London with a child is a different city from the London of the adult. The British Museum is a corridor (the length of the gallery, the sprint to the Egyptian mummies, and the exit, the 45-minute visit that the adult would stretch to the 3 hours), the Tube is an adventure (the escalator, the train, and the excitement of the destination that is the destination itself), and the park, the Hyde Park, the Regent’s Park, the St James’s Park, is the essential London experience of the child (the squirrels, the playground, and the ice cream that is the most important decision of the day). The child-friendly London is the London of the hands-on, the interactive, and the space to run, and the museums, the parks, and the attractions below are the places that welcome the child, engage the child, and exhaust the child in the best possible way. Here are the best child-friendly places in London.

Outdoor Adventures for Children in London

London parks offer excellent free entertainment for children. The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens features a Peter Pan theme with a giant pirate ship and sensory trails. It is gated and free but fills quickly. Hyde Park offers pedal boats on the Serpentine and vast open spaces. Hampstead Heath provides woodland walks and spectacular views from Parliament Hill. The South Bank is increasingly family-friendly with its skate park and street performers.

Child-Friendly London

• The Natural History Museum, the dinosaur and the earthquake: The Natural History Museum is the essential London experience for the child: the dinosaur gallery (the Tyrannosaurus rex, the animatronic, the roar, and the queue, the essential strategy: the side entrance on the Exhibition Road, the smaller queue, and the direct arrival at the dinosaur gallery), the earthquake simulator (the Kobe supermarket, the 1995 earthquake, and the best ride in any London museum), the mammal gallery (the blue whale, the 25-metre model suspended from the ceiling, the most beautiful object in the museum), and the children’s gallery (the Investigate Centre, the hands-on, the magnifying glasses, and the best hour of the visit for the child under 10). Free. The essential strategy: the 10am arrival, the 2-hour visit, and the exit before the fatigue. The café (the basement, the expensive, and the packed, the essential alternative: the packed lunch, the benches in the Central Hall, and the view of the whale). More UK →
• The Diana Memorial Playground, the best playground in London: The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens, the Peter Pan theme, the pirate ship (the centrepiece, the sand, the rope bridges, and the best climbing frame in London), the sensory trail (the teepees, the musical instruments, the water play, and the best playground for the under-5s), and the café (the coffee for the adult, the ice cream for the child, and the essential mid-playground stop). Free, and the essential strategy: the 9am arrival in the school holidays (the playground fills by 10.30am, and the queue forms at the gate). The playground is gated, the entry is free, and the time limit is the child’s stamina. The essential lunch: the Pizza Express on the Khan’s Way (the child-friendly, the quick, and the 5-minute walk from the playground. ~£10 for the child’s menu)
• The Science Museum, the hands-on and the flight: The Science Museum is the child’s museum: the Wonderlab (the interactive gallery, the experiments, the live shows, and the best museum experience for the child in London. ~£12 for the child, the £10 for the adult, and the essential strategy: book the timed entry in advance, the day tickets sell out in the holidays), the Flight gallery (the aircraft, the helicopters, and the best gallery for the child who wants to be a pilot), and the Pattern Pod (the gallery for the under-8s, the interactive, and the best gallery for the youngest child in the museum). Free for the main galleries. The essential strategy: the Wonderlab booking, the 2-hour slot, and the Science Museum shop (the best museum shop in London for the children, the science kits, the experiments, and the souvenirs that are educational. The essential warning: the budget will be exceeded)
• The London Zoo, the oldest scientific zoo in the world: The ZSL London Zoo in the Regent’s Park, the 1828 zoo, the 750 species, and the essential outdoor London experience for the child: the Land of the Lions (the new habitat, the Asiatic lions, and the best exhibit in the zoo), the Penguin Beach (the largest penguin exhibit in the UK, the feeding time, and the best show in the zoo, the 11.30am and the 2.30pm, the essential timing), and the Animal Adventure (the petting zoo, the meerkats, and the best exhibit for the under-5s). ~£29 for the adult, ~£20 for the child, and the essential strategy: book online, arrive at the 10am opening, and the 3, 4 hour visit that is the best day of the trip for the child. The essential lunch: the Terrace Restaurant (the pizza, the burger, and the penguin view. ~£10 for the child’s meal)