Teen guide · London

What shall I do with teens in London?

The eye-roll-proof edit: free days out they'll actually agree to, adrenaline, immersive games and shows, plus the big-sky days that fix a bad week.

Teenagers are the hardest audience in London. Not because the city lacks things to do with them — it has hundreds — but because a day out now competes with a phone, a sleeping-in plan and a friend group that voted before you did.

So this guide is built the way I actually plan: start with something they'd choose themselves, check the age and height rules before promising anything, and keep one free option in the back pocket for the week when the answer to everything is "nothing". Every pick below is a live KidsFun.London listing with our own notes.

Opening times, prices and age rules change, so follow each listing to its official website before you set off.

Free days out teens will actually agree to

The hardest currency with a teenager is enthusiasm, not money. These cost nothing to get into, so the only thing you're asking them to invest is an afternoon. Some need a booking, and a few have paid extras once you're there — the notes say which.

Camden Market
All agesFree
Shopping & Experiences · North

Camden Market

Camden is a teen-favourite, but our younger kids enjoy a day here too. There's the famous sprawling market filled with quirky crafts, street food stalls, vintage fashion, and unique stores (rubber duck shop, anyone?). Kids love the variety - vibrant street art, fun toy shops, and extreme desserts (like liquid nitrogen ice cream and churro loops), it gets super busy on weekends so avoid pushing a buggy down the main cobblestone alleys - it can be wall-to-wall crowded. Take teens down to the Stables Market section for the coolest retro clothes and street food. There's often family activities in the indoor market areas, Plonk Crazy Golf (pictured) is small but lots of fun; Babylon Park is another fun (but expensive) indoor theme park, and a stroll along the canal is lovely in spring and autumn particularly.

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Camden is the teen default for a reason: street food, vinyl, vintage stalls and absolutely nothing that feels aimed at small children. Weekdays are calmer than weekends.

Live TV Studio Audience Experience
13+Free
Views & landmarks · Central

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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Get them onto a studio audience for a real taping — Strictly, The Graham Norton Show and friends. Free, but the application takes patience and some shows are 16+.

Oxford Street & Piccadilly Circus shopping and viral pics
All agesFree
Views & landmarks · Central

Oxford Street & Piccadilly Circus shopping and viral pics

The ultimate teen and child pop-culture trail - start at Oxford Circus and stop wherever your kid wants to - there's 7 floors of toy magic at Hamleys, visit Selfridges to check out viral food trends and social media popups, walk down to Piccadilly Circus to sit under the iconic Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (aka Eros). Football fans will love Fanatics, and there's always some street performers and freebies along the route.

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The teen pop-culture trail: Hamleys' seven floors of toy chaos, Piccadilly Circus neon and every photo stop their group chat will recognise.

The Southbank Centre
All agesFree
Arty stuff · Central

The Southbank Centre

Spanning a massive riverside site right next to the Thames, the Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest arts center and a buzzing hub for family culture in London. Encompassing the iconic brutalist architecture of the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and the Hayward Gallery, the complex hosts a brilliant mix of year-round family programming, free open-air installations, interactive music sessions for toddlers, and public spaces that make it a go-to weekend destination for parents. For key family activities, check out the Clore Ballroom, which has events like WordPlay interactive music and songs for toddlers (ages 0–5), family dance sessions, and inclusive creative workshops. The Riverside Terrace has rotating family-friendly interactive public art installations (like giant sound-reactive ground markers and sculptures. The Hayward Gallery hosts major art exhibitions but also has kid-focused gallery trails and creative morning sessions for schools and families. We love the daytime family dance parties on the Clore Ballroom stage. Combine with exploring the book market and street food right underneath Waterloo Bridge, and don't miss the interactive musical staircase inside the Royal Festival Hall where each step triggers a piano note or sound effect when stepped on. Free musical fun.

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Free instruments and free noise on the Southbank. Playing something is a much easier sell than looking at something, and the river is right there.

Adrenaline, for teens who are bored by museums

If the day out has to compete with a phone, this is the category that wins. Height, speed and a bit of fear do most of the work — and none of it asks them to sit still. Check the height and weight rules before you promise anything.

Up at the O2
8+£15-£30
Getting about · East

Up at the O2

If you've got fearless older kids with energy to burn, this is for your family. Strap into a harness and literally climb over the roof of the O2 arena. The 360-degree views at the top are brilliant, especially at twilight - so try to book for a clear day. It's safe and well organised, but obviously a head for heights is helpful! We enjoyed combining with the outlets stores at O2 afterwards.

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Strap in and walk the roof of the O2 arena. No experience needed, and the view does all the persuading — this is the photo they'll actually post.

Thames Rockets
8+£30+
Getting about · Central

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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A speedboat ride that blasts James Bond music while you bounce over the waves: London's quickest way to scream, and no calm sightseeing boat in sight.

Clip 'n Climb Chelsea
All ages£15-£30
Games & rainy days · West

Clip 'n Climb Chelsea

Indoor climbing centre offering 22 action-packed challenges and the colourful themed climbing walls that all ClipnClimbs have, plus vertical drop slides, and challenge towers. Uses auto-belay systems so kids can safely clip themselves in and climb without parents needing technical rope skills. Arrive 15 minutes before your slot for the safety briefing so you don't lose precious climbing time. Don't forget flat-soled trainers.

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Colour-coded climbing walls with a bouncy finish, aimed squarely at kids who would rather climb than look at things.

Castle Climbing Centre
All ages£15-£30
Games & rainy days · North

Castle Climbing Centre

Premier indoor rock climbing centre housed inside a stunning Victorian former water pumping station that looks like a ... castle (duh). Kids enjoy the castle-climbing adventure while getting a full physical workout. Book a registered "Family Taster" or kid's session in advance if you're not an experienced climber yourself, as parents need certification to belay independently.

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Climbing inside a Victorian water-pumping station that looks like a castle. Book a Family Taster or a children's session — parents need certification to belay independently.

Go Ape Battersea Park
All ages£15-£30
Parks & gardens · South

Go 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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High ropes through the Battersea Park tree canopy, ten minutes from the centre, with height rules that keep the big courses properly big.

Zip World London at the ArcelorMittal Orbit
8+£15-£30
Views & landmarks · East

Zip World London at the ArcelorMittal Orbit

Britain's tallest sculpture - that Olympic DNA-like red thing, if you recall - doubles as an adventurous launchpad. You can now take the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide down the artwork, spanning 178m in length, and including 12 loops, catching glimpses of London from new heights. Who'll love it more, parents or kids? Our niece still talks about this one, several years later!

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Britain's tallest sculpture doubles as a launchpad: you climb the red Orbit tower in Stratford, then fly down it. Thirty seconds, talked about for weeks.

TeamSport GoKarting & Activities Brent Cross
8+£30+
Playgrounds · North

TeamSport GoKarting & Activities Brent Cross

Perched on the top floor of Brent Cross Red Car Park - glam, we know - this indoor entertainment venue features a 400m multi-level electric karting track that our kids love. There are adult and junior high-speed karts, plus a separate mini track for four-to-seven-year-olds. You can easily pair a race session with their on-site duckpin bowling, electronic games arcade, pool tables, and diner food. Or pop next door to Brent Cross for a shop and eat.

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A 400m multi-level electric karting track on the roof of Brent Cross car park. Glamorous, no. A teenager who stops talking about it, also no.

F1® DRIVE London
8+£30+
Games & rainy days · North

F1® DRIVE London

The world's first official Formula 1 karting experience, featuring high-tech electric karts on an in-stadium track under Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. My petrol head loved this experience, though it's not cheap. Authentic steering wheels with F1 displays, KERS boost buttons, telemetry readouts, and sound effects make kids feel like Lewis Hamilton.

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The world's first official Formula 1 karting experience — high-tech electric karts under Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The upgrade for when they've outgrown the kids' track.

Immersive, game-like and rainy-day proof

The trick with teenagers is to pick something that feels like their world rather than yours: TV shows you can step inside, escape rooms, and experiences built for a phone camera. Almost all of these are indoor, so a bad forecast changes nothing.

The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience
8+£30+
Games & rainy days · Central

The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience

The TV show, for real. We loved battling the puzzles and challenges - they really are just like the show, with the countdown clock and fear of getting locked in bringing back nostalgic memories! The setting itself looks a bit run down in some areas, but that didn't stop us having a really fun evening, especially when the golf rains down inside the snowglobe and you try to snatch as much as possible. A Maze Master leads your team through Aztec, Medieval, Industrial and Futuristic zones grabbing crystals, before that confetti storm of the Crystal Dome. Older kids and teens love it - be aware that you may be mixed in with other people if your group isn't large enough to run solo.

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The TV show, for real — puzzles and challenges against a countdown clock, in teams, with the same fear of the time-out room. Book ahead for weekend slots.

The Traitors: Live Experience
13+£30+
Museums & galleries · Central

The Traitors: Live Experience

If your family - like mine - spent the winter shouting accusations at the TV screen, this live Covent Garden theatrical event lets you step right into the velvet-draped drama. Guided by deliciously West End actor hosts, you take your place around a giant physical Round Table before secret roles are assigned. You will compete in hands-on mental and physical team challenges to build a prize pot, interspersed with hushed corridor side-chats, backstabbing, and explosive banishment votes. It's never the ones you expect who'll win - even if that's your own son or daughter! Family-friendly afternoon slots cater specifically to kids aged 12 and up, making it an absolutely perfect day out for teenagers who love a good poker face.

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Covent Garden's live version of the show, where you shout accusations at each other in person. Recommended for 12 and up, and worth booking before you promise it.

Activate London
All ages£15-£30
Games & rainy days · South

Activate London

This is a seriously high-tech, active gaming arena that feels like stepping into a real-life video game or Floor is Lava or The Crystal Maze. Across 12 interactive rooms, groups sprint across floors of lit-up tiles (trying not to step on the red 'lava'), hurl basketballs at nets to answer quiz Qs, navigate laser grids, and scale interactive climbing walls. Everyone, from our six year old to cynical pre-teen and their parents, loved our visit.

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A high-tech active gaming arena that plays like a real-life video game — the one to pick when 'I'm bored' has become a daily event.

Race Across the World: The Experience
All ages£15-£30
Getting about · Central

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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The BBC show turned into a live West End adventure: your family against the clock in a two-to-three hour foot race across the city.

clueQuest
8+Check website
Games & rainy days · North

clueQuest

An award-winning escape room centre built around secret agent missions led by a fictional mouse spy named ... Mr. Q, of course. It's high-tech, with immersive puzzles but no 'jump scares', making it more accessible than some escape rooms for younger codebreakers. Best for ages 8 plus, the PLAN52 room is its classic starter mission, which is ideal for families trying an escape room together for the first time. When to go: Rainy afternoons and weekend slots.

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Award-winning secret-agent escape rooms in North London — high-tech and story-led, and a very good first escape room for a teenager who has never done one.

The Jury Experience – The Deadly Boat Ride
13+£15-£30
Games & rainy days · East

The Jury Experience – The Deadly Boat Ride

You’ve been called for jury duty. Step into a thrilling courtroom drama where the audience is the jury. Listen to testimonies, analyze evidence, and ultimately decide… guilty or not guilty? This interactive show sees audiences sit as the jury in a live courtroom drama to watch a murder trial unfold. You listen to witness testimonies, analsze evidence, and use your phone to vote on key moments to decide the final verdict. Your votes steer the story..

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A courtroom drama where the audience is the jury: listen to the testimony, weigh the evidence, hand in the verdict. It's for 12+ and genuinely clever.

StreetHunt Games
13+£15-£30
Getting about · Central

StreetHunt Games

Teams navigate city streets using their phones to solve puzzles, uncover clues, and crack outdoor mysteries - it's a team-building fun for groups of 10+ so ideal for birthdays or new classes etc to bond. Feels like a mixture of a scavenger hunt, escape room, and murder mystery. We found it designed for all skill levels: challenging, but accessible, and easy to organise.

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Teams solve puzzles across real London streets using their phones — a walking tour that doesn't feel like a walking tour.

Lightroom London
All ages£15-£30
Museums & galleries · Central

Lightroom London

This four-storey immersive digital art space is a sensory feast - a purpose-built projection space in King's Cross with frequently-changing immersive shows from major artists and creative names - past programmes have included David Hockney's 60-year retrospective, Prehistoric Planet's life-sized dinosaurs, and a journey through David Bowie's world narrated by the man himself. Floor-to-ceiling laser projection and a powerful spatial sound system wrap around you as you wander freely through the space, with each show running on a loop of around 45-60 minutes so you can stay as long as you like. It's welcoming for children of all ages, and there's a St John-run café bar for snacks and drinks afterwards.

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Four floors of projection-mapped digital art in King's Cross, with rooms that change regularly. Loud, dark and made for phone cameras.

The Splash House (UV Paint Battles)
All ages£30+
Arty stuff · South

The Splash House (UV Paint Battles)

A glorious permission to get utterly messy - there are splash houses around the UK, and London's is in Brentford. Guests gear up in full protective ponchos and goggles before stepping into a dark, UV-lit room filled with glowing fluorescent paints. Armed with brushes, squeeze bottles and paint-filled sponges, kids (and parents) throw, splash and battle each other to create neon canvas masterpieces (and end up glowing head-to-toe themselves). It's a private experience, so your group gets exclusive use of its own room — perfect for family days out, birthdays and group celebrations. No art skills are needed: just turn up, have fun and let the paint fly. Every session includes all materials, protective aprons, music and a finished canvas for each person to take home, and sessions run from age 4 upwards with every child accompanied by a participating adult. Sessions are limited and it's pre-booking only, so check the website for current dates before you go.

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A dark room, neon paint and full permission to get messy, private to your group. Old clothes and trainers, plus a bag for the walk home.

Culture, shows and the occasional jump scare

Teenagers don't hate culture, they hate being bored in it. These are the versions that hold up: free galleries with room to move, theatre that's actually good, and the two London attractions that trade in fear.

The London Dungeon
13+£30+
Views & landmarks · Central

The London Dungeon

Live actors and underground rides tell London's grisliest history — plague, fire and Jack the Ripper. It's recommended age 12+ but my kids were fine with the spookiness from 10, it depends on your kids. The emphasis is on fun experience rather than museum-style historical facts, but it's an entertaining place for teens especially.

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Live actors, underground rides and London's grisliest history — plague, fire and Jack the Ripper. Recommended for 12+, so weigh the brave teen against the easily scared one.

The London Ghost Bus Tour
8+£15-£30
Getting about · Central

The London Ghost Bus Tour

Part comedy show, part historical tour, this 75-minute evening ride on a restored 1960s Routemaster Necrobus is perfect for tweens and teens who love spooky stories without getting genuinely terrified. Led by a sinister conductor-actor, the bus winds through London's most infamous sites of execution, plague, and hauntings, combining dark history with laugh-out-loud theatrical tricks and onboard gags. Key sights to look out for: the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Fleet Street and Westminster Abbey, illuminated at night.

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A 75-minute evening ride on a restored 1960s Routemaster Necrobus: part comedy show, part ghosts. Ideal for teens who like their history spooky.

Harry Potter Film Locations Walking Tour
All ages£5-£15
Views & landmarks · Central

Harry Potter Film Locations Walking Tour

Led by a knowledgeable and entertaining guide, discover iconic filming locations, real world inspirations, and behind the scenes stories from the beloved film series.Start at King’s Cross Station to see Platform 9¾, then explore Leadenhall Market, the Monument to the Great Fire of London, London Bridge for views of Tower Bridge, Borough Market, the River Thames, Millennium Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the Cenotaph, Downing Street, and Horse Guards Parade. Learn about Ministry of Magic filming locations, see Trafalgar Square, discover the inspiration for Gringotts Bank, and finish on Shaftesbury Avenue at the Palace Theatre, home of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. It's one for older kids as it lasts almost three hours, but the engaging guides kept us entertained!

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A guided walk to real filming locations with proper behind-the-scenes detail — the cheap warm-up before the studio tour, or a whole afternoon on its own.

Shakespeare’s Globe
All ages£5-£15
Arty stuff · Central

Shakespeare’s Globe

This faithful open-air reconstruction of William Shakespeare's 1599 Elizabethan playhouse on the banks of the Thames features energetic family-friendly storytelling performances, weapon-handling workshops, and affordable standing tickets. Young kids might not last a whole performance, espeiclaly if standing, but with tickets a fiver you might not mind just doing the first half, and get an amazing taste of entertainment from Shakespearean times.

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Standing tickets are the cheapest seat in the house: an open-air Elizabethan playhouse on the Thames. Book ahead and expect to be on your feet.

Matilda The Musical
8–12 yrs£15-£30
Arty stuff · Central

Matilda The Musical

Witty, slightly dark (it is Roald Dahl, after all!), and incredibly clever - with a brilliant score that'll stick in your head forever - Matilda is a brilliant first West End experience. Kids will be mesmerised by the staging and adults will actually enjoy the jokes. A West End triumph... I've been three times with each of my kids and loved it every time.

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Witty, slightly dark (it is Roald Dahl) and absurdly clever, with a score that follows you home. A better first West End trip than most parents expect.

ABBA Voyage
All ages£30+
Arty stuff · East

ABBA Voyage

Forget everything you know about holograms: this bespoke arena built in East London delivers a concert experience that feels 100% real.... even though your brain keeps telling you it's not. We went with a ten and 16 year old, and all enjoyed it: the digital "Abbatars" perform alongside a live ten-piece band, surrounded by arena lighting that bleeds into the crowd. The energy is electric from start to finish - go dressed up if you can! It's packed with non-stop Abba hits that really got every generation in the crowd dancing. Kids aged 6 and up are allowed in the seated sections (strictly no under-3s anywhere in the arena), making it a rare multi-generational hit where kids, parents, and grandparents will be able to boogie and sing along together.

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A bespoke East London arena and an ABBA concert that feels completely real even though it isn't. Set a budget first — tickets and drinks add up fast.

WeJam - The Family Rockband Experience
All ages£30+
Arty stuff · North

WeJam - The Family Rockband Experience

Head down the stairs beneath Camden Guitars into a real recording studio for what might be one of the coolest family music bonding experiences in London. You do not need a single ounce of musical talent: smart tech and color-coded instruments mean even total beginners can pick up real electric guitars, bass, drums, and keys instantly. A live session musician guides your family as you jam along to bangers by Queen, Billie Eilish, or Harry Styles, with software dynamically adjusting difficulty levels for each player. At the end, you walk away with professionally mixed audio tracks of your actual performance to brag about ... forever. Or at least make people listen to!

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Down the stairs beneath Camden Guitars into a real recording studio, where the family becomes a band and takes the recording home.

Tate Modern
Under 13Free
Museums & galleries · Central

Tate Modern

Housed in a dramatic former power station on the Thames, this is one of the world's biggest modern art museums - and free to get into for the permanent collection, with tickets only needed for the big temporary shows. Kids gravitate to the vast, cathedral-like Turbine Hall, which regularly hosts huge, playful art installations perfect for running around in. Pick up a free drawing kit or sound-based family trail from the family desk at weekends, or join the daily free guided tours if the little ones can sit still that long. UNIQLO Tate Play runs family-friendly art activities every weekend, and there's a Baby Care Room if you're travelling with very young children. Cross via the Millennium Bridge from St Paul's for the most dramatic approach.

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A free former power station full of enormous, strange, brilliant modern art — and the Turbine Hall alone is worth the bus ride.

Food, cake and places they'll photograph

Sometimes the day out is just an excuse to leave the house with a snack destination. These are the ones teenagers rate enough to send to you unprompted.

The Southbank
All agesFree
Arty stuff · Central

The Southbank

This vibrant, pedestrian-only stretch along the Thames is filled with street food, buskers, and cultural venues like the Southbank Centre, BFI and Tate Modern which always have child-friendly exhibitions and space to run around in. The Southbank is buggy bliss for parents because there are no stairs to navigate, and plenty of child-friendly chain restaurants to warm up (or cool down) in. There are mini Thames-side beaches to explore too - just don't go for a dip in the not-so-clean river.

See details★ 4.5

Pedestrian-only, full of street food and buskers, and impossible to police: the Southbank is where teens can wander with a coffee and be left alone.

Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm
All ages£5-£15
Treats & eats · Central

Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm

This popular spot serves up dozens of handmade ice cream and gelato flavours, made directly from farm-fresh milk. Every year they're also expanding the entertainment options: playgrounds, hay bales, pony rides, sand pits, tractors to climb on, and mazes can often be found here. Expect a queue on warm weekend afternoons, but it moves quickly. Free entry, large car park, but you'll want to buy an ice or two.

See details★ 4.1

Dozens of handmade ice cream and gelato flavours made from farm-fresh milk — an excuse for a walk that everyone agrees to.

Biscuiteers
All ages£15-£30
Treats & eats · West

Biscuiteers

Biscuiteers is a fun rainy-day treat for children who like making things almost as much as eating them. It's not cheap, but ours loved the biscuit icing session, where provided equipment is such good quality that you can't fail but to make a lovely-looking biscuit! Adults can settle in with a hot drink and let everyone decorate edible works of art to take home. Book ahead, and leave a little room in the day for browsing the beautifully decorated shop afterwards.

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Decorate-your-own biscuit workshops in West London. Not cheap, but a better call than soft play for teens who like making things almost as much as eating them.

London's Fun Board Game Cafés (rainy day fun)
All ages£5-£15
Games & rainy days · Central

London's Fun Board Game Cafés (rainy day fun)

Rainy Saturday, restless kids, nobody wants another soft play? London's board game cafés are one really excellent answer. There are thousands of games on the shelves, staff who explain the rules so you don't lose half an hour to an instruction manual, and proper food (and, more importantly to my kids, milkshakes) while you play. Most charge a few pounds per person for a table slot, families are welcome during the day, and you can happily stay put for three or four hours. Here are the five we send families to again and again, from one next to our favourite neon graffiti tunnel under Waterloo to a buggy-friendly hall in Croydon. Draughts (Waterloo), SE1 7NN — hidden in the Leake Street graffiti tunnel, 1,000+ games and roaming "Game Gurus" who pick kid-friendly titles for you. Families welcome before 9pm; nachos, burgers and thick shakes. Quietest on Sunday mornings. https://draughtslondon.com/locations/waterloo/ Draughts (Stratford), E20 1FS — floor-to-ceiling windows in East Village, bright and welcoming for younger families. Pair it with Tumbling Bay playground in the Olympic Park first, then a three-hour session with toasties and milkshakes. https://draughtslondon.com/locations/stratford/ The Ludoquist (Croydon), CR0 1QE — the South London family favourite: huge, bright, a dedicated Family & Kids bookcase from age three up, buggy-friendly aisles and sourdough pizzas. Book ahead on rainy weekends. https://www.theludoquist.com/ Bad Moon Cafe (Bermondsey / Elephant & Castle), SE1 4GZ — best for tweens and teens ready for fantasy strategy and card games. Big tables, four-hour slots and stone-baked pizzas. https://www.badmooncafe.co.uk/ Loading Bar (Stoke Newington), N16 0LH — the screens-and-tabletop compromise: free retro consoles built into the booths plus quick-fire card games, no table charge, under-18s welcome during the day. https://loading.bar/

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Thousands of games, hot drinks and someone to explain the rules: London's board game cafés are the rainy-day answer for teens who won't go outside.

Quiz Room
All ages£15-£30
Games & rainy days · Central

Quiz Room

Trivia-loving kids (pretty much every child I've ever met!) will love this interactive game-show arena, you stand behind glowing quiz podiums complete with buzzers, joker cards, and sound effects. Kids feel like stars on a TV game show while trivia is customisable and age-appropriate. The kids' quiz is aimed at 8-12 year olds but older teens can tackle other quiz topics.

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A game-show arena with glowing podiums, snacks and a bit of competition, all in one booking — trivia-loving teens will beg to come.

Big-sky days when they need out of the city

A change of scene fixes a lot. These take a bit more travel, and most are free to walk around — the paid ones are worth it for the sheer scale.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (The Making of Harry Potter)
All ages£30+
Views & landmarks · Outer

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (The Making of Harry Potter)

Walk through the real sets from the Harry Potter films — the Great Hall, Diagon Alley and Platform 9¾ — plus props, costumes and sip butterbeer, the Wizarding World at Leavesden Studios has museum-ised the filming location where all eight movies were brought to life. Alongside thousands of original props, costumes, and creature effects, you can try interactive experiences like broomstick flying or sampling Butterbeer at the Backlot Café. It isn't a theme park with rides, but an extraordinary, deep-dive tribute to cinematic artistry that captivates visitors of every generation.

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The real Great Hall, Diagon Alley and Platform 9¾, with props, costumes and sets from the films. It sells out — book well before you mention it out loud.

Alexandra Palace
All agesFree
Views & landmarks · Central

Alexandra Palace

It's huge and there's lots to do at Ally Pally: 196 acres of parkland with sweeping skyline views over London - older kids will enjoy the Summit, where you walk over the top of the iconic building - but on the ground there's loads to do too. Ice skating inside, swan pedalos on its the dedicated boating lake, an expansive playground which works for both older and younger kids, and includes a sandpit. There are a few cafes, including Lakeside Café, loads of picnicking spots, and Little Dinos - a soft play with large outdoor space that's a huge hit with younger kids (and with better coffee and adult seating than most). The park is free, parking is charged, activities all cost extra.

See details★ 4.5

196 acres of free parkland with sweeping skyline views over London, plus the ice rink, big screens and events if you feel like spending money.

Gobions Wood
All agesFree
Parks & gardens · North

Gobions Wood

This 36-acre ancient woodland nature reserve is the perfect walk and picnic spot - it has carpetings of bluebells in spring, and 500 species of fungi to spot in autumn - but for kids, the best part are the logs to balance on, large lake with ducks and tadpoles, a playground area near the car park, and a large field perfect for picnicking and games. The trails are flat, and buggy-accessible. Park at the North Mymms Parish Council car park (off Jonas Way) for direct access to both the children’s play area and the woodland trail entrance.

See details★ 4.6

36 acres of ancient woodland nature reserve in North London — bluebells in spring, a big hill, and it feels an hour from the city when it isn't.

Walthamstow wetlands
All agesFree
Parks & gardens · North

Walthamstow wetlands

You won't feel like you're on the doorstep of central London in the fresh air and beautiful scenery of Walthamstow wetlands. Take a leisurely stroll, or follow the designated cycling route; there's a bevy of wildlife to spot... and a great cafe to bribe unwilling kids with cakes and ice creams. Mini beast hunts, forest school sessions and storytelling run frequently too - some charges apply.

See details★ 4.6

A reserve on the doorstep of North London that genuinely feels like the country: hides, water, birds and fresh air, all free.

Hangloose Adventure: England's Longest Zipline
8+£30+
Parks & gardens · South

Hangloose Adventure: England's Longest Zipline

Just outside London at Kent's Bluewater Shopping Centre sits the Skywire: England's longest and fastest zipline spanning over 725 meters. Adventurous kids (over 8) and parents launch off a 70-meter cliff face in a Superman-style flying position, soaring over the chalk cliffs and lakes at speeds of up to 60mph! There's also a giant swing and inflatable water park on site to make a really epic day of it.

See details

England's longest and fastest zipline, more than 725m over Bluewater in Kent. There's a minimum weight, so check the rules before you promise it.

How to get a yes out of a teenager

Let them pick one

Offer two options and let them choose — or take the one they suggest, however unlikely it seems. A day they helped design gets a very different attitude on the bus.

Sort the travel first

If your teen is 11 or over, look into a Zip Oyster photocard before you plan anything else — free or discounted travel changes the maths on every day out in London.

Book the free stuff

Free doesn't mean walk-up. Sky Garden and a handful of other free views need a timed ticket, and the good slots go days ahead. Do it while you're still deciding.

Say the money out loud

Agree the budget before you leave — entry, travel, a snack, a bit of shopping — and hand over a set amount. Most teen sulking is actually arithmetic.

Build in an escape route

Permission to bail early, or an hour apart in a café while you do the gallery, saves the whole day. Nobody remembers the museum; everybody remembers being rescued.

Check the rules before you promise

Climbing, carting, ziplines and courtroom dramas all have age, height, weight or supervision limits. Read the listing first, then commit — a broken promise is the one thing you can't buy back.

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