6 places on the list
Top 6: our best of the bunch
Ranked by our own favourites first, then by how families rate them on Google.
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Camden MarketShopping & Experiences · North · All agesFree - 2
Waterstones Piccadilly Free StorytimeShopping & Experiences · Central · Under 9Free - 3
Dragon QuestShopping & Experiences · South · All ages£5-£15 - 4
Paper Cat Book ShopShopping & Experiences · Central · All agesFree - 5
Spitalfields MarketShopping & Experiences · East · All agesFree - 6
West End Toy Shop TrailShopping & Experiences · Central · All agesFree
Everything on this list
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.
See detailsWaterstones Piccadilly Free Storytime
Europe's largest bookstore hosts free weekly storytime sessions right in the heart of London. Up on the second floor of Waterstones Piccadilly you'll find a dedicated children's department packed with thousands of books, toys and reading nooks, and every Sunday at 2pm families gather in the cosy children's section for a free drop-in story reading session. No booking is needed, which makes it a perfect budget-friendly stop during a family day out in Central London. Even without storytime it is a lovely rainy-day wander - the children's floor is made for small people to browse and flop down with a book, there's a café on the same floor for hot drinks and treats, and the top-floor 5th View café gives panoramic rooftop views over Central London. Pop in before or after a walk along Piccadilly or a trip to the nearby shops.
See detailsDragon Quest
This fantasy-themed outdoor adventure golf course packed with dragons, mythical beasts, and castle ruins in Croydon is pure family fun. The chilled 18-hole course layout, dramatic props, and wide paths keep kids fully entertained from start to finish.
See detailsPaper Cat Book Shop
This indy children's book shop is packed with amazing books, of course, hand-picked by the very knowledgeable staff, and also runs great drop-in sessions, featuring story time, crafts and lots more - priced reasonably at £3 each.
See detailsSpitalfields Market
A vibrant historic covered market in East London packed with food trucks, artisan craft stalls, clothing, and art. The street food selection is unbelievable—kids can eat bao buns, gourmet wood-fired pizza, and bubble waffles all in one covered spot.
See detailsWest End Toy Shop Trail
This is the ultimate West End retail safari... the kind of shopping kids actually love. Start at Selfridges, in Marble Arch, where on the fourth floor you can gawk at eye-watering £750 giant Jellycat stuffed moons (we saw someone actually buy one) and the fish and chip store, watch the life magic demos and let kids test retro arcade games and futuristic robots on the tech floor in the basement. Probably a good time to set a budget so they can pick one toy from one store for the day - or whatever your budget is. It's worth taking a gander at the food hall too. Next, continue down Oxford Street. Your Big Game safari stops include Build-A-Bear, the Disney Store, and the children's department at John Lewis, with lots of sit-ons and a few games to play. In Liberty London on Great Marlborough Street you can visit its whimsical, beautifully curated children’s section filled with heirloom wooden toys, craft kits, and dress-up gear. Next, on to the mothership: Hamleys and its seven-story temple of live product demos and interactive play zones on Regents Street. You'll be here for a WHILE. There's a LOT to see and buy and play with! When you're free, if you've still got energy, options include: walking 10/15m to Leicester Square's flagship Lego Store to build custom minifigures and see giant brick installations. Or Waterstones Piccadilly - if you have book lovers in tow, take a short detour south to the massive children's department at Waterstones Piccadilly, which also has cosy reading nooks and play spaces. Alternatively, hit up Kingly Court for a snack or dessert in the open-air courtyard at Kingly Court off Carnaby Street. For the truly hardcore, push on to Leicester Square/Covent Garden to watch street performers and explore Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop—an iconic vintage shop packed with classic puppets, theatrical shadow boxes, and wind-up novelties.
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