Best attractions for kids in London

[Chezielou]

As the title says really! Myself, my mum and my two boys (8 and 4) are going to London in a couple of weeks. It is only for the day so time is limited so I'm just looking for some recommendations for the top things to do while there. My eldest has learnt all about the fire of London, Boudicca, we've read the gangsta granny books and so he knows all about tower bridge and the crown jewels and so much to do with London, we are already going to the natural history museum as they both love things like that... Help! I need an itinerary 🤣🤣

What time is your Natural history museum entry?
That is a massive place to get around- especially at half term when it is busy.

With a 4 year old, there might not be much time left to fit more in...

If you can give a bit more info about what time you're arriving/departing London etc then I can have a think.

I've done London a lot with my children at the same age- although when my youngest was 4 we tried to keep it to an attraction before lunch and one after as he wouldn't have coped with much else.
The NHM was an all dayer with a picnic- and that was with no crowds there.

Off the top of my head....

Crown Jewels- that's the Tower of London and definitely an all day attraction.

The tower bridge experience is brilliant and only takes a couple of hours max. Costs about £30ish for a family. Good views at the top of the bridge.

London city cruises also fab and only take an hour or so.
Little legs can have a rest and the crew do a great commentary as you pass all the sights.

Sky Garden- was free and also an hour or 2. Great views.

HMS Belfast- really good- probably 2-3 hours.

Monument- next to Pudding Lane- you can climb up for a small fee.

A wander along the south bank - you can see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.

Tube to green park to see Buckingham palace. Can have a wander up the Mall then to Horse Guards and come out next to Downing Street.

Depending on the NHM entry time I'd probably only try and do one or 2 other small bits in the same day.

You arent going to have much time for anything else if you are going to the History Museum

I think it's enough with the natural history museum, perhaps just see Houses of Parliament and the soldiers on duty, hamleys if still time

1 day is not enough for half of that OP! The NHM is in West London and Tower Bridge is over towards the East for example.

Where to you travel into and what time do you arrive vs time you need to leave? This info will help people work out a few suggestions for an itinerary.

Natural History Museum to The Tower is pretty straightforward though, as you can go directly by tube (Circle/District lines)

But two major sites in one day is a lot. Would you be able to promise them a return trip for The Tower?

Assuming NHM in the morning, and that you will want to spend as long there as the DC remain interested and not over-tired, then perhaps your best bet would be a range of options of what else you could do (that vary in length/complexity). It would help to know (assuming train travel) which station you're using, so we can keep journeys as simple as possible:

Some ideas:
a) nice weather and DC need to decompress by running around a bit: walk to Hyde Park just to the north of NHM(Peter Pan Statue, the Serpentine, Princess Diana playground)
b) traffic is moving normally: get a bus to Piccadilly, gawp at Harrods on the way past, get off near Piccadilly Circus, see Eros then either

• walk on the Leicester Square (M&M shop and Lego store, but you tend to have to queue to get in)
• walk to Trafalgar Square (Nelson's Column) then down Whitehall (Downing Street, sometimes horses at Horseguards, the Cenotaph, Houses of Parliament) then turn right to go through St James Park (pelicans) and see Buckingham Palace at the far end

c) head for the City (prob Tube to Monument), see Pudding Lane (underwhelming) and The Monument (usually open for those who fancy walking up it), further short walk to see St Pauls. Also consider the Bank Of England museum (fairly small, but interesting)

I went with my girls a couple of years ago just for the day (approx 10am to 5pm).
We did NHM in the morning and then had a mooch around Trafalgar Square, Westminster, saw Buckingham palace and had a walk around St James's Park in the afternoon. They liked seeing the tame squirrels and guards on horses.
There wouldn't have been time for more than that really.

We arrive at 8.50am and leave at 6.15pm 😁

Which station do you arrive at OP? It's a big city!

I would just stick to Natural History. You don’t have long. You could do the history museum until they get bored, get some lunch (there is a great tapas restaurant nearby), then you can either pop into the science museum where they have a play centre, or get some fresh air in Kensington gardens. You need to factor in tube travel and possibly slow walking of the 4yr old. You’ll also probably want to make sure you get to your train in plenty of time and pick up a picnic dinner for the train home!

Kings Cross ☺️

Very ambitious. Natural history museum in half term will take the day.

Ok based on your requirements and timings here's my suggestions for you OP (I have a 4 year old who has enjoyed these):

1. Arrive at Kings Cross and have a quick snack / breakfast at Leon or Pret before getting Piccadilly Line to South Kensington for Natural History Museum. Spend a couple of hours, lunch there. If you need a break from the museum there is a nice wildlife garden outside.

1. From South Ken take the Circle / District line to Embankment. Right outside, walk across the jubilee bridges over the Thames spotting the Houses of Parliament, London Eye and the City / St Paul's on the skyline. Head to the London Eye Pier. Embark onto a Thames Clipper (Uber boat) outside the London Eye (look up the RB1 / RB2 timetable on the CityMapper app). You can just tap in with your phone / card and your 4 year old will be free.

1. Clipper boat down to Tower Bridge spotting many sights en route including the National Theatre, Monument (to Fire of London) Shakespeares Globe, Tower Bridge, Tower of London etc. (sit outside on the back of the boat for the best view). This takes about 30 mins and is brilliant - there is a bar onboard selling drinks and snacks.

1. Disembark at Tower Pier. At this point you can either visit the Tower of London opposite you and see the Crown Jewels if the kids have energy, or just look at the outside and then walk back across Tower Bridge. If either child likes warships you could visit HMS Belfast which you can see from there. Afterwards explore Borough Market if you / they fancy it, or feel like a snack.

1. Once you are ready to head home walk to London Bridge station (here you can choose to go through Hays Galleria, a big shopping mall on the riverside which has a huge model ship inside and is quite fun for kids) and get the northern line just 5 quick stops to Kings Cross.

You could have dinner around Borough Market area which has tonnes of places great for kids, or head to Kings Cross early and have dinner there inside St Pancras Station (opposite kings X station) where there are some lovely places on the concourse.

Do download CityMapper if you haven't already got it and use it to check all your tube / bus and river journeys.

Hope that helps! Enjoy your day!

I'd dip into bits of the NHM and Science Museums. Dinosaurs and sea creatures and the basement in the science museum. Then I'd take them to Hamleys or Harrods Toy Dept.

OP, following on from my suggestions above, I've asked AI to work out the exact timings for that suggested day to factor in travelling with 2 children! Here's what it said;

Here’s a more detailed and realistic timing breakdown for your itinerary, factoring in traveling with two children and allowing for rest and meals:

9:00 AM – Arrive at King’s Cross

•	9:00-9:10 AM: Grab a quick breakfast or coffee at King’s Cross Station if needed.

9:10-9:30 AM – Travel to the Natural History Museum

•	9:10 AM: Take the Piccadilly Line from King’s Cross to South Kensington (about 20 minutes).
•	9:30 AM: Arrive at South Kensington Station and walk 5 minutes to the Natural History Museum.

9:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Natural History Museum

•	9:30-12:00 PM: Explore the museum.
•	Focus on the Dinosaur Gallery, the Earth Hall, and any exhibits that particularly interest the children.
•	Given that you have a full day ahead, 2-2.5 hours should be a comfortable amount of time for young kids to enjoy the museum without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

12:00-12:30 PM – Quick Lunch at the Museum

•	12:00-12:30 PM: Lunch at the T. Rex Grill or one of the museum’s cafés. This allows for a quick, child-friendly meal before heading off.

12:30-1:00 PM – Tube to Embankment

•	12:30 PM: Take the District or Circle Line from South Kensington to Embankment (about 15 minutes).
•	1:00 PM: Arrive at Embankment and walk across the Golden Jubilee Bridges. This is a lovely walk with great views of the Thames, and it should take around 10-15 minutes, depending on the children’s pace.

1:15-1:45 PM – Thames Clipper to Tower Pier

•	1:15 PM: Arrive at the London Eye Pier and catch the Thames Clipper to Tower Pier. These boats usually run every 20 minutes, and the ride itself takes about 15-20 minutes.
•	1:45 PM: Arrive at Tower Pier.

1:45-3:15 PM – Walk Around Tower of London and Tower Bridge

•	1:45-3:15 PM: Spend about 1.5 hours walking around the Tower of London (mostly from the outside) and across Tower Bridge.
•	If you want a brief visit inside the Tower of London, aim to explore highlights like the Crown Jewels (quick visit to avoid too long a queue), but this could extend your time here to 2 hours.
•	Tower Bridge has a short but fun experience for children, including the glass walkway.

3:15-4:00 PM – Walk to Borough Market and Early Dinner

•	3:15 PM: Walk from Tower Bridge to Borough Market (around 15 minutes). The walk along the river is scenic and should help keep the kids entertained.
•	3:30-4:00 PM: Early dinner at Borough Market. You’ll find plenty of street food options and casual places to sit and eat, which works well with kids.

4:00-4:30 PM – Walk to London Bridge via Hay’s Galleria

•	4:00 PM: After dinner, walk through Hay’s Galleria toward London Bridge Station (about 10-15 minutes). This area is calm and picturesque, with nice views of the river.

4:30-5:00 PM – Tube Back to King’s Cross

•	4:30 PM: Take the Northern Line from London Bridge to King’s Cross (about 10 minutes).
•	4:45 PM: Arrive at King’s Cross with some extra time to relax or grab a snack before your train departs at 6:00 PM.

This itinerary provides a full day while accounting for travel with children, time to rest and eat, and avoiding feeling rushed.

Natural History plus Horrible Histories boat tour.

terriblethames.com

You don't have time for anything else.

AI has obviously never stood in the queue for lunch at the natural history museum!
With a 4 year old that amount of stuff in one day is just going to end in tears. Do natural history museum and science museum next door, don't ry to fit everything in, nobody will enjoy it

I don't think the AI version is remotely realistic - it has no leeway in it for half term crowds, the little things that throw your timings like actual time it would take to walk to the tube or to eat lunch (no way will you manage that in 30 mins during half term); nor does it give a realistic amount of time either in NHM (would you really want to limit it if they're enjoying it) nor in The Tower. I'd do one or the other, not both.

Taking a trip on the Thames Clipper is quite a good idea though
Timetable here:
Weekday Eastbound Timetable - Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

I'd get the Tube to Westminster, have a stroll to look at the outsides of Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey, then get the Clipper from Westminster Pier to The Tower, again, wander and look from the outside (promise a return trip) and see The Monument.

I wouldn't go down to Borough - either eat near The Tower (loads of places, mainly chains, but I think it's as likely you'd just want refuelling rather than a foodie experience) or in Coal Drops Yard behind KingsX (or buy stuff at the station and eat it on the train)

Hahahah the AI itinerary of London is bonkers! 2.5 hours museum, boat ride, Tower of London, Borough Market and loads of walking back and forth, including all the distances inside tube stations. It sounds like 20K steps a day and will be gruelling even for an adult. That will send the poor 4 year old into total meltdown.

Just go to Hamleys. Shortly after opening where it won't be as crowded. Let them enjoy all the toy demonstrations and give a budget of £15-20 (similar to entry price for other attractions) to buy something. Then wander across Carnaby Street/Leicester Square and get some food. Done.

I don't think the timings are that bad given their last train is at 6pm, but agree there's not enough time for a sit down lunch at the museum. I'd get a sandwich and have it en route on the tube, or just spend an extra 30 minutes as there is time the other end of the day.

One thing that really is bonkers is suggesting Hamleys! Or Leicester Square!!! Horrendous, tourist crammed tacky place which is hell with a young child!! No easy route from there either!

I always wanted to try mosaic making at art play with my little one www.happity.co.uk/schedules/art-play-london-london-art-play-kids-mosaics-workshop

The Tower is hugely expensive to just go in and out, the crowds for the Crown Jewels can be long.

Do one big thing and then come back another day, ideally an inset day.

That AI example is exhausting for a teen and adult, my London experienced teen wouldn’t do this. A small child will just give up.

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