The Royal Mews
Tucked right beside Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews is a working royal branch that combines horse power with real-life fairytale carriages. Kids love seeing the gleaming ceremonial coaches up close—including the spectacular Gold State Coach used for coronations—and meeting the famous Windsor Grey and Cleveland Bay horses that pull them. There are plenty of hands-on activities, like learning how to harness a wooden horse, stepping inside a replica landau carriage for photo ops, and dressing up in footmen's livery.
- Time Your Visit Around the Horses: Because the Royal Mews is a fully operational stable, the horses aren't always in their stalls. Ask staff on arrival about feeding or exercise times so kids don't miss seeing them in action.
- Grab the Free Family Multimedia Guide: The children’s audio tour is hosted by a animated character (Rex the Royal Dog), which leads kids on a fun scavenger hunt past liveries, harnesses, and historic carriages.
- Convert Your Ticket into a 1-Year Pass: Ask staff to stamp your admission ticket on the way out to turn it into a 1-Year Pass, giving your family free re-entry for an entire 12 months.
- Bring a Picnic for St James’s Park: The Mews has no on-site café, so head two minutes down the road into St James’s Park to eat by the lake and spot the resident pelicans.
Times change seasonally — always check before you set off.
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Serpentine Lido Playground & Hyde Park Boating
A gated wooden playground right beside the Serpentine with climbing frames, swings and ducks to feed. Take a ride on the boats too: there is a small pond with child-only boats, a larger one for family boating, and solar-powered Solarshuttle pedalos crossing the lake. Kit tip: pack a [puddle suit](https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=kids+puddle+suit) and a [wet bag](https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=wet+bag+for+swimming) — both earn their place on a splashy day out. More ideas in our [family kit list](https://kidsfun.london/guides/what-to-pack-family-day-out-london).
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Pottery Café
If you need a quiet, creative sanctuary, The Pottery Café is pure magic. It has sites in Fulham and Battersea, and is one of London's first pottery-painting studios, definitely designed with families in mind. You pick your plain ceramic piece, from mugs and plates to money boxes and animal figurines, and start painting. The glazes get fired in the studio's on-site kilns, ready for pickup a week or so later. We recommend booking a morning slot on a weekday or early weekend if you can, as the studios get louder and busier as the days go on. If you're bringing a baby, opt for a foot-print mug or plate; the staff are seasoned pros at helping you stamp squirmy baby feet onto ceramics without fuss. Aprons are provided, and stencils, sponge stamps, and easy-squeeze bottles make it effortless for toddlers to produce something that actually looks good in your kitchen. Studio fee is £6.50 per painter (covers paints, glazing, and firing) plus the cost of your chosen ceramic item (ranging from £12 up to £35+).
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Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Climb aboard a restored vintage red double-decker bus for the ultimate marmalade-filled sightseeing adventure. Operated by Brigit's Bakery, this tour is tailor-made for young Paddington fans and families celebrating a special occasion. Each table comes equipped with built-in screens showing custom animations where Paddington and Mrs. Bird guide you through London's landmarks, keeping little ones completely enthralled between treats. The afternoon tea menu is genuinely delicious - featuring turkey and ham sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream, and themed cakes (including miniature marmalade sandwiches, of course!). Look out for: Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Nelson's Column and St Paul's Cathedral. Our take: ideal birthday present (as not cheap!) - but the tea food quality was really high, the tour is fun, and the kids loved it.
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London by Night Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour
When winter hits and the Capital transforms into a lit-up, festive wonderland, walking through crowded West End pavements with tired kids can feel like a marathon. This 45-to-60-minute evening open-top bus tour is the ultimate stress-free way to soak up London's world-famous Christmas light displays without dragging buggies through the crowds. Led by either an entertaining live guide or child-friendly audio commentary, depending on the day, families glide past glittering streets, festive shopfront windows and giant illuminated angels while singing along to Christmas classics. Look out for: the iconic soaring Spirit of Christmas angels on Regent Street, Carnaby Street's quirky themed light displays, Oxford Street, the giant Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, and Harrods wrapped like a sparkling present.
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Severndroog Castle
A hidden 18th-century Gothic tower set on Shooters Hill, surrounded by ancient Castle Wood parkland. Climbing up the winding spiral stairs to the rooftop viewing platform offers 360-degree views stretching across London's counties. The main draw for families is the climb up the narrow 86-step spiral staircase to the viewing platform on the roof. Sitting 132 metres above sea level, it offers one of the most stunning panoramic views across London ... you might need to bribe kids with a trip to the nice tea room afterwards. The castle sits inside Castle Wood and Oxleas Woods, making it easy to pair a quick tower ascent with a run around ancient oak trees, nature trails, and log scrambles. Viewing platform and upper tower rooms are only open to the public on Sundays (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM). Plan your trip accordingly if you want to climb to the top.
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Live TV Studio Audience Experience
Sitting in a live television studio gives kids and teens a fascinating peak behind the screen. From prime-time entertainment shows like Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice, and The Jonathan Ross Show to sitcoms and panel shows, audience tickets are completely free, you just need to apply through the official ticketing agencies. Where to sign up: BBC shows like the Strictly ballot: bbc.co.uk/showsandtours Applause Store: applausestore.com (Britain's Got Talent, The Voice, QI) SSTA / Lost in TV: lostintv.com (Quiz shows and chat shows)
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