Visiting London with children is an unforgettable experience since the British capital has many places, restaurants, attractions, and events designed especially for the smallest members of the family. We are helping you plan a few days with the family in London to enjoy some of the most attractive places and activities. We have created a list of the 10 best things to do in London with children. Note that some of the activities can also be done for free.
Hamleys, the most famous toy store in London
No matter how old they are, surprise your children with a visit to the most famous and largest toy store in the UK, right in the center of London. Located on Regent Street, one of the most important shopping streets in London, the 7 floors of this toy store will awaken your senses, and you will not be able to leave empty-handed. It is not possible to visit London with children and not enter this store.
Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Hyde Park
Princess Diana Memorial Park is a place to take children to entertain themselves for a while, as it is the most impressive playground in central London. A giant wooden pirate ship surrounded by sand, with many places for playing, a perfect place to have a good time! In addition to the playground, we recommend taking a walk through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, see the statue of Peter Pan and the famous squirrels of the park, who will surely come if they hear a plastic bag with peanuts!
Museums
If you are going to visit London with children, visiting a museum is mandatory! Although at first, it may sound boring, the truth is that some of London’s museums are spectacular to take children, and we can assure you that they will love the experience. The Natural History Museum is a must, and they will love the idea if you tell them that you are going to see the dinosaurs. Trust us when we say that dinosaurs are one of the most popular things about this museum. Visiting the entire Natural History Museum can take a full day, so we usually recommend entering to admire the beautiful building and taking the children to see the dinosaur section, which is just outside on the left. The Science Museum is right next to the Natural History Museum and is undoubtedly one of the best to visit in London with children. It is very interactive and children tend to leave the place fascinated. In the basement of The Science Museum, you will find a space called “The Garden” a space to entertain children from 3 to 6 years old (although younger and older will enjoy it too). In both museums, you will find picnic and rest areas for families.
Kew Gardens
The Royal Botanic Garden of London, although it may sound boring to children, believe us when we say that it is not. It has numerous playgrounds and a route to walk among the treetops. It’s a place of fun for the little ones and one of the favorite places of Londoners and their children when the weather is nice.
HMS Belfast
Anchored in the Thames is the HMS Belfast, a ship that participated in World War II that today is a museum ship. It may not be the most suitable place if you go with a baby carriage or very young children, since there are many stairs and very narrow areas, but it is perfect for slightly older children, especially if they like boats as it is impressive. I have to say that the HMS Belfast is one of the attractions that we visited one day almost by chance after having been living in London for several years and it is one of the visits that has impressed and liked me the most, so I highly recommend it.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of the most important attractions of the British capital, a site that you should visit when traveling to London, and it is one of the sites that we also recommend visiting with children. Tell them stories and let their imaginations fly when they see the collection of royal armor, tell them about the bloody tower, the jewels of the Queen, and do not forget to mention the legend of the ravens of the Tower.
The Theater
Make one of the evenings unforgettable by taking them to one of the best musicals in London. Many of London’s famous musicals are ideal to go to with children, and our personal favorites most definitely are these three: The Lion King, Matilda or Wicked, which are perfect to enjoy with the family.
The London Eye
At 135 meters high, the London Ferris Wheel is another of the most famous attractions in London that you will surely want to climb as soon as you see it … Tell them that it is the largest Ferris wheel on which you are going to ride, and enjoy with your family the impressive views it offers over the British capital. For the Ferris wheel there are usually quite long queues, so I recommend buying tickets in advance since you will save some time and money, since the tickets are cheaper if you buy them online.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe Theater is located on the south bank of the River Thames, and usually offers activities for children, which can be a very entertaining visit after a pleasant walk through Southbank, the walk that there is on the south bank of the Thames that goes from the London Eye to Tower Bridge in London.
Legoland
The Legoland London theme park is located in Windsor, about 15 minutes from the center of Windsor and Windsor Palace. It is a theme park in which the gigantic Lego figures are the main protagonists, and it is aimed at children from 3 to 10 years old. It is definitely one of the best options to spend an unforgettable day with the children in London, and if you go in summer and the weather is good I recommend bringing a swimsuit and a change of clothes! The only problem is that it is a bit complicated to get there with public transport, so it is not a bad idea to take the tickets with transport to Legoland included.