Tips for Families

Before you go, help your children check out the excellent Kids Love London directory and ideas bank, at www.kidslovelondon.com. It was created by the city's tourist board to give all family travelers the lowdown on the city's vast range of child-friendly attractions and events. Most museums, for example, have quizzes, events, or entertaining resources for youngsters of pretty much any age.

Most London accommodations can provide a crib (or "cot") on request, and if you're renting a car, children under 12 and under 1.35m (4 1/2 ft.) in height must ride in an appropriate car seat. Consult your car rental company in advance of arrival, but it's the driver's legal responsibility to ensure all child passengers comply (visit www.childcarseats.org.uk/law for details). You'll also find babysitting available at most hotels; enquire at the concierge or reception desk. For any length of stay, you can rent baby equipment from Chelsea Baby Hire, 31 Osborne House, 414 Wimbledon Park Rd., SW19 6PW (tel. 020/8789-9673; www.chelseababyhire.com).

The web is chock-full of excellent family travel resources. Recommended U.S. family travel sites include Family Travel Forum (www.familytravelforum.com), which offers customized trip planning; Family Travel Network (www.familytravelnetwork.com), an award-winning site that offers travel features, deals, and tips; and Traveling Internationally with Your Kids (www.travelwithyourkids.com), a comprehensive site offering sound advice for international travel with children. The best family travel blogs with an international outlook are Delicious Baby (www.deliciousbaby.com) and Travel Savvy Mom (www.travelsavvymom.com). In the U.K., the mighty Mumsnet (www.mumsnet.com/travel) has plenty of holiday and travel advice and reviews. Take the Family (www.takethefamily.co.uk) has ideas and inspiration for London.