Watford Cycle Hub Mini Town
Just a short trip from London, Watford Cycle Hub's Mini Town offers a safe, realistic mini-road layout where kids aged 12 and under can build cycling confidence and learn essential road safety skills.
Complete with miniature traffic lanes, junctions and road signs, little riders can practice navigating traffic in a totally enclosed, stress-free environment. It's completely free to enter, and you can bring your own bike or scooter — or rent bikes and helmets directly on-site.
Make a full day of it: King George V Playing Fields has a large adjacent playground, open green space and an on-site community café, so there's plenty to do once the laps are done. Pack a picnic, and if your child needs a helmet check or bike tune-up, the friendly Cycle Hub mechanics are on hand to take a look while you're there.
- Insider tip: Combine Mini Town with the large adjacent playground, green space and community café at King George V Playing Fields for a full day out.
- Bring your own bike or scooter, or rent bikes and helmets on-site — and the mechanics will do a free helmet check or tune-up while you're there.
- Entry is completely free, making this a brilliant low-cost day out just outside London.
Times change seasonally — always check before you set off.
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Lee Valley White Water Centre (Water Tubing)
This 2012 Olympic venue offers plenty of ways for the whole family to get wet, from family paddling sessions to water tubing and inflatable obstacle courses on the calmer lakes. There is a sandy beach play area and a terrace cafe beside the white-water course.
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Go Ape Alexandra Palace
Finnegan's World Website: finnegansworld.co.uk Nearest Tube: West Ealing (Elizabeth Line) / Ealing Broadway (Central, District, Elizabeth Lines) Location: 41 Broadway, West Ealing, London (W13 9DD) Price: £8 per child, £1.50 per accompanying adult. Open weekends only (10am to 5pm). Blurb: Set inside a converted former bank on West Ealing Broadway, this lovely, independent soft play café is designed for babies, toddlers, and young children. The venue focuses on imaginative play with miniature shop setups, soft climbing ramps, and sensory toys - it’s far more than the usual blocks and slides. Parents can sit back with decent coffee and a slice of cake while keeping a direct line of sight on their kids.
See detailsGo Ape Battersea Park
Tucked into the lush tree canopy of historic Battersea Park, this high-ropes site delivers serious thrills right in central London. It features higher platforms and longer crossings than most other Go Ape locations, giving you incredible views of the Thames and surrounding skyline. Adventurers can navigate double-freefall tarzan swings, high-wire crossings, and zip lines. You can easily turn your visit into a full day out by pairing it with a walk through Battersea Park, a visit to the nearby children's zoo, or food at Battersea Power Station - see separate listing.
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Thames Rockets
This is no calm London sightseeing boat - it's a speedboat ride that blasts James Bond music while you bounce over the waves. Thrill-seeking kids and teens will LOVE it - anyone of nervous disposition might... not. There are times when you're sure the boat will tip (it doesn't!) - the guides are incredibly funny and the kids will scream with joy. The 50-minute ride departs from the London Eye Pier and takes in Big Ben, Shakespeare's Globe, The Shard and Tower Bridge. Once you're past the Bridge, the 880hp engines kick in and you'll hit speeds of up to 35mph, twisting through the Docklands to a pumping soundtrack. It's loud, wet and completely exhilarating. Ponchos and life jackets provided.
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GoBoat
GoBoat lets families take the helm of their own electric picnic boat on London’s canals - it definitely helps transform a simple picnic or birthday outing into a (gentle) mini-adventure. The boats are designed for groups, so it is a fun option when several families want to do something together without committing to a formal tour. Insider tip: bring layers even on a sunny day, keep the food easy to handle and check the weather and skipper requirements carefully before travelling with younger children.
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Race Across the World: The Experience
Inspired by the smash-hit BBC TV show, we LOVED this live West End adventure which pits your family against the clock in a 2-to-3 hour foot race across London. Equipped with a map, a series of puzzle checkpoints, and a strict "virtual budget," teams race through famous landmarks and hidden alleys to reach secret checkpoints without going bankrupt. If bringing younger kids, be aware of their patience levels (and limits: we bought a buggy to extend leg time!) - from our experience, ages 8+ get the best out of it, but there's lots of opportunities to stop the clock and grab snacks or a rest if needed.
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