There’s an almost endless variety of things to do in London with kids. Whether you’re looking for some interactive fun or a more educational experience, London is packed full of attractions that will keep them occupied and entertained during a half-term visit or a weekend getaway. And with the right tickets, you could save some money too.
Merlin’s Magical London Pass
We’d recommend Merlin’s Magical London Pass to anyone visiting London with kids, as this gives you access to five of the city’s top kid-friendly attractions with just one ticket. This includes:
- Madame Tussauds London
- The LastMinute.com London Eye
- SEA LIFE London Aquarium
- London Dungeon
- Shrek’s Adventure! London
And the best part is, this ticket is valid for 90 days from the first day of your visit (which must include Madame Tussauds London). This pass can save you up to 44% compared to buying tickets for each attraction on the door.
Take a look at the best way to use your Merlin’s Magical London Pass in our video with Kerry Whelpdale and her family:
London Weekend Itinerary for Families
If you’re planning to spend a weekend in the capital, here are our recommendations for spending two or three days in London with kids.
Day 1: Madame Tussauds, the Royals, and the London Eye
Why not start your first day in London by meeting members of the royal family? Near Baker Street Station is Madame Tussauds London, where your Merlin's Magical London Pass lets you skip the line to meet wax personalities like Beyoncé and David Beckham, Marvel heroes and of course the royals. You will be amazed at how tall or how small some of the stars are and make sure to take great souvenir photos with the celebrities.
Afterwards, it’s not far to walk to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, where you will find Kensington Palace and the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground. And a little bit further south is Buckingham Palace, the residence of King Charles, which is open to the public during the summer months.
From here you can walk past the iconic Westminster Abbey and Big Ben to your next stop - the London Eye - and with your Merlin's Magical London Pass you can skip the queues again. Now head into one of the glass capsules, which will rotate in a circle over the course of around 30 minutes, offering you some of the most beautiful views of London - the ideal end to an exciting first day!
If you need a longer break in between activities, why not book an afternoon tea? There are all kinds to choose from in London, from classic settings to themed locations. Here are some of our favourites:
Themed/Immersive London Afternoon Teas
- Wizard’s Afternoon Tea at the Wizard Exploratorium
- Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
- ABBA Inspired Afternoon Tea London Bus Tour
- Great British Afternoon Tea and DIY Icing at Biscuiteers
- Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at The Shard
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych
- Beauty and the Beast Afternoon Tea at the Waldorf Hilton
- Science Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel
- Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at Sanderson London
Classic Afternoon Teas
- Fortnum and Mason Afternoon Tea at the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon
- Harrods Tea Rooms Afternoon Tea
- Afternoon Tea at the Eye Lounge Bar
- The Grand Saloon at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Day 2: Fun for young and old
Today is a day full of adventure featuring SEA LIFE London, Shrek's Adventure and the London Dungeon. All three attractions are included in Merlin's Magical London Pass, and are located right next to each other on the Southbank.
At SEA LIFE London Aquarium, explorers young and old will be amazed as they journey from the coasts to the depths of the ocean and discover over 600 species of marine life. The variety of sea creatures, from sharks and rare turtles to rays and jellyfish, and even some cute penguins, will delight the whole family.
At Shrek's Adventure, located right next to SEA LIFE London, you'll explore the world of Shrek, Donkey and his friends in about 75 minutes. The crazy adventure begins with a magical 4D bus ride and then extraordinary animations and ten fairytale live shows await. The whole family has fun here!
Also, just a minute's walk from SEA LIFE London Aquarium is the London Dungeon, where you’ll be immersed in the city's dark past. Across 17 stations, including the Plague Doctor, the Great Fire of London, the Free Fall Tower, and the Torture Chamber, you will discover a different side of the city in around 90 minutes. Let the actors and actresses give you a fright as you’re horrified by the macabre stories! This attraction is recommended for children aged 12 and over, with children under 5 not allowed, so you’ll need to skip this one if you’re visiting with younger ones… why not head to The Paddington Bear Experience instead?
If all that action and adventure wasn’t enough for you can now walk along the waterfront, passing some of London's most famous buildings along the way, such as Shakespeare's Globe and the Shard. Depending on how far you want to walk, you will end up at the famous Tower Bridge. Here you can discover the Tower of London, home of the famous Crown Jewels.
Day 3: A day trip from the city
If you’re spending a long weekend in London you might want to consider going a bit further afield, as there are plenty of other kid-friendly attractions just a short train or bus journey away from the centre.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter - This is a must-do attraction for Harry Potter fans of any age, immersing you among the real sets, costumes, and props from the Harry Potter film series. The tour is in Watford, so it’s a little further out from the centre of London, but we’ve made it as easy as possible for you to get there, with return transportation from Victoria or Kings Cross Station included in the cost of our tickets.
- Windsor Castle - If one royal residence wasn’t enough for you, take the train to Windsor to see the idyllic grounds and classic turrets of Windsor Castle. Multiple royal weddings have taken place here, and it’s the burial place of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The kids will be kept entertained with a self-guided tour designed just for them.
- Chessington World of Adventures - Part zoo, part theme park, Chessington World of Adventures is the perfect day out for families, and it can be easily reached from London via train. There’s a great mix of attractions for all ages here, from Julia Donaldson character-themed rides for the little ones, to more thrilling coasters like Mandrill Mayhem and Vampire for the older ones.
- Thorpe Park Resort - If your kids are teenagers, they might prefer the more a slightly more thrilling visit to Thorpe Park. Also accessible by train, this theme park is home to some larger attractions like Stealth, Colossus, and the new Hyperia, the UK’s tallest and fastest roller coaster
We know that’s already a pretty packed itinerary, and that barely covers all there is to do in and around London with kids. Here are some more suggestions so you can plan a visit that best suits your kids’ interests (and your own too!):
Best museums for kids in London
Many of the museums in London have free entry, but be aware that some of them may require pre-booking, especially at peak times. You may also be able to pay to upgrade your tickets to include special features or access to certain exhibitions.
- Victoria & Albert Museum - there are many activities for families and young people including treasure hunts
- Young V&A
- Natural History Museum
- Science Museum
- British Museum - standard entry is free but a guided tour is also available to book
- Moco Museum - this is ideally suited for older kids and teens, and requires a paid ticket
Best London shows for kids
If you want to treat the kids to their first West End experience, there are some shows that are particularly appropriate for children. Just make sure you check the age restrictions for each show if you have really little ones, as most theatres don’t admit children under a certain age.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Matilda The Musical
- The Lion King
- Wicked The Musical
- Back to the Future: The Musical
Best London restaurants for kids
All these fun activities will definitely have the family working up an appetite and these are some of our favourite London restaurants to visit with the kids:
- Hard Rock Cafe
- Rainforest Cafe
- My Old Dutch
- Franco Manca
- Inamo - children aged 7 - 16 can take part in the Sushi Masterclass
- Pastaio
- Heddon Street Kitchen - kids under 8 eat free on weekdays
London like a local
Just like any other capital city, London’s tourist attractions are just steps away from places that the locals love to frequent too. If you want to experience this side of London in addition to the ticketed experiences, here are some of our recommendations:
London Parks
The British capital's most famous park is certainly Hyde Park, but London has several other beautiful green spaces worth visiting.
Visit Greenwich and Greenwich Park to discover Greenwich Mean Time and the planetarium and enjoy fantastic views of the city. Not far away is the Cutty Sark, a museum ship that is an interesting stop. In Regent's Park, you can stroll for hours or have a relaxed picnic and before or after the beautiful hours in the park you can visit London Zoo, which will especially delight the little ones. Additionally, the park is right next to Primrose Hill, a smaller park which (after a short but tough climb) offers outstanding views of London.
If you want to head a bit further away from the bustling centre, visit Hampstead Heath to the north or Richmond Park to the south. When you’re in the middle of either of these green spaces you’ll completely forget that you’re just minutes away from busy streets and skyscrapers.
London Markets
Whether you’re looking for food, clothes or souvenirs, there are markets throughout the city that will have you wandering from stall to stall for hours.
If you’re on the hunt for some seriously good grub, we’d recommend visiting Borough Market near London Bridge, Camden Market near Camden Road Station, or Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill.
Portobello Road Market is also perfect for anyone looking for antiques and souvenirs, while Brick Lane is known for having some of the best vintage clothing stalls. If you're in London on a Sunday and get up early thanks to the kids, you shouldn't miss Columbia Road Flower Market. A hustle and bustle of plant and flower dealers await here, offering fauna in all colours on their tables.
London Mini Farms
An ideal activity to do in London with kids is to visit one of the city's many City Farms! Spitalfields City Farm, where donkeys, goats, ducks, a pig and other animals are waiting to be admired by your little ones, is quite centrally located, as is the Oasis Farm in Waterloo. However, there are also other options a little further outside the centre to spend an hour or two in a little animal paradise.
So now you’re all set for your family visit to London - all you need to do is book the tickets! Browse all of our London attractions or give our team a call for specific advice on the best tickets for your kids' interests and ages.
