Summary of Family-Friendly Activities in London
- Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
- Play at the Diana Memorial Playground
- Load a Ship at Museum of London Docklands
- Run Outdoors at Coram’s Fields and Foundling Museum
- Spend a Day Out at Kew Gardens
- Learn About Decorative Arts at the Victoria and Albert Museum
- Stage a Photo Shoot at the Peter Pan Statue in Kensington Gardens
- Admire Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum
- Get a Dose of Technology at the Science Museum
- Watch a Film at Mediatheque
- Go to the “Country” at a City Farm
- Admire World-Class Art at the National Gallery
- Live Like “Royals” at Fulham Palace
- Splash in the Fountains at Somerset House
- Look at Medieval Armor at the Wallace Collection
- Watch the Pelican Feeding in St. James’s Park
- Discover Antiquities at the British Museum
- Take a Journey Through London’s History at Museum of London
- Play in the Mud at the River Thames
- Walk Among Giant Dinosaurs
- Climb Aboard a Bomber Plane at the Imperial War Museum
- Let Kids Run Around (and See Art!) at the Tate Modern
- Sketch in the Galleries at Tate Britain
- Walk Along the Regent’s Canal
- Watch Street Performers at Covent Garden
- Stand Over the Join of Tower Bridge
At first glance, London seems like both an expensive city and one that is not very child-friendly. However, there is always something going on for children, teenagers, and families in the Big Smoke—and many of the best experiences are free! Children and their parents will be delighted by the incredible array of free museums, galleries, and attractions for kids of all ages to enjoy. Here’s a list of 26 of our favorites.
Watch the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Address
London SW1A 1AA, UK
Phone +44 303 123 7300
Kids will love heading to Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guard. Our advice: take a picnic and get there early to get a prime viewing spot. You can watch from outside Buckingham Palace and its gates or near Green Park, but The Mall is one of the best places to stake out—you’ll be able to see the guards marching for much longer from here.
Play at the Diana Memorial Playground
Address
Kensington Gardens, Broad Walk, London W2 4RU, UK
Phone +44 300 061 2001
This large, safe, outdoor play area is truly outstanding. The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens, next to Kensington Palace, the former home of Diana Princess of Wales, is a fabulous children’s playground for kids up to 12 years old. It’s dominated by a giant pirate ship which children can climb all over, but there’s also a sensory trail, areas for climbing and exploring as well as swings and slides. Staff is on-site at all times, and no adults can enter without children. If you stay for a while, there is a café and restrooms on site.
Load a Ship at Museum of London Docklands
Address
No 1, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, London E14 4AL, UK
Phone +44 20 7001 9844
London Docklands is a perennial favorite for adults who love seeing the contrast between the city’s old and new architecture, but the museum has plenty to offer children as well. Housed in a 200-year-old warehouse, Docklands has the Mudlarks play area for children under 12. Everything is themed around life on the London docks, so while bigger kids can weigh cargo or load a tea clipper, smaller kids can pretend to drive a DLR (Docklands Light Railway) train.
Run Outdoors at Coram’s Fields and Foundling Museum
Address
93 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1DN, UK
Phone +44 20 7837 6138
Coram’s Fields is a unique seven-acre playground and park for children in central London. It is free to use and provides a safe and stimulating environment where children can play freely. Adults are only permitted with a child and there is always staff available to ensure all is well. Nearby, the Foundling Museum is always free for children and free for adults accompanying children during all Family Fun activities, which takes place in the Foundling Museum Education Center on the first Saturday of every month.
Spend a Day Out at Kew Gardens
You can easily spend a day at the massive, beautiful Kew Gardens. Plus, children under 17 are admitted for free, making this an ideal affordable way to spend a day. Kids love to run around outdoors in the massive park, but it’s also home to the Treetop High Walkway, which offers terrific views. There’s also Climbers and Creepers, an indoor interactive play area for 3-9 year-olds and Treehouse Towers for 3-11-year-olds. Both are positioned next to a café and a family shop. Explore the gardens first as once the kids get here they won’t want to leave!
Learn About Decorative Arts at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Address
Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL, UK
Phone +44 20 7942 2000
This South Kensington Museum may not have dinosaurs like the nearby Natural History Museum or lots of buttons to press like the Science Museum but the V&A has an awful lot of free fun to offer families. The museum distributes Gallery Backpacks to little ones, which give families the chance to explore a gallery together with activities and fun ideas.
Stage a Photo Shoot at the Peter Pan Statue in Kensington Gardens
Address
Kensington Gardens, London W2 2UD, UK
Phone +44 300 061 2000
This bronze statue of Peter Pan is located in Kensington Gardens, next to Hyde Park. The exact spot was chosen by Peter Pan’s author, J.M. Barrie, who lived close to Kensington Gardens. Barrie published his first Peter Pan story using the park for inspiration. The lower section of the statue has Peter Pan standing on a tree trunk covered with climbing squirrels, rabbits, and mice which can be fun to admire with shorter friends.
Admire Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum
Address
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
Phone +44 20 7942 5000
The dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum are eternally popular, but there’s a lot more to see than these prehistoric creatures. Head over to the Darwin Centre where you can see real scientists working and down to the Investigate Science Centre in the basement where adults and children alike will enjoy handling the animal, plant, and geological treasures stored here.
Get a Dose of Technology at the Science Museum
Address
Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD, UK
Phone +44 330 058 0058
The Science Museum is one of the big three museums in South Kensington (the other two are the Natural History Museum and the V&A). The Science Museum was founded with objects that were on display at the 1851 Great Exhibition but now has the latest technology to help visitors of all ages learn about science. Kids aged 3 to 6 will squeal with delight in the basement “Garden,” which has water-based, construction, and sensory experiences, while 5 to 8 year-olds will enjoy the “Pattern Pod,” where they can create patterns in many different ways. Bigger kids will love the IMAX cinema, and the museum’s shop is outstanding.
Watch a Film at Mediatheque
Address
17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT, UK
Phone +44 20 7871 3515
Mediatheque within BFI Southbank is an area for all ages to watch films and shows from the BFI’s extensive collection. It’s a single room within BFI Southbank where you’re given headphones that can connect to each TV screen. Go to the desk for free access for a set amount of time (limited if others are waiting) and choose your show on-screen to enjoy! There are plenty of family viewing options but do keep children seated and quiet as other users are watching their chosen films too.
Go to the “Country” at a City Farm
Address
1a Goldsmiths Row, London E2 8QA, UK
Phone +44 20 7729 6381
London has many city farms and while most are free to visit, some welcome donations. Hackney City Farm has an award-winning café, as well as pigs, goats, sheep and more; but there’s also Mudchute Park and Farm, the largest urban farm in the London area with 34 acres of open parkland, offering horseback riding and educational facilities. Other options include Kentish Town City Farm, Vauxhall City Farm which features donkey rides and pony-care classes, and Stepney City Farm, a more rural farm in the East End.
Admire World-Class Art at the National Gallery
Address
Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK
Phone +44 20 7747 2885
As with most large museums and galleries in London, there is no admission charge at the National Gallery. The museum also offers its ArtStart system, which is ideal for creating a tour catering to youngsters. On Sundays, the gallery hosts regular storytelling and art workshops.
Live Like “Royals” at Fulham Palace
Address
Fulham Palace, London SW6 6EA, UK
A London palace that’s free to visit? It does exist! Fulham Palace was never a royal palace, but it was home to Bishops who were treated just as well as royalty for many years. Inside the palace is a simple museum, and you can enjoy dressing up, coloring pictures, and exploring the family-friendly gardens. Take a picnic or grab something from the upscale café and lounge on the lawn, then head into the landscaped gardens with rows of herbs and orchards at the far end and use your lunch box to collect fallen bits of ‘nature.’
Splash in the Fountains at Somerset House
Address
Strand, London WC2R 1LA, UK
Phone +44 20 7845 4600
Somerset House is a beautiful venue on a sunny day, especially when the fountains are working in the courtyard as children love to run in and out of them (pack a towel and spare clothes). Knowing the appeal for families, Somerset House runs free family workshops each Saturday afternoon for 6-12-year-olds and some sessions for younger kids, too. For older children, you might want to consider the house’s free guided tour.
Look at Medieval Armor at the Wallace Collection
Address
Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN, UK
Phone +44 20 7563 9500
The Wallace Collection is a hidden treat just off the busy shopping area of Oxford Street that is home to stunning artworks and a collection of armor that will thrill children. The gallery is free to visit and has a drop-in art workshop on the first Sunday of the month as well as holiday activities. There are also audio guides and interactive tours for both adults and children, as well as fun family trails to follow.
Watch the Pelican Feeding in St. James’s Park
Address
121 Hartington Road, London E17 8AS, UK
The pelicans in St. James’s Park are fed fish at 2:30 p.m. each day. The park is quite big so you need to head for the opposite end to Buckingham Palace and they are fed from behind Duck Island Cottage, near Horse Guards Parade. The pelicans know when it’s time as they wait there and keep watch for the man with the fish. Throwing the fish out takes just 10 minutes or so, but it’s fun to watch, and you’re in a park so the kids can have some outdoor ‘run around’ time too.
Discover Antiquities at the British Museum
Address
Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, UK
Phone +44 20 7323 8299
The British Museum is free to visit, and while many visitors just want to see the Egyptian mummies or the Rosetta Stone, there are plenty of kid-friendly works here, too. Children are sure to love the Tang tomb figures, the mummified bull, and the ancient Sutton Hoo helmet. There are also daily free handling sessions and a children’s multimedia guide available.
Take a Journey Through London’s History at Museum of London
Address
150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN, UK
Phone +44 20 7001 9844
This is the place to discover the history of London from prehistoric times right up to today. It’s a chronological journey through this great city’s history with displays you can interact with along the way. Sit in the Saxon building, try on a fireman’s helmet from the Great Fire of London, and head downstairs to the Modern Galleries which include a recreated Georgian Pleasure Garden and the popular Victorian Walk. Children are sure to love the exhibition of a dead cat under a glass floor (by the printing press), part of a collection of objects found when excavating for the museum’s extension in 2010.
Play in the Mud at the River Thames
While beachcombing is popular at the seaside, London has the River Thames running through it which means locals love foreshore foraging, also called “mudlarking.” The Thames is a tidal river so check the tide tables and safety advice then head off with a plastic bag for your collection. You’re most likely to find broken clay pipes which are hundreds of years old; while abundant, they provide a great piece of London history to take home for free.
Walk Among Giant Dinosaurs
Address
Thicket Road, London SE20, UK
Phone +44 20 3236 0078
During Crystal Palace’s renovations, Professor Richard Owen created a series of giant dinosaur sculptures for the park. Designed in 1852, these dinos were based on the best scientific information available at the time. While many people now giggle at the “anatomically incorrect” dinosaurs, they’re still a delight for kids to see and play near. Plus, there’s a free dinosaur audio trail to enhance your visit. If you decide to hang around, the park has lots more to see including a playground, a café, go-karts, a farm, a museum, a boating lake, and a sphinx.
Climb Aboard a Bomber Plane at the Imperial War Museum
Address
Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ, UK
Phone +44 20 7416 5000
The Imperial War Museum gives families the opportunity to see planes, missiles, tanks, and other large-scale military exhibits in one building. You can learn about spies and climb through a bomber plane fuselage, experience the trenches of World War I, and see the children’s war exhibition that shows how youngsters were affected by war. As an added bonus, the café serves kid-friendly fare.
Let Kids Run Around (and See Art!) at the Tate Modern
Address
Bankside, London SE1 9TG, UK
Phone +44 20 7887 8888
Tate Modern is the national gallery of contemporary art and is housed in a former power station. The Turbine Hall is a large indoor space where many small people love running up and down the sloped floor. Luckily, all of the Tate galleries are very family friendly and it’s not a quiet place, so children can be themselves. The museum does have an area for children under five to explore, including an Interactive Zone which entertains and challenges all age groups with games and multimedia ideas. Don’t forget to go out on the balcony on the fourth level to look across the river Thames to St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Sketch in the Galleries at Tate Britain
Address
Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, UK
Phone +44 20 7887 8888
While possibly not as kid-friendly as Tate Modern, Tate Britain is still a brilliant place to take the family. This is the national gallery of British art from 1500 to today and it’s always free to visit. It has a diverse collection of art from classical paintings to contemporary sculpture, so come and be inspired. Older kids can bring a pencil and pad to sketch in the galleries.
Walk Along the Regent’s Canal
Address
Unnamed Road, London W2 6NE, UK
This is a peaceful walk as you’re away from the traffic and see a different side of London. It usually takes one or two hours and even small children will enjoy the walk with minimal complaints. Little Venice is a lovely area full of houseboats and even has a Puppet Barge so you could see a show before or after the walk. On the way to Camden, you’ll pass London Zoo and can see a few animals and the Snowdon aviary. Once you reach Camden, reward yourself with a visit to Chin Chin Laboratory for liquid nitrogen ice cream.
Watch Street Performers at Covent Garden
Address
Covent Garden, London, UK
Covent Garden is well known for its street performers who entertain the public every afternoon in the West Piazza. Unlike performers in most other big cities, all performers at Covent Garden are licensed and have passed an audition to perform there. There can be big crowds, and audience participation is often part of the show. These entertainers make their living from these performances so when they collect money at the end, do give generously if you’ve enjoyed watching. There are also regular street performers on the South Bank, particularly near the London Eye.
Stand Over the Join of Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge lifts to allow large vessels to travel along The Thames, and you can check the lift times before visiting. When the bridge is back down, traffic and pedestrians can go across, and it’s fun to take children to stand on the join of the two sides. You can just about see the river below and kids like the rumble you can feel as traffic goes over the bridge. Don’t forget to look up at the high walkways which can be visited. Children under 5 years old go free and all kids get a card to collect stickers.
