers with rain gear) it was perfectly comfortable. You might want to plan more museums (Museum of London, Victoria and Albert, Natural History, Tate Modern were our favorites) than walking outside like down Pall Mall or Hyde Park, but again properly dressed it can be quite enjoyable without the crowds of other seasons. Enjoy planning your trip!

November weather can be anything so bring layers and be warned it gets dark soon after 4.00pm!
Not sure of your budget and preferred area but accommodation and food in London is expensive, no doubt about it and rooms are smaller than in the US so have you considered an apartment?

Not all agencies are good - make sure you are paying the apartment owner and do not pay more than one nights deposit. Also make sure you get the name and address and phone number of the apartment. One company that are small and reliable are Coach House London Vacations who have a website: www.chslondon.com
Another is Somerset who have about 6 apartment blocks in great locations. Check them out at www.the-ascott.com

B&B's can be very good value but are often on the edge of town. Have a look at www.specialplacestostay.com for some good choices.

Hope that gets you started but please do ask more questions if we can help in any further way and have a wonderful trip!

Adam C
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We took our boys- 9 and 13- to London and Edinburgh two years ago- it was just fantastic.
Your girls will like Covent Garden- it's fun and lively, but try and go on a pretty day if you get one.
Should do some Theatre- maybe Mary Poppins? I hear it's great- a bit more like the book than the movie. or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Ghost Walks are geat for seeing the town on foot and getting out a bit in the evening- if it gets too long just say "thank you" and leave- the guide won't mind.
Our BEST day was a Sunday- we started by dressing up a bit and attending service at Westminster Abbey- then walked outside with no plans- got in a cab and asked the driver to take us somewhere for a proper Sunday luncheon- he took us to RULES- which was exactly what we wanted- what a great atmosphere! I would not have been surprised to see Thackeray having lunch with Charles Dickens at the next table. I can still see my 9-year-old's face when he tasted sticky toffee pudding for the first time. After lunch we went to Hamley's- the "best toy store ever"- it reminded me of when my dad used to take me to the old FAO Shwartz on very special occasions. Then we went to Fortnum and Mason and enjoyed the food hall- bought lovely cheese and charcuterie and very fancy pastries- took this back to the apartment and had hot baths and a very elegant picnic in our PJs while watching the BBC. Our favorite day- and it poured rain the whole time.

Going to London in November can be a good choice...especially since you already know that the weather can be, er, "imperfect" at the time (it may be fine though). Keep in mind that nightime comes early at that lattitude in November, so plan your sightseeing accordingly.

After a 20 year absence, what you may not expect is how expensive London has become. Lodging and food are quite high. So it would help if you could give us some idea of your budget, especially for lodging. Also, how long are you staying? Renting an apartment may work well for a longer visit.

Many tourist sights close early (4-6 pm) in London. In the evenings, there are fewer sightseeing options, but some museums have late openings one night per week; some stores stay open late; and London's theatre offerings are extensive (even for family-friendly shows).

Will check back...and post more specific advice if you add some details.

Dave White
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Christmas time in London is magic. We went a little closer to Christmas a few years ago and loved it. I assume you will be going over the Thanksgiving break and Lond should be geared up for Christmas by then. We stayed at a family run place called the Vicarage in Kensington and enjoyed the location and the people who rand the place. They have quad rooms if that is what you are looking for but it is a "down the hall" no-elevator walk up.

I agree with Sbparadis about Hamley's toy store. It was a great place to go and watch the kids. It is 4-5 stories with lots of people demonstrating the toys everywhere you look.

Get your rain gear and enjoy your trip.

I think November will be just fine as long as you're prepared clothes-wise. One doesn't go to London for the weather anyway. For the girls: think Tower of London with a Beefeater tour, be sure to take them to Harrod's, Cabinet War Rooms are great, too. Have the girls read lots before you go; there's so much British history stuff written for their ages. If you want specific suggestions, I can provide some. Do the double decker bus thing; maybe take the train to Hampton Court so they can see an amazing castle. Bath is wonderful if you want to venture out of London. The Changing of the Guard is terribly boring, in my opinion and I wouldn't stand out in bad weather to do it. Take them to Parliament; some years back we got tickets to watch a session.

We have 2 teenage girls, 13 & 17, and were in London Xmas 2004. I wanted a real vacation, not an apartment. We got a terrific deal on 2 rooms with 2 bathrooms, 2 mini fridges, etc. in South Kensington at a Holiday Inn. True, you won't get the shabby chic of some bedsitter in Bloomsbury, but you will be 5 minute walk from Glouchester Rd tube station and walking distance to V&A museum, Science Museum and on bus line to Harrod's, Harvey nicks, etc. We got terrific price using Priceline, see www.biddingfortravel.com for advice. Yes, food in London is VERY expensive. We enjoyed having mini fridge and use of microwave, as there was a Sainsbury's or Waitrose which had lots of take out stuff, we ate breakfast in room as hotel supplied coffee and we bought fruit, yogurt, cheese, etc. There TONS of fast food places, if that is your thing, or American chain restaurants. Lots of cheap ethnic places (Thai, Indian, Chinese, etc.) Our girls are big time shoppers and adored the Xmas sales on Oxford St. Almost all of the museums are free and the girls loved all of them. We spent an entire day at the British museum. They did the Tate Modern by themselves and the Globe as well. We were very successful in giving them tube tickets, hotel phone number of concierge, and some GBP and they went off for 2 separate days with no troubles. We didn't spend a lot of time in parks, as it was cold, but we never felt like we suffered. It was warm enough one day for a Thames cruise to Greenwich and that was a big hit. We did not do the London eye, but not because of the weather (very $$$). Do your homework, make an itinerary but be prepared to be flexible if weather changes or tastes change. Have fun!!

I've gone to London in Nov for the last 3 straight years. I do go to London for the weather. I prefer cooler weather -so London in Nov is perfect for me. Fewer tourists, museums are less crowded. Pubs are warm and inviting.

As noted, be prepared for a more expensive London. Fortunately, plenty of free and low cost things to do. Most musuems are free, noontime concerts free. The TKTS booth in Leicester Square will help in saving money for the theatre. Enjoy your trip.

As my British friend Mary replied when I asked her if I should go to London in November, "It rains all year 'round in London. Don't let that stop you!" and it didn't. We had a pretty heavy downpour on the day we arrived, then a few rainy days, followed by chilly, sunny days.

We stayed in a house in Knightsbridge which was pricey, but memorable for my girls. I believe it was $400 per night, but had 3 bedrooms and bathrooms! It was 2 blocks from Harrods. The website for the property manager is: http://www.placelikehome.co.uk/

I think that some of the museums are open on various nights, we went to the British Museum at night. Plan some nighttime activities because it will be dark for half of your days there. We went to the movies (fun to see Love Actually in Kensington!) and my husband took two of the kids to a football game (Fulham vs Portsmouth) - that was an experience. You must be able to go with the flow. It got a bit rowdy.

We took 2 day trips - Windsor Castle, which was impressive, and a day trip to Cambridge where we saw the Evensong service at Kings College that was enjoyed by everyone. On the train on the way home, we met a delightful college student who took us on a "tour" of Camden Market the next morning. We also did the obligatory bus tour, but we got pretty cold up top and had to move inside. It seemed a little long too (2 hours). The Tower of London was more interesting that I thought it would be and since it was November, no lines! Parliament opened while we were there, which was fascinating. We also enjoyed the tour of St. Paul's.

I would go to London in November in a heartbeat. You'll have a great time.

Hi,
how long will you be in London? An apartment may be easier. I have just rented a 2 bedroom apartment in Kensington for Sept/Oct for 4 nights. The benefit is a washing machine, kitchen etc. I also dislike staying in the type of hotels that I can afford!
www.vrbo.com lisitng # 22387.
The properties on vrbo are all owned and managed by the owners.Lots to choose from.
good luck.

The Globe is a great idea; I had forgotten about that. My kids had done some reading about Shakespeare beforehand and that helped. The docent really focused on the kids and answered all their questions. Kids get into the British Museum, too, especially the mummies.

We took a 13-year-old to London for 5 days in February and had a great time. Our son read about London sights and picked a few; in fact each of us did, and then we played it by ear in planning each day/night. A highlight was taking the Tube and DLR (great Docklands views on the DLR) for a day in Greenwich (so pretty) to see the Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory as well as Wren's Royal Naval College. Then we took the boat (near the Cutty Sark) back to near Westminster. Chilly but what city views! Our active teen also loved climbing up to the observation deck of St. Paul's (a good city view). The girls might like Kensington Palace, easy to combine with a Hyde Park stroll; you get a feeling for how the royals lived, and royal clothing (notably some of Diana's dresses) are on display. Shopping--even if just window shopping---and a play (TKTS will help with price) will be big hits. We stayed at the Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt in South Kensington because they had a special. Room and bath were small,as we expected, but our son really loved the hot English breakfast included in the price. There are many cheaper food places in that area. Wherever you stay in London, think about street noise. If you are not used to it, ask for a room facing away from the street.

Thanks to all that have made suggestions. I am not horribly picky about location other than to want a relatively safe area with good access to public transportation. No more than 170GBP per night -- and hopefully lower. We hope to fly out on the Friday evening prior to Thanksgiving and return on Thanksgiving Day, so we would need five nights lodging.

As I live in a city on the US mid-Atlantic coast, cities are not something that "scare" me. And, once we hit daylight savings time here in the US, I'm used to nightfall at 4:30ish, so adjusting to London shouldn't be an issue. In addition, the temp and rainfall averages for November in London are almost identical to what I deal with at home, so that should not prove too challenging, either.

Thanks, again, for all the suggestions and for the ones to come. Will check out the suggested websites this afternoon. It's so good to actually see that my plans are beginning to take on real substance!