ABOUT ME

hi, I’m Jo!

Thank you for stopping by The London Lowdown, the kid-friendly guide to London and beyond. It is so great to have you here!

I am a London-based food & travel photographer and a mom to two mini-Londoners (ages 8 & 5).

Originally from Boston MA, I moved to England in 2010 to hang out with a Brit after three years of long distance dating. Fast forward to over a decade later, and now as a family of four, it still throws me sometimes that I call London home.

There really is something for everyone in London, young and older. The trick, especially for those with a young family, is to how to make the most of what London has to offer with ease and minimal stress for all.

I’ll share my journey below and what led me to create The London Lowdown. If you have any questions about your upcoming London trip don’t hesitate to get in touch.

contact me

What is the London lowdown?

The inspiration for this London family travel blog came from my own struggle with planning our first city getaway to Florence as a family of four. I had been to Florence before but going with kids is surely going to be a different experience. What cultural attractions can we enjoy that will not be a total bore to the girls? Is there a more kid-friendly way to explore the charms of Florence? We only have four days there, how can we best maximize our time? And, more importantly, where can we dine that fulfills my need for an authentic experience (basically not a tourist trap) but caters well to children?

When travel planning for a family, I want to know all that is practical and with bonus local insights. This is what I was looking for in Florence and it is what I aim to provide with The London Lowdown, all the helpful information on exploring London with kids but with all the extra bits that will make the trip all the more memorable.

Kids enjoying the Trafalgar Square fountain as part of the 2 day London itinerary with kids

Admiring Trafalgar Square, London

why the London lowdown

I created The London Lowdown to serve as a helpful and trusted resource for busy parents who want to maximize time with their children in London, a city that has a lot to offer, but is limited on time to plan and sort through all the research.

I know when I plan a trip or an experience for my family, the main intention is to create maximum fun and everlasting memories for everyone that makes the most of our time together. Quality time together is precious and I know I’m not alone in thinking this.

When it comes to London, the question is not “What is there to do in London with kids?”. The better question is “What is worth doing in London with the kids?”. There is an abundance of family-friendly activities in this city, to the point where doing research on it can feel intimidating and overwhelming. I want The London Lowdown to help take away the stress of travel planning and instead fill you with excitement for all the possibilities of a wonderful trip.

Whether you are looking to plan a day out in London (or beyond) with the family or traveling from abroad and want to make the most of your well-earned vacation, The London Lowdown can help plan with reliable recommendations and well thought out itineraries on how to best experience London with ease, even with young kids in tow.

For a while now I used to swap ideas on what fun things there are to do with the kids in London with local mom groups and friends. Every so often I would share it on my Instagram Stories. I’m glad to finally have a home where all this knowledge and research can live and be of immense resource for others.

what to expect

Here I will be sharing my tips on what to do in London with kids, where to eat around those attractions and what else there is to explore in the area to make the most of your trip.

Food is a huge passion point for me and as the girls are getting older I am really eager to expose them to more cultures through food. The dining options I recommend will not necessarily fall under the traditional category of “family friendly” in that they may not offer kids menus but should be suitable for most palates. I say this as a mom of a fussy eater!

Where I have been featured

While The London Lowdown is a new project for me, all the wonderful trappings of London and its food scene is not. Here are a few of the publications where I have previously been featured. In case it is not clear, my professional Instagram account mentioned is @candidsbyjo.

🇬🇧 Condé Nast Traveler (U.S.) – How to Plan a Great British Getaway, According to Three Travel Photographers
🇬🇧 Condé Nast Traveller (UK) – The Best UK Travel Instagram Accounts
🍴 Time Out London – Guide to the 5 Best Dishes in London by Candids by Jo
🍴 The Points Guy – 7 Traveling Foodies You Should Be Following on Instagram
🍴 Mr Porter – Instagrams’s Most Liked Brunches
📸 Women’s Health Mag – 5 Steps to Taking Better Food Pictures + Getting More Instagram Followers

I have also written travel stories for SUITCASE Magazine and Olive Magazine.

upcoming travels

As you can imagine, my travels look a little different these days. Less intense. Destinations not as far flung (at the moment). But fond memories are still in the making. In the next few weeks months we are looking forward our family travel to New York City and Corfu. Stay tuned!

Last note: All photographs on this website are taken by me unless otherwise noted. I do not give permission to use any images on this website; however, if there is interest in purchasing photographs please contact me via email: hello@thelondonlowdown.com

Where I’ve Been

Travel Destinations

morocco

Atlas Mountains
Fez
Marrakech

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