In a city of nine million people, you can guarantee that you’ll find something for everyone to enjoy. That certainly goes for kids. In fact there are so many things to do in London with kids this half term that it was hard to whittle this list down. From exploring the underwater world at the London Aquarium to delving into the macabre history of the Tower of London, here’s the Secret London lowdown on what to do in London with kids.
1. Spot animals at ZSL London Zoo
Year round, the legendary ZSL 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.
2. Learn about the natural world at the Natural History Museum
‘Dippy’, the nation’s favourite dinosaur, may be off on his travels again, but there’s plenty to see at the iconic Natural History Museum. A visit here will also give you the chance to view ‘Hope’ the blue whale and exhibits on venomous insects, earthquakes, tornadoes and other bad-ass features of the natural world. They even have a family tour here too – grab your tickets here.
📍 Nearest station is South Kensington.
🕒 The museum is open daily from 10am-5.50pm.
3. Feast on a Jurassic Park afternoon tea
From one dinosaur-themed activity to another – located pretty close by too. The Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington has designed a children’s afternoon tea perfect for a special outing. Skip the sweet shops and pre-packed sarnies, and instead treat ’em to a selection of mini hot dogs, T-Rex cheese straws, homemade scones, a raspberry and lemon crémeux volcano eruption, and more delightful dinosaur treats. While you sip your tea, or something stronger, the little ones can indulge in a hot chocolate.
📍 Nearest station is South Kensington.
🕒 Afternoon tea is available daily, 12pm – 5.30pm, in the hotel’s Apero restaurant.
4. Take an intergalactic trip to the planet of Avora
Who’d have thought another planet lay just a train ride away? Hop off at Hoxton overground station this half term and head to the planet 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 planet of Avora, while following a mission set by a greedy CEO.
The experience is aimed at children aged 6–13; while on 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 open every Sunday, between 12pm–3.30pm, and on weekdays during school holidays.
5. Channel your favourite character at the famous MCM Comic Con
MCM Comic Con in London coincides with the start of half term, offering fun for all the family between Friday, May 26, and Sunday, May 28. Immerse yourselves in the worlds of your favourite TV programmes, films, games and books with a programme of panels, thrilling live performances, and perhaps even rub shoulders with a celebrity or two. For the little fans, there is a fun kids’ area within the ExCel London venue too.
6. Reach for the stars at a state-of-the-art bouldering centre
If you’re climbing the walls, looking for things to do in London that are suitable for kids with a whole lot of excess energy, then ‘Kids Open Play in The Wild’ at Substation may be the answer. The bouldering centre in Brixton hosts child-friendly climbing sessions throughout the week – fun, great fitness, and safe for little ones.
Climbing encourages participants to problem solve, improve their risk assessment abilities, and may help them conquer fears too. Substation has a specific bouldering area for children to let off steam, and there’s a complimentary hot drink for parents. Win, win.
📍 Nearest station is Clapham North.
🕒 Substation’s child-friendly sessions are available Mon–Fri, 9am, 11am and 4pm.
7. Get competitive at Birdies mini golf
Birdies offers a fun, affordable activity for all the family. Go head to head and take on their mind-bending mini golf course. Across the Battersea and Angel venues, you’ll find courses reminiscent of a sweet store, cacti garden, and even one that seems never ending…
Refuel with a mouthwatering menu of food, including classic burgers and fries; adults can opt for cocktails, while there is a special kids mocktail, the Popstar Martini, available too.
📍 Nearest stations are Battersea Power Station and Angel.
🕒 Birdies child-friendly hours are Saturday, 12pm–4pm (last entry 3.20pm), at the Angel branch, and Sunday, 11am–4pm (last entry 3.20pm), at Battersea and Angel branches.
Bank holiday and school holiday child-friendly hours are Mon–Fri, 12pm–4pm (last entry 3.20pm), at Battersea and Angel branches.
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 this half term. 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.
📍 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. 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.
10. Get a boost of endorphins at Dopamine Land
One of the things to do that is sure to bring a smile to your kids’ faces is a visit to Dopamine Land – the happiest place in London. Younger visitors will relish in the shadow puppet game, the floor is lava room, and the ball pit, while teens will have a plethora of TikTok and Snap backgrounds to play with as they move between the various rooms.
📍 Nearest station is South Kensington.
🕒 Dopamine Land is normally open Wednesday – Sunday: Wed–Thurs, 2.30pm–7.30pm; Fri, 2.30pm–8pm; Sat, 10.30am–8pm; and Sun, 10.30am–7pm. However, longer opening hours apply during school holidays.
11. Enjoy thrills and spills with all the family at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort
Ok, so this one technically isn’t in London, but it’s a theme park dedicated to the ‘World’s favourite toy’, so we couldn’t not include it! Specifically designed for younger thrillseekers and operated by Merlin entertainments, the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort has 12 different areas and offers a thrilling mixture of Lego-themed rides, models, and building workshops.
More than 55 million Lego bricks have been used to create the park, and some of the signature rides include ‘The Dragon’ – a rollercoaster that weaves its way around a Lego castle at speeds of up to 30mph – and the DUPLO® Dino Coaster – the world’s first DUPLO themed ride. New for 2022 is the ‘Magical Forest’ – a walkthrough attraction that has a myriad of enchanting Lego creatures.
📍 Nearest station is Windsor & Eton and trains run regularly from Paddington.
🕒 You can find out the park opening hours here.
12. 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 a pig in muck here! 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?!
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 bookcase door.
13. Embark on a fun city tour with games along the way
Put away the Monopoly board, and park the arguments over just who has the right to buy the orange properties. Instead, head out for an in-real-life game! CityDays have a whole host of family friendly city scavenger hunts, which effectively combine city tours of specific areas in London with clues you need to solve to get to your next destination.
Uncover the secrets of the capital’s squares, take a deep dive into Greenwich’s history, or learn more about Mayfair – it’s totally up to you and your group. There are plenty things to discover and do throughout the tour, plus both you and the kids may learn some new London facts too. Most tours are a maximum of three and a half hours, but you can take as many breaks as little legs require. The clues are sent to one phone.
📍 Starting points vary.
🕒 You can start your game at any time between 9am-4pm, Mon-Sat; and 10.45am-4.10pm on Sun.
14. 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.
15. Step inside an interactive Shrek-themed adventure
Keeping with the theme of donkeys, the next addition on this roundup of the best things to do in London with kids this half term will give you the opportunity 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. Sign us up! 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.
16. 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.
17. Go down the Thames aboard a boat 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. For something a bit different and a great day out with the kids, why not charter your own boat and give the little ones the chance to be captain hey?!
18. 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. You can get your tickets here. Hakuna Matata!
19. 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 this half term, you can’t not mention the plethora of green spaces and flower-filled gardens which are dotted about the city. From scenic views to Instagrammable-wonders, we’re pretty lucky here it has to be said.
In fact, we’ve actually got over a hundred to choose from, so you have your pick! So what are you waiting for? Slap on the sun cream, grab an ice cream and hot foot to it!
20. Explore all the capital’s sights aboard a hop-on hop-off bus
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.
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. You can grab your tickets here.
21. Venture to the top of the world Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station’s Lift 109 is an utterly uplifting activity to do with kids this half term – 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.
So there you have it, our list 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!