In a city of nine million people, you can guarantee that you’ll find something for everyone to enjoy. And that counts just as much for the kids as the adults. In fact, there are so many things to do in London with kids that it was hard to whittle this list down. From exploring the underwater world at the London Aquarium to traversing London’s largest adventure playground, Hobbledown Heath, here’s the Secret London lowdown on what to do in London with kids.
1. Dine at restaurants where kids eat for free
Many restaurants in London offer deals where kids eat free, often with the purchase of an adult meal during school holidays and year round.
🍽️ Barbican Centre: Children under 10 eat free from the kids’ menu with an adult meal over £10.
🍴Gordon Ramsay Restaurants: Kids under 8 eat free at select locations (Heddon Street Kitchen, Bread Street Kitchen & Bars, Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill, and Pizza East) on weekdays.
🍽️ Pizza East, Shoreditch: Kids eat free every weekday, with options like lasagne and pizza.
🍴Bella Italia: Kids eat free every Thursday and for £1 between 4-6pm, Sunday to Wednesday.
🍽️ Bill’s: Up to two kids (10 and under) eat free with each adult meal, any day except Saturday and Sunday.
🍴Franco Manca: At selected locations, kids 12 and under get a free pizza with a full-priced adult meal.
🍽️ Las Iguanas: Kids eat free year-round with a loyalty program signup.
🍴The Hoxton Hotel: Free meals for kids under 10 on Saturdays and Sundays between 12pm-5pm with a dining adult.
🍽️ Harvey Nichols: Kids under 12 eat free on Sundays, or every day with a REWARDS program membership.
🍴The Real Greek: One free child’s meal for every £10 spent by an adult on Sundays.
🍽️ Club Mexicana: One free kids’ meal with every adult meal purchased available every school holiday at their Soho branch.
🍴 Big Easy: Children under 10 can dine for £9.90 with every adult meal purchased.
🍽️ Sea Containers: Two courses for £10 for children.
🍴 Kricket: During school holidays, all of their locations Brixton, Soho, Canary Wharf, and Shoreditch, are offering free meals for children under 12 from 12pm to 5pm every day.
2. Enjoy a full day of activities with kids in London without a single penny spent
London offers a wealth of free activities for children, making it an ideal destination for family-friendly adventures especially if you’re on a budget! The city boasts numerous world-class museums, including the British Museum, Science Museum, and Natural History Museum, where kids can explore history, science, and nature. Art enthusiasts can enjoy free workshops and exhibitions at renowned galleries like Tate Modern and the National Gallery. London’s expansive parks and gardens, such as Hyde Park and the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, provide ample space for outdoor fun and exploration.
3. Sing along to some show tunes at a West End musical
Who doesn’t love a musical, hey? We’re lucky here in London with a musical theatre scene that’s the envy of the world. Mormons, witches, lions, genies – you name it, there’s a musical with basically everything here.
Kid-friendly options in town include the Tim Minchin-helmed ‘Matilda’ and ‘Disney’s The Lion King’ – an award-winning show which follows Simba on his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands. Hakuna Matata!
📍 Various stations.
🕒 Various dates and start times.
4. Plan an easy day trip with the kids within an hour’s journey of London
For families seeking exciting day trips from London, there’s plenty to choose from within an hour’s journey. Bekonscot Model Village offers a miniature world for children to explore, while Maldon Promenade provides scenic walks, playgrounds, and water activities. History enthusiasts can visit the Roald Dahl Museum, Hever Castle (Anne Boleyn’s childhood home), or Hampton Court Palace for interactive historical experiences. For magical adventures, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour showcases the world of Harry Potter, and Legoland Windsor boasts over 55 rides and attractions. Nature lovers can enjoy the Spa Valley Railway through Kent’s countryside or visit Brighton for seaside fun.
5. Witness modern and contemporary art at Moco Museum
From Warhol to Banksy, Harring to Basquiat, and beyond, the Moco Museum is an awesome place to garner a deeper appreciation for the vast creativity seen within the modern and contemporary art worlds. Discover the limitless possibilities of multi-sensory art through over 100 artworks by over 35 artists. There’s even an unmissable exhibition of pop-icon Robbie Williams’ art—and yes, it’s the Robbie you’re thinking of! For more info and tickets, click here.
📍 Nearest station is Marble Arch.
🕒 Various opening hours; check online.
6. Indulge in afternoon tea and a dip in the pool at Pan Pacific London
Why not treat the kids to a slice of pool paradise – and cake – at Pan Pacific Hotel? The five-star (according to Forbes) hotel is working with luxury children’s brand Bonpoint to treat your youngsters to a dreamy Children’s Afternoon Tea. They can feast on finger sandwiches, scoff down scones and make short work of some chocolate almond macarons, all while unleashing their creative side by colouring in a postcard and working out a word search.
That’s not all, Bonpoint will also take over the hotel’s infinity pool during the dedicated children’s swimming hours, transforming it into a ‘playful paradise’ with mini deckchairs, pastel cushions and custom pool floats. There are even special children’s spa treatments, including the spellbinding Fairy Tale facial.
📍 Nearest station is Liverpool Street
🕒 Children’s Swimming Hours (up to age 16): Monday – Friday: 9am – 11am & 3pm – 5pm, Saturday – Sunday: 7am – 9am & 4pm – 6pm
7. Exit reality and enter a world of optical illusions
A world of optical illusions awaits at Paradox Museum, a mind-bending immersive experience that seeks to educate, delight, and play with your perception. Here in London, there are over 50 different installations, including a Zero Gravity Room, an Upside-Down Room, and a Camouflage exhibit. Some rooms are geared more towards kids and teenagers, while there’s also information on the science behind some of the illusions for the inquisitive ones in your group.
The museum will get an egg-tra special shake-up for the Easter holidays (April 5–21), as a bunny-themed Easter egg hunt takes place throughout the museum each day, plus there’ll be face painting (10am–5pm) and Easter-themed decor.
📍 Nearest station is Knightsbridge.
🕒 Paradox Museum is open daily, from 10am. Closing times vary.
8. Explore London’s largest adventure playground
Hobbledown Heath is London’s largest adventure playground, so arguably one of the greatest things to do with kids in London, especially for the younger ones. With both indoor and outdoor playgrounds, a series of play villages amidst woodland, and even mini animal farms, there is plenty to get excited about. Wrap up warm and enjoy!
📍 Nearest station is Hounslow Central.
🕒 Hobbledown Heath is open daily: Mon–Thurs, 9.30am–5.30pm; Fri, 9.30am–7pm; and Sat–Sun, 9am–7pm. During school holidays, Hobbledown Heath opens at 9am.
9. Explore some of London’s most underrated attractions
The Times recently highlighted the Thames Barrier as London’s most underrated tourist attraction, a remarkable engineering marvel spanning 520 metres across the River Thames. Comprising 10 massive steel gates, each weighing 3,300 tonnes, the barrier protects 125 square kilometres of central London from flooding. Visitors can witness these gates being lifted during monthly maintenance tests, rising as high as a five-storey building, and can learn more about its history at the Thames Barrier Information Centre.
Beyond the Thames Barrier, there are several other hidden gems in London, including the Chelsea Physic Garden (the oldest botanical garden in the capital), Lock & Co hatters (the world’s oldest hat shop), the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, Inns of Court, Emery Walker’s House, The Cinema Museum, and the WWT London Wetland Centre.
10. Spend a day with the animals at the Natural History Museum
With outdoor activities being limited with the chillier weather, there’s no better way to entertain your little one with a day at the Natural History Museum. Little ones from age 4 and over will have the chance to get up close to the amazing animals and learn more about them in a 45-minute experience. Don’t miss the Teach Rex show either – an interactive prehistoric journey all about the Tyrannosaurus rex. There’s plenty more to keep your little one occupied for the day!
11. Learn about adorable, extinct-in-the-wild birds At London Zoo
Year round, the legendary London Zoo is a great family day out in London. Founded in 1828, it’s the world’s oldest scientific zoo, and houses almost 20,000 different animals, making it one of the largest collections in the entire United Kingdom. There’s everything here from African hunting dogs to pygmy hippos and Komodo dragons, and numerous different habitats to boot too. Add on a whole host of different experiences your wee’uns can get involved with – including being a junior keeper for the day – and you’ve got yourself a brilliant day out on the cards!
📍 Nearest station is Mornington Crescent.
🕒 The zoo is open daily from 10am-6pm.
12. Go for bounce at one of London’s great trampoline parks
Sick of the kids bouncing off the walls at home? Take them somewhere they can really channel that energy and do it for real, while you sit down with a cup of coffee and gawp at their cool moves. Here’s our roundup of some flippin’ good trampoline parks in London.
13. Pop into a world full of bubbles
Simply blowing bubbles is a fun pastime as a kid anyway, and Bubble Planet has taken this notion and multiplied it tenfold. Unlike traditional bubbles, the bubbles at Bubble Planet won’t disappear once popped. Instead, this museum of bubbles enlists all five of your senses in multiple rooms of multiple bubble types. There is a hot air balloon flight simulation room; a VR experience room, where you see the world as you become a bubble yourself; a room filled to the brim with oversized balloons; and much much more.
Some egg-tra fun will be hopping (or is that popping?) into Bubble Planet for the Easter holidays (April 11–21), as you and your family let your creative streak run wild with Easter egg decorating.
📍 Nearest station is Wembley Park.
🕒 Bubble Planet opens every day, apart from Tuesday. Times vary.
14. Discover some of London’s green spaces and get back to nature
When it comes to the best things to do in London with kids, we can’t not mention the plethora of green spaces and flower-filled gardens, which are dotted about the city. There’s nothing better than getting out and about in the fresh air. Even if it is flippin freezing. We’ve actually got over a hundred to choose from, so surely you’ll find one that takes your fancy!
📍 Various stations.
🕒 Various opening hours.
15. Spot sharks, stingrays and more at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium
Home to over 500 different species in 14 different themed zones, a visit to the SEA LIFE London Aquarium is a must if you’re looking for things to do in London with kids. There’s everything from gentoo penguins to red-bellied piranhas here, and it’s a great spot to teach your little ones about the underwater world and the marine creatures which reside within it.
Come face to face with the ocean’s most feared (and misunderstood) predators at the jaw-dropping ‘Shark Walk’, catch some rays – well, not literally – at the ‘Ray Lagoon’, tickle a sea anemone in the ‘Rock Pool’ and dodge the jellyfish at the aquarium’s stunning ‘Ocean Invaders’ exhibit. Snap up your tickets to the SEALIFE London Aquarium now.
📍 Nearest station is Waterloo.
🕒 The aquarium is open from 10am-4pm during the weekdays and 10am-5pm on weekends.
16. Sleep among space rockets at the Science Museum
Explore the Science Museum after dark and camp out beneath the exhibits, including rockets and moon rocks. You’ll witness interactive demonstrations and take part in science experiments… even catch a documentary on the museum’s iconic IMAX screen. Read all about it here.
📍 Nearest station is South Kensington.
🕒 The next dates are June 21, and July 12.
17. Head to a huge indoor theme park, home to London’s largest arcade
Gravity MAX will be spread across three floors, boasting VR games, a karting track, a ginormous arcade, and so much more. They have an existing venue in Wandsworth, which is still mega, but this is set to be Gravity’s biggest and best venue yet. Here’s everything we know about it so far.
📍 Nearest station is Stratford.
18. Challenge each of your senses at a unique group activity
SENSAS in Vauxhall is a family-friendly team activity (aged 7+) that is almost like I’m A Celebrity: Get Me Out Of Here meets Misson Impossible – it is a lot of fun. The team don’t like to reveal too much about the activities you and your family will partake in, because the air of mystery makes it all the more exciting, but we can reveal you’ll take part in challenges that put your five different senses to the test. For example, there are tasting challenges, smelling challenges, and even some in the dark…
For each successfully completed challenge, you will collect tokens, which are converted into a donation for SENSAS’ charity partner, Disability Sports Coach UK. While SENSAS welcomes a minimum group size of four people, you can book larger groups of between 16 and 60 for school visits or birthday parties.
📍 Nearest station is Vauxhall.
19. Explore ancient Egypt at Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition
The award-winning Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition is finally open in London! Boasting 8 m-high immersive projections, a 360º VR experience, an interactive digital room, replicas and artefacts directly from Cairo, plus so much more.
You’ll learn all about ancient Egypt and its most iconic pharaohs, mystical tombs, and golden treasures. It’s an unmissable experience for the whole family!
📍 ExCel London. Nearest station is Custom House for ExCel.
20. Check out a family-friendly murder mystery show
A murder mystery immersive dining show may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of ‘family-friendly events in London’; however, The Murdér Express is trying to switch that up. For select sessions each week, this comedy theatre show will dial back on the adult content and become more pantomime-esque for all the family to enjoy.
The team have also adjusted their usual three-course menu to create a meal for younger palates to enjoy while watching the show.
📍 Nearest station is Bethnal Green.
🕒 Family-friendly sessions take place twice a week – please check the website for further details. Group bookings are also available.
21. Explore all the capital’s sights aboard a hop-on hop-off bus
An oldie but a goodie. The English capital is chock-a-block full of iconic landmarks, and what better way to see them than by joining a hop-on and hop-off bus tour? With the ‘Tootbus London Discovery Bus Tour’, you’ll make your way around the heart of the city and see London’s best landmarks from the comfort of your very own open-top bus (some buses have a cover for rain).
Points of interest will include the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and many more.
📍 Various stations.
🕒 Available daily: Mon–Fri, 9am–4.20pm; and Sat–Sun, 9am–5pm.
22. Get a rush of adrenaline at a thrilling aerial adventure park
Whether you’re a dab hand with heights or want to face your fears with some sky-high challenges, Gripped offers up an adrenaline rush unlike anything else in London. There’s a whole host of fear-conquering activities to try out, from high ropes to zip lines, trust jumps, and more. Do keep in mind that all activities have age and/or height restrictions – so not all of the activities are suitable for all children. To enjoy all of the activities, your kids will need to be at least 1.4m tall, but the net and trampoline park is available for everyone aged 4 and over. Read all about the Gripped adventure park here.
📍 Nearest station is Hounslow Central.
🕒 Open Friday to Sunday.
23. Go for a race around the tracks
The award-winning London race track, Capital Karts, has unveiled an all-new child-centric racing experience. There’s no need to wait until they’re grown, with anyone aged 7+ and over 120cm in height able to strap in and race away. Designed with top-tier safety standards, and making use of a brand-new fleet of child-friendly karts, it’s thrilling but perfectly safe! There are also multiple sessions available for different age groups, making it even more fun for everyone involved.
Afterwards, kick back and shake off the adrenaline in the plush lounge area with panoramic floor-to-ceiling views. They’ve got plenty of snacks and drinks to recharge you before you hit the tracks for a second go-around!
📍Nearest station is Canary Wharf.
🕒 Capital Karts runs their kid-friendly sessions every Saturday and Sunday morning, and from 9am – 5pm on weekdays.
24. Nurture your artistic talent at a fluorescent art workshop
Basically, Neon Brush Kids is a space alive with colour, where both children (aged 4+) and parents can unlock their artistic abilities. Taking place at the historic Glaziers Hall, you can create whatever you like. And it’s guaranteed fun for the little ones due to the groovy UV-lights and bold, neon paints. Every brushstroke glows in the dark and every colour pops and sparkles.
📍 Nearest station is London Bridge.
🕒 Times vary
🎟️ Get your tickets here. Group bookings are also available.
25. Get lost in the music at a Candlelight concert
Captivating Candlelight concerts are also for kids— it’s never too soon to start appreciating good music. If your child is aged 8+, then taking them to a candlelit performance at a spectacular venue is sure to put a smile on their face. Young Swifties can enjoy a tribute to Taylor or fans of legendary groups like ABBA, Queen, and more will love hearing classical twists on catchy hits.
📍 Various.
🕒 Various times.
26. Get behind the wheel (kind of) on the DLR
Have you heard? Ten DLRs now have stickers to emulate control panels at the front of the train, meaning you your child can live out their “I’m driving the train!” moment in an even more convincing way. There is also a QR code attached to each panel that allows the ‘drivers’ to add Instagram filters to themselves – getting the coveted front seat on your journey has become even more attractive, right?
These 10 trains are part of a trial; if these ‘control panels’ prove popular, they’ll be rolled out to all 149 DLR trains. Find out more here.
📍 Various.
🕒 Various times.
27. Experience a Martian invasion with the teenagers in your life
Looking to bond with the older kids? This is one you’ll need to leave the little ones at home for. Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience is a two-hour explosion of the senses.
Your group will be transported back to 1898, where you’ll experience a Martian invasion; live actors will guide you through interactive scenes, enhanced virtual reality, and stunning sets. There’s pyrotechnics, there’s Jeff Wayne’s iconic score – it can feel so real in parts that you may have a hard time remembering you’re a stone’s throw from the relatively calm world of the Gherkin, Horizon 22, and the Sky Garden…
📍 Nearest stations are Tower Hill and Fenchurch.
🕒 Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience is open Thurs–Sun.
28. Step behind the scenes of one of London’s most famous theatres
The Globe Theatre will enchant kids and adults alike, with Shakespeare’s Globe Story & Tour. Expert guides will bring the theatre’s history to life, detailing the landmark’s past with the plague and fire, and look at how it came to stand on Bankside today.
Tickets also include access to the theatre’s immersive exhibition, where younger visitors can have a go at creating a thunderstorm on stage, as would have been done in Shakespeare’s day, try on some of the Globe’s most iconic costumes, and even take a whiff of some Elizabethan London smelling boxes.
📍 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and Mansion House.
🕒 Shakespeare’s Globe Story & Tour runs daily.
29. Take an intergalactic trip to the world of Avora
Who’d have thought another world lay just a train ride away? Hop off at Hoxton overground station and head to the world of Avora. At the multi-sensory Avora: Family Immersive Adventure, you’ll follow a storyline that’ll take you on a journey to the lush world of Avora, while following a mission set by a greedy CEO.
The experience is aimed at children aged 6–13. On the world of Avora, they’ll partake in fun sensory games, sip on two unique drinks (non alcoholic, obviously), engage with the native ‘Avorians’, and generally create some unforgettable memories. Actors and beautiful set design make the experience all the more fun.
📍 Nearest station is Hoxton.
🕒 Avora: Family Immersive Adventure is usually open every Sunday, between 12pm–3.30pm. There are often weekday opening hours during school holidays; please see the website for more information.
30. Venture to the top of the world at Battersea Power Station
Elsewhere at the destination venue of Battersea Power Station, Lift 109 is an utterly uplifting activity to do with kids – quite literally. Step into the glass lift for unrivalled, 360-degree views of the surrounding area, as you ascend one of the iconic building’s chimneys (you’ll travel 109 metres up – hence the name).
As well as the astounding views, Lift 109 also has a selection of carefully curated multi-media displays in the Turbine Hall A waiting area, where you and the kids can delve into the building’s history, and learn how it generated energy.
📍Nearest station is Battersea Power Station.
🕒 Lift 109 is open daily: Mon–Wed, 10am–6pm; and Thurs-Sun, and school holidays, 10am–8pm.
31.Travel down the Thames and soak up the views
London is famous for its waterways, and some of the best views in town come from the network of canals, reservoirs and bloomin’ huge river that criss-crosses it. From exhilarating speedboat rides out to the Thames Barrier to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers , which make the journey from Putney all the way east to Woolwich, there are plenty of ways in which to explore the mighty River Thames.
📍 Various stations.
🕒 Schedules vary; please check with specific service providers.
32. Take a deep dive into the magical world of Harry Potter
London for kids I hear you ask… Our beloved capital is pretty much the epicentre for all things Harry Potter, so if your young’uns are fans of the franchise then they’ll be happier than the winner of the house cup. After all, where can you pose for a photo at the Platform 9¾, go on a walking tour of filming locations – including The Leaky Cauldron and the Ministry of Magic – and watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – all in one day?! Here’s our guide to some spellbinding spots that Harry Potter fans will love.
As if that wasn’t enough, you can also stay at a distinctly Hogwartsian hotel room at Georgian House in Pimlico. Expect stained glass windows, stone walls, archways, trunks, cauldrons, and four-poster beds hung with velvet curtains, all hidden behind a secret door.
📍 Various stations.
🕒 Various dates and opening times.
33. Meet all the farmyard friends at the Hackney City Farm
When you hear the word ‘London’, we’re sure the first thing that springs to mind isn’t ‘farmyard’, but London Town always has a way of throwing up surprises. Perfect for kids, Hackney City Farm is one of the best spots in the city if you’re looking to make some friends of the animal variety.
It’s free, is situated smack-bang in the middle of Hoxton and Cambridge Heath, and has pigs, ducks, geese, goats, sheep and a resident celebrity donkey called Clover, who does parades all over London when the time permits. If you’d rather stay south of the river, Vauxhall City Farm is another great family activity in London will give you the chance to meet a pair of alpacas who starred in none other than ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ – get your photo requests ready.
📍 Nearest station is Hoxton.
🕒 The farm is open every day, except Mondays, from 10am-4.30pm.
34. Clamber about in a Peter Pan-inspired play park
Make your way to London’s beautiful Kensington Gardens, where you’ll find the incredible Diana Memorial Playground, built in memory of the late Princess Diana. Diana famously loved the innocence of childhood, much like a certain Peter Pan. So, rather fittingly, this play space was created right by her former Kensington Palace home, with a huge wooden pirate ship at its centre. Read all about it here.
📍 Nearest station is Queensway.
🕥 The Diana Memorial Playground is open all year round, opening at 10am each day. Closing times vary with the daylight, but you can find out more about that here.
35. Step inside an interactive Shrek-themed adventure
Keeping with the theme of donkeys, the next addition to this roundup of the best things to do in London with kids will allow you to meet another famous mule – this time of the animated kind.
‘Shrek’s Adventure’ will let you jump into an action-packed fairytale world and escape to the land of Far Far Away with an 70-minute immersive adventure, featuring 12 captivating live shows. Along with Donkey, you’ll also meet other famous characters – including Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots, Gingerbread Man and Shrek himself – and will even get to have photos with some of them. You can get your tickets for the tour here.
📍 Nearest station is Waterloo.
🕒 The attraction is open from 10am-3pm on Mondays and 10am-4pm on every other day.
46. Delve into English history with a visit to the infamous Tower of London
“This way to Traitor’s Gate!” Ok, so thankfully this is no longer a thing, but pay a visit to the Tower of London and you’ll have some inkling of what Anne Boleyn and other famous prisoners may have experienced on the way to the chopping block.
Founded in 1066, this infamous UNESCO-listed building has been used as a historic palace, a fortress and a prison. Get up close to the Crown Jewels, meet the legendary Yeoman Warders and be regaled with tales from the Tudors and beyond, as you explore this magnificent place.
📍 Nearest station is Tower Hill.
🕒 The tower is open from 10am-5.30pm on Sundays and Mondays and 9am-5.30pm on every other day.
So, there you have it, some of the very best things to do with kids in London. Get out there and discover these family-friendly activities in the city and create lasting memories with your little ones!