24 hours in London with Autistic Kids: How to avoid a meltdown & still have fun!

In February I booked a last minute weekend break in London for my husband, myself and our two autistic boys.

We were pretty nervous, keeping our kids calm and regulated is a priority for all autism parents, but it is far from easy. Every hour, even minute of the day brings our children new sensory processing challenges, external and internal demands that left unchecked can quickly overwhelm them. Introducing new activities and experiences outside of the home can sometimes be very challenging.

Understanding the sensory needs of autistic children when travelling

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. Which is not to say that as autism parents we shouldn't offer our children the opportunity for fun and adventure - we absolutely should. Whatever happens we will learn more about our children, and inevitably about ourselves and the world around us.

I have recently been doing lots of reading on sensory diets and how to work with sensory seeking / avoiding behaviours in autistic children, particularly when away from the home environment. It is clear from my reading that understanding the sensory needs of our children is a vital part of supporting them to enjoy and participate fully in the world around them.

With this in mind I did our best to design the trip around the boys sensory needs and thought really carefully about what we did when, and for how long. As part of this I consciously tried to include these three key elements throughout our 24hrs in London:

• movement breaks

• calming moments

• sensory activities

I really noticed what a difference it made introducing these elements into our adventure, along with:

• using visual timetables

• politely requesting reasonable adjustments

• using our hidden disability sunflower lanyard / access card

• and making use of accessible facilities

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 outline of our family's 24 hour 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.

DAY ONE

Before we left we put together a visual timetable for Charlie that showed him what we were doing that day. We use an A4 board that fits inside a plastic pocket. This means we are able to take it with us when we go out and Charlie can refer back to it or we can show it to him if he starts looking confused. 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 Charlie and Fred, I felt confident that we all knew what was going to be happening that afternoon. We were off to a good start!

As mentioned on my packing essentials top tips page - I had also let Fred 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 didnt really need them!

TAXI TO TRAIN STATION

Easier than walking and a nice start to the adventure.

1:50pm            

We arrive at our hotel near Westminster Bridge and check our bags and the buggy into the luggage store.

2pm: MOVEMENT BREAK

Leaving the buggy meant we could have a fun walk together along the Southbank from Westminster Bridge. Although it was a bit busy, the boys liked 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: REQUEST REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT - LONDON EYE

We present Charlie's Access Card and are allowed join the fast track line for our 2:15pm trip on the London Eye. We are then waived through security and board a capsule almost immediately with no need to 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 didnt intrude into anyone else physical space which was good.

2:45pm            

Disembark after enjoying our 30minute ride on the London Eye.

3pm                  

It’s a short walk back to our hotel to check in. Immediately pre-book 3:30pm swim slot.

3:30pm: SENSORY ACTIVITY

We head down to the indoor pool for an hour’s water play - this was great way for the boys to let off steam and have fun.

4:50pm: BRING FAMILIAR ITEMS

Back in our room we order room service for Fred's dinner (kids ate free as part of the last minute family package).  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.

5:30pm            

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 at the table.

6pm: MOVEMENT BREAK

We play active games in the hotel room. These are designed to meet sensory seeking needs, like spinning, jumping and dancing to their favourite songs.

6:30pm: CALMING ACTIVITY

TV / Fire tablet time to calm them down before bed.

7:00pm: CONSISTENT ROUTINE

To ensure bedtime goes smoothly, we do exactly the same that we would do at home in the same order and both boys are asleep by 7:30pm.

DAY TWO

5am - 6am                 

Boys wake up

6am                  

TV allowed on / amazon fire tablets. We wouldn't normally let them be used this early but we hadn't brought any toys with us, so there was nothing else for them to do!

6:30am: EMOTIONAL REGULATION

Mini breakfast for Charlie of oatcakes and fruit to help keep his blood sugar stable and help him stay calm.

7:30am            

Everyone starts to get dressed, ready for breakfast. 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: REQUEST REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT

Go down to hotel restaurant for buffet breakfast. It was very busy. We are offered a nice table but it is in the middle of the room with people all around - it has 'annoying family' written all over it. We ask to move to a quiet area because our son is autistic. The server is lovely and we are immediately shown to another breakfast room which is currently empty, but slowly fills up while we are there. It is the perfect place for a stress free meal. Fred thoroughly enjoys the hot and cold choices and loves trotting around making people glasses of juice and bringing them pots of jam / spreads etc (MINI MOVEMENT BREAKS).

9:15am: CALMING ACTIVITIES

After the excitement of breakfast we go back to the room for some chill out time and relaxing activity before getting ready for our 10am swim slot.

10am: SENSORY ACTIVITY

We go down to enjoy another water play session in the hotel pool. Charlie really likes the showers, and the steam room.

11am: MOVEMENT BREAK

We go back to our room and it is clear the boys 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 leave.

12noon            

Vacate our room and go to reception to check out, leave bags in left luggage store.

12.10 noon     

With Charlie in the buggy we walk over Westminster Bridge spotting lion statues and of course Big Ben, which is looking stunning in the afternoon sunlight.

12:25 noon: ALLOW THE BOYS TO TAKE THE LEAD

We turn right down Whitehall crossing over the road so Fred can walk past Downing Street and see where the Prime Minister lives. Charlie wants to spend time admiring the horses used by the mounted police guard.

It is extremely busy, more than we had expected and the traffic is closed off. We finally work out the crowds are actually looking at Hollywood actors Mark Wahlberg, Kit Harrington and Michelle Monaghan on the other side of the road – they are getting ready to shoot a hostage taking scene on an open-top bus for the new Family Plan 2 film. We stay and watch for a while but the crowds are getting too much for Charlie and we move on.

12:45 noon: MOVEMENT BREAK     

We walk to the end of Whitehall, coming out on to Trafalgar Square. The boys absolutely love the square – from the gigantic Nelson’s column to the huge lions and the water fountains and pools they are wide-eyed with wonder. We get Charlie out the buggy and give them both as much time as they need to run around and explore this exciting new space.

1:20pm: ACCESSIBILITY

A quick trip to the public toilets in the square (we use our RADAR key to access the disable cubicle) and then we 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. I started feeling worried, there was no way the boys would be able to join the end of that line even if we'd been on time!

REQUEST FOR REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT

We find an attendant 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.

1:30pm: EMOTIONAL REGULATION       

The boys are tiring, and we know 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 and show Fred some Cezanne paintings as his class have been looking at his still life work at school. Charlie enjoys the paintings of the sea and animals.

To help Charlie cope with the environment we keep him supplied with oatcakes, his favourite crunchy snack and offer him some fidget toys. This helps him stay as calm as possible despite the crowds.

1:45pm            

We have a very quick walk through some of the old master galleries – the boys love counting the angels and gazing at the huge canvases.

2pm                  

Charlie is finished with being in the gallery, and so I take him out and then meet J and Fred in the café for a quick snack.

2:10pm: MOVEMENT BREAK          

We are outside in Trafalgar Square again, the National Gallery is done and dusted in under an hour! There is a busker performing and the boys need the fresh air, so we give them as long as they need to dance and run around the top plaza.

2:30pm           

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. Charlie wants to walk and Fred is delighted to make the most of the free seat in the buggy and hops in for a cheeky ride!

2:40pm            

Once on the southbank the boys see some slide-like sculptures they want to play on. We then walk back along the river towards Westminster bridge.

2:45pm: SENSORY SLOT

Just near the London Eye there is the Jubilee playground – despite the cold weather the boys insist on stopping to play, it is great space for kids with lots of sensory equipment and opportunities to climb and slide.

3:10pm            

With the weather getting cold and the feeling of damp in the air we persuade the boys to leave and head back to the hotel to collect our bags.

3:30pm: REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT (BY US)

We discover there are no trains running out of Waterloo, and it is obvious the boys haven’t the energy to cope with a crowded tube journey, luggage and a bus at the other end. Uber it is. The boys and I have a little nap in the back of the car, and then we are home – we all agree it has been an amazing weekend’s adventure!