Fun Things to do in London with kids

The summer is here and the weather is glorious. As restrictions are easing, it's time for families to have a think about fun things to do in London with kids. So, come rain or shine, where will you take your little ones this summer?

1. Hop on the Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

The very first thing we want to tell you all about is of course our amazing and unique Peppa Pig-themed Afternoon Tea experience. That's right. It's afternoon tea (for the grown-ups and their little people alike), on a double-decker bus while taking a 90-minute tour of London.

As our expert staff drive your family past some of the most famous London landmarks, including Hyde Park, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and many many more, your little ones can enjoy a delicious Peppa Pig-inspired menu, including the amazing:

• Freddy Fox’s Egg & Cress finger sandwich.
• Mandy Mouse’s Cheddar Cheese finger sandwich.
• Grandpa Pig’s Chicken & Tomato burger bun.
• Madame Gazelle’s Veggie Crudité & Breadsticks with hummus.
• And Daddy Pig’s Pizza mini margherita.

Plus, we've come up with a range of mini cakes and tarts, named after the one and only Peppa Pig, Suzy Sheep, Mummy Pig, George, Rebecca Rabbit, and Granny Pig. Yum!

And we've thought about entertainment too, as each table comes with a special built-in tablet. This provides guests with a Peppa Pig guided animation of the London tour along with sing-along songs for the whole family. We'll also give all children a copy of our Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour Activity Book, full of fun things to colour in and do along the journey.

Our Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is completely child-friendly (perfect for children aged 2+) and runs between Thursdays and Sundays, departing from Somerset House. For times, availability and booking, check our booking page.

2. Visit the Science Museum

The Science Museum is now open, and tickets are free! The perfect fun place to stimulate curiosity and spark imagination in your children, the Science Museum offers some fantastic exhibitions.

For example:

• Our Future Planet, which is all about showcasing the technology and solutions to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and make a positive impact on climate change.
• If your child is a big fan of trains, check out Brass, Steel and Fire - an inspiring, craft-based exhibition where you can explore the art of making miniature locomotives.

But they also have a range of interactive galleries, including:

• The popular Wonderlab, which gives the chance to your children to get stuck in live science shows and demonstrations. This is perfect for children to understand how maths and science shape our daily lives.
• Or Engineer Your Future. Aimed at children aged 11-15, the gallery features challenges, films, and games to help kids understand what engineers do.

The Science Museum is open Wednesday to Sundays during term time (10 am to 6 pm) and every day during school holidays. It's recommended you book in advance, so grab your admission ticket here. Access to exhibitions and galleries might be date dependant and require the purchase of additional tickets.

Other London museums

If your kids love museums, then here are a few more for you to consider:

• the London Transport Museum, which features a fantastic bus-themed play area.
• The British Museum.
• The very popular and family-friendly Natural History Museum.
• The National Gallery.
• The V&A Museum, which features a much anticipated Alice in Wonderland-themed exhibition until December 2021.
• Tate Modern.

Most admission tickets are free (although a fee might be required for exhibitions), but due to social distancing and safety regulations, advance booking is required, so make sure you plan your family day out with plenty of time to spare.

3. Visit Madame Tussauds

When it comes to London attractions, it doesn't get more iconic than Madame Tussauds. Considered a tourist hot spot, it's no doubt one of the things to do in London with kids this summer. With more than 150 lifelike figures of celebrities, including Hollywood, music, and sports heroes, your kids are bound to be entertained and fascinated by the experience.

At the moment, Madame Tussauds London features an unmissable immersive Marvel 4D cinema experience, where your children can meet their favourite Super Heroes. (And you too, of course!). We're talking Black Panther, Captain America, Spider Man, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and many more.

If you're a fan of the Alien franchise, you'll also enjoy their Alien escape section, where you can step on onboard the Covenant ship and come face to face with the iconic Xenomorph. Or maybe you're a King Kong fan? Then you'll love Kong: Skull Island. In partnership with Legendary Pictures and Warner Brothers Pictures, Madame Tussauds London has created an eighteen-foot, multi-sensory animatronic head of the gigantic ape! You'll journey through a secluded bamboo jungle and be joined by a new wax figure of Captain James Conrad. What a day!

If you want to make a fantastic day out of it and save a little cash in the process, you can also buy combination tickets to include other attractions. For example, The London Eye, The London Dungeon, SEA LIFE London, and Shrek's Adventure, which are all in the area.

Please note that due to current capacity constraints, places might have limited availability, so check out individual websites and plan your day out in advance to avoid disappointment.

4. Lose yourself into the magic of Harry Potter

If you have any Harry Potter fans in your family, you can't miss out on the Warner Bros Studio Tour, where you can "walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter and explore the wonders of the Wizarding World". The experience allows you to check out sets, costumes, props, special and visual effects, and much more.

They also have a range of fantastic exhibitions, including:

• A celebration of Slytherin, which shines a spotlight on all things Slytherin and will run until 15th September 2021.
• Dark Arts, which will run between the 24th of September and Sunday 7th November 2021 in celebration of Halloween. Expect floating pumpkins, lollipops, and red apples.
• And if you're planning for something a bit later on in the year, check out Hogwarts in the Snow. Running between the 13th November 2021 and the 16th of January 2022, the exhibition gives you a chance to experience the Great Hall dressed up in a festive makeover. Expect actual filmmaking snow!

To plan your magical visit and jump on the chance to experience one of the most unique things to do in London with kids, head over to the Warner Bros Studio Tour website.

5. Hop on The London Eye

Possibly another one of the most iconic things to do in London with kids is a trip to The London Eye. Your Standard Ticket includes a 30-minute tour in one of The London Eye's secure 32 pods, with breathtaking views from the heart of the City of London. You'll get to see the Houses of Parliaments and Buckingham Palace from above. And did you know that on a clear day you can even see as far as Windsor Castle?

If you book online, you can grab yourself a deal with the Family Standard Ticket (minimum one adult and two children). It's cheaper and gives you guaranteed entry at your selected time slot.

A fun thing to do once you get off The London Eye is to take a River Thames cruise. This 40-minute riverboat cruise will take you through the heart of London, and you'll get to see some of the most famous city landmarks. It's a circular sightseeing tour, departing from and returning to The London Eye Pier.

And once you're in the area, you're next door to SEA LIFE London, The London Dungeon, and Shrek's Adventure, so why not grab yourself a multi-attraction, London combination ticket?

6. Visit the London Zoo

One of the most exciting things to do in London with kids is a visit to the London Zoo. A day at the zoo is a guaranteed fun day out for the whole family, but the London Zoo also offers a range of fantastic activities your kids will absolutely love. Did you know that starting from July 2021 you can even stay overnight in one of their lodges? How exciting!

The Zoo offers different routes where you can meet your favourite animals. Take the Pink Route, for example. And meet girafffes, zebras, otters, lemurs, meerkats, and many more. Or the Orange Route. That's for penguins, lions, flamingos, llamas, or butterflies. The Blue Route is for gorillas, tigers, and reptiles amongst others.

But there's more! You can feed the gorillas, or spend two hours of your life as a giraffe keeper! You can meet the penguins or be a keeper for a day. The Zoo also offers a sensory experience in their Minibeasts and Coral Reef Exhibit. And you can even take a photography workshop. It's a practical, hands-on workshop where you learn how to take the best snaps of the fantastic animals you can encounter at the zoo.

Like many other places, advance booking is essential as the number of visitors allowed to visit each day is restricted. Catering outlets offer takeaways while indoor eateries employ social distancing measures. You may need face masks (for adults and children aged 3+) and follow one-way systems when visiting indoor enclosures and walk-throughs. So check out the London Zoo website to plan your visit.

7. Jump on the Emirates Air Line cable car and visit the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Operated by TfL, the Emirates Air Line cable car is another great chance to take in aerial views of the beautiful London skyline. Travelling from the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks, you get to enjoy breathtaking views of London, the Thames, and The O2.

You can also enjoy a wide range of packages, including the Emirates Air Line Discovery Experience. This is a non-stop round trip with an included video tour onboard, free entrance to the nearby Emirates Aviation Experience, and a souvenir guide.

While you're in the area, why not also take the children to the renowned Queen Elizabeth's Olympic Park? Home to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the park has become the heart of East London. A range of activities is hosted here - from national and international sporting competitions, concerts, festivals, art installations, and much more. It's open 24/7 and packed with events, so check out what's on before you go.

We hope you enjoyed this list we curated for you with some of the most fun things to do in London with kids over the upcoming months. And remember, you're always welcome onboard our Afternoon Tea Bus Tours. Ideal for children aged 5+, we have a range of upcoming fun themed bus tours over the summer months that you don't want to miss out on! And of course we’d be delighted to accommodate you and your family on one of our Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tours!

Whatever you do, make the most of it and enjoy!