7 Things To Do With Kids In London This Summer

London is a great destination for kids of all ages. It is jam-packed with famous sights, brilliant museums, family-friendly theatre (matinees shows), leafy parks and so much more. Being a major capital city can also mean choosing what to do on a family visit can feel overwhelming, but our guide outlines 7 of the best attractions for kids that will make your trip to London entertaining whether it's a week, a long weekend, or a day trip.

#1: Natural History Museum

One of the most well-known museums in London is also one of the best for kids. The museum opened for the first time in 1881. Kids might not know much about history, but they might remember the structure from the first Paddington movie. There is a lot to see here, and you could easily spend a whole day looking around. There are a few eateries, or you can bring your own lunch and eat it on the lower ground floor picnic area. The Dinosaur Gallery, which has a huge animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex, is one of the things you can't miss (but it might be a little scary for very young).

#2: Discover Children's Story Centre

At the Discover Children's Story centre, you may step into a beautiful world of stories and make-believe. The goal of the facility is to get kids interested in books, language, and storytelling by giving them creative play places and showing them art. The Story World and Story Garden are at the hub of the centre. They are designed to get kids interested and utilise their imaginations. They can crawl through tunnels, jump over alligators, and go to a treehouse with chicken legs. The centre has a "Story Factory" where families may make up stories or listen to storytelling sessions.

#3: WWT London Wetland Centre

When you're in the centre of the London Wetland Centre, it's hard to realise that you're only 4 miles from the centre of London. The 105-acre wildlife sanctuary is a paradise with ponds, floral gardens, pools, and meadows where about 150 different kinds of animals live. There are 300 kinds of butterflies, 20 kinds of dragonflies, 4 kinds of bats, grass snakes, water voles, otters, and many more animals. This is a great opportunity for kids to learn more about nature and get a taste of the great outdoors without having to leave the city.

#4: The Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the most well-known places in London and should be on everyone's list of things to do. Even grumpy teenagers will be impressed! This old castle is on the banks of the Thames adjacent to Tower Bridge. It has a history that goes back more than 1,000 years and is full with stories of betrayal, torture, and treason. It was also home to a number of wild animals, such as lions that belonged to King John and a polar bear that Henry III had brought there. There is a lot to see here, and you could easily spend a whole day exploring. Just make sure to get to the Crown Jewels in the morning to avoid the massive crowds that gather later in the day. You can join a tour led by a Yeoman Warder, which is ideal for youngsters who are older, or you can go at your own pace. During school breaks, there are often lots of fun events for the whole family.

#5 - ZSL London Zoo

Since 1828, people have been going to the London Zoo (which means it is actually the oldest scientific zoo in the world). Today, the 36-acre park places animal welfare and conservation at the centre of all it does. About 20,000 creatures live here, from creepy-crawlies in the Bug House to lemurs basking in the sun to slow-moving sloths, mischievous monkeys, and beautiful Asiatic Lions. Even though tickets aren't cheap, you can easily spend a whole day here, and kids enjoy it. There are talks and feeding times every day, and there are usually enjoyable family events throughout the school breaks.

#6 - Sea Life London Aquarium

Even though the Sea Life London Aquarium isn't the biggest, it's usually a major hit with youngsters, especially those in elementary school. This beautiful underwater paradise located near the London Eye on the city's South Bank. It is home to all kinds of amazing sea species, like sand eels, green sea turtles, and clownfish. One of the best parts is definitely strolling through the Ocean Tunnel while fish swim above you and viewing sharks in the Pacific Wreck gallery. Try to plan your trip so that you may observe the sea creatures at work when they are being fed. There's also a Rainforest Section with piranhas, poison dart frogs, and Cuban crocodiles. Kids may learn more about jellyfish at Ocean Invader, while Gentoo Penguins live at Penguin Point.

#7 - Shrek's Adventure! London

Join Princess Fiona, Donkey, and Shrek on this interactive and immersive walkthrough that is both delightfully crazy and a lot of fun. Based on the movie of the same name, it's a fun and amusing way for kids in elementary school to spend an afternoon. Once you go to Far, Far Away, you'll have to help the brilliant green ogre beat Rumpelstiltskin by finding clues, singing songs, and being as involved as you can. There are dozens of laugh-out-loud moments, and many of them involve toilet jokes. You can also see a lot of your favourite movie characters, such Puss in Boots, Pinocchio, and the Gingerbread Man. The whole thing only takes around two hours, so if you want a full day out, you might want to combine it with a trip to the neighbouring Sea Life or London Eye.

Remember that many entrance tickets are much cheaper if you buy them online ahead of time. Then you just have to decide what to see first and make a plan. Think about whether you want to take the tube or a bus to see different parts of London in one day. For young children, the busy trains and shiny stairs of public transportation can be an adventure in themselves.