The best family activities in Central London for kids aged 0-7. Parks, museums, playgrounds and more.
Central London is where the big hitters live: the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the British Museum, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. These are the places you'll keep returning to as your kid grows. Go early, pack snacks, and pick one or two things per visit rather than trying to do everything.
Peter Pan-themed adventure playground with a huge wooden pirate ship, teepees, and sensory trail. One of London's best playgrounds.
Seven-acre playground and park exclusively for children. Adults must be accompanied by a child to enter. Includes a petting zoo, sandpit, and paddling pool.
Huge central park with playgrounds, the Serpentine lake for pedal boats, and the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain where kids can splash and paddle.
World-famous museum with dinosaur skeletons, a blue whale model, and interactive galleries. The Investigate Centre lets kids handle real specimens.
Hands-on science fun across seven floors. The Garden gallery (basement) is designed for 3-6 year olds with water play, building, and sensory activities.
Climb aboard vintage buses, sit in a Tube driver's seat, and explore interactive galleries about London's transport. The All Aboard play zone is perfect for under-7s.
Walk through underwater tunnels, see sharks, penguins, and jellyfish. Touch pools let kids handle starfish and crabs. Located on the South Bank.
Major modern art gallery with free entry. The vast Turbine Hall entrance is impressive and they run family activity trails and workshops on weekends.
Swim in the heart of Hyde Park in this famous lido section of the Serpentine lake. Open in summer with a paddling area for kids.
Active physical play programme for walking babies to 7 year olds. Classes involve climbing, balancing, and rolling on colourful equipment.
Football classes for kids aged 18 months to 7 years. Fun, non-competitive sessions that build confidence and coordination.
Music classes for babies and toddlers from 3 months to 4 years. Songs, instruments, and musical activities in a structured, fun setting.
Award-winning sensory development classes for babies from birth to 13 months. Gentle stimulation through lights, textures, sounds, and movement.
Multi-sport classes teaching athletics skills to kids aged 2-7. Running, jumping, throwing in a fun, supportive environment.
Drama, dance, and singing classes for 4-7 year olds. Kids build confidence through performances, storytelling, and creative play.
Immersive, multi-sensory baby and toddler classes with music, lights, bubbles, and theatrical elements. Magical and fun.
Charming community farm near Vauxhall station with horses, pigs, chickens, and an ecology garden. Small but lovely, and completely free.
London's leading professional theatre for young audiences near London Bridge. Produces brilliant shows for ages 6 months to 13 years.
Massive Christmas event with ice skating, festive rides, markets, and a Magical Ice Kingdom. The ice rink and Santa's grotto are magical for kids.
Historic castle with the Crown Jewels, Beefeaters, and ravens. Family trails bring history alive for kids. Seasonal events for school holidays.
Family-friendly chain with a great kids' menu, colouring sheets, and high chairs. Multiple locations across London with a relaxed vibe.
Mexican street food chain that's very child-friendly. Kids eat free on weekends with a paying adult at many locations.
Family-friendly chicken restaurant with a dedicated kids' menu, colouring activities, and a relaxed atmosphere. Kids love the mild options.
Retro-styled brunch spots with generous portions and a fun atmosphere. Kid-friendly with pancakes, milkshakes, and colouring activities.
Free drop-in play sessions in parks across London for under-5s and their carers. Usually open weekday afternoons with toys, sand, and creative play.
Regular free family events, installations, and workshops at the Southbank Centre. Festival of Love, Imagine Children's Festival, and more.
Free rooftop garden at 20 Fenchurch Street with stunning views. Book free tickets in advance. Kids love looking down at the tiny cars and boats.
Ride the river bus along the Thames - kids see Tower Bridge, the Globe, and the O2. Use Oyster cards for cheap fares. Much more fun than the Tube!
Free world-class museum with Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone, and family trails. Older kids love the ancient history. Can be overwhelming so pick a section.
Self-drive electric boats on Regent's Canal and Paddington Basin. No licence needed. Boats seat up to 8 with a table in the middle for picnics.
Ride a miniature train through secret underground tunnels of the old Royal Mail railway. The Sorted! play area is brilliant for under-8s.
Singing and performing arts classes for kids aged 4-7. Build confidence through group singing, basic music theory, and fun performances.
Gentle swimming lessons for babies from birth in warm pools across London. Build water confidence with expert instructors and small groups.
Swimming lessons for babies, toddlers, and children in small classes across London. Focus on water safety and confidence building.
A beautifully designed playground in Regent's Park with natural-themed wooden structures, slides, a rope net bridge, and a zipline. Much less crowded than the famous Diana Memorial Playground, making it a relaxed family outing.
A two-acre urban nature reserve hidden behind King's Cross station with ponds, wetlands, woodland and meadow habitats. Run by the London Wildlife Trust, children can spot kingfishers, frogs and butterflies in the heart of the city.
An incredible 1,080 choreographed water jets set into the paving at King's Cross that kids can run through and splash in. Individually lit at night and controllable via the world-first Granary Squirt app.
Watch the famous pelicans being fed daily at 2:30pm on Duck Island. The park also has a superb playground near the lake, and it is one of the most magical central London parks for spotting squirrels, geese and ducks.
A world-class free art gallery in a grand townhouse on Manchester Square, with an outstanding armoury that kids adore. Free family trails turn the visit into a treasure hunt, and drop-in sessions let children try on real armour.
A free museum exploring health, medicine and the human body — surprisingly fascinating for kids who love bodies, bones and brains. Smaller than the big museums, so it is not overwhelming for little attention spans.
A freshly renovated free gallery packed with famous faces from royalty to rock stars. Free family activity trails turn the visit into a treasure hunt, and monthly under-5s sessions offer sensory art experiences.
One of the world's greatest art collections overlooking Trafalgar Square, completely free. Family workshops, creative drop-in sessions at weekends and a dedicated family space make it genuinely welcoming for young children.
A family-friendly free art gallery on the Thames with daily 2:30pm drop-in creative workshops and free sketchbooks. The staff actively encourage children to talk, explore and make noise rather than tiptoe around.
A small quirky museum in an old ice warehouse by Regent's Canal exploring the history of London's canals and the Victorian ice trade. Children can sit in a narrowboat cabin and look down into an original ice well.
A moving museum telling the story of Britain's first children's charity and first public art gallery. Family workshops with professional artists during school holidays explore sculpture, fashion and animation. Free for all under 21.
A charming museum in a medieval church next to Lambeth Palace exploring the history of gardens. Family workshops cover art, cooking and gardening, and the courtyard garden is a peaceful spot for toddlers to explore.
A stylish play cafe inside Battersea Power Station with a two-tiered wooden soft play structure, sensory pod, tunnels and slides. Great coffee for parents and a reading corner for calmer moments.
A beautifully restored 1930s Art Deco swimming baths in Islington with a warm teaching pool ideal for babies and toddlers. The Turkish baths downstairs are a rare treat for parents who can take turns watching the kids.
Kids cooking classes at Jamie Oliver's flagship school, where children learn to chop, mix and cook real dishes from scratch. Free kids classes during summer holidays, with regular sessions at the Oxford Street and Islington locations.
A free community farm in Islington on the site of a former railway goods yard. Home to cows, pigs, chickens, bees and a beautiful organic garden where children can learn about growing food.
The beloved annual stage adaptation of Raymond Briggs' The Snowman runs every winter at Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre. A magical 1-hour show with no interval, suitable for all ages including babies.
A beautifully restored Old Town Hall in Battersea that hosts imaginative family shows, interactive workshops and a terrific annual family festival. Known for unconventional, immersive theatre that kids genuinely love.
An excellent Italian restaurant by Angela Hartnett with a dedicated three-course children's menu for just ten pounds across three London locations. Proper restaurant food for parents with a genuinely child-friendly atmosphere.
A Gordon Ramsay restaurant just off Regent Street where under-8s eat free all day every weekday. Proper restaurant dining with kids that does not cost a fortune thanks to the free children's meals deal.
London's biggest free cultural celebration with giant dragon and lion puppet parades through Chinatown, plus a dedicated family zone at Leicester Square with free crafts, dressing up and performances.
An annual summer programme where children aged under 18 go free to over 50 West End shows with a full-paying adult. Additional children's tickets available at half price. Runs throughout August school holidays.
An annual children's festival at the Southbank Centre each February half-term with free and ticketed performances, workshops, installations and storytelling for families. One of London's biggest kids culture events.
Follow the trail of Paddington Bear statues around London's Paddington Basin area, visiting key locations and the real Paddington Station. Free, self-guided and perfect for fans of the beloved bear from darkest Peru.
A free rooftop terrace with panoramic views directly across to St Paul's Cathedral. Kids love seeing the dome up close while parents enjoy a coffee. Open daily with no booking needed.
Watch the iconic Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace, with soldiers in bearskin hats and a military band. Free and held most days in summer, making it a quintessential London experience for kids.
London's second-largest conservatory hidden inside the Brutalist Barbican Centre, with over 2,000 species of tropical plants. Free to visit on select open days, it feels like stepping into a jungle in the middle of the city.
A treetop adventure course in the heart of Battersea Park with a dedicated Tree Top Junior course for children from age 4. Swing through the trees, cross rope bridges and zip between platforms — all supervised.
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