Fun stuff to do in London with toddlers

[porta]

I have two dc aged 3 & 2, it's my eldest's last year before she starts school so I thought I'd quite like to do some stuff in London with her while we can still do it in the week when it's not so busy!

My obvious first through was the science/natural history museums but will I find that hard with two toddlers in tow? Or is it quite toddler friendly? Are there any other museums more appropriate for their age?

Is the Diana memorial park still manic in the week? I went there during the summer holidays and it was mad and quite hard to keep an eye on both of them.

Any other hidden gems?

Check out Coram’s Fields. NHM and Science museum are both good if you pick your galleries.

The Docklands Musuem has a fantastic area for children called Mudlarks. It's really hands on. Lots of water play! And there’s a soft play section for under 5s.
www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands/permanent-galleries/mudlarks-childrens-gallery It's free but you've got to book a ticket.
I think Coram's Fields is just as good as the Princess Diana's memorial playground. www.coramsfields.org/park-playground/ It has a huge adventure playground and park with petting zoo, sandpits etc...
The pelicans in St. James's Park are fed fish at 2:30 p.m. each day. You need to head for the opposite end to Buckingham Palace and they are fed from behind Duck Island Cottage, near Horse Guards Parade. The pelicans know when it's time as they wait there and keep watch for the man with the fish. Throwing the fish out takes just 10 minutes or so, but it's fun to watch.
The London Transport Museum has a fantastic play zone for children under 7, a
stamp trail around the museum galleries, and there’s a new interactive gallery called Future Engineers which is especially for children. Children get in to the museum free but it’s a bit pricey for adults.
There’s also the Play Base at the National Army museum www.nam.ac.uk/families/play-base
The Science Museum has sections specifically for preschool children. The Garden (which was in the basement) is an interactive play area water, light, sound and construction where toddlers can learn about floating, sinking, shadows and reflections. The Pattern Pod is a multi-sensory area for children aged under 8.

Good suggestions. If it’s warm, there’s also the fountains near the Purcell Rooms on the South Bank (seasonal, so check they’re still up) or the ones in Granary Square, Kings X (year round).

The Greenwich Maritime Museum is fab, lots of interactive stuff for little ones.

Thanks so much! The Docklands museum sounds great, might do coram's fields first while the weather is a bit nicer! I used to work near there pre kids but obviously never went in so had no idea all that stuff was there!

Ah yes we've been to the maritime museum, it's what made me think I should come up to London more often! They absolutely loved that little interactive area!

The V&A museum of childhood is very sweet. When we were there is also had on a singing/nursery rhyme session. It also has puppet theatres, a sand pit and some sensory tubes as well as all the toys. It's free like most of the museums.

If you're near the London eye there's a nice children's play area for big and little ones. A useful place to stop.

Downstairs in the Science Museum is very much for preschool/toddler age with lots going on - have a google.

I went to the Natural History museum at the weekend with my 1 and 3 year old but also had my husband to help. It was super busy but would obviously be better during the week. They had a great day, particularly the 3 year old who loves dinosaurs and volcanoes and there was plenty of places for them to run around including a lovely wildlife garden. My 1 year old is quite hard work (tantrums, wants to run off, hates being in the pram) so not sure I would take them on my own just because of the journey being quite long for us as we live the other side of London.

Some other places I would recommend and have been on my own with them: the Discover Story Centre in Stratford. You can book online interactive story sessions during your day but it's just a really lovely place to go anyway with 2 floors of interactive story activities and an amazing playground. On a nice day The Olympic Park at Stratford is lovely as well with fantastic playgrounds, fountains and nice walks. They have pre schooler sessions at the Velodrome which are excellent as well. We also love going to Greenwich: museums, huge park, playground, lovely market, river. Corum Fields as previously mentioned is great. The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green has plenty to keep them occupied. A bit further out is the Horniman Museum which is very child friendly.

Let me know if you find anywhere good as I am in the same situation as you. My ds is starting school next year and I'm desperate to make the most of this time. It's going so fast!

Not an activity as such but we got the boat from Greenwich into central London the last time we went up. So much easier than the tube. It very pushchair friendly with ramps everywhere, plenty of space on the actual boats and my 3 year old loved looking out of the window, waving to other boats etc.

I'll try and use the boat and walk where possible rather than getting the tube now.

London transport museum is brilliant for young ones. My 4 yr old loves it and if you buy one adult ticket it is an annual pass and can return as many times as you want throughout the year. We take a packed lunch and can hang out in there for hours

Thanks everyone! Lots here I hadn't thought of, getting the boat is a great idea! The interactive story place is Stratford sounds lovely!

Yes the journey to the science/natural history museum is a bit daunting to me as we come into London from Kent so the other side but the citymapper app is great for finding step free access! And the kids love getting the bus so that's always an option and it doesn't really matter if it takes longer.

I'd forgotten about the horniman! That's a good option.

@matildaagnes can you take the buggy round the natural history museum? Thinking I could bribe the youngest to sit in there if any tantrums occur!

We've been to the transport museum and definitely due another visit...hopefully I can find the tickets from when we first went...

We love the Horniman too and so much to do for young ones. I have a family membership which has already paid for itself. The butterfly area is a fabulous addition

Take them on the cable car and DLR. great fun. Mine also loved the sky garden.

porta you can definitely take a pram around. It was very busy when we were there but I still took the pram around no problem. The only thing was there is no lift at South Ken so my husband had to carry it up. You could either get off at a different station and walk or ask a kind passerby for help.

Join the zoo! It’s not cheap, but your DC are probably free at their ages, and the cost per visit makes it totally worth it. You can obviously go as many times as you want within a year - so when you’re a member, going for just an hour every other week is fun!

Unicorn Theatre have loads of workshops for pre schoolers and also shows specially aimed at 3 and under.

if you are coming from Kent, Coram Fields is a walk from Kings Cross.

Also, north of Kings Cross is Granary Square which has fountains in the pavement and a couple of little playgrounds and lots of cafes with giant beanbags in the street.

There's a blogger called bablands who has a post that's along the lines of 100 things to do in London with a toddler.

Lots of the museums do under 5s sessions - British museum has a 90s rave interactive session for under 5s at the end of the month just as one example.

Literally the other side of London but the new Children’s playground in Kew Gardens is fabulous.

Lots of the museums do under 5s sessions - British museum has a 90s rave interactive session for under 5s at the end of the month just as one example.*

Ha this sounds amazing!

As mentioned, Discover in Stratford.

Cable Cars (or the Emirates Air Line to give it its proper name) from the o2...under 5's go free I think. A few stops on Jubilee line from Stratford - and all buggy/pram friendly.