London - free things for 5/7yo

[turtletum]

I'm looking at doing an overnight in London and showing my 5yo and 7yo some of the main sights /museums. Between the big sights, I'd like to put in some downtime for them. I'm not looking for which attractions to visit.

I'd like to find quirky playgrounds, interesting rooftop gardens, spooky streets - things that will capture my kids' imagination.

Also looking for recommendations for fun cafes or other places to grab a bite to eat that doesn't cost £££.

The Diana Memorial playground is great, and Kensington Gardens themselves have statues of things like Peter Pan dotted around for kids to go and find.

Which sites are you planning?

Deffo agree with @xmasdealhunter - If you're doing the science museum/NHM/V&A you can walk straight into Hyde Park and across to the Memorial Gardens - the walk itself is beautiful and lots of space to run around.

There's a great playground by Southbank DS loves - so good for London eye/dungeons. And St James Park also has a lovely playground near Buckingham Palace/Westminster.

The Sky Garden is free and great for kids - you can't run around much but lots to see and we never have to queue long. Just keep an eye on booking as it fills up quickly once slots are released.

DS is 5 and despite my best cultural encouragement, M&M world in Leicester Square is his favourite thing in London. He also loves the street performers round there, and a wonder through Chinatown.

Uber boats are a fun way to get around if you're doing Greenwich/going up and down the river at all. North Greenwich has the o2, which has cable cars (also a firm favourite here) as well as shops/activities etc

Corams Fields
Horizon 22
Skate park and grafittiti tunnels at Southbank

The interactive area of the Science Museum is bliss. And free. And safe in all weather.

The Diana Memorial playpark is allegedly amazing but I have never managed to get it - there were always queues. Could be okay in low season on a warm day.

Coram Fields playpark in Bloomsbury is also fun. Adults are only allowed into Coram Fields if accompanied by a child.

Go to St James Park (a PP said there's a playpark there too - I didn't know) to see the pelicans. They are shameless and will sit next to you on a bench, walk along the path with you, snap food from your fingers.

You could pack a small picnic and take the Uber boat from Westminster or London Eye to Greenwich and back. You see all the sights - Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, Tower Bridge. The boat usually has a loo and a cafe. You pay but there's a reduction if you have a day railcard and it isn't that expensive (same route as the tourist boats but fraction of the price and without a dodgy commentary blaring which the kids would ignore anyway.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with skygarden or similar - they really aren;t that special - just a few wispy grasses in modernist pots and a view of the skyline. If I were 5 I'd be bored very quickly - and you often have to queue and book a timed ticket which can be stressful trying to cross London in time for your slot. The big parks are way more fun.

DC used to like the street performers on the Southbank and going down onto the 'beach' at low tide. There are usually musicians and sand sculptors.

@turtletum I think I read that the Diana playground is closing for repairs so check first if you decide to go there.

It's closing Autumn of this year, so OP should be okay if she's heading relatively soon 😁

St James’s Park is perfect. Not too big - you can walk round the lake or just the north side and then go to the playground. The cafe in the park is ok but v busy. And in spitting distance, walking or bus are Buckingham Palace - west, Downing Street, Horseguards, and Big Ben to the south, East is Trafalgar Square and north Leicester Square for Lego and M&Ms. You can also cross Hungerford Bridge for the Southbank. It is great way to do a bite size London visit

Mine loved having rides on the top deck of route 9 at that age.

I don't know if the big museums still do it, but I used to hire activity bags at information desks. It meant the children actually took time looking at the detail of the exhibitions rather than a cursory glance. They loved the Egyptian bag in the British museum.

If you go in the summer, there's normally a treasure trail hunt around London. Previous years have seen Paddington, Shaun the Sheep, Dream Jars.

Time in Hamleys is always fun.

And looking around Camden Market and trying new foods, including huge pancakes, was always a winner.

Thanks all, lots to look at. Just what I was looking for.