A weekend in London with the kids
2 days For families Built from visitor-rated places
This is a weekend built around wide-open space rather than queues. Day one keeps things gentle: The Flashes at Churt Common, then Frensham Common, both National Trust and just 1 mile apart — near enough that you can move on when the little ones flag, without a long haul in the car. Day two is the big drive, 59.1 miles east to Upnor Castle, then a modest 3 miles to Gads Hill Place to finish.
Base yourselves where the trains are: hub by Premier Inn London Clerkenwell sits 0.4 miles from Farringdon, with disabled access and WiFi, while Park Grand London Kensington and ibis Styles London Kensington are both 0.5 miles from West Brompton and roughly 1.2–1.3 miles from The Serpentine in Hyde Park, rated Good for bathing water by the Environment Agency. Hilton London Croydon is 0.7 miles from Waddon. Arriving by train, London Charing Cross is your nearest station.
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Day 1
Start at The Flashes, Churt Common for a slow morning of scrambling and stick-collecting, then it's only 1 mile on to Frensham Common — close enough to nip back to the car for snacks, and both National Trust, so you can let the children run without watching the clock.
Day 2
Set off early: it's 59.1 miles from Frensham to Upnor Castle, so pack drinks and a picnic for the journey and plan a proper stretch when you arrive. Gads Hill Place is a manageable 3 miles further on, an easy afternoon hop once legs are tired.
🛏️ Where to base yourself
Stays in London that put this whole plan within easy reach.
Park Grand London Kensington
🏖️ 1.24 miles from The Serpentine - Hyde Park (Good water quality)
London
hub by Premier Inn London Clerkenwell hotel
🏖️ 2.89 miles from The Serpentine - Hyde Park (Good water quality)
London
ibis Styles London Kensington
🏖️ 1.26 miles from The Serpentine - Hyde Park (Good water quality)
London
🎪 What's on in London
Events from
Skiddle
Sat 14 Nov · 19:00
Bijou Events - Winter Mansion Party
That Amazing Place, Harlow · 21.9 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 19:30
A Slice of Chili Peppers & Things of Leon Tribute night!
The SX Bar, Essex Arms Brentwood, Brentwood · 19.8 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 12:00
Mega Mega: Romford's Suburban Sound Revolution
ATIK Romford, Romford · 14.2 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 12:00
Preston Audio Tour: Echoes of Faith and Heritage
St George's Shopping Centre, Gravesend · 21.8 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗺️ Getting to London
Plan the drive with service stations, food stops and fuel or charging costs along the way.
Plan my journey →🚆 Or come by train
- London Charing Cross 0.2 miles
- Tottenham Court Road 0.6 miles
- London Waterloo 0.7 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page