Suggested Itinerary for Knightbridge
A Day Out: Knightsbridge
Culture
- Procession of the Queen’s Horse Guard from Hyde Park Barracks
- Brompton Oratory and the South Kensington Museums (Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V and A), free
Shopping
- Harrods
- Brompton Road
- Sloane Street
Playgrounds
- Hyde Park Lido, (£4 adults, children under 5 free)
- Knightsbridge Barracks Playground
How to Get There
- Bus: 52
- Tube: Knightsbridge
If you organise it right, a morning in Knightsbridge can be the perfect mingling of iconic shopping and culture while being really fun for the little ones. The focal point of a trip to Knightsbridge with toddlers should be Hyde Park. Let the little ones spend the day here, one adult stays and while the other plays; or tire the children out at the playground and take them with you.
The Guard changes every day from May through August, after that it is every other day and you need to check the schedule online. The Queen’s Horse Guard leaves from the Knightsbridge Barracks, just next to the playground in Hyde Park at 10:28 each day the ceremony is on. If you are in the playground at that time, it is such a treat to see the procession go by. http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/ChangingtheGuard/Overview.aspx
Also, not too far from the playground is the South Kensington Museums and the Brompton Oratory, all free, beautiful and great to wander through even with little ones in tow. Its only about a £5 taxi from there to Knightsbridge.
Harrods is The Destination for most tourists and really shouldn’t be missed. It is absolute indulgent luxury from top to bottom. The store is step-free with changing facilities and family-friendly toilets. The Toy Kingdom, on the 4th floor can is a great place to amuse the children during, before or after a shop, also during wet weather.
Brompton Road is great to shop, offering a mix of specialty boutiques and high street chains. This is a very crowded area, making it somewhat difficult to get a large pushchair down the street. Further, many of the shops have two levels and getting to the lift is not always easy.
Sloane Street, however, is lined with the large number of flagship stores for designers like Hermes and Chanel. The crowds are thinner and it is just a more pleasant street to window shop.
Where to Eat:
The Lido Café: The Lido is located next to the Serpentine, just a short walk from the Knightsbridge Playground. Its very family friendly, nearly step-free, and has public toilets with changing facilities that are located outside the restaurant. Really good food with superb healthy meal options, also beer and wine are served! Large, outdoor, good people watching terrace, as well as indoor seating.
The Dell Restaurant: This is my favourite between the two as The Dell has an enormous terrace filled with picnic tables (you can easily bring your own food and eat here) with an large weeping willow in the middle. The tables are set next to the Serpentine and the little ones can have a wander about and feed the ducks.
Wagamama: In Harvey Nichols, inexpensive, fast, noisy, tons of high chairs and yummy!!
