The city of London is famous for its diversity and joie de vivre, and that is why there are many reasons for a family to want to live here or simply to stay for a few days or weeks. If you and your family do not speak English or if you are bilingual, it is in your best interest to find a bilingual babysitter in London as this will give them a unique bond of trust and complicity with the babysitter.
London today has a population of nearly 15 million and receives more than 28 million tourists every year, thanks in particular to its many emblematic monuments and museums known throughout the world. The city stands out for its originality, extravagance and authenticity. It is therefore obvious that you will find, among all his quarters, one that suits you!
London is also a very international city, where communities mix happily. Many young foreigners, attracted by the dynamism of the English capital, live here, and that contributes to making it a cosmopolitan and multicultural city.
With Marypop, finding a bilingual babysitter in London who speaks your child’s language becomes possible! You will be able to have complete confidence in someone who knows the city well and who can advise you on the best places to go, and who will also know how to make sure your children are safe when he/she takes care of them.
Beyond the benefits of choosing a bilingual babysitting service in London with Marypop, we are happy to give you some useful information during your stay with your children in the city of the Big Fog.
How to find a bilingual babysitter in London who speaks your child’s language?
Thanks to Marypop, you can find a bilingual babysitter in London who speaks French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Arabic or Mandarin to take care of your children for a few hours in the big city of London. Because entrusting your children to someone you trust is good, but ensuring good communication between them is better! They will be able to discuss, share around a cartoon in their own language, the babysitter will be able to read a book that they will understand, they will be able to sing, and so on. Sharing is easier when you speak the same language. Most importantly, it’s more reassuring for you, the parents, to know that the babysitter will be able to understand your child in all circumstances, including emergencies.
You’re in London with your children
Are you on holiday or weekend in London with your children? You live in London and your children speak a language other than English? Do you want to find a bilingual babysitter you can trust, for an evening, a day or even longer? Marypop’s bilingual babysitters in London are here for you!
Find a bilingual babysitter if you’re an English family back from expatriation in London
If you are back from expatriation, your children have certainly learned a foreign language during your stay; you probably rightly wish that your children would keep this asset and continue to practice this foreign language. Using a Marypop babysitter will allow you to practice this foreign language at home, whatever the age of your children. Integrated into their daily lives, practicing this language with a Marypop bilingual babysitter in London will help them to maintain their bilingualism, an invaluable asset for them.
Find a bilingual babysitter if you’re an expatriate family in London
Are you an expatriate family in London and your children are starting to speak English, especially at school? Bravo! Nevertheless, you obviously want them to continue to speak your language at home and among themselves. Finding a trusted babysitter who speaks your child’s language is the ideal solution for you!
Find a bilingual babysitter if you’re a mixed family living in London
You are a mixed family and you want to encourage your children to speak their mother tongue or father tongue? Looking for a babysitter who speaks your language? It is true that if this language is not “widespread” like, for example, Spanish, finding such a bilingual babysitter in London can be an impossible mission… But not with Marypop! Here you will find dozens of languages spoken by native babysitters, students studying in London or students with dual nationality.
The cool things a bilingual babysitter can do in London with your kids
If this is your first visit to London, you should check if the visits you are going to make are paid or free! For a first weekend, you can do without the London Pass as London is a very big city and doing the few free museums and walking around the city will be more than enough for the whole family.
However, if you stay for more than one weekend, the London Pass will save you a lot of money. In addition, you will have your transportation card included.
In London, like many other big cities, most museums are free, and there are plenty of activities to do with children. It will be easy for you to organize an outing with a bilingual babysitter in London, in the heart of the capital. We have selected here, for you, a few must-see activities. Whether you’re just passing through or living in London, you’ll love knowing that your children are having a great time with you or their babysitter.
The Mythical Harry Potter 9-3/4 track with a bilingual babysitter in London
To satisfy the Harry Potter fans, here is a nice free ride, the King’s Cross train station! It’s possible to take free pictures while pushing the wagon entering the wall of the track, with Gryffindor and Serdaigle scarves, magic wands from Harry Potter, Hermione or Voldemort at your disposal! You’ll just have to get in line.
The Museum of Natural History with a bilingual babysitter in London
The Natural History Museum is a museum with a great diversity. If your children are fans of the film Night at Museum 2, then they will be delighted to go to the filming location. The building itself is sumptuous! The dinosaur part is amazing with lots of games and activities to do. Your children will be amazed!
The changing of the guard with a bilingual babysitter in London
Another free activity to do in London, the changing of the Royal Guard is sure to impress your children! Relief guards, mostly on foot but sometimes on horseback, travel from Wellington Barracks, 500m from the Royal Palace, to Buckingham Palace, via Birdcage Walk and Spur Road, followed by a military band. The changing of the Old Guard takes place in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace. The whole ceremony lasts about 40 minutes and takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 11am in Buckingham.
Madame Tussaud’s
One of the best known and most visited museums in London is Madame Tussaud. Fans of superheroes like Marvel can only enjoy a short 4D movie in which they protect London from a robot attack. To visit with the family or not, the wax statues are really realistic and the children will be impressed. Be careful to buy tickets online if you don’t want to find yourself in a long queue.
Web site: https://www.madametussauds.com/london/en/
The London Zoo with a bilingual babysitter in London
London Zoo is one of the oldest in the world and houses a huge collection of over 800 different species. There are many entertaining and educational exhibits to be discovered in the zoo and many events on different animal themes are often organized. What could be better for a child than to see felines or eagles for real!
Richmond Park
Your children will have fun and have a great day in this park. Previously, this park was the site of the hunt for the hounds, but over the years the park has become open to the public. Here, your children can approach deer, stags and hinds wandering around the park. The animals are not at all shy, never seeming to be disturbed by walkers or cyclists passing by. Meanwhile, it is possible to admire the view of London as the park is situated high up.
Things to do in London when you’re a couple or with friends
London is full of all kinds of activities, and for this reason we have selected a few of them:
A walk in the Japanese garden in Kyoto
This park was developed in West London and is located in the heart of Holland Park. The Japanese garden in Kyoto will plunge you into a romantic atmosphere. Preferably go there in spring or summer to make the most of the beauty and tranquility of this place.
Hyde Park
Originally, this park built in 1536 was used as the private hunting ground of King Henry VIII. Hyde Park has been at the heart of important historical events. Today, after renovation, it is a fantastic place for your children. You can attend a concert or open-air show and there is always something going on in the famous Speakers Corner, where anyone can freely express themselves in public.
Dinner at Le Clos Maggiore
Inside Westminster is the Clos Maggiore restaurant. It is considered one of the best and most romantic restaurants in London. A timeless atmosphere and decor in this restaurant with a fine and elaborate menu.
Watching a musical or a ballet
London has a great culture of musical theatre, with many very famous shows (Cats, Les Misérables…) which are played all year round in the West End.
For ballet, go to Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House, or the Royal Ballet, one of the largest ballet companies in England. Very famous all over the world, take advantage of your visit to London to discover or rediscover this artistic universe.
London Eye
If you are not afraid of heights, then this activity is for you. The London Eye is the largest wheel in Europe, the capsules can accommodate up to 25 people.
Situated on the banks of the Thames, right next to Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, you need to book your seats in advance. The panoramic view over the whole of London from the top at 130 metres is well worth the trip. It will cost about 30 pounds.
How do you get to London with your children?
Flying to London
Unless you arrive from Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam (in which case you can experience the joys of the Eurostar), most tourists visiting London arrive in the British capital by plane.
If you are arriving by air, the most convenient will be Heathrow Airport as it opened a fifth terminal in 2008, making it one of the largest airports in the world and the only one of London’s 6 other airports that is directly connected to the London Underground. For families, the airport has baby services and children’s areas to make waiting more pleasant, and luggage trolleys with baby seats.
Once you arrive at the airport to get to the heart of the city, you can either take the Heathrow Express, which will drop you off at Paddington in 15 minutes for around £20, or simply take the underground, which will drop you off in the city centre in 45 minutes.
Coming by train to London
If you wish to travel to London by train, more precisely by Eurostar, you will first have to go to either Paris, Lyon Marseille or Avignon. Many routes are proposed every day if you leave from the French provinces to reach a direct line.
From Paris, the Eurostar will take you in less than 2h30 to Saint Pancras station, located in the heart of London city centre. The Channel crossing lasts between 20 and 30 minutes and is particularly comfortable.
On the budget side, in order to increase your chances of getting discounted tickets, you will have to anticipate your trip, especially if you wish to leave during an event or holiday periods. Nevertheless, travelling to London at low cost is possible all year round.
Coming by bus or car to London
If you decide to come by bus to London, the main advantage is the price, which is the cheapest of all the other choices, in addition to the flexibility of the timetable.
The main disadvantage of the bus is easy to guess: it is the travel time. The journey time from Paris to London by bus is about 9 hours. All bus companies make great efforts to improve comfort but depending on how easy it is to sleep in the transport, you will experience the journey more or less well.
The three companies offering the most routes are : Flixbus, Ouibus and Eurolines.
Coming by car and ferry to London
The ferry crossing from France from Calais or Dunkirk to Dover is the fastest from continental Europe. It takes an average of 90 minutes. Crossings are offered day and night. If you are going with your family, you will have to prepare your trip well in advance in order to have a completely serene trip.
From Calais, the ferries make up to ten daily departures to the South of England, while from Dunkirk, there are twelve daily departures to England. Once you have arrived at your destination, it will take you about 1h30 by car, bus or train to get to London.
Moving around London
The subway
London is a city with an excellent public transport network. The bus and the underground remain the ideal means of getting around London. However, the fare for the single journey is very high, especially the metro; we advise you to buy a card with a pass that can be recharged at will. There are discounts for children under 16 years of age, and transport is free for children under 11 years of age. If you want to travel in peace and quiet, then you will need the indispensable Visitor Oyster Card. The Oyster card has no start or expiry date, which means that you can start using your Oyster card whenever you want and top it up; if necessary, the remaining credit can be used for future trips to London.
Please note: there is no single rate for a metro ticket. The price of the ticket varies according to your point of departure and your point of arrival.
Taxis
If you don’t want to take the underground and want to discover the folklore of London’s beautiful taxis, thousands of taxis are available all over the city.
The boat
In London, you can take the boat like you take the bus… The principle has existed for a long time, and several companies now offer to take you on a trip on the Thames, while dropping you off at the foot of the monument or the district you have decided to visit. What is advantageous is that several of these companies have moved closer to London transport and offer quite attractive fares. Those who have the Oyster Card are also entitled to a discount.
Where to stay in London with children?
Where to stay in London is the existential question par excellence, so vast and different from one district to another is the city. Therefore, it is best to think carefully about your choice of resort. Choose a neighbourhood where you won’t waste too much time on transportation, especially if you come with your family. London offers a wide variety of accommodation: from the pastel houses of Notting Hill to the street art of the East End and the skyscrapers of the City, there is something for everyone.
Here are two areas of London where you can stay with your family:
The Soho district is located in central London, in the heart of the theatre district. It is considered by many tourists to be the favourite place to stay in this huge city.
Indeed, Soho combines many assets, you are located in the heart of London, many places to visit are within walking distance. In a few minutes you will be in Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street or at the London Eye . Can’t be bored there. In addition, the neighbourhood offers an impressive choice of restaurants and shops of all kinds. The rustic and modern side of this district gives it a crazy charm.
Located between Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, Marylebone is the area just north of Oxford Street. Here, we completely change atmosphere to enter a quiet residential area with typical English architecture. Here, independent shops, green spaces and parks dominate. In just a few minutes’ walk you’ll be back to the bustle of Oxford Street or the serenity of Regent’s Park Rose Garden. Little Venice with its typical barges is also quite accessible. In short, an extremely pleasant area for a holiday or a weekend with your children.
Do not hesitate to consult our articles to see what you can do :
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We hope that all this practical information about your holiday, weekend or life in London with your children will be of use to you… and that it will also convince you to spend some time WITHOUT your children! If you still have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. And if you are looking for a bilingual babysitter in London who speaks your child’s language, then go to www.marypop.com/