travel to london with toddler

The ultimate 3-day itinerary for visiting London with kids

Ever since my 5-year-old son caught a glimpse of Big Ben in one of his books, he's been utterly fascinated by London' s iconic clock tower. His curiosity soon spread to everything London-related, and he would ask question after question about the British capital.

When it came time to plan our next family vacation, the decision was obvious. We were going to London, and what's more, we let him take the reins in planning the itinerary.

The result? Three days of kid-filled fun (that I thoroughly enjoyed too). From the grandeur of the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace to the whimsical Peppa Pig bus tour, our trip hit the highlights from a kid's perspective.

So, whether you have a little one obsessed with Big Ben or are simply looking for a family-friendly destination, London offers many attractions to delight children and adults alike. Here's my three-day guide to help you make the most of your family vacation in this vibrant city.

Day 1: Iconic landmarks and 360-degree views

A ride on the london underground.

If there's one thing I've learned from traveling with a little one, it's to keep the days manageable, especially the first one. So, after landing in the morning, we made our way to the hotel — Hotel Cafe Royal — on the Underground (an activity my son loved) to drop off our bags and have lunch. I'd recommend eating at the hotel or very close by to limit the amount of transit time after what was already a big day of travel.

Once we fueled up, we made our way to the London Eye, where we had 3 p.m. tickets. Buying the fast pass (which we did) allows you to skip the long line (and avoid a meltdown) and get on the famous Ferris wheel quickly. Once on, it's a 30-minute ride where you can see many of the city's highlights. It's a great way to start the trip with a literal overview of London and doesn't require any physical effort.

After taking in the London skyline, we took a five-minute walk across Westminster Bridge to fulfill my son's dream of seeing Big Ben. And his desire couldn't have come at a better time since the famous clock only recently opened after several years of restoration. Although going inside is only available to U.K. residents, we timed our stroll at the base of the clock at 4 p.m. to hear the famous bell ring (it goes off every hour).

Dinner at The Dorchester

We finished up the day with dinner at The Dorchester. The luxury landmark recently underwent a massive renovation, including The Promenade restaurant perched in the center of the hotel. Each seating area was outfitted with a cozy couch, making it the perfect spot to unwind for the day. They had an incredible kids menu with plenty of options, even for the pickiest eaters.

Then it was back to the hotel for an early bedtime and a good night's rest to prep for the action-filled next day.

Day 2: Trains, tea, toys and tradition

Postal museum.

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel (I often recommend booking a hotel package that includes breakfast to make it easy), we set out for our first activity of the day. Along with loving Big Ben, my son is also a train fanatic. So, we got 10 a.m. tickets for a lesser-known attraction: the Mail Rail exhibit at the Postal Museum.

This off-the-beaten-path museum dives into London's fascinating postal history with an interactive exhibit that includes a ride on an actual underground train. We wove through the old tunnels, making stops along the way where we learned about the old underground railway system that once moved the city's mail. Although slightly claustrophobic at times (the train is very tiny), it was very entertaining for both kids and adults. A postal-themed play space for kids under 8 features a small-scale village with roads, structures, trams and tunnels.

Changing of the guard

Then it was off to witness the changing of the guard around 11 a.m. We opted to take a taxi to cut down on travel time and made it to the iconic ceremony outside Buckingham Palace. While we couldn't get up close to the gates, plenty of British pomp and pageantry along the Mall entertained my son for a little while.

We kept watching as we made our way to St. James's Park playground, which was just a few minutes' walk from the palace. My son loved climbing on the rocks, walking across the mini bridge and digging in the sandbox. We could see more of the changing of the guard parade from the playground.

Afternoon tea

As you can imagine, we were hungry at this point, and my son requested afternoon tea while in London. We chose The Guardsman as it was just a few minutes' walk and was supposed to be one of the top spots for the quintessentially British experience. We chowed down on sandwiches and pastries, and they gave my son a stuffed bear dressed as a beefeater (a perfect souvenir for what we had just witnessed).

With some renewed energy, we had one last outing for the day. Of course, my son also requested we visit a toy store in town. And there's no better one than Hamleys. It's one of the world's largest and oldest toy stores, with seven floors of gadgets and gizmos. It can be overwhelming as people are dancing, clowns are blowing bubbles and drones are zipping around, but my son had a blast looking at everything. He settled on a small truck as his toy before we returned to the hotel.

Dinner at Cake & Bubbles

With such a busy morning, we decided to spend the afternoon and evening at the hotel. We made it back for the children's hours (4-6 p.m.) at the pool and took a little late-afternoon dip before an early dinner at Cake & Bubbles (attached to the hotel). While the family-friendly restaurant is known for its desserts (the cheesecake is a must), it also has a delicious savory menu of small bites. We enjoyed burgers, pasta, salad and some dessert for a sweet ending to a fun-filled day.

Day 3: Playgrounds and Peppa Pig

The diana memorial playground.

My son always wants to check out the playground scene no matter what city we visit. And one in London is a must-see: the Diana Memorial Playground. After our hotel breakfast and a morning swim (we wanted to keep the morning low-key), we hopped on a local double-decker bus (another request of my son) and made our way to the far edge of Kensington Gardens.

Next to the late Princess Diana's former Kensington Palace home, the Diana Memorial Playground is inspired by the story of Peter Pan. The centerpiece is a large wooden pirate ship surrounded by a sandy beach and "buried treasure." Other features include sensory trails, various toys and play sculptures, all set within a carefully landscaped area. My son loved climbing into the crow's nest and zipping down the hidden slides.

Peppa Pig bus tour

After some playtime, it was time for one final kid-approved activity: the Peppa Pig bus tour. Since my son requested afternoon tea and a double-decker bus ride on the trip and is a fan of the "Peppa Pig" cartoon, I was elated when I learned an option included all three.

The whimsical tour involved driving around the city in a historic double-decker-bus-turned-restaurant seeing the major sites (including Big Ben again) while nibbling on mini pizzas and scones. The kids were served hot chocolate in cups with lids, while the adults had a choice of teas. Individual screens played "Peppa Pig" clips that described the historic sites we drove past. And an onboard emcee played games and sang songs with the kids whenever we were stuck in traffic.

Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

After the tour, we had some downtime at the hotel before making our way to the final dinner of the trip. Since everything else had been kid-focused, my husband and I opted for a nicer dinner at Pavyllon in the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane.

Although geared toward adults, the staff was incredibly accommodating and had a kids menu available. They even brought my son's food out first, so he didn't have to wait. And they rushed our dishes, too, so we could have a speedier meal that aligned better with a 5-year-old's patience. We brought a deck of cards and played War throughout dinner, which entertained my son thoroughly.

After dinner, we returned to the hotel for our final night before taking a flight out the following day.

Where to stay

When planning a family stay in London, a plethora of options cater to the needs of both adults and children. For families, areas like South Kensington, Covent Garden and Westminster are ideal due to their proximity to major attractions like the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the London Eye.

Hotel Cafe Royal

We opted for Hotel Cafe Royal (part of the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection ) in Piccadilly Circus. It is near multiple modes of transportation to reach anywhere in the city and within walking distance of numerous attractions, including the Hamleys toy store. What's more, it's incredibly family-friendly. The rooms are spacious, and the property even worked with a former royal nanny to curate the family programming. So, we had a tent with toys set up in the room, and there was a white-noise machine ready to help us all get a good night's sleep. Plus, if you book through the Chase travel portal , you get daily breakfast, a complimentary upgrade and a $100 property credit.

Other properties to consider

But there are plenty of other family-friendly options too. The Hilton London Bankside (available for around $267 or 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night) has a host of family offerings like connecting rooms and an indoor pool. Kids eat free at Holiday Inn London — Oxford Circus, with rooms available for around $328 or 39,000 IHG rewards points a night.

Planning a trip to London? Check out some of our other stories and planning tips:

• 27 of the best free things to do in London
• The complete guide to flying to London on points and miles
• 7 London hotels used by actual royalty
• The best hotels in London
• Chic but a bit cramped: A review of The London Edition

First Timer’s Guide to London with Kids (+ 17 Things to Do for Families)

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: October 31, 2022

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After a long break from international travel, our family recently hopped across the pond for the kids’ first trip to Europe. We spent a full week of a two week vacation exploring London, England. We were in town just weeks before Queen Elizabeth passed away, so were able to experience some of the final days of her Jubilee Celebration as well as the many offerings the city always has to offer.

My sister lived just outside London with her family the last couple of years so we had a bit of the inside scoop in planning our own trip thanks to her experience (and also thanks to a neighbor of ours who lives part-time in London). But even without the help of locals, we found the city supremely easy to navigate with kids. We found London had a wealth of family-friendly activities as well.

As with all cities, there’s a learning curve. My husband and I had both been to London several times before, but we were seeing the city anew this trip visiting it with kids for the first time. Here are all the basics that other first time visitors to London with kids need to know, from transportation tips to the very best things to do in London with kids.

(Trips With Tykes uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through links in this post. See our full disclosure policy linked in the menu at the bottom of this site.)

Getting to London with Kids: Airports & Trains

First things first – if you are a first timer to London, what are the best options for getting there?

Many Americans arrive by air, as London has multiple airport choices and is often used as a gateway city for travelers ultimately planning to visit multiple places in Europe. There are 6 total airports in the London area but the two that North American travelers are most likely to arrive into are:

• London Heathrow (LHR) : The largest international airport in London, Heathrow has non-stop flights to and from nearly every major city all around the world. The airport is served by nearly all major airlines.
• London Gatwick (LGW) : Located south of the city, London’s second largest airport has non-stop flights to several larger North American cities, mostly on JetBlue and British Airways, as well as lots of low cost carriers offering intra-Europe flights.

Related : Tips for Flying EasyJet

If you are coming from elsewhere in Europe, your family may be arriving by train instead of by plane. Most trains from more distant destinations arrive into San Pancras Station (we took the Eurostar out of Saint Pancras station ourselves leaving London to head to Paris next). But trains from many destinations within the United Kingdom come into a number of different stations in the central part of the city.

No matter what station you arrive into, it’s usually a pretty easy connection on the London Tube at that station to get where you need to go (more on local transportation below). The most important thing to note for train arrivals if you are coming from outside the United Kingdom is that Brexit has complicated train travel a bit. You’ll have to clear international borders and likely will need to plan for more time at your departing station than ever before.

Where to Stay in London with Kids

We did an enormous amount of research on where to stay in London with kids, trying to find a perfect combination of location and amenities at the right price ( Related : find out how much a trip to London costs ). The choices in a city so large are likely to be pretty overwhelming to other first time travelers as well.

London is of course quite expensive and many Americans should expect some sticker shock. We live in San Francisco so are pretty accustomed to high hotel prices. We were actually pleasantly surprised to find prices not entirely out of the stratosphere. Even in the high summer season, finding 4+ star accommodations for a family of four in the city center is entirely possible for under $500 a night.

Of course, prices fluctuate quite a bit with the changing exchange rate. Prices have gotten even better for Americans since our visit, as the British pound has reached rough parity with the American dollar as of the date this post is published.

Like elsewhere in Europe, hotel rooms are smaller than might be customary in the United States, and the slate of amenities and furnishings aren’t going to be quite the same. We found that these features were the ones most important to scrutinize in comparing London hotels and lodging:

• Bed types : Many rooms that sleep 4 in London have just two double beds. Can you and your partner share a double? If you have more than one child, can your kids? Look out for family suites or deals for families to get 2 rooms with the second at a discount rate if you need more beds (see, for example, Marriott’s 50% off a 2nd room offer for select London hotels ).
• Air conditioning : England is usually pretty chilly, but if you are visiting during peak summer months like many tourists, you may experience some pretty hot and humid days. Not all hotels and accommodations have AC, so if you need that to be comfortable, check carefully.
• Elevators : Some historic buildings in London do not have “lifts.” We found that some apartment style accommodations would mean dragging suitcases up several flights of stairs. This might not be a great choices for families with younger kids – especially travelers with kids of stroller age.
• Breakfast : A lot of London hotels have excellent breakfasts as an optional add on to your room rate – often at a very reasonable price. Price compare carefully!

We ultimately ended up staying in a one bedroom flat in Mayfair at 9 Hertford Street , which ended up being ideal for our family of four for a week. It had some of the amenities of a hotel, including top notch warm and personable service, with a lot of the conveniences of a larger vacation rental. We ordered grocery delivery from Sainsbury’s to fill our fridge with breakfast foods and snacks and made much use of the washing machine in the flat as well. The property is located within a 7 minute walk of the Green Park tube station. The location was exceptionally convenient, putting us on three Tube lines (Jubilee, Piccadilly, and Victoria).

Other hotels and flats we seriously considered and researched extensively:

• Clermont Hotel, Charing Cross : Located near Charing Cross station, this hotel is also very centrally located. We initially booked and held a Deluxe Family Room, but a Studio Suite would have fit our family as well. Be sure to become a member on the site which entitles you to 10% discounts right away.
• The Cavendish Hotel, London : Idea for families of 3, this hotel makes sofa beds available in its larger rooms to accommodate a third person and also has cribs available. The hotel is close to Mayfair and Piccadilly. Breakfast for kids under 12 is free with a paying adult.
• St. James Hotel & Club : This luxury hotel specializes in interconnecting rooms for families, offering discounts on the second room. We found the Deluxe suite with living area and king bed that interconnected to a superior room with queen size bed was the best fit for our family of 4.
• 10 Curzon Street by Mansley : these serviced apartments are similar to the ones we ultimately chose at 9 Hertford Street. The two bedroom apartments sleep up to four people, but note that the building does not have an elevator.
• Athenaeum London : The priciest option we considered, this luxury hotel in Mayfair has residence style rooms ideal for families (including a California king bed and pop up bunk beds) as well as a children’s concierge.

Getting Around in London with Kids

London has one of the best public transit systems in the world and that’s a major reason it’s an ideal destination for family travelers. Tourists really can easily get anywhere they need to go with minimal time at a cheap fare.

Figuring out the rules and fares is a little tricky (my husband did the deep dive and found this post amazingly helpful). Kids under age 11 travel for free with a paying adult. There are discounts available for older kids and teens as well.

We found that a Travelcard that covered all public transit in Zones 1-2 (£38 for 7 days) covered us for every destination we wanted to visit except Heathrow Airport and a Premier League game in a stadium located outside of the city center. Load the Travelcard as well as additional funds for pay-as-you-go fares onto an Oyster card and the computers apply the best fare for you. We bought a pay-as-you-go Oyster card for my 13 year old daughter, because the Young Person’s discount for ages 11-15 was the cheaper option for her even if we used public transit extensively.

London Underground (the Tube)

London has a massive and extensive subway system (referred to as the Tube) that reaches almost everywhere in the city that tourists are likely to want to go. Trains come every few minutes and are comfortable and safe, albeit crowded during commute hours, as you might expect.

If you are using the Tube with a child 10 and under who travels for free, enter and exit via the handicapped turnstiles which open slowly enough for two people to walk through together. Like a number of places in older cities of Europe, some of the Tube isn’t entirely accessible. If you have babies and toddlers in strollers (especially more than 1), it’s going to be harder to navigate. But I did notice how kind and helpful Londoners were when they saw a parent struggling with a little one on the Tube – multiple people stepped up to assist which was unlike anything I’ve ever seen in a major US city.

London’s famed double decker buses are another easy and convenient public transportation option all over the city. We were blown away by how frequently they ran. We used them mostly as more direct routes between some places when traveling on the Tube would have involved a change to another line or a little bit of a walk to a station. My kids loved going up to the second deck and sitting in the very front row where the windows above the driver give great views of the city streets below. Oyster cards and Travelcards can be used to pay fares on buses just like the Tube – scan is upon entry only.

Hop on, Hop off Bus

Many tourists opt to take a different kind of bus to travel around London – a hop on, hop off. While touristy and not official public transportation, definitely don’t dismiss this as a potential form of transportation. These buses hit a lot of the city’s highlights and offer multiple routes, plus they offer audio commentary to help you learn about the city and get your bearings. Bus companies to consider include Big Bus Tours, City Sightseeing London, and the Tootbus.

Cabs in London aren’t as ubiquitous as they used to be, but there are still plenty of taxis to be had if you prefer a private ride around town. All London black cabs now offer contactless payment options in addition to accepting cash, so they are more flexible than ever.

Uber & Ridesharing

Ridesharing is alive and well in London. There are a couple of companies that Americans may not be familiar with that some locals use, but Uber is truly everywhere as well. We used Uber on several occasions (especially when transporting luggage) and were able to get cars of varying sizes and had fast response times even at off hours.

Best Times to Visit & How Long to Stay in London with Kids

When should you go to London and how long should you stay with kids? The right answer of course first depends on your family’s schedule.

Summer is peak season for family travelers as that is when most kids have substantial time off of school. Of course that means larger crowds and higher prices. But the warm weather is more pleasant than much of the rest of the year, when London can be pretty cold and dreary.

If your family has a more flexible schedule, shoulder season in May and September often has the the right combination of good weather and lower crowds. Spring break is another solid possibility for American visitors. But it can still be quite chilly in March and April, so pack accordingly!

We visited during the first week of August (when English schools are on a break between terms). The weather can be very hot and humid in August some days, which is a down side to this time of year. Because of the school break, however, traffic in the city was more reasonable and most activities were open 7 days a week so it was easy to schedule all the things we wanted to do. Plus, because a lot of US schools go back for the year in early to mid-August, we also found the crush of American tourists had dropped off a lot by the time we visited, which helped with crowds at tourist attractions.

As for how long you need in London, the longer the better! I’d recommend a bare minimum of 3 days in London with kids, but a visit of 5-7 days or more is ideal. Even with our full week in town going pretty much non-stop, we just scratched the surface.

Top 17 Things to Do in London with Kids

So now that the logistics are out of the way, let’s get to the good part. What should you plan to DO while in London with kids?

Few cities in the world have as many iconic attractions and must-dos as London. And so many of these things to do are family-friendly, so you are going to have a hard time picking and choosing.

Start by gathering the family and making a list of everything that interests you. Your list is likely going to be very long. We put all of our family’s choices into Trip Advisor so we could easily see on the map which ones were close to one another and possible to do together in a single day.

Here are 17 of the best things to do in London with kids (with a map to all of them to assist in your navigation and planning).

Some of course will be better for younger kids and some will be better for older kids and teens, so I’ve indicated age recommendations for many of them. Whenever available, I’ve also linked below to standalone articles from bloggers I personally know and trust for more details on each of these attractions if you want to do a deeper dive.

Tower of London

Both of my kids named the Tower of London as one of their favorite stops in London. Built by William the Conquerer over 1000 years ago, the Tower has played a central part in many major events in English history. Must-sees include the Crown Jewels, the Yeoman Warders (elite guards responsible for the Tower’s safekeeping who give engaging must-do tours too!), the ravens, and the Royal Armouries. History comes alive here in engaging ways for kids with tales of battles, torture, and execution among the ancient buildings.

The Tower of London is a very popular attraction that gets crowded, so I highly recommend getting tickets for the earliest entry time to beat the crowds. Plan for a visit of at least 2-3 hours with kids to be able to see the highlights. More details in this family-friendly guide to the Tower of London .

Westminster Abbey

As the site of the coronation of many monarchs and the final resting place for many of them as well, Westminster Abbey plays an important role in both the religious and political history of England and Great Britain. Entry into the church includes an audio guide, and there is a version available for children that explains the stories in a more accessible format in about an hour – just the right length for younger attention spans. (More tips for families in this article from my friend Allison about what to expect at Westminster Abbey .)

While most visitors explore the church only, we went a little out of the way to sit in the College Garden as well, which is a lovely and peaceful green space for toddlers and younger kids to explore with amazing views of the Palace of Westminster for parents. Westminster Abbey is within easy walking distance of both Parliament and the Churchill War Rooms (both listed below), so it’s possible to do two or even three of these attractions in a single day if you plan the timing carefully, which is what we did.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s is the famed cathedral featured in the “Feed the Birds” scene of Mary Poppins that is also the site where Princess Diana and Prince Charles were wed. It is the people’s church in London and turned out to be even more popular with my kids than Westminster Abbey. Take one of the shorter free guided tours to learn a little of the history (or use the included audio guide). And definitely make time to climb to the top of the dome for magnificent views of the city on clear days – not for the faint of heart but well worth it!

Churchill War Rooms (Imperial War Museum)

Kids can learn about one of Great Britain’s most famous prime ministers as well as a lot about World War II history in a visit to the Churchill War Rooms. This museum is located in the underground bunkers where Churchill and his cabinet rode out the bombings of London during the Blitz, ultimately directing the Allies on to victory. An audio guide (including a “family” setting with descriptions more understandable for kids) is included in the price of admission.

I was worried that the Churchill War Rooms would be too much boring history for my younger child (who was 8 years old and about to enter 3rd grade at the time of our trip). Its underground location, the walk-through layout of the museum, and its many multimedia exhibits turned out to be surprisingly engaging. My son especially enjoyed the interactive screen where visitors can listen to Churchill’s most famous quotes and quips. Plan on at least 2 hours to visit – more with teens who may be more deeply in to the history.

Parliament (Palace of Westminster)

The Palace of Westminster is home to Great Britain’s House of Commons and House of Lords, and it may come as a surprise that tours are offered here! Tours with a live guide as well as self-guided audio tours (both about 90 minutes) are available. We opted for the guided tour, which was a little more expensive but worthwhile to mix things up, as many London tourist attractions have audio guides.

Parliament was one of the favorite stops for my 13 year old. Seeing the room she had previously viewed only on TV and YouTube while watching the famous Prime Minister’s questions was especially meaningful to her. But the tour was probably a little too dry or at least too long for my 8 year old, so this is one attraction I might save for older kids who have a deeper understanding and appreciation of government and politics.

London Bike Tour

I have never thought of London as much of a biking city, but the government has installed a massive amount of biking infrastructure in recent years which has drastically changed the landscape. And that means that it’s incredibly easy to explore a number of city highlights on two wheels.

We took a private family tour with BrakeAway Bike Tours to get our bearings on the first morning of our stay in London. Our tour guide was knowledgable and upbeat while also giving us practical tips along the way and taking all the necessary measures to keep us safe. Everyone in the family ranked it one of our absolute favorite activities.

There are multiple quality bike tour companies (we investigated them all!), including Tally Ho! , the London Bicycle Tour Company , and Fat Tire Tours London . Many of the tour guides are actors and entertainers and have the skills to keep kids engaged. Most tour companies offer trail-along bikes and even trailer attachments so it’s possible for families even with toddlers and younger kids to enjoy this activity. Families with younger kids (under 10 or 12 years old) usually are required to book a private tour.

For amazing views of London, head to the city’s most visited attraction: the London Eye. This giant ferris wheel towers over the southern banks of the Thames River, rotating slowly one revolution each half hour so riders can take in the views. Because of its popularity, it’s essential to book tickets well in advance. This is one of the most expensive attractions in London and queues can be brutal. If you plan to do it, especially with impatient younger kids or if you are on a tight schedule, I’d highly recommend paying even more for the Fast Track tickets to skip the queue.

The same company that owns the London Eye also operates nearby Sea Life Aquarium, Madam Tussauds, the London Dungeon, and Shrek’s Adventure. As several of these attractions are replicated in a lot of cities around the world and are pretty touristy, we skipped them, but many families enjoy them. Combination tickets can save you some money if you plan to do more than one.

Afternoon Tea

Many of the luxury hotels in London offer decadent afternoon teas, and we highly recommend partaking in at least one during a family vacation. Most of these teas welcome children with special theming and kid-friendly food selections, so it’s very hard to pick among the many excellent choices.

We decided to go with a classic experience at the Savoy Hotel’s Thames Foyer for our family of four (my husband and I also took tea at the Ritz London as an adults-only date night). Also recommended for families is tea at St. Ermin’s , the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych , and the Original Sweetshop Afternoon Tea at The Chesterfield Mayfair . (See more family-friendly London tea recommendations.)

Sunday Roast

While we are on the subject of food, one other must-do meal is a traditional Sunday Roast. Compared to many European countries, England isn’t exactly known for its amazing cuisine, but we had heard from friends and family that the Sunday meal is one worth experiencing. They were so right.

Sunday roast consists of a hearty plate with a roasted meat (usually chicken, beef, or lamb) covered in gravy with side items like potatoes, vegetables, and a Yorkshire pudding. Any local pub will likely do the job in spades. We ate our Sunday Roast at the Chesterfield Arms in Mayfair near our hotel and the meal was one of the very best of our trip. Some pubs serve this dish all weekend long, so you may have more than one night a week to get your fill.

Borough Market

Borough Market is one of the largest public markets in London with a history of over 1000 years. Today, it is full of sights and smells that capture kids’ attentions. There are a number of food stalls to grab a quick meal or snack on the go or table service restaurants surrounding the market itself for a more leisurely meal.

Hamleys Toy Shop

Hamleys Toy Shop is a child’s dream come to life – seven floors of every toy from around the globe at its main location on Regent Street. There are play stations throughout the shop where kids can see some of the toys in action and even play with a few themselves.

You’ll find a wide selection of toys that may not be available back home, including lots of Peppa Pig, Paddington, and Harry Potter as well as Hamleys’ own label of toys that includes an iconic red London bus and a teddy bear (with a new design each year). There’s even a Build-a-Bear station that includes outfits unique to London like a Beefeater costume. It was hard getting my kids to leave, so consider yourself warned!

London is full of beautiful parks to explore with kids, but Hyde Park is one of the largest with multiple offerings that families will enjoy. On the east side, families can rent paddleboats on the Serpentine Lake or hire a lawn chair to sit and people watch or enjoy an ice cream.

On the west side, the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is one of the top things to do with younger kids. The play structure is shaped like a pirate ship. Kensington Palace is also located adjacent to the park. This Royal Palace is open to the public, with viewings of the King’s and Queen’s State Apartments as well as Kensington Gardens. It’s one of the most popular attractions for visitors wanting to explore Britain’s royal history.

Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard

Speaking of palaces, Buckingham Palace nearby is another must-see with kids. The famous Changing of the Guard there usually happens daily in June and July, but only 4 days a week the rest of the year (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays), so plan carefully and prepare for large crowds.

For limited periods (usually in late summer and early fall), the palace opens to the public for tours. The tours are quite expensive and not necessarily a must-do on shorter trips (particularly if you plan to visit other royal sites), but worth considering. The children’s audio guide is hosted by Rex the Corgi – a cute touch.

British Museum

The British Museum has one of the largest and most magnificent collections from historical sites around the world, from Egyptian mummies to the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon’s Elgin marbles. It is an engaging place to introduce kids to history and archeology. You can really customize your experience and the time you spend there to match the ages an interests of your children, so it is one of the best things to do in London for all ages. And it’s free!

The enormous size of the museum is pretty overwhelming so I’d recommend looking at the offerings in advance and having a plan to navigate it. Check out this guide to the British Museum with kids for the top things to see.

All Things Harry Potter

Harry Potter fans will find a wealth of activities to do all over London. For the superfans with plenty of time to spare, the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour is an experience farther outside of the city center (more like a day trip) that requires something approaching a full day to see. There are also plenty of walking tours and bus tours of the sights of the Harry Potter films as well. More casual fans should at least consider popping by Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station for a photo opp and to visit the gift shop selling Potter merchandise.

See more offerings in this post with 9 Harry Potter things to do in London .

Premier League Match

Thanks to Ted Lasso, English Premier League football is hotter than ever among Americans right now. Attending a Premier League match is an amazing opportunity to have a much more local experience in London… if you can get tickets. We had to join the club for Tottenham Hotspur to even have the right to purchase tickets direct. Then we had get up in the middle of the night twice and refresh the website frantically to get the seats we did. But it was well worth it! Premier League matches run roughly from August to May.

One mistake we made when attending that other families of young kids should know about – Premier League games are loud – louder than any other sporting event I’ve ever attended. Consider bringing ear protection for younger and more sensitive kids if you do manage to score seats.

West End Show

London has a thriving theater district on the West End that rivals New York’s Broadway for the number and quality of shows it offers. There are always a number of kid-friend shows available. Some have age minimums or recommendations, so check carefully to make sure the show you choose is suitable for everyone in the family.

We watched Back to the Future: The Musical on our visit, which debuted in London and will soon also be showing in New York. It was a massive hit with everyone in the family, but most especially my husband who has surely watched the movie a few hundred times. Other family-friendly shows running in 2022 include: The Lion King, Matilda, Disney’s Newsies, Frozen, Mary Poppins, and Wicked.

Tips for Booking & Saving Money on Attractions in London with Kids

While it’s hard enough to narrow down what you want to see in London, figuring out how best to book tickets and not spend too much money can be even trickier. A few London travel tips to consider when it comes to the logistics of booking and visiting attractions (plus see even more in this list of helpful European travel tips ):

• Book Direct! : If you just want tickets to most attractions, book direct, unless you are booking a combination ticket that bundles multiple attractions at a discount. A number of travel websites and blogs will direct you to ticket middlemen like Viator and Get Your Guide for tickets (I won’t do that just to get an affiliate commission). While these sites do offer a number of in-depth tours worth considering, many listings on these sites are merely glorified marked-up admission tickets.
• Book in Advance : While there are some attractions in London where you can walk up and purchase tickets, everything is much more planned in advance these days. To avoid long lines or being shut out of an attraction entirely during peak tourist season, purchase tickets in advance (timed entry is required at many places).
• Check for Closure Days : A lot of London attractions are open 7 days a week (more than any other city in Europe we experienced), especially in peak summer months. But not all of them. Be sure to keep track of any days that activities are closed when planning out your travel itinerary so you don’t miss out.

Here are a few ways we discovered families can get a discount on multiple attractions in London:

• Family Ticket Bundles : A number of London attractions offer family tickets directly on their website that can help you save money on admission (most often these for adult/child combinations of 3-5 people). Be sure to read all the ticket options offered to find which one adds up to be the best deal for your family. Look for “concession” rates for discounts – this is a term that Americans may not immediately know the meaning of!
• National Rail 2-for-1 Discounts : If you are traveling to London by rail, you are eligible with your train ticket for a number of 2-for-1 discounts for many activities. Details on how to book and claim are on the National Rail website .
• London Pass by Go City: The London Pass by Go City is a discount pass that allows you to bundle multiple attractions and save. It includes Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, a hop on hop off bus tour, and many others. If you plan to do 2-3 attractions per day that are offered under its umbrella, you’ll likely come out ahead, but you have to do the math.

Final Thoughts on London with Kids

Our family had an amazing time in London. It is just the right place to start European travels with kids . The city is so easy to navigate without wasting any time, and London has a wealth of family-friendly things to do. Even though it’s an enormous city, the neighborhoods feel compact, welcoming and friendly. It’s a city we can see ourselves returning to many times, so we highly recommend other families give it a visit as well!

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25+ Fun Things To Do In London With A Toddler

Looking for the best things to do in London with a toddler? We have all the bases covered for our pint sized little ones.

Whether you are living locally, or visiting London with a toddler, there is plenty to discover. From the incredibly toddler friendly Discovery Centre in Stratford, to museums in Central London, not to mention the open green parks to run around.

Having lived in the city with my kids for most of their lives, we have been lucky enough to check out what every corner of London has to offer! We’ve hand selected the best places for you to check out with a tot.

In case you are a tourist in the city, you can check out family friendly hotel recommendations in London here . We also have a specific post for kids , Halloween and Christmas .

Things to do in London for Toddlers

1. the discovery centre.

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If you are visiting London with a toddler The Discovery Centre is my top pick of places to visit. It is a little out of town in the East End of London’s Stratford area.

You will find the Westfield Mall in the area which is one of the cities biggest malls. Also in Stratford is the Queen Elizabeth Park and Stratford Wetlands which are great spaces for a walk after.

The Discover Centre is a super stimulating venue where different well-known stories come to life with characters and surroundings.

The story changes throughout the year and also has a spacecraft as well as an outdoor story garden. With two floors of immersive spaces, offering some super fun things to do in London with a Toddler.

2. Shrek’s Adventure London

Shrek’s Adventure London is where little ones can see the beloved charactes of the franchise.

Step into the mythical kingdom filled with surprises, and interactive storytelling that captivates tots!

From meeting Shrek himself to encountering familiar faces like Donkey and Princess Fiona, this enchanting day out on Londons Southbank is perfect for the entire family.

Check out Shrek’s Adventure London.

3. Sea Life London Aquarium

The Sea Life London Aquarium is a great place for toddlers on London’s Southbank. It has many fish species and marine life exhibits, not to mention the chance to get up close to some adorable creatures.

In addition to presentations and activities throughout the day, they also have a number of interactive exhibits for children. Aquariums are always a hit with the kids especially if you are looking for things to do in London with a Toddler.

Dive into the wonders of the ocean at SEA LIFE London.

4. The London Eye

The London Eye takes around 30 minutes to go around. It rotates and displays some of the city’s most iconic landmarks such as, The Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

Whilst you can take your stroller onto the London Eye, it needs to remain folded. The pod is completely safe to walk around for your toddler to explore.

The pace is very sedate, and you can hardly tell you’re moving; yet suddenly, they were soaring high above the trees!

There have previously been events with story telling specifically for children under 5 on board the London Eye so it is worth checking if this is happening when you visit. You can enjoy taking in the sites whilst your little one is entertained.

Children under the age of three go free at the London Eye so you may as well make the most of it!

5. Natural History Museum and Science Museum

Two of Londons most popular museums are completely toddler friendly! South Kensington’s Natural History Museum and Science Museum provide toddlers with a fun filled day, not to mention they are free!

The Natural History Museum’s exhibits are not just standstill museums full of fossils! It’s vibrant and fascinating for toddlers with dinosaurs that roar and journeys into the centre of the planet.

Across the street at the Science Museum, the biggest hit with toddlers is in the basement where you’ll find the garden & water play area. Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes for this as our tot definitely got wet.

Imagine dams, water fountains, rivers and boats. Little ones will gain an understanding of how water makes things work!

It gets busy on the weekend so mid-week mornings is a fantastic time to visit. You will have the chance to make the most of it without too many people around.

Also in The Science Museum is a paid experiment section. We have been a few times with our toddler and it is definitely worth it.

There are both experiment demonstrations and little ones can do their own experiments too. Kids love the big slide in this paid part of the museum.

if you are on a budget , it is not a necessity to visit this area but it is a lovely addition! Neither the Natural History Museum nor the Science Museum charge admission.

However, the admission fee and pre-booked tickets may be required for some temporary exhibitions and events. They do ask for a donation, however this is not mandatory.

If you are specifically interested in free activities in London check out this post .

Location: Natural History Museum: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom

Location: Science Museum: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD, United Kingdom

6. London Transport Museum

Out of all of the museums in the capital, The London Transport Museum is one of the top things to do in London with a Toddler. It offers activities to do for families with toddlers and older children.

Based in Covent Garden, it is in a great location to explore the area before or after your visit. The museum has a play zone where they can pretend to fly a plane , drive a bus, or operate a tube. 

This museum is not just for kids . Adults find it fascinating to follow along 200 years of history to understand how London transportation has changed over time.

Kids will especially love the huge collection of over 80 historic vehicles, most of which are open to try out!

With your help, they can climb aboard the life-sized London transport relics and sit in the driver’s seat to enjoy the view.

There is a dedicated kids ‘All Aboard Area’ with themed play stations for the under-7’s. The area also has soft play for toddlers.

Tickets for the museum are available online for savings on adult admission. Children under 18 are free! See what special programs are being offered during school breaks by checking the London Transport Museum’s calendar.  

If you live in London, it’s quite cost effective to buy an annual pass.

Book tickets to the London Transport Museum here.

Location: The Piazza, London WC2E 7BB, United Kingdom

7. The Horniman Museum

The Horniman Museum is located in the South East of London, only a short walk from Forest Hill station.

With its outdoor areas stretching over 16 acres, The Horniman Museum is a great place for children and toddlers. It includes a nature trail as well as interactive exhibits to keep toddlers occupied.

The most unique and noteworthy feature of this museum is its butterfly garden. It’s very warm inside and has some fantastic species of butterflies from Central and South America.

I’m really amazed at how magical it is inside and how much kids and toddlers can learn about the lifecycle of a butterfly. From the larvae hatching to the fluorescent blue butterflies swooshing by, they can see each stage of the process!

Besides being an educational experience, visiting the Horniman Museum is high in the list of fun things to do with toddlers in London.

There is also a free farm and an aquarium for children to enjoy. The outdoor gardens have always been a hit with our little ones.

Location: 100 London Rd, London SE23 3PQ, United Kingdom

8. The National Maritime Museum

One of the best toddler-friendly things to do in Greenwich is to visit the National Maritime Museum.

As its name implies, it houses exhibits related to sea history and other sea-related exhibits. The historical building forms part of a world heritage site and is completely free to enter. 

AHOY is the best part of the museum for toddlers, offering an interactive play area where they can climb, play, pretend to be sailors and learn about the world around them through toddler-friendly exhibits.

The play area is free during the week and it’s just a matter of turning up. Weekends, however, require you to make a reservation and pay.

I recommend visiting this museum during the week if you are planning to spend a few days in London.

The museum has something for everyone, including plenty of sensory fun for babies and toddlers.

If you fancy a scenic walk after the Maritime Museum, you can head to the Royal Observatory Deck where you will get some stunning panoramic views of London.

Location: Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF, United Kingdom

9. The Tate Modern

The Tate Modern is an essential stop on any London trip. With its fantastic FREE display of modern art, the Tate Modern is a great place for families with toddlers to visit.

Based on the South Bank of the River Thames, it’s easily accessible and lots of fun! There are lots of events geared specifically towards families, with interactive artworks and workshops for kids of all ages.

You will be sure to keep your toddlers entertained for a few hours with doodle drawing bars, funky displays, and more.

Check out The Tates free events .

Location: SE1 9TG, London, United Kingdom

10. The National Army Museum

Another one of the great days out for toddlers in London is The National Army Museum .

It might not be the first place you think of to bring a toddler to in London. However, after its recent renovation it’s become a fantastic place to visit.

The facility includes interactive playground zones, soft play areas are designed for children under the age of six.

It also has themed activities and obstacle courses for toddlers to run through and burn off some energy while learning about the Army’s history.

Location: Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4HT, United Kingdom

11. The Planetarium

The Planetarium in Greenwich Park has a specific show for toddlers. It is just a short showing so is ideal for smaller children with shorter attention spans.

Ted and his friend Plant take kids through the solar system in a fun way suitable for younger ones. With 360 degree dome views, it is most certainly a fantastic sensory experience.

The show is educational and will ignite a love for all things space in kids. The Planetarium is very close to The National Maritime Museum so is ideal to combine the two with also enjoying Greenwich Park.

Head into Greenwich Town after for a stroll around town and pick up some lunch in the food markets.

12. Thames Clipper Boat

If you need to head back west after visiting Greenwich take the Thames Clippers all the way back to Waterloo.

Along the way you will see the skyline of Londons iconic sites such as Canary Wharf, The Shard, The London Eye and Big Ben. You will also sail underneath Tower Bridge.

It is an affordable alternative to a boat tour of the Thames and another nice option when looking for things to do in London with a toddler.

13. Kensington Gardens

Kensington Gardens Playground is actually called the “Diana Memorial Playground”. This playground takes its inspiration from Peter Pan!

A tribute to Princess Diana who loved the innocence of childhood, the centre piece is a Pirate Ship where kids can play and explore. It is one of the best toddler playgrounds in London.

The park is only open to kids up to 12 years old to make sure everyone stays safe.

Among the equipment of the playground are wooden climbing structures, a massive pirate ship surrounded by sand, tree carvings and a sensory trail. Not to mention the Serpentine Lake and many other toddler-friendly attractions.

14. Hyde Park

Hyde Park is certainly one of the more centrally located parks in London. Just off the West End of Oxford Street sits this vast open green space with lakes, cafes, and sprawling green fields.

There are many trees to shade the winding pathways on a hot day. The South Carriage Drive Playground is a great place for kids to burn off some energy.

In the centre of the park you can rent pedal boats on a nice day. There is plenty to do and as always, I highly recommend bringing a picnic!

Location: GR4M+WP London, United Kingdom

15. Holland Park

Holland Park is a fantastic park in Kensington, not far from all the museums. It sits on the grounds of Cope Castle, which is now home to the Ecology Centre.

If you want to unwind and just chill check out the fish pond and Kyoto gardens. The landscape is very serene with shoals of fish swimming and wildlife roaming around.

You could head to play in the adventure playground for toddlers. It has an enclosed area so its is perfect for running around.

Despite its size, the park is quite large and each area has something unique to discover, including a tortoise sundial.

In summer, there are often performances on the lawn. Make sure to check ahead on their website if there is anything fun happening when you visit.

There is also a lovely cafe where you can grab a bite to eat. Located near High Street Kensington Station, Holland Park is free to enter and in a beautiful part of London.

Location: Ilchester Pl, London W8 6LU, United Kingdom

16. Battersea Park

Since I live south of the river, Battersea Park has been one of the most frequent parks we have visited. While it’s not as centrally located as Hyde Park, Victoria is only a short stroll away.

Battersea Park offers a variety of activities, including a Go Ape treetop experience , a small zoo, bike rentals with carousels for kids and beautiful gardens.

One of the more adventurous things to do in London with kids is the Go Ape. It is a tree top rope adventure. We have previously taken our 3 year old to do this so will really depend on if your little one would like it or not.

Battersea has some perfect paved walkways, ideal for scooting, biking or pushing your stroller around the park. If you like Cherry Blossoms, Battersea Park is a stunning place to snap some shots in spring.

There are two playgrounds in Battersea Park. The one on the east side of the park close to the lake is better for toddlers. The playground on the other side has some huge slides and more climbing required so best suited to older kids.

Location: London SW11 4NJ, United Kingdom

17. St. James Park

St. James Park is an iconic experience for toddlers, where you can see Buckingham Palace just outside the northern end. Marvel at the blooming flowers and bustling atmosphere.

This park also has a great playground with mounds, slides and climbing frames ideal for toddlers. It does get busy during school holidays and weekends so best to visit mid-week.

If you visit St James Park, make sure to check out the Pelicans. They were gifted hundreds of years ago by the Russian Ambassador. They are quite unique in London so are a must see!

Location: 121 Hartington Rd, London E17 8AS, United Kingdom

18. Regents Park

Regents Park is situated on Baker St, surrounded by lavish houses of international ambassadors. It certainly is an area of wealth and grandeur.

Regents Park has plenty to offer, including a large playground for toddlers, peddle boats in the summer for the family and open air theatre shows.

Most of the park is perfectly manicured and pristinely maintained with landscaped gardens. It has to be one of London’s prettiest parks, with rows of colourful flowers and tree-lined paths.

Location: GRJV+G6 London, United Kingdom

19. Kew Gardens

London’s Kew Garden , located in West London, has long been recommended in many travel guides. There is a lot to see so allow an entire day to visit.

Kew Gardens has a Children’s Sensory Garden. This garden is especially designed for children from 2 to 12 years old. It is the perfect place to hang out on a summers day. You may need a change of clothes for your little ones since there is some water.

The space is beautifully designed with themes such as sun, air and as mentioned water features. I find the space to be so tranquil and it is a wonderful addition to the gardens.

It’s worth noting you must purchase tickets separately to access the children’s garden. Go early and enjoy all the natural sensory play on offer.

To book a ticket to Kew Gardens click here.

Location: FPH3+FQ Richmond, United Kingdom

If you are in the Richmond Area, head for a walk along the Thames River in the town after.

20. Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park is an incredible place to visit with an array of activities. From the Royal Observatory Deck, to the Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark and the Planetarium. There is lots going on in and around the area.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Greenwich Mean Time which is essentially the solar time at the Royal Observatory Deck.

For this reason Greenwich does tend to attract lots tourists. This is a beautiful green space that includes both wild areas and manicured spaces.

With easy climbing frames and play areas targeted towards toddlers and pre-school children, Greenwich Park Playground is best suited for kids 1 – 7 years of age.

Location: London SE10 8QY, United Kingdom

Right next to The London Eye is a huge playground which is perfect for smaller children. You can also walk along the South Bank where there is always buskers and entertainment throughout the week.

Throughout the year, the area around The London Eye transforms. With Christmas Markets in the Winter and Summer festivities throughout the warmer months. It is most certainly an area to visit even if you don’t ride on the Eye!

Location: GV3J+74 London, United Kingdom

21. The Emirates Airline Cable Car

The Emirates Cable Car spans from Greenwich across the River Thames to the Docklands!

Providing sweeping views of the Millennium Dome, Canary Wharf, and parts of central London, it’s definitely a mode of transport worth checking out. Little ones under 5 go free with a paying adult!

Prior to boarding, strollers must be collapsed and your toddler must be secured in a front-facing baby harness.

The epic gondola trip at sunset is highly recommended if you can push through the witching hour! It really is such a beautiful tranquil trip when the sun is setting.

Location: 27 Western Gateway, London E16 1FA, United Kingdom

22. Interactive Concert With London Symphony Orchestra Musicians

Situated on St Lukes Old Street in East London is the Symphony Orchestra. The resident musicians at The London Symphony Orchestra put on interactive shows for under 5s and it is such a hit with local families & tourists!

Kids get to meet angry trolls, greedy crocodiles and singing bears throughout the even. There is lots of singings and dancing brining stories to life.

Tickets for adults cost £7 whilst kids over the age of 1 cost £5 for some events. There are other regular events like family concert and Monday morning early year workshops.

It’s such a great way to introduce little ones to instruments and different sounds!

Check out The London Symphony Orchestra family events here.

23. The Museum Of London

The Museum of London is another East End activity. They have lots of free things for kids and toddlers including an activity backpack they can use to explore the museum which they are loaned on arrival.

The venue also features tail trails, activity sheets and games. There are areas to picnic on site as well as cafes and restaurants. If you are in the East End of London, you could also check out The Barbican Conservatory.

24. The Barbican

The Barbican Conservatory is an incredible indoor garden to wander around in the East End of London. It’s a leafy sanctuary with birds, fish and tropical plants to discover. It is the prefect place to have a stroll around for an hour if you are planning to visit the area.

Also in Barbican, kids under 12 eat free with a paying adult. Not to mention the family film club held on a Saturday morning. You will come across drop-in family exhibits and sessions regularly. Barbican is a great place to visit!

With classical music events, art & design, cinema, a library and so much more, there is something for everyone at The Barbican.

25. Toddler Rave

There are a number of companies which run raves for families! I know that sounds totally crazy but they are fantastic events. They are mostly on weekends, especially over festive holiday periods .

With lots of acitvites and play areas, bubbles, streamers, balloons and some oldie tunes for parents, they are really enjoyed by the whole family.

Check out the Rave Tots or The Big Fish Little Fish website for events happening during your visit.

26. Go Boat London

Go Boat London are self-drive electric boats which start at Paddington and can be taken along the canals all the way to Camden Town.

It is such a tranquil way of seeing some unseen parts of the city. There are parts you will need to duck down low as you pass through some very long old tunnels! You will also pass through London Zoo where you will see monkeys swinging in the trees above.

You are given a specific map to follow and it is fairly easy to navigate. The boat has a table in the centre so ideal for bringing a picnic. There is Marks and Spencers right near the start so you can pick up some British favourites before you set off. This is one of our top things to do in London with a toddler.

They give everyone a life jacket and kids a sailor hat. Go Boat also quite often have events such as pumpkin hunting just before halloween. This is usually the last event of the season before it gets too cold!

It is one of those activities that is most certainly worth booking ahead to avoid disappointment. They also have another route out west in Kingston which is a beautiful historical town in Greater London.

Check out Go Boat here.

27. Afternoon Tea With A Toddler

Taking a toddler to afternoon tea doesn’t sound like something that would be that enjoyable. However there are a number of places which specifically tailor high tea to small children around the city.

Quite often, it is based around a well known book or character. Take for example The Tiger Who Came To Tea at The Savoy or Science Experiment themed tea at The Ampersand Hotel.

At The Ampersand, small planet cakes, tiny sandwiches, not to mention ‘potions’ in test tubes with mini explosions are served. The afternoon tea was such a hit with our two young kids!

Parents can enjoy a glass of bubbly or a nice caffeine fix ( we all need one right) whilst also enjoying some of the great food.

if you visit The Ampersand, it is very close to The Science Museum, so it could be the perfect lunch after a morning exploring.

Seasonal Activities For Toddlers In London

Both Summer and Winter are great times to visit London. Although in winter you will need lots of layers and pit stops for warm drinks if you intend to be outside a lot.

That being said, there are plenty of indoor activities in London like the museums.

If you are visiting London in summer, there are a tonne of fun water fountains around the city. You will find some at:

• Queen Elizabeth Park, Stratford
• Diana Memorial Fountain, Hyde Park
• Outside the Southbank Centre
• Granary Square, Kings Cross
• Next to Tower Bridge on the south side of the river
• Somerset House

The summer can get quite hot in London so it is worth bringing some swimmers or a change of clothes to cool off. There are also several outdoor lidos around the city if you are looking for things to do in London with a toddler in summer.

• Tooting Bec Lido
• Brixton Lido
• Parliament Hill Lido
• Charlotte Lido

Winter In London With A Toddler

London is a winter wonderland in the lead up to Christmas. We have a specific post about Christmas in London with little ones which is worth checking out. From the stunning festive lights which illuminate the city to the decorations, it is incredible!

In Hyde Park you will find Winter Wonderland where there are lots of festive rides and shows throughout December. We have previously seen a Paddington On Ice Show with our toddler and she loved it!

The shows and performances change year on year so just check their site to see what’s on.

Also in the city, Covent Garden and Leicester Square gets incredibly festive with buskers, markets and so much more. It is usually possible to see Santa in one of these two locations.

If you can manage to venture to the outskirts of London, you can pick up a festive Christmas Train Ride . They are usually lit up with festive lights and there are plenty of festivities on board with Santa making guest appearances.

Eating Out With Toddlers in London

The cost of eating out in London can be high, however there are some really good chains and independent restaurants catering to families.

It’s always nice to have a little variety catering to kids, not to mention a menu that is affordable.

A lot of restaurants offer a free kids meal per paying adult during school breaks. You may also come across this kind of deal at some airport restaurants too.  

We also appreciate restaurants that go the extra mile to keep kids entertained. The last thing you want is to gobble down your meal because your little one is getting restless.

Reserving on Open Table is highly recommended to save you the worry of finding a table, especially during the peak hours at tourist hot spots.

Not all restaurants in London are toddler friendly, however here are few we have found great with kids over the years!

Giraffe’s kid’s menu is designed to keep the kids’ tastes and interests in mind. It is quite affordable since they know your toddler isn’t going to eat a large portion. They have a good selection of mains and deserts for kids too!

Location: Multiple locations across London

The Inamo restaurant is a unique pan Asian eatery with several locations around the city. There are tons of healthy vegan options at Inamo, as well as really lovely noodle dishes that both my kids enjoy.

One of the best things about Inamo is the kids sit still during the entire meal! The table surface is actually an interactive screen where they can play games and watch chef cam!

Yes, you can watch your food being cooked right at your table! I know, it sounds bizarre, but it is such a unique experience.

They can also draw pictures, graffiti the table and discover the local neighbourhood, Inamo is a true favourite of ours.

Location: Multiple locations across London.

Jungle Cave

The Jungle Cave family restaurant is an immersive rainforest experience. With all sorts of life-like animals surrounding your table, it is an experience not be missed by animal-loving kids.

Although the food is not up my alley, with predominantly pastas, burgers and grilled meats, they do offer some vegan options. There’s no doubt that it’s all about the experience, and if you like the foods mentioned above, you’ll love it.

Location: 20-24 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7EU, United Kingdom

Pizza Express

I highly recommend Pizza Express if you are looking for an all-around family-friendly chain restaurant. It may not be a high-end restaurant but it has a really great kids’ menu for a very reasonable price.

Its usually our go-to restaurant when we are out looking for things to do in London with a toddler.

Kids meals cost just £7.50 for three courses, and we are always happy to find vegan options!

The pizzas and salads for adults are always delicious. It’s an all-around affordable family meal. Further discounts are also available on Voucher UK.

Using a fun activity booklet, colouring pens and a paper chef’s hat, kids are well and truly entertained while Mom and Dad finish their food!

The London Pass

As you may know London can be quite an expensive city to visit. Whilst there are lot of of free things to do in the city , you can make a tonne of savings on some of the best things to do in London with a toddler by getting a London Pass .

There are plenty of London toddler attractions on the pass. Everything from the Tower of London, to the many museums.

Using the pass on your phone is super easy by downloading their app. You can make use of the ‘add ons’ such as citywide travel to avoid having to tap in and out with your debit card every time you use transport.

The London Pass operates on consecutive days rather than a 24 hour window, hence, I would suggest starting your day early to make the most of it. The only thing you have to do is choose the number of consecutive days you want.

Choosing a longer pass duration will save you additional money. They come in 1,2,3,6 and 10 consecutive day options. It is a great value for money and a lot of people we know have used them when visiting and looking for things to do in London with a Toddler.   

Click here to learn more about the London Pass.

Renting Equipment and Toys for Toddlers

No travelling family wants to bring lots of luggage. However there may be times you need a few hours of down time in your accommodation. There are rental companies where you can hire everything from a stroller to a box of toys.

I recommend renting a box of toys if you are staying in London for a few days and need a little entertainment to keep the kids occupied in the hotel room.

You may not want to carry toddler car seats and strollers all the way, so this is a great way to make your journey easier while still having your home comforts with you.

Get in touch with London equipment hire.

In Summary…..

The city of London is a multi-cultural melting pot with diverse experiences for all ages. Every member of the family will leave with fond memories of the city, whether they are toddlers, teens, or tweens.

Whether your kids are looking for adrenaline-pumping activities, culture, or science experiments, London is such a fun place to visit.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope it has been helpful to you. We love hearing from you, so please leave a comment and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Were there any things we missed in this article that you think would make a good list of the best things to do in London with a toddler?

You may also like:

40+ best things to do in London with kids l 17+ places to go pumpkin picking with kids l Top tips for flying with kids l Top tips for road trips with kids l Glamping near London

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The 26 best things to do in London with toddlers and preschoolers

It’s easy to think you should put off a family holiday in London until your kids are a bit older – but the city is full of kids, and with so many things to do in London with toddlers and preschoolers, there’s no reason to wait.

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I’ve been exploring London with my daughter since she was a baby – she was a toddler when we first visited some of the major museums and braved the tube with a buggy, so the key is planning carefully and choosing your attractions wisely.

While all these ideas are targeted at kids aged five and under, as any parent knows, there’s a big variation between an 18-month-old toddler, and a four-year-old preschooler, quite apart from accounting for their own likes and dislikes – but with ideas for 26 things to do in London with young kids, all recommended based on my own experience, you’ll have plenty of inspiration for a great day out.

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With more than 750 different species and thousands of animals to discover at the zoo – the world’s third oldest after Vienna and Paris – this makes a fantastic day out in London with toddlers.

Sprawling across 15 hectares, you do need to allow at least half a day to make the most of it. There are three colour-coded routes, so if your kids have a few favourites they want to see, it’s easy to focus first on the furred and feathered inhabitants they’ll love most.

There are special areas for different habitats, from rainforest to penguin beach, as well as the land of the lions, gorilla kingdom, the chance to walk with lemurs plus reptiles and insects… too many to count really. There are a couple of walkthrough enclosures which are especially fun for little ones (unless you’re worried about little grabby hands near the animals).

Tickets cost from £27 for adults, from £18.90 for children aged 3-15. Under threes go free, and you can also prebook flexi tickets, plus there are discounted options for those on Universal Credit (and some other benefits).

Check out my tips on visiting London Zoo with kids including tips on finding discounts

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

This little children’s zoo is great for younger kids – less overwhelming than the main London zoo, less far to walk around and still plenty of animals to delight, especially if you’re short of time (a couple of hours is plenty) or visiting London on a budget.

Because while London Zoo is a fantastic day out with kids, there’s no question that it’s a pricy one – and for younger toddlers, they’re often as excited by a rabbit as something rare and exotic.

You won’t find bigger creatures but there are monkeys and lemurs, wallabies, farm animals, birds, reptiles and assorted small furry things. There’s also an adventure playground to entertain – as well as plenty of space in the park around the zoo.

Tickets cost £12.50 for adults, £10.50 for kids aged over two, under twos are free. Family tickets are also available. Online tickets are valid for 30 days from purchase.

You can also explore more of London’s smaller zoos , including a little free zoo in north London – check out this post for more , as well as our day out at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

Sea Life London aquarium

A lovely alternative to the city’s zoos for animal lovers, London’s aquarium is a great place to visit with younger kids – the  Sea Life London Aquarium  near the London Eye can get busy at peak times and on rainy days though.

One of the biggest collections in Europe, the aquarium houses over 500 species, 14 themed zones and more than 2 million litres of water with some unusual creatures, as well as some favourites including penguins and clownfish.

Tickets cost from £28 for adults, from £25 for kids if you book online, and kids under two go free.

Go to a city farm

If you’re visiting London with kids who love animals, add one of the many city farms to your list – there are half a dozen sites dotted around the capital which are free to visit.

For example Freightliners City Farm  (between Caledonian Road tube and Highbury & Islington) has some rare breeds, as does  Spitalfields City Farm .

At  Vauxhall City Farm , you’ll find alpacas alongside farmyard animals and even a couple of cats, while there are llamas at  Mudchute .  Hackney City Farm  has some smaller fluffy inhabitants including rabbits and guinea pigs as well as larger creatures too.

For more ideas of free things to do in London with kids , check out this post

Open-top bus tour

London isn’t a small city, and walking for miles isn’t going to go down well with younger kids – rather than wearing out your own legs, or heading underground to catch the tube, it’s easy to combine getting around with some sightseeing on an open-top bus tour.

London has various  open-top bus sightseeing tours  to choose from so there are plenty of different options, depending which routes and times you want – check out my comparison of the best bus tours in London with kids here.

Tootbus  (formerly The Original Tour company) has a special 45-minute London Kids tour which is fun for short attention spans, as well as the classic hop-on hop-off tour around the city.

Or the London  Big Bus Tours  has its own hop-on hop-off routes, with 24 and 48-hour tickets available. Kids under five go free, although if you want to guarantee a seat, it can be wise to book in busy holiday periods – having a toddler on your knee is one thing, having a four-year-old sitting there is less fun!

Hop on a boat

Another fun way to sightsee is by taking to the Thames – in my experience, this is better with preschoolers than toddlers, who tend to get bored on a longer journey down the river.

If you’re wary about paying for a sightseeing cruise that your kids might not love, or from being stuck on a boat for ages, it’s easy to get a little taste and hop aboard Uber Boat by Thames Clippers which runs regular routes along the river, and you can pay as you go.

Check out more of the different boat tours of London with kids for more ideas

It’s not necessarily the fastest way to get around, but you could cruise a couple of stops from around Westminster, Waterloo or Embankment down to the Tower of London, for example (or the opposite direction).

City Cruises  also has various sightseeing cruises which let you hop on and off, including ones with afternoon tea so you can enjoy the sights over some scones to help entertain your kids.

Get 20% off all City Cruises sightseeing tours using code CC20 until the end of 2024 – click here to get the discount

Find Paddington

For little fans of Paddington Bear (and who isn’t?), you can spot Paddington in several places around London.

Start with a visit to Paddington Station, where the furry hero of the books was first found by the Browns and received his name.

The lifesize bronze statue with the label asking people to look after this bear is back in its usual home by Platform 1, after a brief stint near the Praed Street entrance. Keep an eye out for a plaque marking his appearances on the page and on screen too.

You’ll also find the Paddington bench in the station, where kids can pose for photos next to him.

You could even l et Paddington be your guide to London too – one of my picks for the best kids’ books about London – or check out the best places to find Paddington in London

The station is also the starting point for the Pawprint Trail – three trails, in fact, each with one of the Paddington statues from the 2014 collection dotted around the city.

For a less well-known statue of Paddington, head to St Mary’s Churchyard at nearby Paddington Green, where you’ll find him commemorated with his creator Michael Bond, one of the Sustrans portrait benches dotted around the country. Or he also pops up with a marmalade sandwich in Leicester Square.

For more things to do around Leicester Square with kids , check out my top picks

Natural History Museum

One of the best museums in London with a toddler – although older kids will also love it here too – there’s the chance to see Andy’s clock if they’re fans of CBeebies shows Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures and Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures, plus the famous dinosaurs and blue whale skeleton in the entrance hall.

That’s all just the start of what you can see at the  Natural History Museum . Braver preschoolers will love the earth sciences section, including a simulated earthquake, after being whisked upstairs by an escalator rising towards dramatic rumbles and red light.

My daughter couldn’t even be persuaded on the escalator as a toddler but younger ones will enjoy the mammals section and you can even have a little break in the Wildlife Garden as well.

It’s unsurprisingly popular, so the free tickets for weekends and school holidays do get snapped up fast – don’t leave it too late to book.

For my tips on visiting the  Natural History Museum with young kids , click here

Science Museum

A short walk from the Natural History Museum, the  Science Museum is another of my favourite places to visit with younger kids and apart from the interactive exhibits of Wonderlab, which does have a booking fee, there’s no charge to visit.

Toddlers and younger kids will love the hands-on area called The Garden, including a water play area, making music, sensory displays, puppets and giant blocks.

For more things to do in South Kensington with kids , check out my pick of the best

The Pattern Pod is another great one for preschoolers – you may need to put your name down on a list at busier times as numbers are limited, so it’s worth checking as soon as you arrive.

Not forgetting the fabulous gallery filled with vehicles, as well as the space gallery and displays on communications – effectively an overview of 250 years of scientific and technological advances which have transformed our everyday life.

Prebooking is recommended during holidays and at weekends and you’re advised to allow at least two hours for a visit. 

For my tips on visiting the  Science Museum with kids , click here.

Victoria & Albert Museum

The third big South Kensington museum, the  Victoria & Albert Museum  (or V&A) is one which often gets overlooked by families – but there’s more to see and do here than you might expect, if you’re visiting London with toddlers.

The world’s largest museum of decorative and applied arts has some fantastic family activities to try, even for the youngest visitors, which are great for bringing the collection to life.

See the costumes from the Lion King, eye-catchingly dramatic court dresses, and a very unexpected automaton of a tiger eating a man, as well as statues, sculptures and more, it’s a fabulous treasure trove to explore with kids.

Prebooking is recommended during the holidays, although the V&A tends to be the quieter of the South Kensington museums. There are also free family events during school holidays and some weekends, as well as digital and physical trails to follow (the family backpacks are currently unavailable).

For my tips on  visiting the V&A with kids , click here

Young V&A

The sister museum to the V&A in South Kensington, the former London Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green reopened in summer 2023 with a new look and a new name – the  Young V&A .

With its displays of toys and games, it has been a family favourite for years (not least for the nostalgia value), and the much-loved highlights are also back – look out for one of the original Paddington Bear toys.

However while the building is the same grand hall, kids have been involved in coming up with the redesigned look, now themed around three galleries: Play, Imagine and Design.

Best of all there are plenty of chances to get hands on, whether that’s creating your own board game, listening to storytelling, or hitting the sandpit, as well as new items going on display, with a total of 2,000 items to enjoy.

Free to enter, it does get very busy at weekends, so arrive early if you can.

British Museum

You definitely don’t need to be school age to enjoy the British Museum , but this is one place that I would recommend for older preschoolers rather than toddlers, with some fun trails designed for those aged three and up.

They’re a great way to introduce younger visitors to some of the 80,000+ items on display ( check out my visit to the British Museum with a three-year-old ), with trails themed around numbers and colours, as an easy to way to bring some of the artefacts to life.

Otherwise, the mummies and the Ancient Egypt galleries are among the most popular (and usually the busiest) but are never less than fascinating. But you can discover Anglo Saxon treasure, games which date back thousands of years, gods, jewels, everyday items and unique finds, not to mention Romans, Greeks, Vikings and a huge amount more.

Only the special exhibitions have a charge – prebooking free tickets is recommended at busy times and you can download trails in advance (limited paper copies available).

For my tips on visiting the  British Museum with kids , click here.

The Horniman Museum

The only drawback to this lovely museum is that it’s outside central London, because with a little bit of everything, it’s particularly fun with younger kids – ideal if your toddlers feel overwhelmed by the city too.

With galleries on different themes, the  Horniman  is good for little attention spans as you can wander from the famous walrus in natural history to world music and culture, to see butterflies and wander the grounds outside, where you’ll find more animals.

The Nature Base gives kids a chance to get hands on, including stroking a stuffed fox and badger, while older ones can learn more about conservation too.

There’s also a little aquarium, which has a small charge – as do the temporary exhibitions – but otherwise it’s free. The museum can be reached by train from London Bridge station.

Read more about my visit to the  Horniman museum with kids  here.

Postal Museum

The Postal Museum might not be the city’s best-known museum, but there are a couple of reasons why it’s a great one if you’re looking for things to do in London with toddlers and preschoolers.

First of all, you can hop on board the  Mail Rail – underneath the museum are the original tunnels and station platforms of London’s 100-year-old postal railway, which once delivered mail across the city. 

It stopped being used back in 2003 which means that visitors can now travel through those same tunnels on a miniature train.

It’s also home to Sorted! The Postal Play Space – a play area that’s designed as a mini town, with streets and buildings, plus lots to push, pull, slide down and more. Sessions last 45 minutes and must be prebooked.

For more tips on visiting London’s museums with toddlers and preschoolers , check out this post

London Transport Museum

There are few toddlers who aren’t fascinated by vehicles – which makes this museum small child heaven, complete with vintage buses, old tube trains you can climb inside, and various other interactive elements.

Preschoolers will love the London Transport museum too (as will any older siblings), as you go on a journey through London’s transport history, from sedan chairs, carriages and river transport through to the first omnibus and later taxis, doubledecker buses and the underground.

With lots of quirky facts, including the eye-watering amount of dung scooped off London’s streets during the days of horse-drawn vehicles, and lots of displays where you can get hands on, there’s lots to entertain kids.

For younger visitors aged under seven, there’s also the All Aboard play area, with a fleet of mini vehicles and dressing up (riverboat captain or bus driver? Hmmm), plus the Baby DLR area if there are even younger siblings to entertain.

Tickets cost £24 for adults, including unlimited return visits for a year, and is free for kids – you can get a discount if you book via tiqets using my code, MUMMYTRAVELS6 .

Check out my review of a visit to the London Transport Museum with kids and the museum’s Acton depot

Discover Children’s Story Centre

You don’t have to be able to read to get lost in stories at Discover: Children’s Story Centre  in London’s Stratford, aimed at kids aged from 0 to 11.

This fantastic multi-sensory play space in east London is perfect for young children, complete with two floors of magical Story Worlds and a Story Garden, featuring everything from a pirate ship to a spacecraft and plenty of other fun imaginary lands for kids to explore.

There are various timed activities and you can build your own session, including any special exhibitions and storytelling, plus the play spaces across the two main floors.

Tickets cost £9 for adults and children aged over two, £3 for one-year-olds, and under ones go free. There are also family tickets, while exhibitions and some activities have an added charge of around £2-£4

One of my top unusual things to do in London with kids – you can check out the rest here

There’s something very fun about sailing around above London in an updated ferris wheel that’s going to appeal to a lot of younger kids, especially if they can pick out some London landmarks from on high.

However, tickets to the London Eye aren’t cheap, so it’s another attraction that I’d recommend for preschoolers rather than toddlers, especially those who are likely to get bored fast or want to run around. Too little, and they just won’t appreciate the experience.

Once you think your kids are going to enjoy soaring above the city, it’s worth checking out fast track tickets – there are always timed slots for your ‘flight’ but that still involves a reasonable amount of queuing, so the fast track option lets you to skip the queue.

You can choose between two options, where you get priority boarding at a specific time, or more expensive open tickets, where you turn up whenever you want and get priority boarding. You can also find combined tickets with other Merlin attractions on the South Bank , including the aquarium.

Explore the Sky Garden

For a garden that’s rather different from your average park, head to the  Sky Garden , London’s highest public garden.

Sitting at the top of the skyscraper Londoners know as the Walkie Talkie building (if you’re struggling with directions, it helps to know what to spot), the garden is free to visit, although you do need to book in advance to soak up the views and to have ID to enter.

With a covered terrace, you can get some amazing views across to the Shard (which has its own impressive views !), St Paul’s, Tower Bridge and along the Thames during your hour slot.

Not far from Monument station, you can also stroll past the famous Monument itself on the way (whether you fancy singing London’s Burning together is up to you!)

For more of the best viewpoints in London with kids , check out my top picks including some more free options

Visit a park

London is a much greener city than you might expect, with parks galore across the city – each has its own attractions, so they’re destinations in their own right, but also great to combine with an indoor attraction.

Coram’s Fields is walking distance from the British Museum, for example, so a great way to burn off some energy after looking at the exhibits. Or Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are a good option if you’ve been to the nearby museums and are looking for more things to do in South Kensington with kids .

Kensington Gardens is also home to the impressive Diana Princess of Wales playground ( click here for more ideas of the best playgrounds in London ) , while Hyde Park has the Diana Memorial fountains, or you could spot pelicans at St James’s Park, across the river from the London Eye.

A little further west, there are peacocks in Holland Park while Regent’s Park surrounds the zoo.

Or if you’re heading out of the centre, you can’t miss the dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park.

Check out my post on the best free things to do in London with kids for more details on London’s parks

Check out a playground

Sometimes all you need is a bit of time playing to boost flagging energy levels – and you’ll find play areas both in London’s parks and dotted around the city for when toddlers and preschoolers need a break from exploring.

A stone’s throw from the London Eye, Jubilee Park & Garden has its own playground for example.

For playgrounds that are almost destinations in their own right, the Diana Memorial Playground is one of the best known, in the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, with a huge wooden pirate ship as its centrepiece, plus a sensory trail, play sculptures and plenty more.

There’s a toddler playground in Holland Park, as well as its adventure playground for more adventurous preschoolers, while if you’re out by the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Tumbling Bay playground has sand, wobbly bridges, pools and more to play in.

Or in Greenwich, this new play area by the National Maritime Museum puts other playgrounds in the shade.  The Cove  is all set around a ship with sea creatures, designed to bring children’s imaginations to life as well as letting them climb, clamber and play to their heart’s content.

And for somewhere really special, head to Paddington Recreation Ground playground, aka Paddington Rec near Maida Vale tube – designed for all ages and abilities, it’s intended to encourage creative play… you’ll find a steamliner, train, tunnel, musical instruments, a forest play area among the trees, plus the highlight, pastel coloured playhouses which look like terraced houses.

Click here for more ideas of the best playgrounds in London

Splash in the fountains

This is one to save for a sunny day, but when the city basks in a heatwave, the best thing to do in London with young kids is to splash in one of the fountains which have started popping up in recent years.

Some of the best are at Granary Square near Kings Cross. Made up of 1,080 separate jets, they dance in patterns, as kids splash excitedly among them.

You can also find more fountains in the courtyard of Somerset House off the Strand, as well as The Riverside at More London near Tower Bridge, 200 jets arranged in lines which spring up to catch the unwary.

Or check out the Appearing Rooms on the South Bank, an art installation created from the fountains here which spring into life, vanish and reappear again. Do come prepared with spare clothes, and kids need to wear a top in this particular splash zone!

For more things to do on the South Bank with kids , check out my tips

Enjoy some street theatre

One of the great joys of London is simply wandering around, seeing what’s on and discovering something new – although if you’re visiting London with toddlers and preschoolers, a specific goal is often better than an aimless wander to see what you see.

So head for Covent Garden and the South Bank , where there’s almost always something to entertain. At Covent Garden, the street performers audition for the coveted slots here, so you might spot anything from magic tricks to music.

At the South Bank, you could stumble across anything from a festival to a temporary beach – but even if there’s nothing particular taking place, the pedestrianised bankside is lovely for a walk (with high walls so you’re not going to lose toddlers into the Thames), the little playground of Jubilee gardens and the Golden carousel just beyond.

Kew Gardens

With 300 acres to explore, it quite simply takes years to see all of Kew Gardens – my daughter’s first visit came at a few weeks old, and I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve been back since… but we still regularly discover something new in this corner of west London.

The children’s playground here is fantastic: inspired by themes like light and earth, there’s everything from water play to climbing and mini trampolines that’s huge fun, and fits well with your surroundings.

You’ll also find regular family trails and child-friendly activities during school holidays; previous ones have included a Beano-themed event and another themed around Shaun the Sheep .

Add in endless space to run around, other unexpected highlights like the dragons on the pagoda and a carved statue of a bear, the humming Hive installation, plus some very good ice cream, and it’s a lovely day out at any time of year.

Tickets cost from £12 for adults off-peak, £4 for children aged four to 16. Under fours enter free. If you’re visiting at busy times, it’s worth prebooking tickets including entry to the children’s garden playground , as there are limited numbers and timed slots, but at quiet times you should be able to get them on the day..

Read my tips for visiting Kew Gardens with kids

London Wetland Centre

Just across the river from Hammersmith, the lovely London Wetland Centre at Barnes is another fun day out with preschoolers and toddlers in London.

As well as paths through the wetlands, you’ll find regular family events here too – for example giant Lego sculptures have appeared on several occasions – as well as toddler friendly activities like pond dipping, plus a very fun playground with tunnels to scramble through and more water play (so spare clothes are a good plan).

It’s also home to a pair of short-clawed Asian otters: often hard to spot outside feeding time, you’ll see them scampering around when food appears, playfully pestering staff with an affectionate nibble on their wellies if they’re being slow with the fish, and darting and frolicking in the water.

Tickets cost from £17 for adults, from £11 for children aged four and up. Under fours go free and there are family tickets available.

One of the first things you see as you step off the boat at Greenwich pier or out of Cutty Sark DLR, a visit to the  historic clipper ship  makes a really unusual day out with a preschooler.

It’s another option that’s better with slightly older kids than toddlers, not least because of the journey to Greenwich (unless you happen to be staying there), although it’s perfect to combine with a boat trip along the Thames.

If you do fancy making a day of it in Greenwich , head to the National Maritime Museum as well – it’s free to enter, and kids can play with the interactive great map , while preschoolers will enjoy the Sea Things gallery

There are children’s trails to follow around the Cutty Sark but you can also wander through the ship peeking inside cabins, discovering the cargo she carried, plus various interactive displays including a chance to try sailing a virtual ship (harder than it looks!)

Best of all, you can explore right from the copper-bottomed hull to the deck (watch out for the carved monkey). Get discounted tickets via tiqets using my code MUMMYTRAVELS6  

Read what we thought of a visit to the  Cutty Sark with a preschooler .

Go to the theatre

The West End is rightfully famous for its theatre, but there’s plenty for younger visitors to enjoy as well, with great toddler-friendly shows and some amazing children’s theatres.

The Little Angel Theatre in Islington has some fabulous puppet and marionette shows, which even the youngest kids will be mesmerised by, while the Unicorn Theatre near London Bridge has shows aimed at mini theatregoers aged six months and up.

In south-west London, the Rose Theatre in Kingston often has adaptations of Julia Donaldson books, while the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon is also hugely child-friendly.

But you’ll find performances in central London as well: at the Theatre Royal Haymarket , the Tiger Who Came To Tea has been a regular summer option. Watch out for Kids Week too (which actually lasts for a month in August) with free child seats, or shows based on Julia Donaldson books.

And most excitingly for older preschoolers, Frozen the Musical is on at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane until September 2024 – minimum age is 4+ and it’s recommended for 6+ though.

Tips for visiting London with toddlers and preschoolers

• Don’t pack too much in – with younger kids, you can easily fill a day with one attraction and a chance to play in the parks or playgrounds, or some low-key sightseeing like an open-top bus tour.
• Limit your travelling – London is a big city, so you could easily find yourself needing to criss-cross back and forth on the tube to pack everything in, which is tiring for littler ones. If you can spend the day in one area or within walking distance, it’s a lot easier.
• Bus or tube? If you have a buggy, be prepared to carry it down stairs in a lot of tube stations, as there are limited lifts – check out my tips for using the London Underground with toddlers . Buses can be more straightforward but you might have to fold your buggy and there’s a limit to how many are allowed on.
• Stay somewhere central – if you’re visiting London with toddlers, it can help to choose a more central location to stay in. First, it avoids long travel times in and back at the start and end of the day, and if your kids need a bit of time to chill out after a busy day exploring, it’s possible to head back for some down time, even a nap, then venture out later.
• Download the Flush app , which tells you the locations of the nearest public toilets – very handy when you have to find somewhere urgently.

*First published 2021, last updated 2024*

PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN LONDON WITH TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Main image/London Zoo/Paddington bench/Natural History Museum/British Museum/Horniman/London Transport Museum/London Eye/South Bank fountains/Kew Children’s playground/London Wetland Centre/Cutty Sark copyright MummyTravels; City Cruises boat courtesy of City Cruises; rabbit/Diana Memorial playground courtesy of Depositphotos

Award-winning family travel blogger and mum to the mini traveller, aka Minnie. Together we've visited Europe, America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, tried a cruise and a road trip, and survived countless long-haul trips. London (UK) based. Serious beach habit.

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Spain family vacations, japan family vacations, australia family vacations, guide to visiting london with toddlers.

• By Tanvi Chheda
• October 12, 2021

Historic, iconic and royal, London brings to mind sites such as the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, not to mention cultural spots like Shakespeare’s Globe and the Tate Modern. And it’s full of charming neighborhoods with flower shops, pint-size cafes and trendy bars.

Is it possible to soak up some of this atmosphere in with a toddler in tow? Yes — a resounding yes. It may require adjusting expectations, but seeing London with a toddler will rouse a sense of wonder in both parent and child.

Children, especially toddlers, are inherently curious, not to mention intrepid! They’ll turn a corner and lead you down a new path, walk up to strangers, stroll through the Tube car with a grin on the their face.  True, it takes patience and flexibility to navigate a 607-square-mile city, home to 9 million, with a little one. But to see your toddler’s eyes fill with awe as a double-decker bus whizzes by or as they approach the Princess Diana Memorial playground — better known as the pirate ship — in Kensington Gardens is also a memory to cherish.

Below are some tips and suggestions for seeing London from a young child’s eyes.

Essential Tips for Visiting London with Toddlers in Tow

Parks and gardens.

You’re likely thinking you didn’t come all this way simply to visit a park or garden, but the British, in fact, have a national obsession with gardens themselves. Gardens have long been places for respite, places to express creativity, and of course, places to host garden parties. And so, Kew Gardens, officially the Royal Botanic Gardens, is a great place to take toddlers.

Don’t miss Hyde Park either. A green oasis in a teeming city, much like New York’s Central Park, the 350-acre park was created by Henry VIII in 1536. With ponds, fountains and statues galore, Hyde Park is wonderful to stroll and explore as an attraction on its own or for some downtime after a busy morning.

Historic Sites, Museums and Toy Stores

Though it is challenging to see some of the top historic sites with a toddler, there are alternate ways to experience them. Rather than trying to take a serious and guided tour of the interior of Buckingham Palace, head to the Royal Mews, which serves as the Queen’s garage. It’s home to her collection of cars and carriages, as well as horse stables. Transport vehicles and animals are a guaranteed hit with any toddler!

A few other sites that are easier for younger ones include walking the Millennium Bridge and riding the London Eye, or ambling around Trafalgar Square. And while it might feel like a bit of a tourist trap, a hop-on/hop-off double-decker bus may well be the highlight of a 3-year-old’s day and a fantastic way to get a quick overview of the city.

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Another favorite of local parents, the hands-on London Transport Museum is perfect for curious toddlers. Showcasing 200 years of London’s transport history with colorful maps and displays, the museum houses double-decker buses, old trams, Tube cars and trains, all just waiting for toddlers to climb aboard. The museum’s gift shop is also top-notch, with plenty of Tube and Mind the Gap paraphernalia.

For more toys and gifts, consider Hamley’s Toy Shop, a seven-story toy emporium dating back to 1760 in the heart of London’s shopping district along Regent Street. You’ll find it hard to escape without a toy in hand, but many of the unique and special toys are set out for toddlers to try and play with. Plus, the top floor features the royal family made out of Legos!

A Children’s Tea

Afternoon tea is the quintessential British experience as well as a chance to dress up and feel special. Several London restaurants and hotels now offer a tea for the petite crowd. Typically, a children’s tea will be shorter than a traditional version but will still include plenty of finger sandwiches and cakes. Consider the one at Fortnum and Mason, the legendary British teamaker. There’s even a Peter Pan -themed tea at Aqua Shard and a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -themed tea at One Aldwych Hotel. Advance reservations are required for most teas, so it’s best to book beforehand.

Practical Points

• Be strategic about where you stay. Being within walking distance or a short Tube ride of the attractions and areas you plan to visit makes a world of difference with a toddler; you don’t want to spend too much time getting where you need to go. Both Mayfair and Kensington are central areas with many hotel and stay options across price points.
• The Tube isn’t very stroller-friendly, and many stations don’t even have elevators. If traveling with a stroller, go for the light umbrella kind, which is easier to carry around town.
• Londoners don’t mix fine dining and kids. Typically, parents will get a sitter if they intend to have a longer, more elaborate meal. Travelers will therefore want to seek out informal eats that are still plenty delicious . The Borough Market food hall is a great place for families, with dozens of stalls and purveyors.
• The traffic around Heathrow can be quite horrendous, making for a long taxi ride into the city. If you can will yourself and your toddler to hop on the Heathrow Express train, you’ll be in town in 20 minutes.

Relevant Links:

Browse all family-friendly accommodations and things to do in London on Ciao Bambino

Get our best tips and ideas for traveling with babies and toddlers

52 tips for traveling in England with kids

Best playgrounds and parks in London for kids

The best London museums for families

5 fantastic neighborhoods for a family vacation in London

Best restaurants in London for families

8 favorite day trips from London with kids

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23 (Not Stressful) Best Things to Do with Toddlers in London

This post contains affiliate links for which I may make a small commission to help keep the site running. You will not be charged extra for these items had you not clicked the links. Thank you for your help to keep the site running!

If you’re the parent of a toddler, you’ll know that 99% of the time, taking them around a major city is basically your worst nightmare, and you’re probably searching for the best things to do in London with toddlers while muttering something like, “so help me God.”

Navigating London can be a real commitment for anyone, much less someone dragging around a small child who has just learned to walk without crashing their face into the pavement.

But, parents, fear not!

⭐️Editor’s choice!⭐️

The best thing to do in London with toddlers is KidZania , a child-sized “city” full of educational fun, dress-up, and interactive experiences.

>> Click here to book in advance

London is super toddler friendly, and I’ve put together a list of the most toddler-friendly things to do in London so that you can focus on enjoying your time together.

You can also check out the best things to do in London with kids if you have older ones too, as well as this London packing list for families to make sure you have the right gear.

At the end, I’ll also talk about the best ways to get around London with a toddler so that you can decide your best course of action when it comes to cabs, the tube, walking and more.

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• 🔌 Most Reliable Adapter for UK Plugs: This one

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Best Parks and Playgrounds for Toddlers in London

While I was never a toddler in London, I have actually babysat many toddlers in London and these are my go-to parks for when I need them to burn off some energy while I get some fresh air and a break from watching 18 episodes of Peppa Pig.

In fact, if you’re visiting London in August or London in September when you have a good chance of having good weather, I would take the green spaces into account when you decide how many days to spend in London as you don’t want to have to miss these.

🛎 Still looking for somewhere to stay in London?

My favorite hotel in London for all visitors is the Strand Palace ( click here to check prices ). ⭐⭐⭐⭐

1. Hyde Park Pirate Ship

While this park is actually called the “Diana Memorial Playground,” many people just refer it to is as the “pirate ship” because that is the main attraction in one of the best playgrounds for toddlers in London ever.

I purposefully go out of my way to take them there because I think it’s just the coolest thing ever.

Right near Kensington Palace, this playground has loads of playing equipment including wooden climbing structures, a massive pirate ship surrounded by sand with lots of nooks and crannies, tree carvings and a sensory trail – not to mention it’s in Hyde Park where you’ve also got Serpentine Lake and lots of other toddler-friendly things to see.

The park was inspired by the stories of Peter Pan and encouraging children to follow their imaginations, and it’s one of the most popular playgrounds in all of London.

You will be on your toes with this one, as the large nature of it means you’ll need to follow around your toddler and keep a close eye on them.

Only kids up to the age of 12 are allowed in to make sure that the environment is safe for all and you don’t have teenagers stepping on your toddler as he or she tries to play.

Make sure to get in line early for this one on a sunny day as there is a queue to enter the playground that is based off of the “1 in and 1 out” rule, and it can get very busy.

IMPORTANT: are you coming to the UK from abroad?

In case you’re reading this from outside the UK and will be a foreign visitor here, you need to know these 2 things to stay safe and save money.

• Travel insurance – you need it when going overseas! I use this site to get the best quotes and purchase my packages from. Do not skip this – having medical coverage abroad as well as other coverage in case of missed flights, lost luggage, etc is essential. As I said, I have never gone wrong using this site .
• International debit cards without fees – do not get stuck paying extortionate foreign fees when using your card abroad (and the UK is almost all card these days). I use the Wise debit and travel card which you can apply and learn more about here .

2. Holland Park

Holland Park has two great places for toddlers in London depending on what kind of activity you want to do with them.

If you want to chill out and just have them watch the fish in a pond, check out the Japanese gardens in Holland Park for a really serene landscape with lots of fish and a peacock wandering around.

If you want them to get active so they’ll sleep at night, try the adventure playground which has an enclosed play area for toddlers so you don’t have to worry about them running off or getting lost.

Holland Park is free to enter and in a beautiful part of London, right near High Street Kensington Station.

3. Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill

While Primrose Hill isn’t a playground as such, Regent’s Park (and specifically Primrose Hill) is a wonderful place to just spread out a picnic blanket and look at the London skyline.

With a toddler in tow, it’s important to bring some bubbles or other things to keep them occupied, but there is plenty of space for them to run around.

This is also one of the best things to do in London with toddlers if your toddler just happens to be worn out and you want a peaceful place to sit and let them snooze while you feel like you’re “doing something” in London.

4. Coram’s Fields

Situated in Bloomsbury, Coram’s Fields is one of the best places for toddlers in London because of the seven acres of play space and the “no adults without a child” rule that keeps this a kid-friendly spot.

Toddlers can of course enjoy the regular playground equipment and the city farm, including the wandering goats, but they can also take advantage of drop-in sessions for children under 5 that are run by a knowledgeable preschool teacher who guides kids and parents in both physical and creative activities.

From making shakers and rattles to singing favorite songs to “tummy time,” toddlers and parents alike will get a lot of a trip to Coram’s Fields.

5. St. James Park and Playground

For an iconic experience, bring your toddler to St. James Park where you can see Buckingham Palace just at the edge of it and enjoy the blooming flowers and bustling atmosphere that makes you truly feel like you’re in the heart of London without all of the stress.

St. James Park also has a playground and climbing structure that you can accompany your toddler on.

There are older children allowed in this playground, so just ensure that you’re out of the way enough to keep your toddler safe and play away!

Best Museums for Toddlers in London

You wouldn’t always think of a museum being the best thing to do for a toddler in London.

After all, what 2 year old wants to look at ancient artifacts?

Basically none of them, and if yours does then consider yourself….lucky?

Anyway, London museums know that your little ones may be in tow when you check out some of the city’s most popular educational attractions, so they’ve made sure that toddlers also have things to do!

Check out the top toddler friendly museums in London to see where to start your adventures.

6. Science Museum

Of all the museums in London, my top pick for toddlers is the Science Museum.

Head down to the basement area where you’ll find the “Garden,” a wonderful play place with water play, soft toys and building blocks so your toddler can immerse themselves in the world of science at their own pace.

If you have an older toddler, they might also enjoy the play place geared at 4 to 8 year olds which has sound effects and electronic projections.

7. Natural History Museum

One of the things to look for in London museums for toddlers is one with interactive exhibits and not just rows and rows of glass cases.

The Natural History Museum is one such museum!

From dinosaur roars to the chance to journey into the center of the Earth, the Natural History Museum has worked had to not just be a standstill museum full of fossils, but also a living and breathing museum with lots of colourful and fascinating exhibits for kids.

There’s also a cool gift shop to keep them occupied for a few minutes while they look at dinosaur eggs and other stuffed animals.

You can also spend time wandering around the neighborhood of South Kensington before or after your visit, which is one of the safest places in London and gorgeous to look at.

8. Horniman Museum

The Horniman Museum really excels in its child-friendly nature with 16 acres of child-friendly places to play.

Toddlers will fall in love with its outdoor areas that includes a nature trail and hands-on object touching exhibits.

There’s also an aquarium which will keep them mesmerized as well as a nature base with interactive ways to explore the natural world.

The Horniman Museum is located in Forest Hill, so you’ll need to travel a bit out of Central London to get there, but it’s well worth the trip.

9. Museum of Childhood

Funnily enough, the Museum of Childhood is actually first and foremost geared towards adults who want to relive their own childhoods, but don’t worry – they’ve planned ahead and know that many adults will be bringing their own children.

For toddlers, there are interactive exhibits featuring toys and games at the Museum of Childhood, as well as drop-in activities including crafting and storytelling to get your toddler involved in some educational play.

10. National Maritime Museum

Head to Greenwich for a beautiful part of area of London to explore with toddlers as well as adults.

One of the best toddler friendly things to do in Greenwich is the National Maritime Museum , which, as the name suggests, is all about the history of seafaring and other sea and ship-related exhibits!

The best part for toddlers is the AHOY section, which features an interactive playplace where they can, climb, play, pretend to be on a ship and learn through age-appropriate exhibits.

11. London Transport Museum

One of my favorite museums in all of London, the London Transport Museum has fantastic things to do for families with toddlers including a playzone where they can pretend to fly a plane, drive a bus or be a tube engineer.

This is in addition to the numerous family-friendly play options available in the rest of the museum, including interactive exhibits and a family stamper trail where you have to collect all 13 stamps to win the game.

Little ones, with your help, can also climb aboard the lifesize London transport relics and sit in the driver’s seat for a view from above.

12. National Army Museum

You might not think of the National Army Museum as the first place to bring a toddler in London, but with its recent refurbishment, it’s become one of the top places for toddlers in London.

In addition to interactive play zones, there’s also a softplay area specifically for the younger crowd and themed activities and obstacle courses that the kids can run through and burn some energy on while you learn about the history of the Army and how it’s developed over the years.

Best Attractions for Toddlers in London

A trip to London wouldn’t be complete without some sightseeing.

You can still sightsee in London with toddlers, it just takes a bit of planning and you’ve got to know ahead of time that perhaps a one hour tour of Westminster Abbey won’t be for them.

But there are plenty of toddler friendly things in London to enjoy, listed below!

13. London Aquarium

Situated in London’s Southbank, the London Aquarium is a fantastic place for toddlers with its many fish and sea life exhibits and the chance to get face to face with some adorable creatures.

Like many aquariums, they also hold talks and activities throughout the day to keep the children engaged.

As it’s so close to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, it’s a great place to bring a toddler if other members of your party do want to go on a more educational walking tour of the area while you keep the kids entertained.

This is on my list of things not to do in London , but that applies to anyone not trying to entertain a toddler.

14. London Eye

The whole family, including toddlers, will love the London Eye.

I’ve written before about whether or not the London Eye is worth it, and for toddlers, I would conclude that absolutely it is!

While they may not appreciate exactly what they’re seeing out the pod, it enables you to get a bird’s eye view of London while also not worrying that they’re going to fall out or get lost, as there’s no escaping once you’re in your pod for the next 30 minutes as you rotate around the Eye and get to see lots of London landmarks.

You can also walk them to different parts of the pod as it rotates to give them something new to look at, and they’ll be enchanted by the automatic picture that’s taken at the end with a voice over the loudspeaker encouraging you to smile!

15. KidZania London

When you need an indoor entertainment facility that recreates some of London’s landmarks and lets your toddlers engage in some age-appropriate play, try KidZania London .

It’s the premier child-friendly playplace in London that basically allows them to pretend they’re in all kinds of different situations.

They can be a shopkeeper, a policeman, a bus driver, and more.

Let them play dress up, get to know other kids, and generally explore this indoor city.

16. Musical on the West End – The Lion King

If you want to see some theatre while in London with your toddler, you should choose something that is going to keep them entertained.

A musical is just the trick!

I would recommend the Lion King for a show that has lots of moving parts, colorful costumes and constantly changing scenery, but just make sure your toddler can handle the loud noises and general atmosphere of a musical before booking.

If you want to try it out, you can book on somewhere like Last Minute to get the cheapest seats possible in case you find it necessary to leave halfway through or your toddler isn’t able to handle it.

17. River Cruise

You don’t need to be a certain age to enjoy a River Cruise down the Thames!

Enjoy a slow-moving boat ride with the whole family as you see various landmarks while floating past and letting your toddler feel the wind and mist in their hair.

There are lots of river cruise operators, but I would recommend one with a more basic sightseeing experience like this one , not a RIB boat that’s going to rip through the Thames at too many miles per hour for your little one to enjoy!

Start slow and then, if they take well to the boat experience, build up to more immersive and longer experiences.

18. London Zoo

The London Zoo is a fantastic place for toddlers, as it’s centrally located in Regent’s Park so it’s easy to get to and the number of animals who live here is astounding for a city zoo.

Get up close to the giraffes, watch the meerkats run back and forth, head into the sloth exhibit or visit the tigers.

There are child-friendly activities held at the zoo on a daily basis, and particularly when schools are out, you can always find something to do at the London Zoo with a small child.

Zookeepers and staff are well-versed in working with children, so your toddler can feel comfortable asking questions or just generally making friends in their own language with the keepers.

Other Things to Do in London with Toddlers

I’ve compiled a few more options of things to do in London with toddlers if you want some more ideas, including gardens, places to eat, and where to walk around in London with a toddler.

19. Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens are absolutely massive and have everything from a little railroad ride to climbing apparatuses to places to just sit and chill while having a picnic.

While the emphasis is on gardening, greenhouses and general “green thumb” type activities, Kew Gardens is also well-suited to toddlers with the amount of space there is to run and play.

Check out the interactive children’s gardens with exhibits just for them, as well as the kid-friendly menus at the cafes and restaurants.

20. Children’s Zoo at Battersea Park

If you don’t feel up to the grand scale of the London Zoo, try the Children’s Zoo at Battersea Park which is more of a small petting zoo that lets kids learn more about farm animals in a safe environment.

The zoo was designed specifically for children, so you can rest assured that there are play places and not too many areas to lose them in – it’s small, quaint, and perfect sized for a toddler!

21. Take them Out to Eat at a Kid-Friendly Restaurant

You’ve got to eat when in London!

Sure, you can pack your picnics and bring food from the local grocery store that you know they’ll eat, but sometimes you want to treat yourselves and bring your toddler to a restaurant with you.

Not all restaurants in London are toddler friendly, but the following ones are (and they’re chains, so you’ll find them in multiple locations across the city).

Giraffe has an amazing kids menu that keeps their tastes and interests in mind (ie, nothing fancy).

It’s also inexpensive, as they know your toddler isn’t going to eat the world probably.

Options for mains including things like pasta and tomato sauce, chicken burgers, sausage and beans, and fish fingers and fries.

For dessert, they can keep it simple with ice cream, a chocolate brownie, or some churros if they’re feeling adventurous!

Ask Italian

In the mood for Italian food?

Ask Italian caters to toddlers with their easy-to-read child’s menu that features basic pasta and pizza options.

They’ve also got plenty of “make your own” options, which encourages kids to choose exactly what they want on their pizza or pasta, right down to the pasta type, so they feel in control of their meal and get exactly what they’ll eat.

If hamburgers and milkshakes are your thing, take the kids to Byron where they can enjoy the mini menu featuring things like macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and hamburgers.

They can even get a mini milkshake to finish off their meal to stop them from indulging in yours!

22. Wander Around Borough Market

If you’re not quite sure what you want to eat, take your toddlers in London to Borough Market where you can wander around the bustling stalls and try some samples or pick out your ready-to-eat food there.

This is a great atmosphere because it’s busy enough that your toddler isn’t going to cause any problems if they get a bit louder than you’d want, but there is also enough space to spread out and corners to duck into if any real meltdowns occur.

Oh, and it’s delicious and one of the best markets in the city, toddler or not.

23. Walk the Thames Path

If you need a bit of a walk in the fresh air, the Thames walking path runs alongside the river Thames and is a great way to take your toddler for a bit of a stroll.

You can just walk certain chunks of it, or even walk for a few minutes and then find a bench to feed them lunch on, but it will make you feel as if you’re really seeing London instead of just doing things to cater to your toddler.

How To Get Around London with a Toddler

While you’re planning your trip to London with a toddler and figuring out all of the best things to do in London with a toddler, don’t forget to think about your mode of transportation.

London is a big city, and you don’t want to plan to get from Tower Bridge to the Houses of Parliament in 10 minutes on foot and then left realizing it actually takes an hour and nobody wants to be doing that with a toddler.

Most people get around by tube or bus, which you can definitely do with a toddler as they go free.

Check out more information on how to use the tube in London , as well as getting around London and using Oyster cards .

Just try to avoid rush hours in the morning and evening, as you may find yourself uncomfortably crammed in with nowhere to sit down and this can be distressing for your child.

Another option is to take an Uber or black cab when you feel your child won’t cope with public transportation, though this will be more expensive.

And finally, plan your route ahead of time if bringing a stroller into London, as not all tube stations are accessible and you may find yourself really struggling with it if it’s too big for you to fold up and carry by yourself while also making sure your toddler doesn’t run out into traffic or fall down a flight of stairs or what have you.

What else should I not miss in London?

If you’re visiting London soon, here’s a very brief rundown of a few of my other favorites to make sure you don’t miss anything!

• Hidden London Walking Tour – this tour is the absolute best if you want to see London in a different light and uncover hidden nooks, crannies, and histories that you won’t get on your normal, run-of-the-mill London walking tour. Click here to check prices and book.
• Historical Westminster Walking Tour with Churchill War Rooms – if you’re a history buff or even mildly interested in all of the insane things that have happened in London, particular during the wars, you have to book this tour which is an absolute bargain for the tour + entry to the Churchill War Rooms (basically two must-dos in one). Click here to check prices and book .
• Cutest London Afternoon Tea on a Bus – want to see the sights and enjoy afternoon tea at the same time on the upper deck? Yes, absolutely you do. This afternoon tea is a real delight and helps you get out and about while also putting your pinkies up. Click here to check prices and book.

UK Travel Planning Guide: the FAQs

🏥 Should I buy UK travel insurance?

Absolutely yes. Basic coverage is not expensive, and as a visitor you are NOT covered under the NHS. Compare policies and prices with Travel Insurance Master here , a big name in the travel insurance business, and cross that off your list.

🔌 Do I need travel adapters for the UK?

Yes, you do, otherwise you won’t be able to plug in your electronics/phone/lifelines. I recommend this one , which is all-in-one so you can use it in other countries.

🚗 What do I need to drive in the UK?

The first thing you need to check out if you’re planning on renting a car in the UK is this guide to driving in the UK for visitors – the roads, signs, and driving experience will likely not be what you’re used to and it’s essential to prepare yourself to stay safe and aware.

🛌 What’s the best way to book hotels in the UK?

For UK hotels, Booking is the best site as it offers free cancellation on many properties. If you want an apartment, I always recommend VRBO over AirBnb.

📳 Will my phone work in the UK?

Yes – if you set it up right. Check out my guide on making your foreign phone work in the UK to ensure that you get the type of service you need.

🚿 Can I drink the water in the UK?

Yes, UK water is great and perfectly safe. But drink out of taps in any kitchen or use water fountains. Double check before drinking out of the taps in hotel bathrooms, though, as they may be on a different system. London water is safe to drink .

Heading to London? Want the best tips?

Check out my Ultimate Guide to London for Visitors. Using text, images and video, this guide is packed full of tips, tricks, safety advice, knowledge on how to get around and what to do, and more!

Moving to the UK or already an Expat?

Grab my book which covers moving to the UK, struggles I faced and that you might face too, and uplifting advice to help you along the way! Available in hard copy and on Kindle.

1 thought on “23 (Not Stressful) Best Things to Do with Toddlers in London”

Thanks for the tips- will try and check out the playground at Holland Park with my little one this weekend hopefully

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The ultimate guide to visiting London with kids

Mar 15, 2024 • 9 min read

Make the most of your family holiday with this guide to travel in London with kids © Ahmani Vidal / Getty Images

London is an expensive city to visit and one that’s large and sometimes difficult to navigate. But, it's also packed with fascinating historic sights, bags of culture, world-class museums, parks and wide-open spaces with excellent playgrounds, and plenty of things to occupy children of all ages.

The permanent collections at many museums and art galleries are free to enter (donations welcome) and they generally offer some kind of audio guide or experience aimed specifically at families. For older children, London’s Harry Potter connections tend to be popular, and with so many different exhibitions and theater performances, there is something to align with the passions of every tween and teen. 

Here's everything you need to know about visiting the English capital with tots in tow.

Is London good for kids?

In a word, yes! Londoners may not seem particularly kid-friendly at first, but if you need a hand carrying a stroller up an unexpected flight of stairs, someone will almost always stop to lend a hand. 

While central London can feel hectic during peak hour, with workers rushing to and from work (or in the height of summer's peak visitor season when popular attractions will be crowded) London does have plenty of pockets of serenity. There are parks and gardens throughout the city to take a break with kids. Get to popular sights early in the day (the earlier the better) to avoid queues, and note that some sight require pre-booking even if they're free. If you're looking for somewhere to eat, loads of major chain restaurants (and pubs) offer good-value children's menus with a drink and dessert included.

Where is best in London for kids

London’s South Bank  offers endless family entertainment. In the summer months bring a change of clothes, as your kids are likely to make a beeline for  Southbank Centre 's fountains. The London Eye provides high-up views over the river to Big Ben and beyond, and the  Sea Life London Aquarium , with a shark tunnel and penguin area, is particularly popular with younger kids. Shrek’s Adventure is a 90-minute theme park experience centered around the fairy tales in the Shrek movies. If you have teens who enjoy being scared, they will get a kick out of the creative presentation of gory historical events at the London Dungeon .

Heading further east, learn about the role HMS Belfast played in WWII while climbing down below the river’s water level and shuffling along tiny corridors (not easily done with toddlers or babies in prams). When you get hungry, head to  Borough Market  to discover a wealth of food options from kid-friendly fish 'n' chips and ice cream to paella and oysters. 

Greenwich in southeast London is a small area with good options for kids of all ages. It can be reached by train or the DLR, but it’s much more fun to take the Thames Clipper from central London to Greenwich Pier. Younger kids are likely to love the massive adventure playground in Greenwich Park, with sand, water play, and plenty to climb on.

Learn what life was like on board a 19th-century tea clipper at the Cutty Sark . For even more naval experiences, head to the National Maritime Museum (there’s a great gallery aimed at children aged seven and under called Ahoy!). The Royal Observatory on the hill offers a chance for older kids to explore space and time. Grab lunch at a stall in the food market , or head for one of the many chain restaurants.

Best things to do in London with babies and toddlers

Tour london's top parks and playgrounds.

London is a surprisingly green city, with a lot of large open spaces . Regent’s Park is the biggest and most elaborate of central London’s many Royal Parks. Among its many attractions are London Zoo, Regent’s Canal , an ornamental lake, and grass pitches where locals meet to play sports. Rent a pedal boat  on the Serpentine in Hyde Park , and run free in one of London’s best playgrounds , Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, in nearby Kensington Gardens .

Here kids will be delighted by the large pirate ship, waterplay, and sandpits. A wander through St James’s Park  is worthwhile for its lovely gardens and great views of London icons, such as the London Eye and Buckingham Palace .

Come face-to-face with a dino at the Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum  is a colossal and magnificent building housing 80 million specimens from the natural world, with displays on everything from the human body to rare fossils and gems. Hintze Hall, at the center of the museum, is home to an awe-inspiring blue whale skeleton that hangs from the ceiling. This is also where pre-schoolers seek out Andy's Clock, the magical time-traveling device from CBeebies TV show  Andy's Prehistoric Adventures .

The Dinosaur Gallery is packed with info and skeletons of many different dinosaurs and is a big hit with kids. The absolute highlight here is the animatronic T-rex that swings its colossal tail and flexes its jaws while roaring at the gathered crowd (beware: it can be genuinely frightening for little people). The museum is also home to the ever-popular Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit, showcasing the fragile natural beauty of our planet through 100 photos.

Learn about conservation at London Zoo

Regent’s Park is home to the oldest zoo in the world , dating from 1828. The emphasis nowadays is firmly on conservation, breeding and education, with fewer animals and bigger enclosures. Highlights include Land of the Lions, Gorilla Kingdom, Night Life, Penguin Beach and the walk-through In with the Lemurs. There are regular feeding sessions and talks, various experiences are available, such as Keeper for a Day, and you can even spend the night in one of nine Gir Lion Lodge cabins.

Best things to do in London with kids

Have a hands-on experience in the science museum's best galleries.

The Science Museum  in Kensington  brings themes such as space, flight and climate change to life with a series of hands-on exhibits and virtual displays. Get close to a space module, track the history of aviation, and learn about the importance of ice in the Antarctic. For younger children aged three to six, head to  The Garden  in the basement. This free interactive gallery allows for construction with blocks and cranes, and sensory exploration with sound, touch, and water play.

Those aged six and above will be enthralled by the liquids, magnets, smoke and light that they can play with in the different zones of  Wonderlab on the top floor. Science Museum "Explainers" will merrily chat with youngsters about anything from how a bubble is formed to how planets move around in the solar system, as well as running live demos and experiments showing science in action.

Go to family-friendly theater shows

Big productions aimed at families include Matilda the Musical at Cambridge Theatre, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre, and Disney’s The Lion King at Lyceum Theatre. Tickets need to be booked well in advance, especially if you're on a budget .

It’s often easier to get tickets to smaller productions at theaters away from the West End. Consider Unicorn Theatre near the South Bank or Little Angel Theatre in Islington, where all performances are aimed at youngsters. The Southbank Centre also runs family performances, particularly during local school holidays.

See wax creations of your fave celebs at Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds , packed with waxwork likenesses of all kinds of famous people – from royals to sports personalities – may be kitschy and pricey, but it makes for a fun-filled day. Music-loving teens can grab photo ops with top current singers, including Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, and One Direction, and even legends such as Bob Marley and Freddie Mercury. Young movie fans may want to visit the heroes and villains of Star Wars , stand with Katniss Everdeen, or see E.T. up close. Book online in advance for the best rates, and then look out for your favorite celebrity. 

The V&A Museum of Childhood is a toy-filled wonderland

Housed in a purpose-built Victorian-era building, this branch of the Victoria & Albert Museum is aimed at both kids (with play areas, interactive exhibits and dressing-up boxes) and nostalgic grown-ups who come to admire the antique toys. From teddies, doll’s houses and dolls to Meccano, Lego and computer games, it’s a wonderful toy-cupboard trip down memory lane. It's free to enter and has recently undergone a major refurbishment to make it an even more exciting location that's focused entirely on fun for young adventurers.

Best things to do in London with tweens and teenagers

Follow a trail to see the treasures of the british museum.

The displays at the  British Museum spark the imaginations of visitors of all ages, with displays of Egyptian mummies, buried treasures from Anglo-Saxon times, and Samurai armor. There are various worksheets, activities and trails designed specifically for younger visitors covering different themes within the museum. You can follow the " Twelve objects to see with children" trail  with tweenagers for a whistle-stop tour of the highlights of the museum, or perhaps the "One hour at the museum" trail before self-declared teenage "boredom" sets in. 

Take a boat ride along the Thames

At some point it's really worth taking a cruise along the Thames to spot some of London’s icons. If your kids love a thrill, Thames Rockets  has rigid inflatable boats that zip along the river and back from the London Eye Pier (go prepared to get wet). For a more leisurely approach to sightseeing, take the Uber Boat by Thames Clipper , a riverboat commuter service stopping at piers throughout the city from Woolwich down to Putney.

Admire the Houses of Parliament , speed under the Millennium Bridge (destroyed by Death Eaters in the opening scenes of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ) and catch a glimpse of St Paul’s Cathedral . As you pass the  Tower of London , look for the Traitors’ Gate at river level where prisoners entered the Tower, before whizzing underneath the impressive Victorian  Tower Bridge .

Planning tips

As with any large city, dragging small kids around in London can be exhausting for everyone. Staying realistic about how much you can see in a day and being flexible with your schedule is the key to keeping everyone happy.

Unfortunately, London is not particularly easy to navigate with a stroller or for anyone with accessibility needs. Even Tube stations with step-free access often have a big gap between the train and the platform, and you can end up walking a long way through the underground network before reaching the platform you need.

Buses are often a better options for getting around central London  at least. Better still, divide your visit into neighborhoods and walk between sites to minimize your time fighting the often frustrating transport system.

Note: children under 11 travel for free with a fare-paying adult. You can get a discounted Visitor Oyster cards for children aged 12 to 16 by asking a staff member to add a "Young Visitor" discount to your Oyster card at a London tube or train station. Over the age of 16, your child will be paying the adult rate. 

This article was first published March 2015 and updated March 2024

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20 Things To Do In London With A Toddler (For Under £10)

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We know there are many factors to consider when thinking about a visit to London with toddlers .

Taking young children out can be stressful so we’ve put together a tried-and-tested guide on the best ways to spend a day in London with a toddler.

There are numerous things for toddlers to do in London, such as visiting the Science Museum or exploring the Diana Memorial Playground in Hyde Park.

Children get to an age where they seem to need a lot more entertainment or stimulation and it can be difficult to keep finding fun, age-appropriate activities to do with them.

Sometimes the choice is so great we don’t know where to start, and other times we find ourselves in the rut of going to the same old places over and over again.

We love this here city so have put together the best things to do in London with toddlers (for under £10):

How to Travel Around London With a Toddler

The great thing about exploring the capital with a toddler is that children under five years old go free on all London transport.

There is also a ‘Step Free’ Tube map to help navigate the underground with a wheelchair, buggy or pram.

If you don’t fancy braving the city alone, Big Bus Tour s offers a range of tours that will suit even the youngest visitor.

Free toddler activities in London

There is nothing like a free day out, especially when children cost us enough already!

These activities are completely free to children under five years old, whether it’s a full day of sensory activities or a day at the park there’s something for everyone whatever the weather forecast.

London Museums

1. Natural History Museum

The perfect free day out for you and the children, there are great sensory and interactive things to do with toddlers that keep everyone occupied and interested throughout the day.

Besides, who doesn’t love dinosaurs?

In addition to their standard offerings they also run free or low-cost additional activities every day, especially during school holidays.

2. London Transport Museum

Situated off the buzzing piazza of Covent Garden, kids go free at this award-winning attraction although you do have to pay for any adults.

You can discover the history of London Transport whilst children enjoy many interactive points throughout the museum.

There is also a play zone for children aged 0-7 as well as dedicated events throughout the year specifically for children aged under 5.

3. Science Museum

Everyone goes free at the Science Museum, and there is so much to see and do.

There are some brilliant interactive points for small children including experiments with floating and sinking in the Garden and a flight simulator with Fly Kids – both open daily.

The museum also offers Experitots play sessions specifically for children aged 18 months to 3 years but check their website for times and dates available.

4. AHOY! Gallery at National Maritime Museum

If you’re looking for places to take toddlers in London, the AHOY Gallery was specially designed for the under-sevens and is free during term time.

Located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich , life on the seas is brought to life in a series of playful and immersive spaces.

Best Play Areas in London For Toddlers

5. Diana Memorial Playground , Hyde Park

This lovely park is located next to Princess Diana’s Kensington home, with a large wooden pirate ship at its centre the park offers many opportunities for fun and adventure.

There is a sensory trail, teepees, a sandy beach around the pirate ship and other toys and sculptures to enjoy.

6. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

There is plenty on offer for families at the Olympic Park, with wetlands, climbing walls, gardens and play areas you can fill your whole day with fun outdoor activities.

There is also the favoured waterworks fountain which will bring refreshing relief on summer days whilst the children navigate the snaking pathways of fountains and lights.

7. Coram’s Fields

Coram Fields is located in Central London and has lots on offer for adventure seeking toddlers and older children alike.

There is a mixture of play equipment and a large open green space for children to play.

They also have a city farm and wildlife garden, meaning the children can learn and play all in one space.

Best Indoor Activities For Toddlers under £10

With such unpredictable weather here in the UK it’s good to have an indoor activity to turn to that still gets you out of the house and beats that cabin fever.

Here are some good indoor activities to take toddlers to that are either under £10 or completely free!

8. Discovery Planet

Located in Surrey Quays, this is a popular indoor soft play centre that won’t cost the earth to enjoy.

With Free Wi-Fi and free parking, they have catered for parents too to keep costs down and help you to relax whilst your children have lots of fun.

9. National Gallery

An iconic London attraction the National Gallery has a lot to offer for families looking for a bit of culture.

They also offer a free storytelling session every Sunday morning for under 5’s, it’s a fun interactive experience that is led by professional storytellers with a special musical edition once a month.

‘Welcome Wednesday’ sessions are aimed at children from 18 months to 5 years and offer arts and crafts, music, movement and story-based activities for only £5.

10. Hamleys Toy Shop

As well as an abundance of toys to try out and discover, Hamleys often have in-store events to entertain visiting children.

If you think you can survive a visit without spending a fortune, it’s one of our favourite things to do in London for toddlers that don’t require any money.

Events include meeting favourite superheroes, chances to win prizes or why not take a break and let the staff read to your children during daily storytime.

Theatre and the Arts

11. The Barbican Centre

For the more theatrical loving little ones, the Barbican has some wonderful activities on offer for families.

There is a free play area at the ‘Squish Space’ for under 5’s which is full of objects especially to encourage parents and children to explore through play.

At the Conservatory, which is the second biggest in London, you can explore the tropical oasis for free – perfect for families.

If you fancy treating yourself to a nice lunch then you’re in luck as kids under 12 eat free for every adult ordering a main meal.

12. Southbank Centre

A great place to visit during the summer months the Southbank Centre offers the pretty Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden and the cooling spray of the Jeppe Hein water fountains.

There are activities throughout the year for children and many are free of charge.

During the summer they run Disco Loco, a free family party that offers an afternoon of DJing and performance to entertain the whole family.

Other Noteworthy Toddler Attractions in London

There are of course many other places to take a toddler in London but they may incur an entry fee over £10, for some this will only be for adults as many places are free for children under 3 years.

We think these spots are well worth a mention:

The Unicorn Theatre , situated near London Bridge has many shows and events for young children and costs from as little as £20 for a combined adult and child entry.

There are also show themed workshops on offer for children between the ages of 3 and 7.

The British Museum is one of our favourite London attractions for toddlers.

They have activity trails, gallery backpacks which include free activities and art materials that can be borrowed to keep little ones occupied.

There are free family events throughout the year which include activities such as mini explorers, archaeology sensory experiences and looking at ancient civilisations.

London is home to some fabulous afternoon tea spots for children.

They’re short and sweet and designed for children so even if your toddler is noisy, no one will mind.

Read our full guide to the best afternoon tea for children in London .

Toddler Friendly Attractions

The London Eye is an iconic London attraction and children love to see the sights from this oversized Ferris wheel.

There are often great deals which can include entry to another top attraction for a much lower cost.

Perfect if you are looking to tick off some of the big names off your list of things to see.

London Zoo is another top spot for many families, it can be pretty pricey for a whole family, although children under 3 do get free entry.

There’s lots to enjoy including amazing animals, feeding time and daily events to entertain adults and children alike.

London Aquarium offers a fascinating insight into underwater life, you can get up close with sharks in the shark walk, discover the world’s first whale sanctuary or have a rainforest and polar adventure.

With the pretty fish and illuminated underwater menagerie, it is a real sensory experience for little ones.

What To Do In London With Toddlers

Although London is a large bustling city, there are havens that cater for small children, and sleep deprived adults searching for pockets of peace amongst the hustle and bustle.

Armed with knowledge of the most welcoming places and the aforementioned step free tube map, parents and guardians can plan a completely toddler friendly day in the capital with little to no stress at all.

If you’re happy to pay the adult fare, all of these places are free for toddlers:

• All Merlin attractions (under 3 years old)
• Historic Royal Palaces sites (under 5 years old)
• Battersea Park Zoo (under 2 years old)
• English Heritage sites (under 5 years old)
• National Trust sites (under 5 years old)

So, pack a picnic and discover adventure without spending a fortune.

We also like:

• Riding the river/Uber boat
• The Disney Shop
• St James’s Park (for the swans and pelicans)

We hope this guide has helped you discover the best activities for toddlers in London.

From interactive museums like the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum to fun-filled outdoor attractions such as the London Zoo and the Diana Memorial Playground, there are plenty of entertaining options to keep your little ones engaged and happy during your visit to the vibrant city of London.

Would you like a free guide on ten things to do with toddlers in London?

We’ve put together a printable itinerary on the ten best toddler activities in London. Download your printable below!

What are your favourite toddler days out in London?

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8 totally awesome things to do in london with toddlers.

Believe it or not, but toddlers are people (which I personally struggle with, as my own toddler sometimes seems to be more of an alien from another Galaxy). And being people, they are as susceptible to the charm of the coolest city in the world – London.

If you are planning to visit London with a toddler in your party if you are looking for places to take toddlers in London, here is my list of the best things to do in London with toddlers. Trust me, you can actually enjoy your trip to London if you are willing to drop some sights and prepare to open your mind to some toddler activities London has.

I have a general tip: in my experience, there is a way to trick a toddler into liking something – you must like it yourself. But not just like quietly, but love it passionately and outspokenly, half measures won’t do. Nor will the acting, so prepare to put all your heart into it and start sharing your enthusiasm on taking a tube during the rush hour at Oxford street. It’s best if the rest of the family joins in.

Table of Contents

• 1 So, what are the best things to do in London with toddlers?
• 2.1 Here is the list of especially awesome playgrounds in Central London:
• 3 2. Food Shopping in London
• 4.1 Here are some restaurants, which are particularly good for toddlers (and pretty awesome for their parents too):
• 5.1 Best museums for toddlers London:
• 6 5. Shopping in London
• 7 6. Animals in London
• 8.1 Best parks in London for toddlers:
• 9 8. Sightseeing in London with Toddlers
• 10.0.1 Using a buggy in London:
• 10.0.2 Backpack for your toddler:
• 10.0.3 Toddler-friendly guided tours in London:
• 10.0.4 Toddler-friendly accommodation in London:
• 10.1 Liked this post? Pin it!

So, what are the best things to do in London with toddlers?

Here is my little guide to London for toddlers and their parents.

1. Best Playgrounds in London

If the weather is good, you can actually just read this part and skip the rest of the post. Because after all the activity toddlers need is free play, and the playgrounds of London can offer that. At the same time the high health and safety standards ensure that your little one will not kill himself, while you blink for a second – as it might be an issue in my home Eastern Europe (our playgrounds are Darwin’s partner in natural selection). So when I thought of things to do in London with a 2-year-old, playgrounds was one of the first things to come to my mind.

One of the things I liked most about toddler playgrounds in London is how democratic they are. You can go to the ones which are considered “the best toddler playgrounds in London” and will be the first to appear in Google search, for example, the one in St James’ Park or Coram’s Fields. But wherever you are staying, you will find one nearby, and it can turn out even better.

Remember what I said about the toddler being more of an alien? This is why I keep saying that – because the logic of my son is completely different from my own. In my experience, Mark loved the one right next to our accommodation the most. It was a very simple one with two swings, one slide and a little hanging bridge. But because of its size, it was very manageable for him, so he could play without any help – and if you are a parent, you will know the feeling when you have to lift your child on a slide 152 times in one half of an hour.

Here is the list of especially awesome playgrounds in Central London:

As I said, just make sure you explore what is local and convenient for you. Remember also that the central ones tend to get extremely crowded on sunny weekends and Bank Holidays.

Hyde Park Pirate Ship – the most awesome kids’ playground London has, with a huge pirate ship, little water stream, sand, benches and picnic area. Oh, they serve good coffee right next to it, so it’s a win-win! St James’ Park – heard some great reviews of it, but did not like it. Almost impossible for the toddler to fully use it without the help of an adult. Plus there are zones, where you can’t see your little one from the bench. Holland Park – Playground with sand surface, pretty good slides and swings and the best of all: a little digger, which a child can operate on his or her own. I think this actually was Mark’s favourite one.

2. Food Shopping in London

Yes, there are so many talks about English food being the worst. But I find that this is not true for the supermarkets. The selection of organic food, fruits and vegetables is one of the best I have encountered, and the prices for some products are even lower than in my home Eastern Europe (which is supposed to be cheap).

Usually, you will have a good choice of berries and exotic fruits and vegetables of decent quality even off-season. If you find eating in the restaurants with a toddler too pricey or too much hassle, then I’m sure that you will find pretty much anything in most of the London supermarkets. When I lived in London, I was rather poor, so here is a tip I learnt: at the end of the day you can find a lot of good quality food reduced up to 90%. And if not, there is Whole Foods – the healthy+tasty eating paradise, although a rather expensive one.

You can use your time to introduce your toddler to the new tastes and senses, making it one of the most fun activities in London during your stay. It was there Mark has tasted ripe mangoes, coconut flour cake and litchi. Until we go somewhere, where those things grow naturally, this is our best place to get them in Europe.

There is one more food-related idea. If you come from a place, where ice-cream cars do not exist, remember that they do very much exist in London. When Mark first saw one passing, he thought it was an ambulance. When I explained the concept, his eyes widened: a car and an ice-cream (two best things!) in one? You should have seen him paying the ice-cream seller and getting his classic Flake99 – it was the happiest toddler in the whole world. And I could tick it off as a cultural experience.

3. Kid-Friendly Restaurants London

On our family hike in Northern Italy, we enjoyed some amazing pizza and pasta. In Crete Mark tasted fresh juicy oranges and yoghurt. In Israel, he loved hummus and falafel. But London has it all! And in addition to “it all”, London also has great restaurants, where your toddler is not frown at, but treated with respect as a full-righted customer.

Just choose the style of food you like and check, if there is any place available, which serves kids menu. Toddlers can be very picky eaters, but being served a menu to chose from, and then being brought the food to them by the waiter can be pretty exciting for a little one. And importantly, it might give you a chance to enjoy your own meal in peace.

On one of my visits we went out to an Italian restaurant and I was alone with Mark. I was dreading a table covered in pasta, turned chairs and angry customers, plus staying hungry myself. But Mark was enjoying himself, occupied by his starter of olives, nibbling on the second, and dipping his nose in his own (finally!) babyccino.

On other days we also tasted some perfect Greek yoghurt, falafels, curry and kebabs. And there is such thing as gastronomic tourism, after all. Or just one of those fun activities to do in London.

Here are some restaurants, which are particularly good for toddlers (and pretty awesome for their parents too):

Giraffe – Kids-friendly world food experience. Nando’s – Comfort food, tortillas, fried chicken and other guilty pleasures. Ask Italian – Well, Italian. Pizza and pasta, great ice-creams and coffee. Special baby three-course menu. What more do you need? Leon – I needed to add it. It’s my favourite restaurant of all times and just pure awesomeness. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian home-style food and amazing cakes.

4. Museums for Toddlers

On a rainy day in London (which are in abundance) try one of the so many museums. Most of the biggest museums in London are amazing and most of them are free. And many of those museums can be very interesting for both toddlers and grown-ups, making it probably the best of the indoor activities London has to offer.

If your child is into space rockets and other means of transport you don’t know much about yourself (that’s my case!) try the Science Museum. In addition to the permanent exhibition, in the Science Museum London toddlers will also find special “scientific” play areas with magnets, space games and other activities, IMAX cinema and many more. The museum also has special apps to help your little one (and you!) to explore.

Are there any toddlers who are not into the dinosaurs? If there are, I haven’t met any. The Natural History Museum has a special Dinosaur Trail, as well as butterflies section, educational garden with live flowers, earthquake and volcanoes tour and Creepy Crawlies gallery with insects, bugs and spiders – ok, the last one does not sound appealing at all.

Other than that, there are amazing art galleries and history museums, which also offer interactive activities to do with toddlers, so you can actually catch some glimpses of the expositions you would like to see yourself. For me, visiting museums is one of the best things to do in London with toddlers.

Best museums for toddlers London:

Science Museum – One of the best places to visit in London with toddlers Natural History Museum – Another idea to add to your list of indoor activities for toddlers in London National Gallery – Your toddler can try painting, playing quizzes and other fun art-oriented activities. British Museum – Visit their website for the list of activities and downloadable materials.

I’m leaving out the Imperial War Museum and Army Museum on purpose because I think there is nothing more stupid and absurd than children (or adults) playing with or admiring guns.

5. Shopping in London

For many people, London is the capital of shopping. Should you stop with this after you had a baby? Or after your baby turned into an always-run-in-the-opposite-direction toddler? I think there are ways to make sure both parents and kids stay happy. And also this can be another of those London indoor activities for toddlers to use on a rainy day.

Of course, I cannot take my toddler to my favourite small local ceramics, unless he is asleep in his buggy. But Mark actually likes choosing his clothes, so I can continue taking him to shops like Uniqlo, Matalan, Gap and others, as long as it’s not Saturday afternoon on Oxford Street.

Many shops in London are actually very child-friendly and would have some play zones and toilets. And if you are into shopping for some unique designs or vintage, try visiting Spitafields Market, Portobello Market or Covent Garden.

6. Animals in London

Funnily enough, Mark saw more animals in Central London, than in the village-like district of Vilnius, where we live. Around our house, we have ducks in the pond, and once in a while, a hedgehog strolls by. In London, we felt surrounded by animals.

In almost any park you will meet some brave squirrels, who do not mind crawling on your arm as long as you offer them some nuts. In any park with a little pond (which again is practically any park in London), you will find geese, ducks and swans. If you are willing to go further to a bigger park-like Richmond or Hampstead Heath, then you can watch the deer grazing right in front of you. And if you happen to walk by a trash container at night, there is a chance to see some dumpster-diving foxes.

In addition to all of these, you have also numerous city farms, petting zoos and bigger zoos.

Here is just a little list of them to give you some ideas.

London Zoo – probably the most known of the London attractions for toddlers Battersea Park Children’s Zoo – although pricey, but one of the best family activities London can offer. Hackney City Farm – one of the fun things for toddlers to do in London.

7. Parks for Toddlers in London

London is the only city, where I kept Mark on the leash (like this  Little Life Disney Mickey Mouse Backpack – Red ) on many of our tours, as creepy as it may look. And I actually thanked the inventor almost every minute, because London traffic (and I’m speaking of both human and transport) can be much busy and unpredictable. But with so many parks there is plenty of opportunities for your toddler to run wild (which they love doing).

London parks provide perfect locations for using a scooter, a bike or just running around. If you are there on a sunny day, then you can also consider having a picnic. Either bring your own food and a picnic blanket, or pop into the nearest store, which will have a choice of salads, sandwiches and pre-cut vegetables and dips, and rent a deck chair in the park to picnic in style.

I especially love London parks in spring , but they can be beautiful at any season.

Best parks in London for toddlers:

Hyde Park Holland Park St James’ Park Regent’s Park (a little note: this is one of the most beautiful parks, but unfortunately it doesn’t have any playground for toddlers)

8. Sightseeing in London with Toddlers

Unbelievable as it may sound, you can actually squeeze some sightseeing into your trip. The cheat strategy is to do the main part, while your toddler is asleep after all the running and exploring, but there are also things which can be interesting for toddlers. In Mark’s case these are fountains, tractors and bell towers.

You know your toddler best, so plan the trip accordingly. I could do some two-hours tour with Mark, making sure we see a fountain or a bell tower in equal (and rather short intervals) of time. We both pretty much enjoyed it, and it made me think that sightseeing can actually be another idea of where to take toddlers in London. If you dare to try, here is a good example of an itinerary for 3 days in London .

I will not be able to help you with a list here, as the list of sights in London is endless. Some of the most toddler-friendly ones are for sure T he London Eye , Sea Life or Tower of London . Alternatively, there is always an option to jump on a Hop On Hop Off bus and enjoy the view.

I’m sure by the end of this post you are already full of knowledge and courage, and will for sure know how to make your trip to London with a toddler a blast! And I also hope that although you came to this guide to the toddler-friendly London with a question: “What to do with toddlers in London?”, you left with some ideas of some fun things you can do there too.

General Tips:

Using a buggy in london:.

London is a rather buggy-friendly city. You have ramps in most locations. Despite this, you will want to keep your buggy light, especially if you want to use the tube, as on many stations there are no lifts. If you are looking for a good travel buggy for your child, have a look at my guide here .

Backpack for your toddler:

And of course, remember to get a backpack for your toddler (with or without the leash!).

Toddler-friendly guided tours in London:

What about a boat trip? While toddlers are not the best walkers, most of them would really have fun on a boat. And in the meantime, you get to relax AND see some more of the city. Win-win!

Toddler-friendly accommodation in London:

If you are looking for a place to stay in London, here are some tips on getting the best deals from Booking.com .

Budget: Royal London Hotel By Saba offers great facilities and relatively good location in Hammersmith for a decent price. Check out the room prices on Booking.com .

Mid-range: The Ampersand Hotel has a play-room, library and a full-size ping-pong table! What more can kids (and their parents) want?

High-end: Because after running around all the city of London catching your toddler, you deserve a good rest. Check out the prices for The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences (voted the best child-friendly hotel in London) here on Booking.com .

Or check some other deals here:

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merrygoroundslowly

Heya, I'm Ana, the writer of this blog. I live in Brussels and  I travel mostly around Europe with my husband and our two kids. As the blog name suggest, I travel quite slowly with many stops for food, relaxing and noticing small details.

13 thoughts on “ 8 Totally Awesome Things to Do in London with Toddlers ”

My kids are 6 and 9 (so not toddlers) but this list is perfect for them as well! They reallly want to go to London – I think some of the youtubers they like are from there ?

Oh this new generation! :)))

These are great tips – even for grown ups like me. I’m with you on leaving out the military museum for kids ? Thanks for sharing!

Oh, I’m happy there are more like-minded people here.

Ana, loved your article, especially that part about museums and parks! Our family loves spending time outdoors and learning new things. I’ll bookmark your post to get back to it later when we are on our way to London, what may happen later this year! ?

I’m glad it was useful! Wish you a good trip to London!

I bet travelling with toddlers isn’t easy, but I love that you’re still encouraging it – especially in places like London! So many people think that once you have children travel just has to stop, but that’s so not the case. Good on you XX

I would be so sad to stop travelling once I’ve had Mark. Luckily, it feels that I actually have even more freedom to travel, as I switched to freelance work and have more days off to do it with him.

Hi Ana, Your post made me miss London so much. You are right, London is well designed and has a lot of ramps for a buggy which must be great for parents. I’m excited to see you guys saw a red squirrel. We’ve been missing those ❤

Yes, red squirrels are so rare these days, especially in the UK. I also love the ramps and how buggy-friendly the city is – that is until you have to use the tube, and then it’s suddenly hostile to buggies 🙂

I have plans of visiting UK soon and your post is God sent ? So well written and organised. Thanks ?

I’m glad it was useful!

I’ve never been to the Army museum so I can’t comment about that specifically but suggesting visiting the Imperial War Museum inevitably exposes children to the fetishisation of guns either exposes the fact you’ve never actually been or an inability to comprehend that the museum is about the history, conduct and experience of war both to its protagonists and victims and is hence – overwhelmingly – sensitive to the brutality of armed conflict. Anyone who has been round the Holocaust section or the WW1 exhibition would be struggling with any concept that a toddler would somehow be exposed to the glamour of guns. It’s not a helpful – or accurate – comment about the museum. If your child *happens* to think a fighter aircraft or V1 rocket or tank is exciting it’s entirely up to the parent to put it into context.

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45 Amazing Things to do in London with a Toddler in 2022

We love the hustle and bustle of visiting London – the excitement of riding the tube, seeing iconic landmarks and just people-watching and taking in the atmosphere. London is a very family-friendly city with plenty of activities and sights to see with a toddler in tow –  from beautiful parks and playgrounds to theatres, museums and attractions, you’ll never be short of toddler-friendly activities in London. There’s even some great family hotels in London to choose from.

We’ve put together a list of ideas of places to visit with your children to enjoy during your trip to the capital.

Table of Contents

Things to do in London with a Toddler

I know many people think visiting London with a toddler is the stuff of nightmares. That it should be left for older children, romantic getaways or a  girls weekend away . However, just because they’re little, it shouldn’t put you off visiting this amazing city. There is so much you can do with a toddler in London to ensure both you and your little ones enjoy yourselves. There is so much to fit into a  London itinerary , from a wealth of London landmarks , and museums to the zoo and castles, London with a toddler has plenty of offer families of all ranges. So pack for London  and here are a just a few ideas of things to do in London with a toddler and a baby and a few  London travel tips too.

Outer Circle, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY

London Zoo is located in a corner of Regent’s Park and will thrill children of all ages, particularly toddlers. As the world’s oldest scientific zoo, London Zoo houses 700 species of animals and has many exhibits including the Gorilla Kingdom, Land of the Lions, Tiger Territory and Penguin Beach. London Zoo is also easy to get to with no less than 3 tube stations within walking distance of Regent’s Park. And with so much to see and do alongside the animals themselves, this will make for a great day out in London with a toddler and a baby.

HMS Belfast

The Queen’s Walk, London, SE1 2JH

This is one of my all-time favourite London attractions. HMS Belfast is a former Royal Navy Town-class light cruiser now permanently moored on the banks of the River Thames near Tower Bridge. She saw action in both World War Two and the Korean war and one of my uncles served on her during his time in the Royal Navy, something I only learned upon his death.

I have visited HMS Belfast twice before having my son and know he would enjoy it should we get the chance to revisit her. You can see many areas of the ship including a shell room housing artillery shells for the guns to the sleeping quarters for the crew. You can take the helm in the Captain’s chair and also visit the laundry room, dentists and sick bay. There is so much to explore on HMS Belfast that I’m sure toddlers will enjoy it.

Tower of London

Tower of London, London, EC3N 4AB

No visit to London with a toddler would be complete without visiting the Tower of London . We have visited the Tower of London many times and most recently with our toddler son before a trip to America. As a fan of castles, we knew he would enjoy the Tower of London and, by making the visit more interesting with a dragon hunting adventure, we weren’t wrong.

From Traitor’s Gate, to the White Tower, and not forgetting the Crown Jewels, visiting the Tower of London with toddlers will easily fill a few hours of a day. There are a few cafes to stop for refreshments and gift shops, where we bought our son some knights and horses. Our son really enjoyed our visit to the Tower, especially when he finally found his own dragon on the top floor of the White Tower.

The London Eye

Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB

If you think the London Eye isn’t somewhere to bring a toddler, you are wrong. During our day out in London before heading to America on holiday, we visited the London Eye with our then 3 year old son. I had been on the Eye a few months before but with a party of adults, so was unsure whether he would enjoy it. I need not have worried as he enjoyed the ride, looking out of the capsule and commenting on high we were getting, and checking out the boats on the water below us.

It really does give you some of the  best views in London . The interactive tablets also caught his attention and with a little help from mum he could spot some of the buildings that were shown on the tablet. The London Eye can easily be enjoyed with toddlers, but I would advise getting Fast Track tickets as no-one wants to queue for hours in London with a toddler. A visit to the London Eye can also be combined with a visit to Sea Life as they are both located on Southbank.

The Emirates Airline Cable Car

27 Western Gateway, London E16 1FA

The Emirates Air Line , nicknamed the Dangleway, is a cable car link across the River Thames. The tickets are very cheap and the cable cars are pushchair-friendly too with the added bonus of enjoying birds-eye views of the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks.

Buckingham Palace

London SW1A 1AA

Step off of the train at Victoria and take a short stroll to the Queen’s official London residence, Buckingham Palace. You can view the palace through the railings or even book a tour. A big highlight is watching the Changing of the Guard which takes place, weather permitting, at 11.00am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday and daily during the summer. My kids love watching the soldiers in their uniforms and bear skin hats. You are also right next to St James Park where you can see pelicans and parakeets.

London SW1A 0AA

Big Ben is probably the world’s most famous clock and is actually the nickname for the Great Bell of the striking clock at the north end of the historic Palace of Westminster. It is one of London’s most iconic landmarks and can be viewed from London Bridge.

London Bridge

Southwark, London, SE1 9BG

London Bridge is used as a symbol of London and is recognisable to visitors from all over the world. The large train station is a main base to travel to many other locations including the London underground. There are plenty of locations to walk to nearby including the Shard, Borough Market and Monument. Young children will really enjoy the views of the Thames from London Bridge.

The Walkie-Talkie building, London EC3M 8AF

Perched 525ft high, on the 35th floor of the Walkie-Talkie building, the Sky Garden is the highest public garden in London. View the stunning sights of the city from the observation decks and there is also a restaurant up there too. It is free to visit but you must book a time slot.

The London Pass

The London Pass  allows you to access over 80 popular attractions, from the Tower of London to The View from The Shard. These passes are great as they allow hassle-free sightseeing to some of London’s top places, plus it will save you money as well – a win-win.

Paddington Bear Experience

Paddington Station

This two and a half hour walking tour is a must for Paddington Bear fans! The tour starts at Paddington Station where you can visit the Paddington statue and buy a gift from the Paddington Shop! A tour guide who will tell you all about Paddington throughout your walk. The tour ends at Portobello Road, where Mr Gruber’s antique shop can be found.

South Bank Centre

Belvedere Road ; London , SE1

There is always plenty going on for kids at the South Bank from street performers to family trails. Discover the very best of children’s theatre, comedy, music, literature, dance, mindfulness and, most importantly, 12 days of fun for children across the February half-term.

Hampton Court Palace

East Molesey KT8 9AU

Hampton Court Palace is a Grade I listed royal palace in Richmond and was the home of King Henry VIII. Kids can enjoy the Magic Garden (which is closed during winter) where there are mythical beasts, battlements, towers and a secret grotto to explore in this magical children’s playground.

Things to do in London in the Rain – London with a  Toddler

There’s no need for a bit of rain to spoil your fun. London has plenty of indoor venues to keep your toddler entertained too. From West End children’s shows to galleries and activity centres – you’re totally spoilt for choice with rainy day activities in London.

The Unicorn Theatre

147 Tooley St, London SE1 2HZ

The Unicorn Theatre is a children’s theatre in Southwark. The theatre offers thrilling theatre experiences for children aged up to 13, with fun new shows alongside adaptations of classic texts. It is the largest children’s theatre in the UK and is sure to provide a day of entertainment.

Hamley’s Toy Shop

88-196 Regent Street, London, W1B 5BT

Hamley’s Toy Shop is probably one of the most well-known toy shops in London, it has been situated on Regents Street since 1881 and has seven floors, packed full of toys. The only thing you may struggle with is getting your toddler to leave!

This is one place I really, really want to take my son. Not only for his enjoyment, but I want to see it with my own eyes. If you haven’t heard of KidZania, and you’ve got children, you’re going to want to know about it. Located in Westfield Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush,  KidZania is an indoor city, run by kids. Although it is designed for ages 4-14, they do have a selection of activities for toddlers up to the age of 4.

Children can work as doctors, firefighters, actors and more and they can ‘earn’ money to use for various other activities such as the climbing wall. Or they can open a bank account and get their own card, just like Mum and Dad. I’ve heard of both the London and Singapore KidZania and they sound like amazing places to bring toddlers and older children alike. This is definitely on our to-do list for next time we are in London with a toddler and a baby.

Sea Life London

Sea Life in Southbank was formerly known as the London Aquarium and is another attraction that will be a big hit in London with a toddler. We have visited with our son as a toddler and he thoroughly enjoyed it. From walking across the shark bridge at the entrance, to going in search of Nemo, toddlers will find something new and exciting at every turn. By far my favourite part of Sea Life London is the huge central tank that spans all three floors of the aquarium. Within it you will find manta rays, sharks, even turtles and taking centre stage are replica Easter Island heads. This is an attraction not to be missed in London with a toddler and a baby.

Harry Potter Studios

High on the list of many children’s (not to mention grown up’s) wish lists is a ticket to one of the Warner Brothers Studio Tours for a tour of  Harry Potter in London . There is private area for parents to feed complete with nursing chair and changing tables is located next to the Backlot Café. Hot water for heating up bottles can be provided within the Backlot Café.

The Tate Modern

Bankside, London SE1 9TG

The Tate Modern is a free art gallery that has many activities for children including workshops and games. The gallery is buggy-friendly and they actively encourage young visitors, the collection holds masterpieces of international and British modern art. It is also right on the South Bank so you can stroll around there after your visit.

Shrek’s Adventure London

Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB

We are all big fans of Shrek, and this family-friendly attraction based on the film has a 4D movie with interactive fairy tale shows including Trolls. Shrek’s Adventure can be a little scary in places so this one would depend on hove brave your kids are. It is right next to the London Eye and also the Sealife Aquarium, so after your visit you could enjoy a walk along the Thames and even cross the Millenium Bridge.

London Shows for Young Kids

It’s never too early to introduce toddlers to the magic of theatre, and London has plenty of shows to entertain the little ones. There are puppet shows for babies and toddlers as well as stage shows such as Frozen, The Lion King, The Snowman and Matilda the Musical. Just look online for the best deals first.

The Discovery Story Centre Stratford

High St, London E15 4QZ

The Discovery Children’s Story Centre is the perfect place to visit when in London with a toddler. It’s an interactive story trail, with an outdoor story garden including a spacecraft. The kids can creep through caves, find hidden ships and perform in a puppet castle, visit a treehouse with chicken legs and discover mysterious hidden sculptures. Hours of fun and great for the imagination.

London Museums for Toddlers

London sure does have its pick of museums! Many of these are free to enter and there are plenty to choose from, The Natural History Museum is always a hit with their dinosaurs and animal collection and the Postal Museum is absolutely brilliant for children too. Here are a few of our favourites.

British Museum

Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG

You can take part in a Museum Mission featured in six galleries and challenge your family to a variety of tasks. On the weekends you can pick up an activity backpack, or a Museum explorer trail, from the Families Desk to guide you around the galleries. During school holidays there are playful workshops that bring the stories in the Museum collection to life. Under 5s and their carers are invited to join in with the Museum’s Little Feet programme.

Natural History Museum

Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD

London’s Natural History Museum is one of our favourites. There is so much to see for kids of all ages you can discover fascinating creatures and of course walk through the dinosaurs and see all of the bones. There are gemstones and minerals, human body zones and plenty of interactive areas to enjoy, plus The Science Museum is just around the corner and the V&A museum is opposite.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL

The V&A Museum is  the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance. They often have many exhibitions such as the current Beatrix Potter one, you can find out about her life as a scientist and conservationist, exploring the places and animals that inspired her most beloved characters.The museum also has a lovely cafe onsite.

The London Transport Museum

The Piazza, London WC2E 7BB

Discover the history of London’s transport at London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. The Transport museum provides fun for the whole family, there are singing and story sessions every week in term time. During the school holidays there are creative and crafty activities for the little ones to take part in. Or just wander around at your own pace and look at all of the transport.

The Postal Museum

15-20 Phoenix Pl, London WC1X 0DA

Take a ride on Mail Rail and discover the inspiring stories of Britain’s postal heritage at the Postal Museum . There are plenty of free workshops, an underground ride on Mail Rail and Sorted! The Postal Play Space. The children can also join story-book favourite The Jolly Postman on his rounds through 500 years of history.

London Science Museum

Somewhere we visited before having kids, and somewhere I long to now revisit with our son, is the London Science Museum. With my background as a scientist this is my kind of place. Located in South Kensington, this is one of London’s most popular attractions, welcoming over 3 million visitors annually. And I can vouch for how busy it gets.

With exhibitions about space and engineering to maths and medicine, there are exhibits to capture the attention of everyone. There is also an IMAX cinema within the London Science Museum showing short films about a variety of subjects. And even better, the London Science Museum is free although donations are welcome to ensure the continuation of this amazing museum.

London Transport Museum

The London Transport Museum, based in Covent Garden, is somewhere I have been meaning to take my son but never quite got around to it. Opened in 1980 to exhibit a collection from London Transport, the exhibits have been expanded to cover all aspects of transport within London.

From iconic red double decker buses to the recognisable London Underground tube carriages, there are many vehicles on display to capture the attention and imagination of toddlers who visit. It is a great way to discover how transportation has evolved in London and if your kids are fans of things like Thomas the Tank Engine or Chuggington, then I’m sure they’ll enjoy the London Transport Museum.

Playgrounds and Parks in London

London is a very big cosmopolitan city but it is also home to lots of wonderful, green parks, ancient woodlands and adventure playgrounds too. You can get to see some wildlife at the lakes and ponds, visit the deer at Richmond Park, see the dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park and climb and swing in many of London’s playgrounds.

Battersea Park – SW London

London SW11 4NJ

Battersea Park is huge and has plenty to keep toddlers entertained, you can hire bicycles, take a picnic, get an ice cream from one of the cafes and feed the ducks. There are fountains, flowers, blossom tree walks in the Spring and a very big adventure playground with climbing areas, swings and slides.

Holland Park – West London

Ilchester Pl, London W8 6LU

Holland Park is beautiful and has many zones to explore. From the tranquil Japanese Kyoto Garden to the Dutch Gardens. You can explore your way around and you may even see a few peacocks. There is a playground for the kids to enjoy as well as a cafe. You are also not too far from Notting Hill and it’s shops and markets.

Regents Park – Central London

There is plenty to keep kids entertained at Regents Park. Firstly, you are next to London Zoo and there are children’s playgrounds to have fun in as well as pedalos to enjoy on summer’s days. There are often performances taking place and there is plenty of wildlife to see as well as cafes to sit back and take a break in.

Hampstead Heath – North West London

This grassy space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate. The area is buggy-friendly and there are playgrounds at Parliament Hill with activities for babies and primary school aged children. There is also a paddling pool and a cafe.

Kew Gardens With Kids

https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens

The botanical gardens at Kew provide a great day out with kids. You have to book tickets for entry to the gardens but could easily spend hours there. As well as the glass houses and plants, you can see the pagoda, the hive and play in the lovely play area which has tunnels, slides, a sand pit and climbing areas.

Coram’s Fields

https://www.coramsfields.org/

93 Guilford St, London WC1N 1DN

Coram’s Fields is a large urban open space in Camden which is open all year round for children under 16 years old. The park has an exciting mix of play equipment for all ages from toddlers to older children. The adventure play area has a zip line, a witch’s hat swing and one of the largest slides in town. There is also a sensory area and a music area.

St James Park

London SW1A 2BJ

St James Park is right next to Buckingham Palace, alongside a lake and the park is home to several pelicans and other animals, including ducks, squirrels and other birds. The park’s restaurant has a children’s menu, you can pay to rent a deck chair and there are refreshment points and children’s toilets available by the playground.

Princess Diana Memorial Playground

Kensington gardens.

The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is a memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales in Kensington Gardens. The playground’s centrepiece is a wooden pirate ship, and it also includes a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the pirate ship and various play sculptures. The Broad Walk Café serves a range of food and there are also toilets, including disabled and baby change facilities.

Crystal Palace Park – SE London

https://www.crystalpalaceparktrust.org/

Thicket Rd, London SE19 2GA

There is plenty to do at Crystal Palace Park including seeing the giant dinosaur statues of the ‘Dinosaur Court’ that have been there since 1854. There is also a boating lake, a children’s playground, a maze and a skate park.

London W2 2UH

Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, are among the Royal Parks of London. There is lots to see and do, including the Princess Diana Memorial Playground and fountains, you could even take a dip in the Serpentine Lido!

Hyde Park – Central London

Hyde Park is one of London’s biggest landscapes and covers over 350 acres with plenty to keep you busy. The 110 yard Serpentine Lido and its paddling pool are great for children and families and there are many playgrounds within the park. The South Carriage Drive Playground is an exciting and adventurous play space that sits on the southern boundary of Hyde Park.

Richmond Park – SW London

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park

Richmond Park is the largest of London’s Royal Parks and is home to a large population of deer. The Petersham Gate Playground has been designed to be used by children of all ages. It features a sandpit, climbing frames, balancing blocks, an elephant xylophone and a water play feature. You can also take a walk through the Isabella Plantation and see all of the beautiful flowers.

Greenwich Park – SE London

London SE10 8QY

Greenwich Park has a huge play area which has a maritime theme, the playground appeals to all ages and abilities and includes climbing areas, swings, roundabouts, slides and a sand and water play area. There are toilets and a refreshments kiosk nearby.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – East London

https://www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/the-park/venues/parklands-and-playgrounds/playgrounds-and-fountains

The Tumbling Bay playground features rock pools, sand pits, tall treehouses, and wobbly bridges, as well as slides, swings and plenty of space to run about. Timber Lodge café has a range of fresh, home-cooked food and drink.In the south of the park are gigantic red rocks, broad slides, oversized swings and even a giant sand pit as well as fountains.

Tumbling Bay Playground

Next time we are in London, I’d love to visit Tumbling Bay Playground located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Not only would it allow us adults to visit the Olympic Park, something we haven’t done yet, but it would allow our son to have lots of fun. From interactive fountains to climbing walls, there is so much for toddlers and young kids to enjoy at Tumbling Bay Playground.

There are plenty of traditional swings and slides alongside rock pools and sand pits, that you could find yourself there for hours or stuck trying to drag your toddler away. And, if you are there for a few hours, you can enjoy a cuppa while the kids play at the Timber Lodge, a community centre and café which serves fresh, home-cooked meals and plenty of drinks.

London with  a Toddler

These are by no means the only things to do in London with a toddler. There are numerous other free museums you can take them, such as the Museum of Childhood, and other attractions that might be of interest include the Wax Museum. Did you know there are also farms within London to visit with toddlers such as the Vauxhall City Farm? And of course, you could always take them to Hamleys for a treat.

There are plenty of child-friendly  walks along south bank London  too. The attractions I’ve chosen to highlight are either those we have visited with our son as a toddler or are those high on our London to-do list with him, even while he is still young. London has a wealth of places to visit with toddlers and you shouldn’t put off visiting this great city just because of toddlers. They too can enjoy the city, so long as you take things a little slower and plan a few visits to places they can enjoy as children.

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London with a Toddler GUEST POST

Cath is an Irish expat who now lives in Portugal with her husband and son. A former scientist, she gave up working when they emigrated south after 15 years in the UK. She is a family travel blogger and hopes that, through her blog, they will inspire more families to travel, especially with the toddlers in tow. As a family they love travelling and have started working their way through their family travel bucket list. Cath writes about their family travels and experiences on her blog Passports and Adventures .

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5 thoughts on “45 Amazing Things to do in London with a Toddler in 2022”

I didn’t know about Tumbling Bay Playground! great idea to get out and about!

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Hi, I’m Anna, a travel loving wife to Tristan and Mother to 6 year old twins Poppy and Tabitha, their 3 year old sister Matilda, and together we are Twins and Travels.

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Tips for Visiting London with a Toddler (or a Baby)

Are you looking for tips on traveling to London with a baby or toddler? I’m sharing a detailed guide on how to get around London with your baby or toddler, what to do and see with your toddler or baby, what souvenirs to consider, where to stay for a family-friendly experience, where to shop for baby supplies and food, and what travel gear to take with you.

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. We only recommend products and services that we love!

We will never forget our 14 month old daughter’s first big international adventure to England and Scotland ! She loved her time in the United Kingdom, and we did too! We began and ended our two week trip to England and Scotland in London , and it was wonderful- as always! We found that London is a very welcoming city for children. Everyone was kind and friendly to our daughter, and we wouldn’t hesitate to take her back!

After enjoying an incredible trip to London with our toddler, I’m excited to share my tips (all based on our personal experience- I won’t recommend something that we didn’t try ourselves!). Continue reading for our tips for visiting London with a toddler or a baby! And if you have a long flight ahead of you, you might also be interested in reading What to Pack in a Toddler’s Carry-On .

You might also be interested in: Visiting London for the Second Time

Getting Around London (The Underground, Taxis, & Hop On/Hop Off Buses)

I’m going to start with transportation, because it is always one of the first things that I research when I first begin planning a trip with our daughter. You’ll want to skip using a car in London and plan on using public transportation. Thankfully, London has an awesome public transportation system.

The London Underground

We used the Underground (the Tube) to get around a majority of the time. It’s really easy to use, but if you need help figuring out which trains to take, simply ask one of the people working (they are always so kind and helpful!).

It is important to note that most of the stations are not wheelchair accessible- which means they aren’t stroller (or pushchair) friendly either. To figure out if there will be an elevator (lift), check out the tube maps (located online or in the stations) to see if there is a little wheelchair symbol at your stop.

That being said, we didn’t avoid any stations based on this information. If an elevator wasn’t available, my husband and I carried her compact travel stroller up the stairs (or we collapsed her stroller ahead of time and carried her in the baby carrier – which was our preference during peak travel times when the trains were crowded). If you’re traveling with just one adult, don’t worry! There were several instances when our hands were full of luggage/shopping bags/etc., and complete strangers always offered to help us.

Before having our daughter, my husband and I were big fans of Uber . But having a baby changed that- we cannot always take an Uber with a child due to car seat laws. In the U.K., car seats are not required if the child is in a taxi (please check link for current regulations!). We followed advice from a local and downloaded the Gett App . It works a lot like Uber and is very easy to use. We used the app on a few occasions when taking a taxi was more convenient than the Underground (and we always had the friendliest drivers!).

You can, of course, hail a taxi on your own. We did this when we found parked taxis in busy areas, but using Gett was very convenient.

You might also be interested in: Traveling to Scotland with a Toddler or Baby

Hop On/Hop Off Buses

To be completely honest, I never envisioned using a hop on/hop off. But when we had the opportunity to take a Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour (+ River Thames Tour) in London, courtesy of the Keetoo App , we jumped on the opportunity. We knew our daughter would enjoy taking a bus around the city! These buses stop at all of the major attractions.

Car seats are also not required by law when children are on a bus, making it a great option when visiting the city with kids.

Playgrounds in London

London has no shortage of beautiful playgrounds (play parks) for children! We loved that many of them were themed (Magical dragons and pirate ships? Sign us up!). During our stay, we visited two: the Princess Diana Memorial Playground the and the Magic Garden. Both were a blast!

Princess Diana Memorial Playground

One of our highlights was visiting the Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens. It was beautiful and so impressive. We were shocked at how large it was. There were so many sections of the playground, and no matter how much we explored, we just kept finding more neat things! Some areas of the playground were better suited for our daughter than others, but there are play structures for all ages.

This playground is free and opens at 10am each morning (check their website for closing time information, as it varies throughout the year).

Magic Garden

The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace was also incredible! It is located a little bit outside of the city, and it feels like a great, peaceful escape. This playground is filled with structures and activities that represent various legends and stories from Hampton Court. It is worth noting that this playground wasn’t as suitable for our little one. It is better suited for kids who are a little older, as most structures have features that toddlers cannot handle well. That being said, we still loved our time there!

This playground costs £6.00 for children over 3 years old and £8.00 for adults (they also have family and member deals; be sure to check their current prices on their website ). Admission is free with the purchase of a ticket to Hampton Court.

You might also be interested in: 2 Weeks in England and Ireland: Trip Itinerary

Family-Friendly Attractions in London

I’ll make this section short, because I’m a believer in taking your little ones anywhere! We did research playgrounds and scheduled in time to let her run around, but otherwise, we planned our itinerary as we would have when it was just the two of us. Our daughter loves being around people and exploring new places, so she was happy to go anywhere in the city!

We had traveled to London before and have been to all of the major landmarks. We sought out new opportunities on this trip , and we wound up exploring new places like the Tower Bridge (with its glass floor!) and Hampton Court Palace. The Tower Bridge had conveniently placed elevators and fun activity books for kids. Overall, London is truly one of the best family holiday destinations when it comes to attractions.

Hampton Court Palace had a buggy park and family room (in addition to the Magic Garden!). They also are home to Great Britain’s oldest hedge maze (over 300 years old). Queen Victoria opened it up to the public in 1838. Our daughter loved leading the way!

When I think back on our last time in London (pre-baby), I know that I would happily take our daughter to any of those same destinations. My big tip for planning your itinerary is to do a little research beforehand to find out if you can take a stroller with you (if you cannot, they will likely have a place for you to check them). Note that while most palaces are technically wheelchair accessible, you will probably still want to skip the stroller (because they aren’t always conveniently placed).

Interested in a compact, lightweight travel stroller ? Check out this post , where I compare several popular options!

You might also be interested in: The Lake District for Families

Capture Your Memories with a Professional Photo Shoot

You may want to consider capturing your family memories with your toddler or baby in a unique way! Flytographer is a company that our family uses and loves deeply. They work with local photographers around the world, and they make it incredibly easy to book your own travel family photo shoot in London. You can choose from London’s most popular sights, including spots like Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden, and Big Ben. Flytographer offers a fast turnaround and are always so fun to work with!

If you are new to Flytographer, you can use my referral link to receive $25 off your first photo shoot . You can learn more about our experiences with them in cities like Paris , Edinburgh , and Honolulu !

You might also be interested in: Our Family Photo Shoot in Edinburgh with Flytographer + Discount Coupon Code

Lodging- Where to Sleep in London with a Toddler or Baby

We began and ended our two week trip to the United Kingdom in London, so we stayed in two different places. We started our time in a lovely apartment on Harrow Road (near the Royal Oak Underground Station) and ended our trip in a hotel in the Kensington area. Both were pleasant, but our apartment was perfect. It had everything we were looking for, was perfectly clean, didn’t have a lot of knick-knacks for our daughter to get into, and was very comfortable. Unfortunately, this apartment is no longer listed, but you can find other amazing options on VRBO or Expedia .

We almost always book apartments/flats/homes. We like the flexibility of having our own kitchen for cooking and washing machines for our laundry. We typically use VRBO or Expedia to book our lodging, and we have stayed in some incredible places!

When booking your lodging, here are a few things to consider:

• What amenities are important to you (e.g., a kitchen)?
• What features are important for the safety and comfort of your child (e.g., no inside stairs, a crib, tidy shelves, no messy cords)?
• Is there a nearby Underground station within reasonable walking distance?
• Is the nearest Underground station located within a zone that you plan to spend a lot of time in (note that you might save money on your lodging if you stay further outside of the city, but you might spend extra money on Underground tickets in you have a travel outside of certain zones often)?

Family- Friendly Vacation Homes in London (that include cribs):

• Apartment with stunning gardens in Georgian Town House in South Central London- sleeps 6
• Gorgeous apartment near Westminster- sleeps 6
• Notting Hill Garden Flat- sleeps 3
• Historic Royal Arsenal Apartment with a view of Thames River- sleeps 7
• Stunning, large house with garden near Waterloo- sleeps 11

Family-Friendly Hotels in London:

• St. Ermins Hotel
• Park Plaza County Hall
• Novotel London Tower Bridge

Where to Shop for Baby Supplies & Food in London

Since London is a major city, you won’t have any trouble finding baby food, diapers, wipes, etc. We use non-toxic diapers and wipes, so we did some shopping at Whole Foods in Kensington, but there were other awesome options in stores like Sainsbury’s and Boots.

Our daughter doesn’t eat “baby food”, but she does like apple sauce pouches. We were pleased to find them in nearly every store, along with other easy snack options.

Recommended Gear for Toddlers and Babies in London

Here is a list of gear that we loved using in London:

• Our lightweight, compact travel stroller: We love our compact travel stroller ! This was a must for traveling on airplanes, the Underground, etc! You do not want to bring your big, bulky stroller to London. You can read more about travel strollers in this post: The Best Travel Strollers .

• Our baby carrier: We love our Ergobaby 360 ! It’s comfortable for us and our daughter. She took awesome naps in it, and we love that she can also face out when she’s awake and ready to be a part of the action.

• Our travel crib: I cannot recommend the Dream on Me travel crib enough. It is well made, easy to set up, and weighs just 12 pounds. It is more compact than a traditional pack n play, and it fits easily inside of our large rolling suitcase (with a lot of room to spare). It is similar to other travel cribs, but the price tag is much It is easy to book apartments and hotels with cribs, but we wanted to take a travel crib that our daughter was used to (especially since we switched accommodations 6 times!). We love this crib and cannot recommend it enough!

If you’re interested in more of our favorite travel items for babies, check out my recommendations here: 20 Baby Registry Ideas for Traveling Families !

We loved taking our daughter to London, and I hope that you’ve found our tips helpful! I would love to hear from you in the comments. Have you been to London with a toddler or baby? Do you have any tips to share?

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52 comments, amanda | toddling traveler.

Great tips! I keep heading so much about the Princess Diana Memorial Playground. We have a quick stopover in London in July and are planning to take our 2 year old.

It is definitely something that should make your list! 🙂 Have fun!

I keep hearing so many great things about the princess Diana playground! We have a short layover in London with our son next month and it looks like it’s worth the stop!

Definitely! It was our favorite thing in London this time! And the playground is near Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, etc., so there are other things to do nearby. Enjoy your short time there. 🙂

London is such a family friendly city! Like you, I’ve always found the locals are super helpful, especially on public transport!

Yes, we were so pleasantly surprised. It’s a lovely city!

Cristina Ioana

I love the idea of the hop on hop off busses as an alternative way to get around London. We will surely organize a trip there with our little boy and will definitely go to the themed parks.

Have fun! It’s a great place to take a toddler! 🙂

I took my 5 year old to London recently but I hadn’t considered taking my toddler. Your post has inspired me to take her along next time – thank you.

Great! There are so many things for toddlers to do. Have fun next time you go!

Amanda Patsey

Leah – so much great info here! Looks like there are so many toddler-friendly things to do and see in London. We have never been and can’t wait to go with the kids one day!

Thank you! There are so many things to do in London for kids of all ages! 🙂

This is a great post! Lots of helpful and practical information. I love your photos, too!

Thank you! London is such a great city for families!

Parenthodo4ever

Leah, i love your tips, particularly because we live in London. we moved here when our baby was only 5 months old and were exploring the city with the baby too. I agree that London is a very very baby/kid-friendly city.

What a wonderful city to raise a baby! There are so many fun things to do and see with a little one!

We live so close to London and we have never been to the Princess Diana playground! Great post

Thank you! I highly recommend it- it was a highlight!

We LOVED London with our littles! Princess Diana PArk was our favorite! Your place looks awesome!

Same here- the Princess Diana Memorial playground was amazing! It is such a family-friendly city!

These are great tips! I hope to visit London one day soon. 🙂

It is a lovely city with so much to see and do!

This is great advice. London is so easy with kids. The underground is definitely not designed with kids in mind but someone is ALWAYS willing to help you on stairs. We haven’t been for ages but we really need to get back as I know Ted would love to see Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament now he’s old enough to know what they are.

I agree- it was so easy to visit London with our daughter. No stress at all!

Shira Halperin

Thanks for such an informative post. I will be visiting London next month with my husband and kids. I’ve got my final list, but you covered a lot of things I didn’t. I’ll just have to add them to our trip. Do you have any tips or recommendations for eating out with kids?

So glad it was helpful! And yes! How old are your children? We had a very easy time eating out with our daughter. Several restaurants have high chairs, but not all, so we had to feed her on our laps at times. A few pubs were for adults only, but overall, you will not have a problem finding great places to eat with your kiddos.

Jen Brommer

This is a super cool and informative post! I love the personal photos! Thanks!

Thank you! Glad it was helpful!

London is so wonderful to visit for anyone of any age!

I couldn’t agree more!

Love this article! Your pictures of your daughter are beautiful and I love that you mention great parks, but that it’s also an adult trip, too so just take your kids with! Totally my style, too. And all your gear is awesome! I wish I would have had these links when my kids were younger!

Thank you! London is such a great city for all ages!

We just went to London as well, except with teenagers, so I was interested to read about your trip and see how it varied from ours with teens. Great, informative article! I enjoyed reading it!

Thank you! I bet your teens loved London!

Jennifer Dyson

Thank you for the tips! We are taking our 2 and 4 year olds to London next year! The transportation information will be helpful!

Have a great time! 🙂

Even my big kids would love Diana’s Playground (that pirate ship is amazing!) and the Magic Gardens! What great tips.

Yes! It’s great for kids of all ages!

Janessa| Long Drives (With Kids)

love the gear recommendations and the points to consider before booking lodging

I’m so glad!

My kids are right at the other end of the spectrum, so it’s lovely to hear that you enjoyed London with little ones. We are very biased as we live here, but we think it’s brilliant for every age…

Absolutely! London is such a lovely city!

Dianne Sivulka

You can scouted out all the best spots in London for little ones! What a great list!

We loved visiting these places!

I love London — and I agree public transportation is so well done, and yes the staff are very helpful as are the locals. Great Tips!

Definitely! It is a great, easy place to navigate.

Harmony, Momma To Go

my daughter wants to go to London – she is 8. I def hope to take her in 2020! I have not been since 2001

I hope you make it! It is such a great city for kids!

Dalya Gershtein

These are all such great tips! I’ve visited London many times before but never with kids, so this is super helpful 🙂 Love all the family-friendly attractions!

It is such a great city to visit with kids! 🙂

Katja Gaskell

We love London with kids! We now live here and are always finding so many fun things to do. It’s great to hear that you had such a good time 🙂

Yes, a wonderful time! 🙂 Such a great city for families!

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11 Terrific Things to Do in London with a Toddler

Posted on Last updated: March 18, 2024

Home » Destinations » Europe » England » 11 Terrific Things to Do in London with a Toddler

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Planning a trip to London with toddlers and are thinking about kid-friendly activities? Keep scrolling for my list of the best things to do in London with a toddler worth adding to your London itinerary!

This list of things to do in london with a toddler was co-written by family travel expert marcie cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, i may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog..

Guest post by Charity De Souza

London is an iconic city packed with family-friendly activities.

While a trip to the big city may seem daunting, you’re spoiled for choice with things to do in London with a toddler.

You can spend a day exploring one of the interactive museums or run loose in the city’s spacious green spaces – London attractions for toddlers are as diverse as the city itself. 

If you’re overwhelmed with navigating London with a toddler in tow – fear not! As a mom who has traveled to capital cities with kids, I know the key to a good family trip is in the preparation. 

In this guide, we’ve hand-picked the cream of the crop. You’ll find the best attractions for toddlers in London, including iconic landmarks, fun educational destinations, and outdoor activities.

We included free things to do in London with a toddler as well as fun activities that you both will enjoy, like British Afternoon Tea.   

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of exploring London with your little ones.

11 Best Things to do in London with a Toddler

Almost all toddlers will love a day of seeing exotic animals, so take them to the London Zoo ! 

The London Zoo is an exciting destination for all ages, with over 650 species to discover, from gorillas and Komodo dragons to mischievous monkeys swinging through the treetops.

It’s one of the easiest days out in London with toddlers, as this attraction boasts immersive and interactive exhibits designed to engage and delight even the youngest of visitors.

There’s even a dedicated Animal Adventure playground for kids, designed to bring them closer to nature through play. In this area, toddlers can come face to face with meerkats, porcupines, pigs, alpacas, llamas, and goats. On a hot sunny day, they can cool off in the Splash Zone.

Head to Penguin Beach, England’s biggest penguin pool, to see a South American beach landscape filled with flipper friends. 

Alternatively, you can peek at Sumatran tigers through floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the Tiger Territory or escape to London’s only living rainforest to observe monkeys, sloths, and tamanduas.

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is one of the best places to visit in London with a toddler, featuring a collection of fascinating dinosaur skeletons and hands-on exhibits. 

One of the best free attractions in London for families, a self-guided tour of the museum reveals a treasure trove of interactive experiences. 

Walking through the famous Dinosaurs gallery in the Natural History Museum is one of those top things to do in London with a 2-year-old, as they’ll be mesmerized by the massive T-rex skeleton.

A highlight of this museum is the Fossil Marine Reptiles area, which boasts one of the most complete fossils of prehistoric sea animals in the world. There’s even a giant sloth that kids can marvel at. 

Next, they can learn about natural forces in the Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery.

When you need a break, stop at the on-site Central Cafe, which offers a selection of sandwiches, fruit, and pastries. Little ones can fuel up before continuing on. 

For a more immersive behind-the-scenes experience, book a private tour of London’s Natural History Museum .

Science Museum

If you’re visiting London with a toddler, the S cience Museum is a great idea. Another free attraction, it’s home to a huge collection of award-winning exhibits designed to engage, captivate, and keep kids entertained. 

Like a playground of discovery, the age-appropriate exhibits and hands-on activities at the Science Museum make learning fun. 

Power Up is a favorite with its hands-on gaming experience, featuring video games from the past 50 years, while Wonderlab has live science shows and demonstrations. In this area, toddlers can see lightning strike, play on giant slides, and travel through space. 

What makes this one of the best toddler-friendly museums is its dedicated section for preschoolers.

They can explore science through play in the Garden, an interactive gallery featuring water exhibits and huge blocks for sensory play. 

Catering to kids under 9 years old, the Pattern Pod is another multi-sensory area in the Science Museum. They can explore water ripples without getting wet, create images on touch screens, and follow robot trails.

Offering the perfect mix of natural beauty and wide open spaces for burning off energy, Hyde             Park is one of the best parks for toddlers in London. This Central London attraction a long-time family favorite, even nicknamed “The People’s Park.”

It’s hard to find such an open space in a capital city, and Hyde P ark goes above and beyond with its beautiful lakeside paths, waterfront cafes, and abundance of wildlife, such as swans. 

Kids will love the on-site playground, which features climbing frames, a swing set, and a slide. 

After a day of sightseeing, you can also unwind with a stroll along the winding paths in the north of this toddler-friendly attraction. 

The scenic path is perfect for those traveling with babies in London, with beautiful views of the park’s picturesque meadows on full display. 

In warmer months, you can also enjoy an afternoon of boating on the lake. Swimming and a kid’s pool are also available at the Serpentine Swimming Club. 

Hyde Park is also adjacent to Kensington Ga rdens , which is known for its blooming floral displays and photogenic flower walks.

London Transport Museum

My children love all things transportation, so it makes sense why the London Transport Museum stands out as one of the best things to do in London for toddlers. 

One of the top London museums for the whole family, exploring the city’s famous transport system that has operated for over 200 years. 

They can play conductor for a day at Playzone, which is a perfect spot for toddlers featuring mini vehicles such as trains, boats, and an Emirates Air Line cable car. 

It is located on the ground floor and features fun exhibits like a Lost Property office, cafe, and information desk. For infants, there’s an interactive wall and building blocks. 

There’s also a series of fun interactive exhibits in the Future Engineers gallery, including the chance to “drive” a modern Elizabeth line train and “fix” a train. 

As you explore the museum, you can see what transport was like in London in the 1800s and get up close to an 1860s steam engine train.

Young kids can also learn about the formation of London transport and the world’s first underground railway.

Diana Memorial Playground

Nestled within Kensington Gardens is the Diana Memoria l Playground , which deserves its own spot on this list of things to do for toddlers in London.

Located next to her Kensington Palace home, the Central London attraction is a tribute to Princess Diana’s legacy of compassion and love for children. 

Small children can hop aboard the large wooden pirate ship, follow the sensory trail, and explore the various teepees and whimsical play structures.

Best of all, there’s plenty of seating available for parents around the play area. 

It’s a unique space you can see when visiting London, designed for less able and able-bodied children to play together. The Diana Memorial Playground was also inspired by the stories of Peter Pan.

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Wow your entire family with an excursion on the famous London Eye , one of the world’s tallest observation wheels. 

It’s one of the most photogenic ways to see the city and a bucket list activity in London.  

The journey on the London Eye takes about 30 minutes. You’ll be inside one of the 32 pods that rise up over the water above the dazzling skyline. 

While aboard, you can marvel at stunning panoramic views of London landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London. On a clear day, you might even be able to see Windsor Castle.  

It makes for an especially picture-perfect excursion if you can time your visit at sunset. 

If you want complete privacy, book a private pod for you and your family.

Afternoon Tea

When you think of the top London activities for toddlers, afternoon tea might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, enjoying tea in London isn’t just about sipping tea and nibbling on scones—it’s a quintessentially British experience that even toddlers can appreciate. 

Most places are family-friendly, providing high chairs and accommodating staff who understand the unpredictable nature of little ones.

Now, what will they love about it? Well, the treats, of course. From dainty finger sandwiches to miniature cakes and pastries, there’s something to entice even the pickiest eater. 

If you’re ready for your afternoon tea adventure, here are some of the best places to go. 

The Langham – They have a Children’s Afternoon Tea with jigsaw-shaped sandwiches, chocolate brownies, and fresh fruits. 

One Aldwych – Who can pass up a Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea? It includes cakes, sweets, mallows, and creams. 

Aqua at the Shar d – This tea experience is inspired by the adventures of Peter Pan in Neverland. While you’re here, you can enjoy the view from atop its 360-degree viewing gallery at T he Shard . 

British Museum

The British Museum is one of the best toddler-friendly attractions in Central London, and older kids can get in on the fun too. 

You and your family can experience history books come to life at this completely free museum, which showcases two million years of human history, art, and culture. 

It boasts a collection of objects from around the world in over 50 galleries, ranging from ancient times to the present day. 

They’ll love the display of Egyptian mummies, experiencing the rich history and cultures of Africa, and journeying across North America to the ancient civilizations of Mexico. 

If you’re up for a challenge, the museum has a Museum Mission program, while fun-filled activity backpacks and the Museum explorer trail are also designed for little ones. 

When hunger strikes, the museum’s cafes and restaurants usually have high chairs on request, and the Pizzeria has a kid’s menu. You can also enjoy a picnic by the museum’s front lawns. 

Get the most out of your visit and book a small group guided tour .

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

SEA LIFE London Aquarium is easily one of the best things to do in London with a toddler. 

Who doesn’t love an underwater wonderland where you can be mesmerized by all sorts of aquatic creatures? 

It’s a delight for the whole family, where you can get up close to hundreds of colorful fish. 

The aquarium zones give you a glimpse into some of the world’s most incredible animals, including huge sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, and penguins.

A highlight is the Shark Walk, where you’ll walk over a glass window for a look at the ocean creatures swimming below your feet. The Ocean Tunnel is where you can marvel at enormous Green Sea turtles over your head. 

Head to the Rockpool Explorer area and touch a stingray, then say hello to the colony of friendly penguins in the Polar Adventure.

Horniman Museum and Gardens

The family-friendly, free Horseman Museum and Gardens offers an exciting day out in London with your toddler. 

You can get up close to hundreds of beautiful butterflies in its tropical indoor garden, then browse jellyfish, tropical tree frogs, and live coral in the aquarium. 

The World Gallery is another highlight, displaying more than 3,000 objects from across the globe.

Outdoor activities at the South London attraction include 16 acres of gardens and an Animal Walk with goats, sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, and alpacas.

Things to do in London with a Toddler FAQs

How do you get around london with a toddler.

Getting around London with a toddler is easy with its somewhat stroller-friendly buses and accessible Underground Tube stations. Just remember to fold your stroller on buses! I don’t recommend doing double strollers or wagons, as they take up too much room.

Is London a good place to travel with a baby?

London is a fantastic place to travel with a baby! There are plenty of parks, baby-friendly museums, and family restrooms throughout the city.

Where can I take my 2-year-old in London?

Take your 2-year-old to the London Transport Museum, the Natural History Museum (they’ll love the dinosaurs), and the many city farms and playgrounds.

Is it worth visiting London with toddlers?

Absolutely! London has a ton of toddler-friendly attractions, like the Science Museum’s interactive garden and the magical Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens.

What are the best play areas in London for toddlers?

The Diana, Princess of Wales’ Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens and the Tumbling Bay Playground in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park are among the best play areas for toddlers in London.

London with Toddlers Wrap-Up

It comes as no surprise that there’s no shortage of excitement and learning opportunities in London – this is truly a city for all ages.

In this guide, we’ve narrowed down the best things to do in London with a toddler, from the city’s many parks to its interactive museums.

You’ll even save money with the amount of free attractions in London!

You can keep younger visitors entertained aboard the iconic London Eye or afternoon tea, then run loose at the Diana Memorial Playground. 

With its rich history and family-friendly attractions, London offers a memorable adventure for both parents and toddlers alike.

About Charity

Born and raised in Florida, Charity has lived in Thailand, China, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, and England, and now lives in Portugal with her husband and two sons. Charity has traveled to over 60 countries – some of her favorite experiences include skydiving in Switzerland, eating ramen in Japan, and watching a sunset in the Sahara Desert.

Looking for more kid-friendly London travel resources? Check out 15 Lovely London Tours for Families Worth Booking , 27 Lovely London Things To Do for Kids , Paris vs. London for Families , 11 Desirable Day Trips from London by Train , 8 Exciting Things to do in East London With Kids , and 10 Lovely Family-Friendly Hotels in London !

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Traveling to London with Kids – The Ultimate Guide!

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on Last updated: October 28, 2021

Categories Travel

My family and I just returned from London; our first visit there with kids. Before we went, we wondered how can I travel with kids in London and what is there to do in London with kids?

Here’s what we discovered:

Traveling in London with kids is best using the London underground subway (the tube). But use the Heathrow Express train to get to & from the airport. Once in London, visit a mix of well-known landmarks like the London Eye, Big Ben/Westminster Abbey, but also check out the museums (most of which are totally free).

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

My wife and I already knew London was a great city to visit from our honeymoon. But we’d never been there with our 3 daughters before. So this was a totally new experience, and SO worth it!

So in this article, we’re diving deep into London and all there is to do that’s family-friendly!

I’ll answer all the top questions, from whether pubs are kid-friendly, if the hop-on/off bus tours are worth it, safety, smoking, and even the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Hang on and let’s jump in!

Check out all my  best travel resources and recommendations  which can save you time and money on your next vacation!

Is London family-friendly?

Yes is the short answer!

Like any big city, you want to be a little cautious and take normal precautions. And like any big city, some areas are a little less safe or a little less family-friendly.

In many ways, it’s like New York City, but perhaps a little cleaner and friendlier. And I say that as someone who loves NYC and has taken his family there too; so no disrespect intended.

But London has tons of stuff to hold kids’ attention.

We’ll get into a few specific things below, but here are some of the top things to see and do which kids of all ages will love:

• Tower Bridge (which is near, but not the same as London Bridge)
• The London Eye Ferris Wheel
• The Tower of London
• Big Ben/Westminster Abbey (right next to each other)
• The Natural History Museum (free)
• Legoland Windsor
• Royal Air Force Museum (free)
• The Changing of the Guard
• Buckingham Palace
• London Sea Life Aquarium
• Diana, Princess of Wales’ Memorial Playground
• Hamleys Toy Store (probably the best toy store I’ve been to. Even better than the original FOA Schwartz back when it was still good)

I did not include things like Ripley’s Believe It or Not or Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum as you can find those in every major city.

Not that they aren’t fun, but the things I listed are uniquely London and an experience you can’t get elsewhere.

Tips for traveling to London with a toddler

I’ve been to London a few times.

But this past March (2020) my wife and I took all 3 of our kids. Layla, our youngest, was just 2 1/2 at the time; so fully into being a toddler.

And we had a blast!!

Toddlers love and need routine. Of course, being in another country with different customs can throw them for a loop. And that’s to say nothing of the time difference and jet lag.  Here’s what we did to combat those things and have a great trip:

• Booked a flight to London leaving early evening – We left Houston about 6 pm.  So after a couple of hours, it was natural to feel like bedtime. 10 hours later, we landed in London at 7 am.
• We kept our activities low key our first day in London – Don’t try and do too much as all of you will be adjusting to the jet lag
• Try and get out early and then hit the hotel around nap time for a break
• Don’t completely break with the familiar – While we wanted to get a real taste of London culture, we also occasionally went to chain places that were familiar to our toddler.
• Resist the urge to go all out every day – There’s so much to see and do that it’s easy to want to cram in as much as possible each day. With toddlers, that can be a recipe for disaster as they get worn out and frazzled
• Get supplies your first day – diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream (often called nappy cream there) and keep them on hand in a backpack for easy access

If you aren’t used to traveling with your kids, my wife and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Yes, it adds a layer of complexity and certain restrictions, but there are so many intangible benefits of traveling together as a family! I break down several of those benefits in a recent article .

What really surprised me in researching that was how much it advances younger kid’s developmental milestones! Just click that link to read it on my site.

What can I do with a 2-year-old in London?

Our toddler, Layla, had a great time in London!

It helped that in the 1 or 2 months leading up to the trip, my wife printed coloring pages of the biggest landmarks. She can’t really color within the lines yet (my toddler, not my wife, ?).

So by the time we got to London, Layla knew all about the most obvious stuff like:

• The London Eye
• Tower Bridge
• Big Ben/Westminster Abbey

I mention some great activities above for kids of all ages.

But toddlers, as you know, are a special breed. They can lose attention quickly and need a lot of stimulation. But then they can also get overstimulated easily as well.

I’ve mentioned it elsewhere, but most museums in England are free for everyone, which is awesome!

On top of the big touristy things, I also recommend the following for kids between 2-4 (and above):

• Discover Children’s Story Centre  (an interactive & immersive play space, with an outdoor story garden including a spaceship.) Free for under 2.
• The Science Museum (one of the greatest science museums in the world with lots of hands-on exhibits and 3 and 4D simulators) (free)
• Tumbling Bay Playground inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (slides, rock walls, bridges, tree houses, and more!)

Legoland is free for kids under 90 centimeters. So for those of you not well versed in the metric system, that is about 35.5 inches. So for most kids, that means under 2 is free.

Have I mentioned London has a lot of pigeons??

What is the best way to get to and from the London airport?

This one we learned the hard way.

We used the tube (the subway, also called the Underground) to get from the airport upon arrival, to our hotel. We had to change trains a couple of times and most of the time that involved stairs.

Traveling with 3 kids with each having a suitcase and personal item, plus a toddler and a stroller is NOT stairs friendly!

Luckily, more than one friendly Londer helped us carry stuff up and down the stairs. But it was challenging, time-consuming, and frustrating. It was also fairly costly; about 10 bucks each, one way.

Somehow on our way back, we figured out there was a full-blown train (like the Eurostar) called the Heathrow Express . This was the way to travel!

The kids were all free and it was direct with no stops or stairs (from Paddington Station at least) and only took maybe 15 minutes. Since the kids were free it was about the same as we’d paid for the tube.

So no question; take the Heathrow Express to and from the airport!

Wondering how often families take a vacation each year?

In a  recent article , I break down the statistics and uncovered that 40% of Americans take at least one vacation each year.

But 28% of people take 3 or more vacations each year. What really surprised me was that people living in a specific area of the US were twice as likely as the rest of the country to go on vacation! (I need to move there!)

Just click that link to see it on my site.

What’s the best way to get around London with kids?

We did a combination of the tube (the subway, also called the Underground), walking, and busses.

We used both city busses (red double-decker) as well as the hop-on/hop-off busses (also double-decker but the top deck is mostly open).

That worked really well for us and we did not use taxis or Ubers or anything else.

For the underground and city busses, you’ll want to get something called an Oyster Card .  You get Oyster Cards at most tube and train stations. They are also refillable. and are basically pay as you go. So we would periodically refill them.

The really cool thing about the Oyster cards is you can cash in whatever balance is left at machines at the airport. So no worrying about putting too much on there. Just be prepared that they pay you in coins!

You may not need it, but Oyster Cards also work for other London transportation services like the tram, DLR, London Overground, most TfL Rail, Emirates Air Line, National Rail services in and around London, and Thames Clippers River Bus services.

Children under 11 travel free on the Underground, DLR, and city buses

They do also an unlimited card call the Travelcard , but we did not feel like that would have been as good a deal for us money-wise. Those can be for a minimum of 7 days. Travelcard costs vary based on how long a time period you purchase and what zones of London you travel in.

But the range is between $45-75 per person in US dollars for a 7-day Travelcard.

Is the London underground safe?

I have ridden the London Underground countless times going back to when I was 17 (a long time ago).

I’ve ridden it at all times of the day and after midnight. While you need to be aware of your surroundings like you would in any major city, I have never felt unsafe, nor seen any sign of problems.

That being said, if you look at the statistics on Statistica , you can see the type of crimes that do happen and how the trends have changed over the years.

The biggest type of crime is the theft of personal property. 

That could be pickpocketing, or people just taking things you may have laid in the seat next to you. Between 2018 and 2019, there were 6823 incidents of that on the tube. That is up from previous years, but it’s worth noting that there was a big drop in crime overall in 2016-2017 compared to the years before and after.

Of course, their data does not tell us which lines, time of day, or other information like that.

So just use good judgment, be observant (but not paranoid), and travel smart and you’ll almost assuredly be just fine.

Here is a snapshot of the stats:

Is the London underground safe at night?

I covered the overall safety statistics pretty well above.

What about riding the London tube at night?

I think the latest we rode it was probably 7 or 8 pm. Toddlers aren’t known for being their best at night, so typically we were back at our hotel or at least eating at a nearby restaurant by then.

However, on previous trips, I have ridden the London underground late at night (midnight-ish as I recall).

Most tube lines stop by midnight and don’t start up again until 5 am. So that helps keep safety in line. Central London is going to have fairly crowded train cars. Packed cars aren’t always fun, and that does lend itself more to pickpockets.

But I’d probably rather travel in a totally full train car in the evening rather than an empty one. But generally speaking, as I said above, the London underground is very safe.

I’ve ridden it many times going back to 1982, at all hours, and never felt unsafe.

What are the bad parts of London?

Speaking of safety, it’s worth a quick mention of some of London’s so-called “bad” areas.

Now traveling to London as a family, you’re likely to hit a lot of tourist spots and you’re not likely to encounter any trouble as long as you use the same level of caution and being observant as you would in any large city.

In fact, London ranks #20 on The Insider ‘s list of the 30 safest cities in the world!

But some of the rougher neighborhoods you may want to steer clear of (especially at night), would include:

• Newham – Central London
• Camden – north west London
• Southwark (high levels of knife crimes)
• Tower Hamlets (high levels of knife crimes) – East London
• Brent – outer London near Wembley Stadium

The worst area for pickpockets:

Westminster (Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Oxford Street and Regent Street, etc)

It should be no surprise that pickpockets hang out where the tourists do. We have pickpockets in the US, and I’ve been pickpocketed in New York City. But the UK, and especially Europe, do seem to have more of it than we do in the US.

London is divided into boroughs, often called cities. So this is officially referred to as The City of Westminster.

It’s very centrally located and given it’s where Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye are located, you will no doubt want to go there. I’ve been in and around Westminster on every trip I’ve ever taken to London and never been pickpocketed.

Just be mindful of your surroundings. Keep wallets, room keys, Oyster cards, etc in front pockets or the much-maligned fanny pack, and you’re likely going to be just fine.

Where should I stay in London with kids?

We loved the area we stayed on this past visit.

It was in an area called Sussex Gardens, walking distance to Paddington Station . This area had lots of cafes and restaurants within walking distance. Paddington is both a train and tube station. So that made it easy to catch the Heathrow Express but also just grab the tube to explore the city.

And there’s a Starbucks inside of Paddington Station for those of you unsure about London’t local coffee shops. That’s definitely where we will stay next time.

The other consideration for hotels is space for a family.

Europe (and the UK) are known generally for much smaller hotel rooms than we are used to in the states. Bathtubs are rare, as are king-sized beds. Our hotel room was small but worked for us with bunk beds, 1 queen bed, and one twin bed.

Our hotel also offered complimentary full breakfast each morning, which helped save $$ (London isn’t known for being cheap).

Are the hop-on-hop-off busses worth it in London?

We certainly thought so!

These are private busses, not to be confused with the red, double-decker city busses that your Oyster card will work on. The hop-on/hop-off busses are also usually (but not always) red and double-decker. But a portion of the top deck is usually open air.

They travel all around London and make somewhat frequent stops. You can literally get on or off at any official stop. Then when you’re ready, grab another one and keep going. They also usually have headphone jacks for guided tours.

Do be aware several companies offer these and they almost all use the same bus stops. So make sure you get on the right one and keep your ticket as you’ll have to show it each time.

We used them as a way of getting around central London and also seeing the touristy sites. But don’t think of using it as a substitute for London busses or the underground. The hop-on-hop-off busses just hit the tourist spots and don’t run super early or late.

So get this in addition to an Oyster card.

Where can I buy hop-on-hop-off tickets in London?

You can buy them with a credit card at any bus stop.

However, if you’re doing things like the London Eye and other tourist attractions, it might make sense to get a package that includes 1 or more days of the hop-on-hop-off busses.

You probably can buy a package right at your hotel’s front desk too.

How much is the hop on hop off bus in London?

3 main bus companies run these hop-on-hop-off busses in London, The Original Tour, Big Bus Tours, and Golden Tours. Their prices vary and you can also get packages which include a river cruise (which we got but did not use).

But here is a quick snapshot of current prices (which are subject to change).

They will charge you in pounds of course (the UK currency), but since my article is largely designed for tourists from the US, I have converted the amounts into dollars using an average exchange rate of 1.3 (which is also subject to change). Using that rate, that means that generally, 1 British pound is worth USD 1.30.

So use this as a guide, not a guarantee:

It’s also worth noting that the companies also offer family pricing and discounts for 2-day passes. You can also save money by buying online ahead of time rather than at the bus stops.

But generally speaking, the Original Tour is the cheapest.

But are they the best? We’ll get into that below!

What is the best London bus tour?

As I mentioned above, 3 main bus companies run these hop-on-hop-off busses in London:

The Original Tour

Big Bus Tours

Golden Tours

We used Big Bus Tours which wasn’t the cheapest at the time of this writing. But we had a good experience with them. But here’s how they stack up in reviews on Yelp:

3.5 stars on Yelp with 150 reviews.

Top complaint – Waiting for a bus, often up to 1 hour. Many commented about seeing the other bus companies come by many times before seeing an Original Tour bus.

3 stars on Yelp with 223 reviews.

Top complaint – Wait times, London traffic, and crowded busses

It’s worth noting that this is the company we used, and I do recall waiting a little long at one point, but generally, we were pretty happy with them. We also did not experience bad traffic or crowded busses.

2.5 stars on Yelp with 261 reviews.

Top complaint – Not enough busses, busses never coming to designated stops, poor customer service

So all told, taking price (which I listed above) and reviews, and my own experience into account, I would say the clear winner for London’s hop-on-hop-off bus tours is . . .

Are kids allowed in pubs in London?

No visit to London is complete without a stop or 2 at a pub for some fish n’ chips, right?

• But can you take your kids into a pub?
• Is a pub considered a bar?
• What are the rules for kids?

Unlike bars in the US, most pubs open during the day (it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right?).

Most also serve food. Many have patios and gardens as well. So, compared to US bars, pubs can be very family-friendly. And they have been since a law was passed in 1994 allowing kids under age 14 into pubs.

We investigated this on our visit and are happy to report that you can indeed bring kids into a pub under a few conditions. Those include:

• Pubs that don’t serve food (rare in my experience) probably won’t allow kids at all
• Even those that serve food will have a 6 pm, 8 pm, or 9 pm cutoff for kids on-premises
• Different pub owners and landlords may have their own rules
• Pubs may have designated areas where kids are or are not allowed

I have to say, we visited 3 different pubs with our kids and had a great time in each one.

But the real gem for us was eating lunch at a pub called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese .

This pub once burned down but was fully restored. Restored in 1667!  Yes, this pub was rebuilt over 350 years ago and has been operating ever since, run by the same family!

Want to sit in a booth where Mark Twain once sat? Check.

Would you like to eat in a pub that gets mentioned in Charles Dickens’s novel A Tale of Two Cities? Done.

And the food was phenomenal, the beer excellent and the staff was awesome.

Does London allow smoking in restaurants and pubs?

No is the short answer.

Smoking was outlawed in pubs, bars, and restaurants way back in 2008. So there are no worries going into any place of business with your kids and finding smoking going on.

There are, of course, a few exceptions, such as:

• Hotel rooms (if they advertise it that way)
• Tobacco shops

That being said, you will notice that smoking is still a lot more common in the UK than it is in the US.

We saw smokers of all ages and demographics all over the streets of London. Smoking may be banned in most indoor places, but it is still pretty prevalent outdoors. So if you’re a non-smoker, you’ll just have to get used to it.

Technically, according to the World Health Organization , the rates of smoking in the US and UK are about the same (just under 20% of the population).

But I think the difference is that the UK doesn’t stigmatize it as we tend to do here in the US, so people feel a lot more comfortable just lighting up anywhere outdoors. Plus, the UK obviously doesn’t have as many restrictions on outdoor smoking as we do in the US.

Is the Harry Potter studio tour worth it?

I certainly think so!

We spent a good 4 hours there, with a toddler (who loved it even though she doesn’t know the movies). And we still felt rushed!

That being said, it’s not exactly cheap. But, kids under 4 are free.

We spent about $400 on tickets and transportation. The studio itself is about an hour outside of London and not easy to get to by train or tube. So unless you plan to rent a car and are comfortable driving in the UK on the other side of the road from what you’re likely used to, transportation is essential. If you do rent a car, Rentagile is one of the best place to get cheap, sanitized car rentals in London.

We rode by a bus which picked up about 30 people or so from central London.

Now in truth, while it advertised itself as a “luxury bus with TV”, it wasn’t really much different than a standard city bus and it had 1 TV located towards the front that was a bit hard to hear. Luxury? No.

But we weren’t in it for the bus, so that was really of minor consequence.

The trip was non-eventful and the TV played an interesting behind the scenes documentary about the making of the Harry Potter films. I’ll get more into the details of the tour below.

I mentioned we bought a package that inclu ded bus transportation.

Here is an example of the price differences:

Studio tickets only for a family of 4 – $195 (again, approximated using a currency conversion rate of 1.3)

What we paid including bus transportation – $463.

I’ll get more into transportation in the section below. But for us, it was totally worth paying for the bus service. The pickup spot in London was easy to get to, and it dropped us off right at the entrance.

For the studio tour in general, we loved it!

I, my wife and 2 older daughters are all huge Harry Potter fans (books and movies) and the tour was awesome and totally worth it. And don’t worry. I’ve got all the details of the tour itself in the sections below.

Just budget accordingly.

We also spent about $150 in merchandise from the gift shops in the studio as well as lunch (did someone say Butter Beer on tap????)

How do I get to the Harry Potter studio tour from London?

You can drive if you are comfortable driving in the UK.

But I imagine most people reading this are visiting London from the US and probably not renting a car or prepared to drive. In that case, you’ll want to use one of the 3 bus companies that operate rides to and from the Harry Potter studio tour.

Those bus companies are

• Golden Tours Premium Tours

As I said above, the studio itself is a little over an hour outside London, and not easy to get to by train or underground.

You can take a train but you have to transfer train types and each uses a different payment method. Then when you get dropped off (at Watford Junction Railway Station), the Harry Potter studio is still 15 minutes away.

They do, however, have shuttles that run every 20 minutes to and from the train station and the studio. You cannot, however, board a shuttle if you haven’t already purchased tickets to the Harry Potter studio tour.

So from my experience, it’s worth the added expense of just hiring a bus company.

They drop you off right at the entrance of the studio and then pick you up later at the designated time.

How long does the Harry Potter studio tour take?

As I mentioned above, we felt rushed and were there (including lunch) for about 4 hours.

But, we are HUGE Harry Potter fans. But there’s so much we didn’t do because of either time or lines. For example, the Dursley’s house on Privet drive is a little past the halfway mark of the tour. And considering we’d been there 3 hours and didn’t know how much cool stuff there was still to see, we didn’t go inside.

Officially, Warner Brothers claim the average tour takes 3.5 hours.

If you take a bus tour as we did, you also have the limitation of needing to be back on the bus at the designated time to drive back (and it will leave without you if you aren’t relatively on time).

Golden Tours, for example (who we used), claims their service is 7 hours round-trip.

With about 2.5 hours for transportation that leaves you a little over 4 hours to see the studio and most likely get lunch (and Butter Beer).

What can I expect at the Harry Potter studio tour?

There’s so much to see!

You’ll see all the most famous sets from the movies. But you’ll also see endless props, animatronic creatures, costumes, and you can even get a video of you riding a broom (if you can afford the Nimbus 3000).

The tour is half amusement park and half museum. 

It’s set up where you basically walk from set to set and weave your way through the studio. There’s a designated entrance and exit and for the most part, you’re always moving forward. So once you leave one set, you won’t see it again unless you intentionally go backward.

They only let in a small number of people at one time. That makes it nice and not super crowded. But there is mention from the staff to keep moving to make room for the next tour group.

Here is a breakdown of the biggest sets we saw:

The Great Hall

This is where the tour begins!

My wife got picked (it was her birthday) to open the official doors to the Great Hall and start the tour. The room itself was just as it appears in the movies except for the ceiling and thousands of floating candles. The did have a few floating candles though.

Lifesize mannequins dressed exactly as Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid, Professor McGonigle, Professor Snape, and others complete the experience.

The Forbidden Forest

Not the complete forest as you see in the movies. More like a recreation with Aragog and other animatronic spiders, but still really cool! Fog machines and endless spiderwebs complete the experience.

My toddler was hesitant to go in (you can go around if you need to). But she did go in, clinging to me. But the moment we were done, she wanted to go right back in again.

Weeks later, she’s still talking about the “dark forest” and how brave she was with the giant spiders.

Platform 9 3/4

The Platform 9 3/4 scenes in the movie were partly filmed here, and partly at the actual King’s Cross Train Station in London.

We went to King’s Cross also, and they do have a cart partly embedded in a brick wall next to a Harry Potter gift shop. Because King’s Cross has been remodeled, it was honestly a little hard to recognize from the movies. And, of course, none of the trains running look like the Hogwarts Express.

So, while cool to see, I would not say that’s worth going out of your way for, especially if you’re going to the Harry Potter studio tour.

Platform 9 3/4 in the studio tour, however, is great!

What you see here is what was used in the Deathly Hallows (part 2) and includes a life-size Hogwarts Express train and train car you can board.  There are multiple areas for photos from the luggage cart half-embedded in a brick wall, to train car club rooms.

Diagon Alley

Walk up and down the street checking out all the shops!

You can’t go in the shops nor is their a wall of bricks that move as the entrance, but it’s still really cool. This is a snapshot of Diagon Alley much as it appeared towards the end of the film series, as the sets were changed frequently and doubled as Hogsmeade too.

Gringotts Wizarding Bank

Yes, this is the full-sized banking hall complete with giant marble pillars, crystal chandeliers, and an endless row of banking teller stations! This room is massive!

Once you go through it, you’ll then see the Lestrange Vault filled with treasures. You also see an example of the minecart used to get around the many vaults behind the scenes at Gringotts. But sadly, you don’t get to ride in one!

The Hogwarts Miniature

This is the miniature (and I use that word lightly) of the Hogwarts castle and surrounding grounds.

This thing is huge! Miniature yes, but it takes up what probably amounts to the size of a large gymnasium! More than 2,500 fiber optic lights and built by a crew of 86 artists.

This was built for the 1st film and continued to be used throughout the series for exterior shots of the castle.

And here are some of the other highlights of the tour:

• The Whomping Willow and Mr. Weasley’s flying car  (lifesize, albeit not the whole tree, just the whomping branch)
• The Chamber of Secrets Door
• Buckbeak the Hippogriff (lifesize)
• Aragog the giant spider

Lastly, there’s the green screen photo opp area.

Here you get to don the house robe of your choice and take some official pictures.

As I mentioned, you can take your own pictures everywhere. But in this area, you have to purchase their official pictures (or you can skip this part altogether which we will do on our next visit).

Here you can take a family photo with 2 options (we opted for the Azkaban wanted poster ).

Then you can ride a broom and do either a video or a photo. The videos, as I mentioned above, are pricey (about $25 USD each) and since each member of your party is recorded individually, that’s a lot to pay for a large family. Especially if you consider how often you are actually likely to watch them.

The photos are definitely fun, and I’m glad we did them. But as I’ve also mentioned, we felt pressed for time and this took almost an hour. So we’ve done it and can skip it on future visits (which we will do!)

How much money should I take to the Harry Potter studio tour?

As I mentioned, we spent about $450 on tickets for a family of 4 (plus a toddler who was free) including round-trip bus transportation to and from the studio to central London.

Then we spent over $150 on merchandise and official pictures.

In most places, you can take your own pictures. But no pics are allowed in their official picture spot where you can don robes from your favorite house and ride a broom.

Trust me. We could have spent a whole lot more than we did.

They also have a cafe where you can get lunch and Butter Beer on tap. But everything combined? I bet we spent $650 easily and we still skimped. The most expensive thing (which we passed on) were videos of each of us riding a broom.

After all, how often are you likely to sit around watching a 2-minute video of you riding a broom.

It would be different if it was 1 video of all of us. But instead, it’s 1 video each and they charge about $25 USD per video. So $100 for 4 videos we aren’t likely to watch more than a few times just didn’t make sense.

We did buy 5 pictures which were about $60. But they were pretty cool. They came in a decorative Harry Potter photo album, plus 1 was an oversized Azkaban wanted poster of us. And you get a code to download digital copies too.

So that was a much better value for us.

I’ve also been to Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood and I wasn’t planning on missing this one just so I could compare the two!

Is it worth trekking to Stonehenge?

The short answer is probably not.

I can’t say for certain because I’ve never been in my 4 visits to London. I’m intrigued by the idea, but it’s not like you just hop in the tube and get there in a few stops.

With kids, it would be even more challenging.

My friend Paul, of the website Teacher of Sci , who lives in Brighton (an hour away from London) said this when I asked him if it was worth visiting Stonehenge: “ it’s a bloody nightmare to get to (driving only) and you’ll be done there in 30 mins. Not worth it!”

But to give you some specifics:

• It’s 90 miles from London
• If you go by train, the nearest station is 9 miles from Stonehenge
• There are no public buses running to Stonehenge
• Private bus tours are available
• Private busses are about 50 pounds per person (about $60 US dollars each)

So decide for yourself. But for my family of 5, even if my toddler was free, that would still have been $240 bucks, and probably a minimum of 6 hours roundtrip travel from London just to star at the rocks for a half hour.

But if you’re bound and determined to see it, many of the hop-on-hop-off bus companies also offer day trips to Stonehenge.

Did I cover all you wanted to know about traveling with kids in London?

In this article, I took an in-depth look at what it’s like going to London with your family.

Compared to when I went as a teen, and again in later years before I had kids, exploring London with your kids can be a magical experience. We looked at the best ways of getting around and the best attractions for both toddlers and older kids.

But we also explored the hop-on-hop-off bus system and the amazing Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour!

Ultimately, we answered the basic question of how can I travel with kids in London and all of the adjacent questions that might follow that. This article ended up being the ultimate guide for traveling to London with kids.

Have you traveled to London with your kids?

Photos which aren’t mine:

Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour 24-1-2015 by Martin Pettitt is licensed under CC2.0

Harry Potter Studio Tour by Jonathan Dadds  is licensed under CC2.0

The Making of Harry Potter by Martin Pettitt is licensed under CC2.0

2017-04-28_HarryStudioTour07 by Ungry Young Man  is licensed under CC2.0

Diagon Alley by Steve  is licensed under CC2.0

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The 14 Best Things to Do in London with a Toddler

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This is my ranked list of the best things to do in London with a toddler. My husband and I brought our daughter to London the week before she turned 3, and while my husband was working, Gwen and I explored the city.

I know that a three year old might not remember this trip. That’s ok! We brought her to London so that she could spend time with family who lives in London. When we weren’t with family, I wanted her to have fun, so I chose activities that she would love. London is one of my favorite cities and I have been many times and I have seen most of the major sites two or three times, so this trip could be all about Gwen. 

I am sharing a ranking here in this post, but I will break it into an itinerary in another post. These rankings are based on the fact that my daughter and I actually went to all of these places!

First, a few tips for visiting London with a toddler:

London doesn’t have a children’s museum, but several museums have children’s play areas. Sometimes you need to pre-book a play session.

Depending on the time of year you visit, the museums that are free might be hosting a lot of school field trips. This was the case when we visited in late June (schools in the UK have a longer school year than schools in the US). You will see that I preferred the activities that require an entrance fee since they were less crowded.

Currently, the free museums recommend pre-booking. Do this to avoid waiting in a long ling to get in.

I didn’t go to the cafes at every museum, but some did offer kids meals of a sandwich, piece of fruit, juice box, and chips. This worked really well for us.

We used the London Underground to get from place to place, we just made sure to avoid rush hours. Most London museums and attractions don’t open until 10am, so avoiding the morning rush is easy. We would finish up our outings around 4pm so we could be off the tube by 5pm when it gets crowded. I am working on a separate blog post about taking the tube with a toddler. Read my Guide to Taking the London Underground with a Toddler .

The Best Things to Do in London with a Toddler

Table of Contents

1. The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace

This is a more major outing since it isn’t in central London and you will likely need to take the train and travel for about an hour. It’s so worth the trip! While Gwen and I went to most places on this list without my husband, I do think that a two adult to one toddler ratio is ideal for this longer trip.

Why is this at the top of the list? Not only is the playground gorgeous, this separate children’s play area has a cafe with seating, bathrooms, and wifi. The play area has some sand and a splash pad, so I recommend bringing a towel and change of clothing for your child. 

Once your child is worn out, walk around the stunning gardens. You can also see things like Henry VIII’s apartment inside the castle. The castle itself isn’t very stroller friendly, so we stuck to the outside areas. Horse-drawn carriage rides of the grounds are offered as well. 

The Magic Garden is first on this list because it is truly magical. It’s the coolest playground that I have seen and definitely one of the best things to do in London with a toddler. Plus, we love that you can also explore the palace and learn a bit of history while you are there. Check out the palace’s schedule to learn more about family friendly events like jousting, theater events, and more.

Cost: £26.30 – £29.00 for adults, £13.10 – £14.50 for children between 6-17. Kids 5 and under are free. Open at 11 am through October 29, 2023 First come first serve, there can be a line. There is a time limit on busy days. Bring: swimsuit and towel

2. Brigit’s Bakery Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

My daughter is in a major Peppa Pig phase, and she loves buses. On this tour, you get to cruise around London going past sites including the Tower of London, the London Eye, and Tower Bridge while enjoying afternoon tea.

Charles and I were impressed with how well done this tour is. When you arrive at your table, tea sandwiches (such as egg salad, cheese, caprese) and sweet treats are set out for you. Once the tour gets going, you receive your choice of tea in a Peppa Pig travel mug. (Kids get milk or juice). Warm scones with clotted cream and jam arrive later. 

A guide points out sites, leads a couple of songs (like Wheels on the Bus), and introduces clips from the Peppa Pig show which play on screens at each table. 

I would say that the prime ages for this tour are 3-5 years old. Perhaps the best part for me was that Gwen fell asleep 10 minutes before the tour ended and proceeded to take a two hour nap after being transferred to her stroller!

The company is also offering a Paddington themed tour which welcomes children ages 5 and up. The Peppa Pig tour is for kids 2 and older. The Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is for children and adults 5 and older.

Cost: £48.00 – £68.00 for adults, £38.00 – £58.00 for adults Pre-booking required.

3. Discover Children’s Story Center

While London doesn’t have a children’s museum, this is close. Located just off the Jubilee Line’s Stratford Station, this indoor/outdoor play space is perfect for children ages 3-5.  Officially, the space welcomes kids aged 0-11.

The play areas are meant to inspire the imagination and storytelling. There is a musical forest, a space ship, clouds, a craft area and outdoor story garden. Guests have the option of adding storytelling sessions and visits to an immersive exhibit to their ticket. Gwen played here for 2.5 hours. It was a massive hit.

An onsite cafe offers lunch and snacks. An added bonus is that it’s right by the massive Westfield mall so you can easily add some shopping to this outing.

Cost: £9 per person, storytelling sessions are an additional £2.50 and exhibit entrance is an additional £3.50 Pre-book online.

4. London Transport Museum

This museum has a lot to offer both children and adults. Gwen’s grandfather learned all about the history of the London railway system while she played in the play areas. 

Many of the other museums on this list are free, but this one does require adults to buy a ticket. The ticket is actually a yearly membership, but I think it’s worth it. Since the museum is right in Covent Garden, it’s so easy to get to, and it wasn’t as crowded as the free museums (like the Museum of Science and the Museum of Natural History). We ended up going a second time because the weather wasn’t great – and she loved it just as much the second time.

There are some kid-friendly games sprinkled throughout the museum, plus you can go onto some of the vehicles. The big attractions for little ones are a bus that you can sit in and pretend to drive and a play area on the first floor with a play bus and ferry.

When you buy your initial membership, you will get a membership number that you will need to make subsequent bookings. Pre-booking is highly recommended.

Cost: £24 for adults (annual membership), children 17 and under are free Pre-book your visit online.

5. Museum of the Docklands

Located near the Canary Wharf station, you might not immediately think of bringing a toddler to a museum dedicated to the history of the Thames River, shipping, and ship building, but the Mudlarks play area is excellent. Just remember to pre-book a play session.

Mudlarks has a large soft-play space, costumes to try on, areas where kids can try to load up ships, and a boat themed water play area. You might want to pack a change of clothing.

A lovely cafe next to the play area offers kids meals.

Cost: entrance to this museum is free, but Mudlarks play sessions are £2.50 per person. Pre-book a Mudlarks play session . Bring: a change of clothing.

6. The London Zoo

London’s Zoo is located within Regent’s Park. Gwen loved it so much that the next morning she woke up and asked to see more animals. Maybe it was me, but I felt like I was always lost at this zoo. Sadly some of the animals, like the lions, seemed to be hiding when we visited. The zoo would probably be higher up on this list if we didn’t live in Chicago which has an incredible free zoo that we visit often.

Overall, this zoo is large, stroller friendly, and has plenty of meal options. Gwen’s favorite areas were Penguin Beach and the tiger habitat.

Cost: £31.00 – £33.00 per adult, children ages 3-15 £21.70 – £23.10, children 2 and under are free.

7. National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum’s AHOY Gallery is a soft play area geared towards kids under 7 years old. The nautical themed space has toy cannons, a pirate ship, and a fish market. I think that prime ages for this are 2-5.

We didn’t see much of the museum beyond AHOY, but there are some costumes for kids to play with scattered throughout the museum.

This museum is in Greenwich, and it is a darling area! I wish we had more time to explore, but we needed to get back on the tube to beat rush hour. If you need a quick bite, there is a Gail’s Bakery right next to the museum.

Visiting this museum provides you with a perfect opportunity to take the ferry along the Thames. We paired this with seeing the Museum of the Docklands and used the ferry to get from one to the other!

Cost: the museum is free, admission to AHOY is £3.00 for 1 child and 1 adult Book a time slot for AHOY in advance.

8. Paddington Recreation Playground

This playground in Maida Vale has different sections for children of different ages. It is easily to get to from the Maida Vale stop on the Bakerloo line.

The different areas include a ship, climbing areas, slides, swings, and a little kid sized row of townhomes.

9. Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Playground

This playground in Hyde Park is one of the most well-known in London. Inspired by the story of Peter Pan, the centerpiece of the playground is a large wooden pirate ship with a tall crows nest that children can climb up. 

The playground is very popular and once capacity is reached a line will form. The website warms that the queue can form as early as 10 am and it can last all day. (We got right in on a sunny weekday in June).

There are bathrooms, a cafe, and a picnic area next to the playground. Bring a change of clothing and a towel; this park has both water and sand.

10. The Children’s Garden at Kew Gardens

The children’s garden has areas dedicated to the earth’s elements. There is a wooden climbing area, tiny individual trampolines that are sunk into the ground, a mini versions of the treetops found elsewhere in the park, and a large field for picnicking. 

I see this as being a nice bonus if you are going to visit Kew Gardens, but I wouldn’t plan a trip to Kew Gardens around seeing the Children’s Garden. Be sure to look online since sometimes the garden closes for dedicated play sessions, and be aware that sometimes inaccurate information is communicated. 

Cost: £40.00 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children), £17.00 for adults, £5.00 for children 4-15 years old. Pre-booking recommended.

11. The Science Museum

The only reason why this museum isn’t higher on the list is that it was very crowded with school field trips, even the young children’s play area was packed! This museum is free, but pre-book a time slot. You don’t need to make a booking to go to the play area, called The Garden.

To get to The Garden, you need to go through the space exhibit and Gwen was very excited to see the exhibit with the astronaut. The Garden has areas for building, climbing, and exploring.

After Gwen had played for an hour, we went to the cafe where she had a kid’s lunch box. 

12. The Museum of Natural History

Since this museum is free and just next to the Science Museum, we stopped in to see the dinosaurs. It was very very crowded with both tourists and school trips. 

I recommend starting off by seeing the stegosaurus and then going up the escalator through the center of the earth, just behind the stegosaurus. Why? Kid’s love a fun escalator! Before leaving, see the whale skeleton in the stunning great entrance. 

By this point, Gwen was asleep in her stroller. Huge parenting win!

13. Sealife Aquarium

When Gwen wanted to see “more animals” I thought it made sense to go to the aquarium. I felt like this aquarium, located right by the London Eye and the Shrek attraction, was both crowded and cheesy. But, she loved getting to see the sharks and penguins.

Book your tickets online in advance to save money.

Cost: £29.50 – £40.00 for adults, £30.00 for children 3-15 years old, children under 3 are free.

14. Hamleys

The world’s oldest toy store is massive, and crowded. But, it’s a must see for anyone with young children. It’s similar to FAO Schwartz in NYC. There are plenty of Paddington, Peppa Pig, and London themed toys spread across 7 levels. 

On Our List for Next Time:

I did lots of research on the best things to do in London with a toddler but we didn’t have time for everything. Here are some of the things that we plan to do next summer.

Children’s Theater

There are so many theaters offering productions for children in London. Some plays are toddler friendly, while others are geared towards school-aged children.

Puppet Theatre Barge

Speaking of children’s theater, the Puppet Theatre Barge looks amazing! It didn’t fit in our schedule this time, but I want to go next summer.

A City Farm

Did you know that there are city farms scattered throughout London? One of my husband’s colleagues recommended Mudchute , which is just across the river from the Maritime Museum. Mudchute is a 32 acre farm with over 100 animals, and admission is free. Mudchute Kitchen offers onsite dining. I have also heard great things about Kentish Town City Farm.

Postal Museum

The Postal Museum has a play space called Sorted! This space was created for children ages 0-8 and it includes a mail counter where children can weigh and stamp letters, a parcel sorting area, and postal themed dress up clothes.

You can visit the play space without visiting the museum. If you choose to visit both, a discount is given. Children might want to visit the museum so that they can ride on the Mail Rail.

Cost: £17 for adults, £10 for children 3-15, and children 2 and under are free. The Postal Play Space requires a ticket which is £5 for children (adults do not need tickets). Book a 45 minute play session for Sorted! in advance.

Things to Do with Slightly Older Children:

As of January 2024, Kidzania has closed.

Read More About London:

150+ things to do in london, london neighborhood guides, 5 day london itinerary, can’t-miss london restaurants, 24 british foods to try in london, london packing list  , what to know about visiting london.

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Have you been to London with a little one? What do you think that the best things to do in London with a toddler are?

Travelling in London with kids

When planning a family trip to London, one of the things we need to think about is how we are going to get around London. And in particular, how travelling in London with kids works.

You are probably asking yourself what fares children have to pay on London´s public transport. And you may even need to know how to use London´s public transport with a buggy.

Travelling in London with kids: Fares and transport passes

When travelling in London with kids, it is important to know the different child fares on London´s transport network depending on their age. There are transport passes for children, valid for London´s underground network, buses, DLR, overground and trains within London travel zones .

Children under 11 years of age

Children aged under 11 travel free on London´s buses and trams, at any time, and do not need a ticket. They also travel free on London Underground, DLR (docklands light railway), overground and Tfl rail. They don´t need a ticket as long as a paying adult accompanies them.

Up to 4 children can travel for free with an adult with a valid ticket. When entering the London underground with a child (or more) under 11, it is advisable to use the larger access doors. These doors are wider and don´t close as fast as individual doors. They are designed for people travelling in London with kids, luggage or for disabled people.

Children 11 – 16 years of age

Children between the ages of 11 and under 16 can travel at a reduced rate on London´s public transport. Understanding what tickets are more suitable can be a bit complicated, as there are several options. For this reason, I am going to summarise the different options below. Hopefully, you will be able to decide which option is more suitable for you if you are travelling in London with kids.

Children from 11 to 16 years old can also travel with an adult oyster card or travel card if necessary. In this case, they will not benefit from reduced rates on travel.

Option 1: Oyster card with Young Visitor Discount

This is the best option if you are planning a family trip to London. An oyster card with a young visitor discount will apply half adult rates for 14 days. After 14 days, this discount will expire, and the oyster card will charge full adult rates again. The oyster card can also be returned at the end of your trip, just like a normal oyster card .

All you have to do is buy an Oyster Card or a Visitor Oyster Card, either online or at an underground station, and then ask a staff member to set the Young Visitor Discount. This discount can be applied at any underground station in London, including the underground station at Heathrow Airport .

An adult will need to give their personal details to register the oyster card before the discount can be applied, and you might be asked to confirm the child´s age. You and your child will need to be together when asking for the Young Visitor Discount to be set onto an oyster card, and an adult can request the young visitor discount to be set for up to 4 children (on separate oyster cards).

Option 2: Zip Oyster Photocard

The zip oyster photocard will entitle children up to 16 years of age to reduced fares on the underground and overground and other TFL services, as well as free travel on trams and buses. The zip oyster photocard is normally the best option for children that live in London, as the process to get an oyster photocard for a child can take some time and there is an initial registration fee of up to £20 – so this is normally not the best option for tourists.

• To get a zip oyster photocard if you live in London, all you need to do is fill in a form that you’ll find at your local Post Office and return it to the Post Office. You will also need to include a passport-sized photo and a copy of the birth certificate or passport and pay the fee. You should get the zip oyster photocard in 2 weeks.
• If you are a UK resident, you will need to do the process online on TFL’s website, and you should get the zip oyster photocard within 4 weeks.
• If you live outside the UK you will need to do the process online on TFL’s website. When applying, you will need to choose which London Visitor Centre (Liverpool Street Station, Victoria Station, Euston, Gatwick, King’s Cross station) you want to collect the zip oyster photocard from, as it will not be sent to your home address. You need to apply at least 3 weeks in advance but can apply up to three months in advance.

Option 3: 1 Day Child Travelcard

A one-day child travelcard will allow unlimited travel at any time of the day on any form of public transport in London for the chosen London Travel Zones . No ID is needed to purchase this one-day child travelcard, but fares using an oyster card with a young visitor discount are normally cheaper. If you are visiting London for several days and choose this option, you will have to buy a one-day child travelcard for each day, and this will work out a lot more expensive than using an oyster card with a young visitor discount.

Option 4: 7 Day Child Travelcard

To buy a 7-day child travelcard in London there are 3 options: 1 – By adding a weekly travelcard into a zip oyster photocard. This is undoubtedly the most complicated option, as you need to request a zip card oyster photocard first and then add the 7-day travelcard onto it. 2 – Buy a 7-day child travelcard online . This is probably the easiest way of getting one, as you don’t need a zip oyster photocard, and they’ll send it to your home address before you travel. 3 – Buy a 7-day child travelcard at a national railway ticket office (not an underground station).

16 – 18 years old

People aged 16 to 18 can also apply for a 16 – 18 zip oyster photocard, which will apply half adult rates on any form of public transport in London. Travelcards at a reduced price can also be added onto zip oyster photocards.

You don’t need to live in London to be able to apply for a zip card, but there is a processing fee which makes it hard to justify if you’re just visiting London for a few days. In this case, I’d recommend using a normal oyster card (adult rates) for anyone over 16.

For more information about travelling in London kids visit:  Transport for London

Travelling in London with kids: Travelling to Central London from the airport

Stansted , Luton and Gatwick airports are all located outside London’s Travel Zones , so fares when travelling with kids too and from these airports are different to fares when travelling in London with kids, so under 11 years old’s will need a ticket.

An oyster card is valid for travel into Central London from Gatwick Airport, but children under 11 also need a train ticket to get to central London from Gatwick Airport, even if they are accompanied by an adult.

Heathrow and London City Airports are both inside London Travel Zones , so fares are as explained above. Children under 11 travel free, and Children under 16 can travel with an oyster card with a young visitor discount.

⇒ More information:  London Airport Transfers

Travelling in London with a buggy

One of the things we need to think about if we are going to be travelling in London with kids is if we are going to need to travel around London with a buggy. If you are planning a trip with a baby, it may be that you wish to bring your buggy to London, or if you have older children, you will probably need to use a stroller if you are planning on spending the whole day walking around London.

When you first become a parent in London, using public transport with a buggy isn´t easy at first. Still, you eventually learn how to get around and quickly learn how to read London´s accessibility maps and find the best routes. The truth is that travelling in London with a buggy can be very easy if you know which route is best, or it can be a complete nightmare if you have to go up or down 300 steps when there are no lifts.

This is why we are going to explain how to travel on London´s public transport with a buggy.

Travelling on London´s buses with a buggy

Public buses in London have a dedicated wheelchair and buggy space as well as easy street-level access, and travelling by bus with a buggy normally is the easiest option to get around London. You can enter the bus via the back door, which makes it a bit easier too. Up to two pushchairs are allowed in the dedicated buggy space on a bus, but do bear in mind that during busy periods you may be asked to wait for the next bus or collapse your pushchair.

Travelling on the London Underground with a buggy

The trick to travelling in London with kids using a pushchair is to check London´s accessible underground map in advance and choose your route carefully. Being able to plan your route by choosing accessible stations makes life much easier. It may just mean that you need to get off at the next stop and walk 5 minutes, rather than having to take a buggy and a baby up 100 steps.

Unfortunately, not all underground stations in London are accessible. Most underground stations in London will have escalators, and many stations will also have stairs before reaching the platform. Many other stations have lifts to some platforms, and some stations are completely accessible, with lifts from the ticket office to the platform.

Travelling in London with a buggy is easier if there are two adults as one of you can carry the baby whilst the other one can take the buggy up or down the stairs. If it´s just one adult taking a buggy then I would encourage you to check the best route first. Whenever I had no choice and had to get off at an underground station that wasn’t accessible with a buggy, there has always been someone willing to help me. If you need help going up or down the stairs and you ask a staff member for help, for health and safety reasons, they will ask you to carry the baby and take the buggy for you. I have to say that a lot of people will use the escalators with a buggy, but I would recommend that you use stations with lifts.

London Underground Accessibility Maps

On the London Underground map, you will see that accessible underground stations are marked with the symbol of a wheelchair, in either a blue circle or a white circle.

• Blue circle: Fully accessible station. This means it is possible to go from street level onto the underground carriage without any steps. In these cases, the platform will have a slightly elevated area that avoids steps to get onto the train.
• White circle: Accessible Station. This means that there are no steps from street level to the platform. There is some unevenness when getting onto the train. This is important for someone using a wheelchair, but it usually isn´t a problem when taking a buggy onto the train.

In addition to this map, there is a Step Free Tube Map , which is a lot more detailed and the one I recommend you check when travelling on the London Underground with a buggy. This map highlights the degree of accessibility at each station in detail and explains how accessible it is to change between underground lines at different stations.

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Hi. Thanks for this useful info. I was wondering how a child can use an Oyster card reduced rates. My brother is visiting for five days with five and two children: 6 and 16yo. They will stay in zone four where the only connection to London is on a train. Therefore, do you think the cheapest way to get there each day and back is to use three adult Oyster cards? I read on TFL that children 5-11 can travel free on all sort of transport eleven without a zip photocard as long as they travel with accompanied adult. Of that’s the case, do they go through the gates together touching just with one card?

Hi Pawel, The cheapest way for the adults is to use an oyster card (or contactless debit or credit card ). The 6-year-old travels free, no ticket needed. They just go through the large gates (which are designed for families, disabled or people with luggage) with an adult. The 16-year-old can use an oyster card, like the adults, but will pay the same fare as the adults, but the best thing is to request they apply the young visitor discount on his oyster card at any underground station, paying half the fare than the adults for each journey. Hope that helps, I know it’s quite tricky!

Hi. Thanks for further explanation. I asked today at my local train station (national rail) in zone four and he advised me (although he didn’t sound entirely convincing) that the free travel for under 11s applies only on TFL transport and not on national rail even if it’s within London. Do you know if that’s the case as I read conflicting info on TFL.

Hi Pawel, this is my understanding too, children 5 – 11 need a ticket for national rail trains. Sorry I hadn’t realised you meant train, not underground! Let me know what station it is and I can look into it for you. =)

I’m visiting London with my two daughters (12 and 14). I thought I would get the visitor Oyster card and then ask for the family discount when we get there. How does this actually work going through the tap barriers? Do we all go through with one card?

Many thanks for your help with this! Michelle

Hi Michelle, As they are over 11 years old they need a card each – an oyster card with young visitor discount is the best option for them. Then each one of you will need to tap the card onto the yellow reader at the barrier to go through one by one. Hope that helps!

Many thanks! 🤗

Thanks a lot for the great information! I have a question regarding the young visitors discount. My daughter just turned 16 last month. Theoretically she won’t be able to get the discount, because on the official website it’s says only for children 11-15 years old. Am I missing something? Thanks!

Hi Anna, Yes, unfortunately the young visitor discount only applies to under 16s. As she is already 16, you would need to consider a zip card, or just a normal oyster card, as the zip card has a processing fee which probably makes it not worth it. Hope that helps!

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Traveling to London with a Baby

By: Author Wandermust Mummy

Are you traveling to London with a baby and looking for local insight and tips? Well in this guide I share with you everything I know about being a local in London in a baby from the best places to go with babies under 1 in London, how stroller friendly London is alongside other top tips. 

Important Note : This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Table of Contents

Traveling to London with a baby tips

As a London I can attest that London with kids of any age is a great idea. It is absolutely brimming with things to do and things to see, but if you are traveling to London with a baby it does take a bit more planning. As while we think city breaks with babies are a great choice of vacation, there are some practical things you need to consider. That is why we will turn our attention to some of the more practical aspects about visiting London with a baby before we look at things to do. 

Is London baby friendly?

I am often asked is London baby friendly or Should I worry about travelling with babies in London?

For me as a London mum the answer is undoubtedly no! While London can be a busy place, there are lots of baby friendly transport options and places to take a baby in London. For that reason we think London is very baby friendly.

So how do you get around London with a baby?

Getting around London with a baby or toddler 

So perhaps the first thing any parent is worried about when visiting a new city is about the best way to get around with a baby and London is no different. 

There are actually a great many options for getting round the city on public transport from the famous London buses to the London Underground. 

Therefore we will look at each options and what you need to know about them for using with a baby in London. 

Using the London Underground with a baby

Using a stroller in London / London with a baby

If you are travelling to London with baby then chances are you will have to use the London Underground at some point.  

The London Underground is one of the busiest underground systems in the world and dates back over 150 years and can be a daunting prospect for parents who haven’t used the Underground before.

We often get asked by those thinking about taking babies to London is about whether the London Underground is easy with babies – and our answer is yes and no. 

The London Underground is a very efficient method of travel but given its age, it should come as no surprise that it isn’t entirely accessible or stroller friendly. 

Our first tip for using the London Underground with a baby is to pick up a London Underground map and download the TFL app with its digital map. 

Once you have this open look for stations with a disability symbol on them. This shows you which stations have step free access and will be accessible even with a stroller (we will talk more about using a stroller in London later along with our recommendations for best stroller for European City breakS).

We recommend trying to pick your London accommodation near an accessible station if you plan on using a stroller. Also be sure that the line closest to you is not closed on your dates of travel as this would be very inconvenient. 

But in good news that your baby and any other children you are traveling with under the age of 11 are free on the London Underground. 

For more information on using the London Underground with kids or with toddlers check out our dedicated posts. 

And for advice on getting from the airport to London check out this post or check out our other London travel tips here. 

Buses in London with a baby

Getting Around London with a baby

Another great way to get around London with a baby is via the iconic London bus. 

Although the Underground can be quicker depending on the time of day that you are traveling, the bus is another convenient option.  

On a London bus you don’t have to contend with turnstiles and gates like you do on the London Underground and you don’t have to worry about elevators or escalators. And depending on the route you travel on there are some great sights to be seen (more on this later).

While not all London buses will have a drop step access for you to wheel directly on, the newer buses definitely will which makes it more accessible with a stroller. 

And new buses will usually have dedicated stroller parking or buggy parking on the bus which means you won’t have to remove your baby from your stroller to ride. 

Even on older buses there is usually a spot to park strollers or wheelchairs, however if the bus gets very busy you could be asked to fold down your stroller to make more space for a wheelchair. However in all my time living in London I have never had an occasion where I have had to do this. 

Also there are plenty of things to see out of the window on a bus compared to the Underground. It can also be a cheaper option. 

Therefore don’t overlook the bus when looking at traveling around London with babies.

London Hop On Hop Off Buses

We have always loved a Hop On Hop Off bus. They are a great way to see the main sights of a city but can be difficult to use especially in the summer if you are traveling with a baby as you aren’t guaranteed stroller parking on these buses.

Be sure to have a compact stroller or a carrier if you are planning on using one of these with a baby. 

Looking for things to make baby travel easier? Then check out this post!

Taxis in London with a baby

You can indeed use a taxi in London with a baby however this is a very expensive way of getting round the city. And also if you decide to use taxis with a baby in London you need to think about car seats.

UK law  states that when travelling in taxis children under three may travel without a car seat! However I personally do not feel comfortable doing this and never travel without a car seat. For this reason it is very rare that we take a taxi in London with our baby.

If you know that you can store a car seat at your destination or perhaps have a convertible car seat stroller then this may be something you decide to do but it can be an impractical option if you aren’t able to use your car seat as part of your stroller for the rest of your day in London. 

You could try booking a car in advance however with a company that provides car seats but this will obviously mean you have to keep to a tighter schedule. For this reason we always advocate using public transport in London with babies. 

If you want to use Uber, this is currently available in London however they do not provide car seats so you will need to bring your own which can be hard to store on a day out in London. 

Walking around London with toddler or baby

However my favorite way of getting around London with a baby or toddler has to be on foot.

London is a great walkable city and as far as European cities go I think London is stroller friendly, as most pavements are flat and have space for a stroller or pushchair or pram as we call them in London.

However not all London attractions for babies are stroller friendly. Keep reading for more information.

TfL Ferries

Ferries can be used with your Oyster card and are a great way to see many of the London sights in relative comfort and are easy to use even if you have a stroller. 

What to Pack for London with a baby

Traveling to London with a baby

When you are looking at what to pack for London with a baby it is really important to pack for the weather. For that reason we have monthly packing guides which you can check out here:

• What to wear to London in May
• What to wear to London in December

However some things that you should always have on your London packing list are:

• a stroller as there is lots of walking involved in any trip to London
• a carrier for those who are using lots of public transport and are visiting less stroller friendly attractions in London such as the Tower of London. 
• a good chaining bag with changing mat. While it is easy to find changing tables in London the cleanliness is debatable so having a good changing kit with you is essential. 
• Sterilising equipment 
• Pacifiers  and bottles and other feeding paraphernalia. 

If you have any other baby travel essentials you think you should take to London check out this post. 

Where to stay in London with a baby

When you are looking at where to stay in London with a baby, I would really emphasise  picking a good and central location near to an accessible tube stop. 

View of County Hall – Best Premier Inn to Stay in London – Best Premier Inn Locations London

We always prefer to stay in a hotel in London over an AirBnB or VRBO. There are some great chain hotels in London that have good family friendly locations and amenities as well as being budget friendly. We have a list of  best places to stay in London guide however if you want some more specific guidance why not check out the best premier inns to stay in in London. 

We always opt to stay in a Premier Inn in London as the price point is great for families, they have some great central locations and they always have good set ups for those traveling with children. 

For more inspiration on the best city breaks with toddlers in Europe check out this post. 

Where to Buy Baby Supplies

Whenever I travel with a baby, one of the first things I look for is where I can buy baby supplies. Now in my opinion London is actually a really easy to buy baby supplies. 

You can find diapers, baby food and formula in most supermarkets, even in the smaller Express supermarkets, as well as in pharmacies. One of the places we use to pick up baby supplies in London is Boots, which is a pharmacy style super store and you can get baby snacks for those doing baby led weaning , formula and pouches. 

Best Restaurants in London with babies

One of the great things you will find about eating out in London is that all restaurants will have baby high chairs and changing tables in the rest rooms. 

Some of our favorite places to eat with kids in London include:

• Franca Manca

However for more information  on the best places to ear in London with kids check out this post. 

Also if you are wondering if you can go to a London pub with a baby then the answer is that you usually can unless there is a specific notice outside. 

Best things to do in London with baby 

So now you know how to get around London with a baby and the best places to stay, let’s turn our attention to London’s baby friendly attractions and best things to do in London with baby. 

As any parents of babies will tell you that babies don’t need to be as catered for in terms of attractions as older kids, however having said that there are still lots of places that are great with babies in London here are our favourites.

Next read : If you would like to find a London itinerary designed specifically for babies and toddlers then check this post out!

London aquarium

Although babies don’t always need attractions specifically for them, one of the best places we have found to visit with babies is an aquarium. And the great news is that London has a fantastic one.

One of the things that we love about London is the huge multi layered shark tank. If you want to visit the London Aquarium we recommend you  book your tickets in advance here   to make sure you don’t have to queue.  

And if you are going to several of the London Merlin attractions consider buying the combo ticket   as this can be a cost saver. 

london eye with a baby or toddler

The London Eye is one of the most iconic attractions in London and is something on most peoples London bucket list . While toddlers could perhaps get bored on the rotation of the London Eye it is a great thing to do with babies. 

However if you decide to visit with babies I strongly recommend  Pre booking tickets   as the queue for the London eye gets very long. 

Top Tip:      If you are planning to visit several London attractions from Merlin Entertainments group  these include: Shrek’s Adventure! London, Madame Tussaud’s London, Sea life London Aquarium, The Coca-Cola London Eye and The London Dungeon it will save you a TON of money to buy the group ticket – you can buy the Merlin Magical London ticket here!

London Museums 

London Transport Museum, London with toddler

London has some of the best Museums is the world and there are plenty of museums that have areas designed for toddlers and babies.

Some of the best London museums for toddlers and babies are

• National Army Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Science Museum
• London Transport Museum

Another  great thing about most of the above museums (barring the London Transport Museum) is that they offer free admission and are great for people traveling to London on a budget. 

No matter what age your child is, zoos are always a popular attraction to visit. London has a great zoo in Regent’s Park which babies will love.

To save your children waiting in line be sure to grab your Skip the Line tickets in advance HERE

Best London Parks for Babies

Best London Playgrounds / Best London Parks

One of the Things I love about London is the amazing parks all over the city. Some of out favorite parks and playgrounds in London for babies are: 

Princess Diana Memorial Playground

This huge outdoor playground is one of the most popular and best things for toddlers to do in London and there are some small areas that are great for babies too.  

Some of my little ones favourite parts of the garden are the pirate ship, sensory trail and wigwams.

The only downside to this playground is how busy it can get especially at weekends and during holidays so try and go early and on a weekday. 

Please note : The park opens at 10am each day (closed on Christmas Day). The park is supervised however children must be accompanied by an adult.

A lovely park in good proximity to the museums to let children blow off steam

St James Park

A beautiful park with interesting wildlife and good play area for little ones.

It is also well located near to Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard which is totally doable with a baby in tow!

There is a children’s playground located close to Wellington Barracks and also a coffee shop for parents in need of caffeination.

Regents Park

A great park but with the added bonus as being home to the London Zoo.

Baby Activities London

If you are what to do in London with baby  then the below activities are specifically designed for littles.

Discover Children’s Story Centre

The Discover CHildren’s Story Centre is a great interactive centre for small children.

There are different exhibitions areas and events at this interactive children’s space so be sure to check what is on before going so you can plan your day.

For those looking for what to do with a baby in London you may want to check out the storytelling sessions that are aimed at the 0-3 yrs. 

Playbase at National Army Museum

This is a particularly great place in London for toddlers. It is a dedicated soft play area for under 8s with a dedicated infants section!

Online: Children aged 1-8 years old: £4.75 Children under 1 year old: FREE* Adults: FREE £1.00 booking fee applies per online transaction

In venue: Children aged 1-8 years old: £5.75 Children under 1 year old: FREE* Adults: FREE

It is one of the best baby activities in London!

The Garden at Science Museum 

A special place designed for children aged 3-6. This is actually one of my favourite London toddler activities!

Be warned though that although there are aprons available I always find children using the water play get wet so advise taking extra clothes with you just to be on the safe side!

Royal Albert Hall Story Telling and Music Sessions for 0-4 year olds

If you are looking for what to do in London with a baby then one of the best places to go for activities for babies in London is the Royal Albert Hall.

They offer London baby activities aimed at the 0-4s markets in the form of musical Sessions for the under 4s. These sessions usually last about 35 minutes.

Please note this is a ticketed events and cost 5GBP a person.

Puppet Theatre Barge

Looking for toddler shows, London has a few places that cater for the toddler age range but one of the best is the institution know as the Puppet Theatre Barge.

The Barge theatre holds around 50 people and offers some great shows. It is located in Little Venice which is also another area of London that is great to have a wander around with kids.

FAQs about visiting London with baby

Do you need a car seat in a uk taxi .

UK law  states that when travelling in taxis children under three may travel without a car seat! However I never travel without a car seat so we never take a taxi with our little one. 

If you decide to use an Uber however a car seat will be required by law. However Uber in the UK doesn’t currently provide car seats. 

And if you decide to rent a car in the UK with babies then you will definitely need a car seat as this is a legal requirement. 

You could try booking a car in advance however with a company that provides car seats but this will obviously mean you have to keep to a tighter schedule!

Further London Reading

• 50 + things to do in London with kids 
• 4 Day London Itinerary 
• 5-7 Day London Itinerary with Kids
• London Bucket List 
• UK Bucket List
• 50 Things to do on a Rainy Day in London
• Hampton Court Day Trip 
• Guide to Visiting London with a Baby or Toddler 
• Children’s Books set in London

21 Exciting Things to Do in London for Children (2024)

O ne of my favorite destinations for families is London. There are so many wonderful things to do in London for children including beautiful parks, historical sites, family-friendly tourist attractions, and amazing shopping districts.

The majority of the best things to do in London for children can be found in the heart of the city, along the banks of the River Thames. It is easy to get around on foot by hopping on the London Underground. Why not book a guided tour, head to the West End for a show, or enjoy high tea at an iconic London hotel? London is a great place if you’re on a budget, only have a few days , or even if you have a whole week! Below, I’ll share the top kid-friendly attractions in London.

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What Are the Best Things to Do in London for Children?

London is a great place to visit with kids of all ages! I think the most difficult choice is deciding what NOT to do. You just can’t fit it all into one trip, so my advice is to skip the things you don’t want to see and focus on what you and your kids enjoy. Here are my top picks for what to do in London with kids.

1. Visit the Iconic Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

Visiting Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament is a must for families exploring London. Big Ben, officially called the Elizabeth Tower, is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

You can book a tour to climb the 334-step spiral staircase to the top , where you will learn about its history and see the internal mechanisms of the clock tower. 

Keep in mind that it’s a little tricky to get tickets to Big Ben unless you book them way in advance, due to ongoing conservation work. If you can plan ahead, it’s worth the visit!

Also, kids have to be 11 years old to enter. If you don’t want to bother, you can still admire Big Ben from the outside and take photos.

Next to Big Ben is the Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster. This stunning building is home to the UK Parliament and is open for guided and self-paced tours. They typically run between an hour and 90 minutes. During that time you will see the historic chambers and learn about Great Britain’s democratic process.

2. Tour the Historic Tower of London

If you’re an Anglophile, you don’t want to miss out on a visit to the Tower of London, where the Crown Jewels are located. The Tower of London is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts 1000 years of history as a fortress, royal palace, and prison.

Book a guided tour of the Tower of London to explore its stunning towers, walk along the walls, and hear stories of its past, including tales of kings, queens, and famous prisoners.

Do you think this stop might be too boring for the kids? It’s definitely not! The guides are hilarious, and the stories of the tower are fascinating. Before entering the Tower, pick up a free Family Trails booklet to keep everyone engaged during your visit.

The centerpiece of your tour will be the Crown Jewels, housed in the Jewel House within the Tower. You will be able to see the crowns, scepters, orbs, swords, and ceremonial robes up close, all adorned with precious gemstones and metals. To this day, they are used by British monarchs during important state occasions and coronations.

3. Don’t miss Tower Bridge

While you’re here, plan a stop at the Tower Bridge. The historic site offers panoramic views of the Thames River and the city skyline.

Tours include the Tower Bridge Exhibition where you can visit the Victorian engine rooms and even walk across the glass-floored walkways!

Want to bring a hilarious version of the Crown Jewels to life before or after your visit? Have the kids read Gangsta Granny by Walliams David.

4. Explore All of London’s Great Museums

London offers a variety of fantastic museums for kids, making it an ideal destination for family trips. The Science Museum in South Kensington is always a hit with younger children. It offers interactive exhibits and special exhibitions that make learning about science engaging and fun.

For natural history enthusiasts, the Natural History Museum is a must-visit, with its dinosaur skeletons and interactive displays.

The British Museum is fascinating and houses treasures like the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, and interactive exhibits that bring ancient civilizations to life.

The National Maritime Museum and Cutty Sark in Greenwich offer highlights of the region’s maritime history. The London Transport Museum showcases the evolution of transportation.

You can even visit a museum inside a replica pirate ship, The Golden Hinde , that’s perfect for adventurous young kids! London is home to so many family-friendly museums and these are just a few.

Best of all, many are free museums, like the British Museum and the Natural History Museum. If you are trying to save money while traveling, add a few of these to your London itinerary.

5. Head to Buckingham Palace and Watch the Changing of the Guard

Watching the Changing of the Guard is one of the most classic things to do in London for children. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London. Arrive early to join the crowds and witness the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony.

This is where the Queen’s Guard hands over duty to a new set of guards, and it’s fun to experience. It typically takes place every other day, in the morning around 11 AM, depending on the season. You should check the official schedule online for the current dates and times.

The ceremony usually lasts around 45 minutes to an hour. There are many great places to watch the Changing of the Guards, but the tried-and-true spots include the palace gates, the Victoria Memorial, and The Mall.

If you’re visiting during the summer and can get tickets, a tour of Buckingham Palace afterward will round out the whole experience! They’re hard to get but book your tickets early and plan on going after watching the guard ceremony.

6. Go on a Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour

If you’re planning a shorter trip to London and you’re looking for the best family activities, I suggest starting with a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. It offers a convenient and flexible way to explore the city. You will visit popular attractions like Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the London Eye, all at your own pace.

There are different hop-on-hop-off tours , each one taking you to a wide range of popular attractions and landmarks in London. If you’re not sure which line you need, you can find bus tour reps at most historical landmarks. They can answer your questions and help you find the route that best suits your interests and schedule.

For a scenic tour, take one of the double-decker bus tours and enjoy the exciting views of London! In about 3 hours, you can do the entire circuit and see many of London’s iconic landmarks.

Hop-on-hop-off tours are perfect for families with kids of all ages because you can pick where you want to get off and then get back on later. If you are heading to London for a quick visit, check out my post for more on what to do in London if you only have one day !

7. Check Out the Sky Garden

Visiting Sky Garden in London for the first time is a must for breathtaking city skyline views. Located atop the Walkie Talkie building (20 Fenchurch), it offers unbelievable views of recognizable landmarks like the Shard, Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

At the top, there’s a brasserie, if you can get a table. Best of all, admission is free! You still have to book your reservations in advance , sometimes up to 3 weeks before your visit.

8. Find All the Harry Potter-themed Attractions

Harry Potter fans will have plenty to do with all the different Potter-themed sites in London! Head to Wands and Wizard Exploratorium for a magical tea brewing session complete with picking out your own wand. Or see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre.

Take a walking tour of London’s Harry Potter sites, stopping at King’s Cross Station for a whimsical photo at Platform 9¾. Wander through Leadenhall Market, the real-life Diagon Alley. Then, visit Millennium Bridge, Australia House, and the Reptile House at London Zoo and see if you can talk to serpents, too!

You can also book a guided tour if that’s more your thing.

9. Take a Ride on the London Eye

Riding the London Eye is a great thing to do for the entire family. The London Eye, located on the South Bank of the River Thames, is a giant observation wheel that provides some of the best views of London’s landmarks.

Enjoy a cozy, 30-minute ride in one of the enclosed capsules while you take in the city from above. It’s a memorable way to see London from a different perspective. You can buy tickets at the gate or book them in advance for a discount.

After your ride, families with older kids might want to explore nearby attractions like the London Dungeon , an interactive macabre show featuring London’s darker history.

10. See a Show in the West End

London is synonymous with the theatre, and you can enjoy plenty of kid-friendly shows on your family vacation. From kid-focused productions at places like the Unicorn or Polka Theatres to big-budget shows on the West End, there’s something for everyone.

For family-friendly options in West End, check out “The Lion King,” “Matilda,” or “Mama Mia!” Tickets are available for purchase either at most West End theaters or online. To get same-day discounted tickets, head to the TKTS London booth in Leicester Square.

With the West End being so close to both Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square, you can make a memorable evening for a family by planning a walk down to one of the squares. Enjoy the bustling atmosphere, watch street performers, or plan a post-show meal at one of the restaurants just off the square.

London is also the home to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, which is an excellent place to introduce your kids to a wonderful part of history.

11. Take a River Cruise Along the Thames River

A cruise on the River Thames in London is a delightful way to explore the city from a unique perspective. You can enjoy sights like the Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye while gliding along the historic river.

You can find a variety of river cruises, most leaving from either Westminster Pier or Greenwich Pier. This one leaves from Waterloo Pier and includes tickets to ride the London Eye. They usually take about an hour and include indoor and outdoor seating, tall windows for panoramic views, and a bar where you can buy drinks.

For more flexibility, you could also take a hop-on-hop-off river cruise , which allows you to create your own itinerary and access City Cruise boats all day with your 24-hour pass.

12. Spend the Day Exploring Regent’s Park

Whether you’re looking for free things to do in London or just want to enjoy a day in one of London’s beautiful, family-friendly parks, Regent’s Park will not disappoint. One of London’s most picturesque green spaces, it offers a wealth of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages.

The park features the Regent’s Park Boating Lake, where you can rent pedal boats and rowing boats for a peaceful ride on the water. During the summer months, the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre hosts Shakespearean plays, musicals, and concerts that you can attend.

The whole family can get active and hit the ball courts for a game of tennis or cricket. There’s lots of open space for picnicking and walking trails if you want to go for a jog or rent a bike and cycle. Or take a stroll through Queen Mary’s Gardens, which showcases a stunning collection of roses, plants, and shrubs.

Regent’s Park is perfect for families, boasting a few unique playgrounds for younger kids that include water play, wooden climbing structures, sand pits, and more. Plus, the park is home to the London Zoo, where you could easily spend half a day!

13. Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens

While you’re in London with children, you can’t pass up a chance to visit the Princess Diana Memorial Playground. It is located in the Kensington Gardens portion of Hyde Park. (Technically, Kensington Gardens is part of Hyde Park, but each section has its own distinct feel and attractions.)

The Diana Playground was inspired by Peter Pan. It’s absolutely beautiful and tons of fun! There are climbing structures, sensory trails, water play, a pirate ship, and more. While the kids play, you can grab a coffee or bite to eat at the cafe next to the playground.

For families with older kids, the adjacent Hyde Park offers all kinds of activities. You can spend the day boating on Serpentine Lake or cycling along paved paths.

During the summer, there are open-air concerts. In the winter, you can attend a Christmas fair here or go ice skating at an outdoor rink.

14. Spend the Day at Holland Park or Battersea Park

If you need an easy way to spend half a day, 2 smaller parks in London are packed with things to do: Holland Park and Battersea Park.

Holland Park boasts a variety of attractions, including the Kyoto Garden and its cascading waterfalls, peacocks, and Japanese-style landscaping. You can come hungry and head to the visitor’s center, which features eateries, green lawns for picnics, a toddler’s play area, and more.

Nature lovers can visit the Ecology Centre to learn about local plant life or take a stroll along quiet tree-lined trails. There’s also an Adventure Playground with zip lines, balance beams, and unique structures.

On the other side of the Thames, Battersea Park offers even more family-friendly activities. There’s a great children’s zoo, lovely playgrounds, and different flower gardens to peruse. You can paddle around the boating lake in paddleboats, visit outdoor cafes, or enjoy tennis courts.

15. Visit the London Zoo

Why not make a full day of your visit to Regent’s Park and visit the London Zoo , too? It’s no wonder this is such a popular destination for families in London! In addition to being the oldest zoological park in the world and boasting an impressive conservation program, there’s so much to do here for kids of all ages.

You can see leaf-cutter ants, lions, penguins, gorillas, and even endangered animals up close in themed habitats. Walk through the butterfly habitat or take the little ones to the Animal Adventure Play Area.

At the London Zoo, there are staff-led activities for kids, sensory experiences for babies, and daily talks to learn about different animals. For a special touch, find out about different opportunities to be an honorary zookeeper and care for the animals!

16. Explore London’s Famous Food Markets

While you’re exploring the city, you have to eat, so make an event of it! It’s so much fun to peruse the stalls and vendors at London’s many food halls and food markets. Some are young and hip while others have braved the test of time and are a part of London’s history and culture.

One of the newest food markets in London is Camden Market, just north of Regent’s Park. Not only can you shop for vintage clothes and grab sandwiches or ice cream, but there’s also a theme park in the basement!

A popular food hall is the one at the Convent Garden Market. It’s open every day of the week and features a mix of street food and restaurants around a beautiful space filled with tables for cafeteria-style dining.

Another must-visit location is the Borough Market, which dates back to the 1300s! You can walk the market stalls, buy food from every country, sample all kinds of street food, or pop into shops just off the main walkway.

There’s a great atmosphere with live music and street performers. In the winter, the market transforms into a twinkling Christmas wonderland.

Check out this post for more things to do in London at Christmas !

17. Have Afternoon Tea

You have to experience afternoon tea at least once when you go to London for the first time. The best place to go? A parlor at one of London’s premier hotels! This national pastime traditionally takes place at 3 or 4 PM. However, you can find reservations as early as noon at some locations.

For an experience you won’t forget, go to the Savoy . They pull out all the stops with their service, while you dine on little sandwiches, scones, and cakes, with your choice of teas.

The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason is absolutely stunning! You can choose from 45 teas served with fresh scones, clotted cream, and delicious jams.

Other places for unique tea experiences include the Afternoon Tea Bus Tour (enjoy your tea on a city tour), the Science Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel, and the Peter Pan-themed tea at the Aqua Shard.

18. Shop on Oxford Street

Shopping is fun for the whole family on Oxford Street, with all your favorite shops, eateries, and history. The 1.5-mile retail avenue was once a Roman Road, dating back over 1000 years! Today, it’s where you can find all the biggest names in retail.

Located in London’s West End, a lot of tours start and end on Oxford Street, and you can find hotels with great deals in the low season here as well.

This is a bustling street lined with stores like London’s own Selfridge’s , as well as familiar favorites like H&M, Primark, Nike, Adidas, and more.

Oxford Street is a popular place for walking tours and hop-on-hop-off bus tours to stop. Note: Watch out for pickpockets here during the busiest part of the season. If you’re worried about carrying cash, there are ATMs available and many stores take different forms of payment.

Day Trips from London

While you’re thinking about all the fun things to do in London for children, don’t pass up the chance for an easy day trip! These are just a few at the top of my list, but you can read a more extensive list of the best London day trips here .

19. Windsor Castle

This day trip to Windsor Castle and Stonehenge is a full-day adventure into the iconic past of England! Board a cozy coach bus and head to Windsor Castle to tour the State Rooms and historical exhibits inside. Next, you’ll journey to Stonehenge to experience the infamous stone circles. 

20. Harry Potter Studio Tour

Just about an hour north of Central London is the Warner Brother Studio where you can take the Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour. Rent a car, take the metro, or just book this tour with transfers .

Kids will love seeing the movie sets from the films, as well as the costumes and props used in the movies. Take pictures in Diagon Alley and Platform 9¾.

21. Brighton

If you’re going to be in London during the summer, you might want to head to Brighton. It’s an easy 90-minute train ride from the city and then you’re on the sandy beach! You can also enjoy oceanfront restaurants, explore gift shops, and ride carnival rides at the Brighton Palace Pier.

If you’re looking for more London travel tips, don’t miss these articles: best London hotels for families , this London 2-day itinerary , or the best things to do in London with teens .

The post 21 Exciting Things to Do in London for Children (2024) appeared first on Kids Are A Trip™ .

5 Places to Travel Abroad With Your Kids This Year

London, lapland, and tanzania are on the cards in 2024..

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TAASA Lodge offers a walking safari among several other singular experiences.

Courtesy of Go2Africa

Is it worth traveling abroad with your kids, especially with so many great options in the United States? Short answer: yes. That’s especially true if you consider one of these family-friendly destinations our writers have visited in recent months. They’ve been roaming with their children in the United Kingdom, Japan, Tanzania, Greece, and Swedish Lapland and have unearthed some great spots for the whole fam for 2024. Just try not to think about the flight there (and especially the flight home) . . .

Osaka, Japan

Theme parks and enticing street food are among the highlights of a visit to Osaka.

Photo by Usa-Pyon/Shutterstock

Wandering through Osaka’s neon-clad neighborhood of Shinsekai with my son—a hard-to-impress tween with a thirst for photo-worthy culinary creations—we passed takoyaki stands advertising their octopus-based wares with 3D tentacle-covered displays and a conveyor belt sushi joint adorned with an enormous rotating nigiri platter. Ultimately, we were drawn into Jumbo Tsuribune Tsurikichi , a restaurant boasting expansive pools of fish that you can catch with provided bait and rods. Here, they’ll cook and serve whatever you reel in—which, in our case, was a beast large enough to feed a family twice our size.

Memory-making experiences like this are only the beginning here, where maximalist signage beckons hungry travelers at every turn. And despite rising food costs across the globe, affordable eats are still easy to find in Osaka, making it an enticing choice for anyone looking to test their taste buds without breaking the bank. Even the pickiest of eaters will find something to love in this dynamic destination, and fun-loving families will find a variety of singular eateries. Dine alongside Pikachu at the popular Pokemon Café or enjoy impossibly cute Mario-inspired meals at Super Nintendo World at Universal Japan , which will soon offer even more options in its new Donkey Kong–themed land , slated to open in 2024.

Where to stay

For an immersive experience, families can sleep on traditional tatami mats at Ukiyoe Ryokan . The Cross Hotel Osaka , meanwhile, provides comfy digs located steps from the bustling food stalls in the Dotonbori area.— Amanda Adler

“I spy” gets a whole lot more interesting when there are leopards, hippos, and warthogs to peep.

Taking a toddler on safari is not for the faint of heart; I knew if I was gonna do it, I needed serious help. Enter Go2Africa , a seasoned tour operator staffed by specialists who’ve traveled extensively with small children throughout East and Southern Africa. These experts knew exactly which camps were the family-friendliest and how to safely travel between them. They arranged private safari drives for us in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area , a UNESCO-protected World Heritage site with Africa’s densest population of large animals, and a quiet corner of Serengeti National Park. Over multiple game drives in the two regions, we spotted lions, leopards, hippos, ostriches, flamingos, warthogs, and roughly a gazillion wildebeest, but it was a dazzle of zebras lingering within arm’s reach of our 4x4 that really had my son clapping up a storm.

Check out TAASA Lodge , a boutique bush camp in a 15,000-acre concession north of the Serengeti, and Gibb’s Farm , an 80-acre organic farm and coffee plantation less than an hour from Ngorongoro Crater. Both properties hire guides, trackers, and staff who truly love children, as opposed to merely tolerate them. Both also have swimming pools—a fantastic way for kiddos to spend some time in between game drives. —Ashlea Halpern, contributing editor

Athens, Greece

Ancient history comes alive in Athens.

Photo by Sven Hansche/Shutterstock

While history and ancient ruins may seem boring for little ones at first, Athens is actually an entertaining and educational family destination. Before you even leave, get your kids into Greek mythology and history—there’s the graphic novel series Olympians that reinterprets the mythologies and a funny and engaging podcast by National Geographic called Greeking Out that my eight-year-old son loves. Once you land, kids will be eager to see the sites that otherwise might look like crumbling dirt. When I visited last summer with my husband and two young kids, I booked a private tour with Be a Greek specifically meant for families. Our guide kept both of my children (and my husband and I) engaged with a scavenger hunt, trivia, games, and dynamic storytelling as we traipsed around the city, ticking off sites like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, and Syntagma Square to see the changing of the presidential guard.

Visiting the Acropolis is a bit more challenging, so be sure to go in early morning or evening when it’s cooler and less crowded, and leave the stroller behind (way too many steps!). Kids will also enjoy the Acropolis Museum (request a “family backpack” for educational resources, puzzles, and more); riding the bright red Athens Happy Train ; going up Mount Lycabettus via cable car; and strolling around the picturesque Plaka neighborhood. When you need to escape the heat, head outside the city center to the Athens Riviera for some time at Astir Beach or to the still-in-progress Ellinikon , which already features an incredible playground and park, with more to come.

To be in the center, stay at the new boutique Apollo Palm Hotel , which offers triple rooms perfect for a family of three (or four if one child is in a crib, which can be provided) while still boasting a chic design, gorgeous rooftop bar, and delicious breakfast buffet. For a resort experience, complete with a kids club, beach, and pool, the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens has spacious rooms and an incredibly friendly and helpful staff who clearly love children.— Devorah Lev-Tov

The Jokkmokk market has been around for hundreds of years.

Photo by Tommy Alven/Shutterstock

Swedish Lapland

My kids were just toddlers when we visited Swedish Lapland’s Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, where I pushed them in strollers as they teetered across packed-snow floors in rooms carved out from river ice by artists from around the world. (We sanely slept in the warm accommodations on site.)

On a visit this past winter on my own, I found several other reasons to plot a trip back soon with my now-older crew. The best winter adventures in this part of Sweden come with experiential elements that go beyond chasing the northern lights. At Arctic Bath in the small hamlet of Harads, I watched a British family with elementary school–age kids brave cold plunges together following a sauna session, stepping down a metal ladder straight into the frozen Lule River and whooping it up before beelining it for the outdoor hot tubs.

Nearby, the whimsical variety of cabins on stilts at Treehotel —including one shaped like a bird’s nest and another like a UFO—were pure fantastical fun, with ice fishing and snowshoeing among the activities. Sapmi Nature Camp offers three-night packages to stay with Sámi hosts in private lavvu tents on the family’s grazing lands for reindeer while learning about their modern way of life. And if you’re here in early February, the excitement of the annual Jokkmokk Winter Market draws hundreds of Indigenous people from all over the Sápmi region of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Russia for an outdoor festival with live music, shopping for silverwork and traditional clothing, and many more activities.

All of the aforementioned stays are a treat worth planning a trip around. But I’m dreaming of a multi-generational winter adventure at Fjellborg Arctic Lodge , where you can arrive via dogsled from nearby Jukkasjärvi. Families stay in a luxurious four-bedroom cabin with its own sauna and outdoor hot tub overlooking Lake Väkkärä. (Smaller cabins can accommodate more people right nearby.) The lodge’s wilderness guides lead all manner of excursions—including snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and ice fishing.— Terry Ward

London, U.K.

With musicals, green spaces, and seemingly endless restaurants, no two days in London are the same.

Courtesy of One Aldwych

From a wickedly funny Yeoman Warder guide at the Tower to a bike tour with London Bicycle and a visit to the Harry Potter studios (where all eight movies were filmed), my family’s weeklong trip across the pond proved to be equal parts educational and fun. We also adored the Matilda musical, based on Roald Dahl’s beloved book, in the West End, with all four of us singing along to its catchy tunes as we left the theater. The city’s many green spaces (Hyde Park; Kensington Gardens, with the Princess Diana Memorial Playground; Battersea Park) also allow ample opportunity for little legs to stretch, run, and stop to smell the roses. With a food scene that’s the stuff of legend, eating at Indian street food chain Dishoom and plant-based Mallow in Borough Market were also musts and didn’t disappoint.

London has many great hotels . I liked the elegant 101-room One Aldwych in the heart of Covent Garden, within blocks of theaters, restaurants, and museums, such as the fantastic London Transport Museum (where kids can see double-decker buses and grown-ups can marvel at the history of the Tube). Along with spacious suites, thoughtful touches like the daily replenished complimentary mini-bar (with biscuits and chips to keep little ones happy) and a “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” themed afternoon tea make the hotel truly perfect for families.— Tanvi Chheda