On airlines, you must request a special menu for children at least 24 hours in advance. Bring your own baby food; you can ask a flight attendant to warm it.
Arrange ahead of time with your hotel for such necessities as a crib, bottle warmer, and car seat (in England, small children aren't allowed to ride in the front seat). You can also rent baby equipment from Chelsea Baby Hire, 31 Osborne House, SW19 6PW (tel. 020/8789-9673; www.chelseababyhire.com). The London black cab (tel. 0845/108-3000; www.londonblackcab.com) is a lifesaver for families; the roomy interior allows a stroller to be lifted right into the cab without unstrapping baby.
Babysitters can also be found for you at most hotels. Just ask at the front desk.
Before you go, help your kids to check out London Tourist Board's Kids Love London at www.kidslovelondon.com, a site created to give kids the lowdown on kid-friendly attractions, events, restaurants, and more.
Recommended family travel websites include Family Travel Forum (www.familytravelforum.com), a comprehensive site that offers customized trip planning; Family Travel Network (www.familytravelnetwork.com), an online magazine providing travel tips; TravelWithYourKids.com (www.travelwithyourkids.com), a comprehensive site written by parents for parents offering sound advice for long-distance and international travel with children.
Traveling with Minors
All children must have their own passport when traveling to London. To obtain a passport, the child must be present -- that is, in person -- at the center issuing the passport. Both parents must be present as well. If not, then a notarized statement from the parents is required. Any questions parents or guardians might have can be answered by calling the National Passport Information Center at tel. 877/487-2778 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm Eastern Standard Time, or log onto the U.S. State Department website at http://travel.state.gov and do a search for "Foreign Entry Requirements."
