Fun family things to do in London with the kids for half terms, holidays, weekends and family days out.

1 Battersea Park Children's Zoo

This zoo is designed specifically for children. It’s not too big and there is not too much walking. You won’t find any of the big five here as Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is home to smaller animals, reptiles, and birds. Feed the farm animals and spot the otters. There are lots of different interactive play areas for different ages including a real tractor and fire engine.

Opening Hours: 10am-5.30 summer/ 10am-dusk winter

Tickets: £19/95/£8.95 adult/child, group tickets available

Address: The closest park entry gate to the zoo is Chelsea Gate, situated on Queenstown Road just south of Chelsea Bridge. Battersea Park, SW11 4N

Website: batterseaparkzoo.co.uk

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2 Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens has a huge Children’s Garden, measuring 10,000 square metres – that’s about the size of 40 tennis courts. Here, kids can explore all the things plants need to grow – earth, air, sun and water – via trampolines, water pumps, a living bamboo tunnel, ‘worm-hole’ slides, windflowers, hammocks and periscopes, all leading to a 4m high tree-top walk wrapped around a 200-year-old oak.

Opening Hours: Weekdays 10am-6pm; weekend 10am-7pm

Tickets: From £11/£5 adult/child

Address: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AF

Website: kew.org

3 Diana Memorial Gardens in Kensington Gardens

The Diana Memorial Gardens in Kensington Gardens next to Kensington Palace have been designed for less able and able-bodied children to enjoy playing together. At the centre of the play area is a huge pirate ship with a sand beach around it inspired by Peter Pan. It’s a fitting tribute to the late Princess. There is a sensory trail, teepees and sculptures among the trees and plants. Plenty of seating around. Expect it to be busy on sunny days.

Opening Hours: Summer hours 10am-7.45pm

Tickets: Unticketed and free

Address: Closest Tubes are High Street Kensington and Queensway

Website: royalparks.org.uk

4 IFS Cloud Cable Car at The Royal Docks

The IFS Cloud Cable Car is a cable car that links across the River Thames an easy way to get across from Greenwich to the Royal Docks. Amazing views of the O2 and the whole of London and the City. It takes up to 10 minutes each way but if you board after 7pm then you can enjoy an extended night flight with music and video in the cabin.

Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday 7am-10pm; Friday 7am-11pm; Saturday 8am-11pm; 9pm-10pm

Tickets: From £5/£2.50

Address: 27 Western Gateway  E16 1FA 

Website: tfl.gov.uk

5 Kyoto Garden

Right in the centre of the 22 hectares of London’s Holland Park is the Kyoto Garden. Home to the famous peacocks, a tiered rock waterfall, stone lanterns, Japanese maple trees and a pond full of koi carp that the kids will love spotting. A tranquil and peaceful Japanese garden for reflection and relaxation, the Kyoto Garden is perfect for a summer picnic. Check out more of west London’s most beautiful outdoor spaces here.

Opening Hours: 7.30am - dusk

Tickets: Free

Address: Holland Park, Ilchester Place W8 6LU

Website: rbkc.gov.uk

6 London Transport Museum

Buses, trains, trams, tube carriages. Discover the history of London’s world-famous transport network at the London Transport Museum, which transports you through from the 1800s to present day. Enjoy bus and tube simulator rides and interactive games and activities for all ages, and check out the latest interactive kids workshops and activities on offer every school holiday.

Opening Hours: 10am-6pm

Tickets: Annual pass from £18.50

Address: Covent Garden Piazza WC2E 7BB

Website: ltmuseum.co.uk

7 Mudchute Farm

Mudchute Farm is a large urban park and farm set in 32 acres of countryside just south of Canary Wharf in Cubitt Town on the Isle of Dogs with over 100 animals and fowl. It is one of the largest urban farms in Europe and is a community charity with a working farm, stables, a children’s nursery and a range of educational activities. You can picnic and take in the fantastic views of City of London among many feather friends.

Opening Hours: 9am-5pm

Tickets: Free admission

Address: Pier Street, Isle of Dogs E14 3HP

Website: mudchute.org 

8 National Maritime Museum

Discover amazing stories of exploration and human endeavour that made our world today. There is lots of playful, immersive fun for families and the under 7s to have – dress as a pirate, explore the museum through song and dance for the tiny tots, and create your own royal style. Find out about the most notorious ship wrecks, and what life was like on the high seas for explorers and sea captains in days gone by, and the museum regularly hosts summer programming on its grounds. 

Opening Hours: 10am-5pm

Tickets: Free, but advanced booking recommended

Address: Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF

Website: rmg.co.uk

9 Greenwich Park & The Royal Observatory

Greenwich Park, with amazing views over London, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home of Greenwich Mean Time and a great family day out. As well as the National Maritime Museum (above), it’s home to the Royal Observatory and the Planetarium. Visit the Royal Observatory gardens for free. Set your watch by the Shepherd Gate clock. Journey through space and time and explore the universe and space in the Planetarium and its 360 degree cinema (book in advance). Brilliant for any budding astronomers, with special shows for the under 7s.

Opening Hours: 10am-5pm

Tickets: £16/£8 adult/child

Address: Blackheath Avenue SE10 8XJ

Website: rmg.co.uk

10 Sea Life London

Sea Life London has over 500 species of marine life in 14 themed zones and houses a magnificent 2 million litres of water. Walk among seven species of shark in the shark walk and discover thousands of sea creatures. A great place to visit on a wet day as you are immersed in Europe’s largest collection of marine life.Closest station is Waterloo Tube.

Opening Hours: Friday- Wednesday 10am-5pm; Thursday 11am-5pm

Tickets: From £28, concession and group tickets available

Address: County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB

Website: visitsealife.com

11 Sky Garden

The Sky Garden, at the top of the Walkie Talkie building at 20 Fenchurch Street, is London’s highest public garden with an incredible viewing platform offering 360 degree views of London. On arrival, you go through airport security scanners before being whisked in the lift up to Level 35 where you can wander around observation decks of landscaped gardens and terraces. There are restaurants and bars here, as well as an open-air terrace.Closest station is Monument Tube.

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday & Sunday 11sam-9pm

Tickets: Ticketed, but free entry

Address: The Fenchurch Building, 20 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 8AF 

Website: skygarden.london

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12 London Zoo

One of London’s oldest and best loved zoos, ZSL London Zoo has over 650 species of animals with trails and quizzes. Have a spider selfie in Europe’s only walk-through spider experience. Visit Penguin Beach, Gorilla Kingdom, Rainforest Life, Tiger Territory and Land of the Lions, where you can find yourself face to face with an Asiatic Lion, or say hello to three teenage giant Galapagos tortoises.

Opening Hours: 10am-4pm/5pm/6pm depending on season

Tickets: From £26.50/£17/25 adult/child

Address: Regent's Park, NW1 4RY

Website: zsl.org

13 South Kensington Museum Triple

It’s an obvious one but a goodie. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and the V&A provide a triple whammy of fun for curious kids. The Natural History Museum (ages 5+) has dinosaurs and Hope, the huge blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling. The Science Museum (ages 5+) has lots of multi-sensory activities to help younger and older children explore the universe (there’s also an IMAX cinema that can be booked in advance). The V&A (ages 3+) runs lots of hands-on workshops, games and activities in art, design and performance, as well as trails around the museum.

Opening Hours: NHM Mon-Sun 10am-5.50pm; Science Museum Wed-Sun 10am-6pm; V&A Sat-Thurs 10am-5.45pm Fri 10am-10pm

Tickets: Free entry (booking recommended), exhibitions individually ticketed

Address: NHM & V&A Cromwell Road, South Kensington SW7 5BD; Science Museum Exhibition Road, South KensingtonSW7 2DD

Website: nhm.ac.uk; sciencemuseum.org.uk; vam.ac.uk