London Travel with a Baby: Big Ben, Westminster & Korean Food

Explore London with your baby — iconic sights like Big Ben and Westminster, plus family-friendly tips and a Korean meal at Kimchee.

Main Journey
Events
Tips for Traveling with a Baby
Local Travel Tips
Travel Reflections

Main Journey

We started our day riding the London Underground, heading for Westminster Station. The Tube system reminded me a lot of Seoul’s — organized and efficient — but there’s one major difference parents need to watch out for: the gap between the train and the platform is huge. If you’re carrying a baby or pushing a stroller, take it slow and double-check your footing every time.

As we came up from the station, London’s iconic skyline greeted us — and so did the crowds. It felt like every tourist in the city was standing around Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Houses of Parliament. The area buzzed with energy, but it didn’t feel overwhelming. Sweetie was fascinated by the giant clock — she kept repeating, “Tick-tock, tick-tock!” It was one of those unexpectedly sweet parenting moments that just stick with you.

I thought she’d be excited about the London Eye, and she was… for a second. But what really caught her attention was a tiny spinning ride hidden behind it. She tugged on my shirt, asking, “Daddy, let’s go ride that one!” Typical. The giant observation wheel? Meh. The kiddie ride? Magic.

We tried to visit Westminster Abbey, but we messed up the timing. Because London’s summer days are so long, we didn’t realize it was already past closing time — even though it still felt like early afternoon. Lesson learned: in cities this far north, you really need to check the clock, not the sky.

We’d planned to return to the London Eye for a sunset view, but it was still way too bright. So we pivoted, as you always do when traveling with a baby, and headed off to find dinner.

Events

We made our way toward Oxford Circus, walking along the busy stretch that leads to Tottenham Court Road. It’s full of all the big-name stores you’d recognize from back home. For a second, it felt like we were walking through Myeongdong.

Our main mission here was to replace our missing tripod. Somewhere between South Africa and Europe, it vanished — probably during a checked luggage transfer. We’d been looking at every camera store since. At Jessops, we finally found the perfect one: super light, under 1kg, and just £20. Considering how pricey everything is in London, that felt like a small miracle.

Next stop: Centre Point Food Store. This Korean grocery store was something we’d been looking forward to, especially with Iceland coming up. Everyone says food is crazy expensive in Iceland, so we were hoping to stock up before flying out.

The store was amazing. It really felt like walking into a Korean mart — full of instant noodles, sauces, and all the snacks we missed. And then we discovered that there’s a small restaurant in the basement called Woojung Bunsik. We were tempted to eat there but had another plan in mind for dinner.

That plan? A 15-minute walk to Kimchee — a Korean restaurant we’d looked up ahead of time. The walk was long, but familiar smells met us the moment we opened the door. It was packed, but what surprised us most was that it was full of Westerners. And no, the chefs weren’t Korean.

Still, we were excited. We ordered kimchi jjigae and ttukbaegi bulgogi, plus two bowls of rice. The food was warm and tasty, but I couldn’t help thinking — if you’re going to sell Korean food abroad, it should follow Korean norms. In Korea, no one serves stew without rice. Charging extra for it felt off. What if a foreigner ordered just jjigae, not realizing they needed to add rice separately? It bothered me more than I expected.

Also, the portions were tiny. Sweetie finished an entire bowl of rice by herself — and she’s two and a half! Still, the total was £27.68, which is relatively affordable for London. It hit the spot, even with the small servings.

Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Watch your step on the Tube
The gap between trains and the platform is no joke. Take extra care when boarding and exiting.
Time your visits carefully
In the summer, the sun sets really late. Don’t let the bright sky fool you — check actual closing times for attractions.
Bring a tripod
It makes family photos so much easier, especially when the sun sets late and you want to capture those night views.
Plan ahead for food
Not all “Korean” restaurants abroad serve meals the way you expect. If rice isn’t included with jjigae, you’ll need to order extra.
Babies eat more than you think
Sweetie devoured a whole bowl of rice. Always order more than you think you’ll need, just in case.

Local Travel Tips

Centre Point Food Store (Tottenham Court Road)
A must-visit for Korean travelers. Stock up before visiting expensive destinations like Iceland.
Jessops Camera Store (Oxford Circus)
Great for budget-friendly camera gear. We found the lightest and cheapest tripod of our whole trip here.
Kimchee Restaurant
Conveniently located, mid-range prices, and good atmosphere — but go with adjusted expectations. It’s not a full Korean dining experience.
Westminster Area
The area is packed with major landmarks and tourists, but still manageable with a stroller if you’re patient and avoid peak hours.
Expect long days in summer
Sunset doesn’t hit until around 9 PM. If you want night views, plan for a late outing.

Travel Reflections

This day reminded me how different travel feels when you slow down — not just because of the baby, but because you want to soak everything in. Sweetie added her own lens to the day. While we focused on Big Ben and the Eye, she found magic in bells and kiddie rides.

We didn’t get into Westminster Abbey, and the sunset photos took forever to happen. But we still got to stand by the Thames, watch the sky shift, and snap a few family pictures with our new tripod.

Dinner wasn’t perfect, but it was warm, familiar, and shared. That’s more than enough. Traveling with a baby forces you to drop the checklist and live in the moment. Today was full of those small, fleeting moments — the kind that stay with you long after you leave.