Travelling by Eurostar from London to Amsterdam
This was my second time visiting Amsterdam with my daughter. On our first trip she was still in a buggy (that BA actually lost), so this time we could see and do a lot more.
For this trip, we took the Eurostar from London St Pancras straight to Amsterdam Central. While the journey took 4 hours and 16 minutes compared to a 45-minute flight, it worked out to be much cheaper. By redeeming 40,000 Virgin Points, I received a £200 Eurostar voucher. Our return tickets cost £234 in total, but with the voucher applied I only paid £34 for both of us. A return journey to Amsterdam for that price felt like an absolute bargain.
We travelled straight after school, and to beat the heavy London traffic I booked a black cab through the Gett app. It cost more than Uber, but because black cabs can use bus lanes, we made it to St Pancras on time. That peace of mind was worth every penny.
Was the Eurostar worth it compared to flying? For this trip, yes – it saved money and was a unique experience. However, the journey was long, so in future I’d probably fly to Amsterdam and save the Eurostar for shorter routes like France or Belgium.
Staying at easyHotel Amsterdam Arena Boulevard
We arrived in Amsterdam at 11:20pm, and instead of waiting around for the next train we decided to grab an Uber straight to our hotel. We stayed at easyHotel Amsterdam Arena Boulevard, which turned out to be a fantastic choice for families thanks to its brilliant location right next to Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena train station. From the moment we checked in, everything we needed was within walking distance — making it a really stress-free base for our weekend.
The Uber cost €36 (around £33), which was definitely pricier than hopping on the train, but after a late evening arrival we were simply too tired and wanted to get straight to the hotel to relax.
One of the best things about this hotel is the number of affordable options nearby. There’s a Lidl supermarket within walking distance, perfect for picking up quick breakfasts and snacks. Directly next door is an Albert Heijn, which is basically the Dutch version of Aldi, ideal for budget-friendly food and drinks to stock up on during your stay. For families travelling with kids, this is a real money-saver compared to eating out every single meal.
Right opposite the hotel you’ll also find an IMAX cinema, great if you fancy a family movie night during your trip. And for food, you’re spoilt for choice with places like Burger King and a local pizza restaurant just steps away.
The highlight for us, though, was the Gamestate arcade, which is located super close to the hotel. We’ve already tried Gamestate in Berlin and Brussels, so my daughter was thrilled to see one in Amsterdam too. She even used her Monzo card to buy her own play card, which she could top up with credits to play a good variety of games. It kept her entertained for ages, and I loved how easy it was to access such a fun spot right near where we were staying.
easyHotel Arena Boulevard is one of three easyHotel properties in Amsterdam and part of a network of seven across the Netherlands. It’s a budget-friendly choice that’s ideal if you want a clean, comfortable base while spending most of your time out exploring.
Our room was compact but had everything we needed: a double bed, a single bed, a small desk and chair, plenty of charging ports, and a private bathroom with shower, toilet and sink. Towels and body wash were provided, and free Wi-Fi was fast enough for posting on the go. Extras like early check-in (€20), late check-out (€20), and luggage storage (€5 per item) are available if you need them. Tourist tax is payable at check-in, but this is included in the total price shown when booking.
Overall, easyHotel Amsterdam Arena Boulevard was exactly what we needed – simple, affordable, and well-connected. It’s not a luxury stay, but for families and travellers who want to maximise time exploring the city, it’s a great value option.
Getting Around Amsterdam
I used contactless to get around most of the time, which was really easy. You can also go to a ticket office and buy a child ticket, but when we went it wasn’t open until 10am. That meant to get to Amsterdam Central I had to use one of my other cards so that my daughter could travel with me. Once we arrived, I was able to go to the ticket office and finally buy her a GVB 24-hour Child Day Ticket which cost just €5 (around £4.33). This ticket covers unlimited travel on all GVB transport including the metro, tram, bus and even ferries. Children under 4 can ride for free, which is handy if you’re travelling with little ones.
If you want to do a lot of sightseeing, consider getting the I Amsterdam card. It’s a bit more expensive, but it includes free transport plus entry to some of the city’s top attractions like the zoo, museums and other tourist hotspots.
Barbie The Dream Experience
The whole reason for our trip was to check out the Barbie The Dream Experience, and it was absolutely worth it. There are 12 interactive rooms where you can go down slides, hop into a Barbie car, play a guitar, take selfies, and even learn about Barbie’s history from when she was created up until now. I honestly loved it — it felt like being zapped into a miniature version of yourself, playing inside a Barbie playset.
This experience really is for all ages. Of course, I went with my daughter, but I would’ve happily done it on my own too. The Barbie Dreamhouse was incredible — I left wanting my house to look just like it!
At the end, there’s a Barbie gift shop (expect things to be on the pricey side — my tip is to buy your child a Barbie beforehand as it will be much cheaper) and a really cute Barbie café. We had Korean fried chicken and fries, and my daughter enjoyed a hot chocolate. I’ll post a picture of the menu below so you can see what’s on offer.
Travelling all the way to Amsterdam just for this? Absolutely yes. We love travelling and finding fun new things to do, and for us this was a solid 10/10. Tickets start from €19 and can be booked online. I might be able to get a discount code for this one so stay tuned. 
NEMO Science Museum
We also visited NEMO Science Museum and it was fantastic. In my daughter’s own words, it was the best museum she’s ever been to. The mix of fun and education was endless — she especially loved putting on a lab coat in the lab and doing hands-on experiments.
The museum is really well thought out, with everything available in both Dutch and English so you don’t need to worry about missing anything. We spent around four hours there, but you could easily spend a whole day exploring. There’s also a lovely rooftop terrace and good food options inside, so it makes a great day out for families.
We found our tickets on GetYourGuide, and don’t forget you can use our discount code KIDDOADVENTURES5 when you book through the app. NEMO is only a short walk from Amsterdam Central Station, which makes it super easy to get to.
WONDR Experience & SpongeBob Special
On our third (technically second full) day, we headed to the WONDR Experience. You might wonder why we didn’t do both Barbie and WONDR on the same day, but I prefer early morning sessions. That way we can take pictures without crowds and really enjoy the space without rushing — and that’s exactly how it worked out.
The main reason we booked WONDR was for the SpongeBob Special, which turned out to be really fun. It’s colourful, immersive, and a great place to take photos. Kids who love SpongeBob will especially enjoy it. Personally, after visiting The Land of Legends in Turkey, nothing quite compares, but WONDR was still good fun. At the end of the day, it’s basically a selfie factory with immersive parts — you’ll either love it or find it not quite your thing. But if your kids are SpongeBob fans, I’d definitely recommend it.
Free LEGO Make & Take + Last Day in Amsterdam
We also managed to find a free LEGO Make & Take session at the LEGO Store Amsterdam, where we built a little game console and explored the shop for a while. It was such a fun bonus to add to the trip.
Our last day was kept deliberately simple. We spent time wandering around Amsterdam, doing a bit of sightseeing, and just enjoying the city without overpacking the schedule. I didn’t want us to be exhausted before heading home. Our Eurostar train back to London was at 4:40pm, so we wouldn’t have had much time to do anything big anyway.
This trip showed that you really can do a weekend away in another country without worrying about school fines. Despite its reputation, Amsterdam is a family-friendly city. Yes, it has coffee shops and the Red Light District, but those areas are easily avoided. We never felt uncomfortable, and we had so much fun exploring together.
Final Thoughts
Amsterdam was the perfect weekend getaway for us. Between Barbie: The Dream Experience, NEMO Science Museum, WONDR, and the LEGO Store, we managed to fit in plenty of fun without it feeling overwhelming.
If you’re planning your own family trip, I highly recommend checking out both Fever and GetYourGuide for activities. You’ll find endless options on both apps, and with a few deals and discount codes it can work out to be very affordable too.
