Family-friendly day mixing dinosaurs, parks, river boats and ice cream.
Timeline
10:00
Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs and the blue whale. Free.
Open in Google Maps12:30
Hyde Park picnic
Pedalo on the Serpentine.
Open in Google Maps15:00
Walk to Buckingham
Through Green Park.
Open in Google Maps16:30
Covent Garden
Street performers, sweet shops.
Open in Google Maps
More kid-friendly stops [5]
Tips by age
- 01Toddlers (1–4): under-5s travel free on bus, Tube and DLR. Stick to parks (Hyde Park, Regent's Park) and short museum visits — Natural History dinosaurs and the V&A's Cast Courts are perfect.
- 02Ages 5–7: Science Museum, London Transport Museum, Hyde Park pedalos, Covent Garden street performers. Avoid full-day Tower of London — too long.
- 03Ages 8–12: ready for the Tower of London (Crown Jewels and Beefeater tour), London Eye, British Museum Egyptian galleries, Tower Bridge glass floor and a Thames Clipper ride.
- 04Transport with kids: use lifts ("step-free" Tube map), buggies are easier on buses than Tube. Buses are free for under-11s.
- 05Average daily cost for a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids): ~£90 on transport, food and one paid attraction — far less if you stick to free museums.
FAQ
Is London good for young children?
Yes — under-5s travel free on all TfL transport, most major museums are free and have family trails, and central parks are large and safe. Streets are buggy-friendly but Tube lifts are limited, so use the step-free map.
Do kids need tickets for buses or Tube?
Under-11s travel free on bus, Tube, DLR and Overground with an accompanying adult. Ages 11–15 can travel free on buses and at child rate on the Tube using a Zip Oyster photocard. Pay-as-you-go on contactless is adult rate, so don't tap kids in.
Best free things to do with kids?
Natural History Museum (dinosaurs, blue whale), Science Museum, V&A, Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens, Coram's Fields, the Changing of the Guard, and watching boats from Tower Bridge.