London With Kids
Put London’s parks and free museums on your family’s bucket list.
London with kids! It’s such a magical city. So much history, art, theatre, music, palaces, gardens. The list just keeps going. You’ll find something for everyone. I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be expensive. You can afford to go to London with kids. I’ll show you how to scout out the best places to visit with your family. Keep reading for all the reasons why you can London with kids on a budget.
Free Museums
Almost all of them are free! Yep! Brits love their museums. Here’s a short list of the most popular. Check the websites to find your family’s favorite. If you are having trouble deciding which is best for your family, a brief description of the top museums is below.
History
- British Museum Rosetta Stone & Mummies just to name a few captivating exhibits.
- Museum of London – Prehistoric history to modern-day London
- Museum of London – Docklands The history of London’s most famous river.
- British Library Original manuscripts and music scores of some of the most famous authors, composers and musicians in the history of the world.
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London for Families City Guide – Kensington$16.95 -
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London for Families City Guide -The West End$16.95 -
London for Families City Guide – Windsor$16.95 -
London for Families City Guide – Greenwich$16.95 -
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Science & Art
- Science Museum – Robots, space, chemistry & a gazillion hands-on interactives.
- National Gallery Art. Lots of art.
- Royal Museums Greenwich -This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some museums & galleries may have a fee, others are free, so make your plans and check your budget. Check this link for the free museums.
- Tate Modern – This modern art museum is even open until 10 pm on Fridays & Saturdays!
- Tate Britain – Yes, there are actually four Tates in England, but only two are in London.
Military
- Imperial War Museums – Umm, there are 5 war museums; 3 in London to choose from, or do them all!
- National Army Museum – Reopened in Spring 2017 after undergoing refurbishment for over a year, this museum focuses on military life. As their site says, “revealing true stories of ordinary people with extraordinary responsibilities.”
Man, that’s a lot of museums and it’s not even all the free ones! If you are having trouble pleasing all your little travelers, I’ve got a trick that might just save the day! If there are enough adults, think about splitting up. One group for war museums, the other for castle interiors. Or, one group science and one group art. Sometimes breaking it up this way gives everyone a break (less bickering and whining? Yes please!).
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Parks
Find your favorite parks to wander through, play or have a picnic lunch.
- Russell Square – It’s near the British Museum.
- Coram’s Fields & The Harmsworth Memorial Playground. This park isn’t too far from the British Museum either. It has outdoor play equipment and a unique variety of experiences depending on the time of year. These first two parks are just your basic local hangouts for the families in the neighborhood, but we like them for the relaxed atmosphere. BTW, this is near The Foundling Museum (not free for over 16’s, but it’s so worth it if you enjoy Handel – the composer, and Gainsborough – the artist).
- St. James – I fell in love with this park many years ago with a picnic lunch and my favorite travel companion! It’s great to just stroll through as though you were on royal business as you make your way from Buckingham Palace to Big Ben or Westminster Abbey.
- Hyde Park & Kensington Garden – It’s actually one gigantic park with a road and lake splitting it in two. Kids under 7 years will enjoy the Diana Memorial Playground, near Kensington Palace.
Check out all the Royal Parks, for detailed information about what’s on and special events.
We’ve traveled with our kids to quite a few large European cities for day trips, mid-week or weekend adventures. We’ve finally come up with a formula to keep our sanity and enjoy ourselves. MP2 is our family travel formula. Museum, Pub & Park. That keeps everyone happy and able to make it through the long days of sightseeing. We mix in ice cream & coffee too as needed.
London With Kids – Sorted!
So there you have it! London’s parks – well, a few of the best at least, and free museums. Almost everything you need for an affordable adventure in London. For even more help planning your London adventure, buy the London For Families – The City Guide. There are 9 neighborhoods mapped out for affordable fun, food, lodging and teachable, sightseeing moments.
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Thanks for the mention! I think your blog is just fab and really enjoyed your post about London.
Terri, that’s a BIG question and I’m currently working on the BIG answer. It’s a guide to help you answer that very question and help you create an itinerary that will maximize your time and money in London. it will be out soon, so if you are on my mailing list, you’ll be the first to hear about it. If you’re getting on a plane this weekend, the quick answer is a good walking tour of the Westminster neighborhood (with a picnic lunch on the Thames), British Museum, Museum of London, a Theatre production, a street market, Tower of London, and one other museum/attraction that’s interesting to your family (science, art or military). That’s a pretty easy itinerary, but if you have older kids, you’ll be able to pack more in. The great thing about what I suggested is that everything is free (if you can control yourself in the gift shops, lol) except the theatre, & the Tower of London.
In this series of 3 posts (2 more to come), I’ll also unpack ideas for theatre, castles, and the basics of transportation, eats & sleeps. Stay tuned!
Shannan, if we only have 3 1/2 days in London, what would you consider the absolute “must-do’s” to schedule into our days?
I’m dying to go back there with my kids in tow. My brother might relocate there, so I may get plenty of opportunities to take the boys to these places!
That would be just fab! I love showing the kids the London I remember (from traveling as a newlywed) AND experiencing new things together. Such fun making memories together. I hope you get the opportunity soon, while they’re young enough to get a good discount on things!