London is amongst the most visited cities in the world, and for good reason, the capital city of the UK boasts something, if not more for every visitor; even kids. A great part of travelling is the knowledge and experiences you gain from it, the same stands true for kids as well. When they travel and explore new places, they indeed gain a better perspective about things. It is thus, that travelling to London with kids could be your best idea ever. An kid-friendly destination, London offers plenty of options to keep your kids happy, entertained and intrigued.
1
Warner Bros Studio Tour
Whether your kid has started falling in love with the Harry Potter series or is already head over heels in love with the books and the movies, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour will be the perfect spot for them. You and your kids will be swept off into all things wizarding world. Walk through bewitching sets of the great hall, Dumbledore’s office, the cobble stoned Diagon Alley and Platform 9 ¾. Observe an array of props like Hagrid’s motorcycle and Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and the costumes adorned by the famous trio. Learn Hogwarts’ best kept secrets including special effects and animatronics trivia. Furthermore, before re-enter your muggle life, collect some Harry Potter memorabilia from the train theme souvenir shop.
Ideal For (6+) Age GroupTour Timings vary as per tour chosen Address
Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR
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2
Madame Tussauds
With 14 interactive areas and over 300 stunning wax figures that range from notable celebrities from the field of movies, sports, music, fashion, politics, history, fiction to the British royal family themselves, Madame Tussauds London have much to offer for you and your little ones. The slightly older kids, especially the social media savvies will definitely have a gala, as they get a picture clicked with their favorite pop-culture icon. While the younger one’s might not recognize the lot, they will get their moment upon spotting Shrek, exploring the jungle with King Kong, riding with E.T. on his cycle, fighting crimes with the Marvel Super Heroes and a space adventure with Star Wars universe.
Ideal For (5+) Age GroupRegular hours - 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
On weekends and UK school holidays - 9.00 AM - 6.00 PM Address
Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LR
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3
London Dungeon
History is not just glorious, it has its moment of gruesome cruelty and the London Dungeon let’s you explore the capital’s 1000 year-old horrid history in an adrenalin pumping manner. The 90-minute immersive tour takes aid from special sound and light effects, expertly created sets, creepy props, live actors and thrilling rides to reiterate the grim parts of London’s history. Costumes actors breathes life into stories such as King Henry VIII’s execution of his wife and the Gunpowder Plot among others. Definitely not advisable for weak hearted, but if your child is into such creepy, gory stuff than a London Dungeon tour is a great way for them to have some fun, all the while taking some history lessons.
Ideal For (10+) Age GroupMonday - Wednesday, Friday - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Thursday - 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Address
The London Dungeon, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB
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4
London Sea Life Aquarium
Aquariums are a good way of letting your children explore, absorb and admire the beauty and magic of the underwater ecosystem. Thus visiting one of Europe's largest collections of global marine life on your trip to London with kids, is a must. The three-floor, state-of-the-art aquarium has 17 themed zones that range from an ocean tunnel that features sharks swimming overhead to an antarctic zone that features Gentoo Penguins in their natural habitats. Other notable show stoppers include zebra sharks, seahorses, monster catfish, clown fish and octopus. Strewn with over interesting exhibits and interactive activities like feeding the stingrays and diving displays, the London’s Sea Life Aquarium keeps your kids intrigued and engaged all through the tour.
Ideal For (2+) Age GroupMonday - Friday - 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday - 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM Address
County Hall, Riverside Building, London, SE1 7PB
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5
Tower Bridge Exhibition
Officially opened in 1894, the iconic Tower Bridge still works and opens and closes around 850 times a year. Though matching your timing with that event is quite difficult, you can always visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition to explore the landmark closely. The exhibition entails in-depth history of the bridges’ construction and its evolvement through the years. Interestingly, the steam-driven machinery that used to raise the bridge for its first hundred years also stands tall here as a grand example of Victorian engineering. In addition, to perking your child's’ interest in the when and how’s of the marvel, the 42 metres high and 11-metre long glass upper walkway, privies them with some breathtaking views of London and the Thames river.
Ideal For (4+) Age GroupApril to September 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
October to March - 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM Address
Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Rd, London, SE1 2UP
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6
Coca-Cola London Eye
Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel and kids is an obvious match, what it lacks in speed (as per kids perspective), it makes up with the magnificent panoramic views of London and Thames. Built in the year 2000, the London Eye quickly evolved as a notable icon for the city, so much so, that it is quite hard to imagine london’s skyline without it. Equipped with 32 oval-shaped pods, big enough to seat 25 passengers, without hindering a single one’s view, the wheel takes about 30 minutes for a ride. Your journey starts with an interactive 4D movie, that will instantly hook your kid and inform them what will follow, ensuring that you and them make the most of the view.
Ideal For (3+) Age GroupSummer Timing
Jun to Sep - 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM daily;
Winter Timing
Oct to May: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM daily.
Closed in January for maintenance. Address
Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB
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7
A Kid-Friendly West End Show
A trip to London is incomplete without viewing a west end show, the sentiment also applies when you are travelling to London with kids. Notably, in addition to entertainment a good piece of theatre will open up your child’s heart and brain for the art of storytelling, reading and much more. A variety of plays, musicals and pantomimes are hosted across London including The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre and Wicked the musical at apollo victoria. If you have a teenager, than you can opt for shows like School of Rock at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, Matilda the musical at the cambridge theatre or Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre among others.
Ideal For (5+) Age GroupDepends on Show chosen Address
Depends on Show chosen
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8
Shakespeare Globe Theatre
English literature can be daunting for many, especially the words written by William Shakespeare.Understanding his story, his contentions and his writing style can become quite difficult to comprehend for today’s generation. Visiting the birthplace of these stories and experiencing the stories behind these stories, could give them a new perspective. So, if your child is being introduced to reading and comprehending works of notable writers, a visit to the globe theatre could really help. Though the current Shakespeare Globe Theatre is a replica of the original, it still maintains the style and essence of the original. You can either attend a performance or just take a tour and visit the exhibition based on the life and work of Shakespeare.
Ideal For (10+) Age GroupGlobe Exhibition and Tour - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. Address
21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT
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9
A Football Stadium Tour
London boasts a strong sporting community, with multiple state-of-the-art stadiums and notable players and teams across various genres. Depending upon the sport your kids are interested in, you can take them for an exclusive stadium tour. For instance if they are an Arsenal fan, than book a Emirates Stadium Tour. Home of the Arsenal Football Club the audio-guided tour will not just give them a glimpse of the field but allow the to explore the team’s glorious past through the Arsenal Museum. Similarly, a Wimbledon Stadium tour, will entail an entry to the largest tennis museum in the world, the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, a mecca for every tennis enthusiast.
Ideal For (7+) Age GroupDepends on the Stadium Chosen Address
Depends on the Stadium Chosen
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10
British Museum
Looking from a kid’s perspective, the British Museum is one of the world’s best museum. Along with boasting artifacts from Ancient Greece to Asian civilizations, the museum also includes fun children’s audio tours. These audio guides takes the kids on a treasure hunt through whichever gallery the children choose. Undoubtedly the Ancient Egypt section with the mummies and the Rosetta Stone is one of the most popular section with the kids. During the weekends and on school holiday, various activity trails and activity backpacks are available, in order to make learning and exploring history more fun for children. In addition, visiting the world’s most kid-friendly museum is absolutely free and the gift shop offers some unique memorabilia for them.
Ideal For (12+) Age GroupSaturday to Thursday - 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Friday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM Address
44 Great Russell St, London, WC1B 3DG
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11
Change of Guards at Buckingham Palace
There something about the pomp and pageantry of the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace that excites the adult visitors also. The ceremony, also known as the Guard Mounting, marks the exchange of duty between the Old Guard and the New guard. Dressed in the traditional red tunics and bearskin hats, the Queen's Guard make for a vision, from their disciplined, synchronised moments to the accompanying notes by the band all are precisely perfect. Most children that observe the ceremony are often mesmerized by the actions taking place. Make sure you explain the importance and the legacy of this ceremony to your kids beforehand and they will then pay extra attention to each and every moment.
Ideal For (5+) Age GroupThe ceremony starts at 11:30 am
April to July - Daily
August to March - on alternate days - Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Address
Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA
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12
Thames River Cruise
A boat ride is like an adventurous trip for most kids, they enjoy being on a different mode of transport, the water mesmerizes them and so does the various sites of London. Exploring the most notable landmarks of the city, could be a lot of walk, which would get the kids extremely tired and cranky towards the end of it. However, a Thames river cruise might be a great solution to all such woes, especially for the parents who wants to make the most of their tour of London with kids. Starting from the Westminster pier you’ll pass by some prominent landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
Ideal For (2+) Age GroupThe timing depends on the tour chosen, the day tour runs from 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM daily. Address
Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2JH
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13
A Day Trip to Stonehenge or Oxford
From the mysteries of Stonehenge to the haphazardly beauty of Oxford, London gives some great options for one day trip. Stonehenge is a relic of the prehistoric world that is older that the Great Pyramids, however no one knows the answer to it how such heavy stones were brought and fixed there or what was their initial purpose. While this mystery is still unsolved, the stonehenge’s exhibition centre has some notable answers from the neolithic era. As for Oxford, it may be famous for being home to two great universities, But there’s much more to the place than just that. It packed with gems from the Oxford Castle to The Covered Market, from Oxford University Museum of Natural History to Modern Art Oxford.
Ideal For (7+) Age GroupDepends on the tour chosen Address
Amesbury, Salisbury SP4 7DE, UK
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14
DreamWork's Tours: Shrek's Adventure! London
Whether you are a 3 year old or 60 year old, everyone loves the very affable green monster, we all call Shrek. Board the magical flying 4D bus to step into Shrek’s world of Far Far Away. Visit Cinderella in Shrek’s swamp, keep an eye out for the adorable Puss in Boots and the gingerbread man, rescue the poor pinocchio from the wheel of torture and join the Muffin Man to cook up a magical spell. To further enchant the kids, 12 laugh-out-loud fairytale themed live shows are organised that amalgamates captivating storytelling, special effects and a flawless performance by the live actors. The DreamWorks animation ensures that your kids feel these stories from all 5 senses.
Ideal For (3+) Age GroupMonday to Wednesday, Friday, Sunday - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday - 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday - 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Address
Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Get Directions
15
One of the few places in the world, where adults are only allowed, when accompanied by a child aged 1-14 years. A global phenomenon, KidZania is one of a kind educational and entertainment zone that let’s children become (portray) what they aspire to be. KidZania has over 60 unique and exciting professions including a pilot, a firefighter, an actor and a surgeon. Your child explores through these professions via real-life role-play adventures. The kids are given 50 kidzos upon entry to spend, save and invest as per their will in the city, without the supervision or interference of their parents. Activities have been specially designed to empower kids with essential life skills such as teamwork, independence and even financial literacy.
Ideal For (4 - 14) Age GroupTiming varies on a regular basis, check out the website for details. It opens between 9:30 am - 10: 00 am and closes between 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Address
Westfield London, Ariel Way, London, W12 7GA
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Top Tips for Visiting London with Kids
- Let them choose! - Let your kids help you decide the itinerary, show them the variety of activities there is to do in London and ask them to choose for themselves. Knowing about the attractions that awaits them will keep them pumped - up throughout the trip.
- Plan and pre-book - Researching the attractions and setting an itinerary accordingly, saves you from visiting an attraction and finding it closed for the day. Also pre-booking not only saves your time, it also helps you save money, thanks to the discounts on online booking.
- Skip the line tickets are a boon - Depending upon your itinerary choose all or a few skip the lines ticket, as kids tends to get restless when kept waiting for long periods. In addition, they are wearing off before there adventure could begin.
- Factor in rest time - London could inspire you to take long walks or cover multiple attractions in a day. However, factor in the kids health, stamina and other quotients, compromising on some attractions for resting hours is perfectly fine.
- Baby-friendly restaurants - Most restaurants in London and a few gastro - pubs entertain parents to bring their child. Search for such haunts in advance. In addition, many of these place happily entertain kids during lunch hours, so go ahead and make luncheons an event.
- Parks and playgrounds - London is blessed with some great parks and playgrounds. You and the kids can catch up on some rest and some major family time amidst the beauty of nature.
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