All places in this area
21 places in this part of town
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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Chronos One Escape Rooms
A cinematic, time-travel-themed escape game where the room reacts around you. Puzzles are logic-led rather than gory, so it works well for confident 10s and up and for teens who think they're too cool for museums.
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Swingers Crazy Golf (City)
The City branch of Swingers, a 1920s-themed indoor crazy golf venue with street food and bars. Children are welcome at family sessions only, so check the venue website before booking.
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The Lookout, 8 Bishopsgate
A high-rise public viewing platform on the 50th floor with 360-degree views over the Gherkin, Tower Bridge and the Thames. Far quieter and easier to book than the Sky Garden, so much less stressful with impatient young kids.
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Tower of London & Crown Jewels
The Tower of London is a total slam-dunk for kids - which is partly why you need to go as soon as it opens to avoid the crowds! But it's worth it - where else can they see real crown jewels, hear gruesome execution stories, and meet giant, moody ravens - and not-at-all-moody beefeaters? (The ones we met were very friendly and happy for photos!) But since it’s a sprawling medieval fortress, navigating it with impatient children requires a game plan. On arrival, do the Crown Jewels Sprint: Ignore the entrance photo-ops, and the second that gates open, march straight to the Jewel House before the hour-long queue forms. There's a moving walkway to look at the biggest crowns, then loop back into the standing lane so kids can get up close to the sparkles. We recommend catching a Beefeater Tour. These are free 45-minute walks which are full of bloody history and stand-up comedy that keeps kids hooked. Join an early morning tour before legs tire. If kids are stalling, tell them to hunt for the ravens - the six resident birds on the South Lawn. When the central White Tower gets packed, head up to the ramparts. Kids can run through medieval turrets and aim imaginary arrows through slits while you enjoy views of Tower Bridge. Don't miss the random animal room near the back of the tower - learn how the Tower of London led to the formation of London Zoo! Pack snacks and - if you can - take a sling rather than a buggy, though they're welcome, it's easier to navigate when nimble. The on-site café get busy, but they actually serve up really good food (better than almost any other London attraction we've been to!) including great salad bars and good kids choices.
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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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MathsWorld London
Don't laugh - maths really can be fun and this really different and fun activity proves it! Tucked into a set of industrial railway arches just behind Tate Modern, this newly opened interactive space proves maths is far more than boring school worksheets. Spread across two floors, kids can scramble inside a giant soap bubble, face off against an AI chess master, test their logic on an elliptical pool table, and crack secret ciphers on the Codebreaker wall. It is brilliantly geared toward problem-solvers of all ages - there are definitely no textbooks here. And your day ticket turns into a 12-month annual pass, making it the ultimate South Bank rainy-day fallback whenever you are in the area. Keep in mind term-time weekdays often host school groups, so grab an afternoon slot or go on weekends for calmer vibes. The only disappointment we had were the loos: not brilliant!
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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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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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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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Tower of London Private Family & Kids Tour
While general entry to the Tower is an incredible outing (see separate listing), a family-specific private tour pairs your group with an energetic Blue Badge guide who tailors 900 years of history specifically for children. Kids learn about royal prisoners, gruesome medieval executions and armour while hunting for the famous ravens - and asking any questions at all to the very knowledgeable guides. Look out for: the Crown Jewels, the White Tower armour displays, Traitors' Gate, and the medieval battlements.
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Jubilee Gardens
Families can explore a busy landscaped park right on London's South Bank featuring over 90 mature trees and open lawns. Children up to 11 years old can play in the enclosed adventure playground... It's always pretty busy, but still lots of space to run around and you can then explore the South Bank, with its stalls, performers and eating/drinking spots.
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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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Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
Set in the restored 18th-century New River Head waterworks in Clerkenwell, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration is the UK’s national flagship for picture-book magic and visual storytelling. While entry to its main exhibition galleries requires paid tickets, the venue is a masterclass in welcoming families on a tight budget - between the free-to-enter library space, interactive drawing areas, sensory gardens, and £1 tickets for low-income families, you can easily spend a full morning here without draining your wallet. The free Library and activity space lets kids curl up with over 1,000 picture books, graphic novels, and art materials. The main gallery exhibitions change regularly, and the weekly Little Owls drop-in sessions on Wednesday mornings are specifically for under-fives, packed with interactive songs, rhymes, and picture book readings. Don't miss the gated outdoor play garden if it's sunny.
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Barbican Conservatory
Visit the (free) garden, check out the library and its amazing kids' section, stroll the Barbican's architecture
See details★ 4.5
Tate Britain
This art gallery on the Thames showcases five centuries of iconic British art, including the world's largest collection of works by Turner.. but you'll be here for the free, hands-on family play activities and children's explorer trail map you can pick up at the Clore Learning Centre.
See details★ 4.7
Horizon 22 London viewing platform
The highest free viewing platform in Europe, offering 360-degree views across London from 58 stories up. Small pond and landscaping, but you're mainly here for the views! Tickets drop in batches online weeks in advance, so ensure you book before you visit.
See details★ 4.8
London Mithraeum
An immersive underground archaeological site displaying the ruins of a Roman Temple of Mithras beneath Bloomberg's headquarters. Download their free interactive iPad guide on arrival - older kids can unlock the digital mysteries of ancient Roman London, younger ones will need to stay off the ancient ruins though!
See details★ 4.5
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers (Westminster to Greenwich)
Forget expensive, slow-moving tourist cruises — riding the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers with contactless or Oyster is London's ultimate river-sightseeing hack for families. Hop on at Westminster Pier and grab seats near the back outdoor deck, or settle inside the high-speed catamaran, which has panoramic windows, tables and an onboard cafe bar serving hot drinks and snacks. The route down to Greenwich delivers a thrilling speed boost once you pass Tower Bridge, offering a fresh, stress-free vantage point of London's big hits without pushing buggies through crowded pavements. Key sights to look out for: the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe, St Paul's Cathedral, HMS Belfast, sliding directly beneath Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf skyscrapers, and the historic Cutty Sark at Greenwich.
See details★ 4.5
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
Sky Garden
A large, indoor landscaped garden high above the city offering incredible panoramic views and plenty of open space to walk around. It is completely free - but you must book your time slot well in advance.
See details★ 4.6