We are totally spoiled for choice with family-friendly activities in London with something suitable for all weathers. Here’s a hand-picked selection of our team’s recommendations for families of all ages. If you have any specific interests, please speak to our team who will be delighted to recommend activities your family will particularly enjoy.
Adventure Playground at Holland Park
Holland Park is such a lovely park to be enjoyed by all ages. Home to twenty-two hectares of gardens, woodland, a café and a sports area, it also has the most incredible adventure playground. Refurbished just two years ago, playground highlights include a 25m zip wire, a ten person see-saw, and a ten person dragon swinger in addition to swings, climbing frames and climbing walls. For younger children, there is also an enclosed play sandpit area. Understandably, dogs aren’t permitted in the play area but are welcome in the rest of Holland Park (on leads).
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Afternoon Tea at One Aldwych (Covent Garden)
Roald Dahl fans will absolutely love choosing from this mouth-watering Charlie and the Chocolate Factory menu; dare you try a fizzy lifting drink or a milkshake from the waterfall which poor Augustus Gloop fell into? If you would prefer to enjoy this treat in the autumn sunshine at a local park, or back in your apartment, there is also the option of a takeaway box.
Frozen the Musical at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Hailed as a “stunning musical extravaganza” and earning five stars from The Guardian, immerse yourself in this magical Frozen world in the newly-refurbished splendour of the historic Theatre Royal.
Glass Floor at Tower Bridge (dog-friendly)
Experience stunning panoramic views of London from the Glass Floor, a high-level walkway at the top of Tower Bridge. There is step free access, and dogs are welcome too, so it’s something the whole family can enjoy!
GoBoat, Merchant Square (dog-friendly)
Why not explore beautiful Little Venice on Regent’s Canal in a self-skippered boat? GoBoat, who are based in Paddington’s Merchant Square, hire out eight-seater motorboats which are child- and dog-friendly. All motorboats are furnished with a picnic table – perfect for enjoying a leisurely lunch whilst voyaging along the water. No previous experience is necessary as GoBoat will give you a little training session before you set off.
Harry Potter self-guided tour (dog-friendly)
Download the app so that you can follow the Harry Potter tour of London using GPS technology. You will be taken to filming locations including Great Scotland Yard and Piccadilly Circus, see The House of MinaLima’s window display and go to Cecil’s Court – the inspiration for Diagon Alley!
Between 13-25 October, Potter fans may also like to visit Leicester Square between 6pm and 8.35pm to see the spectacular display of nine 4.5m tall Harry Potter wands lit up in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the film release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Remember to find the Harry Potter statue there too, along with other statues of screen legends!
Paddington: The Story of a Bear at The British Library
Follow the marmalade splodges to complete the route of this beautifully presented exhibition, charting the history of one of the world’s most loved bears. The exhibition backdrops takes you into the iconic cartoon world of Paddington, which is perfectly magical for all Paddington fans!
Sherlock Holmes Museum, 221b Baker Street
The Sherlock Holmes Museum transports you to the Victorian world of the world’s first consulting detective from the moment you step over the threshold. The first room you enter is his sitting room where you will see his chair by the fire, his violin set down in the corner, and the desk where he unravels the most complicated of crimes; the ensuing rooms are just as fascinating, furnished with artefacts described in Conan-Doyle’s books. The museum was opened in 1990 by the Sherlock Holmes International Society and promises visitors that “the interior has been faithfully maintained for posterity exactly as described in the published stories.”
If the weather is fine, you are so close by to Regents Park so why not grab a picnic from a local café to enjoy in the park?
The Foundling Museum, Brunswick Square
The Foundling Museum sympathetically acknowledges the charges and work of the Foundling Hospital, which was established in 1739 as a home for children whose parents weren’t in a position to care for them. Many children may know of the hospital from the fabulous series of Hetty Feather books, written by Jacqueline Wilson. As you enter the museum and see the oak staircase, immortalised in the first book of the series when Hetty bravely climbs it in search of her Foundling brother Saul, the stories are immediately brought to life. It’s a marvellous place which tells the stories of the children, the hard circumstances their families were under and the care they received from the charity. It’s also extremely though-provoking for adults, who may have been introduced to the organisation through Stacey Halls’ The Foundling.