As more and more business travelers are taking their families along on “working vacations,” they have to find ways to keep the little ones occupied in the big city. Guests at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane are lucky to have the services of Concierge Manager George Murray, who shared some insider tips on interesting things to do in the city with the entire family.  

London
A range of activities and attractions awaits families visiting London.

1. Go for a walk or a bike ride in the park. The hotel is close to four of them: Hyde Park, Green Park, Kensington Gardens and St. James Park. Bonus: A guided walking tour to learn more about history and nature.

2. At No. 1 London, Apsley House is one of the capital’s finest Georgian buildings, and is the only English heritage site in which the owner’s family still resides. Home to the first Duke of Wellington, Apsley House opens its galleries and public rooms for tours of its art and antique townhouse collections.

3. For a look into the diverse world of cheese, a visit to Paxton and Whitfield, cheesemongers to the royal family since 1850, is a must. Whether a cheese connoisseur or simply a foodie, marvel and taste the best from the traditional cheese makers of rural Britain and France. As Winston Churchill once said, “a gentleman only buys his cheese at Paxton and Whitfield.”

4. To find St. Martin-in-the-Fields church, walk to the north end of Trafalgar Square in the heart of central London. Attend a lunchtime or evening music performance—from chamber music and choral recitals to jazz nights and candlelit orchestral evenings. Entry is free.

5. Stroll past the elegant galleries and boutiques of the Mayfair district and uncover an edgier side to the London shopping experience with a visit to the Dover Street Market. This new retail concept from Rei Kawakubo of Commes des Garcons has six floors of open-plan browsing and shopping space displaying must-have super-brand designer wear, including limited editions from Raf Simons, Junya Watanabe and Alber Elbaz.

6. Discover the White Cube gallery in Mason’s Yard. Originally an electricity substation but now with some 5,000 square feet of exhibition and gallery space, White Cube showcases eclectic works by leading international and British artists.

7. Ever wanted to make chocolate like the professionals? The Rococo School of Chocolate in nearby Belgravia offers a fantastic hands-on opportunity to learn the art. Take a class with award-winning chocolatier Prof du Choc Laurent Couchaux. Also, visitors can just sit in Rococo’s secret garden and sip a cup of rich hot chocolate.

8. Rotten Row in Hyde Park is London’s most famous equestrian venue. Book a riding lesson at the Hyde Park Stables, or just ride by the Serpentine lake along one of the bridleways or soak in the scenery and the great outdoors from horseback.

9. Ride on one of the historical Orient-Express trains. Both the British Pullman and the Northern Belle carriages from the original Venice Simplon-Orient-Express trains have been restored to their original Art Deco glory. Head out on a day trip from Victoria Station to the countryside, seaside towns and castles.