21 places on the list
Top 10: our best of the bunch
Ranked by our own favourites first, then by how families rate them on Google.
- 1
IFS Cloud Cable Car and Royal DocksGetting about · East · All ages£5-£15★ 4.5 - 2
Elstree AerodromeGetting about · East · Under 13Free★ 4.2 - 3
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers (Westminster to Greenwich)Getting about · Central · All ages£5-£15★ 4.5 - 4
Take the No. 9 bus sightseeingGetting about · Central · All agesUnder £5★ 3.9 - 5
Thames RocketsGetting about · Central · 8+£30+ - 6
GoBoatGetting about · Central · All ages£30+ - 7
Race Across the World: The ExperienceGetting about · Central · All ages£15-£30 - 8
Herne Hill Velodrome Kids CyclingGetting about · South · All ages£5-£15 - 9
Greenwich Foot Tunnel WalkGetting about · South · Under 13Free - 10
Dinosaur Escape Adventure GolfGetting about · West · All ages£5-£15
Everything on this list
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.
See detailsGoBoat
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.
See detailsRace 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.
See detailsHerne Hill Velodrome Kids Cycling
Endless fun on two wheels! It's a wheely good place (sorry, couldn't resist) where kids can learn to ride, build cycling confidence through coaching sessions tailored to all abilities, or race around on track cycling tasters and youth mountain biking. There's a really busy schedule so check the website to see when is best for you to go - take your own bikes or, the Frog, Learn to Cycle, and all track sessions (Track Tasters, Track Skills, Intermediate Training, Race Training and Accreditation) sessions include free, optional bike hire. Road/TT Bike sessions do not include free bike hire (they don't have Road/TT bikes to hire), and offroad sessions have an option to hire a bike for £8 extra. Riders aged 6yrs+ can take part in weekly Youth Mountain Bike sessions and youngsters aged 8yrs+ are able to try the Track Cycling Tasters.
See detailsGreenwich Foot Tunnel Walk
Built in 1902, this cast-iron pedestrian tunnel runs directly beneath the Thames, connecting the Isle of Dogs to Greenwich. Kids love the eerie echo as they walk or scoot 50 feet under the river, entering through glass domes with vintage helical staircases and big circular lifts.
See detailsDinosaur Escape Adventure Golf
An outdoor 18-hole crazy golf course featuring life-sized, roaring, moving animatronic dinosaurs and water hazards. Putting golf balls through dinosaur legs and past moving T-Rexes brings an extra element to mini-golf.. the kids really enjoyed it. There's a dinosaur soft play on site too so you can make a day of it, though the costs all add up! Costs from £4-£12 (kids/adults)
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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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HMS Belfast
Nine decks of a real WWII warship anchored on the Thames, complete with gun turrets, boiler rooms and sailors' sleeping quarters. Kids love steering the ship with interactive instructions.
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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.
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Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Sightseeing on a classic Route-master bus while eating Peppa Pig cookies - this is proper toddler heaven! Each table has a tablet showing Peppa episodes, which coincide with the sights as you drive past them (the Queen episode hasn't been updated yet though!) and you get to keep cute big-and-little travel cups. Expect lots of singalongs, and surprisingly delicious food - with a range of hot and cold drinks, colouring/activity books to take home, and boxes for leftovers too.
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Gorilla Circus Flying Trapeze School
This outdoor aerial circus school offers flying trapeze classes for beginners in London's parks during summer. Age 8+ kids get high-flying adrenaline as they harness up to jump off a high platform and perform real trapeze tricks into a safety net. Gorilla Circus has been teaching Flying Trapeze in London since 2009, and is the only Grand Volant flying trapeze in London. Classes are released in blocks every four weeks and book up quickly. But it's only open Spring until late September each year.
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Tootbus / Big Bus Open-Top Kids Tour
Short open-top bus tours with comedy commentary written totally for children? These take in the big London landmarks in a way that little legs will love. Try to book a dry day as it's much more fun on the top deck!
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The Original Tour - Unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & River Cruise
Yes, Londoners roll their eyes at them, but we find sitting on the top deck of an open-top bus on a sunny day to be one of the easiest, most fun way to show little ones the big sights without exhausting their legs. Original Tour has four different routes, plus a river cruise, so there are so many stops you can pick your own itinerary. We got on near Leicester Square, took the bus line all the way to beyond the Tower of London, the got off at Tower Pier and enjoyed a lovely afternoon river cruise, with a live sightseeing expert giving us history that none of us knew about our hometown! And if it's nap time, you can let little ones slumber in your lap or in the buggy as you listen to the audio tour and view all of London's big hits in one day. Bring snacks for the bus, but the river boats have licensed bars and lots of food on board. Would recommend bringing your kids' headphones too, as ours found the ear buds provided by The Original Tour tricky to keep in their ears. Opt for upstairs if you can, the views are incredible!
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Ruislip Lido Railway and Beach
Britain's longest miniature railway runs through ancient woodland around a huge lake with a sandy inland beach. Sandcastles and paddling aplenty, plus a pirate ship play area, outdoor gym, woodland walks and cafes.
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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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Junior Learn to Sail at Welsh Harp Sailing Club
Set on Brent Reservoir—London's largest body of sailable water—kids can learn dinghy sailing under the backdrop of Wembley Stadium's iconic arch. RYA-certified junior courses teach safety, steering, rigging, and wind reading across weekend taster sessions and holiday camps. There are Thursday Evening Tasters for non-members, described as a great way to try sailing and get a feel for the club, for £15 per session (refundable if you join as a member)
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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.
See detailsIFS Cloud Cable Car and Royal Docks
Take this cable car ride soaring over the river Thames between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. Don't overpay - tap in with an Oyster card or debit card for cheap pay-as-you-go fares rather than buying full-price tourist tickets at the terminal counter - and boost your day with a trip to the O2's attractions and outlets, a visit to City Hall (go on a weekday and try to book into watch Mayor's Question Time - free but must book) or the Royal Docks' summer beach area if it's open. Cable car prices are: £6.00 Adult / £3.00 Child (one-way with contactless)
See details★ 4.5Uber 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★ 4.5Take the No. 9 bus sightseeing
This is a cheap and easy bus sightseeing tour, try to grab a top deck seat as you go past landmarks including Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. Sometimes the route is even run with an old-fashioned Routemaster. This is a budget-friendly way to see London while keeping kids engaged by ticking off sights - we love doing this route alongside the Usborne book of London.
See details★ 3.9Elstree Aerodrome
If you've got aviation-obsessed kids - or just those that like to look up - plan a trip to this airfield north of London. It's pure magic for transport-obsessed toddlers: a working airfield where toddlers can spend hours thrilled by the steady stream of light aircraft and helicopters taking off and landing. Don't miss out on the surprisingly good on-site café to grab a hot drink or nice lunch while you plane-spot.
See details★ 4.2