Exploring London in 24 Hours: A Family-Friendly Itinerary for Kids with Autism
- Feb 20, 2025
- 12 min read
Updated: May 14
London is a tempting choice for an exciting weekend break but it can also feel daunting when you have two autistic boys to support.
Read on to discover how I designed our trip, what we did when we did it, and for how long.
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Why did we take our autistic kids to London on a 24 hour mini-break?
Although we have visited London many times in the past it has always been on a day trip to one of the city's many attractions. With an important anniversary approaching we thought a short minibreak would be a great way to celebrate while allowing us to test the boys' capacity for city stopovers.
London is a fascinating city with huge amounts to offer, and in 24 hours we knew we barely scratched the surface. My main priority was to design a trip around the boys sensory needs; we were concerned the prolonged exposure to a busy city could be challenging for them. Keeping our kids calm and regulated is a key priority for us, but it is far from easy even when we are at home! Introducing new activities and experiences outside of the house was going to take plenty of planning if we were also wanted everyone to have fun.
For more information on visiting London's attractions in addition to the ones we visited on this trip you can read our article Top 10 London Attractions for Autistic Kids.
Was it easy to meet the sensory needs of our autistic children while staying in London?
While trying something new, or going out on an adventure can be difficult for anyone, it is more likely to be difficult for neurodivergent children who may have complex sensory seeking or avoiding behaviours, particularly when away from their safe environments.
This doesn't mean that we shouldn't offer our children the opportunity for fun and adventure - we absolutely should. But understanding your child's sensory needs is key to helping them get the most out of any adventure, no matter how close or far from home you travel. With this in mind I deliberately prioritised movement breaks, calming moments, and sensory activities planning our 24hr minibreak in London.
Overall, J and I were really pleased with how well it went, and despite the cold weather we all had a great time. Read below for a detailed itinerary of our family's minibreak adventure in London and the different techniques / activities we used to help the boys enjoy the experience and stay as calm and regulated as possible.
24hr London Minibreak Itinerary with Autistic Kids
Day one
Preparation / leaving the house
In preparation for the trip I had let our eldest pack his own overnight bag, and made sure he put plenty of comfy, soft items that I know helps him to relax. I also allowed him to throw in last minute transition items as we were leaving the house - even though I knew he didn't really need them! (For more packing tips with autistic kids read my autism-friendly top packing tips here.)
To help our youngest son understand what was happening we put together a visual timetable that showed him what we would be doing that day and the next. We use an A4 board that fits inside a plastic pocket so we can take it with us when we go out. As we complete various activities we take the squares off the board and stick them on the back. After showing / talking through the board with both boys I felt confident that we all knew what was going to be happening that afternoon. We were off to a good start!
We decided to start the trip off in a relaxed fashion by taking a taxi to the train station, instead of walking like we usually would. This was one change the boys were perfectly happy about!
Arriving at our London Hotel
1:50pm: LUGGAGE DROP
After a straightforward train journey we walk from the station to the hotel, situated near Westminster Bridge, and check our bags and the buggy into the luggage store as check-in is not until 3pm.
The London Eye
2pm: THE SOUTHBANK
Having refreshed ourselves at the hotel it was time to head to our main activity for the day - The London Eye - we were all very excited for our 2:15pm flight!
It is situated a short distance from the hotel, which means we were able to have a fun walk together down past Westminster bridge and along the Southbank. Although it was a bit busy, it was a pedestrianised area so we weren't worried about traffic and the boys appreciated the 'movement break', and made the most of being able to jump up and down the steps and pose for photos by random things that caught their eye (like giant icecreams .....)
2:10pm: LONDON EYE (and special assistance)
When we arrived at the London Eye we showed the security team the boy's disability cards and were directed to join the fast track line. We are then waived through security and boarded a capsule reasonably quickly, having avoided the worst of the queue.
The boys enjoyed the ride but were a little uncertain at first. They definitely liked looking down on the train tracks and the river boats. The were both quite loud and a bit jumpy which I sometimes find difficult, its time like these I just have to have a thick skin and remind myself that they have as much right as anyone else to experience things in their own way. The pods are quite big, so we didn't intrude into anyone else physical space which was good. The flight lasted about 30 minutes, so we back down at street level by 2:45pm, perfect timing to head back to the hotel and check in for 3pm.
Read our full guide to visiting the London Eye with autistic children here.
Hotel Check-in
After a slightly fraught check-in, our youngest wouldn't stop running around the lobby and riding the escalators which was a bit stressful, we immediately booked a 3:30pm swim slot - hopefully that would help calm everyone down!
3:30pm: SWIM SESSION
If you have the budget and your children like water than I would highly recommend booking a hotel with a pool. It offers so much from a sensory perspective, and we all really enjoyed our hour’s water play. It was a great way for the boys to let off steam and have fun and they were much more regulated afterwards.
We were back in our room by 4:45pm, and immediately orderd room service for the boys dinner (kids ate free as part of the family package we booked). We are advised wait time 30 – 40 mins so arranged a snack for them using their snack trays they normally have at home. They both liked using these, and their own cutlery which we had also packed, so it was definitely worth it to bring these familiar items from home with us.
5:30pm: DINNER
Dinner arrives, we let them use screens during the meal. Eating in a new place can be difficult for them, and the screens actually helped them focus on the meal and kept them seated around the table. It also meant J and I could relax for a little bit, it had been a pretty full on afternoon.
6pm: TRANSITION TO BEDTIME
After dinner we deliberately play a few active games in the hotel room. These are designed to act like a mini movement break, and we find that encouraging them to spin, jump and dance to a couple of favourite songs helps regulate them before the transition into bedtime. This was followed by a little bit of downtime on their tablets.
To help ensure that bedtime in an unfamiliar space goes as smoothly as possible we have tried to keep to the same timings as we would at home, and have down things in the same order. This coupled with the excitement and physical activity of the day means that miraculously the boys are both asleep by 7:30pm!
We order our own room service and toast what has been a pretty special afternoon and sit back and enjoy the stunning view of the river Thames and an illuminated Big Ben.
Day Two
Wake Up
5:30am Early Birds
In keeping with their routine both boys are awake and up by 6am! We allow them to put the TV on / use their tablets. We wouldn't normally give them screens this early in the day but we hadn't brought any toys with us, so there was nothing else for them to do!
Breakfast
To help keep their blood sugars stable we give both the boys a small snack of oatcakes and fruit around 6:30am. Around 7.30am we start getting the boys dressed and ready. This always seem to take ages as we are really trying to develop their independent dressing skills - which only works if we are totally relaxed and dont try to rush them!
8:00am: BUFFET TIME
We thought we'd be first down to breakfast but were surprised to see how busy it already was. We were offered a nice table but it was in the middle of the room with people all around. We didn't want to be that loud 'annoying family' so asked to move to a quiet area, explaining that our son is autistic. The server was lovely and we are immediately shown to another breakfast room. Although empty when we were seated it slowly filled up while we were there. It was the perfect place for a stress free meal. Our eldest thoroughly enjoyed the hot and cold choices and loved trotting around making people glasses of juice and bringing them pots of jam / spreads etc... a clever way of getting in some OT movement break and 'heavy work' without being obvious about it.
Morning in the Hotel
9:15am: TIME TO RELAX AND ANOTHER SWIM
After the excitement of breakfast we decided to go back to the room for some chill out time and a relaxing activity before getting ready for our 10am swim slot which we had booked the previous afternoon.
Our second swim session was as good as the first (although much busier). Our youngest also really enjoyed the steam room (which he kept sneaking into) and being able to stand under the hot showers without us constantly telling him it was time to finish like we do at home!
11:15am: PREPARING TO LEAVE
We go back to our room and it is clear that the boys are starting to feel the effects of being away from home; despite having had an hour in the pool they still need to engage in sensory seeking play e.g. jumping off sofa onto blankets. We support them with this (piling pillows / blankets onto the floor for them) and then get on with packing up ready to vacate our room and drop the bags in the left luggage store by 12 noon.
Westminster, The Mall and Trafalgar Square
12.10 noon: BIG BEN
With our youngest safely strapped into the buggy we leave the hotel and begin a final couple of hours sightseeing. We start by walking over Westminster Bridge and playing i-spy, taking it in turns to spot interesting lion statues and of course Big Ben, which is looking stunning in the early afternoon sunlight.
On the other side of the bridge we turn right down Whitehall, crossing over the road so our eldest gets to walk right past the Downing Street gates and see where the Prime Minister lives. Our youngest is more interested in spend time admiring the horses used by the mounted police guard.
It is extremely busy, much more than we had expected and the traffic is closed off. We finally work out the crowds have formed to watch the Hollywood actors Mark Wahlberg, Kit Harrington and Michelle Monaghan as they rehearse a film scene on on the other side of the road – they are getting ready to shoot a hostage taking scene on an open-top bus. We stay and watch for a while but the crowds are getting too much for all of us so we decide to move on.
12:45 noon: TRAFALGAR SQUARE
We walk slowly down to the end of Whitehall, waiting for that wow moment we come out on to Trafalgar Square. The boys absolutely love Trafalgar Square – from the gigantic Nelson’s column to the huge lions, water fountains and glistening pools they are wide-eyed with wonder. We get out youngest out the buggy and give them both as much time as they need to run around and explore this exciting new space.
1:20pm: NATIONAL ART GALLERY
A quick trip to the public toilets in the square (we use our RADAR key to access the disable cubicle) and then it is time to head up the stairs to the National Gallery. The queues for timed entry into the National Gallery are extremely long, and I had booked our free ticket for nearly an hour before we arrived, at 12:15noon. I was starting to feel very worried, there was no way the boys would be able to join the end of the line that snaked out and around even if we'd been on time!
We decide to approach the attendant standing outside the queue-less members entrance and ask her if she can help. She sees our sunflower lanyards and amazingly sends us towards another colleague on a priority access queue who waves us straight in. After a brief wait (less than 2 minutes) we are through security and in the gallery. Which proves, if you don't ask, you don't get!
1:30pm: A SPEEDY ART GALLERY VISIT!
The boys are tiring and we can see immediately that this will be a short visit. It is extremely busy and a little overwhelming inside the gallery. Following directions from a gallery assistant, we go straight to the Impressionist room to show our eldest some of the Cezanne paintings his class have been looking during their still life art sessions at school. Our youngest is less interested and much prefers to look at the the paintings of the sea and animals.
To help him cope with the busy environment we keep him supplied with oatcakes, his favourite crunchy snack and offer him some fidget toys, which helps a little bit and buys a bit more time to have a very quick walk through some of the old master galleries – here the boys love counting the angels and gazing at the huge canvases.
By 2pm (just 30 minutes after arriving) our youngest is finished with being in the gallery, so I take him to the café, the other meet us soon after for a quick snack.
2:15pm: BUSKER FUN
We are soon outside in Trafalgar Square again; which goes to prove that it is possible to visit the National Gallery is done and dusted in well under an hour! There is a busker performing on the pedestrianised concord outside.
Recognising the boys really need the fresh air we give them as long as they need to dance and run around the top plaza.
Back to the Southbank
2:30pm: ACROSS THE RIVER THAMES
We leave Trafalgar Square and walk to Charing Cross station. From there we take the walkway that runs alongside the station above street level and continue over the pedestrian footbridge across the River Thames to the Southbank. Our youngest wants to walk while his big brother is delighted to make the most of the free seat in the buggy and hops in for a cheeky rest during the 10 minute ride!
Once on the Southbank the boys have fun exploring some slide-like sculptures they spotted from the bridge before we walk back along the river towards Westminster bridge.
2:45pm: PLAYGROUND JOY
Just near the London Eye there is the Jubilee playground – and despite the cold weather the boys insist on stopping to play, It is a space they are familiar with having visited a number of time before, and with lots of autism-friendly sensory equipment and opportunities to climb and slide it is a great way to end our minibreak in London.
After 20 minutes we call a halt to their play, the temperature is dropping and their is a feeling of cold damp in the air. Everyone's legs are grateful we're only a very short walk from the hotel where we head now to collect our bags.
Leaving London
3:30pm: Time to head home
After collecting our bags we discover there are no trains running out of Waterloo. It is obvious the boys haven’t the energy to cope with a crowded tube journey, luggage and a bus at the other end, so we give in gracefully and order an Uber. The boys and I have a little nap in the back of the car on the way home – and once inside the house we all agree it has been an absolutely amazing minibreak, we all loved our special weekend’s adventure!
Final Thoughts on our overnight minibreak in London
I hope this article has helped you feel confident that a one-night minibreak in London is totally doable for families with autistic kids. Although your family may have different needs to ours, there are ways of making things work for you if you think outside the box and don't try and do too much.
I really noticed what a difference it made taking our visual timetables with us, politely requesting special assistance at busy attractions, using our hidden disability sunflower lanyard / access card and making full use of facilities for movement breaks and calm down time.
Happy Travels x
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Beat the queues and buy advance tickets for the Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour of London*
