London has a reputation for being an expensive city but actually you don’t need a big budget to have fun. There are world-class museums, royal parks, playgrounds, epic art galleries plus many of the iconic buildings can just be viewed from the outside. No entrance fee! There are so many free things to do in London with kids all year.
In this guide I’ll cover the best free family attractions for all ages as well as some atmospheric neighbourhoods, cool walking routes and places to see the city!
Museums
Young V & A – An incredible museum which features interactive galleries, called Design, Imagine and Play all of which feature an extensive collection of objects relating to childhood including over 2000 toys. The museum is a dynamic space with plenty of hands-on exhibits and workshops. We love under 2s space known as the Mini Museum which was a sensory explosion for babies and toddlers with lots to touch, hear and see with everything at eye level for little ones!
Location: Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, E2 9PA. Nearest tube Bethnal Green,
Age: 0 – 14 years
Price: Admission free
Science Museum – London’s famous museum dedicated to all things science also caters so well for children. The Garden (open Tues – Sunday) is an interactive space where children can discover construction, water, light and sound through play. We love the Pattern Pod for more sensory and interactive fun and we love the science themed afternoon tea.
Location: Exhibition Road, South Kensington
Age: All Ages
Cost: Free entry
Natural History Museum – The museum takes you through 4.6 billion years of the planet’s history. Brave little ones can get up close and personal with dinosaurs as well as exploring the museums gardens. Noah and I loved the Adventure Babies classes – perfect for under 1s.
Location: Cromwell Road, South Kensington
Age: All ages
Cost: Free
Location: Nr Farringdon
Age: All ages. Sorted is for age 0 – 8
Cost: Adult £18.50, Child £11.
The Musuem of London Docklands is one of my top choices for a family-friendly museum. Based around the story of London as a great port charting history from Roman times until now; the museum is packed with fascinating history but it is also incredibly child-friendly too. Noah loved the Mudlarks soft play, a dedicated gallery for children under 8 while I got to discover fascinating facts about my home city. I love the fact that the museum really embraces learning for toddlers and younger children. As well as the soft play, there are various family trails around the museum for children to interact with such as building, dressing up and sensory experiments. I’m planning to visit for one of their Tots at the Docks sessions at some point.
There’s plenty for older children too! Best of all the museum is free!
Location: West India Quay
Age: All ages. Mudlarks is for age 0 – 8
Cost: FREE Mudlarks is £3.50 for babies and £7 over 10 months
Maritime Musuem
A free museum with one of the world’s largest maritime collection telling stories about sea travel, exploration, trade and navel history. There are hands on interactive galleries with lots of opportunities for role play. The AHOY! Children’s gallery for age 0 – 7 is an immersive soft play space with a maritime theme. There’s also the Cove playground which is free entry.
Location: Greenwich
Age: All ages
Cost: Free entry. Ahoy is free during the week and £5 at weekends and holidays.
Museum of the Home – The museum explores homes, gardens and home life from 1600 to the present day – there’s even a futuristic home! It’s great for nostalgia such as showing the kids old phones, tvs and computers and how vaccuum cleaners have evolved through time. Personally I also loved that there was a room set up for a Jewish Friday night supper.
For children there’s several play areas including a role play house, sensory packs and trails. There’s lots of interactive elements the kids will enjoy too – you can even play a game of Mario Kart.
Location: Hoxton
Age: All ages
Cost: Free
The Army Museum – The central museum for the British Army explores the life of a soldier, the role of the army, battles and conflicts and the army in relation to society. There’s plenty of interactive exhibitions and a family trail. Play Base is an immersive soft play for age 0 – 8 with an assault course, cook house, quarter master’s store and more.
Location: Royal Hospital Road Chelsea
Age: All ages
Cost: Free. Play Base is chargeable at £7
The Horniman Museum and Gardens – The Horniman Museum in London is known for its eclectic mix of anthropology, natural history, musical instrument collections and a small aquarium. The surrounding gardens are stunning and there’s a butterfly house, and plenty of space for families to explore. It’s a quirky museum that combines education, culture, and outdoor fun.
Location: Forest Hill
Age: All ages
Cost: Free. Aquarium is chargeable.
British Museum – An epic museum dedicated to human history, art and culture. Highlights being Egyptian mummies, Parthenon Sculptures and the Rosetta Stone. Admittedly its pretty serious in tone and there’s no much for small children but they offer activity backpacks and explorer trails.
Location: Bloomsbury
Price: Free
British Library – The UK’s national library is free to visit. There are also free work shops for families throughout the year.
Location: Kings Cross
Parks and Playgrounds
Every toddler loves a park and playground. The eight Royal Parks include:
Hyde Park – London’s most famous park has huge open spaces, the Serpentine lake for boating and playgrounds. The park is host to Winter Wonderland every year.
Kensington Gardens – A pretty park that’s home to Princess Diana Memorial Playground (temporarily closed)
Green Park – the small near Buckingham Palace. There’s no playground but it’s very quiet and good for picnics.
St James’s Park – London’s oldest park, you can see the palace, play with pelicans and enjoy the adventure playground.
Regent’s Park – Beautiful rose gardens and boating lake. It’s close to London Zoo and home to the open air theatre.
Greenwich Park – Home to deer, the Royal observatory and various playgronuds
Richmond Park – the largest Royal Park. Great for wildlife spotting.
Bushy Park – Home to fountains, waterfalls and a playground
We also suggest:
Battersea Park – A spacious park near Battersea Power Station. Home to Battersea Children’s Zoo, some lovely cafes, Go Ape and a few playgrounds.
Coram’s Fields & Playground – home to a huge outdoor play zone
Hampstead Heath Ponds & Playgrounds – One of London’s Iconic green spaces
Paddington Recreation Ground – West London Park with children’s playground and sport’s facilities.
You can also check out a farm such as Vauxhall City Farm or Mudchute which are both free entry.
Self-guided walks
Being in London is like being surrounded by living history and one of the best free things to do is a historical walk taking in iconic London sights. Here are a few ideas:
1. Classic London Landmarks
Start at Big Ben and take in the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey from the outside. From here you can walk along the Southbank and see the London Eye before crossing the Millenium Bridge to get to St Paul’s Cathedral and finish up looking at Monument and London Bridge. This is about 3.5 kilometres and will take about 3 hours.
2. A Royal London Walk
Start at Buckingham Palace and take a slow walk around the outside, walk through St James Park (one of the famous royal parks) and to Horse Guard’s Parade. You can walk down the Mall (London’s famous ceremonial route) and end at Trafalgar Square. Once here you can pop into the National Gallery which is also free. This is around 2 kilmometres and will take about 2 hours (if you take it slowly!)
You can tie your Buckingham Palace walk by with the Changing of the Guard. A historical ceremony whereby the soldiers who protect Buckingham Palace are replaced by new guards. Check the schedule for the most up to date timings and be aware it can get very crowded.
3. City of London
Walk the circumference of the Tower of London, it’s still awe-inspiring from the outside! You’ll also be able to see Tower Bridge from here (it’s actually Tower Bridge that is beautiful and iconic, London bridge is quite plain by comparison). Check out the historical Leadenhall Market and the architecturally unique Gherkin. You can take in the view from Sky Garden which is free entry but requires booking in advance and then finish up near St Paul’s Cathedral.
This is around 3 kilometres and will take 2 – 3 hours.
4. Pretty City Tour
Enjoy the pretty streets of Notting Hill and Kensington, London’s prettiest neighbourhoods. See the pastel houses of Notting Hill, Portobello Market, Kensington Palace, The Royal Albert Hall plus a walk through Hyde Park. All perfect for Instagram pics.
This is around 2 kilometres and will take about two hours.
5. The South Bank
One of London’s cultural hubs offers plenty to see on a relaxed walk, starting at the famous Borough Market, you can walk past the Golden Hinde, see Shakespeare’s Globe from the outside, pop into the Tate Modern following the curve of the Thames to the Southbank Centre which often runs free events.
6. Graffiti Walks
There are a few places in London where you can walk around famous graffiti walls.
Leake Street Tunnel – London’s longest legal graffiti wall. You can see artists repainting daily and there’s a fun atmosphere and restaurants to go into. The Paddington Bear mural is near here too.
Shoreditch and Brick Lane – Massive murals by incredible artists including Banksy.
Camden Street Art – Large colourful works of art including Hawley Street Art.
Notting Hill – Look out for murals and colourful neighbourhoods.
Arts
National Gallery – The Roden Centre for Creative Learning (Welcome Space) is a dedicated area for families with drop in sessions at the weekend and school holidays.
Location: Trafalgar Square
Price: Free
Portrait Gallery – Runs family trails to help discover the gallery. Little Explorers classes are run for under fives to introduce the gallery to children through stories.
Location: St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE
Price: Free
South Bank Centre – Is London’s biggest arts centre and home to the Royal Festival Hall and Hayward Gallery. The centre hosts lots of free events and festivals, many of which are suitable for families.
Shopping
We’re talking about free activities but of course window shopping doesn’t cost a thing! The number one shop kids will want to visit is Hamley’s which is London’s biggest toy shop. Harrods and Selfridge’s are two of the most iconic department stores and both have brilliant toy departments to browse, there are always fun demonstrations and even shows. Also well worth a visit is the giant Lego store in Leicester Square.
I love visiting Battersea Power Station, it’s more than a shopping centre, it’s a London icon and often has free activities in the grounds.
London’s markets are unmissable and not only can you pick up bargains, it’s worth going just to soak up the atmosphere. Of course, Borough Market is London’s most famous food market and also the largest and oldest. There’s absolutely loads to see in Covent Garden and kids will love the street performers and artisan craft stands. The colourful courtyard at Neals Yard is Instagram famous and is home to healthy restaurants and cafes.
Camden Market is great fun for a more edgy scene as it has it’s roots in punk culture and here you’ll find lots of vintage fashion and jewellery. Portobello Market is a bit more posh and feel like walking into a movie!
I also love browsing in some of London’s beautiful bookshops – of course I’m not condoning treating a book shop as a library but some are just so beautiful just to step inside. Some of the most beautiful are Daunts, Hatchards and the Notting Hill Bookshop. I also love Waterstone’s in Piccadilly for it’s sheer size.
China Town is another brilliant place for an atmospheric walk and browse and there lots of food stands and supermarkets to browse through.
Viewing Platforms
Horizon 22 – London’s highest free viewing platform is on level 58 at the top of 22 Bishopsgate, the tallest building in the City of London. A high speed lift gets you there in 41 seconds and from there you can take in some of London’s most iconic landmarks.
Location: 22 Bishopsgate
Price: FREE
Sky Garden – We love the Sky Garden for it’s spectacular city views which are combined with a beautiful indoor garden. Located at the top of the iconic ‘Walkie Talkie’ building, views of the Thames and Tower Bridge are beneath your feet. Children can enjoy exploring the plants and landmarks and it’s a great option for a cold day as it’s nearly completely indoors. If you want to combine the visit with a meal out, I recommend Darwin’s Brasserie as the most family-friendly option.
Location: 1, Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF
Price: FREE (book in advance)
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