Visiting London with kids is an absolute joy. In and around the city, there’s a plethora of fun-filled attractions — from lush urban parks to unrivaled museums — that’ll wow everyone on your crew. We handpicked the most fun things to do in London with kids. These top-notch attractions will undoubtedly amuse the little ones (and their parents) on a day out!
Quick Jumplinks
Top 17 Things To Do In London With Kids
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Sea Life London Aquarium
| 📌 Location | Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest tube stations are Westminster and Waterloo |
| 🤑 Ticket Price | £28 for standard entry |
| ⏰ Timings | Mon-Wed, Fri: 10 AM-5 PM | Thur: 11 AM-5 PM | Sat & Sun: 10 AM-6 PM |
Young kids will love visiting the London SEA LIFE Aquarium. This world-class facility is divided into three distinct zones: Coral Kingdom, Ocean Invaders, and Rainforest Adventure — each one inhabited by 500 species of marine creatures.
Some of the awe-inspiring fishes you’ll find here include penguins, sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish, rays, and five seahorse species and pipefish species.
The Natural History Museum
| 📌 Location | Cromwell Rd, South Kensington. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is South Kensington |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | Entry is free for everyone. Guided tours are chargeable. |
| ⏰ Timings | Open daily, 10 AM-5:50 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM) |
The little scientists-to-be can’t pass up the chance to see London’s Natural History Museum. Located in the South Kensington area, this world-class institution is home to a dazzling collection of 80 million objects dating back billions of years.
Hope, a giant blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall, age-old fossils in the world-leading Dinosaurs gallery, and meteorites from outer space are some of the treasures the kids will see in this museum.
St. James’s Park
| 📌 Location | London SW1A 2BJ. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is St James’s Park |
| 🔍 Things To Do | Art, culture, pelicans, and picnics |
| ⏰ Timings | Open daily, 5 AM-12 AM |
St. James’s Park is a go-to place for active and outdoorsy adventures. London’s oldest Royal Park, this 57-acre oasis encompasses colorful flower beds and lush grounds where the kids can freely run around and play.
Located just a short walk from three palaces (St James’s, Westminster, and Buckingham Palace), the park also provides a gorgeous backdrop for a scenic picnic under the canopy of trees.
Majestic oak and mulberry trees and adorable creatures like foxes, pelicans, and squirrels beautifully surround you.
Hyde Park
| 📌 Location | London W2 2UH, United Kingdom. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube stations are Lancaster Gate and Marble Arch Station |
| 🔍 Things To Do | Boat rides on Serpentine Lake, pond dipping, picnics, Speaker’s Corner |
| ⏰ Timings | Open daily, 5 AM-12 AM |
The world-famous Hyde Park is another worth-visiting green sanctuary in London. Covering an area of 350 acres, this Grade-I listed park is beautifully adorned with 4,000 trees, a large lake, a meadow, and even an ornamental rose garden.
Tried and true activities in Hyde Park include exploring the park on foot, picnicking, boating on the lake, horseback riding, and swimming.
Buckingham Palace
| 📌 Location | London SW1A 1AA, UK. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is St James’s Park |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | £32 for adults, £20.50 for ages 18-24, £16 for children aged 5-17 |
| ⏰ Summer Timings | • 11 Jul-31 Aug 2024: 9:30 AM-7:30 PM (last entry at 5:15 PM) • 1-29 Sept 2024: 9:30 AM-6:30 PM (last entry at 4:15 PM) |
Of one thing we’re sure: your kids will stand in awe with Buckingham Palace. Located in the City of Westminster, in central London, the palace was initially built as a large townhouse for Duke Buckingham in 1703 but was purchased in 1761 by King George III.
Queen Victoria made Buckingham Palace her official residence when she assumed the throne. Now, the palace serves as the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom.
While the little ones probably won’t be able to spot His Majesty, The King, in person, they’ll love watching the spectacular Changing of the Guards in front of the palace.
The ceremony happens every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10:45 am and is free to watch!
London Zoo
| 📌 Location | Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is Camden Town |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | £36.42 for standard entry |
| ⏰ Timings | Open daily, 10 AM-6 PM (last entry at 5 PM) |
Located in the lush grounds of Regent’s Park, the London Zoo is the world’s oldest scientific zoo. It was founded in 1828 for scientific purposes and became open to the public in 1847.
The spectacular London Zoo is home to over 18,000 animals of over 750 species. Expect wild encounters with lions, flamingos, gorillas, penguins, and other creatures here. A great place to take the kids!
London Eye
| 📌 Location | Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube stations are Waterloo, Embankment, Charing Cross and Westminster |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | £30 for adults |
| ⏰ Timings | Open daily, 10 AM-8:30 PM |
Gloriously positioned on the south bank of the River Thames, the London Eye is one of the top family-friendly London attractions. This 135-meter-high giant wheel gives visitors a bird’s eye view of the city’s iconic skyline at 443 feet high. Simply breathtaking!
Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | £35.10 for 1-day ticket |
| 🔴 Red Route | • Timings: 8:30 AM-6 PM • Duration: 2hrs 30min • Frequency: 10-15 min • Stops: 20 |
| 🔵 Blue Route | • Timings: 8:30 AM-5 PM • Duration: 60min • Frequency: 30min • Stops: 9 |
| 🟢 Green Route | • Timings: 9:18 AM-4:48 PM • Duration: 80min • Frequency: 30min • Stops: 15 |
A hop-on-hop-off bus tour is a fun way to explore London with the kids. While navigating around the city on a red double-decker bus, you’ll see the most famous landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower Bridge of London, to name a few.
The Tower Of London
| 📌 Location | London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is Tower Hill Underground Station |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | £34.80 for adults (includes access to Crown Jewels) |
| ⏰ Timings | 9 AM-5:30 PM. Last admission: 3:30 PM |
The Tower Of London will take kids on a fascinating journey back in time. This 4.9-hectare castle, founded by William the Conqueror at the end of 1066, has played an important role in English history, serving as an armory, a treasury, a menagerie, and a royal residence.
Inside the tower, you’ll get the chance to see the sparkling collection of 23,500 jewels — the Crown Jewels of England — which are worth around £20 billion. Take a guided tour around this historic castle to learn everything and more about British history!
Peter Harrison Planetarium
| 📌 Location | Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | Take the train to Greenwich Station. It’s 15 min away. |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | £10 – £12 for adults |
| ⏰ Timings | Open daily, 10 AM-5 PM |
Are your kids seeking to discover the secrets of the universe? Then, take them to the Peter Harrison Planetarium. In this 120-seat digital laser planetarium, the little ones will have a glimpse of the wonders of the night sky on a 4,000-pixel strip.
Some of the top activities here include a thrilling immersive experience on Mars and an adventure around the Solar System!
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
| 📌 Location | Studio Tour Dr, Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest railway station is Watford Junction |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | From £53.50 |
| ⏰ Timings | • First tour: 9 AM • Final tour: 6:30 PM |
Potterheads: be sure to add a visit to Warner Bros. Studio, in London, to your bucket list. At this fabulous exhibit, visitors can explore iconic sets of the movie, including the Great Hall and Diagon Alley, learn about the special effects that brought magical creatures to life, see real-life costumes from the movie, and more.
Science Museum
| 📌 Location | Exhibition Road, South Kensington. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is South Kensington |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | Entry is free for everyone |
| ⏰ Timings | Open daily, 10 AM–6 PM |
The Science Museum is an excellent place for families seeking to uncover the innovations that shaped the modern world. Established n 1857, the museum is a significant institution and one of London’s top tourist attractions, attracting over 1 million visitors annually.
While browsing through the museum’s two buildings, visitors will discover an array of treasured objects of scientific achievement. These include Helen Sharman’s Space Suit, dating back to 1991; the Wells Cathedral clock, one of the world’s oldest clocks, from 1390; and a Pilot ACE computer from 1950.
London Transport Museum
| 📌 Location | Covent Garden Piazza. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is Covent Garden |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | Entry is free for everyone |
| ⏰ Timings | Open daily, 10 AM–6 PM |
Want to learn about how London transportation shaped the growth of the city? Then, be sure to check out the Transport Museum. This museum will take you to discover over 500,000 objects, including over 80 vintage vehicles covering 200 years of London’s history.
Some of the museum’s highlights are a red Routemaster bus, the world’s first Underground steam train, and the padded cell, a train carriage dating back to the 1890s.
Vauxhall City Farm
| 📌 Location | 165 Tyers St, London SE11 5HS. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is Vauxhall Station |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | Entry is free |
| ⏰ Timings | Tue–Sun: 10:30 AM–4 PM (last entry at 3.45 PM) |
The Vauxhall City Farm is London’s oldest and most central city farm. Located in Vauxhall, near the city center, the farm allows visitors to meet chinchillas, ducks, chickens, goats, guinea pigs, and even a pair of alpacas who starred in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens.’
British Museum
| 📌 Location | Great Russell Street. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is Tottenham Court Road |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | Entry is free for everyone |
| ⏰ Timings | Open daily, 10 AM-5 PM |
Often considered one of the best London museums, the British Museum was founded in 1753 as the first in England to cover all fields of human knowledge. While snooping around the galleries of these prestigious institutions, families will be happily surprised to find a first-class permanent collection featuring eight million objects that document two million years of human history and culture.
Some relics are the Rosetta Stone — a dark-colored granodiorite stela carved during the Hellenistic period —Parthenon sculptures and mummies from Ancient Egypt.
London Bridge Experience
| 📌 Location | London SW1A 1AA, UK. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is London Bridge |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | £31 for general admission |
| ⏰ Timings | Mon-Fri: 12 PM–6 PM | Sat & Sun: 11 AM-6 PM |
The London Bridge experience offers kids a fun way to learn about London’s history. This interactive walk-through adventure features live actors that play characters from the past 2000 years of London bridge History. While led by these intriguing characters, you’ll learn about key moments in the city’s history, including Boudicca’s battles with the Romans and The Great Fire of London.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
| 📌 Location | Stratford, London, E20 2ST. Find on map |
| 🚉 Getting There | The nearest Tube station is Hackney Wick |
| 🤑 Ticket Prices | Free to visit |
| ⏰ Timings | Open 24/7 |
Purpose-built for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the Olympic Park is a prime destination for an adventurous day with the kids. This massive park straddles four east London boroughs, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Waltham Forest, and flaunts numerous outdoor areas where the kids can let loose. Visitors can have a scenic picnic in the serene parklands, a boat tour along the canal, and glide down the world’s longest tunnel slide!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the best museums in London for kids?
- Natural History Museum: Discover dinosaur skeletons, amazing animals, and fascinating plants. Interactive exhibits keep young minds engaged for hours.
- Science Museum: Packed with hands-on exhibits, this museum lets kids explore space, the human body, and so much more. There’s even a dedicated area for younger children.
- V&A Museum of Childhood: This museum is a treasure trove of toys, games, and costumes from around the world. Learn about the history of childhood and see how playtime has evolved throughout the ages.
Are there any fun outdoor things to do in London with kids?
- Hyde Park: One of London’s biggest parks, this is a great place for kids to run free and burn off energy. It also boasts a boating lake, playgrounds, and the Diana Memorial Playground, designed especially for children.
- Regent’s Park: Another large park with plenty of space for play. It also offers a boating lake, a children’s zoo, and a puppet theatre.
- The Thames River: See London from a different perspective with a boat trip on the River Thames. Family-friendly cruises are available.
What are some popular things to do in London with kids?
- Tower of London: Learn about London’s history at this historic castle. Kids will love seeing the Crown Jewels and exploring the medieval towers.
- Buckingham Palace: Home to the British Royal Family, Buckingham Palace is a must for any royal fan. During summer, witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
- The London Eye: This giant Ferris wheel offers breathtaking panoramic views of London, allowing you to see all the city’s major landmarks.
What are some things to consider when planning a trip to London with kids?
- Best time to visit: Spring and summer months are generally ideal due to pleasant weather. However, London can be busy year-round, so book accommodation and attractions in advance.
- Cost considerations: London can be expensive, but there are ways to save. Many museums have free entry, and discounts are often available for families on attractions and public transport.
- Getting around: The public transport system is a great option. The London Underground is clean, efficient, and affordable, but it can get crowded, so keep this in mind with young children.
Is it worth visiting London with kids?
Yes. London is a lively city filled with family-friendly attractions (parks, museums, historic sites) that the little ones are guaranteed to love.
