When you’re planning a visit to London with youngsters, there are some nice books to introduce your kids to the town – together with fiction for all ages, kids’s information books and extra amongst my decide of the most effective youngsters’ 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 kids’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 couple of household metropolis break in London, some important studying to pack in hand baggage and extra inspiration for planning your journey.
You’ll find extra concepts of children’ books about London in my Amazon lists as properly
Books about London for toddlers and preschoolers
Even the littlest guests to London can discover some nice books too, together with image books and different preschool favourites. Some choices within the subsequent part may 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 stunning introduction to the town for youthful readers.
Paddington’s London Story Treasury consists of 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 may 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 comply with alongside throughout their very own journey – there’s even an ‘extraordinarily good London map’ as properly.
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 Large Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace and different sights. A stunning introduction for toddlers following in Maisy’s pawprints.
The Queen’s Hat
Typically 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 via London.
With a string of London landmarks, from London Zoo to Tower Bridge and Large Ben, the query is, the place will the Queen’s hat find yourself? The Queen’s Hat is aimed toward ages 3-5.
Pussy cat, pussy cat, the place have you ever been? I’ve been to London to go to the Queen
Updating the traditional nursery rhyme, Pussy Cat Pussy Cat The place Have you ever Been does certainly comply with 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 vivid 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 children books about London, followers of the traditional tales may comply with her adventures this aspect of the Channel.
After Pepito, who lived subsequent to Madeline and her mates in France, strikes to London, all of them determine to pay him a go to. Madeline in London is right for age 4-7.
Youngsters’ books about London
The beautiful tales are all set in London, together with among the metropolis’s main landmarks – good as a memento or to get youngsters enthusiastic about their go to.
Harry Potter followers may even love monitoring down the places from the books (and the flicks) 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 rely of what number of Usborne lift-the-flap books we had through the years – and there’s actually nothing to beat these fabulously illustrated kids’s books for youthful readers.
Look Inside London is not any exception, paced with details about the 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 pink telephone packing containers and double-deckers buses, together with black cabs. Nice for ages 5+, it’s additionally one thing youthful siblings (and oldsters!) can take pleasure in taking a look at.
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 beautiful illustrations.
Following title character Bella on the Queen’s birthday, it’s right down to the bridge-dwelling cat to save lots of 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 mates, 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 necessary to say, youngsters can comply with alongside because the Royal Rabbits journey to London. The Royal Rabbits is beneficial for ages 7+. You can too purchase the three-book assortment.
The Hyde Park Squirrels
One other candy and vibrant collection of books, the Hyde Park Squirrels is about in Victorian occasions, beginning with Luke goes to London, as Lucas Bushtail units off for the town to search 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 youngsters aged 5-7, the main focus of See Inside London is taking a journey via time (reasonably than geography), displaying London all through its historical past from Roman occasions to the Center Ages, the Black Loss of life and in the course of the Blitz within the Second World Struggle.
That is London
This traditional e book was first printed in 1959 and whilst you won’t discover bowler-hatted bankers on their solution to the town lately, That is London continues to be a beautiful one to personal.
With Miroslav Sasek’s elegant illustrations bringing London to life, you’ll discover most of the historic buildings and landmarks, in addition to black cabs, the underground, the Horse Guards and different conventional sights as tempting in the present day.
Beneficial for age 7+, we got a duplicate when my daughter was born and browse it together 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 the town’s greatest sights.
Geared toward kids aged round 3-6 (so additionally works as another choice for preschoolers), their sudden day trip takes them to Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Large Ben and the London Eye, so Katie in London is right to introduce youthful youngsters 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 pink 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 solution to plan a day trip and your personal Stroll in London
Mary Poppins
Virtually good in each method, the Mary Poppins books can 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 solution to examine London.
This assortment of tales begins with Mary’s arrival with the Banks household, however consists of numerous locations inside the metropolis which kids can recognise on their journey. This assortment of Mary Poppins tales comprises 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 at some point, she meets a speaking bus and it looks like her goals have was actuality… or is it magic in spite of everything? 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 Large Ben
A part of the Across the World in 80 Mysteries assortment, which sees Christina and Grant visiting well-known locations in 80 nations, 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 youngsters study extra of the world’s geography, as they comply with Grant, his sister and their two new mates as they attempt to remedy the Thriller at Large 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 need to add 221B Baker Road to your itinerary.
Whereas not each Sherlock Holmes e book is about in London, there are many scenes to whisk you again to the town’s previous as you learn. In addition to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, you should purchase the Full Assortment.
Books about London for teenagers and tweens
As soon as your youngsters 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 mother and father!)
Grotesque Guides: London
Horrible Histories addicts can be delighted to find that there’s a London e book within the collection – Grotesque Guides: London – with all of the fascinating and foul, ugly, gory and downright bizarre info you’d count on.
There’s loads of horribly hilarious moments in London’s historical past to take pleasure in too as you cowl every thing from plague and pestilence to fireplace: uncover what triggered the Nice Stink, peer into spooky St Paul’s and courageous the terrifying Tower alongside the best way.
The London Eye Thriller
An peculiar day trip 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 completely 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. Best for Sep 11-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 the town’s underworld to trace down her father’s killer.
Travelling by way of India and China, the journey is as stuffed with element and peril as you’d count on; 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 house of Queen Victoria), this story is ideal for teenagers who love historical past and tales of royal London.
Following Miss V Conroy, who is shipped by her father to turn out to be the companion to Princess Victoria at Kensington Palace, she is torn between her loyalty to him and the principles he has devised for the younger roytal, 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 method 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 accident unleashes the evil god set when he shatters the Rosetta Stone, their quest takes them to Cairo, Paris and the American South-west alongside the best way. 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 start line for Rivers of London, a novel following probationary constable Peter Grant, the primary of a collection set in London that’s splendid for teenagers.
After attempting to take a witness assertion from a ghost, he finds himself aiding DCI Thomas Nightingale to analyze crimes involving magic or the uncanny – which suggests assembly the town’s gods and goddesses, and entering into the world of myths and legends as he does.
Neverwhere
Whereas Neil Gaiman went on to jot 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 London of kinds.
When a younger businessman stops to assist an injured lady, he discovers one other metropolis of darkness, of monsters – but in addition of angels – in a subterranean labyrinth. And provided that he will help save this underworld kingdom may 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 lady, is as a lot a love letter to London.
Whirling throughout the town from Crystal Palace to Camden, Shoreditch, Soho, Kensington, Notting Hill and out to Alexandra Palace, it’s the inhabitants of the town who’re the actual coronary heart of London. London Belongs To Us is beneficial for age 13+.
Brick Lane
A terrific possibility 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 special image of the town from the vacationer coronary heart, concerning every thing from immigration to self-fulfilment.
London guidebooks for teenagers
There are London guides galore, however for those who’re on the lookout for kid-friendly choices, these London guidebooks for kids are a good way to get them concerned in planning.
Try Grotesque Guides: London , See Inside London and Look Inside London for extra entertaining however informational journey guides to London for teenagers
Paddington’s Information to London
Good for youthful readers, who higher to introduce you to London than the bear who made his house 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 info in Paddington’s Information to London too.
London Planet: Metropolis Trails London
The Metropolis Trails collection from Lonely Planet Youngsters are one among my favorite guidebooks for kids – we’ve used them in cities together with Rome, and Metropolis Trails London is simply as filled with quirky info and sights.
Venturing away from the traditional 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 study a lot! Geared toward ages 8+
Lonely Planet Youngsters Pop-up London
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 particular person too.
I-spy London
There are greater than 130 London sights to search out within the pocket-sized i-spy London, with loads of info to find as you learn and discover.
Enjoyable to flick via earlier than you journey, it’s a good 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 youngsters to search out as properly.
Try 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 youngsters can be retaining their eyes open all through the journey as they attempt to earn sufficient factors to turn out to be a particular agent.
There are challenges which is able to apply to ever go to, from attempting conventional meals to recognizing key landmarks, in addition to others which you’ll tailor to your personal journey, for those who’re visiting specific museums or trying out websites like Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London.
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