Things to do with kids in Camden
Camden is better for families than its reputation might suggest. Yes, the market gets crowded and chaotic, but you can sidestep all of that entirely: the zoo is on your doorstep, the canal towpath offers one of London's best flat walks for buggies, and within 20 minutes you can be deep in Highgate Wood or at the Hampstead Heath playground. The north London arc from Camden to Hampstead is genuinely one of the best family circuits in the city.
What this area does particularly well is the mix of free and paid options. A full day could be entirely free: canal walk, Highgate Wood, Hampstead Heath playground, done. Or you can spend properly on the zoo and get full value. For rainy days the Little Angel Theatre in neighbouring Islington is intimate and magical in a way that most children's entertainment simply is not.
You pay a lot for London Zoo, but on a good day it absolutely delivers: gorillas, giraffes, and penguins in an actually beautiful setting inside Regent's Park. The children's zoo section where they can get close to smaller animals is worth the entrance fee on its own.
The walk from Angel to Broadway Market along the towpath is one of the best flat, road-free strolls in London: about 3km with no crossings to worry about. Narrowboats, ducks, humpback bridges, and a cake stop at the far end.
The paddling pool in summer is genuinely wonderful, and the surrounding heath means you can let older kids roam with a bit more freedom than most London parks allow. Bring wellies in winter; the paths get muddy in the best possible way.
Ancient woodland in north London with a nature playground, sports pitches, and beautiful walking trails. Feels like genuine countryside in the city, and in autumn the changing leaves make it spectacular. The cafe does excellent bacon sandwiches.
Tiny, warm, and completely magical: this Islington puppet theatre has been making handcrafted shows for small children for over 60 years and it shows. Even babies who are not really following the story seem held by the whole atmosphere of the place.