This cut-paper animation video of the history of London amazed me … and prompted this list. I’ve been to London for a short trip before I had kids, but it’s on my list to visit again! How about you? Have your kids been to London? If so, would they like these books?
12 Children’s Books To Learn About London
My Little Cities London by Jennifer Adams, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
All the sights to visit in London are highlighted in this beautifully designed picture book. Use the index at the end to get more history on each landmark. [picture book, ages 2 and up]
This is London by Miroslav Sasek
Starting one thousand nine hundred years ago, Sasek traces the history of London through its architecture and monuments. This picture book is like having your own personal travel historian taking you through the sights of London. Read it with your kids before a trip to London, after a trip to London, or just to armchair travel to London! [picture book, ages 6 and up]
My First Book of London by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Pair This is London with My First Book of London. Visit the iconic landmarks of London through this stylish book that also builds vocabulary. The large-format size of the book makes it feel like an immersive experience. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
A Walk in London by Salvatore Rubbino
There’s a foldout Thames panorama map inside that really helps put every London landmark in place. In fact, this is the perfect picture book for learning your way around London’s tourist sites on foot. I also like how each page spread is sprinkled with factoids about each site in fine print. You can read them if you want the detail, or skip them if your child is impatient to get on. It covers Westminister’s Big Ben, St. James’s Park, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Convent Garden Plaza, The City, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Threadneedle Street, The Monument, Tower of London, and all the sights noted around The Thames. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Katie in London by James Mayhew
In Trafalgar Square, the great lions surround the statue and one comes to life and plays tour guide for Katie and Jack while their grandmother naps. Imagine traveling via lion! The lion takes them to St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, The Globe Theatre, the London Eye, Big Ben, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, Harrods, and back to Trafalgar Square via double-decker bus. This is a fun overview of London sights even if there are no plans to go there in person anytime soon. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Madeleine in London by Ludwig Bemelmans
Madeleine and her friends are invited to visit Pepito in London. As a gift, they give him a retired horse from the Queen’s Life Guards. With Pepito and Madeleine on his back, the horse takes off on an adventure in London. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by
I personally would not have thought that Medieval short free verse poems would be exciting, but then it did win a Newbery award. So I read it. And the drama of life in a manor in 1255 England is riveting. Did you know that everyone hated the miller? The peasants were forced to get their grain milled at the local miller who invariably stole from them. Even the nobles had woes; the knight who went bankrupt to fight in the Crusades, the lord’s nephew who was scared during the hunt, and the lord’s daughter whose dress was ruined by feces thrown at her. Each of the 17 short plays tells a story illuminating life during this time with page spreads that detail background history. I honestly could not put this down! [22 vignettes in free verse, ages 10 and up]
The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper
I love The Dark is Rising series, a five-book contemporary fantasy series that draws upon legends of King Arthur, as well as Celtic and Norse mythology in an epic Good versus Evil adventure. Two of the books won Newbery recognition. [middle grade series, ages 10 and up]
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Set during WWII in London, nine-year-old Ada ends up in the countryside to avoid the bombing by the Germans. This is the first time Ada has left her cramped one-room apartment because her abusive mother is ashamed of her club foot. Under the care of Susan Smith, Ada and her little brother Jamie thrive. But when the war ends, will they have to return to their mother? [middle grade, ages 9 and up]
Books for Kids While Visiting London
My London: Color, Draw, Explore plus 4 postcards to send by Majel van der Meulen
I like this multi-purpose paperback book. It’s light for kids to carry in their own backpacks. They can color and draw in the book while learning about London. Perfect for the plane ride to London and for entertainment while waiting in restaurants. Plus, it’s helpful for planning your London excursions. [coloring guidebook for kids, ages 6 and up]
Pop Up London by Jenny Maizels
The five pop-up spreads follow the river Thames and it winds through London. It’s full of fun ghostly under Life the Flaps like the Most Haunted Bed in Britain, the ghost at Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey’s friendly ghost, the ghost of Saint Paul’s, and the ghost at the Tower seen carrying her head! The pop-ups of London’s most famous architectural sites are fun to view in this 3D state! [pop-up picture book, ages 4 and up]
50 Things to Spot in London by Usborne
Use this set of 50 pocket-sized cards as a London scavenger hunt for your young tourists. Each of the cards details fifty of London’s famous landmarks with an illustration and details about it. You can also search for other things to find nearby including the nearest Underground stations. There are also two cards that give a brief history of London. Parents can pull the cards to be used for each day. It’s a nice way for kids to get involved with planning activities for your trip to London. [cards, ages 6 and up]
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
p.s. Related posts:
18 Amazing Books for Kids Before Visiting Paris
American Revolution Books for Kids & Boston Freedom Trail Guide
Top 10: Books for Kids Set in Boston
Chapter Books for Boys Set in Chicago
10 Great Books on China for Kids
Bilingual Japanese Books for Kids
Discover Your World Picture Book
Visiting San Marino: Oldest Sovereign State in the World!
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Lovely! A visit to the Museum of London at the Barbican would be a great way to introduce children to London’s history and will also have loads of great London history books.
Hi Sonya,
I hope to take my kids to London at some point! Now with Breckit, it’s a little less expensive because England was always sooo expensive!
That paper art is incredible! Emma really wanted to go to London during our Scotland trip, but we couldn’t make it work – this time, at least.
Hi MaryAnne,
I built that book list around that paper art; I loved it too! You will have to take another trip! It sounds like the Scotland trip was a trip of a lifetime!
This is a fantastic list. We would also add We completely must Go to London by Lauren Child, We love the way that Charlie and Lola introduce us to London in their own original style!
Hi Catherine,
I LOVE Charlie and Lola. It was my middle child’s favorite series. I haven’t kept up for a few years though so that one escaped me. Now, I have to read it. I love their different personalities! Charlie is the PERFECT older brother and Lola is such a spunky handful!