London is one of those cities that works brilliantly for families. After visiting with my boys multiple times over the years (most recently before 2020, when they were much younger), I can tell you this city has something for every age. Whether you’ve got toddlers who need space to burn energy or teenagers who are suddenly interested in history, London delivers.
The best part? So many of the top attractions are free. World-class museums, gorgeous parks, and entertainment you’d pay serious money for anywhere else. Yeah, London can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to wreck your budget if you know where to go.
Here’s what you need to know to make your London family trip amazing.
Where to Stay in London With Kids
Location matters when you’re traveling with kids. Trust me on this. The last thing you want is a 45-minute tube ride back to your hotel when someone’s having a meltdown.
South Bank is my top pick for families. You’re steps away from the London Eye, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, and all those riverside attractions. Hotels like Park Plaza County Hall have family suites and some even have pools, which is gold when you need the kids to burn off energy before bed.
South Kensington is perfect if museums are your priority. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and V&A are all within walking distance. You can literally pop back to your hotel for a rest and be back at the museums in 10 minutes. Look for hotels around South Kensington on Expedia, where many run under $300/night.
Covent Garden and Westminster are great for being in the thick of things. You’re close to Trafalgar Square, the Theatre District, and major landmarks. Just know these areas can be busier and noisier than South Kensington.
Pro tip: Book hotels near a tube station. This will save you so much hassle. And if you can swing it, get a room with a kitchenette. Being able to grab breakfast in your room instead of dragging hungry kids to a restaurant at 7am? Game changer.
The London Parks Your Kids Will Actually Love
Parks saved us on every London trip. When the museums got overwhelming or the weather was gorgeous, we headed outside.
Hyde Park is massive and has everything. Older kids can rent paddle boats on the Serpentine, and there’s a surprisingly good cafe where you can grab lunch while watching the ducks. The park also has the famous Peter Pan statue, which my boys loved finding when they were little. On Sundays, you can catch street performers and speakers at Speaker’s Corner.
Note: The Diana Memorial Playground in neighboring Kensington Gardens is currently closed for renovations and will reopen in summer 2026 with new features including an upgraded pirate ship and treehouse.
Regent’s Park is home to London Zoo (more on that below), but even if you skip the zoo, this park is worth visiting. Queen Mary’s Gardens are stunning in spring and summer, and there are several playgrounds scattered throughout. Pack a picnic and spend a lazy afternoon here.
St James’s Park is smaller but perfectly located between Buckingham Palace and Westminster. The pelican feeding happens daily between 2:30 and 3:00pm near Duck Island, which is bizarrely entertaining. Kids lose their minds watching these huge birds gulp down fish. There are also tons of squirrels that are very used to humans, so if your kids want to get close to wildlife, this is the spot.
Kensington Gardens connects to Hyde Park and has the Albert Memorial and Kensington Palace. You could easily spend half a day here. There are several other playgrounds in the area including Buck Hill Playground.
Museums That Won’t Bore Your Kids
London’s museums are free (well, most of them), which is almost unbelievable when you see the quality. But not all museums work equally well for kids.
Science Museum
This is the big winner for families. The Wonderlab gallery (there’s a fee, but it’s worth it) is designed for kids aged 7-14 and has 50 interactive exhibits. Real lightning strikes, slides that teach friction, live chemistry demonstrations. My boys could have easily spent all day here.
The Garden is perfect for little ones (ages 3-6). It’s a multi-sensory play space where kids can experiment with water, light, sound, and construction. They learn without realizing they’re learning.
Power Up is the gaming gallery featuring video games from the past 50 years. If you’ve got a gamer kid, this is non-negotiable.
The museum also has flight simulators (pay-as-you-go), an IMAX theater with a screen four double-decker buses tall, and a new space gallery that’s completely free. Check out family-friendly tours on Get Your Guide to skip lines and get expert insights.
Natural History Museum
The dinosaur gallery is the main event. That roaring T. rex? Still gives me chills. Kids love it. The museum has one of the first T. rex skeletons ever discovered, plus the first Iguanodon skeleton known to science.
Hope the Blue Whale (a 25-meter skeleton) hangs in the main hall and is jaw-dropping when you first walk in. The Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery has an earthquake simulator that recreates the 1995 Kobe earthquake, which is intense but fascinating.
The museum is free to visit, but book your tickets online in advance. The museum gets packed, especially during school holidays.
British Museum
Full disclosure: this one’s trickier with young kids. But if you’ve got older children or teens interested in history, it’s incredible. The Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures. Just pick 2-3 highlights instead of trying to see everything.
The museum offers free family trails and activity backpacks that make it more interactive for kids. Grab one when you arrive.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The V&A has a fantastic children’s activity backpack program (free to rent) that turns the visit into a treasure hunt. The Fashion Gallery and the jewelry collection usually hold kids’ attention better than you’d expect.
Top Attractions Worth the Admission Price
Not everything in London is free, but some paid attractions are genuinely worth it.
London Zoo
Located in Regent’s Park, this is one of the oldest zoos in the world and it’s fantastic. The Penguin Beach, Gorilla Kingdom, and Land of the Lions exhibits are all excellent. There’s also a rainforest area where kids can get up close to animals.
ZSL London Zoo has over 700 animal species. Book tickets in advance on their website or through Get Your Guide for discounted prices.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
This is right on the South Bank, which makes it easy to combine with other attractions. The Ocean Tunnel walkthrough is incredible (sharks and rays swimming overhead), and there’s a Shark Walk with a glass floor if your kids are feeling brave.
Daily feeding sessions happen throughout the day. Check the schedule when you arrive. The jellyfish section is mesmerizing, even for adults.
The London Eye
Look, it’s touristy. But kids love it, and the views genuinely are spectacular. A full rotation takes about 30 minutes, and on a clear day, you can see 40 kilometers in every direction.
Book fast-track tickets if you possibly can. The regular queues can stretch to 2-3 hours during peak season, and nobody wants to stand in line with antsy kids. Sunset rides are beautiful but book way ahead.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
If you’ve got Harry Potter fans, this is the holy grail. It’s outside central London (about 20 miles northwest), but shuttle buses run from several locations. You’ll see actual sets from the films including the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and Platform 9¾.
This is one of those experiences where even kids who aren’t huge fans get swept up in the magic. Book months in advance if you’re visiting during school holidays. Seriously, this sells out.
Find tours with transportation included on Viator or Get Your Guide.
Shrek’s Adventure! London
Right next to the London Eye, this interactive walk-through attraction is perfect for younger kids (roughly ages 4-10). You’ll meet characters from the DreamWorks films, ride the flying bus, and participate in the DreamWorks Game Show.
It’s fun and silly, and kids genuinely enjoy it. Not a must-do, but solid if you need an indoor activity or your kids love Shrek.
Getting Around London With Kids
The tube is your friend. Kids under 11 travel free when accompanied by an adult (up to four kids per adult). Kids 11-15 get 50% off with a Visitor Oyster Card that has the Young Visitor Discount added at any station.
Adults should just use a contactless credit card or phone payment. Tap in, tap out. Fares are automatically capped daily so you never overpay.
Black cabs are expensive but sometimes worth it. They’re spacious, drivers know every route, and you can hail them on the street. If you’ve got strollers or lots of bags, this beats the tube stairs.
Buses are great for sightseeing while getting somewhere. The routes along the South Bank (RV1) and through central London (routes 11 and 15) basically function as budget sightseeing tours. Kids love riding on the upper deck.
Download the Citymapper app. It’s better than Google Maps for London public transit and shows you exactly which exit to take, which platform to use, everything.
Family-Friendly Food Options
Pubs are actually great for families during the day. Most serve classic British food like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and Sunday roasts. The atmosphere is casual, and kids are welcome (some even have play areas or gardens).
Borough Market is a foodie paradise with options for every palate. There’s incredible street food, fresh produce, baked goods, and specialty items. It gets crowded, so go early or late to avoid the worst crowds.
Brick Lane is the spot for Indian food. Even picky eaters can usually find something they’ll eat, and the prices are reasonable compared to other London dining.
Pizza Express and Wagamama are reliable chains with locations everywhere. The food is decent, kid menus are available, and you won’t break the bank.
For a special treat, afternoon tea is a quintessentially British experience kids often enjoy more than you’d expect. Many hotels offer family-friendly versions with kid-sized portions and fun additions.
Shopping and Markets
Covent Garden is fun to walk through even if you’re not buying anything. Street performers are everywhere, the shops are interesting, and the vibe is lively. The Jubilee Market inside has vendors selling everything from jewelry to toys to antiques.
Grab lunch at the lower level. There are tons of food stalls including crepes, pies, and international options.
Portobello Road Market (Saturdays are best) is eclectic and energetic. Kids love the vintage toys, quirky vendors, and street performers. This is in Notting Hill, which is also beautiful to walk around.
Camden Market is grungier and more alternative, better for older kids and teens. The food market alone is worth the trip, with cuisine from around the world.
Planning Tips That Actually Help
Book museum tickets in advance. Even though they’re free, many now require timed entry. This saves you from showing up and being turned away because they’re at capacity.
Don’t overpack your days. London is exhausting in the best way. Two major activities per day is plenty, especially with younger kids. Build in downtime, park visits, random wandering.
Use our free Weekend Trip Planner to map out your days. It helps you organize activities, travel time, and meals so you’re not making decisions on the fly with hungry, tired kids.
Consider a London Pass if you’re planning to hit multiple paid attractions. It can save you money and includes fast-track entry at many places.
Jet lag is real. If you’re flying from the US, grab our Jet Lag Guide before you go. Getting kids adjusted faster means everyone enjoys the trip more.
What About Teens?
My boys are 13 and 16 now, and London would work brilliantly for them today (different activities than when they were little, obviously).
The London Dungeon is perfect for teens. It’s dark, theatrical, and based on the gory history of London. Not suitable for kids under 12, but teenagers eat this stuff up.
Street art tours in Shoreditch let them see incredible murals and learn about the artists. Way cooler than another museum.
Tower of London gets more interesting as kids get older. The Crown Jewels, the history of executions, the ravens. Teens actually pay attention here.
West End shows are world-class. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Matilda The Musical, Wicked. Book seats in advance for better prices and locations.
Camden Market and its alternative vibe appeals to teens way more than traditional sightseeing.
What We’d Skip
Madame Tussauds is expensive for what it is (wax figures and photo ops). Unless your kids are super into celebrities, I’d skip it.
The Shard observation deck has incredible views but costs a fortune. The London Eye gives you a similar experience for less money.
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace sounds amazing but the reality is you’re standing in massive crowds trying to see over people’s heads. If you’re nearby, fine, but don’t go out of your way.
Making Memories In London
Here’s the thing about London with kids: it’s one of those cities where you can have an amazing time at every age. Toddlers can feed pelicans and play in fountains. School-age kids can see dinosaurs and climb on everything at the Science Museum. Teens can explore street art and see a West End show.
The city is walkable, public transportation works great, there’s always something happening, and you can do so much without spending a fortune. Pack comfortable shoes (you’ll walk miles), bring layers (the weather changes constantly), and be flexible.
And honestly? Some of my best London memories aren’t from the big attractions. They’re from random moments: watching street performers in Covent Garden, discovering a tiny playground in a square we stumbled across, seeing my kids’ faces when they understood the scale of the blue whale skeleton.
That’s what London does. It surprises you in the best ways.
Ready to start planning? Grab our Vacation Planner Checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything important. And if you’re driving anywhere in the UK beyond London, check out our Road Trip Planning Guide for family road trip tips.
For more destination inspiration and detailed itineraries, browse our Travel Guides Shop.
Quick Practical Info
Best time to visit: Spring (April-May) and early fall (September-October) have the best weather and smaller crowds. Summer is peak season, which means higher prices and packed attractions.
How long to stay: 4-5 days is perfect for a first visit. You’ll hit the highlights without feeling rushed.
Rental car: Don’t. Seriously, you don’t need one in London. Public transportation is better and cheaper. If you’re planning to explore outside the city, use our recommended car rental site to compare prices.
Photography: Want professional family photos with London landmarks in the background? Flytographer connects you with local photographers who know all the best spots. Use my link to save $20 on your session.
London is waiting. And honestly? Your kids will remember this trip forever.
Have you been to London with your family? What were your highlights? I’d love to hear what worked (and what didn’t) for your crew. Drop a note on social or tag us at @twisttravelmag!
