Discover the best family-friendly activities and attractions in London for your next family vacation. From the London Zoo to Legoland, and from The London Dungeon to Thorpe Park and more. Learn about transportation options, ticket prices, and insider tips for an unforgettable experience.
London is a city that has something for everyone, including families. From world-class museums and galleries, to charming parks and outdoor spaces, the city offers a vast array of family-friendly activities and attractions to keep everyone entertained and engaged.
Whether you're looking to explore history, culture, or just want to have some fun, there's no shortage of options to choose from in London. In this blog, I've put together a list of the best family-friendly activities and attractions in the city that are sure to leave a lasting impression on both kids and adults alike. So, buckle up, grab your family and get ready for an adventure filled with discovery, excitement and fun!
Location: Regent's Park, Candem Town, London
Entrance fee: £26 for adults
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐
The London Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world, and it's home to over 8,000 animals and 650 species. The zoo offers plenty of activities for families with kids, including feeding times, animal shows and petting zoos. It's also easy to get there by public transport or walking from central London (it's less than two miles away). It's open 365 days a year!
The London Zoo is located inside Regent's park, near Primrose Hill with the closest tube station being Mornington Crescent or Candem Town.
Standard ticket prices, as of Feb 2023, for London Zoo are as follows:
Location: Queen Elizabeth Park to Lee Valley Park
Entrance fee: Free
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lee Valley Park is a huge park in London that's perfect for families. There are so many activities to do in Lee Valley Park, from swimming at the Hackney Mashes lake to golfing on the course, skate, cycle and more. The best part is that it's located right next to Olympic Park - so if you want some more excitement after your trip to Lee Valley Park, then why not visit some of London's top attractions?
Location: Windsor, Berkshire, England
Entrance fee: £35 per person + commute
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Legoland Windsor is a theme park based on the Lego toy line. It's located in Windsor, Berkshire, England and opened in 1996. With over 50 rides and attractions to choose from, it has seven themed areas: Legoland Castle; Lego City; Miniland UK; Imagination Zone; Heartlake City; Kingdom Quest Laser Ride (a roller coaster); and Pirates' Cove Adventure Golf.
LEGOLAND tickets start from £35 per person.
Here are a few options for getting there:
Location: Surrey, England
Entrance fee: £36 per person + commute
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Chessington World of Adventures is a zoo and theme park in Surrey, England. It's home to more than 1,000 animals and 200 different species, all of which can be seen on a tour through the Safari or Animal Village. The park also has many rides for kids of all ages including roller coasters, carousels and train rides through the park's jungles or across its safari zones.
For those who want to experience something different from their usual day out at the zoo--or simply want something new--there are several attractions within Chessington that offer unique experiences:
The quickest and most convenient way to reach Chessington World of Adventures from London is by train. You can take a direct train from London Waterloo Station to Chessington South Station, which takes about 30-35 minutes. From there, it's a short bus ride or taxi ride to the park. Round trip train tickets typically cost around £20-25 per person, and Chessington World of Adventures tickets start from £36 per person.
Location: Surrey, England
Entrance fee: £32 per person + commute
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thorpe Park is a theme park in Surrey, England. It has 14 roller coasters and has been voted best theme park in the UK. The park also offers many family-friendly activities and attractions, including an indoor play centre for toddlers and preschoolers.
The quickest and most convenient way to reach Thorpe Park from London is by train. You can take a direct train from London Waterloo Station to Staines Station, which takes about 25-30 minutes. From there, it's a short bus or taxi ride to the park. Round trip train tickets typically cost around £20-25 per person, and Thorpe Park tickets start from £32 per person.
Location: Farley Ln, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent ST10 4DB, England
Entrance fee: £36 per person + commute
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Alton Towers is a theme park in Staffordshire, England. It's the most popular theme park in the UK.
Alton Towers has been around for more than 150 years, but it wasn't until 1994 when they decided to build a new attraction called Nemesis - an inverted roller coaster - that people started talking about this place again. Since then, there have been many other rides added: Air (an indoor coaster), Rita: Queen of Speed (a spinning ride) and Galactica (a space shuttle simulator).
The quickest and most convenient way to reach Alton Towers from London is by train. You can take a direct train from London Euston Station to Stoke-on-Trent Station, which takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Round trip train tickets typically cost around £35-40 per person, and Alton Towers tickets start from £36 per person.
Location: Westminster Bridge Road, London
Entrance fee: £25-30
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐
The London Dungeon is a historical attraction in London, England. The London Dungeon is located in the heart of London, Waterloo, England and is a dark ride through the history of London. It's not just for kids either; adults will enjoy it too!
The whole family can join in on this fun activity that combines history with horror to create an experience unlike anything else available in town!
The standard adult ticket price is around £25-30, but there are often special deals and discounts available, so it's worth checking for those as well before purchasing your tickets.
Location: Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX
Entrance fee: £25 per adult
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Kensington Palace is a royal residence located in Kensington, London. It has been the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge since their marriage in April 2011 and is also home to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The palace has been open to the public since 1996 as part of an ongoing renovation project which includes restoring its interiors from 1800-1914 to their former glory.
The museum focuses on telling visitors about the lives of past members within British royalty, including Queen Victoria (who lived there from 1837 until her death), King George III (who commissioned architect Sir John Soane) as well as other notable figures such as Sir Winston Churchill or Lady Diana Spencer (the Princess Di).
Ticket prices as of Feb 2023 are as follow:
Location: County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Entrance fee: £24 per adult
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shrek's Adventure London is an indoor theme park based on the Shrek franchise. The park is located in the heart of London, near Covent Garden, which means it's easily accessible by public transport and a short walk from many hotels. Shrek's Adventure London has been designed as a fun place for all ages to enjoy--there are rides and attractions suitable for children as well as adults who want to relive their childhood memories!
There are several different zones within Shrek's Adventure: The Enchanted Village (which includes both family friendly rides), Far Far Away Forest (where you can meet your favorite characters), DreamWorks Animation Zone (including Madagascar: Out of Africa) and Pinocchio Place (where you can meet Pinocchio). Plus there are lots more activities including face painting stations where kids can get creative while they wait in line for their next ride!
Ticket price start at £24 per adult.
Location: County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Entrance fee: £25 per adult
Personal rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Sea Life London Aquarium is a must-visit attraction in London. It's located next to Shrek's Adventure. This aquarium has some of the best aquatic life exhibits in the city, including penguins, sharks, seahorses and tropical fish!
The hours of operation are 10:00am - 6:00pm daily with extended hours during busy periods (10:00am - 9:30pm). The cost for entry is about £25 for adults or £15 for children aged 3-15 years old. There are also discounts available on certain days if you book online beforehand; these include free entry with an adult ticket purchased online or at least 50% off an adult ticket purchased at the door (with proof).
There are so many great family-friendly activities and attractions in London, England. It would be impossible to see them all in one trip, but here are some of the best.
I hope this list has inspired you to visit London and explore all of its wonderful family-friendly activities. You can be sure that your kids will have a fantastic time, whether they're at one of the city's many theme parks or museums. And if they're not yet old enough to go on their own? No problem--there are plenty of sites that welcome little ones too!
There are also many other great attractions in London for families with kids of all ages: Madame Tussauds wax museum offers interactive experiences with celebrities (including Harry Potter characters); Harry Potter Studios for Harry Potter fan; Warwick Castle hosts medieval festivals throughout summer months where visitors can learn about ancient customs such as falconry or archery while taking part in fun activities like jousting tournaments or firing cannon balls at targets!
