50 best things to do in London with kids

What is it? London Zoo – aka ZSL – needs no introduction. First opened in 1828 as a pioneering scientific institution (the general public weren't allowed in until 1847), the Regent’s Park icon has seamless adapted to modern times and now plays home to over 14,000 creatures, from the tiny to the gigantic.

Why go? It’s a historic, world-class zoo smack bang in the centre of London, is the main reason. But what’s always impressive is how detailed and thoughtful the exhibits are and how it’s in a contstant state of renewal – recent additions include the massive walkthrough Monkey Valley enclosure and 2024’s is The Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians, a massive upgrade to the old Reptile House (the world’s first).

How much is it? £21.70 child, £31 adult – not cheap, but you can famously get 2FOR1 tickets with National Rail’s Days Out Guide, which can cut the cost considerably if you’re heading in by train.

Time Out tip: For the ultimate zoo experience, you can stay overnight in a lodge near (crucially not in) the Land of the Lions enclosure. They’re not cheap but they’re perfect for special occasions and include meals and an after dark tour of ZSL.

What is it? One of the world’s great scientific insitutions, the Victorian Natural History Museum brings together millions of years of life on our planet in a series of exhibits that range from bleeding edge modern to charmingly antiquated.

Why go? It’s a must for all nature lovers, but certainly the biggest draw is the dinosaurs and a collection intimately entwined with the history of paleontology as a science. The much-loved but slightly tired dinosaur room will be one of the beneficiaries of a huge upcoming revamp to the NHM, and you can already enjoy the prehistoric gardens, which opened in 2024.

How much is it? Free, although most major temporary exhibitions charge.

Time Out tip: The monthly Dino Snores kids’ sleepovers are popular, fun and pretty damn affordable for a night in South Kensington. Explore the museum after dark, enjoy sundry craft sessions and lectures, and sleep in an actual gallery.

What is it? Following a £13m refurbishment, the former V&A Museum of Childhood reopened its doors in 2023. The slickly laid out museum plays host to a collection of historic toys, childhood equipment and costumes, plus temporary exhibits.

Why go? The beautifully designed building heaves with thoughtfully laid out displays of centuries of toys and childhood objects, there are state-of-the-art interactive displays galore, plus a banging cafe, while its inaugural temporary exhibition Japan: Myths to Manga was excellent. An essential visit for pretty much anyone under the age of 14.

How much is it? Free, although temporary exhibitions charge.

What is it? Boasting the largest and most diverse collection of plants on the entire planet, the Victorian botanical gardens at Kew are world famous and rightly so.

Why go? From the magnificent treetop walk with a bird’s-eye view over the park to the grand nineteenth century hothouses, there are sub areas of Kew that are practically a day out in themselves, and good luck doing the whole thing in one go. If you have younger visitors in tow, the huge Children’s Garden is a must: it’s packed with hidden play areas themed around earth, air, sun and water – all the things plants need to grow. 

How much is it? £12-£22 adult, £4-£6 children, £17-£53 family. It is significantly cheaper off-peak (Nov-Jan) or after 4pm (May-Oct)..

What is it? Madame Tussauds is, in effect, a Victorian waxworks gallery that should logically have gone out of fashion with the dawn of cinema, but has instead managed to remain bizarrely relevant via lavish pop cultural exhibits.

Why go? Young action fans will love the immersive Star Wars rooms, made in collaboration with Lucasfilm itself, and the most recent galleries for kids bring Madame Tussauds into the MCU. While there are waxworks of Cap, Tony and the crew, the highlight is the 4D film, which sees the Avengers battle Loki in an adventure enhanced by wind, water and other effects. It’s what the Madame would have wanted!

How much is it? £29 adults, £26 kids if booked online. It is much more expensive in person – book on your phone in the queue if you have to.

What is it? London has had various grand aquariums, but our main one now dates back to 1997, and is part of the Sea Life chain. In the grand County Hall complex on the South Bank, a vast aquarium of sharks, turtles, sea dragons and penguins are waiting to be gawped at.

Why go? It’s not as historic as some of London’s attractions, but it’s a slick and entertaining aquarium of the scale and spectacle that befits this city.  It’s a smoothly run, busy operation with several themed zones devoted to all kinds of aquatic environments, including a Thames walk. One of the highlights has to be the ‘ocean invaders’ section, which includes the largest jellyfish experience in Britain. There’s also the opportunity to ‘pet’ various rockpool creatures including seas anemones and starfish.

How much is it? £28-£33 adults, £25-£30 kids. 

What is it? During the school holidays the iconic Globe boasts a wealth of tours, workshops and other family activities, but let’s be honest, none sound quite so fun as the family sword fighting demonstration, wherein the theatre’s fight team talks you through the world of Elizabethan weaponry and give you a close-up demo of how it was wielded.

Why go? Who doesn’t want to wield a sword?? You’re absolutely not going to be allowed to have an actual free for all fight, but you’ll be allowed to handle the weapons and pose for selfies.

How much is it? £12 adults, £6 under 16s.

Time Out tip: The Globe is one of London’s more family friendly theatres, with a relaxed approach to audience etiquette and plenty of programming aimed at families, including a shortened Shakespeare play aimed at secondary schoolers that runs every March and April.

What is it? A wilfully sensationalist tourist attraction rather than a historic building of any sort, since it opened in 1974 the London Dungeon has managed to stay at the absolute cutting edge of shameless luridity via a series of rides, rooms and encounters based around the more macabre elements of our city’s history. 

Why go? It’s not suitable for the under-12s – although over-fives will be admitted with an adult – but this magnificently OTT celebration of every bad person to have ever lived in London is very much The Sort Of Thing teenage boys like (as indeed, will un-PC gore lovers of all genders).

How much is it? £26.50 adults, £22 children online; much more on the door.

What is it? Following two limited seasons at the Barbican, the RSC’s ecstatically received adaptation of the classic Studio Ghibli film is now ensconced in the West End.

Where is it? Gillian Lynne Theatre.

Why go? If you’re in any way a fan of the film then this lavish live action homage is sure to blow your mind. There are no official images of the gargantuan puppets used for furry woodland spirit Totoro and the baffling ‘Catbus’ – but trust us, they’re incredible.

How much is it? £25-£165. 

What is it? This charming interactive Paddington Bear experience is essentially an extension of the beloved films, allowing you to step into the beloved ursine’s kinder, gentler London and assist him in a mission to get the oranges in for the Marmalade Day festival at the Browns’. 

Where is it? County Hall.

Why go? Definitely more a homage to the recent movies than the previous iterations of Michael Bond’s creation, if you love them you’ll love this. The gentle plot is pepped up by engaging puzzles and charming interactions, and there’s some definite cinbematic stardust here – Paddington’s voice is very familiar.

How much is it? £34-£49 adults, £24-£39 children.

Time Out tip: The specially marmalade sandwiches and specially formulated to appeal to modern taste – ie they”’re actually pretty nice.

What it it? The Postal Museum is a fine and family friendly journey through the surprisingly lively history of post in this country, with a banging play area at the end. However, there’s no denying that that the big draw is the Mail Rail, a century-old abandoned postal railway system running underneath London that ticket holders can ride a little bit of.

Why go? Although small children might find the dark tunnels a little frightening and need a cuddle, there is absolutely no denying that chuntering on little trains through darkened tunnels that almost nobody has been down in a century… is very cool.

How much is it? £17.60 adult, £12.20 child, a 45-minute session in the Sorted! play are is £4.50 extra.

What is it? Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth Harry Potter adventure, and the stage is the only place you’ll see it. The London production is the original, having been running since 2016.

Where is it? Palace Theatre.

Why go? John Tiffany’s magic-heavy production is ravishing, and really makes you feel like Harry’s world is a living you could just step into, from Patronuses to Dementors. While this is no longer the only production of ‘The Cursed Child’ around the world, it is the only one you can still see in the original two-part format.

How much is it? £30-£260 (for both parts). It often comes up in West End ticket sales – it’s worth holding out for the next one if you’re not in a hurry.

What is it? There are various kids’ afternoon tea options in London, but the Ampersand Hotel in Kensington has the distinction of offering two fun, theatrically served teas: a science one upstairs, and the Jurassic one downstairs.

Why go? The theatrical flourishes like the dry ice volcano in the Jurassic tea certainly help, and the food is lovely. But a big, big USP to the Ampersand is its proximity to the Kensington museums – it’s the perfect choice for making that trip to the NHM or Science Museum extra special.  

How much is it? £59.50 adults, £39.50 children.

What is it? The Science Museum is one of London’s great institutions and its grand hall are packed with everything from spaceships to planes, steam engines to medicine. It ahs to be said, however, that the big draw for a certain type of child is Power Up, the now permanent exhibition in its basement that brings together 50 years of computer game history in fully playable form.

Why go? Absolutely make sure they see the galleries. But then deposit them in Power Up and see their delight that this nominally constitutes learning something.

How much is it? £12 for a day pass or £18 for an annual pass.

Time Out tip: little ones aged three to six will love The Garden interactive space just round the corner from Power Up. If you’re organised enough to book several days in advance the hands on science experiments in the hugely popular Wonderland is great fun. And the overnight Astronights are great fun.

What is it? Just next to the regal Kensington Palace, this play area has a Peter Pan theme and a wooden pirate ship as its centrepiece. It's specially designed to suit children of all physical abilities and the playground includes a beach, sculptures, teepees for make-believe games, and even a sensory trail. It’s free to enjoy, but be aware that at busy times there might be a queue to get in.

Why go? Well how many other playgrounds in London get one in/one out queues? It’s about as fancy as play areas get and on a nice day will properly pep up a little one who may have been dragged into west London against their will.

How much is it? It’s free.

Under-13s 

What is it? The Hunterian Museum houses one of the oldest collections of anatomical, pathological and zoological specimens in the UK and is based on the items assembled by John Hunter, surgeon and anatomist (1728-1793).

Why go? It is definitely intersting from a history-of-science perspective. But there’s little question that the big draw for the young probablies in gawping disconcert at centuries of pickled creatures and other all-time historical curios. Table made of skin? Pickled baby crocodile? Don’t mind if we do!

How much is it? It’s free.

What is it? The Royal Observatory in Greenwich is one of the more significant buildings in the history of astronomy and absolutely worth a visit for astronomy inclined little ones on those grounds. However, the biggest draw is inevitably the Peter Harrison Planetarium is a large domed cinema space showing films combining real footage captured by spacecraft with advanced CGI, providing a vivid picture of what our universe is all about.

Why go? London’s only planetarium offers some of the most mind-blowing visuals you’ll ever see. All the shows are suitable for children over five, with the gentle cartoon-based Ted’s Space Adventure the ideal pick for kids aged three to seven.

How much is it? £12 adults, £6 children (per show).

All ages 

What is it? This south east London park sadly no longer has the actual Crystal Palace in it: that burned down in 1936. However, it still plays home to one very eccentric accompaniment: the world’s first ever dinosaur sculptures, first unveiled in 1854.

Why go? Even if you’re parent to the only children in London who aren’t into dinosaurs, the huge, charmingly anatomically inaccurate Victorian beasts are a remarkable sight to behold – there’s really nothing like them anywhere.

How much is it? It’s free.

Time Out tip: the small but fun Crystal Palace Farm Park is located right next to the bottom end of the dinosaur area and constitutes a cute half an hour or so extension to your park experience.

What is it? The colossal Richmond Park is the largest of the Royal Parks by some measure, occupying some 2,500 acres of grassland, ancient woodland and wide open space. One of its main attractions are the hundreds of red and fallow deer that roam free across it, presumably much happier without having to listen out for the 'View halloo!' of one of Henry VIII's hunting parties. 

Why go? It’s well worth the tube trip out west to gawp at the deer alone, but truth be told it is hard to really explain quite how big Richmond Park is and how much there is to do. Within the park's bounds are the Palladian splendour of White Lodge and Pembroke Lodge, childhood home to philosopher Bertrand Russell and now a café. From the park's highest point, there are unobstructed views of St Paul's Cathedral, over 12 miles in the distance. 

How much is it? It’s free.

What is it? Tim Minchin’s musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda made a spash at cinemas and on Netflix a couple of years back. But this is where it all began: the original stage version, still packing ’em in at the Cambridge Theatre after well over a decade. 

Where is it? Cambridge Theatre.

Why go? The West End isn’t short of a kids’ show or two, with The Lion King and Wicked being obvious candidates. But while those American shows might edge Matilda for spectacle, neither can compare with Minchin’s magnum opus for heart, brain, wit or underdog pluck.

How much is it? £20-£150, though it’s always worth scouring West End sales for a discount or upgrade.

Ages six and above

What is it? At some point your children may notice that there’s a massive warship in the Thames and question what precisely the deal is. And the answer is that it’s the HMS Belfast, a light cruiser that serves an active ship during World War II. Now it’s effectively a floating museum.

Why go? Because you want to have a snoop around a massive naval vessel. Explore the decks for a sense of life onboard in conflict and peacetime and while it’s aimed at all ages, there are plenty of dedicated kids’ activities, particulalry during the school holidays.

How much is it? £26.35 adults, £13.15 children.

What is it? London has several excellent dedicated kids’ theatres, but the most unique is undoubtedly the Puppet Theatre Barge, which is literally a barge that plays host to puppet theatre.It’s moored in Little Venice from October to July and arrives in Richmond in August.

Why go? From the gentle plays to the idyllic setting it’s simply incredibly charming – old fashioned, perhaps, but there’s nothing else really like it.

How much is it? £14 adult, £10 children (per ticket per show, can vary).

Time Out tip: For more ‘modern’ kids’ theatre check out the Unicorn, the Little Angel and the Polka, London’s more cutting edge kids’ theatres.

What is it? London’s dedicated Children’s Story Centre is a colourful gallery inspired by children’s books, with special exhibitions and events linked to favourite authors and illustrators. Children can play inside and outside, with places to hide, treasure to seek out and the chance to fire young imaginations to create their own stories. 

Why go? It’s a beautifully crafted immersive tribute to the power of imagination that even book skeptics are liable to enjoy. Crawl through caves, visit a treehouse with chicken legs, leap over alligators and more.

How much is it? £10 a ticket.

What is it? Covent Garden’s London Transport Museum is a joyful place beloved by kids of all ages who marvel at its various antique vehicles. Of special interest to little ones is its All Aboard play area for babies and under-8s.

Why go? All aboard is enormous fun for the aspirant little driver. Gan get behind the wheel of a real bus, ‘repair’ a mini tube train, or ‘sail’ on the Thames Nipper, a recreation of the Thames Clipper riverboat service. There’s even a make-believe buskers spot, making for some pretty cute videos that you can play back to your kid's friends in years to come.

How much is it? £24.50 adults, but free for children.

What is it? The Museum of the London Docklands is a free museum dedicated to 400 years of London’s most colourful spot of waterfront, from skullduggerous past to shiny present. The obvious highlight for little ones is Mudlarks, a dedicated interactive gallery for small children

Why go? Mudlarks is neat but any child with a taste for the lurid should get a kick out of the main galleries, the huge model of the old London Bridge and a walk-through recreation of the docklands in Victorian times. Hear the noises, smell the scents and peer into the shadowy alleyways. Gaze through the window of the chandler’s shop and see inside an old East End boozer.

How much is it? It’s free.

What is it? The Tate Modern is one of the world’s most iconic art galleries, and it most iconic space is the gigantic concrete expanse that is the Turbine Hall.

Why go? It’s absolutely enormous and looks cool as heck – most children’s instant response is to break into a run and ping about madly (and, er, of course respectfully). The works in the hall are often accessible to younger audiences, and if they’re not a swift trip upstairs to check out some of the pop art classics should change that.

How much is it? It’s free, though you have to pay for temporary exhibitions.

What is it? Time was that King’s Cross and St Pancras were surrounded by soot-covered warehouses, all gradually falling out of use and being turned into ad hoc nightclubs. Now, though, the vast piazza spaces look positively Continental, with Granary Square’s rows of pop-up fountains and Lewis Cubitt Park offering great, architecturally designed spaces to run around.

Why go? If you’ve had to trundle up to Kings Cross or St Pancras with kids – especially on a hot day – then the fountains are a blessed free distraction. Even in winter, it’s worth taking a towel – kids can’t resist running through the spouting water jets that rise up from the ground. And while you’re here, seek out Handyside Gardens, a pocket park nearby with a charming play area especially for children.

How much is it? It’s free.

What is it? This quirky free museum in south-east London has plenty of fascinating exhibits to gaze at and (in some cases) grapple with, most famously the iconic overstuffed walrus in its Natural History Gallery. It also does a nice line in child-friendly seasonal exhibitions (dinosaurs frequently feature) and has a pay for butterfly house and aquarium.

Why go? It’s a great morning or afternoon out with kids and the aquarium is small but perferctly formed – a lot less stress and expense than the Sealife Centre. It includes a Fijian Reef, a Tropical Rainforest, a Mangrove swamp and a UK rock pool display, stocked with aquatic creatures native to those environments. The moon jellyfish are particularly magical.

How much is it? £6 adult, £3 child, £11-£13 family.

What it it? Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rollerskating trains musical has been reincarnated in a special purpose built theatre in Wembley Park. 

Where is it? Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.

Why go? Like a musical version of a loud Saturday morning kids cartoon, Starlight Express is preposterous good fun – the skating is thrillingm the songs are okay, the nebulous plot about gangs of rival trains facing off agaist each other is that rare musical that a seven-year-old boy can relate to.

How much is it? £29.50-£150, though it often features in theatre sales.

What is it? With its excellent playground, fun water splash area and frequent funfairs, Brockwell Park is a day out for kids in its own right. And if you go on a Sunday between March and October it’s extra special thanks to the delightful Brockwell Park Miniature Railway.

Why go? Mini-railways are a staple of the Home Counties, but this is the only one in London proper. It’s an easy to miss little treat that really peps up a trip to the park or nearby Brockwell Lido. And impressively a return still only costs £1.

How much it it? Just £1!

What is it? Having undergone a major update a few years back, the National Army Museum is a free-to-visit, bright and airy space with dazzling gallery experiences and lots of activities and learning spaces for families. Kids with any kind of military inclination might be interested generally, but particulalry relevant here is Play Base, an immersive play session for toddlers and under-8s called Play Base.

Why go? Probably the most entertainingly high concept soft play in London, these one-hour sessions (£7 per child and accompanying adult) include challenges that reflect army life in a fun way – an assault course, a ‘command liaison vehicle’, the cookhouse, quartermaster store and a chance to build dens and hone survival skills ‘in the field’. All the fun of war, none of the responsibility.

How much is it? Free but Play Base is £7 per child.

What is it? The woodlands of Chislehurst hold a secret beneath their roots. Thirty metres below ground is a complex of man-made caves carved out of the chalk by Druids, Saxons and Romans. Since then the caves have been turned to all sorts of purposes – though they’ve probably now found their final form of slightly eccentric tourist attraction.

Why go? Though undeniably a little scary at the point where they black out the lights, it is amazingly cool we have a massive tunnel cavern complex in humbvle Zone 5. The 45-minute lamplit tour covers a mile of the tunnels; children will enjoy locating the Druid Altar, the Caves Church and the Haunted Pool.

How much is it? £8 adults, £6 children.

What is it? Over two acres of wilderness just north of St Pancras, Camley Street Natural Park is like a corner of countryside in Zone 1. Created from an old coal yard and sitting alongside the Regent’s Canal, it’s a wonderful space for seeking out birds and butterflies, croaking amphibians and even bats, then reporting back on your wildlife sightings, which helps the work of the reserve.

Why go? It’s a wonderful stopping off point if you’ve had to drag the kids into town for prosaic reasons – thay can have a run around, gawp at some nature and something from the cafe to decompress from whatever ghastly train station based chore you’ve dragging them into town for.

How much is it? It’s free.

What is it? The boating lake and playground at Ally Pally are located behind the iconic main building on the ice-rink side of the park. The boating lake has been spruced up in recent years and as well as the traditional swan-shaped pedalo vessels, you can rent pedal boats in the shape of a VW car or a dragon, too. Expect to queue on sunny days when school’s out.

Why go? It’s a charming and idyllic use of an hour – if farflung Ally Pally is a bit far for you then check out the boating in Hyde Park or Crystal Palace Park. Please note that the Ally Pally lake is closed until ‘spring 2025’.

How much is it? £8.95 adults, £5.95 kids.

What is it? Battersea Park Children’s Zoo oozes low-key charm, is noticeably cheaper than its northern neighbour, and there’s less of a frantic worry about trying to pack every single exhibit in (you definitely will). Enjoy an afternoon of fun-sized wildlife, from armadillos to agoutis to Asian short-clawed otters.

Why go? ZSL is great but it’s a colossal mission and arguably somewhat lost on younger children. Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is more akin to a turbocharged city farm with a great play area – you can make a spontaneous trip there and not feel ridiculous.

How much is it? £13.95 adults, £11.95 children.

What is it? Surrounded by some of London’s most popular sightseeing attractions (Buckingham Palace, Westminster and Trafalgar Square), St James’s Park often gets overlooked, but it’s one of the loveliest green spaces to let the kids run about in. Duck Island, at the east end of the park’s lake, is perfect for birdwatchers. There have been pelicans here since the 1660s, and every day you can watch these curious feathered creatures being fed fresh fish at 2.30pm.

Why go? It’s an underrated park that’s perfect for a play, but the weird, wonderful spectacle of pelican in the ‘wild’ (if that’s what you can call a Royal Park) is the cherry on top (and the lure you might use to persuade your kids to head into town). Although feeding time is at 2.30pm, the pelicans are at large throughout the day.

How much is it? It’s free.

What is it? It’s only the Tower of London, the world’s most infamous castle-slash-prison-slash-menagerie-slash-jewel gallery.

Why go? Even younger children can get a lot from a trip to the Tower because so much of the original castle still stands, including its Medieval White Tower. Join one of the free Yeoman Warder tours inside the castle walls to hear fascinating tales about Traitors’ Gate, beheadings and the Crown Jewels. Make sure, too, that you seek out the ravens. There are seven of them kept at the Tower, fed on raw meat and bird biscuits soaked in blood. Ask almost any of the Yeoman Warders and they can probably show you a scar on their hands where they’ve suffered a nasty peck.

How much is it? £34.80 adults, £17.40 children.

What is it? The UK’s numero uno museum of human history art and culture needs no introduction – step back into antiquity with its awe-inspiring, occasionally controversial relics of some of the greatest civilizations to have ever existed. 

Why go? It’s not really one for toddlers, but any child with any interest in the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks (Akkadians, Assyrians, whoever) will be impressed by the often massive historic relics. Doing the whole collection in one day woudl overwhelm most adults, but free daily activities focus on the highlights kids find especially cool. Pick up activity backpacks from the Families Desk with trail challenges devised by age suitability. Get the kids to dress up, play games, sketch objects and build things.

How much is it? Free except for some temporary exhibitions.

What is it? Kind of a big instagrammable playcentre for kids and adults who wish they were kids, Wembley Park’s Bubble Planet is probably the funnest example of This Sort Of Thing: immersive attractions that don’t really have a collective name but of which there are several in London.

Why go? While some similar experiences are a bit tired or suffer from fillery rooms, Bubble Planet is pretty much all killer if you like things like gigantic ball pools, which you surely do.

How much is it? £18-£27 adult, £14-£27 child.

What is it? There have been treetop adventure centres in forests around the country for a few years, but when Go Ape opened in Battersea in 2015, it brought the thrill and daring of zipwiring and high-level assault courses to Zone 1. (There are also Go Apes at Ally Pally and a more teen and adult orientented one at Cockfosters).

Why go? Sure, it’s a chain, but it’s a really fun chain. The adventure starts on the ground with a safety briefing before you put your harness on. Then off you go, working your way through three layers of challenges heading up to the canopy, crossing tricky obstacle rope walls and wooden bridges to reach the zipwires. There are two levels of difficulty, with the Treetop Adventure best suited to under-sixes and the Treetop Challenge for everone else.

How much is it? £39.95 Treetop Challenge; £23 Treetop Adventure.

What is it? Terry Deary’s Horrible Histories franchise takes to the high seas (sort of) with enjoyably lurid one-hour clipper trip Terrible Thames. 

Where is it? Board at Tower Bridge Quay.

Why go? For a price that stacks up well against more sensible Thames boat trips you get all the thrill of being on a clipper but with a lively two-hander play offering lurid but still fairly insightful commentary on the Thames’s most iconic landmarks. It finishes its sailings for the year after October half-term. 

How much is it? £25, £20 kids, £70 family of four.

What is it? The WWT London Wetland Centre (to give it its full name) is 44 hectares of recreated UK wetland habitat including open water, reedbed, grazing marsh, ponds, wet woodland and flooded meadow

Why go? It does a body good to get truly wild from time to time – so head out to this urban oasis of lakes, ponds and meadows, observe the ducks and otters, take in the serene scenery and let the kids get free-range in the adventure playground. There’s usually some sort of special children’s theme or activities in the school holidays.

How much is it? £16.54 adult, £10.72 children, £46.22 family.

What is it? London’s city farms are one of our greatest treasures, free to visit urban farms that offer inner city kids a taste of nature.

Why go? They’re not typically massive days out in their own right, but these free attractions are a lovely way to pass an hour. Vauxhall City Farm is one of the most charming, with a host of farmyard creatures to meet, including Stinker and Jemima the ferrets.

How much is it? London’s city farms are free.

What is it? Most famously home to Henry VIII, this magnificent Tudor palace – rebuilt and expanded by William III in the 1690s – is an awesome and eccentric slice of history.

Why go? Hampton Court is so many different days out in one place. For families, there’s a chance to borrow dress-up clothes from the costumes box at the entrance so you can move around the Palace kitchens, dining hall and bedrooms and feel really part of the royal story. But it’s the grounds and their ancient maze that really hold the greatest pleasures for kids. Happily, there’s a café here too, because the kids will be off playing for hours.

How much is it? £13.60-£30.90 adults, £6.80-£15.50 children. It is extremely cheap in January and early February.

What is it? This park has ponds, play areas, a café and a wonderful small zoo of enclosures which offer a quick fix of wildlife. Head here to hear the laughing kookaburras, spot a ring-tailed coati in the bushes and watch the ring-tailed lemurs up to their gymnastic tricks in the branches.

Why go? Like a smaller but even cheaper (it’s free) version of Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, Golder’s Hill Park Zoo is especially good with little ones who don’t have the stamina to make a pricey visit to ZSL worthwhile just yet.

How much it it? It’s free.

What is it? View the lush beauty of Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common from horseback. Situated in the former, Stag Lodge Stables provide horse rides for visitors of all ages and abilities. And if your willing rider is too frightened or small for the big horses, they can ride a more manageable (and adorable) Shetland pony (ages 3-6 only).

Why go? Think horseriding is just for country folk? Think again. Even if you’re just dipping in for a one off try, riding a horse or pony is a delightfully different use of the day for a city child.

How much is it? Lessons greatly vary in price, from £30 for a 30 minute pony sesh to £375 for a four day pony week.

What is it? Rarely does the weather warm up enough to jump into London’s outdoor lidos without flinching, but when it does everyone wants a piece of the action. Thankfully, there are plenty of lidos scattered all over the capital, including right in the centre.

Why go? In summer it’s a no-brainer – the easily-reached Serpentine Lido has a dedicated children’s play area with a paddling pool, and a sun terrace. Out of season – well, you know your kids best: of the year-round lidos the unheated Brockwell should probably be approached with caution, but the heated (a relative term!) London Fields is worth a look.

How much is it? It varies from pool to pool: the all-year-round London Fields Lido is £6 adults, £3,50 children per session.

What is it? Documenting the history of British comic art from the eighteemnth century to the present day, the Cartoon Museum houses a collection of over 6000 original cartoons and comics.

Why go? Don’t be put off by the word ‘museum’. Yes there are archives and displays of old political cartoons and comic art going as far back as the eighteenth century, but the workshops and events celebrate all kinds of modern cartoonery too. Weekend and school holiday workshops are a chance for older children to explore different artistic styles and create comic strips, animations and models.

How much is it? £12 adults, free for children.

Ages eight to 15