Plan your trip with the best London attractions for kids
Home to some of the world’s most famous landmarks and attractions, London has a lot to offer for a family trip. From quirky museums to vast zoos and aquariums, the city offers a range of exciting experiences for kids of all ages. Find out more about the top London attractions for kids to plan your next city break with the family.
Madame Tussauds
Perfect for adults and children alike, Madame Tussauds offers a vast collection of wax figures representing famous Hollywood actors, singers and the British royal family. Along with famous personalities, Madame Tussauds also has representations of beloved children’s icons, such as E.T., Shrek, King Kong and Marvel superheroes. If you have Star Wars fans in your family, the museum offers the Star Wars Experience, an interactive ride that includes co-piloting a ship with Chewbacca to fight Darth Vader with a lightsaber.
London Eye
The London Eye is a must-visit attraction on a trip to London, especially with kids. The views of the cityscape are spectacular, especially as it nears sunset. There’s also a 4D movie experience that’s included with your ticket to ride, so you can experience a wide range of effects with the kids to enhance the overall experience.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
The SEA LIFE London Aquarium is one of the most kid-friendly attractions in the whole city, whether you have youngsters or teenagers. The aquarium is home to a wide variety of fascinating marine creatures, including sharks, rays, penguins and reef fish, all in naturalistic habitats. You can see all types of animals and learn about breeding programs at the aquarium, and there are 2 classrooms that highlight conservation campaigns such as Save Our Seas and the Shark Trust.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
A celebration of the famous fictional detective, the Sherlock Holmes Museum is a fun experience for kids of all ages. The museum is found in a Georgian townhouse marked ‘221B Baker Street’ and covers the period of time that both Holmes and Watson lived in the home in the books. The museum also has items from different adaptations of the stories and re-creations of scenes from the television series.
The British Museum
The British Museum is among the most-visited museums in London and covers a wide range of topics, including human history and culture, art and natural history. The massive collection spans from prehistoric to recent times in separate branches covering global regions, so there’s plenty to see. Some of the museum’s notable features include 2 Assyrian stelae, a plastered human skull from Jericho, Amran tablets, limestone ossuaries from Jerusalem caves, Greek vases and more.
Science Museum
The Science Museum is one of London’s most fascinating museums, especially for curious children. It holds a vast collection of famous artefacts, including the Apollo 10 command module, the first typewriter, a working example of Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine and the Puffing Billy steam locomotive. The museum has interactive exhibits as well as an IMAX 3D Cinema with science and nature documentaries.
ZSL London Zoo
The ZSL London Zoo is one of the world’s oldest scientific zoos and is an ideal attraction for animal lovers. The zoo is home to over 600 species and thousands of individual animals, including hippos, Asiatic lions, tigers, zebras, warthogs, African wild dogs, sloths and monkeys. The exhibits are divided into unique habitats with viewing platforms and walkthroughs, such as Rainforest Life and Night Life, Tiger Territory, Land of the Lions, Gorilla Kingdom and Into Africa.
London Transport Museum
Located in Covent Garden, the London Transport Museum celebrates the transport heritage of the capital city. You can see displays of buses, trams, trolleybuses and rail vehicles from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as exhibits related to the operation of passenger transport and how it developed through the ages. Some of the museum highlights include early locomotives from the first sub-surface and deep-level lines and a stock tube train from 1938.