The Best Family Days out in London

• Attractions all the family will love

• Activities for the kids

• Activities for teens

• FAQs about family activities in London

Introduction: Looking for the best family activities and attractions in London?

When it’s approaching the end of the week and it’s time to get out of the house, there’s nothing better than a family day out in the nation’s capital. Filled with some of the greatest landmarks in history, world-class attractions and an array of fun things to do, no one’s getting bored on a family day out in the city of London. With so much to choose from, we’ve compiled a list of London’s best family-friendly attractions and then split them up into ‘Attractions all the family will love’ (no matter the age), ‘Activities for the kids’ (best for the little ones) and Activities for teens (not always the easiest people to please on a weekend), making it easier for you to find just what you’re looking for.

Attractions all the family will love

It takes something really special to please absolutely everyone in the family. That’s why we’ve looked far and wide to discover the city’s most versatile and crowd-pleasing activities to give you a hand-picked selection of London’s top family attractions:

1. The London Eye

As iconic as it is large (135 metres tall, or 443 feet, which is the equivalent of 64 red telephone boxes piled on top of each other), the London Eye is one of the best days out that London has to offer. Perfect for a family outing, the London Eye has 32 pods (numbered 1 to 33, with 13 left out for good luck), is a cantilevered observation wheel (which is not quite the same as a Ferris wheel, it’s built with an A-frame on one side only) and is a mainstay of London’s modern tourist attractions. Its observation pods are completely enclosed, provide a 360 view of the city, are climate-controlled and allow you to see up to 40 kilometres from the top (as far as Windsor Castle on a clear day).

2. Natural History Museum

Known across the world for its famed dinosaur exhibits and life-sized blue whale model suspended from the ceiling, the Natural History Museum in South Kensington is the perfect family day out in London. Discover a real Triceratops skull, the first skeleton of an Iguanodon known to science and the colossal titanosaur ’Patagotitan Mayorum’ (one of the largest known creatures to have ever walked the planet). If dinosaurs aren’t your thing, you could take a trek through mammalian history in the Mammals gallery or maybe even unearth some of the world’s most precious stones (including some gold and some kryptonite!) in the Earth’s Treasury exhibit. For the truly adventurous, do something special and book a behind the scenes tour of the museum. We’re sure that you won’t be disappointed.

3. SEA LIFE London Aquarium

If you want the opportunity to explore a place full of genuine mystery and wonder, there’s nothing more fascinating or fun for the whole family than the world beneath our oceans. The London SEA LIFE Centre, located on London’s South Bank, is home to around 500 different species of marine life in 14 themed zones. Apart from all the fish (and the sharks), you can take an intrepid journey to the frozen lands of the Antarctic in the Polar Adventure exhibit and say ‘hello‘ to the Gentoo penguin colony; step into the UK’s largest jellyfish-themed interactive experience during the Ocean Invaders exhibit; become a subject of the Coral Kingdom exhibit and be dazzled by the UK’s largest living coral reef; or reach out and touch a starfish (and a sea anemone) in the Rockpool exhibit.

Activities for the kids

London is built for families of all sizes, including those with infants and young children. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best kid-friendly and kid-focused activities we could find:

1. The National Science Museum

Expand the minds of your little ones at the nation’s renowned National Science Museum, near Gloucester Road station. Dedicated to making science fun and accessible to everyone of all ages, the Science Museum has an array of attractions that are just perfect for kids (and, luckily, adults too). Discover their inquisitive side in the Wonderlab: The Equinor Gallery, where they’ll get to discover the wonders of Ferrofluid (in the Matter Zone), the fun of frictionless slides in the Forces Zone and be dazzled by the Colour Room in the Light Zone. For something a little less hands-on, you can always watch a show on their IMAX movie screen (the size of four double-decker buses) in the Ronson Theatre. Choose from an array of incredible 3D learning experiences on the subjects of space, Antarctica and life under the sea.

2. Family Friendly Theatre

As the nation’s epicentre of culture and art, it’s no surprise that there are a number of family-friendly theatre shows tailored specially for the kids. Whether it’s a play, a musical or a fun combination of the two (we mean a pantomime), you’ll definitely find something to please the little ones. Recognised all over the world as one of the finest pieces of theatre to have hit stages in modern times, Frozen the Musical is a must see and is an appropriate children’s day out for kids aged six and above; it’s currently showing at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane until January 2024. Or for something a little more kid-focused, why not check out Roald Dahl's classic children’s tale Matilda the Musical. Lovingly brought to life by Dennis Kelly and the hilarious Tim Minchin, you’ll be able to catch a showing of this West End musical at the Cambridge Theatre near Covent Garden.

3. Shrek’s Adventure! London

If you’re looking for something more interactive and even more immersive, there’s a grumpy green ogre who wouldn’t mind a visit. Shrek’s Adventure! London, based in Westminster (just a one-minute walk from the London Dungeon), will give you and your family the opportunity to take a seat on Donkey’s 4D flying magical bus, take a trip through Shrek’s home swamp, conjure up a cauldron full of magic spells (with the famous Muffin Man) and even explore the Magic Mirror’s Mirror Maze of Insanity. At the end of your adventure, the kids will also get to meet Shrek himself and get a photo together. Shrek’s Adventure! London is equally suitable for children with disabilities or sensory processing issues. The main tour is completely wheelchair accessible, with assistance dogs welcome and carers or essential companions entering for free.

Activities for Teens

As one of the more difficult members to please on a family day in London, finding activities for teens can be a little tricky. However, we think we’ve come up with some things that they won’t say no to and that you’ll enjoy as much as they will.

1. London Dungeon

Thrilling, chilling and not recommended for the younger members of the family, the London Dungeon is a fantastic day out for teenagers and adults alike. Lying in wait under County Hall on the South Bank, The London Dungeon is a macabre interactive history of London’s dark history. On the tour, you’ll find a range of live (and very gory) shows to scare, chill and thrill you through the day, ranging from underground drop rides and boat rides (make sure to hold on tight) to the horrifying history of Jack the Ripper, the gruesome Torture Chamber of London and the unnaturally unsettling Plague Doctors. You can also try to escape from the dungeon’s brand-new attraction, the Guy Fawkes Escape Room (let’s hope you all make it out alive).

2. Imperial War Museum London

See war through the eyes of the people who lived it and be inspired by the truly moving exhibits at the Imperial War Museum in London. Located on London’s well-known Lambeth Road, the museum has a huge number of attractions to captivate and teach, including the award-winning First World War Galleries (telling the story of how the ‘Great War’ was fought and won), the new Second World War Galleries (displaying over 1,500 collection items and the thought-provoking Holocaust Galleries) and the Peace and Security: 1945 to 2014 exhibit (exploring some of the more devastating and controversial episodes from recent history). The Imperial War Museum is a must visit for a family day out that will both educate and deeply move you.

3. Madame Tussauds London

If there is one thing that most of us can count on, it’s teenagers wanting to meet their idols. So, we suggest meeting the stars on a classic British day out at Madame Tussauds London. Arriving on the British Isles in 1802, Madame Tussauds has welcomed people from all over the world to see its life-like curiosities. At the London exhibit, you’ll get the chance to get your picture taken with Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, the Rock, Zendaya and even the King and the Royal Family in the Royal Palace zone. In fact, with a fantastic set of zones (with dedicated themes), such as Marvel, Star Wars and London’s Gangsters, to choose from, this is a perfect day out for the picky teenagers in the family.