101 Best Things to do in London with Kids

See Also

• Best Family Hotels in London
• Top London Shows For Kids
• How To Get The Best Deals at London Attractions

Big-hitter family attractions

1. Get behind the scenes of the Harry Potter film sets for a magical full-day tour at Warner Brothers Studio.

1. Get a taste of the high life on the giant ferris wheel offering fantastic views with the London Eye.

1. See sharks, monster catfish and look for Nemo and Dory and more in the SEA LIFE London Aquarium.

1. Find their future career and try out 50 professions through role-play adventures at Kidzania.

1. Mix it with the rich and famous at the wax figure museum Madame Tussauds. Fantastic for Star Wars and Marvel fans.

1. Visit the Tower of London, the capital’s premier medieval castle with fantastic exhibits along with the crown jewels.

1. See London’s famous buildings in miniature and mixture of rides, 4D movies and adventure playgrounds at Legoland Windsor.

1. Board the magical flying bus, on a quest at Shrek’s Adventure London!

Best museums for children

1. Experience the sleepover of a lifetime with Dino Snores for Kids at the Natural History Museum.

1. Don’t miss the fantastic and free Natural History Museum.

1. Rocket into outer space or touch a 4 1/2 billion year old meterorite at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

1. Become an engineer, scientist or inventor at the Ragged School Museum.

1. Visit the Science Museum full of entertaining exhibits including the Command Module of Apollo 10, a spacecraft that went around the moon in 1969.

1. Visit the kid-friendly British Museum and their stunning exhibitions including Egyptian mummies, The Rosetta Stone and the Elgin (Parthenon) Marbles.

1. See 100’s of aircrafts from every age of flight at the Royal Air Force Museum.

1. Visit London’s best contemporary art gallery and the dedicated Family Zone at the Tate Modern.

1. Immersive play scenes and lots of Storytelling sessions at the Discover Children’s Story Centre.

Outdoor kids activities

1. Navigate (or get lost) at the amazing garden maze at Hampton Court Palace.

1. Explore several excellent playgrounds or hire a boat at Regent’s Park.

1. Explore the ancient woodlands and 100 lakes and ponds at Epping Forest.

Free things to do for kids

1. Take in stunning panoramic views of London (day or night) at the Sky Garden with free entry.

1. Take a free visit to the Wallace Collection to see real swords, knight’s gear and their armour.

1. Walk along the Regent’s Canal Path to Hackney, admiring the canal boats along the way. Take a diversion at Victoria Park, which has a fantastic playground.

1. Watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace.

1. Visit one of the best collections of childhood-related objects in the world at the V&A Museum of Childhood.

1. Watch the world’s most famous street performers at Covent Garden.

1. Browse the cool stalls and see the canal locks in action at Camden Locks and Market.

1. Stage a photo shoot at the Peter Pan Statue in Kensington Gardens.

1. Soak up 500 years of maritime history and stoke the boiler of a steamship at the National Maritime Museum.

1. Learn about the history of the river Thames at the Museum of London Docklands.

1. Meet goats, sheep, chickens and rabbits at Hackney City Farm.

1. Explore Brockwell Park, one of South London’s best parks with a fantastic playground, sandpit and paddling pool.

1. Visit Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross station.

1. Visit the Museum of London and learn the capital’s whole history in one fun packed visit.

1. Snap a family photo on the famous crossing outside Abbey Road Studios.

1. Explain the concept of time at the Prime Meridian Line at The Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

1. Show off or take in tricks at the famous South Bank skate park.

1. Play soldiers at the National Army Museum.

1. Go on a free bat walk at various London locations and learn about their place in the capital.

1. Be amazed by 30 life like dinosaur statues inside Crystal Palace Park.

1. Escape the buzz and visit Hampstead Heath, a huge ancient parkland perfect for a picnic with amazing views of the city skyline.

Best play fountains

1. Explore a huge wooden pirate ship and take a refreshing dip at the Diana Memorial Playground.

1. Cool down in the fountains at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, near the ArcelorMittal Orbit.

1. Make a splash in the interactive fountain art at the South Bank Center.

Transport attractions for children

1. Experience afternoon tea with a difference onboard a double decker London Bus.

1. Drive an underground train or dress up as a bus conductor at the London Transport Museum.

1. Climb aboard and explore seven levels of Europe’s largest preserved WWII warship, HMS Belfast.

1. Find out what life was like onboard the world’s last surviving tea clipper, the Cutty Sark.

1. See over 100 original vehicles and artefacts from all 24 James Bond films at the London Film Museum.

1. See London by night with an open-top sightseeing bus tour of the capital’s landmarks.

1. Ride the Routemaster and enjoy the sights on London on a proper double decker bus. This is not a tour but a lot cheaper.

1. Hop aboard The Golden Hinde, a full-scale reconstruction of the first English ship to sail around the world, captained by Sir Francis Drake.

1. Sit up front on the driverless Docklands Light Railway train and pretend you’re the driver.

1. Step aboard the classic Concorde and enjoy a virtual flight at the Brooklands Museum.

Family-friendly restaurants

1. Soak up the sights and sounds of the jungle at the Rainforest Cafe, London’s wildest family dining experience.

1. Breathe in and sample delicious food stalls at Borough Market, also a Harry Potter filming location for the Leaky Cauldron.

1. Tumble down the rabbit hole and discover a tea party at Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at Sanderson.

1. Eat, drink and feel famous at the memorabilia-filled surroundings at Planet Hollywood.

1. Tuck into scrumptious ice cream frozen by liquid nitrogen at Chin Chin Labs.

1. Satisfy that sweet tooth and tuck into the Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych.

1. Skip-the-line and tuck into American cuisine at the legendary Hard Rock Cafe.

Activities for teenagers

1. Get 360-degree views of London from the 72nd floor of London’s tallest skyscraper, The Shard.

1. Prepare to be scared silly and dip into the city’s dark and gruesome history at the London Dungeon.

1. Visit St Paul’s, with its world-famous dome, fascinating history and awe-inspiring interior.

1. Explore what makes us human at Body World, an engaging mix of art, science and health education.

1. Take a full-day tour from London and enjoy two iconic English historical sites: Stonehenge & Roman Baths.

1. Let the older children see how the UK government works during Question Time at the Houses of Parliament.

1. Show your older children you’re down with the youth and take them shopping on Carnaby Street.

1. Follow in the footsteps of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and George Orwell and experience the history of free speech from the soap boxes at Speakers’ Corner.

1. Get the ultimate adrenaline rush and take a speedboat tour of the River Thames.

1. Head underground into the Churchill War Rooms and soak up the tense wartime atmosphere.

1. Take a fantastic and child-friendly all day walking tour of London.

1. See the best of central London on two wheels with this Classic London 3.5 Hour Bike Tour.

1. Experience the thrills and a few spills at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

Action-packed things to do

1. Soar above the river Thames with the Emirates Air Line cable car with fantastic views of London. Combine with an adrenaline filled boat ride.

Travelling in London with children

1. Hire a rowing boat or paddling boat on the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park.

1. Don’t miss the treetop walkway and badger caves at Kew Gardens.

1. Enjoy hours of fun in a safe and stimulating 7-acre playground and park at Coram’s Fields in Holborn.

1. Climb the roof of the O2 with Up at The O2 for an exhilarating experience and rewarded with incredible views of London.

1. Learn to climb for the over-4s at Chelsea’s Clip n’ Climb.

1. Ride a horse like British royalty in Hyde Park.

Film locations and movie experiences

1. Enjoy a sirius-ly good Harry Potter walking tour of some of the inspirations for the movies including the real Diagon Alley.

1. Take in a flick at the beautiful Ritzy Cinema, Brixton, perfect for a rainy day adventure.

1. Sit back and soak up the world’s most immersive movie experience at the Science Museum’s IMAX 3D cinema.

London zoos & farms

1. Up close and personal with tigers, gorillas, lions, penguins and many more at ZSL London Zoo.

1. Go looking for herds of deer at the picturesque Richmond Park.

1. Watch the pelican feeding time at St James’s Park.

1. Meet meerkats, monkeys and more close up at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo.

1. Explore an urban oasis close to central London and spot birds, otters and much more at the WWT London Wetland Centre.

Theatre for kids

1. Enjoy one of London’s theatre shows for kids.

1. Learn all about the master bard and take a tour at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Festive fun

1. See polar bears made of ice at the Magical Ice Kingdom at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland.

Shops for kids

1. Visit the world’s largest sweet store at M&M’S World in Leicester Square.

1. Visit the world’s oldest, largest and most famous toyshop, Hamley’s.

1. Take a look inside the world’s largest LEGO Store complete with a life-sized London Underground train car made up of 637,903 bricks.

Quirky things to do in London for kids

1. See the famous stuffed giant walrus and (live!) alpacas and bunnies with free entry at the Horniman Museum & Gardens.

1. Take a sightseeing tour with the London Duck Tours aboard a distinctive yellow amphibious WWII vehicle.

1. Follow in the footsteps of Goldilocks on the Teddy Bear Trail at the Museum of Brands.

1. Step inside the home of the world famous detective at the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Or join a walking tour of London as you take in sites featured in the Sherlock Holmes series.

Thrilling London attractions

1. Fly down the world’s longest tunnel slide at ArcelorMittal Orbit.

1. Get a forest experience in London and enjoy a zip wire treetop adventure at Go Ape Battersea.

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