Half-term activities in London

Are you looking for some half-term activities in London and fantastic days out for your family to keep the children entertained during the half-term holidays? Do you want to do something unique and fun and make memories you and your children will treasure for years to come? Then we've got a range of family-friendly activities for you that you don't want to miss out on.

Our Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tours

Our Classic Afternoon Tea Bus Tours runs all year round, daily, and with departures several times a day from Trafalgar Square or Victoria Coach Station. Suitable for children aged 5+, this is a fantastic opportunity for your family to visit the City while enjoying the quintessential British experience of Afternoon Tea.

But... this is afternoon tea with a twist! We're fun and quirky and provide a completely unique menu, which is bound to impress everyone in the family. We offer a Traditional afternoon tea menu but also cater to other dietary requirements and preferences, including Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, and Halal. For more information on tour times, availability and booking, check out this page.

Our Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Are your little ones big Peppa Pig fans? Who isn't, right? Then check out our exclusive Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. This is the perfect chance to do something for you (afternoon tea!) that your children will also absolutely love. Each table on our bus tour comes with a special built-in tablet with a fantastic Peppa Pig guided animation of the London tour. And it comes with sing-along tunes! Plus, every child onboard will receive a copy of our Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour activity book. You can take that home with you (along with our branded lidded mug) as a keepsake of this unforgettable experience.

And if you're wondering about the afternoon tea menu, you'll be pleased to know our chefs designed a super special Peppa Pig themed afternoon menu. So we serve things called "Grandpa Pig’s Chicken & Tomato burger bun" or "Suzy Sheep’s Chocolate Truffle Sprinkled with confetti." Can you imagine children excitedly eating a "Mummy Pig’s Strawberry Macaron with strawberry flavoured vanilla buttercream"? Well, we know what that looks like, and it doesn't get any more exciting than that!

To check the full menu and find more information about dates, availability, and booking, head over to this page. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you can also see our Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, and Halal afternoon tea menus.

Our Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Our most recent addition to the range of themed tours is the acclaimed Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour (and we really recommend this one!) Tours run twice daily from Wednesdays to Sundays from Trafalgar Square. It's an unbelievably bear-tastic opportunity for your little cubs. Because of course, our chefs have created a paw-lickin' Paddington-themed afternoon tea menu that features the best marmalade sandwich ever. Did you expect anything less?

You can view the full menu here. And if you scroll right to the bottom of the page, it'll show you the variations of our Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, and Halal afternoon tea menus.

Taking in the best views of Central London, our iconic double-decker Routemaster bus will drive you past some of Paddington’s favourite London landmarks. And you can be sure you’ll hear about some of his fun adventures and mishaps too - not just from our beloved bear, but from Mrs. Bird too! Each table comes with a special built-in screen providing guests with an exclusive Paddington-guided animation of the tour of London. It's absolutely fantastic, so don't miss out on this!

October half-term and our Halloween-themed tours

If you're looking for something a bit different for this October half-term, check out our Halloween Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. These tours are running on specific dates only during the month of October, so seats are limited. For availability and booking, check our website.

To mark Halloween month, our chefs have created a special themed menu with seasonal treats that include delicious pumpkin tartlets, as well as a selection of finger sandwiches, mini cupcakes, sweet pastries, and, of course, our obligatory freshly-baked scones with jam and clotted cream. You can check out the full Halloween-themed menu here. And, as always, our alternative menus are available for you to book when you select your seats.

And in case you're looking for something even more targeted to the little ones, check out our Peppa Pig Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. We have a special spooky Peppa Pig Halloween-themed afternoon tea menu that we're sure you and your little ones are going to love. Plus, if you fancy dressing up, we invite you to enter our best-dressed competition. All you have to do is take a photo and tag us on social media (on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook). We'll announce and notify the winners on social media in November.

Related content: Halloween Events in London.

Visit one of the London museums

If you're in London sightseeing for the day, you're spoilt for choice with a range of fantastic museums you can enjoy with your family. Here are some of our top picks:

• London Transport Museum. Named Visitor Attraction of the Year at the London Tourism Awards, the London Transport Museum is fun and interactive. Your children will learn about the heritage of London and its transport system. But they can also take a peek into how future technologies might impact London as we know it. Family travel can be expensive during peak times, so this is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to learn and explore in a safe and fun environment.
• The Natural History Museum is an all-time favourite for children and a go-to place for half-term and school holidays. You can go and check out the fantastic exhibitions and displays. And Dippy is back for a short visit, so don't miss him!
• Right next door is the Science Museum. Also a hit with the little ones, it has lots of interactive and interesting events, activities, exhibitions, and galleries. With so much to do, it's bound to be a fantastic and enriching day.
• The Horniman Museum and Gardens is another great choice. It's a fun place where your little ones will get to learn about global cultures as well as natural wonders.
• Or you could head to the V&A Museum in South Kensington. It's known as "the family of art, design and performance museums, where everyone is invited to enjoy the power of creativity."
• And if you're after a more relaxed day out where you can also enjoy some amazing street food and street artists' performances, head over to the Southbank Centre and the surrounding area. It's a brilliant, child-friendly area overlooking the Thames and perfect for a day out. Plus, it's right next door to the London Eye, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, and Shrek's Adventure.

Catch a musical

If you're planning a family outing in London, there are loads of shows you can enjoy with the little ones, including The Lion King, Harry Potter, Matilda, Blippi the Musical, Jack and the Beanstalk, Demon Dentist, Frozen, and many many more.

And if you want to enjoy a pretty special afternoon tea before or after your show, you can come and have a treat (or two) at our bakery in Covent Garden. If you want to get away from the crowds, you can come and relax with a coffee (or a hot chocolate) and a cupcake.

Be a tourist in London

Our afternoon tea bus tours are the perfect opportunity for you to visit the best landmarks the City has to offer while putting your feet up and enjoying our scrumptious afternoon tea. All our 90-minute tours will take you to see Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St James’s Park, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, Marble Arch, Nelson’s Column, Downing Street, and more.

But you may also want to see some other key landmarks, including Buckingham Palace and the nearby St James's Park and Green Park. We also recommend the Tower of London (the most secure castle in the land) and the nearby Tower Bridge. Or you could head over to the Canary Wharf area, which will give you a stark contrast from older parts of London. The underground station, for example, is extremely futuristic. So if you're in the area, check out Canada Square. And then you can head over to the Thames Path, Greenwich Park, The Greenland docks, Tate Modern, and The Emirates Airline.

Visit The London Zoo

Another great day out for the whole family (and an absolute all-time favourite) is the ZSL London Zoo. The place is packed with wild adventures to keep the little ones (and not-so-little ones) busy and entertained. You'll discover thousands of animals at the Zoo. Plus, you'll have lots of fun at the walk-through exhibits (butterflies and spiders, anyone?) and underwater penguin viewing. You can watch interactive shows and catch educational talks and feeding times. It's a day out that truly doesn't get old.

So what will you do for your next half-term holiday? Will you spend it with us?