Things For Children To Do in London
Days Out in London For Kids
 |
| Riding On Top Deck Of A London Bus Great For Kids |
OK, everyone's kids are different. What we are trying here to do is give some ideas of things to do in London with kids in mind.
A lot of families are attracted to London by its history and pageantry. Children's boredom thresholds can soon be challenged by being trailed around museums and shown architecture and history all day.
London Public Transport
Surveys and anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that a lasting memory for many visitors to London is the public transport system.
 |
| Tourist Bus Map |
Make sure you take your kids on the London Underground at least once, also the top deck of a London red bus. Make it into a game, get a bus and underground map and get your kids to plan your route around central London.
Remember, children under 11 travel free on London's buses and Underground so its a cost effective as well as entertaining way of getting the most out of London
London Hop On Hop Off Buses
The hop-on, hop-off double deck bus tours are enjoyed by a sizeable proportion of all visitors to London.
The Original London Tour hop on hop off sightseeing bus has a Kids Club with a unique commentary designed for children and free activity packs.
The hop on hop off buses cover all the main sights of Central London and come at very high frequencies. As well as two main bus routes there is a free river cruise so you can see London from a different perspective. activity packs.
The Original London Tour - More Details
 |
 |
 |
London Experiences for Kids
In this increasingly global world, destinations are becoming more and more similar. Here are some ideas which your kids may actually remember in 10 years time and associate with London.
- Look up scheduled opening times of Tower Bridge and be one of the few visitors who actually see Tower Bidge opening.
 |
| Tower Bridge |
- Take your kids to a genuine specialist Fish & Chip shop and try take away Cod and Chips ate with your fingers. Note if you get Fish & Chips at a restaurant or pub it will be no different to what you get at home.
- See a genuine criminal trial taking place at the Old Bailey, the UK's main criminal court. Its free to enter the visitors gallery, Mondays to Fridays when the courts are in session. Barristers and judges still wear the wigs and dress of a bygone age.
- Take a trip upstream along the River Thames to Greenwich and stand with one leg either side of the meridian line (there's lot else to do in Greenwich as well)
- London has several premier league soccer clubs with regular fixtures between August and May at weekends and evenings. The best known clubs you will need to purchase tickets in advance from their web sites
London Museums For Children:
Most children will have limited patience when it comes to art galleries and museums. The good news is that most of London's museums are free, so you can afford to make several short visits.
Number one attraction for kids should be the Science Museum . The focus of the Science Museum is high tech, hands-on, interactive and up-to-date. The basement area is focused on kids with different areas focused on different age groups. The museum also puts on workshops for the kids too.
 |
| Horseguards |
London's Major Sightseeing Attractions
For children, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge will leave long term impressions. The Tower keeps everyone happy, the kids have a fun day out the parents feel the visit has educational worth and exposure to history.
Get on a frequent tour with the Yeoman Warders within the Tower who make a special effort to keep kids amused with their banter.
Clearly Cathedrals, Abbeys and Art Galleries are not the greatest fit for young children.
If you are thinking of attending the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace it can be a nightmare witch children. Unless your children get there real early and be against the palace railings they won't see much of what is going on and most kids who do see what is going on are underwhelmed.
Much better for kids is the Changing of the Guard at Horseguards. Crowds are less, you get a good view and you can get a picture to remember like the one above.
Of the private entertainments aimed at kids, Madame Tussaud's is the most popular by numbers attracted, the London Dungeon seems to be more popular with the kids themselves. There is also a Duck Tour franchise similar to that appearing in all the major cities around the world with a river.
Nature, Parks and the London Zoo
London's main zoo is just north of the central area at the top of Regents Park. The London Zoo is a substantial, modern zoo. All the animals are there that you would expect and of course children are particularly catered for.
 |
| Hamleys Toy Shop |
London has several large parks. St-James, Regents Park and Hyde Park are extensive parks. Dotted all around London are squares and smaller parks where you can get away for a few moments from the noise and traffic.
Hyde Park offers boating. All the parks have plenty of room to romp. St James Park has a lot of bird life around the lake and all the main parks have lakes where you can indulge in innocent pleasures like feeding the ducks.
Toy Shops And Theme Parks
Harrods in Knightsbridge is unique, its toy area is no different. If you need an excuse to go shopping why not treat the kids to the toy floor at Harrods. Toys R Us it is not.
The most renowned toy shop is in Regent Street and called Hamleys. Regent Street is in the main shopping area of London leading up to Oxford Street.
You may be relieved to learn that there are no theme parks in the modern sense in central London.
On the periphery of London there are three, all of which close during the Winter months.
LegoLand is out in Windsor near the castle, Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park are ride based venues to the south-west of London. All can be reached by train from London's Waterloo station.
 |