Advertisement

The best family-friendly hotels in London

The Landmark London’s Family Escape package includes an indoor tent so that young ones can play at camping.
The Landmark London’s Family Escape package includes an indoor tent so that young ones can play at camping.

A guide to the best family-friendly hotels in London — from budget to five-star — including the best for interconnecting rooms, spacious suites with kitchenettes, free breakfasts, children's activities, kids' menus and complimentary extras for young ones, in areas including Mayfair, Waterloo, Victoria and the Strand.

Brown's Hotel, London
Brown's Hotel, London

Brown's Hotel

Mayfair, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

The grand interconnecting suites are ideal for families looking for luxury; rooms are vast and service — especially for children — is charmingly personalised. Expect sheets embroidered with princesses or pirates, and a play tent, toys and biscuits bearing the name of your child waiting in the room on arrival. All Rocco Forte hotels feature high-quality picture books, specially commissioned for each property, based on fictional characters who live in the hotel — Brown’s has Albemarle, the monkey (a shout-out to Rudyard Kipling, who wrote The Jungle Book in the hotel). The concierges across the group have been briefed to focus on a repertoire of child-friendly activities. Read expert review From £640 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

An insider guide to London

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, London
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, London

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences

Victoria, London, England

9Telegraph expert rating

If you have a larger budget and particularly value your space and privacy then welcome to one of London's best-kept secrets for families. This is a suites-only hotel; all units have fully-equipped and suprisingly spacious kitchens and separate living rooms. The complimentary Kids @ Taj program includes free goodie bags on arrival complete with sketchbook, crayons and a Taj 'passport' stamped by the concierge, and special child amenities in the room (such as miniature slippers and robes). Young guests can also expect cookies with marshmallows and hot chocolate at bedtime. The children's menus in the restaurants show some imagination for once — expect canela waffles and cheesy flatbreads rather than just the usual staples of burgers and chips. Read expert review From £500 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

The best London hotels with parking

The Ampersand, South Kensington, London, England
The Ampersand, South Kensington, London, England

The Ampersand Hotel

Kensington, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

This boutique hotel, which is perfectly placed for exploring London’s Museum Mile, is quiet and intimate but also laid back and unintimidating — which makes it an ideal choice for families. There is a games room filled with children’s books, curios and board games, from chess and backgammon to ludo and Rubik’s Cubes. There is even a full-sized ping pong table. The space is particularly popular for birthday hires, especially as the hotel’s talented head pastry chef Sezwin Mascarenhas always makes the cake. Families are best off booking one of the deluxe studios or suites, which can take a fold-out bed and include small kitchenettes. Interconnecting rooms are also available. Read expert review From £246 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

The best restaurants in London

Park Plaza County Hall, London
Park Plaza County Hall, London

Park Plaza County Hall

Waterloo, London, England

7Telegraph expert rating

Does what it does very well from its position just south of Westminster Bridge. Efficient and functional, with an atmosphere that suits both business travellers and tourists. The views from some of the rooms are outstanding. Read expert review From £159 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

The best four-star hotels in London

The Landmark London, England
The Landmark London, England

The Landmark London

Marylebone, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

Guests seeking some of the biggest entry-level rooms in London need look no further. The cheapest sleeping quarters are a whopping 592 sq ft. Family rooms sleep two adults and two children; extra beds can be put in for £60. Expect an in-room children's pack that features bathrobes and slippers for young ones, and bottle warmers, baby bath tubs and highchairs as required. Children will also love the Winter Garden restaurant's chocolate afternoon tea, which includes coconut and chocolate macaroons and banana, pecan nut and milk chocolate cake. The hotel's 'Family Escape' packages also include an indoor tent and headlamp so that children can play at camping. Read expert review From £427 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

The best bars and pubs in London

Haymarket Hotel, London
Haymarket Hotel, London

Haymarket Hotel

Trafalgar Square, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

Children will love the explosion of colour and fabric at this punchy five-star boutique hotel. It is particularly big on complimentary children’s amenities: little guests get a welcome gift, mini bathrobes, milk and cookies at bedtime, a London-themed activities book, board games and their own special bathroom toiletries. The funky magenta-lit swimming pool is child-friendly, with free inflatable toys on offer. Babysitting is available too. The children’s menu in the Brumus restaurant is thoroughly decent (minute steak, cod goujons, banana splits). Deluxe rooms can accommodate a cot, and suites have sitting areas that can be converted to accommodate up to two extra beds. Two-bedroom suites and a townhouse with five double bedrooms are also on offer. Read expert review From £360 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

The best budget hotels in London

The Nadler Victoria, London
The Nadler Victoria, London

The Nadler Victoria

Victoria, London, England

7Telegraph expert rating

An ideal budget option for families visiting the West End and Theatreland. Rooms are compact but also comfortable and minimalist and feature kitchenettes — not state-of-the-art but perfectly adequate for rustling up breakfast for the troops or warming a baby bottle in the microwave. The superior rooms sleep two adults and a child; televisions and free access to Love Film are handy to keep young ones amused when it's relaxation time. No breakfasts are available (the lack of on-site food facilities is what helps to keep the room rates low), but it is possible to order breakfast from Gail’s Artisan Bakery next door (£7). Read expert review From £131 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

The best hotels in central London

St James's Hotel and Club, London, England, United Kingdom
St James's Hotel and Club, London, England, United Kingdom

St James's Hotel & Club

Mayfair, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

This plush hotel has its own dedicated kids' concierge, Tony O'Connell, who will recommend activities based on the child's age and interests — and don't expect the obvious. Think left-field suggestions such as ceramic classes in Greenwich, raceway karting in the Docklands and getting a flavour of life on board a Tudor ship. Deluxe suites can accommodate two adults and extra beds for up to two children, and interconnecting rooms are also available. The restaurant serves a playful board game-inspired afternoon tea, featuring a snakes and ladders board fashioned from chocolate mousse and cherries, and a Monopoly top hat made of orange jelly and chocolate sponge. Read expert review From £319 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

• The best things to do in London

Royal Garden Hotel

Hyde Park, London, England

8Telegraph expert rating

As well as spacious (and several interconnecting) rooms, this Kensington hotel offers free Micro Scooters for children and parents to whizz around Hyde Park with, and a dedicated children’s entertainment duo known as Sharky and George who organise everything from outdoor treasure hunts to Mary Poppins tours. The hotel has a special focus on food-themed fun for children: there is a ‘make your own’ ice cream sundae menu (from £6), a children’s afternoon tea that features peanut butter jelly sandwiches and chocolate scones (£13), and free milkshakes are available every day. The hotel recently introduced a ‘flicks and food’ option for rainy days too: unlimited films for 24 hours and pizza, coke floats and popcorn to accompany (£40 for one adult and one child). Read expert review From £224 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com