Ideas to celebrate 4 year old birthday in london

[AuthorMama]

Hello,
Our child is turning four next month, and we’ll happen to be in London for the birthday. We’re not from London and Google hasn’t been very helpful, so I’m hoping you might have suggestions. Are there any kid-friendly plays or shows on, or cool places to visit for a four-year-old? He loves vehicles and animals.
Thank you!

Dinosaurs? There is a dinosaur projection at the light box at King’s Cross our 4yr old loved. It’s projected all over the walls, sort of david Attenborough style and all the children were in raptures. There is also a dinosaur Jurassic park expo at Battersea power station we are going to soon which looks great. Combine it with a boat to get there. Natural History museum, but book in advance. Our 4yr old loved the Paradox museum, it was really fun. London Zoo, London Transport Museum, Tate Modern, or one of the many playgrounds!

I’m surprised google hasn’t been more helpful, I find it really useful for planning things to do with ours. Websites like the Londonist and Time Out will tell you what is on in London the day you are going and is usually full of gems!

Thank you so much! I’m excited about the dinosaurs at King’s Cross. I’ll definitely book that. The Paradox Museum looks interesting; We’ve never done that before.
Google keeps suggesting typical tourist attractions rather than kid-specific ones.
He’s also very fond of sharks and whales. If you know of any light show or an aquarium where he could see real whales (which I doubt), please let me know. Have a wonderful day! 🙂

I don’t recommend the London aquarium. It’s overcrowded and a bit rubbish. If you are ever in Boulogne-sur-Mer I definitely recommend that aquarium - it’s amazing!! I would go to the History museum as they have the blue whale model!

Diana memorial playground is incredible if the weather is not raining. A 4 year old could spend hours there.

If he likes vehicles then the Transport Museum is a great option, very hands on, little play areas integrated into it, a stamp trail for them to do as they go round and chances to pretend to drive the buses and tube. Also super central in Covent Garden so lots of options for treats when you're done. I have been there countless times with my two boys and it's a winner every time.

And as another poster said, Diana Memorial Playground is great for outside. It's in Hyde Park, which has other fun stuff too. For shows, the Unicorn Theatre in London Bridge is a children's theatre, so see what they have on.

There's always the transport museum - I'm there every fortnight with my transport mad 3.5 year old!
Or the Postal Museum if you do the mail rail as well as the Sorted soft play.
We're thinking of an open top tour bus ride and / or the London Eye for his 4th birthday.
Horizon 22 is good - it's free but the tickets get released every 2 weeks so you have to check the website regularly.
Depending on where in London you are, there's a few children theatres that do special kids shows - we visit Polka in Wimbledon and The Unicorn theatre by London bridge but there's also some in north london.

Little Angel Theatre always has charming puppet shows https://www.littleangeltheatre.com/

Covent Garden usually has street entertainment which is often silly and kid friendly, lots of nice places to eat there. Transport museum is there