The best royal places in London with kids

Whether you’re fascinated by Henry VIII or Harry and Meghan, are hoping to get a glimpse of the royals or let your kids live out their knights and princesses fantasies, you’ll find a string of royal places in London to visit.

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From royal residences to palaces and castles, the best places to discover the UK’s royal history and traditions, royal walking tours of London and the only way to guarantee seeing a member of the royal family (sort of), you’ll find enough to theme an entire visit around royal London.

Best of all, if you’re planning to see these royal places in London with kids, they’re family friendly too.

Buckingham Palace

Where else should you start than the monarch’s own official residence? You can get a glimpse of the exterior of Buckingham Palace year-round, as well as the chance to go indoors for a few months of the year.

Take a look at the flagpole to find out whether the monarch is staying there during your visit: if it’s the Royal Standard, that means the king is in residence, but if it’s the Union Flag, he is residing elsewhere. There’s always more chance of seeing the Royal Standard flying on a weekday rather than a weekend.

For a peek inside, check out my review of a visit to the Buckingham Palace state rooms

The State Rooms are open from around mid July to late September (plus occasional exclusive tours during the winter and spring), and there’s a timed admission system when you book with slots every 15 minutes.

This isn’t somewhere to race through, allow a couple of hours to soak it all in, as well as the walk through the palace gardens at the end. While there are toilets and baby changing at the end of the visit, there’s nothing at the start so this is one I’d avoid with very young kids: for older ones, there’s a multimedia guide aimed at children under 12, activities, crafts and trails.

Check out the highlights of the Buckingham Palace State Rooms for kids from thrones to secret doors.

Tickets cost from £16.50 for kids, £33 for adults and under-fives are free, plus there are family tickets available. If you get your ticket stamped at the end of the visit, you can return for free over the next year.

The Royal Day Out ticket gives admission to the Royal Mews and The King’s Gallery as well as the State Rooms – scroll down for more detail about these royal attractions

Changing of the Guard

The Household Troops have guarded Buckingham Palace since Queen Victoria took up residence in 1837, although they have guarded the monarch and royal palaces for centuries before then. And from 10.43am, the Old Guard hands over to the New Guard in a ceremony which takes around an hour.

The Changing of the Guard is one of London’s most popular free attractions as they march in their famous bearskin hats while a full military band plays, so get there early if you want a good spot.

Being too close to Buckingham palace isn’t always ideal, as you don’t necessarily have the best view through the gates. Instead, head to St James’s Palace beforehand to watch them begin their march.

If you’re visiting London with younger kids and want to avoid the crowds, you could also get a taste at Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk beforehand, where you can spot them forming up and hear the music at around 10.15.

Or watch the King’s Life Guard change on Horse Guards Parade, which tends to be less busy – 11am daily, except on Sundays when it takes place at 10am.

The Changing of the Guard normally takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, daily in June and July, but may be cancelled for major events as well as particularly bad weather – check it’s going ahead before you queue.

For more ideas of free things to do in London with kids, check out this post

Madame Tussauds London

If you want to guarantee seeing the royal family, there’s only one way to do it – and that’s heading to Madame Tussauds to see the waxworks on display inside.

You’ll spot a string of senior royals during your visit, including the younger members of the royal family and a recreation of the famous balcony scene, plus the King.

Queen Elizabeth II holds the record of having more figures made than anyone else in Madame Tussauds’ history, starting with the first figure when the then princess was just two, with the 23rd waxwork unveiled for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Tickets cost from £27 for adults, £24 for kids if you book online, including free option to reschedule, plus you can also buy online from Get Your Guide with free cancellation.

Tower of London

One of my own favourite places to visit in London, the Tower of London oozes royal history – for starters, you can see the crown jewels in all their glittering glory, but it’s been both royal residence and royal prison since William the Conqueror first had the White Tower built in the 11^th century.

There’s a fun Time Explorers game for kids to try as you explore, as well as a great guidebook, not to mention regular special activities during school holidays – so far we’ve seen actors portraying the theft of the crown jewels and a breakout by one high-profile prisoner.

But you can also discover more about the royal menagerie, the animals kept by the country’s monarchs, as well as seeing the memorial to Henry VIII’s two executed Queens (and others), plus the Traitor’s Gate that many entered through.

That’s only the start, as you can wander through apartments designed to look as they would have done back in the 14^th century, see suits of armour galore, try out some interactive exhibits and of course spot the ravens hopping around, with legend saying that if they leave, Britain will fall.

Tickets cost from £37 for adults, £18.50 for kids, free if you’re a Historic Royal Palaces member.

If you book in advance, you can also see the ancient Ceremony of the Keys, as the Tower of London is locked up every night – check out my experience of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with kids

Kensington Palace

Childhood home of Queen Victoria, Kensington Palace is a rather more intimate royal residence than the Tower of London – originally purchased by William and Mary as a country retreat, it was a favourite of George II and his court, but has also been home to Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince William and Harry.

For more things to do in South Kensington with kids, check out my pick of the best

With changing exhibits, you can currently see displays from Queen Victoria’s early years, from her difficult relations with her mother to her first meeting with future husband Prince Albert, as well as tracing her path from a princess no-one thought would be Queen to her coronation.

Elsewhere in the palace you can still play Georgian gambling games, spot a throne, marvel at the grand staircase and imagine the balls held here – plus the seedier side of the royal court with some horrible history sure to entertain kids.

Tickets cost from £24.70 for adults, £12.40 for kids, free if you’re a Historic Royal Palaces member.

Check out my review of a day out at Kensington Palace with kids

Westminster Abbey

As well as seeing where the royals live – or lived – you can also visit their final resting place. Over 3,300 people have been buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey, including 16 separate British monarchs (or 17, if you believe the bones believed to be the Princes in the Tower are those of Edward V and his brother) plus many of their consorts.

As you explore inside, you can see the tombs of Henry V and all the Tudors except Henry VIII, alongside early kings such as Edward the Confessor, who died a week after the abbey was consecrated.

Plantagenet kings including Henry III, who had the current abbey built in the 13^th century, and his son Edward I, while Mary I and Elizabeth I share a tomb. The last King of England to be buried here is George II.

Rather more happily, the abbey has also seen 16 royal weddings, from Henry I in 1100 to most recently, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 (now the Prince and Princess of Wales).

And every king or queen of England has been crowned here, except two – Edward V, who was deposed and presumed murdered before his coronation, and Edward VIII who abdicated before his could take place.

Prebooking tickets is recommended – get discounted tickets if you book through my link using code MUMMYTRAVELS6.

The Palace of Westminster

Better known as the Houses of Parliament, the Palace of Westminster was originally built in the 11^th century as a royal residence – today, after several fires including one in 1834, virtually the only part which survives in almost its original form is Westminster Hall.

And you can still visit this huge hall with its impressive medieval hammerbeam roof, where archaeologists found pieces of the King’s High Table, which would have been used by monarchs including Henry V, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

The roof itself was commissioned by Richard II, whose emblem of the white hart appears along with statues of the kings from Edward the Confessor to Richard himself, plus shields with the royal arms. Although after this grand redecoration celebrating Richard’s regal lineage, the first event which took place in Westminster Hall was the decision to depose him…

There are official tours of Parliament, including Westminster Hall, or UK residents can request free tickets from their MP for debates, which includes passing through the hall.

The Jewel Tower

The only other section of the Palace of Westminster to survive the fire of 1834 is the Jewel Tower, built in 1365 – less famous than the clock tower housing Big Ben, it’s a fascinating little piece of history that’s often overlooked.

Created to house Edward III’s treasures, it was known as the King’s Privy Wardrobe, and you can still venture inside to look around today, now an English heritage site..

There’s a model of the medieval palace of Westminster, as the kings who lived there would have known it, as well as a 14^th century ribbed vault with ornate ceiling carvings to explore.

You can also see areas set as they would have been when it was used by clerks in the 18^th century and the history of weights and measures.

Tickets cost from £9 for adults, £4.50 for kids if you book online in advance, or free to English Heritage members. You can also get overseas visitor passes for English Heritage, ideal if you’re planning to visit several sites.

Banqueting House

Once the Palace of Whitehall was the royal heart of London – standing in the area where you’ll find the street called Whitehall today, Henry VIII moved his court here after a fire at the Palace of Westminster.

Originally the medieval London home of the Archbishops of York, known as York Place, it had belonged to Cardinal Wolsey, taken from him by the King when he fell out of favour. Renamed Whitehall, the magnificent court housed a series of Tudor and Stuart monarchs until 1698 when it too burned down.

The Banqueting House survived: the third one to be built in the palace, it was designed for James I by Inigo Jones, with nine paintings by Rubens later added to the ceiling in 1636, commissioned by Charles I.

13 years later, that king walked under the glorious artworks for the final time, on the way to his execution at a specially built scaffold outside the Banqueting House.

Entry is limited to open days and summer opening, so it’s worth checking in advance/ Tickets cost from £7.50 for adults on open days, £10 for summer opening, and it’s free for kids or if you’re a Historic Royal Palaces member.

Royal Mews

If you’ve ever wondered where the monarch keeps all those fabulous gilded carriages when they’re not transporting the royal family to weddings and ceremonies, you need to head to the Royal Mews.

Home to historic royal carriages and to a working stables, you’ll see the brown Cleveland Bays and white Windsor Grey horses, named by the royal family, as well as the gold state coach, miniature carriages designed to be pulled by small animals including dogs, and a sleigh.

There’s a 45-minute multimedia tour to help you explore, including a family version aimed at kids aged 7-11, telling them everything from what it’s like to train the horses to how it feels to ride in one of those fairytale carriages or drive a Rolls Royce.

For younger ones, the Little Trekkers activity trail is designed for under fives to discover the treasures of the Royal Mews, other activity packs are available to download, and you can climb into a model landau, inspired by what’s thought to be Queen Victoria’s favourite carriage.

The Mews is usually closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except during July and August. Tickets cost from £18 for adults, £9 for kids if booked in advance.

King’s Gallery

There’s always something wonderful to see at the King’s Gallery, with exhibitions featuring works taken from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Old Masters but also photos, rare furniture and decorative arts.

On display in a room designed for George IV by John Nash – created to display his own collection of Dutch, Flemish and Italian works – you could see artists from Vermeer, Rembrandt and van Dyck to Titian and Canaletto.

This is one place which is best to explore with older kids, if you’re visiting as a family, as there are no specific activities for children. There is a multimedia guide which lasts around an hour to help visitors explore.

The King’s Gallery is often closed on Tuesdays and sometimes on other days. Tickets cost from £22 for adults, £11 for kids.

Queen’s House, Greenwich

Greenwich has plenty of royal links – the ancient Greenwich palace was the birthplace of Elizabeth I and Henry VIII before it was demolished by Charles II. Today the Old Royal Naval College, with its fabulous Painted Hall, stands on the site of the palace, but you can still visit the Queen’s House.

Originally commissioned by James I for his wife, Anne of Denmark – supposedly a gift to apologise for swearing in front of her (after she had killed one of his favourite dogs during a hunt) – she died before it could be finished.

Later Charles I gave Greenwich to his wife, and the Queen’s House was completed around 1636, the first fully Classical building in England. While the queen didn’t get long to enjoy it before Charles I was executed and she went into exile, it was used by members of the royal family until 1805.

Today it’s home to a renowned art collection, recently exhibiting the Armada portraits showing Elizabeth I, and the fabulous spiral Tulip Staircase. It’s free to enter, although booking free tickets is recommended.

Head into Greenwich Park as well, the oldest of the royal parks, and you can find Queen Elizabeth’s Oak, an ancient tree dating back to the 12^th century where the Tudor Queen supposedly played as a child.

For more things to do in Greenwich with kids, check out this post

Clarence House

Previously the official residence of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (now King Charles III and Queen Camilla), Clarence House has been home to various other members of the royal family over the years, originally built almost 200 years ago by John Nash.

Often open to the public during August, when you can take a 45-minute guided tour of five rooms on the ground floor, it’s currently closed.

Ticket prices and any opening dates for 2026 are to be confirmed. There are no toilet or babychanging facilities.

Somerset House

Once the site of a Tudor Palace belonging to the Duke of Somerset, the uncle to Edward VI, Somerset House has been the residence of the then Princess Elizabeth, who lived there before becoming Queen in 1558, as well as several Stuart Queen consorts – the last one being Catherine of Braganza, wife to Charles II.

Demolished in 1775, the Neoclassical building you can see today has a long history of the arts – previously the home of the Royal Academy of the Arts, as well as the Royal Society, there are still exhibitions and other creative projects taking place here.

In summer, kids can play in the fountains in the grand courtyard, which is transformed into an ice rink for winter in the run-up to Christmas.

Admission is free, although there’s a charge for some exhibitions and events.

Household Cavalry museum

If your kids are fascinated by the King’s guards – and as a fun extra if you’re planning to watch the Changing of the Guard – head into the Household Cavalry Museum just off Horse Guards Parade.

It celebrates the history of the Household Cavalry, with a chance to peek behind the scenes at what work goes on to create the ceremonial displays, plus the chance to dress like a cavalryman, watch the guards and sentries change, and peek into the stables.

There are also often family events and activities during school holidays and half-terms.

Open daily (apart from closures on some dates during May and June for ceremonial events), tickets must be prebooked, priced £8 for children aged 5-16, £11 for adults. Family tickets are also available.

Visit one of the Royal parks

There are eight royal parks scattered across the capital, from Greenwich Park with Queen Elizabeth’s Oak on one side to Richmond Park with King Henry’s Mound on the other – where he supposedly stood to see the signal that Anne Boleyn had been executed. Almost certainly untrue, but it’s still a good story!

But if you’re staying in and around central London, it’s easy to visit a couple of the other royal parks and discover their own links to Britain’s monarchs.

In St James’s Park, there have been pelicans since 1664, when the Russian ambassador presented a pair to Charles II – keep an eye out too for the Diana Princess of Wales memorial walk which runs through this and three other royal parks, as well as passing three palaces and two mansions linked to Princess Diana.

In Hyde Park, you can also find the Diana Memorial Fountain made with 545 pieces of granite, with three bridges crossing the water and taking you to the heart of the fountain.

Even more excitingly for kids, in Kensington Gardens, not far from the palace where the Princess of Wales made her home, is the Diana Memorial Playground, centered around a huge ship. EDIT: The playground is now closed until summer 2026 (date tbc) for refurbishment

For some more of the best playgrounds in London, check out my top picks

Take a royal walking tour

As well as the self-guided Diana Princess of Wales memorial walk, there are various different royal walking tours to take around the capital.

Walk London has a free self-guided walking tour from Westminster to Kensington, sticking to footpaths through parkland or gardens as you pass royal palaces. Allow at least three hours (take a picnic to have in the park with kids, or try doing it in several sections).

The Royal London guided walking tour – from £15 for two hours – passes three palaces, as well as sharing other weird and wonderful tales of London.

If you’re confident cycling, there’s also this half-day Royal London bike tour, suitable for all ages – you can also get bikes with baby seats.

Kew Palace

Set in the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Kew Palace is the smallest of the royal palaces – originally built as a mansion for a wealthy silk merchant. But George II and his Queen decided it would make a perfect home for their eldest daughters, which led to Georgian royalty using the palace as their peaceful weekend retreat.

An escape from ceremony and the world’s gaze, it became somewhere the royal family could relax and enjoy a life as a family. Later, it was hoped this peaceful spot would help George III recover from his mental illness.

By the early 19^th century, it had begun to fall from favour, although two of George III’s sons married here in the race to provide an heir – including the parents of the future Queen Victoria.

Next door are the Georgian Royal Kitchens, kept preserved as they would have been more than 200 years ago, trapped in time on February 6 1789 when George III recovered from his first episode of mental illness.

Along with rooms where bread was baked, fish and meat was stored, vegetables were washed and a lead-lined sink in the scullery, there’s also a small kitchen garden plus the impressive royal kitchens themselves with a giant range, grill and oven.

To visit the Historic Royal Palaces property, you need a timed entry ticket to Kew Gardens. Tickets cost from £17 for adults, £2 for kids off peak dates booked online in advance – you can also buy tickets with free cancellation here, and entry to Kew Palace is included.

Hampton Court Palace

Buckingham Palace might be the official royal residence, but if you’re hoping to explore a palace, it’s hard to beat Hampton Court – a short train journey from Waterloo, on the edge of the Thames, Henry VIII ‘acquired’ this from Cardinal Wolsey as well.

And it’s a fantastic place to get a taste of how the royal court lived, from the sprawling kitchens catering to the inhabitants to a series of rooms decorated from different time periods, including grand Tudor ceilings and Georgian apartments, courtyards and thrones under canopies, as well as the beautiful chapel royal.

As you walk along the Haunted Gallery, it’s said that Catherine Howard’s ghost can still be heard pleading for mercy.

Outside, there’s as much to see in the gardens. Home to the famous maze, the Magic Garden children’s playground is another favourite with kids plus there are regular family activities during school holidays – anything from Tudor sports to Easter hunts.

Stop by the real tennis court as well to see if you can catch a display of Henry VIII’s favourite game as well.

Allow a whole day to explore. Ticket prices vary, from £29 for adults, £14.50 for children or get a discount if you book via Tiqets using my link and code MUMMYTRAVELS6

Check out my review of our most recent family day out at Hampton Court Palace

Eltham Palace

Once a great medieval palace, Eltham is in the borough of Greenwich, in south east London (although realistically, allow plenty of time to get there by public transport, if you’re not travelling by car).

Home to Henry VIII as a prince, as well as his sisters Margaret and Mary – later Queen of Scotland and France respectively – it was one of only six residences big enough to house and feed the entire Tudor court of around 800 people. The medieval hall built for Edward IV is over 30 metres long, one of the country’s largest along with Westminster Hall.

A visit today looks rather different than the Tudors would remember it though: bought by the wealthy Courtaulds in the 1930s, the Great Hall was repaired but a new house added, designed in wonderful Art Deco style, along with beautiful gardens from the same date.

Tickets cost from £17 for adults, £8.50 for kids, and free for English Heritage members.

More royal places near London

Windsor Castle

The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor is still a ‘working’ castle – founded by William the Conqueror in the 11^th century, it has been home to 39 monarchs and was a favourite weekend retreat for Queen Elizabeth II.

For more things to do in Windsor with kids, check out my top picks

You can see everything from a spectacular royal doll’s house to Henry VIII’s plus-size armour as well as the spectacular state apartments, and climb the round tower at Windsor Castle (as long as you’re over 1.3 metres tall).

Unless you’re visiting on a Sunday, you can also go into St George’s chapel, dating back to 1475. The site of a number of royal weddings, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, it also houses the tombs of 10 monarchs including Edward IV, Henry VI and VIII, Charles I, Edward VII and George V.

There’s also another opportunity to see the changing of the guard here at certain times. And between the royal treasures and tales of kings and queens galore who’ve spent part of their lives at Windsor, kids can also dress up and there’s a children’s audioguide as you explore.

Tickets cost from £32 for adults, £16 for kids if booked in advance, or get a discount if you book through Tiqets using my link and code MUMMYTRAVELS6. You can also book a half-day tour from London, including entry to the castle.

Check out the Treasure Map Trails of Windsor and Eton for a fun way to explore the historic town and surrounding area with kids, spotting some of the quirky sights – get 10% off using code MUMMYTRAVELS

Hatfield House

To the north of London in Hertfordshire, the royal palace of Hatfield once stood on the site occupied by Hatfield House – the childhood home and favourite resident of Elizabeth I.

It was here that the princess was sitting in 1558, under an oak tree in the park, when she learned that she had become queen.

Part of the original palace, which dates back to 1497, still exists and you can visit (although as it is often used as a wedding venue and for events, and closes for much of the year, it’s worth checking in advance that it will be open on the day you visit).

You can also still see items with links to the Queen at the present-day house, built in 1611 during the reign of James I – look out for the silk stockings which are believed to have been the first in England. James himself stayed here, and there’s a lifesize statue in the drawing room, itself named after the king.

James I was far from the last monarch to visit though; Queen Victoria also spent time at Hatfield.

Tickets cost from £27 for adults, £13.50 for kids for entry to the house and grounds, £17 for adults, £8.50 for kids for gardens and park entry only.

For more unusual things to do in London with kids, check out my pick of the best

PIN FOR LATER: THE BEST ROYAL PLACES IN LONDON

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Main image, Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Westminster Abbey, St James’s Park copyright MummyTravels, Changing of the Guard courtesy Adobe Stock, all others courtesy Depositphotos

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