London for kids

London is the perfect place to have fun with kids of all ages, from babies to the big kid in all of us!

Travelling to London with kids doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending all day in playgrounds and shopping for stuffed toys. There are loads of all-ages attractions that everyone will love, whether it’s Harry Potter adventures (because let’s face it – you’re never too old for Hogwarts), or visiting some of the capital’s world-class museums and galleries. Here are the best boredom-busters in London for kids!

Board the Hogwarts Express

For a magical London experience, you can’t ignore a Harry Potter tour. There are plenty of different ones available, depending on what kind of fan you are. Muggles of all ages can visit the Warner Bros Studio in Watford, a 30-minute train ride from London. Here, you can see the studios where the films were brought to life – wander around the Great Hall at Hogwarts, walk down the famous Diagon Alley and hop aboard the Hogwarts Express on the mythical Platform 9¾. If you want to stay closer to the city centre, a Harry Potter bus or walking tour is the best way to see all of London’s landmarks with an enchanting twist.

Monkey around with the animals

One of the best things to do in London with kids is visit the ZSL London Zoo in Regent’s Park. Not only can you see exotic animals such as lions, tigers, kangaroos and elephants, but kids can also play zookeeper for the day. The unique full day experience lets kids get up close and personal with the animals, where they could find themselves serving lunch to giraffes, racing giant tortoises or playing hide and seek with meerkats. Aside from having fun, kids will also learn all about the animals, their habitats and the zoo’s dedicated conservation programmes. It’s a fantastic day out for the whole family and something you can brag about when you get home.

A night at the museum

Ever wanted to walk with the dinosaurs? You can do even better than that and spend a night sleeping under one at the Natural History Museum! Beat the daytime crowds and explore this award-winning museum after dark with their special Dino Snores events. Kids can go on a torch-light trail, make dinosaur T-shirts, and watch a live science show before snuggling down to sleep underneath the huge skeleton of Dippy the Diplodocus. Parents don’t have to miss out on the fun either – there’s also Dino Snores for Grown-ups that comes with an all-night monster movie marathon.

Scrub the decks of the Golden Hinde

Ahoy there, land lubbers! If you have any aspiring pirates in your crew, climb aboard the Golden Hinde II, a full-size reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s 16th century sailing galleon. You can take a guided tour complete with a cast dressed in Elizabethan costume, or simply wander around and discover by yourself what life was like on board the Hinde. Kids will have the chance to raise the anchor, fire the cannons and go treasure hunting with Sir Francis Drake.

See a West End musical

A night out at London’s theatre district is a special treat for everyone, and with so many shows on, you’re sure to find something you’ll love. The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre is a classic musical that’s been charming audiences since 1999, while Wicked, the story of two witch sisters in Oz, has won over 100 international awards. For Roald Dahl fans, Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre is fast becoming another favourite. Shrek, Disney on Ice presents Frozen, Aladdin, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are just some of the many other musicals playing in London.