The best family days out in London and beyond rated by kids and teens
Published: 13th January 2021
KidRated’s “Celebrity Best Days Out” is our series, where famous faces reveal their favourite childhood destinations and the top spots they love to explore today, with their families in London and beyond.
Hopefully this blend of star-powered nostalgia and fresh family fun ideas will inspire you as you plan a great day out with your kids and teenagers.
During lockdown I launched a podcast series called Grounded with Louis Theroux in which I have long-form conversations via Zoom with interesting people.
Guests included the likes of Rylan, Frankie Boyle, Michaela Coel and Sia. They still hold up and if you want to listen to the 21 episodes, you can still find them via the BBC Sounds app.
A dapper young Louis in an assortment of fashion
I lived in South London with my mum, dad and brother. Our Sunday ritual was to get an Indian meal at the Taj Mahal in Putney and then go and run around in Richmond Park. It was my favourite place to visit as a kid, especially in the Autumn as there were swathes of bracken you could play hide-and-seek in.
Giraffe on London’s South Bank
My favourite place to eat with the family is Giraffe on the South Bank. It’s not that the food is amazing but they are kid-friendly and you can make noise without feeling too self-conscious. They also do pretty good juices, coffees and Bloody Marys.
Afterwards, you can wander around the South Bank and browse the secondhand books at the outdoor market and maybe buys some freshly fried churros from one of the food vans.
I’d recommend staying in a hotel for a change instead of an airbnb, and maybe doing it in the UK.
Last Autumn, when restrictions eased up a little, we spent three nights at Losehill House Hotel and Spa in Derbyshire in the Peak District. It was the first time in ages we’d been waited on instead of self-catering. It felt like pure luxury.
Rambles through beautiful countryside, then warming up beside a fire, with cocktails and a delicious meal.
A perfect day out with the family would probably involve a visit to a historical house or stately home, a National Trust property, with grounds to run around in.
Other activities would include looking at a few paintings, getting lunch or maybe a picnic, then playing hide and seek outside.
Polesden Lacey in Surrey, Cliveden in Berkshire, Hever Castle in Kent are all tested and approved by the Theroux family.
Three places I love going with my kids: Kew Gardens; Chinese meal plus bowling in QUEENS SKATE DINE BOWL; pub meal plus walk along the Thames around Chiswick.
Special mention: lunch at Rubio’s in Harlesden and then a walk down to Roundwood Park. We recently started using the skatepark there.
For transportation: definitely cycle if I’m on my own. My littlest is still a bit young for us all to cycle en famille.
The Bike Project take secondhand bikes, fix them up and donate them to refugees and asylum seekers in London and Birmingham. Louis donated his bike to The Bike Project in 2019.
If you time it right, you can picnic outside the Regent’s Park Theatre and listen to the music spill over. I enjoyed half a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar last year. Granted, it’s a bit muffled, but you can get the gist.
Louis Theroux is great, it’s nice to see what he had to say. and where he recommends. Grounded is a great listen.