London’s a busy city with countless things to do, but sometimes it can be a struggle to think of activities you can try with children in tow.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of family-friendly things to do in London, to keep both little ones and the bigger kids entertained.
Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs. Need I say more? Kids absolutely love all things prehistoric, and few things will impress more than an animatronic T-Rex. The Natural History Museum takes you on a journey through the history of the Earth, with fossils that date back billions of years among the exhibits of whale bones, gorilla skulls and dinosaur teeth.
It’s a fascinating visit for the whole family, and gives you the chance to learn about all creatures, great and small (though we won’t be shocked if you head straight to the dinosaur gallery!). The museum is completely free to enter, though a donation is appreciated.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
See turtles, sharks, penguins and hundreds of species of fish at the London Aquarium. From penguins and virtual polar bears in the frozen tundras of the poles, to the poison dartfrogs and dwarf crocodiles of the rainforest, your family will experience a mini round-the-world journey of marine life on Earth.
The vibrant colours of shoals of fish are especially impressive when they’re swimming above you – the glass tunnel is one of the aquarium’s highlights, and something sure to delight the younger members of your party.
Tickets to the aquarium are around £20-25 for adults and children when you book in advance, but can rise up to £40 on the day. It’s worth keeping an eye out for 2 for 1 deals for this attraction – they often appear on cereal boxes in the UK.
London Dungeons
If you have older kids that like a bit of a scare, then the London Dungeons will give them just the right amount. Children under 12 are a bit young for this attraction (and anyone with a particularly nervy disposition should avoid), but teens are sure to love the mix of history and playful terror that the Dungeons have mastered.
Smell the foul streets of plague-ridden London, get a close shave from Sweeney Todd and be roped into the Gunpowder Plot by Guy Fawkes on this whirlwind trip through a somewhat embellished depiction of London’s murky history.
Like the Aquarium (they’re owned by the same group), it’s much cheaper to book in advance – it’s just under £30 for adults if you’ve pre-booked, but rises to over £40 on the day. Again, it’s worth looking out for 2 for 1 deals for the Dungeons.
Tower of London
Take the kids to one of the most famous castles in the world, and learn the secrets of the Kings and Queens of England. Built in 1097, the Tower has spent nearly 1000 years looming over London, and has had several uses in that time, including palace, prison and, less excitingly, public records office.
The Tower is most infamous for the terrible events that happened there – from the murders of the Princes of the Tower to the executions of the wives of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
Its time as a prison and execution site might be the most memorable, but there is more to the Tower of London than its gruesome past. You can see the Crown Jewels on display here, as well as a huge collection of medieval armour and weaponry inside the White Tower. But the highlight of your visit will likely be a humorous history lesson and tour with one of the Beefeaters, the ceremonial guards at the Tower.
Tickets are around £35 for adults, and £17 for children.
London Zoo
If you’ve had enough of skeletons and fossils in the Natural History Museum, you might like to see some living, breathing animals in London Zoo.
From lions and tigers to lemurs and sloths, the zoo has so many different species of animals that children will have only seen in books or on TV – while the little ones are sure to be wowed by all the exotic animals, even the older kids are likely to be impressed by one or two.
But while just seeing the animals is interesting, there’s an educational aspect too. The zoo does a lot of conservation work, and spends significant time trying to educate visitors – stop at one of the daily talks to learn a little bit more about how to protect our planet’s most endangered species.
Adult tickets cost around £30, while tickets for children are roughly £20.
The Science Museum
This is a museum that knows how to make education fun. It’s full of interactive exhibits that let kids get hands-on with science and are designed to capture their interest.
Colour and movement in exhibits makes the Science Museum one of the more visually interesting museums for children, with areas dedicated to making a visit enjoyable for different age groups. The Garden, for instance, is made to help 3-6 year olds engage with science through play.
The Science Museum is free to enter, but if you want to go to one of the exhibitions – with kids, we’d recommend the interactive galleries, especially Power Up, which covers 50 years of gaming – you will have to pay an entry fee.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter
Peek behind the curtain into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on the Warner Bros. studio tour. In the handful of hours it takes to explore, you’ll see the costumes, props and sets that helped make the films so magical, and get a glimpse of the work that goes into making films on this scale.
Step into the Great Hall, tread carefully through the Forbidden Forest, count your pennies in Gringotts and climb aboard the Hogwarts Express on the tour – kids and adults alike are welcome to get a photo op flying on a broomstick. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, a visit to the studios is a no-brainer while in London.
Again, I think this attraction is one for the slightly older kids – young ones might not appreciate the visit quite so much (and at £43 for a child’s ticket, they really should). Adult tickets are £53.50, and you’ll need to book in advance.
Legoland Windsor
Spend a full day out at Legoland with the family, and enjoy the huge Lego models and displays, fun rides and play areas with the kids. Legoland is best for children under 12, as the rides are geared towards younger audiences rather than thrillseekers.
Every area is designed to inspire the imagination: from riding a dragon in the Knight’s Kingdom, to taking on the Pirate Falls, or going on a Deep Sea Adventure. If you have children that love Lego but don’t like rollercoasters, they’re still going to love a trip here – besides the lego models and more genteel rides, they can go old-school and build with Lego instead.
This theme park isn’t in the centre of London, but it’s definitely close enough for a day out. Ticket prices start at £34 (when buying in advance), but quickly rise to £66 on the day.
Watch a Musical: The Lion King, Matilda and more
The world-class shows on the West End are a must-see in London. For children, it’s hard to beat family-friendly musicals like The Lion King or Matilda, but there are dozens of options. Beautiful songs, incredible dancing and amazing costumes and sets: a top musical on the West End will captivate not just the young ones, but the whole family.
The Lego Store
It may seem odd to recommend a shop as a ‘thing to do’, but Leicester Square’s Lego store is cool enough to warrant it.
It’s a kids playground in there, with lego sets galore in the brightest coloured shop you’ll ever visit. There’s UK-themed Lego displays like Big Ben and a red double decker, and you can even take a photo sitting between a palace guard and William Shakespeare on the Tube.
You obviously don’t have to pay to get in, but you might have to queue!
Hobbledown Heath
Hobbledown Heath has all the charm of the countryside while being only a stone’s throw from the busy streets of urban London. This small adventure park has four themed villages to explore, each with their own set of attractions and play areas.
There’s tunnels, towers, high-ropes and zip lines, all set in acres of beautiful woodland and meadow. Hobbledown Heath is home to one of the largest indoor play arenas in London, but there’s more than just slides and swings. You can meet goats, meerkats, capybara, highland cows, and many other exotic and traditional farm animals while exploring the park.
Tickets start at £14, and children under 2 can enter for free.
Hamleys
Another store may seem like overkill, but a giant toy store is a guaranteed winner with the kids. Hamleys is an iconic part of London – it’s the oldest and largest toy store in the world, and has been delighting children who visit the shop on Regent’s Street since 1881.
It’s really the toy shop of dreams, with bright bursts of colour and impressive displays everywhere you look, and the chance to play with countless new toys on seven separate floors. The kids will love it – your bank account perhaps less so!
Discover Children’s Story Centre
This attraction captures the charm and imagination of a storybook, bringing to life these enchanting worlds to inspire the creative spark of children.
Your child can explore two floors of magical Story Worlds and a whimsical Story Garden – immersive, interactive play spaces designed for children to set their imaginations free. They will delve into hidden caves, uncover secret ships, and take the stage in a puppet castle. Or leap over alligators, command spaceships, and ascend a treehouse with chicken legs; the possibilities are endless for a young imagination!
Ticket prices start from £9, and the attraction is recommended for 0-11 year olds.
Shrek’s Adventure
It’s not ogre till it’s ogre! We’re rounding out our list with an attraction that has real layers. Shrek is a family favourite, and this immersive experience will take you to the land of Far Far Away through 10 fairytale themed live shows, which includes a magical 4D flying bus experience.
You’ll meet all your favourite characters from the movies, including Princess Fiona and Donkey, and eventually, once you’ve collected the special ingredients that you need in order to find him, Shrek.
Tickets start from £21 for adults, £17 for children (under 2’s go free).