10 of the Best Things to Do in London With Kids

In a word, yes! The UK capital has plenty for visitors of all ages, whether you have teens with a passion for live music and theatre, or little ones that love to let off steam in sprawling city parks. Some attractions are educational (think world-class museums covering every topic imaginable), while others are all about fun, from soft play centres and challenging escape rooms to special seasonal events. Here’s our pick of the best things to do in London with kids, with some great family hotels and restaurants thrown in.

The Natural History Museum is one of the best free things to do in London with kids. Here, breathtaking exhibits tell the story of the natural world from the Big Bang onwards, with highlights including a 25-metre blue whale skeleton; a simulator that recreates the 1995 Kobe earthquake; and the fossils and animatronic models of the Dinosaur Gallery.

Essential Info

• Best for: Ages 3+
• Location: Cromwell Road
• Hours: Daily, 10am - 5:50pm 
• Price: Free 
• Access: If assistance is needed during your visit, do not hesitate to reach out to their staff situated at the entrances. For more info, you can reach them via phone at +44 (0)20 7942 5000
• Getting There: South Kensington Tube

For almost 1,000 years, the Tower of London has stood sentry over the River Thames. For school-age kids, it’s the ideal thing to do in Central London, bringing classroom lessons vividly to life. Marvel at the Crown Jewels, meet the famous Beefeaters and hear stories of the castle’s ill-fated prisoners. Family-friendly Novotel London Tower Bridge is conveniently close by.

Essential Info

• Best for: Ages 6+
• Location: Tower of London
• Hours: Monday and Sunday, 10am - 5:30pm; Tuesday to Saturday, 9am - 5:30pm
• Price: £29.90 (adults), £14.90 (children aged 5-15)
• Access: The Tower of London, despite its historic structure presenting challenges like difficult stairs, limited wheelchair access, and low doorways, strives for accessibility. It further facilitates this by allowing visitors with a registered disability to bring a carer free of charge on the day of the visit.
• Getting There: Tower Hill Tube

Thames River Sightseeing cruises are a great way to see a lot without making little legs walk too far. They also top the list of cheap things to do in London with kids. Depart from Westminster and travel to Tower Bridge or Greenwich, listening to commentary pointing out landmarks like the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament en route. Boats have open and closed decks for all weathers.

Essential Info

• Best for: All ages
• Location: Westminster Pier
• Hours: Daily, check timetable here
• Price: From £12.40 (adult), £8.40 (child) 
• Access: Most boats are wheelchair accessible
• Getting There: Westminster Tube

Looking for top things to do with kids in Victoria? When the sun’s out, St. James’s Park is one of the most beautiful in London, with a lake full of exotic birds, stroller-friendly pathways, cute squirrels and perfect picnic lawns. Combine your stroll with a visit to next-door Buckingham Palace, or give your kids the royal treatment with a stay at 5-star Sofitel London St. James.

Essential Info

• Best for: Ages 0-15
• Location: St. James’s Park 
• Hours: Daily, 5am to midnight
• Price: Free
• Access: The park has wide, tarmacked paths suitable for wheelchairs, and the its facilities are also designed to be accessible
• Getting There: St. James’s Park Tube

Looking for things to do with teens? The O2 Arena is one of London’s biggest music stadiums, and taking them to see their favourite artist is sure to win cool points. The venue also houses a host of other on-trend activities, from a bowling alley to a cinema, trampoline park and Selfie Factory. 

Essential Info

• Best for: Ages 12+
• Location: Peninsula Square
• Hours: Daily, 10am - 10pm
• Price: Event dependent
• Access: The O2 is a fully accessible venue
• Getting There: North Greenwich Tube

The amazing theatre productions of the West End are definitely among the best things to do at night with kids in London, although many offer matinee performances for younger children too. Age restrictions vary, but top family choices including Frozen, Matilda, and The Lion King all allow ages 4 and up to attend. Visiting in August? Check out Kids Week for free tickets for minors.

Essential Info

• Best for: Ages 4+
• Location: Venue dependent
• Hours: Venue dependent
• Price: Venue dependent
• Access: To book accessible seats, it's recommended to directly contact the theatre box office
• Getting There: Venue dependent

Families with teens can also bond while working together to accomplish one of three 60-minute missions at Enigma Quests Escape Rooms, one of the best things to do with kids in East London. Choices include a Harry Potter-themed quest, one that takes place on a submarine, or a million-pound heist. There’s no age restriction, although puzzles are generally considered too challenging for under 10s.

Essential Info

• Best for: Ages 10+
• Location: 2-12 Wilson Street
• Hours: Daily, 10am - 8:30pm
• Price: From £90 for a team of three 
• Access: N/A
• Getting There: Liverpool Street Tube

Soft play centres are a tried-and-tested solution for entertaining babies and toddlers on rainy days, but The Sherriff Centre is more interesting for parents than most. A top thing to do with kids in North London, it’s housed inside a beautiful old church and has a lovely shop and café. There’s a baby section for little ones up to 23 months, and a Junior section for 2 to 10 year olds.

Essential Info

• Best for: Ages 0-10 years
• Location: 2 Sherriff Road
• Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am - 5pm 
• Price: £5 (babies), £7 (juniors)
• Access: N/A
• Getting There: West Hampstead Tube

If you’ll be in the capital around Christmas and want to know where you can take your kids for fun in London, the main address has to be Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. Part Christmas market (complete with festive craft and food stalls), part fairground (rollercoaster, anyone?), it’s guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit. There’s even an ice rink.

Essential Info

• Best for: Ages 3+
• Location: Hyde Park 
• Hours: Daily (in season), 10am - 10pm
• Price: TBC
• Access: All entrances to our event are step-free and accessible via tarmacked park paths, and the event area is fully covered with temporary trackway for seamless mobility
• Getting There: Hyde Park Corner Tube

From the end of July to mid-August, the Royal Docks Summer Splash offers the ultimate family day out in London, transforming Royal Victoria Dock into a public lido complete with a swimming area, sandpits, deckchairs and free activities. There’s a shallow end for younger kids, though under 8s must be accompanied by an adult. Novotel London Excel is right next door.

Essential Info

• Best for: All ages
• Location: Royal Victoria Dock 
• Hours: Daily (in season), 10am - 6pm
• Price: Free
• Access: N/A
• Getting There: Custom House DLR, Elizabeth Line

With locations in Soho and Covent Garden, Inamo impresses teens with its tech-savvy interactive tables, live chef feeds and games rooms for private parties. The menu is pan-Asian, with a focus on Instagram-worthy Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Korean food. 

The success of dining out with school-age kids often depends on how well you can keep them entertained, which makes mini-golf restaurant Puttshack one of the hottest things to do with kids in West London. Cuisine is typical pub grub, with a dedicated kids’ menu.

Trying to enjoy a peaceful meal with babies and toddlers in tow? Head to Bertie and Boo - Adventure Island in Southwest London, which combines soft play with a full menu of soups, sandwiches and cakes for adults as well as fun yet healthy snacks for kids.

There’s more to planning a trip to London than deciding what to do. Check out our top tips for taking care of the practicalities: 

• The easiest way for visitors to use London’s transport system is to pay as you go, by tapping your contactless device at the beginning and end of your journey. Remember that kids under 11 travel free on buses and trams, always, while up to four children aged 10 and under can travel for free per fee-paying adult on the Tube, Overground and DLR.   

• Using public transport with a stroller can be tricky, due to lack of space on buses and the fact that only a third of Tube stations have step-free access. Consider investing in a comfortable baby carrier instead. 

• Stroller hire companies like Fat Llama make it easy to rent a stroller for older toddlers or days when you plan on walking longer distances. 

• Most major attractions and restaurants (especially chains) have baby-changing facilities. Just check before you order. 

• If you plan on visiting multiple London attractions for kids, check out passes like The London Pass or the London Explorer Pass for great discounts. 

Obviously, there are many, many more fun things to do in London with kids than the few we’ve mentioned here. But hopefully, we've given you a good starting point for planning an unforgettable holiday the whole family can enjoy.