Searching for Tardis: My Hectic Itinerary for Short London Layover with Kids

I made a promise to my son that next time we go to Europe, I will make sure to include three nights in London. The reason? He is obsessed with “Doctor Who” series, and London is the ground zero for Whovians (AKA fans of the show). So, I told him he gets to say what he wants to do, and I will do my best to make it a reality. But first we would need a place to stay, and London isn’t exactly a bargain destination when it comes to lodging.

Redeeming Choice points on Comfort Inn Victoria

When Wells Fargo first started issuing its new lineup of Choice credit cards in 2023, I went ahead and applied in both mine and my husband’s names. I’ve written about it on the blog, since I considered it a stellar deal. Sadly, the offer is now 60K points (non-affiliate link) instead of 90K points when the card first came out. I’m not sure if the higher bonus will ever return, but I would be inclined to hold out. The choice (pun intended) is yours.

Anyway, one of the reasons I found this card so compelling was because I knew that in 2024 we would be staying in London. Applying required a leap of faith, but I figured we would use points in Florida if Plan A falls through. As most of you know, you can only redeem points on Choice hotels 100 days before your stay, which is an annoying quirk for those of us who like to have all our ducks in a row a year in advance.

But things worked out in the end, though I did have to buy some Choice points because I used part of my stash on Country Inn and Suites. Still, at 30k points per room per night, I consider Comfort Inn Victoria a stellar deal. It’s located near Victoria station (major hub), ideal for those taking Gatwick Express airport train too/from London. That would be us. Also, one of our tours will leave from Victoria coach station, which is located within walking distance from the hotel.

I did have to get two rooms, but it was still a better deal compared to AirBnB. I could not find anything centrally located for less than $400 per night, and most apartments did not include A/C. Since I value Choice points at half a penny each, it’s an equivalent of paying $300 per night for both rooms. Plus, I like having two full bathrooms, a big benefit when traveling with family. Of course, the fact that I got most of my points via signup bonuses makes the deal that much sweeter.

Is it a fancy hotel? No way. But it was recently remodeled, so most poor reviews on TripAdvisor no longer apply. Either way, it should be adequate for sleeping and showering.

If you are traveling as a couple, Hyatt has some really nice properties in London.  My cousin-in-law recently stayed at Great Scotland Yard  for 25k points per night and loved the hotel. A reminder: Chase Ink Business Preferred (our affiliate link) still has  a signup offer of 100K points after spending $8k in 3 months, $95 annual fee not waived. Chase points transfer to Hyatt 1:1.

Our plans in London

All the tours were booked on Viator, since I got 20% cash back from Capital One shopping portal. On top of it, two of our Amex cards had an offer that gave $50 off $250 Viator booking, which I would be a fool not to utilize.

1) Private Doctor Who walking tour

Of course! This was my son’s number one request.  At the time of booking, the price was $180 for the whole group, but looks like it has gone up to $193. There is a Doctor Who group tour that costs  $22 per person, but it’s only offered on Sundays. Sadly, it didn’t fit our schedule, otherwise I would opt for it to save cash.

Our morning private tour will last around 2.5 hours and the guide is supposed to pick us up at the hotel.

2) An afternoon day trip to Stonehenge 

After our Doctor Who tour is over, we will have about two hours to get lunch. After that, we will make our way to Victoria Coach station and get on a tour bus to go see Stonehenge. My son asked me to add it, but I’m actually quite excited to see this famous landmark myself. The cost is $83 per person, but Capital One cash back+Amex discount will make the price a bit more palatable.

The tour will take about 6 hours, so we should be back in London around 7 pm. After getting late dinner, it will be time to call it a day and go to bed. That’s middle age for you.

3) Visiting friends in Chelmsford

This town is located in Essex area, around 1.5 hours from central London. Originally, my plan was to take public transportation, but it looks way too complicated. Instead, I reserved  a private roundtrip car transfer via Booking.com at a cost of $200 total. If we were to take trains and Metro, it would be about  $160 and take twice as long. I consider $40 premium a money well spent.

4) The Who Shop and museum 

Originally, I told my son we would not be able to include it in our itinerary, since The Who Shop is located quite far from central London. But  I’ve changed my  mind and decided to add it after all. It’s on the way back from Chelmsford, so additional cost/time investment  is minimal. It’s a surprise, and my son has no idea we are planning to go.

The museum portion is only open on certain days and you have to reserve a 25-minute time slot  via email or phone call. I emailed and got a response that my reservation request  has been approved. From the website: “Our new series items include the Gas Mask from ‘The Empty Child’, the original Vincent Van Gogh Costume worn by Tony Curran in the season 5 episode “Vincent and The Doctor”, the 11th Doctor’s Soothsayer costume worn by Matt Smith in the series 6 story “The Wedding of River Song” & even Rory’s Roman costume from ‘The Pandorica Opens’ and ‘The Big Bang’!”

Very cool.

5) Going to Her Majesty theater to see “Phantom of the opera”

We will have a free evening before our flight back to US the next morning, so I told my daughter to choose what she wants to do. My advice was to add The British Museum, but neither of my kids are interested in it. Oh well, their loss. Originally, my daughter wanted to tour National Portrait Gallery because she really loves art and happens to be a gifted artist herself. Well, at least according to her mom (yours truly).

One of my daughter’s paintings

Anyway, she was all excited about the museum, that is until she found out that “Phantom of the opera” will be playing in theater  during our visit in London. NYC Broadway run of the show has ended, but you can still catch a live performance in certain cities in Europe this summer.

My daughter had a hard time choosing between the museum and the show, but I recommend the latter. After all, we are planning to go to MoMA museum in NYC before flying to Europe. And how often do you get a chance to see a performance of your favorite show in an old British theater?!

She agreed, and I told her we can only afford the nosebleed section at $70 per person. She protested and said she was hoping for a better view, but those seats run at $200 a pop. Not today, Satan! I gave her two options: we either book the cheapest seats or not go at all. She graciously (I wish) accepted. I booked the tickets on Viator due to mentioned discounts. Unfortunately, all sales are final, so nobody better get sick.

 

Final thoughts

So, those are our tentative  plans. It’s a hectic itinerary, for sure. Then again, I travel so I can see new things and chase new experiences. We can sit and relax at home (for free). I just wish my husband felt the same way…

New to miles and points travel? Check out Beginner’s Guide: 7 Steps to Free Travel with Miles and Points.