Summer is here again, and by the time you read this, the kids will be just about ready to break up school for the summer holidays. So if ever you were planning a fun-filled, family-friendly visit to London, there’s probably never been a better time than right now to start getting your ideas together on how to make your upcoming break a summer holiday they’ll cherish forever.

With some of the world’s most famous landmarks right on your doorstep, not to mention a wealth of museums, galleries, and a host of children’s events taking place right across June and July, you’re never too far away from something to do when you stay at the Amsterdam Hotel in Earls Court.

Still, that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty more to explore. Just a short train ride away from nearby Earls Court Station, a number of Britain’s most popular theme parks and activity centres are on hand to entertain both kids and big kids alike.

To help make your children’s next holiday to London one they’ll never forget, here’s our guide to just five top family friendly attractions, all within easy distance of your Earls Court Hotel.

Thorpe Park

Staines Road, Chertsey, KT16 8PN

Boasting a plethora of thrills, spills, and white-knuckle ride galore, Thorpe Park is a particular favourite of families with teenagers and older children, though there’s more than enough for the younger ones too.

The delightful Octopus Garden, with contains a number of small, toddler-friendly rides, always proves a hit with the little ones, whilst big brother or sister will love rides like Stealth, which catapults you from 0-80mph in two seconds flat.

Whilst we can’t guarantee that you’ll actually get there that quickly (nor would you want to!), we can tell you that Thorpe Park is less than an hour away from your hotel via Earls Court Station, taking the tube to Staines, and then a short 10 minute bus ride to the park itself.

Chessington World of Adventures Resort

Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2NE

One more suitable for younger families, you and your whole family could spend an entire day at Chessington World of Adventures and still not have time to see and do everything the resort has to offer.

The original zoo around which the park was based is still just as popular today, and features a number of exotic creatures such as Asiatic lions, Persian leopards and Sumatran tigers.

Daily animal presentations for younger children take place in the afternoons.

Across the way, you’ll also find sharks, Piranhas and all manner of wonderful sea creatures at the aquarium, whilst the theme park serves up a whole manner of rides for younger children and a soft play area.

Chessington World of Adventures is just a short walk (or take the 71 bus) from Chessington South Railway Station, just under an hour’s commute from Earls Court Station.

Willows Farm Village

Coursers Road, Colney , AL4 0PF

If the kids couldn’t get enough of the critters at Chessington, then this wonderful family-orientated farm village should certainly be your next port of call.

Along with the chance to get up close and personal with all things fluffy and cute, Willows Farm Village in Hertfordshire also offers a playground, and a children’s activity centre themed around the CBBC series ‘Peter Rabbit.’

To get there, take the tube to Leicester Square, then on to High Barnett. From there, Willows is just a few minutes away on the number 84 bus.

Hampton Court Palace,

East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU

One of the closest family-friendly attractions to your Earls Court hotel, Hampton Court can be reached by taking the tube to Victoria, and a short train ride from there to Hampton Court station itself.

Once there, you’ll find the palace -in all its regal splendour- perfect for combining fun activities with a little education on the side.

Throughout the summer months, the palace runs workshops and family friendly activities, whilst the ‘Encounters with the Past’ historical reenactment performances are always a blast.

The Hampton Court Maze is another highlight, as is the Magic Garden playground, where the young ones can run around and blow off some steam whilst the adults sit back and relax in the Tiltyard Cafe.

Legoland Windsor

Winkfield Road. Windsor Park, Windsor, SL4 4AY 

Last but certainly not least, no list of family-friendly attractions near Earls Court would be complete without mentioning Legoland Windsor, the ever-popular theme park constructed from over 55 million Lego bricks.

Of course, it isn’t just the design of the park itself, nor the many magnificent Lego statues dotted around the place, that are the draw here. There’s plenty of rides, activities and even a pirate themed stunt show in the Harbour area of the park.

A big highlight is the Pirate Falls Treasure Chest, where you’re taken on an enchanting sea voyage before plunging, log-flume-style, into the water. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of places you can dry off before enjoying the rest of Legoland Windsor’s many family friendly favourites.