Top 20 Things to Do in London with Kids

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The collection of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), founded 1826, is both the oldest existing privately owned zoo and oldest scientific zoo in the world. It was London's top attraction for many decades but by the late 1980s had lost some of its larger animals to other (more suitable) sites and had become so unfashionable that it almost closed. Since then a repositioning, towards wildlife conservation, giving its 750 species more space, 'bringing down the bars' and creating interactive exhibits, has restored public faith. Plan your day around the daily events (see website).

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Try a night ride for stunning view of the city or the private “Cupid’s Capsule” complete with champagne

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Many Londoners were none too happy when in the 135 meter high Millennium Wheel (as was first known) was erected in 1999 to commemorate the "turning of the century". Now known simply as the London Eye, locals have softened and have even taken a ride or two in one of the 32 capsules which hold up to 25 people each. Views up to 25 miles can be observed on a clear day and evening rides are available to see an illuminated London. Weddings, private events and children's birthday parties are held within the London Eye's pods. Special packages are designed for every season and holiday, the wheel glows with matching lights for the occasion. Even with pre-booked capsules expect lines; however, entertainment in the area is abundant with street performers, a playground and a carousel. Grab the camera because the best part of the London Eye is the most breath-taking view of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament across the Thames at ground level. A journey lasts approximately 30 minutes.

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Home to The Princess of Wales Playground -adults must be accompanied by a child. Warning: Your kids will not want to leave, it is truly fantastic. Search for the Peter Pan statue and eat yummy scones at The Orangery tucked beside the palace.

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An oasis of tranquillity in central London, Hyde Park, together with Kensington Gardens to the west, is the largest of the three royal parks. On the north-east side is Speaker's Corner, a traditional haven of free speech. It is also famous for the Serpentine boating lake, complete with a designated swimming area, and the Serpentine Gallery. Lesser known is the Dogs' Cemetery at the northern end of the park. The graves commemorate more than 200 pooches who enjoyed the park in their day.

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The Best $5 You'll Ever Spend

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It's not just about the spectacular panoramic view of London you're rewarded with after huffing up The Monument's 311 spiral steps, but about why it it is there in the first place. Built by Sir Christopher Wren (the same chap who built St. Paul's & Buckingham Palace), The Monument was erected in 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London of 1666 which wiped out over 13,000 houses and structures. The Doric column stands 202 feet tall, the same distance to the start of the fire at Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane, with a giant bronze orb and flame at the top. Every single primary aged student in England learns about the devastating 4 day fire and its impact on London. From the caged viewing platform overlooking the Thames the uninterrupted views from Tower Bridge to the London Eye are worth the effort.

In just under 30 minutes you will: receive a brilliant work out, marvel at London, spot famous landmarks, & snap loads of pictures. Kids are awarded certificates with a drawing of The Monument and a list of facts about the Great Fire of London making fine material for school or a souvenir.

Stop at Pudding Lane on your way out for the obligatory pictures although... read more

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When you tire of the crowds in the central area, explore the interesting and bohemian little streets and alleyways leading off Covent Garden, particularly those around Neal's Yard and Monmouth Street

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Sheltered beneath a beautiful Victorian iron-and-glass arcade that once held England's largest fruit and vegetable market are the shops and restaurants that make up the heart of Covent Garden. Its famous piazza is the only area of London licensed for street entertainment and all performers are required to audition before they are allowed to perform. Buskers such as magicians, statues, opera singers, musicians, and jugglers perform for your enjoyment and in return you give them a bit of money. There's a nice buzz to the piazza and surroundings. It is always a child favorite even if it is quite touristy. Sample a freshly baked treat from Ben's Cookies or a Cornish pasty while people watching the entertainers. The market is perfect for souvenir shopping but be warned, at peak times it gets uncomfortably busy.

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Ask at the desk to try on a true Royal Guard bearskin hat and scarlet tunic for a fun photo op.

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Dedicated to Her Majesty's Household Division which protects the Sovereign and Royal Palaces... in other words, dedicated to those who wear the red tunic and bearskin hat! Small and quiet, The Guards Museum is a perfect place to learn more about the royal guards and even have your photo taken in that famous regimental tunic and hat. On display are uniforms, helmets, instruments, medals, a tent from the Crimean War and more. There's a little shop next door to the Guards Museum and you might even catch the new guards forming at nearby Wellington Barracks before the Changing of the Guard ceremony at London's Buckingham Palace.

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Top pick for kids and teens

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Tired of touring a city on a bus via audio guide with those achy earphones? What about listening to tour guides spout endless information into muffled microphones? Do you have bored children in tow who would rather text friends back home instead of soaking in the culture? How does a one hour comedic overview of London at 40 mph sound then? Did I mention … on a speedboat?

Dipping and slicing through the water just like a scene out of a James Bond movie London RIB Voyages offers an adventurous sightseeing cruise from Westminster Bridge to Canary Wharf passing London's notable landmarks: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and St. Paul's.

Boarding the craft I was certain the next 60 minutes would be wasted on yet another cheesy, gimmicky tour plus slightly worried my children may be frightened. Instead, I found myself snickering at the guide's silly stories and enjoying myself so much, the wind from the ride dried out my mouth into a permanent grin. Passing under Tower Bridge the kids cheered with sheer enthusiasm, giddy from the speed. All that and as a bonus we actually learned a bit about London, fancy that! Success, we were all impressed.... read more

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Top kid friendly activity

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Want an off-the-wall way to tour the city by bus and by boat without ever changing seats then this is it. See all of London's landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and more. Board a bright yellow, 30 seater amphibious craft, formerly known as DUKWS, once used in the D-Day landings for an approximate 80 minute tour which includes the 20 minute splash into the River Thames. Thrilling family fun and a tour certainly no one will forget.

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This is the home of the national collections of living and fossil plants, animals, and minerals, with many magnificent specimens on display. The zoological displays are quite wonderful -- not up to the level of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., but still definitely worthwhile. Exciting exhibits designed to encourage people of all ages to learn about natural history include "Human Biology -- An Exhibition of Ourselves," "Our Place in Evolution," "Origin of the Species," "Creepy Crawlies," and "Discovering Mammals." The Mineral Gallery displays marvelous examples of crystals and gemstones. Visit the Meteorite Pavilion, which exhibits fragments of rocks that have crashed into the earth, some from the farthest reaches of the galaxy. The dinosaur exhibit attracts the most attention, displaying 14 complete skeletons. "Earth Galleries" is an exhibition outlining humankind's relationship with planet Earth. Here, in the section "Earth Today and Tomorrow," visitors are invited to explore the planet's dramatic history from the big bang to its inevitable death. The latest development here is the new Darwin Centre. Dedicated to the great naturalist Charles Darwin, the center reveals the museum's...

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Saturated with fascinating history, spend the day

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This ancient fortress continues to pack in the crowds with its macabre associations with the legendary figures imprisoned and/or executed here. There are more spooks here per square foot than in any other building in the whole of haunted Britain. Headless bodies, bodiless heads, phantom soldiers, icy blasts, clanking chains -- you name them, the Tower's got them. Centuries after the last head rolled on Tower Hill, a shivery atmosphere of impending doom still lingers over the Tower's mighty walls. Plan on spending a lot of time here.

The Tower is actually an intricately patterned compound of structures built through the ages for varying purposes, mostly as expressions of royal power. The oldest is the White Tower, begun by William the Conqueror in 1078 to keep London's native Saxon population in check. Later rulers added other towers, more walls, and fortified gates, until the buildings became like a small town within a city. Until the reign of James I (beginning in 1603), the Tower was also one of the royal residences. But above all, it was a prison for distinguished captives.

Every stone of the Tower tells a story -- usually a gory one. In the Bloody Tower, according to Shakespeare,...

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Good alternative to the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

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Formerly the headquarters of the British Army, the historic Horse Guards Parade is now a popular site for ceremonies and parades. Being the political hub of the United Kingdom, Horse Guards Parade lies across the way from Buckingham Palace. A number of monuments can be seen along the edges of the grounds paying homage to the military. The London Polo Championships were held here in 2009, and it was chosen as the site for the Beach Volleyball championships of the London 2012 Olympic Games. This historic area is not to be missed on your next trip London! Call ahead for more details.

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Guaranteed fun for kids, of all ages

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Much more than just a museum of buses and trams and the mechanics of how to get from A to B, the complexity of the largest urban passenger transport network in the world is unraveled for fun at this bright, breezy hands-on 21st century museum, set in Covent Garden's lovely old flower market building. Hop aboard London's first omnibuses and trams, the world's first underground railway, and of course, try driving a modern tube train in the simulator. Over 25 life size models are available for inspection. Kids love trying on a bus driver's uniform and following the acitivy trail. What really excites and captures the imagination for adults though is how the transport system helped shape modern London with lots of interactive exhibits and nostalgic old newsreels.

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This museum traces the development of science and industry and their influence on everyday life. These scientific collections are among the largest and most significant anywhere. On display is Stephenson's original rocket and the tiny prototype railroad engine; you can also see Whittle's original jet engine and the Apollo 10 space module. The King George III Collection of scientific instruments is the highlight of a gallery on 18th-century science. The museum has two hands-on galleries, as well as working models and video displays.

The museum also presents a behind-the-scenes look at the science and technology that went into making the film trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Exhibitions showcase the artifacts and animatronics, costumes, and characters from the fable. The exhibition also offers a number of interactive displays -- for example, you are given the chance to be shrunk to the size of a hobbit.

Insider's Tip: A large addition to this museum explores such topics as genetics, digital technology, and artificial intelligence. Four floors of a new Welcome Wing shelter half a dozen exhibition areas and a 450-seat IMAX theater. On an upper floor, visitors can learn how DNA was used to...

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Spend the day in Greenwich if making the trip, visit the Maritime Museum, Royal Naval College, Greenwich Park, & the market (weekends) - there is good reason for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Designed by Christopher Wren, The Observatory was founded in 1675 to compute exact longitudes using astronomy for navigational purposes. However, by 1948 London's glow had become too bright for star gazing, and the astronomers decamped to Sussex. Now the Old Royal Observatory is part of the National Maritime Museum. Discover the story of the search for longitude, the history of time and navigation, or stand on the line where east meets west and the point where the millennium started. Admission is free; some entrace fees may be charged for special exhibitions and events.

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Not your regular drunken football crowd, the best place to take a family for a dose of English football

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For years this venue has been making headlines as much for the action and antics in the stands and by the fans as for the sports on the field. Home of the Fulham Football Club since 1896, football fans from all over England make their way to Craven Cottage for regional, national and international games. Capacity is over 22,000. Guided tours are available of the historic grounds; check website for dates, times and prices.

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Dinosaur obsessed Victorians built life size replicas for the public and have recently been restored. The small museum is open weekends only.

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This extremely large park in south London hosts several different exhibitions (the small museum is free), outdoor concerts and an increasingly popular fireworks display in November, in honour of Guy Fawkes' Day. The park boasts a dinosaur area where the tyrannosaurus lurks among the reeds and the lake. There's a wonderful lily pond with a stage on which concerts are performed. The site of the old crystal palace is also visible. A large sports hall is located within the grounds of the park. Crystal Palace Park was, and still is, a popular place for campers, not only because it is a lovely place to stay but also because many buses stop outside the park and will take you into Central London or further south so that you can explore.

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Sleep amongst the cannons for a night

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The Golden Hinde is a is a full-size reproduction of Sir Francis Drake's warship, which was used on his round-the-world expedition from 1577 to 1580. Drake set out to explore trading for Queen Elizabeth I but quickly decided pirating Spanish ships was much more profitable. The ship, which floats between Southwark Bridge and London Bridge at St. Overie Dock, now holds a living history museum with crew in full period dress. Self guided tours are available daily while guided tours are offered on most Saturdays. Most noted for their pirate sleepovers, children (ages 5-11) accompanied by a parent get a chance to dress, eat, & sleep like a pirate. If you're not interested in sleeping on the gundeck, Pirate Fun Days on most Saturdays are filled with treasures and tales. Booking well in advance is adviseable.

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Thanks to modern technology now Londoners and tourists alike can experience the diversity of the wetlands of which only a few places in the world have the ability to offer. Despite it not being an actual, natural occurring wetlands, you will still see a huge amount of wildlife from rare birds and fish, as well as learning about the smaller creatures in the marsh which help keep this delicate ecosystem together. Originally used as an old Victorian Reservoir, the space covers over 40 hectares and offers several activities from an introduction to bird watching as well as a wildlife walk. Members and London Pass holders have free admission.