London for Kids: 15 Kid-Friendly Activities in the English Capital
Traveling can be hard work for little kids, but London is a great city to see with your children. There’s a myriad of adventures that will please the young and young at heart. Read on for 15 kid-friendly activities in London.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo. Designed specifically for kids, the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo has lemurs, ponies, pygmy goats and more creatures your children will love. The zoo features animal encounters to bring the wild world up close and personal. It’s open all year.
Sea Life London Aquarium. Feed turtles and snorkel with sharks at the Sea Life London Aquarium. This world-class aquarium has more than 500 species in over 65 displays.
Natural History Museum. See how dinosaurs lived and what they ate, or learn nocturnal animals do at night. Visiting the Natural History Museum encourages kids to consider science careers one day.
Children’s Theater. London has a dozen or more theater groups aimed at younger audiences. Thrill your children with a kid-oriented show. One of the more unique theaters is the Puppet Theatre Barge, which travels throughout London’s waterways in warmer months and can be found in Little Venice during the winter.
Sherlock Holmes Museum. Bring literature to life with the museum dedicated to the detective at 221B Baker Street. Even if your children haven’t read the books or seen the recent movies, this museum may entice because of its wax figures and recreation of his study. This is said to be the first museum in the world set up on honor to a fictional character.
The London Eye. Take in a great view of the city while you give your kids a ride on one of the world’s largest Ferris Wheels. The wheel is 394 feet in diameter.
The London Dungeon. If your kids like scary stories, take them to the London Dungeon for some thrills. Next to the London Eye, the Dungeon has performances and rides highlighting London’s morbid history. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
A double-decker bus. A cheap and enthralling activity might be riding a public bus. Ride London’s public transit system and make this experience part of every day spent in London. The four front seats on the top give an amusement-park feel to the experience.
Harrod’s Toy Kingdom. Worth a look for the child in us all, Harrod’s Toy Kingdom is a 26,000-square-foot toy experience in London that includes a circus-inspired exhibit, a candy store like something out of “Willy Wonka,” a fairy-tale forest, a science -fiction themed space, a reading room, and a “wonderland.”
Crystal Palace Park. Located in South London, this park has full-sized dinosaur models in the trees. It is the former location of the Crystal Palace— a record-breaking exhibition from the 1850s. In addition to the prehistoric reptiles, the park has a children’s farm, a maze and a playground.
Buckingham Palace. Youngsters will be thrilled to see a place where real queens and princes live. Explain the changing of the guard to them and take pictures with an architectural icon they’ll remember forever.
A tour of London by water. Ease tired legs by touring the city by boat. There are a few companies that offer river cruises so you and your family can watch the city drift by.
Harry Potter’s Platform 9 ¾. Located at King’s Cross Station, a monument to the fictional boy wizard’s popularity has been created to give a photo op for youngsters —and adults — who are Potter fans. Admission is free, but try to avoid going at rush hour.
The London Science Museum. An interactive, family destination, the London Science Museum has an IMAX theater, live science demonstrations and galleries designed specifically for children under 5. If you’re worried your kids will be hungry while they visit, this museum allows snacking as long as you’re in an uncarpeted area.
About the Author: Allana Morris is a former European travel guide and mother of six. If you’re visiting the UK anytime soon, she suggests you check out London vacation rentals on Venere.com.
