From world-class museums to Royal Park playgrounds, London has something for every age. Most of the headline attractions are free, and the Tube makes it easy to string a couple together into one day out.
Enable Leisure and Culture · London
This supervised adventure playground lets children build dens, climb structures, and play with loose parts in a safe environment. Trained playworkers support creative, risky play. It's wonderfully old-school and refreshingly different from typical playgrounds.
Battersea Power Station · London
The newly opened Battersea Power Station has free interactive installations, riverside walks, and child-friendly dining all in one striking riverside location.
Haringey Council · London
This free museum in a Tudor manor house tells local Tottenham history through interactive exhibits. The surrounding park offers playgrounds, a café, and lovely grounds for picnics. Ghost stories and historical reenactments make weekends particularly engaging.
Southwark Council · London
A large free adventure playground in Southwark with zip lines, rope courses, and climbing frames suitable for a wide age range. A firm favourite with local families.
Chislehurst Caves Ltd · London
Explore miles of mysterious man-made caves and tunnels beneath Chislehurst on a lamp-lit tour. Guides share stories of druids, Romans, and wartime shelters. Children love the underground adventure and spooky atmosphere in these ancient chalk mines.
Coram's Fields · London
A unique seven-acre park in Bloomsbury that adults can only enter with a child. Includes farm animals, sandpits, paddling pool, and play areas for all ages.
London Borough of Bromley · London
This historic Victorian pleasure ground features life-size dinosaur sculptures from the 1850s on an island in the lake. The huge playground includes a dinosaur-themed area and the fantastic new skateboard zone. The park combines heritage, play, and wide green spaces.
Royal Museums Greenwich · London
Climb aboard the world's last surviving tea clipper and explore beneath its gleaming hull suspended in glass. Children discover what life was like for Victorian sailors, handle cargo, and stand where the ship's wheel once turned. The setting in Greenwich is perfect for a full day out.
The Royal Parks · London
A magical free playground in Kensington Gardens centred around a wooden pirate ship. Perfect for younger children with plenty of sandpits and climbing structures.
Discover Children's Story Centre · London
East London's award-winning arts centre brings stories to life through imaginative play zones, storytelling sessions, and creative workshops. Children step into different story worlds, from enchanted forests to outer space. Every corner encourages reading, creativity, and dramatic play.
Southwark Council · London
This beautiful Victorian park offers boating on the lake, an excellent café, and a fantastic playground with zip wire. The flat paths are perfect for learning to cycle, and bike hire includes family cycles and buggies. Ancient trees and flower gardens add to the charm.
Transport for London · London
Soar above the Thames on London's only cable car, connecting the O2 Peninsula to the Royal Docks. A short but memorable ride with brilliant views across the city.