12 days out in London with kids
Dr Johnson knew what he was talking about. There is simply so much to see and do in an ever-changing London, that I doubt a lifetime is enough to get bored of it.
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It might not be perfect (especially on the tube at rush hour), it might be frustrating, but even after nearly 20 years living here, and countless other visits during mylife, I never run out of things to discover.
So with one of my New Year’s travel resolutions being to explore more of my home city with my daughter, I’ve decided to draw up a list of 12 days out in London with kids, with something to try every month.
Some are new, some are unmissable, but one visit per month certainly ought to be doable. And that’s without the trips we’ve already done including the wonderful museums – the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the British Museum, the Horniman and the V&A, as well as the glorious Cutty Sark – and the many things to do along the Thames including the South Bank. Oh and the currently scaffolding-clad Big Ben.
1. Postal Museum
The new Postal Museum has been on my wishlist since it opened last year – although the history of the Royal Mail might not instantly seem child-friendly, it’s been done in such a way as to be perfect for kids (and give a fascinating look at the centuries of Britain’s postal service).
With the Mail Rail to ride, a special play space, unexpected stories and the chance to dress up, this is one to set aside plenty of time for.
2. Tower of London
It’s certainly not a new attraction – the first part was built over 900 years ago – but the Tower is without doubt one of my favourite places to visit in London. With centuries of history, often gruesome, with long tales of royalty both glorious and defeated, with its pageantry, its legends and those jewels, it enthralls me.
Although my daughter is an enthusiastic mini castle fan, it’s one I decided to save until she was old enough to appreciate it a little more – now aged five, almost six, I think the moment has come. Besides, it’s far too long since I’ve been!
It’s hugely popular, so I’m hoping to make the most of living here by avoiding the holidays: more tips to come once on the best things to do and see, as well as any good ideas for skipping the queues.
We ticked this off easily, the first of many many visits – check out my scavenger hunt for the Tower of London
3. Peter Rabbit at Kew
There’s always something new to discover at Kew Gardens, and while we don’t go quite as frequently now my daughter is at school, I’m very tempted by the Peter Rabbit festival over the Easter holidays for a return.
With an interactive trail, plus workshops and crafts, the focus is all about edible plants, fruit and vegetables, while you can plant your own seeds in Mr McGregor’s potting shed, or pull on a pair of fuzzy bunny ears.
EDIT: No longer running, but you’ll find plenty of things to do at Kew Gardens
4. Museum of London
While we’ve been steadily working our way around London’s wonderful free museums, we still haven’t made it to the Museum of London – but with family activities and tours, as well as special events like guided walks through Roman London, there’s plenty of kid-friendly history.
EDIT: The museum is now temporarily closed until reopening in its new site at Smithfield in 2026
Previous special events have focused on the Great Fire, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for their newest exhibitions as well.
The museum itself is planning to move to a new home not far away in Smithfield Market, currently planned for 2026 with work going on to create a purpose-built space, so I feel sure this visit is going to be the first of many.
5. Watch the pelicans be fed at St James’s park
London isn’t a cheap city – but there are actually a surprising number of free things to do. Not least exploring the parks – I used to work not far from St James’s Park and it’s a gorgeous spot, plus there’s the chance to see the pelicans which live there having their afternoon fish.
Feeding time is from 2.30-3pm near Duck Island Cottage, although you can see them by the lake throughout the day. A word of warning from a friend: if you’re heading there in summer with an ice cream, the pelicans are more than happy to snaffle that when your attention is elsewhere.
6. The National Gallery’s magic carpet
My daughter’s current choice of job when she grows up is to work as an ‘art person’. We haven’t narrowed it down further, but a visit to the National Gallery would be a perfect way to spark some more creative ideas.
There are Sunday storytelling sessions on the magic carpet, which stops in front of a new painting each time – aimed at under-fives, there are also other activities for older age groups, including holiday sessions, not to mention trails to follow.
7. The V&A Winnie the Pooh exhibition
Woozles, heffalumps, honey… Winnie the Pooh is a favourite in our house, and I’d hoped to get to the exhibition at the V&A at the end of last year, having realised it was a year since we had last visited the museum.
Somehow the holidays sped by, but my daughter is primed and ready with her own small Piglet to take – and we have until April 8 to put it in our diary.
8. Changing of the guard
I remember visiting my grandparents in London as a child and watching the changing of the guard – I’d love Minnie to have the same memories. There are alternatives to the official ceremony if you want to avoid some of the crowds – check out my tips for seeing London on a budget – or we might pop to Windsor for their version.
Admittedly that’s not London itself, but is actually closer to us than heading to Greenwich or east London. Plus there’s the castle to explore there too!
9. The London Transport Museum
We had a great look behind the scenes at the museum’s open day in its Acton depot but still haven’t visited the main London Transport museum. The chance to pretend to drive various vehicles always goes down well… if I’m honest, I rather fancy getting behind the controls of a tube train myself. Even if it’s not for real.
There’s a play zone too, and plenty more to tempt. We did finally get there – check out my review of the London Transport Museum here
10. Go geocaching
One of the things I love about London is that there’s so much that unexpected – so much to discover, to find hidden away. I’ve tried some of the Treasure Trails on days out around the country, so they’re a great way to spot quirky details, but I fancy trying out geocaching too.
Hopefully that will encourage us to wander a bit further and give us a few challenges to get us out for an easy day. A goal always goes down well!
11. Walking with dinosaurs
The prehistoric beasts are still a favourite – last year we managed to find a dinosaur bone on the Isle of Wight and visited Jurassic Kingdom before it toured the country.
This year’s Walking with Dinosaurs animatronic show is doing that in reverse, with two sets of London dates including Wembley at the end of the year and the O2 in August.
Or failing that, perhaps a day out at Crystal Palace to see their dino models instead.
12. Get my heart racing
And these are just for me… Climbing all the way to the top of the O2, suspended 52m above ground level, I can only imagine the views – and how much it will get my heart pounding.
Not suitable for five-year-olds (there are age and height restrictions), the same goes for the Helix, aka the Arcelor Mittal slide, which is also on my list. And the Crystal Maze Live Experience…
Of course that’s only the beginning of the many things to do in London with kids. But let’s leave something for 2019…
PIN FOR LATER: DAYS OUT IN LONDON WITH KIDS
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Main image and horseguards courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
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Ooh, geocaching – now you have me thinking. I might try and do that with the kids over half term. We haven’t tried it yet, and I bet it would be a real hoot to do it in town. Fab post, Cathy. You’ve also reminded me that mine still haven’t seen the changing of the guard!
I always associate it with something you do in the countryside, but they do seem to be all over. And thank you, I get reminded to do all kinds of things by your posts as well 🙂
I never knew you could geocache in London, now that sounds grand
Absolutely – I need to investigate it more, but seems you can geocache all over the place. There even seems to be one in our local park!
We haven’t made it to the Postal Museum or the Transport Museum yet either – thanks for the reminder! I keep reading great things about the Transport Museum as a fun day out for little ones so I must try it soon. I like the idea of one trip a month too, I might copy you and try to do that too for the 7 months we will be in London! #citytripping
Absolutely! I’m sure you could fit a couple in to one outing too, but I do like a goal otherwise the days, weeks, months fly past and suddenly I haven’t done anything.
All great things to do with kids! I’d even still be interested in Peter Rabbit at the Kew! We’re actually coming to London in March, so I’m still knee deep in researching trying to plan out my sightseeing schedule with everything I want to see, but I like the idea of getting a better view of the Changing of the Guard from along the Mall instead of fighting the crowds. #CityTripping
Exciting! I’m quite tempted by that myself. And you don’t quite get the full pomp and ceremony but definitely fewer crowds and a taste of it all – worth looking at the app for more suggestions as well.
All fab things to do. London is amazing!
Thanks! It is indeed.
I am actually considering visiting London in the near future, without kids though :), but I have to come back for some other tips. It’s a long time since I’ve been sightseeing in the city.
It is a wonderful city – and plenty on the list should be good for adults (plus other posts with more suggestions without kids as well!)
I grew up in Hertfordshire and we spent a lot of the school holidays enjoying everything London has to offer – and much of it free! I often forget how great a city London can be… #citytripping
It always amazes me just how much you can do for free here – and similar, that my grandparents lived here so I used to visit throughout my childhood. Even after a lifetime (on and off) of exploring, I feel like there’s so much more to find and do.
I had no idea that I was so interested in the mail service but the Postal Museum sounds so fab. Great to see some of my old London faves here and some new suggestions! #citytripping
It really intrigues me – some of the stories sound fascinating too.
I’d definitely recommend the Museum of London. We stumbled on it a few years ago and thought it was a super place – just the right size for children too.
There’s still so much on your list I haven’t done – will need to pop down to the capital more often.
#citytripping
It’s a great museum, although I haven’t been for a few years either – and always so much on my London list.
Some great ideas here. We went to the Grant Museum of Zoology recently and that was brilliant if you are not squeamish. The Transport Museum is cool and we also love the Science Museum. #Citytripping
Thanks! I love the Grant museum, though I haven’t been for years – my daughter swings between being fascinated by the weird and gruesome and being entirely freaked out, so saving that with her for a bit longer.
Loved this list. Hope to make it to the Post Museum soon too as that sounds great, and I know my lot would love the little train! 🙂
It sounds really fun, must find a date for it soon.
A greta list of things to see and do in London. What a greta idea to try and do one a month. I agree that we tend to visit places further away from home, rather than those on our doorstep! #citytripping
Thanks! I thought that’s manageable but still a nice goal for the year. Admittedly January has been hectic so I might have to squeeze two into February…
We are going to make it there just in time for the WInnie The Pooh Exhibit!! I’ve picked a few other things off this list for our spring itinerary. I’m coming with just my Big Little to celebrate his 6th Birthday and he couldn’t be more excited. Thanks for all the great ideas. #CityTripping
Fantastic! Will have to keep my eyes open for anything else exciting over the next couple of months too.
I loved that about London. After living there for almost two years, there are still so many things that I didn’t get to see or do. Climbing the O2 sounds like lots of fun, but I’m not sure how my fear of heights would go. The fact that there’s so many free museums and galleries in London makes it such an accessible place for everyone! #CityTripping
I do have a bit of a fear of heights too but also a mini daredevil streak, so I’m wondering which wins…
I absolutely love London (and England in general) and I’m always a bit envious of people based in that area! You’re right, there’s so much to do I’m sure it never gets boring, unless you let it! 🙂 #citytripping
It’s so easy to be a bit blase when it’s somewhere you live – never boring but I definitely don’t always appreciate it as much as I should!
I am taking some ideas from here since I am visiting the city later this year. A visit to the Tower of London is on the plans. Too bad the WInnie the Pooh exhibition is gong to be away when I visit. #citytripping
That’s a shame, although the V&A normally have great exhibitions so sure there’ll be something else – the Tower is always wonderful too.
Did you do the Tower of London tour?? I feel like kids would enjoy the Beefeaters, and that the guides would play up their silly side even more with kids on the tour. (Although the barking tone might be a little much for little ones…) The British Museum is incredible, but we went on a Sunday afternoon and it was SO busy… so maybe getting there early could feel less overwhelming? There’s so much to see that I think kids would enjoy though! #citytripping
I haven’t been with my daughter yet, but definitely think a tour might be a fun idea with kids – there’s a family trail app too which sounds fun, and some other activities so a few different choices. And the British Museum does get SO busy so turning up early is a good plan (and if you can go on a weekday/outside holidays though that’s a tricky one). We did one of the trails based on numbers, and it was a lot of fun – took us to some rooms I might not otherwise have gone into.
Feeding the pelicans is something I really want to see as well – a fabulous London institute which is free too! #citytripping
I can’t quite believe I’ve never done it in all the years I’ve lived here!
Okay the Postal Museum looks like a lot of fun – even for kidless me! I also didn’t know about the feeding of the pelicans. What a great and free thing to do especially when it’s a nice day out!
Absolutely, the parks are always a great place to hang out when the sun shines
Having just spent two weeks in London I’ve done a number of these, but there are still many I have yet to try! I hear excellent things about the Museum of London and I’m going to that Transport Museum one of these visits… #citytripping
This is the advantage and the downside of London – there is just SO MUCH to try to do
I’m really hoping we’ll be doing much of the kid friendly stuff in London soon. We’ve never been with Holiday Baby, but he is soon to have a little cousin living just outside London so I think factoring in more visits will be a definite for us!
Definitely something to take advantage of! And loads to do, even with little ones.
I think my weekends will be filled with activities if I live in London – so much to see! There will be always be new events, exhibitions here and there, or even a walk in the gardens is just as good 😉 #Citytripping
There really is SO much to see, as long as I don’t let everyday life get in the way
Lapland -yes it blows the budget but so worth it. I too had done pre-kids but a better and priceless experience with them. I went in December 2017 . One word Magical!
Sounds amazing – really hoping we’ll get there.