Family-Friendly Travel Tips for Visiting the UK       

The UK has a lot to offer, from low ranging museums and world class museums, to ancient castles, lush green parks, charming villages and more. Whether by your first and possibly perfect family road trip or your twentieth return trip with the family, traveling with your family is much easier when you know going in what to look forward to and how to prepare. First of all, make sure your UK visa is ready to go to a smooth and stress free travel.

Applying for your UK Visa from UAE in advance if you are traveling from the Emirates is a smart move. This grants you more of a chance to focus on planning your family friendly itinerary! There are so many activities in the UK that cater to all ages and it is one of the best places for parents to travel with children. In the following blog, we highlight various tips to ensure that you make the most out of your UK trip with your people.

Here are some family-friendly travel tips for visiting the UK

1. The Best Time to Travel

While weather can alter a trip with kids significantly, travel can alter a weather pattern. Spring and summer are best in the UK if you want it family friendly as outdoor attractions are in full flow. Try to travel early or late out of peak times as school holidays can be costly and busy. The weather is still pleasant and popular spots will have more space. And as little ones tend to draw fewer crowds, means less waiting time, which every mom with small children loves.

2. Go for Family-Centered Accommodation

Unfortunately, a family trip is only made or broken by the comfort of the stay. There are plenty of hotels and serviced apartments that provide cribs, family suites and even small play areas for kids. Many budget hotels advertise that they offer ‘kids stay free’ offers. Having kitchen equipped vacation rentals can be really handy, as these allow you some flexibility with mealtimes and bed time routines. With younger children, the comforts of home are very important when traveling.

3. Use Public Transport

Families are blessed with the UK’s public transportation. Trains, buses and subways are well connected, safe and usually stroller accessible. Many railcards give discounts for families and kids under five often travel for free. Without renting a car, many attractions are easily reachable. Riding on a large red big bus or a scenic train route can be a small adventure in itself for the inquisitively young travelers.

4. Add Interactive Museums to Your List

If your kids aren’t into the traditional museums don’t worry, there are plenty of fun interactive ones! Picture science experiments, dinosaurs and virtual experiences. There are just two favorites, the Natural History Museum in London and Glasgow Science Centre. These places are many and most of them have hands on exhibits and creative zones for kids to play and learn at the same time. Consequently, it’s a nice way to make sightseeing educational and engaging.

5. Make Time for the Great Outdoors

The UK is one of the most beautiful countries, but one of the best parts of UK is its abundance of beautiful parks and open spaces. Little legs are always going to need a stretch, who knows more places to do that than from royal parks in London down to countryside trails in the Lake District. They have play areas, bikes rental and picnics places. The coastal areas are also great, including seaside towns in Brighton or Cornwall.

6. Keep Your Itinerary Simple

However, it is not unreasonable to want to keep every hour occupied, but it can be nice to just be flexible with a schedule and not always have to have kids doing something. Pick one or two main attractions per day and take breaks and snack. You will enjoy the trip if not rushing. Typically, slow travel results in fewer tantrums, more spontaneous fun and the chance to actually absorb all that’s happening around you. Sometimes it’s worth letting your kids do the setting of the pace.

7. Dine without the Stress

Trying not to eat out is not a challenge. Most UK restaurants and pubs are family friendly with kids’ menus and high chairs available. Chain restaurants like Pizza Express and Nando’s are usually a safe bet. There are also cozy cafes with baby changing stations and child friendly environment. Picking up snacks and meal options in supermarkets and food markets is great if you’re staying somewhere which has a kitchen.

8. Pack Smart for All Kinds of Weather

When the UK weather can turn on a sixpence it can be one of three options, layer as it could be wet. Put on pack raincoats, extra socks and comfy shoes for walking. A light jacket is handy even in summer. Sunscreen, refillable water bottles, and favorite snacks for the family are all essentials. Just in case you can never have a small first aid kit. The difference between being well prepared and not is that the former means less surprises and more time taking pleasure in your adventures.

Conclusion

Traveling to the UK with the family is perhaps one of the best travel experiences one can decide to visit. It provides the best of adventure and comfort from enjoyable experiences to attractions that are fun to all ages. Castles, park feeding ducks, watching street shows are some of the things you will make memories that will be with your family forever. Just take a little preparation and the journey will be smooth and enjoyable.

Without checking your travel documents one last time, you have to zip up your suitcase. So, if you are planning to get your UK Visa from UAE early, then you will not have to face any surprises at the last moment. A family trip to the UK with the right mindset, flexible planning, and even with a dash of fun, I guarantee your family trip to the UK will become an amazing flip of your travel story.