I love London. I first traveled there as a high school student – the last stop on a six-country educational tour. The moment that I stepped off the bus, I knew there was something special about London. There are just so many things to do in London that you can’t see them all in one visit.
I returned a few years later to study abroad and was able to absorb the culture by working at an internship for three days per week and going to school two days per week. But until this summer, I hadn’t traveled to London with kids.
I was always eager to return, especially if my children. But I was apprehensive because I was afraid that things would have changed, and that I wouldn’t have enough time to truly do everything that I wanted to do. This past year, when we were talking about summer vacation ideas, both of my kids wanted to go on the Adventures by Disney London and Paris trip.
There are so many great London attractions for kids, and my kids were eager to see all of them. We arrived in advance of our trip to have some extra time to do activities on our own and enjoyed our stay. If you are headed across the pond, here are some of the best things to do in London with kids.
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Things to Do in London With Kids
Hyde Park
For a nice walk in a large urban park, head to Hyde Park. This park, the largest of the royal parks, features beautiful gardens, and memorials, and is home to many protests.
After settling in on our first day, that’s the first place I wanted to go. It’s an iconic spot, and is easy to visit. If you are looking to get away from the city atmosphere for a bit, it’s the perfect spot.
London Eye
I wasn’t sure what to think about this newer attraction. It wasn’t there when I had last visited London, and I was a little apprehensive. But we enjoyed our ride. It takes about 30 minutes to go around and gives you some great views of London, including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. My kids enjoyed the ride, which is fully enclosed and climate controlled.
When purchasing your London Eye tickets, you’ll also have the option to include some of the other Merlin attractions in London, including the Sea Life London Aquarium, the London Dungeon, and Madame Tussaud. Tickets are available here.
Buckingham Palace
Many visitors to London include a visit to Buckingham Palace, the official home of the monarch. For most of the year, you’ll have to limit your visit to the outside area of the palace, where you may be lucky to see the Changing of the Guard.
However, for ten weeks in the summer (and a few others times during the year), you can actually go inside the castle and tour the staterooms. We were lucky that our summer visit coincided with one of these times.
You’ll want to purchase these tickets in advance because they are limited and are also timed tickets. Our tour (we opted to do the family audio tour) took about 60 minutes. We were told to plan for about 2 hours, but since we were with kids, we didn’t spend as much time in each room.
Even if you aren’t able to go inside the staterooms, it’s still worth going by the palace. It is beautiful. You can purchase tickets here.
Tower of London
You can’t go to London and skip visiting the Tower of London. It’s magnificent, and there’s so much London history there. I’ve been three times, and each time I’ve been so impressed. This is probably one of the most iconic places to visit in London.
There are several options for your visit. You can choose to visit the Tower of London at your own pace, seeing the places that you specifically want to see. Audio tours are also available.
I usually recommend doing at least the audio tour so you have some context for what you are seeing. There are also Beefeater Guided Tours that provide a more in-depth experience.
There’s almost always a separate line to see the Crown Jewels, but it’s so worth it. The actual trip through the jewels utilizes a moving sidewalk, so the whole process is very efficient. Tickets can be purchased online here.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden features shops, restaurants, and street performers. It’s worth walking around the area – perhaps stopping for lunch, dinner, or a snack. We took a cab there from the London Eye and had lunch at the Punch and Judy pub, a pub that has served customers for over 200 years. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon before we had to meet our tour group later that evening.
West End Show
When I studied abroad in London, I tried to see as many West End shows as possible. This district, which is London’s version of Broadway, offers many musicals and shows. Some shows are currently only playing in the West End, while others, like Hamilton, are also playing in the US.
Unfortunately, when I traveled to London with kids this past summer, our only free day was on Sunday, when the shows are typically not running. But, if you can fit a show into your schedule, it’s a good idea. Book tickets in advance if possible because, like Broadway, they can sell out.
Thames Boat Tour
I wasn’t sure what to expect with our Thames boat tour, but it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. I was so surprised by all of the changes on the banks of the Thames (including the London Eye and the Shard), and it was so interesting to hear about them.
The boat we went on, part of the Thames RIB Experience, also included a fun thrill ride at the end. My kids loved it!
Even if you aren’t looking for this type of thrill experience, it’s still a good idea to consider a boat ride. It gives a unique angle to the city.
Westminster Abbey
This world-famous cathedral is located in the heart of London. It’s famous for weddings, funerals, and coronations, but is also the burial location for many notable British poets, and scientists. It’s absolutely beautiful and is worth visiting with kids.
Purchase tickets online and choose your date and time for arrival. It’s also important to make sure no special events are happening during your visit. If there are, the Abbey may be closed to outside guests and tours.
Various Kid-Friendly Museums in London
Looking for free things to do in London with kids? I love visiting museums, and London has so many great ones. If your kids are anything like mine, you’ll need to pick just a few that they’ll enjoy. Since many of the museums in London are free, you can visit them without breaking your budget.
You also won’t need to purchase tickets for the free museums, so if your kids aren’t enjoying themselves, there’s no issue leaving. Here are some options:
Museum of London
This free museum showcases the history of London through permanent and temporary exhibits. They offer some things, especially for kids, including activity bags. See the family events and activities at the Museum of London here.
British Museum
The British Museum is a free, public museum filled with artifacts and art from all over the world. It’s one of my favorite museums, and because it’s free, it’s a must-visit. They offer kids’ activities and events, including a family guide. Booking in advance is recommended.
V&A Museum of Childhood, Now Young V&A
This free museum is affiliated with the famous Victoria and Albert Museum. It’s dedicated to showcasing the history of childhood artifacts and is great for kids to see.
The Young V&A has been closed as it transitions over but will be reopening to the public on July 1.
London Science Museum
Unlike the science museums in other major cities, the Science Museum in London offers free admission. Some exhibits, activities, and events do charge admission, however. If your kids love science, this South Kensington museum is a place you’ll want to visit. Reserve your free tickets in advance.
Natural History Museum
The London Natural History Museum is another free museum in Kensington. It features exhibits focused on dinosaurs, evolution, space, and more. While general admission is free, you will need to pay extra for some temporary exhibits. Reserve your free ticket in advance.
National Portrait Gallery, London
This art museum is one of my favorites. It’s free and has some family-friendly aspects, including a family audio guide. It also has free admission and boasts the largest collection of portraits in the world. This museum has been closed for renovations but reopens in June 2023.
Piccadilly Circus
I absolutely love the energy and atmosphere of Piccadilly Circus. It’s similar to Times Square in New York City and offers restaurants and shops. Don’t get too excited about seeing a circus though – in this case, circus means circle.
Oxford Street
If you love to shop, you’ll want to take a walk down Oxford Street. London’s version of 5th Avenue offers many popular shops, like Selfridges, Topshop, Marks and Spencer, and John Lewis. It’s best for families with older kids who love to shop. My daughter loved Oxford Street, while my son was bored.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
Sherlock Holmes lovers will want to check out this museum, which is located at 221b Baker Street. It’s privately run, which means you will have to pay an admission fee.
Our hotel in London, the Landmark, is right near the museum, and each day we saw lines headed in. So I would recommend visiting early, especially if you are traveling with kids.
If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, and/or the series Sherlock, you may consider a longer Sherlock Holmes tour. Here’s a three-hour option, which includes visits to filming locations of the series.
While many of the museums in London offer free admission, you will have to pay for some attractions. We recommend considering the London TurboPass, which offers admission to several attractions. You can choose the number of attractions that are included, based on the type of pass you purchase.
Attraction options may vary, but in the past have included the Shard, St. Paul’s Cathedral, a hop on/hop off bus tour, a Thames River Tour, and more. If you are traveling to London with kids, it’s a great way to save on attraction tickets, as long as you already plan to visit these attractions separately.
If you are interested in venturing outside of London, Peppa Pig World is about two hours outside the city. You’ll probably want to stay there – here are some hotels near Peppa Pig World. Here’s a tour that includes transfers.
Another popular day trip from London is the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Here’s a tour that you can book that includes luxury bus fare.
There are also some great hidden gems in London to see.
Where to Stay in London
We loved our hotel, the Landmark. It’s located in the Marylebone area of London and offers nice large rooms. You can also check out these London hotels.
There are also some great options on the map below (affiliate links).
