Last Updated on 12 August, 2022
I have shared a guide on the best areas in London to stay with kids, in addition to all the amazing green spaces and parks in London perfect if visiting with the family. Now let’s talk about all the cool activities for kids in London.
Whether you have adventurous kids and teens that like to swing on trees, climb walls and have a great appreciation for heights or if you have kids that love literature and entertainment there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy.
Family & Child-Friendly Activities In London
Below is a list of the coolest things to do in London with kids that the whole family would enjoy. You can buy tickets to many of the attractions in advance on Viator or via Get Your Guide. Also note that if you are travelling with really young kids under 5 years many of the attractions are free.
Kids up to the age of 3 don’t pay anything for the London Eye, Madame Tussauds London and to visit the London SEA Life Aquarium on Southbank. Also if they are 5 and under they don’t pay anything at the Tower of London.
In addition, places like Southbank are great for family as they are step free and you will find many of the attractions like the London Eye, Aquarium, Big Ben, in addition, there are plenty of restaurants that are toddler and child friendly.
Go Ape Battersea Park & Alexandra Palace
It is a fantastic park in London for children. The cost of visiting the Garden depends on the activities and concessions. For example, Treetop Adventure, Treetop Adventure Plus, and Treetop Challenge start from £19, £23, and £25, respectively.
The opening timings are from 10 am (9 am on Saturdays and Sundays). The nearest tube station is Battersea Power Station. Alexandra Palace is another renowned sports and entertainment venue in London, located in Alexandra Park.
Dinosaur World Live
A live show dedicated to children on dinosaurs transpires in different auditoriums in London. Multiple shows will be held throughout September 2022 in several theaters. Show timings and ticket prices depend on the venues.
For example, for shows from 26 to 28 July in Theater Royal Winchester, timings are either 2 pm or 4:30 pm or 11 am and 2 pm. Ticket prices range from £10 to £15.
Queens Elizabeth Olympic Park
Being a world-famous destination of sports, events, and rides, the Queens Elizabeth Olympic Park signifies amusements in Stratford, London, meant for kids. The nearest tube station is Stratford International station.
The park is free to visit every day and remains open for 24 hours. Here, you will find the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the longest and tallest tunnel slide in the world. The Orbit remains active from Monday to Friday between 11 am and 3 pm, keeping the ticketing charges from £5.50 to £16.75.
The Royal Mews
Explore the Royal Mews in Buckingham Palace, where you may see royal carriages and a horse stable. It is a good and knowledgeable destination for kids, as they can harness horses here.
It remains open from 10 am to 5 pm, and entry is free for kids under 5 years. For others, prices range from £14.00 to £55. It is located on Buckingham Palace Road, and the nearest tube station is Victoria Station.
WWT London Wetland Center
It is a wetland managed by the reserved center of London. It remains open 365 days. It opens at 9:30 am and closes at 5:30 pm in April and June, 6 pm in July and August, and 5 pm in September and October.
It is located in Queen Elizabeth Walk, and the nearest tube station is Hammersmith Tube. Its entry fees range from £63 to £41.50. Visiting this park is free for children under 4 years and disabled visitors’ caregivers.
London Zoo
Located near Regents Park, on Saver days, the ticket costs at London’s zoo span from £19.50 to £32.27. You can reach the zoo by the tube station in Camden Town. It is the oldest scientific zoo in the Outer Cir in London, which stays open 365 days, allowing its visitors 3 hours in the zoo.
Bank of England Museum
It houses an antique collection of England’s bank’s historical items related to the economy. The museum is on Threadneedle Street. The museum remains open from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday. Yet, every third Thursday of the month closes at 8 pm. The entries are free. Take the Bank tube station to reach the museum.
Kew Gardens
Situated in the southwest part of London, Kew Gardens is one of the biggest and most diversified botanical places, housing 5000 plants and over 7 million conserved specimens from the world.
Kew Gardens is the nearest tube station. It opens at 10 am and closes at 8 pm on weekdays and 7 pm on weekends and bank holidays. Ticket prices are variable from £16.50 to £21.45.
Shreks Adventure
Located at Westminster Bridge Road, London, the place refers to the midday attraction organized by Merlion Entertain. The nearest tube stations are Waterloo and Westminster.
The destination is accessible from 11 am to 3 pm from Monday to Friday. For Saturday and Sunday, the timing is 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets range from £24 to £50, and you can book tickets online.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo
It is located at Chelsea Bridge Gate and remains open every day except the 25th and 26th of December. Opening hours are 10 am to 5.30 pm in spring and summer and 10 am to 4.30 pm in autumn and winter.
It is a children’s zoo that houses animals like otters, chinchillas, and tarantulas to cherish the kids. The nearest tube station is Battersea Power Station. Ticketing prices are from £7.95 to £10.95.
London Transport Museum
The museum is a home revealing the history of horsepower onwards transport formation and transmissions within days. It is located at the Covent Garden Piazza and remains active from 10 am to 6 pm.
Covent Garden is the nearest tube station to reach the place. Annual Passes start from £21 and reach up to £60. The museum also offers timed entry tickets.
Madame Tussaud
It is a museum that houses some unique creations of legends made of wax. The entry fees can vary from £33.50 to £50 for each individual.
Nestled in Marylebone Road, it is open every day from 10 am to 3 pm or 4 pm (on weekends). Baker Street is the nearest tube station to this place.
Kidzania
It is an indoor amusement park where children can play with firefighters and dentists’ sets. Located in the Westfield London Shopping Center, Ariel Way, London, takes the nearest tube station, Wood Lane and Shepherd’s Bush, to reach the site.
It opens at 10 am daily and takes an entry fee of £16 and £25 for adults and kids to enter the park.
Tower Bridge Glass Walkway
It is a glass walkway above 40 mm of the river Thames, an incredible experience at Tower Bridge Road. Tower Hill station is the nearest station to Tower Bridge; it remains open from 9:30 am to 6 pm.
Tower Castle
It is officially a royal palace of the fortress located on the northern bank of Thames, London. It is a historical castle and heritage site for the residents of London.
Visit the site between 9 am and 5:30 pm with an entry fee of £29.90 for an adult, $14.90 per child, and free for the members. Tower Hill tube station and London Bridge are stations to this site.
Sea-Life London Aquarium
It houses most underwater species on the South Bank of the River Thames in the West Minster Bridge Road. Visiting hours are from 11 am to 5 pm except for Friday. Saturday, and Sunday (10 am to 6 pm).
The nearest tube station is Westminster and Waterloo. £28 to £38 for Standard and Anytime Entry Tickets are essential for visiting this place.
Warner Bros Studio Tour London
Kids get the fun to tour the Harry potter walkthrough exhibition in Leavesden, South East England. Warner Bros. owns it; the entire tour lasts for 3.5 hours. The Warner Bros studios are the location of this tour. Therefore, the nearest tube station is Leavesden station. Tours start from £49.95.
London Eye
Waterloo is the nearest station with the tallest cantilevered wheels and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, located on the south bank of the River Thames. It is open daily from 11 am to 6 pm, and a standard ticket is £32.50 per person.
Natural History Museum
In South Kensington, London, a museum appears, which is ancient and does not contribute some of the unique items related to the history of England. South Kensington station is nearest to the place; it opens from 10 am. There’s no entry fee, but visitors can donate money to the museum, starting from £10.
Shard View
The tallest building is a shard, and to view, many tourists come to see the site at London Bridge with two viewing platforms inside the building. I have shared pictures of my visit to the Shard on the blog. It opens depending on the happening events. The nearest tube station is London Bridge Underground station.
Science Museum
It is one of the oldest museums contributing items related to science and technology. It gathers many visitors from around the world. You can reach the place by traveling to the nearest tube station named South Kensington. It opens at 10 am every day except weekends. The museum offers free entry tickets.
Cutty Sark
Among the cool things to do in Greenwich is a visit to the latest adventure of London, the Cutty Shark. People venture the historical ship in Greenwich, London. The visiting time of this sailing ship is between 10 am and 5 pm every day. Ticket prices are £8 for kids and £16 for adults. The nearest tube station is the Cutty Sark station.
Greenwich Observatory
It is the royal observatory of London’s meridian line, a prime site for the London planetarium, and a destination for many visitors to explore something extraordinary. Avail the nearest tube station named Cutty Sark station to come to the place, a wonderful place as a learning platform. It remains open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Visitors must book tickets for £8 for kids and £16 for adults.
Children’s Themed Afternoon Tea – Peter Pan to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
London has invented something different for children. Afternoon tea parties in various venues around the city. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea is served from 12 pm to 3 pm, starting with £35. For additional inspiration check out this list of quirky and themed afternoon teas in London. Aqua shard serves the Peter Pan tea.
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
It is vacant land where a statue of Diana is built, a playground made for children. Queensway and Bayswater tube station is the nearest one to reach the place. Kids can come here between 10 am and 7.45 pm, depending on the visiting days. It’s a free playground.
Speed Boat Tour on The Thames
One can avail of private speed boats and RIB charters in London. It’s perfect for water riding enthusiasts. Many companies like Thames Rockets, Thames Tigers, and Thames RIB Experience conduct these 1 to 2 hours long tours.
London Dungeon
The London Dungeon is located along with London’s South Bank, England. It recreates the historical gory and macabre in a gallows humor style. It opens at 10 am and is located in Central London, near Waterloo station. A standard ticket will cost around £28.
Lee Valley White Water Center
The place was made for the Olympic and canoe slalom events of 2012 in Waltham, England. It is free to visit, but prices depend on the chosen activities. For example, for individual rafting, £50 would be required.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
The place exhibits all the essential documents of Sherlock Holmes located in Baker Street London. Being the first museum dedicated to the world-renowned detective Sherlock Holmes, it is open almost every day (9.30 am to 6 pm) for visitors except Tuesday. The nearest tube station is Baker street station.
Emirates Airline Cable Car
North Greenwich side Emirates Cable Car Terminal, the Emirates Airline Cable Car terminal is located. It costs £5 for one way and £10 for round trips, a tourist attraction in London. Avail the North Greenwich tube station to reach the place.
Richmond Park – Deers
The reserve park is located in the London Borough of Richmond and is home to 630 red and Fallow deers. Richmond is the nearest tube station to the place. It is open every day from 7 am in summer, and 7.30 am in winter. There is no entry fee in Richmond Park.
Shopping For Kids In London
- Hamley
The biggest toy shop for kids in London with theme restaurants and amusement parks inside. It has stores in London Regent Street and London Bridge.
- Legoland Windsor
It is a theme park and resort in Windsor, Berkshire street England. It opens every day at 10 am.
- M&M Store
Among famous stores in London worth checking out. An interactive sweet-themed destination in Chinatown, London, makes the children happy after its visit. It opens at 10 am and closes at 10 pm.
Perfect Theater Shows For Kids And Family
I shared a list of must-see shows in London here but below are those just simply perfect for young family members.
- Harry Potter Theater Show
Harry Potter and Cursed Child are featuring at Palace Theater London. Tickets are under £45. Leicester Square station is the nearest tube station.
- Lion King
The show is happening in the Lyceum Theater located on Wellington Street. The ticket price starts from £23.50 per person.
- Wicked Theater Show
This show is featured at Apollo Victoria Theater in London, and the nearest tube station is Victoria station. The ticket price starts from £19.50 per person.
- Matilda
This show gets featured every day at Cambridge Theater. The show’s ticket price starts from £20 per person. The nearest tube station is Covent Garden.
