A family day out at the O2

We have kids spanning 6 to 11 - so planning a London family day out usually requires tactical military planning, or leaving one at a friend's house on a play date; a weather radar app, and/or a bank loan.

And arriving at Greenwich’s giant white tent mid-morning on a Saturday, I was bracing for the usual attrition rate: either a bored pre-teen, a tired six-year-old, or parents desperate for a coffee. Actually, we all walked out six hours later feeling like we’d had a mini-break.

The O2 might be London's secret all-weather sanity-saver for families. The activities all add up in cost, but you can plan ahead with a schedule and budget. Here's how our day looked:

10:30am: Divide and conquer: this is the first secret to multi-age harmony. While my husband took our 9 and 11-year-olds to tackle Up at The O2, my six-year-old and I stayed on terra firma. The climbers suited up in harness suits and walked over the iconic canvas roof, returning full of adrenaline, with family snaps against the London skyline, raving about their guide’s local history intel.

Meanwhile, downstairs in the O2's outlets, my daughter loved The Entertainer - a goldmine for ridiculously good-value birthday party gifts - while it was shoe heaven for me, in Kurt Geiger, Dune London, and Soletrader, before I snuck into French Connection and sorted my autumn workwear wardrobe.

Reunited and ravenous at 1pm, we strolled down The O2’s buzzing restaurant street. Most corners of the world's food are rep'd here, as well as geared up for families; we opted for Marugame Udon, slurping noodles and crunching through chicken katsu tempura.

Post-lunch activity options at The O2 were almost overwhelming. We were torn between trampolining at Oxygen or taking on the towering routes at Clip ’n Climb, but ultimately opted for Activate: a mash-up between full-immersion VR and taking on The Crystal Maze as a team. We spent an hour sprinting between game rooms: racing across floors of lit-up tiles while trying not to step on the lava red ones, interactive quizzes where you have to hurl a basketball through the hoop of the correct answer.. We ended up doubled over with laughter and dripping with sweat: the 6, 9 and 11 year olds AND their parents all having fun with equal ferocity. 

Almost home time, but we quickly flopped at Snowflake Gelato for a sugar hit first. Banoffee crepes, and a perfect lime-and-mint sorbet, gave us the energy for the return journey. 

The magic of a day at The O2 was the mix between the density of things to do and the absence of family logistical friction. Under its massive canopy, you are both immune to British weather whims and under one roof with adrenaline, shopping, food, and family play.

Thank you to the O2 for inviting us for a family day out - we will be back!