The 9 best things to do in Tier 2 London with children – and where to stay

From December 2, London will return to its Tier 2 status, meaning many of the city’s greatest attractions, such as art galleries and the London Eye, will still be open for business (with extra safety guidelines in place), and many of the most popular spots will be much less busy than normal. Note that hotels are allowed to remain open in Tier 2 as before, so long as you are staying with members of your household you are free to stay in a hotel. Residents of Tier 3 areas are advised not to travel.

Below you’ll find our pick of the best thing that you can do in the capital  – and the best places to stay.

Wesminster Abbey

One of the most famous churches in the world, with 1,000 years of history. This is where William the Conqueror and Queen Elizabeth II were crowned and William and Kate exchanged vows. The Gothic edifice, all echoey cloisters, mosaic-encrusted chambers and martyrs carved into the stonework, hosted the funeral of Princess Diana and is the burial ground of everyone from Geoffrey Chaucer to Oliver Cromwell.

Insider tip: Quiet corners to seek out are the extraordinary 13th-century octagonal Chapter House with the oldest door in London and rare medieval sculptures, and the Pyx Chamber, which used to be a royal treasury and has an altar that predates the Reformation.

Contact: 20 Deans Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3PA (0303 123 7300; westminster-abbey.org)

Nearest underground station: Westminster and St James's Park

Where to stay

A hotel in a building formerly used as government offices in London’s political and tourist heartland, offering a friendly welcome. Eye-catching art and sculpture, including a gallery of Gerald Scarfe cartoons and humorous political caricatures, serves to remind guests of the hotel’s proximity to the Westminster Village. Head to the Blue Boar Bar for an intimate, clubby feel and a display of antique gin bottles. The unusually large marble bathrooms with walk-in showers and separate baths are a distinct plus.

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The lobby of this upscale hotel a short stroll from Westminster Abbey looks as though someone has gone mad with an icing gun, for J P Brigg’s 1899 plasterwork is now blinding white. The rooms are attractive, the bar warmly convivial and it all hums with life. There are many double-double bedrooms with two small bathrooms instead of one large one – perfect for families, or pairs of singles. The bar has a very jolly cocktail list. If you don’t want full breakfast there are handy £5 'Wake & Take' bags in the lobby.

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St Paul’s Cathedral

Prince Charles once remarked that the skyscrapers that surround the second-largest dome in the world are "like a basketball team standing shoulder-to-shoulder between you and the Mona Lisa". The gentle, swollen shadow of Sir Christopher Wren’s 17th-century Renaissance masterpiece does seem all the more exceptional set against the City’s spiky, vertigiousness skyline. Don’t miss the Whispering Gallery where you can hear someone 112 feet away, the Golden Gallery with views over the Thames to Shakespeare’s Globe and the tombs of Ethelred the Unready, Alexander Fleming and James Barry.

Insider tip: Buy tickets online for a year of free entry, and try and time your visit so you finish up in time for the 5pm choral evensong.

Contact: St. Paul's Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD (020 7246 8350; stpauls.co.uk)

Nearest underground station: St Paul's

Where to stay

The Zetter Townhouse is a snug boutique hotel in Clerkenwell, complete with terrific cocktails from master mixologist Tony Conigliaro and a flamboyantly theatrical style. The lounge, bar and dining room come dressed in a jumble of Victoriana that includes a stuffed kangaroo, armchairs upholstered with sacking, and walls crammed with oil paintings, curios and old photos. There's a games room with table tennis too.

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This clever rejig of what must have been a fairly anodyne office block is full of light: walk out of the lift and there are floor-to-ceiling windows and the rear rooms have fine views. For the best vistas, go for the high back rooms ending in 19-22. The hotel has retained the original banisters and added witty touches. The whole ethos of Z is keeping it simple and therefore keeping the cost down; rooms are immaculately clean and reception staff are genuinely friendly and super-helpful.

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Tate Modern

Controversial and unmissable in equal measure. Entry to the collections is also free (exhibitions are charged). Visitors will find the country’s most important modern art collection in the vast former power station (think everything from Picasso to Lichtenstein), as well as London’s latest must-see exhibition, often headlined by art colossuses like Anish Kapoor and Ai Weiwei.

Insider tip: End your visit with a nosey around The Tanks, arguably the gallery’s most experimental outpost – the place to come for creepy video installations and kooky performative art. Oh, and don’t miss the chocolate shop.

Contact: Bankside, London SE1 9TG (020 7887 8888; tate.org.uk)

Nearest underground station: Southwark and Blackfriars

Where to stay

A glamorous hotel in Sea Containers’ former HQ, with a sensational position on the south bank of the River Thames. Expect to be rubbing shoulders with a rocking post-work crowd of glossy 20-somethings in the Lyaness Bar. Designer Tom Dixon has had fun with this: a vast, copper-bottomed ship’s hull ploughs straight through the building to the river and peering out of one side are the reception staff, clad in Space Odyssey-style sweatshirts. The Rooftop Bar looks as though a gentlemen’s club has landed on top of a liner.

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Blimey, where did Hilton go? This understated faux-industrial new build on the site of a former essential oils distillery in Southwark suits its ultra-urban setting. It sits halfway between Tate Modern and the Jerwood Space, in an area sprouting new art galleries, bars and restaurants by the day. The style is Seattle-meets-South-London, with big industrial doors, fluted glass, subway tiles, lots of natural textiles and some excellent lighting. Timber cladding offset by polished concrete floors is a subtle nod to Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall.

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The Shard

A noble glass spire that embodies the energy and ambition of London’s financial district – or Qatari Sovereign Wealth Fund petrodollars mutated into thousand-foot dalek with a head that's been subjected to a dodgy pencil sharpener? Wherever you stand on the architecture, London’s highest viewing platform has become one of the city’s most popular attractions.

Insider tip: Check the website for details on the latest events.

Contact: 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG (0844 499 7111; the-shard.com)

Nearest underground station: London Bridge

Where to stay

Situated on floors 34 to 52 of Renzo Piano's Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, Shangri-La at the Shard towers over London offering 360-views from its bedrooms. The hotel's resturant, Ting, offers British and European dishes from Executive chef Jeremy Brown. But people come here not for the food, but rather for the romance of eating in front of those views. You can watch a chiffon-purple sunset bleed onto the Gothic Revival bascules of Tower Bridge while necking down foie gras and slurping on Pinot Gris.

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There is an air of effortless efficiency about the hotel, while its relaxed feel is in marked contrast to nearby Borough Market and London Bridge station. The hotel does exactly what you would require of a four-star hotel but with some of its own touches, such as the invitingly designed Quarter Bar and spacious lobby, with its funky electric fire, comfy seating and distinctive 20th-century painting of London Bridge during the Great Fire of London.

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Big Ben

The world’s most famous clock, which features in the film Mary Poppins, on the label of HP sauce and on every London postcard ever made. It is worthy of its nickname (technically it's called Elizabeth Tower; the main bell inside is Big Ben) – the edifice scales 96 metres, with minute hands over four metres long. The only way to visit the tower is to apply as a British resident in writing to one’s MP. However, the clock is undergoing renovation and tours are currently not taking place. That shouldn't stop people from expressing interest in a visit after the works are complete. In the meantime it remains one of London's most popular monuments for a selfie; #bigben has at least two-and-a-half million Instagram posts.

Insider tip: Watch out for whether the clock face is illuminated; this means Parliament is in session.

Contact: Westminster, London SW1A 0AA (020 7219 4272; parliament.uk)

Nearest underground station: Westminster

Where to stay

The hotel occupies eight floors of Whitehall Court, an imposing Grade I-listed building with a fascinating history. Built in 1884 in the style of a French chateau, it housed the original Scotland Yard, hosted secret service meetings during the two world wars, and – more recently – emergency talks between the Treasury and bankers tasked with tackling the credit crunch. Guests can arrange a tour of the building’s opulent private quarters, including the Gladstone Library, which once contained 30,000 books.

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A treat for Art Deco-lovers, in a central London location, with fabulous interiors in communal spaces and a restaurant and spa that are both destinations in themselves. Rooms are comfortable. The Oriental-style St James Bar is seductively inviting; while the boudoir-like Rose Lounge is the perfect place to enjoy afternoon tea serenaded by a harpist. An unusual city-centre hotel spa, set around an almost parlour-style lounge area, keeps with the hotel’s style of grandeur, and features a hammam-style steam room and whirlpool tub.

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Tower Bridge

London Bridge may have a nursery rhyme named after it but Tower Bridge pips it as a tourist attraction; the formidable Victorian Gothic edifice raised from steel, Cornish granite and Devonshire stone is not just a river Thames icon but also a fun day out in its own right. Visitors can hang out in the glass-floored high-level walkway 140ft above the water, and explore the Victorian engine rooms with its original furnaces and steam engines.

Contact: Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP (020 7403 3761; towerbridge.org.uk)

Nearest tube station: Tower Hill and London Bridge

where to stay

Blytonesque British boys’ school meets Bombay palace bedecked in brilliant blue. The old classrooms of this erstwhile Victorian grammar school now have beds swaddled in Indian fabrics and boastful views of the river. Sip on a turmeric-dusted cocktail in the bar or enjoy a naan-with-wine pairing in the restaurant. Many used to be classrooms and have soaring ceilings and original beams. The Thames Suite has a cracking view of the river; this is best at night, when the water sparkles frantically like a glitter ball.

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This moderately priced option is above Tower Hill underground station, overlooking the Tower of London. As well as a free-flowing ground floor that feels like a cool living room, hung with British art, quirky collections and hundreds of books, the hotel has an eighth-storey, double-height bar from which to admire the City’s sights. citizenM prides itself on having everything you need and nothing you don’t. So, while there’s no gym or pool, there is a coffee-bar at the entrance, six iMacs to borrow, a canteen-style restaurant that’s open 24/7, and a top-floor living-space

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Natural History Museum

A favourite with children and no wonder with the first T-rex fossil ever found and the skull of a triceratops. Be sure to whizz into the Minerals gallery to see the 1,400-pound iron meteorite that fell in Argentina in 1783 and the species that inspired the mermaid legends in the Mammals room.

Contact: Cromwell Road, Kensington, London SW7 5BD (020 7942 5511; nhm.ac.uk)

Nearest tube station: Gloucester Road and South Kensington

where to stay

A beautifully converted boutique hotel in the heart South Kensington. It's smart with a few inventive and highly contemporary twists. Room are of a good size, with king-sized beds and distinctive tall colourful headboards, while all the rooms select a different theme inspired by the hotel’s location – botany, music, geometry, ornithology and astronomy are reflected in the décor. Don't miss the Science afternoon tea inspired by nearby museums, complete with mini dino biscuits and chocolate fossils hidden in cocoa soil.

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If South Kensington suits as a location, then this is probably the most comfortable, luxurious and uplifting place to stay in the area. A perfect example, beautifully kept, of a town house hotel, one that blends glamour with intimacy and a sense of being at home. A particular boon is the tree-filled private garden, a soothing space for drinks or dining and an unusual plus for a London hotel. Rooms mix deep comfort with a sensible approach to fixtures and fittings and great style. All are different, all delightful.

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London Eye

This 443ft 'ferris wheel' with air-conditioned passenger capsules (32 to represent the 32 boroughs of London) offers some of the best panoramas of the city. Rotations last about 30 minutes, and the wheel rotates 26 cm per second, which is actually not as slow as it might seem – three times that of the average tortoise.

Insider tip: There is no capsule number 13 because of superstition; instead the final capsule is number 33. Luxury add-ons like champagne and chocolate are available.

Contact: Lambeth, London SE1 7PB (0871 781 3000; londoneye.com)

Nearest tube station: Waterloo

WHERE TO STAY

During the week the hotel is filled with corporate guests, predominantly from North America who follow the Marriott brand, but at the weekend there is a shift to leisure guests taking advantage of lower room rates and an excellent position in the city centre. Being a landmark listed building, the hotel has an engaging historic character. Facilities include a sixth-floor spa and health club with a 25-metre indoor pool adorned with artificial palm trees. Many rooms look out towards the river or the London Eye.

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Does what it does very well from its position just south of Westminster Bridge. This Park Plaza is efficient and functional, with an atmosphere that suits both business travellers and tourists. The views from some of the rooms are outstanding, looking out to the London Eye. There is helpful and friendly service throughout. Facilities include a well-equipped gym, which is open 24 hours a day, and the small Auroro Spa has a treatment room for massages and manicures. The top floor (the 14th) has seven penthouse suites.

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Victoria and Albert Museum

Alexander McQueen gowns rub alongside sandals from Ancient Egypt in Fashion Room 410. You’ll also find everything from 500-year-old Persian carpets to Japanese Tokugawa suits of armour and furniture made for Marie Antoinette in Britain’s leading art and design museum.

Contact: Cromwell Road, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RL (020 7942 2000; vam.ac.uk)

Nearest tube: South Kensington and Gloucester Road

where to stay

This arty South Kensington hotel lives up to its name. The small rooms boast oversized, brightly coloured velour headboards as their main decorative element and the hotel is full of unusual exhibits. A good, if expensive, choice for people looking for something funky near the V&A. The open-plan ground floor includes set pieces such as chandeliers, a life-sized bull, a pair of ballerina legs made from bark and flowers that stick out of a large urn, as if she is in the process of disappearing.

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If you've ever dreamed of staying in one of the blazing white stucco terraces that surround Hyde Park, then The Gore might be for you. All the better if you have a penchant for Venetian beds and damask chaise longues. The bar is one of the best-kept secrets in SW7. The bedrooms are period-style, with copies of Renaissance oil paintings, claw-foot chairs, velvet, fringed sofas and feature beds. The themed Junior Suites are good fun, including the Judy Garland room with red sequined shoes on display.

5 fun family experiences near London that you can reach by car

Go Ape Cockfosters

Swing your way through the trees, teeter along on rope walkways and zoom from canopy to forest floor on zip wires, all an hour’s drive from central London. “Mini Tarzans” must be over 3ft 4in (1m) tall and over the age of six. Younger children can use the small playground and café while their siblings behave like primates. Social distancing has been built into the park and gloves are recommended.

Details: 0333 331 7620; goape.co.uk; children 16-plus £31, 10-15 £25, 6-9 £18.

London Outer Orbital Path

This 150-mile circular walk around London is perfect for the pandemic times. Transport for London has an excellent webpage devoted to the Loop’s 24 sections and how to reach them. The 3½-mile-long Banstead Downs-to-Ewell section is suitable for all ages, and ambles through Henry VIII’s old deer park at Nonsuch Palace – long demolished – and by the tiny 18th-century jail and fire station in Ewell.

Details: 0343222 1234; https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/loop-walk 

The Surrey Hills

Some 163 square miles of peaks and pastures, grassy slopes and glorious views, which accounts for roughly a quarter of Surrey. It has been protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 1958. It takes one hour and 15 minutes to drive to Box Hill from central London, where you’ll have the chance to hike the 735ft (224m) bluff whose profile has increased hugely since it was the centrepiece of the cycling road race at London 2012.

Details: surreyhills.org

The Chiltern Hills

A similar deal, to Surrey Hills - this time in leafy Buckinghamshire, but still ripe for happy wanderings. Head to Saunderton (one hour 20 minutes from London), a classic English village of particular beauty, the parish church of St Mary and St Nicholas dating back to 1227. It is also a short hop from the Hellfire Caves (hellfirecaves.co.uk), a man-made cavern complex with a spooky story.

Details: chilternsaonb.org

Hever Castle

Another fine fragment of Henry VIII's story, this time folded into the context of rural Kent. Hever Castle was, famously, the childhood home of Bluff King Hal's second wife (and first executionee) Anne Boleyn. Although built in the 13th century, the castle trades heavily on the 16th century and its most notable resident. It looks the part too - especially when sunlight twinkles on its moat, and the year could be 1522.

Details: hevercastle.co.uk; adults £16.25, children (5-15) £9.20.