The 34 greatest children’ books about London

When you’re planning a visit to London with children, there are some nice books to introduce your youngsters to town – together with fiction for all ages, youngsters’s information books and extra amongst my choose of the very best children’ books about London.

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From image books for toddlers to adventures and mysteries bringing London to life for teenagers, tales revealing among the metropolis’s lengthy historical past or enjoyable introductions to the important thing landmarks, the large problem isn’t discovering nice youngsters’s books about London, it’s which of them to select.

The listing under isn’t exhaustive (there are SO many books set in London, for starters), however these are some nice methods for teenagers to get excited a few household metropolis break in London, some important studying to pack in hand baggage and extra inspiration for planning your journey.

Yow will discover extra concepts of youngsters’ books about London in my Amazon lists as effectively

Books about London for toddlers and preschoolers

Even the littlest guests to London can discover some nice books, together with image books and different preschool favourites. Some choices within the subsequent part can even work to learn to older preschoolers too.

Paddington’s London Story Treasury

Whereas all of the Paddington Bear tales are set in London, this assortment of 4 favorite image books are a beautiful introduction to town for youthful readers.

Paddington’s London Story Treasury contains Paddington on the Zoo, Paddington on the Palace, Paddington and the Marmalade Maze and Paddngton and the Grand Tour, with the same old adventures and heart-warming mishaps of everybody’s favorite bear from Darkest Peru.

Paddington followers can even love in Paddington’s Information to London too

Charlie and Lola: We Fully Should Go to London

My daughter adored the entire Charlie and Lola collection when she was youthful, and We Fully Should Go to London is right for followers.

The e book sees Charlie and his little sister visiting London on a faculty journey, passing probably the most well-known sights, so little ones can observe alongside throughout their very own journey – there’s even an ‘extraordinarily good London map’ as effectively.

Maisy goes to London

One other agency favorite of my daughter when she was younger, we learn all of the adventures of Maisy mouse, together with her first adventures within the capital.

Maisy goes to London has the same old vibrant photos and little ones can’t resist becoming a member of in with the ‘Honk Honk’ of noisy London horns as she spots Massive Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace and different sights. A beautiful introduction for toddlers following in Maisy’s pawprints.

The Queen’s Hat

Generally all it takes to have an journey is a single gust of wind… Take one very particular hat, one Queen and all of the Queen’s males, and also you’ve obtained the recipe for an journey by way of London.

With a string of London landmarks, from London Zoo to Tower Bridge and Massive Ben, the query is, the place will the Queen’s hat find yourself? The Queen’s Hat is aimed toward ages 3-5.

If the e book is a success, there are two additional ones within the collection – The Queen’s Purse and The Queen’s Current which take her across the UK and all over the world respectively

Pussy cat, pussy cat, the place have you ever been? I’ve been to London to go to the Queen

Updating the basic nursery rhyme, Pussy Cat Pussy Cat The place Have you ever Been does certainly observe pussy cat – this time visiting the modern-day sights of London, together with the Shard and London Eye in addition to the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and Nelson’s Column.

With its vibrant illustrations and easy rhymes, it’s nice to learn even to the littlest guests to London.

Madeline in London

When you’re questioning what Madeline, the archetypal Parisian storybook heroine, is doing in a listing of youngsters books about London, followers of the basic tales may observe her adventures this facet of the Channel.

After Pepito (who lived subsequent to Madeline and her buddies in France) strikes to London, all of them resolve to pay him a go to. Madeline in London is right for age 4-7.

Winnie the Pooh goes to London

Forsaking the Hundred Acre Wooden, Winnie the Pooh heads to the large metropolis on this journey, the place the Bear of Very Little Mind encounters a string of landmarks.

In addition to seeing the Shard and Massive Ben in Winnie the Pooh goes to London, Pooh discovers a wobbly bridge and results in entrance of Buckingham Palace – the place one other well-known face comes to satisfy the gang.

A candy addition to the basic tales, it’s a beautiful choice to learn to youthful preschoolers or to encourage barely older followers of Winnie the Pooh to get studying themselves.

Children’ books about London

The stunning tales are all set in London, together with among the metropolis’s main landmarks – good as a memento or to get children enthusiastic about their go to.

Harry Potter followers can even love monitoring down the places from the books (and the films) throughout a go to to London: so a lot of them that I’ve compiled an entire set of Harry Potter places in London

Usborne Look Inside London

I misplaced depend of what number of Usborne lift-the-flap books we had over time – and there’s actually nothing to beat these fabulously illustrated youngsters’s books for youthful readers.

Look Inside London isn’t any exception, filled with details about town’s key websites – together with Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Sq. and the Tower of London – in addition to London’s different well-known sights, together with crimson cellphone packing containers and double-deckers buses, together with black cabs. Nice for ages 5+, it’s additionally one thing youthful siblings (and fogeys!) can take pleasure in .

The Tower Bridge Cat

Set in one among London’s most iconic landmarks, The Tower Bridge Cat – the primary of a number of – combines a candy story and wonderful illustrations.

Following title character Bella on the Queen’s birthday, it’s right down to the bridge-dwelling cat to avoid wasting the day when she realises there’s a bus coming over the opening bridge – even higher, the story is impressed by the true story of a double-decker bus leaping the bridge.

The Royal Rabbits

The primary in a collection of tales about Shylo and his Royal Rabbit buddies, this story follows the rabbits’ makes an attempt to cease an evil plot to take a photograph of the Queen in her nightwear.

A candy story of how the smallest and shyest rabbit can nonetheless have one thing essential to say, children can observe alongside because the Royal Rabbits journey to London. The Royal Rabbits is really helpful for ages 7+. You may also purchase the three-book assortment.

The Hyde Park Squirrels

One other candy and vibrant collection of books, the Hyde Park Squirrels is ready in Victorian instances, beginning with Luke goes to London, as Lucas Bushytail units off for town to seek out the sisterm he by no means knew he had.

However the metropolis has its personal risks, as Luke discovers when he arrives. Though there are two separate books, they’re successfully one story so be ready to purchase the second if you wish to discover out what occurs after the cliffhanger!

See Inside London

One other nice lift-the-flap e book from Usborne, this can be a nice various – or companion purchase – to Look Inside London.

Additionally aimed toward children aged 5-7, the main target of See Inside London is taking a journey by way of time (somewhat than geography), exhibiting London all through its historical past from Roman instances to the Center Ages, the Black Demise and throughout the Blitz within the Second World Struggle.

That is London

This basic e book was first printed in 1959 and when you may not discover bowler-hatted bankers on their option to town lately, That is London remains to be a stunning one to personal.

With Miroslav Sasek’s elegant illustrations bringing London to life, you’ll discover lots of the historic buildings and landmarks, in addition to black cabs, the underground, the Horse Guards and different conventional sights as tempting at present.

Beneficial for age 7+, we got a duplicate when my daughter was born and browse it along with her from a youthful age too.

Katie in London

On this magical journey, one of many Trafalgar Sq. lions involves life and takes Katie and her brother Jack on a tour of town’s greatest sights.

Geared toward youngsters aged round 3-6 (so additionally works as another choice for preschoolers), their sudden time out takes them to Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Massive Ben and the London Eye, so Katie in London is right to introduce youthful children to among the metropolis’s highlights earlier than their first go to.

A Stroll in London

Following a mom and daughter exploring London, this e book has a particular place in my very own coronary heart as I’ve tried to emulate quite a lot of of their stops with my very own daughter.

From travelling by crimson double-decker bus to recognizing the lions in Trafalgar Sq., watching the Altering of the Guard and searching inside among the metropolis’s iconic sights, it’s a candy option to plan a time out and your individual Stroll in London

Mary Poppins

Virtually good in each means, the Mary Poppins books might be a success with followers of the movie (though the Mary of the tales isn’t fairly the identical because the film) and a enjoyable option to examine London.

This assortment of tales begins with Mary’s arrival with the Banks household, however contains varied locations inside the metropolis which youngsters can recognise on their journey. This assortment of Mary Poppins tales accommodates 5 books.

Beatrice and the London Bus

9-year-old Beatrice has a dream of being a bus driver – and turning her mannequin Routemaster bus right into a speaking London Bus, no matter her mum thinks.

Then sooner or later, she meets a speaking bus and it looks like her goals have become actuality… or is it magic in any case? Candy, humorous and a novel introduction to London, Beatrice and the London Bus is proof that something may occur on this metropolis. Geared toward age 7+.

The Thriller at Massive Ben

A part of the Across the World in 80 Mysteries assortment, which sees Christina and Grant visiting well-known locations in 80 international locations, this London-based story packs in among the metropolis’s historical past and tradition alongside the story.

Every e book has a map to assist children be taught extra of the world’s geography, as they observe Grant, his sister and their two new buddies as they attempt to remedy the Thriller at Massive Ben, taking them from the London Eye alongside the Thames and right into a dungeon. Geared toward age 8+.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

The tales of London’s most well-known detective will plunge you into Victorian London – and make you wish to add 221B Baker Avenue to your itinerary.

Whereas not each Sherlock Holmes e book is ready in London, there are many scenes to whisk you again to town’s previous as you learn. In addition to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, you should buy the Full Assortment.

Books about London for teenagers and tweens

As soon as your children are past image books and delicate adventures, there are tales galore set in London, together with these nice choices for youthful tweens proper as much as older teenagers (and their dad and mom!)

Grotesque Guides: London

Horrible Histories addicts might be delighted to find that there’s a London e book within the collection – Grotesque Guides: London – with all of the fascinating and foul, grotesque, gory and downright bizarre information you’d anticipate.

There’s loads of horribly hilarious moments in London’s historical past to take pleasure in too as you cowl all the pieces from plague and pestilence to fireside: uncover what precipitated the Nice Stink, peer into spooky St Paul’s and courageous the terrifying Tower alongside the way in which.

The London Eye Thriller

An peculiar time out in London turns right into a thriller, after Ted and Kat’s cousin Salim vanishes – having watched him board the London Eye, his pod returns with out him.

With a path of clues throughout London, the pair should put their sibling rivalry apart and mix their totally different approaches to trace Salim down – Ted is on the autism spectrum, and it’s his distinctive method and perspective which actually units The London Eye Thriller aside. Superb for 11th of September-year-olds.

The Ruby within the Smoke

Followers of Philip Pullman will love this story of Sally Lockhart, set partly in Victorian London the place the 16-year-old braves town’s underworld to trace down her father’s killer.

Travelling by way of India and China, the journey is as filled with element and peril as you’d anticipate; The Ruby within the Smoke is assured to maintain older tweens and youthful teenagers enthralled.

My title is Victoria

Written by Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces (which incorporates Kensington Palace, childhood residence of Queen Victoria), this story is ideal for teenagers who love historical past and tales of royal London.

Following Miss V Conroy, who is distributed by her father to grow to be the companion to Princess Victoria at Kensington Palace, she is torn between her loyalty to him and the foundations he has devised for the younger royal, and her new friendship with the princess, locked away from the world by these very guidelines. My Title is Victoria is right for age 9+.

The Purple Pyramid

You’ll by no means take a look at the British Museum in fairly the identical means once more as after studying this e book by Rick Riordan, creator of the Percy Jackson tales.

Following Carter and Sadie Kane, whose Egyptologist father by chance unleashes the evil god Set when he shatters the Rosetta Stone, their quest additionally takes them to Cairo, Paris and the American South-west alongside the way in which. The Purple Pyramid is the primary in a collection.

Rivers of London

Think about Harry Potter grew up and joined the police… That’s the intriguing place to begin for Rivers of London, a novel following probationary constable Peter Grant, the primary of a collection set in London that’s ultimate for teenagers.

After making an attempt to take a witness assertion from a ghost, he finds himself helping DCI Thomas Nightingale to research crimes involving magic or the uncanny – which suggests assembly town’s gods and goddesses, and entering into the world of myths and legends as he does.

Neverwhere

Whereas Neil Gaiman went on to write down a string of better-known books, teenagers will love his first novel Neverwhere simply as a lot – with the added bonus that it’s set in London. Or a London of types.

When a younger businessman stops to assist an injured woman, he discovers one other metropolis of darkness, of monsters – but in addition of angels – in a subterranean labyrinth. And provided that he may also help save this underworld kingdom would possibly he return to his former life within the London Above.

London Belongs to Us

This story of Sunny’s quest for romantic retribution, after receiving a photograph of her boyfriend kissing one other woman, is as a lot a love letter to London.

Whirling throughout town from Crystal Palace to Camden, Shoreditch, Soho, Kensington, Notting Hill and out to Alexandra Palace, it’s the inhabitants of town who’re the actual coronary heart of London. London Belongs To Us is really helpful for age 13+.

Brick Lane

An ideal choice for older teenagers on the lookout for a narrative of London past the landmarks, the best-selling Brick Lane follows Nazneen, introduced from Bangladesh for an organized marriage.

Dwelling in Tower Hamlets within the East Finish, the e book paints a distinct image of town from the vacationer coronary heart, pertaining to all the pieces from immigration to self-fulfilment.

London guidebooks for teenagers

There are London guides galore, however should you’re on the lookout for kid-friendly choices, these London guidebooks for youngsters are an effective way to get them concerned in planning.

Take a look at Grotesque Guides: London , See Inside London and Look Inside London for extra entertaining however informational journey guides to London for teenagers

London with Children Important information

The place to start out however with the guidebook I’ve helped to write down together with my London with Children co-founder Katja…

There’s a print information e book with over 100 pages, that includes a string of various itineraries, together with themed choices, key sights and different concepts to discover in style areas of town, plus there are ideas galore.

Or should you choose, take a look at our 33-page digital information which has loads of the identical data (however with out among the sensible pages on journey round London, the place to remain and transport to and from the airport).

Whichever you like, the guides are filled with useful content material, whether or not you’re questioning find out how to navigate the underground, the place to seek out a number of indulgent treats, concepts for days out from London, the unmissable sights and a few quirky gems.

Paddington’s Information to London

Excellent for youthful readers, who higher to introduce you to London than the bear who made his residence right here.

From the station the place it began to some key landmarks (with a number of detours), there are many enjoyable tales among the many data in Paddington’s Information to London too.

Lonely Planet: Metropolis Trails London

The Metropolis Trails collection from Lonely Planet Children are one among my favorite guidebooks for youngsters – we’ve used them in cities together with Rome, and Metropolis Trails London is simply as filled with quirky information and sights.

Venturing away from the basic vacationer path, you may uncover the weirdest merchandise ever left on a bus in addition to tales about headline-making parrots, to not point out loads of sudden corners to find throughout your go to to London. Even native Londoners can be taught a lot! Geared toward ages 8+.

Lonely Planet Children Pop-up London

Easy however vibrant, the Pop-up London e book from Lonely Planet Children may not have the element of another guidebooks however youthful travellers will love the brilliant illustrations and pop-up impact.

With six iconic landmarks together with Buckingham Palace, The Shard, the Tower of London, Trafalgar Sq., St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Underground, it’s pocket-sized, really easy to hold round as you see them in individual too.

I-spy London

There are greater than 130 London sights to seek out within the pocket-sized i-spy London, with loads of information to find as you learn and discover.

Enjoyable to flick by way of earlier than you journey, it’s an effective way to cease cries of ‘I’m Bored’ as you wander round London, and there are many simple wins – together with black taxis and doubledecker buses – for youthful children to seek out as effectively.

Take a look at Issues to Spot in London sticker e book as one other various

Mission London: A scavenger hunt journey

A mixture of guidebook and journey problem, Mission London ensures your children might be retaining their eyes open all through the journey as they attempt to earn sufficient factors to grow to be a particular agent.

There are challenges which is able to apply to each go to, from making an attempt conventional meals to recognizing key landmarks, in addition to others which you’ll be able to tailor to your individual journey, should you’re visiting specific museums or trying out websites like Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London.

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