London with Kids | Family-Friendly Restaurants

Favorite Family-Friendly Dining in London

January 22nd, 2009
Courtney from Babyccino

Inn The Park, Family-Friendly Restaurant in London

One of my favorite kid-friendly restaurants in London is Inn The Park, located as the name suggests, in the middle of the lovely St. James’s Park in central London. Set amidst the grassy lawns and overlooking ‘Duck Lake’, the setting couldn’t be more ideal for an afternoon meal with your family. It also makes for the perfect lunch break if you’re sightseeing in the area: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Trafalgar Square are all close by and within walking distance.

Given its location, one might think it would be buzzing with tourists, but somehow Inn The Park maintains its anonymity and cool. The tear-drop shape of the building was designed to fit into the ‘gently undulating landscape’ of the park, which makes it easy to miss. You can’t see the restaurant from the road, so it feels like a little treasure once you’re there.

Inn The Park is a contemporary British restaurant serving both traditional and modern British recipes. In summertime the terrace transforms to a champagne and cocktail bar. It’s stylish and sexy in the evenings — hard to believe that during the day (or early evenings) it caters toward families and children! They have a great kid’s menu, loads of high chairs, and friendly waiters who will let you save your extra bread to feed the ducks after your meal. My kids LOVE the promise of a walk along the lake if they behave and eat their food! (There’s also a playground located at the Buckingham Palace end of the Park.)

The taxi drop-off point is by the ICA on The Mall, and there’s a pay-and-display parking lot on Waterloo Place (across The Mall and up the steps).

Courtney writes for Babyccino from London.

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