67+ Easy & Free Things to do in London for Families Right Now
London is expensive enough. If you’re in London with kids, it’s even more expensive (trust me, I live here with 3 kids and my bank account hates me).
You don’t need to spend a fortune to have a great family day out. This city is chock a block with fun things to do that don’t cost a thing.
Here are my favorite free things to do in London for families with children of all ages. I’ve done these with both my toddler and my tweens – there’s something for everyone here, and it’s all free or very, very cheap!
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🇬🇧 Free Things to Do in London With Kids: Landmarks
You could spend a ton paying to see some of London’s iconic sights, or you can see these ones for free.
Houses of Parliament & Big Ben
Iconic architecture and an essential part of the London skyline. Younger kids will love these cool facts about Big Ben, and older kids can hear about the Gunpowder Plot that nearly blew up Parliament!
Trafalgar Square
Known for its fountains and lion statues, it’s a lively area that often hosts events. You can also pop into the National Gallery for free! Don’t miss Britain’s smallest police station hidden in the square!
Piccadilly Circus
Famous for its neon signs and the statue of Eros, it’s a bustling area kids might find exciting. Just don’t get sucked into the black hole of the M&M’s Store.
St. James’s Park
A beautiful park with wildlife and close to Buckingham Palace. You may recognize it from Good Omens!
The British Library
If you have dedicated readers in your life, this iconic library is a must-visit. They offer a family trail to see the best of this massive space. And don’t miss the Treasures gallery for ancient volumes and artifacts like Jane Austen’s desk.
Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guards
Impressive and a key part of London’s royal history!
Tours are expensive and only available certain times of year, but wandering around the outside and seeing the iconic sights is fun for all ages.
Changing of the Guards is a free ceremony that is great to witness with kids, who will love the colorful uniforms, orses, and funny hats. Also visit nearby Horse Guards Parade (outside the Household Cavalry Museum) to pose with guards on horseback.
Sky Garden
Offers free entry with booking, providing panoramic views of the city. If you can’t score a ticket (they’re free but sell out quickly), you can go have a coffee in one of the restaurants for the same epic views. Sky Garden is one of the coolest free things to do in London with a toddler that parents will enjoy, too.
Paddington Station
Famous for its association with Paddington Bear, it’s a delight for young fans. Look for the statue!
King’s Cross Platform 9 ¾
A must-visit for Harry Potter fans, complete with a photo opportunity. This is one of the coolest free things to do in London with kids who are into Harry Potter, and you’ll get a great image to keep forever!
Red Phone Booths
Iconic and great for fun photos. You can find these all over, though there is sometimes a queue for photos at the more popular ones, like in Covent Garden.
Hamleys
One of the best free things to do in London for kids is to visit this massive toy store on Regent Street.
One of the largest toy stores in the world, Hamleys is 7 floors of children’s heaven. It’s of course free to enter, but whether you’ll get out of there without one of their iconic red shopping bags is another story altogether!
Globe Theatre
If your little ones don’t have the patience for a production at this historic replica theater, you can always see it from the outside. It’s the only thatched roof in London and there are signs around where you can discover the history.
🛝 London for Toddlers to Tweens: Parks & Playgrounds
London has a huge variety of parks and playgrounds that are all unique. These are some of my favorites in London for toddlers to primary age children.
Paddington Recreation Playground
Includes an area just for babies and toddlers with a mini replica London street, complete with pastel terraced homes! This newly renovated space is incredible with a train, tunnel, slide, climbing wall, and much more to explore.
Diana Memorial Playground, Hyde Park
This playground is famous for its large wooden pirate ship which is great for imaginative play. It also has sensory trails, teepees, and various play sculptures.
Coram’s Fields, Bloomsbury
This massive seven-acre park and playground is designed specifically for children, and it’s one of the best playgrounds in London for toddlers. It features a sensory play area for smaller kids, and an adventure playground for bigger kids.
Regent’s Park
Regent’s Park has several playgrounds, with the one near Hanover Gate being particularly good for younger children. It has sand pits, swings, and slides, all set in a scenic location. This is a great park to wander and take in the water and wildlife, and it’s a great day out in London for toddlers and older kids, too.
Battersea Park
The park’s adventure playground offers a variety of play equipment, including a sensory play area which is great for toddlers. There’s also Go Ape, which is a paid adventure experience for older kids.
St James’s Park
If you’re near Buckingham Palace and need to burn off some toddler energy, this small but well-equipped playground is great, with sand pits and swings, perfect for younger children. Parents can enjoy views of Buckingham Palace while the kids play.
Victoria Park
Known as ‘Vicky Park’ to locals, it has two playgrounds. The West Park playground is particularly suitable for toddlers, with a paddling pool open in the summer.
Hampstead Heath
The Parliament Hill playground on Hampstead Heath is excellent for toddlers, with facilities such as a sandpit, slides, and swings. There’s much to explore here, along with a cafe to fuel up with a coffee.
Hampstead Heath is one of the prettiest parks in the city, and one of the coolest free things to do in London with kids as there’s so much to explore.
Greenwich Park
This park offers a safe and enclosed playground, ideal for younger children, with a variety of play equipment. A day out in Greenwich is an absolute must for families with kids.
Hyde Park
The playground near the Serpentine is great for toddlers, offering a safe and engaging environment. In the summer you can have some water play in the nearby Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, which is so fun for all ages!
Hyde Park is absolutely massive, and one of the best free things to do in London for kids of all ages.
Holland Park
Known for its beautiful Kyoto Garden, Holland Park also has a fantastic playground with a climbing frame, slides, and plenty of space to run around.
Marylebone Green Playground, Regent’s Park
Offers climbing frames, seesaws, and sandpits, divided into themed zones.
Highgate Woods Playground
Includes separate play areas for different ages, a zip wire, and a climbing frame in a beautiful wooded setting. You’d never know you’re in the middle of a massive city.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Has various play areas with rock pools, sand pits, and treehouses. This park is absolutely massive, so make sure to check your mapping app before you set out so you make it to the right area.
🖼️ Free Things to do in London for Kids of All Ages: Museums
One of my favorite things about living in London is that I can take my toddler to a free museum any day of the week and keep him entertained for hours.
My older kids love all of these, too, and there’s something for everyone at each and every one of these incredible free museums.
British Museum
This massive museum is a great free day out in London for families. There’s a huge amount to explore, from mummies to massive monuments. Grab a free explorer trail map at reception to turn it into a treasure hunt!
Science Museum
This entire museum is great for families with children, but there’s also a separate space called The Garden just for 3-6 year olds where they can do some hands-on experiments!
Museum of Natural History
Explore the coolest aspects of the natural world with tons of hands-on exhibits and a great dinosaur exhibition. This museum is huge, and there’s something for everyone!
Museum of London Docklands
Explore the history of the Thames and London as a global trade center. This is a great free museum for kids, or you can pay £3 to enter the Mudlarks space, which is a very cool soft play for littles.
Imperial War Museum
Go back in time to WW1 and WW2 with interactive exhibits, uniforms, artifacts, vehicles, and so much more.
National Maritime Museum
Experience a world of seafaring adventures in this massive space. Tons of interactive exhibits and artifacts for all ages, or pop into the AHOY children’s gallery for ages 0-7. This free museum is one of the best in London for toddlers with so much to see and do.
The V & A
From ancient artifacts to thrones to the Great Bed of Ware, the V&A in South Kensington is fun for everyone. Grab the free digital trail to see all the treasures!
Young V&A
A kid-specific version of the V&A, the second location of the iconic museum just finished an incredible refurbishment this year. See toys of decades past, make your own art, and explore the rotating exhibits featuring everything from manga to magic.
Bank of England Museum
A bank museum sounds quite boring, but this one isn’t. It makes learning about money and the economy super fun with interactive exhibits for kids and treasure maps to find the gold!
Royal Air Force Museum
If your kids love things that go, the RAF museum is a must. The huge hangers have everything from massive planes to interactive playthings to ride-ons. Grab a free treasure map here.
Horniman Museum
Into biology and anthropology? Or just like looking at cool animal specimens? Head to the Horniman, where you can see preserved and live animals, or pop into the soft play.
The Tate Modern
Free to enter, this contemporary art museum has family-friendly activities and spaces. There’s also an epic view of the city on the viewing platform.
🐷 London’s Best City Farms
If the weather is cooperating (or even if it’s not!), pop on your wellies and explore farm life in the center of London.
These are all non-profits, so they’re free to enter but encourage donations to keep the farms running if you can manage it. It’s so cool to have a bit of rural life in the center of a massive metropolis.
Mudchute Park and Farm
One of the coolest and largest farms in London, Mudchute on the Isle of Dogs offers rare breeds, horse riding lessons, a petting zoo, and picnic spots.
Kentish Town City Farm
London’s first city farm run by the community right in the heart of Camden. Meet the animals, learn about the history of this incredible space, and check out their half term clubs and volunteer programs.
Spitalfields City Farm
An urban oasis close to Brick Lane, home to various animals and vegetable picking.
Hackney City Farm
This lovely and quaint city farm in the middle of East London is known for weekend brunch and kooky classes, with a café, a variety of animals, and a secret garden. It’s also where the creator of Peppa Pig drew her inspiration!
Hackney City Farm is one of my all-time favorite things to do in London for toddlers, since the whole thing is contained. If you have an active little one, this city farm is a must.
Deen City Farm
Features ‘Own A Pony Day’, animal feeding, and the cutest donkeys you’ll ever meet!
Vauxhall City Farm
A small farm near Vauxhall junction with diverse animals like goats, sheep, alpacas and pigs (sometimes with piglets!).
Surrey Docks Farm
A lovely working farm where kids can meet the animal, help with farm chores, and get their hands dirty in the best way.
🛍️ Free Things to do in London for Families: Markets
London’s markets are some of the coolest free things to do in London with kids. There’s always something to see and do, and parents will love this day out, too.
Covent Garden
The Covent Garden neighborhood is always bustling, and the main buildings at the heart of it house 3 iconic markets. Apple Market is a historic fruit and vegetable trading post, East Colonnade Market for arts and crafts, and Jubilee Market for antiques. There’s always street performers and lots to see in Covent Garden daily.
Old Spitalfields Market
In the heart of East London lies Old Spitalfields Market, which has been trading on this site for over 350 years. Explore everything from high street shops to antique traders to toy stores, and grab a bite from one of the many delicious food vendors.
Greenwich Market
There’s so much to do for families in Greenwich, and the market is at the heart of it all. Try out different foods, see the handmade arts and crafts, and then head up the hill to the museums or down the hill to the Cutty Sark.
Borough Market
The most well-known market in London, Borough Market has been trading here for over 1,000 years. Today it’s a gourmet food market with tons of artisan cheesemakers, fruit & veg vendors, bakers, and trendy and popular pop ups. Many offer samples if your kiddos are keen to try new foods!
Caveat: If you’re not okay with crowds, do not go on the weekend. It gets packed on Saturdays and Sundays year round.
Brick Lane Market
If you prefer a more vintage-vibe with your street market, head to Brick Lane. Here you can find everything from the traditional streetside traders to vintage clothing to trendy restaurants. It’s a very cool place to wander for street art, too with so much to see for all ages.
Columbia Road Flower Market
Love flowers and plants? Head to this historic spot on Sundays for beautiful blooms, cool restaurants and bakeries, arts and crafts, and really cute shops.
Camden Market
Known for its eclectic mix of food stalls, shops, and cool artsy alternative atmosphere. The variety of sights, sounds, and smells make it an exciting place for all ages to explore. And yes, it’s the same one as in Taylor Swift’s London Boy song!
Coal Drops Yard & Granary Square
This relatively new development on the site of the old industrial heart of King’s Cross has a giant square with fountains, shops and restaurants galore, and it’s also a great open space to practice scooter or bike riding.
Portobello Road Market
Famous for its antiques and vintage clothes, it’s also a colorful and bustling market. While the merchandise might be more interesting to adults, the lively environment is enjoyable for kids, especially on market days.
💦 Waterside Walks & Thameside Treats
Need a little nature in your life, but don’t want to hit another park? Take a stroll along these historic and beautiful London waterfronts.
Walk the Southbank
This area offers a scenic path along the River Thames, providing views of iconic landmarks like the London Eye, Tower Bridge, and the Shard. There are often street performers, markets, and plenty of space for kids to walk and explore.
Additionally, the Southbank Centre often hosts family-friendly events and festivals, making it an engaging and enjoyable experience for children.
Millennium Bridge
Walk across this pedestrian bridge (you may recognize it from Taylor Swift’s End Game music video) with great views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tate Modern. It’s safe and enjoyable for a family stroll.
Tower Bridge
Often confused with London Bridge, this one is the iconic bridge you see on all the London souvenirs. Walking across it can be exciting for kids, with the added bonus of seeing the bridge lift.
If your kids are very brave, you can access the walkways at the very top, which have glass floors (though you’ll need to book tickets for the sky-high experience).
Regent’s Canal
Offers a peaceful walk away from the city’s hustle, ideal for a relaxed family outing. There are several great sections to walk: Little Venice for pretty boats, the section near Angel for working locks and waterside pubs, or go further east and walk all the way to the Thames!
Access the Thames Foreshore
You can explore the Thames beaches at low tide, but supervision is crucial due to the uneven and slippery surface. You’ll need a license or a guide to mudlark, but it’s still pretty cool to walk over so much waterside history right in the center of London.
🚇 Things to do in London With a Toddler: Ride Transport
Do your kids love things that go? Then they’ll love riding London’s unique and iconic transport system. Here are some of the funnest routes and things to see with kids.
These routes aren’t free, but you can use them to get where you’re going anyway, and have the kids be entertained in the meantime.
Some tube stations still have paper maps available if your kiddo wants one!
Ride Pretty Bus Route
You don’t need to pay £40 for a London bus tour – you can pay £1.75 and see all the same things! (kids ride free).
Try the #11 that goes past famous landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral, Trafalgar Square and Westminster Abbey. Or opt for the #73 that goes past Marble Arch, Hyde Park, and Buckingham Palace.
Ride the Cable Car Across the Thames
For the IFS Cloud Cable Car (formerly known as the Emirates Cable Car), hop on at the Royal Docks and take the cable car to Greenwich. You’ll see panoramic views of the entire city!
Hop on the UberBoat
No need to pay for a river cruise. Journey along the Thames on the UberBoat (Thames Clippers) to both get where you’re going, and enjoy incredible views of London along the way.
Ride the DLR or Overground
Take in epic views from sections of the DLR and the London Overground. These trains are like the Underground, but they run mostly over the city instead of under. You can see some pretty cool sights from the windows.
Free Things to do in London for Kids: Final Tips
If you need some more budget-friendly London tips for visiting with kids, check out my complete guide to a family trip to London on a budget here. I’ve got all the tips and tricks to help you have the best trip possible for your budget.
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