Free Things to Do In London With Kids (Actually Free)
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. It’s an important city and a great destination to visit whether you are travelling from somewhere else in the U.K. or are international visitors. There’s so much to see in this great city and lots to do. However, when you factor in all the costs of travel, accommodation, and food, it can become a very expensive trip. This is especially true if you’re travelling as a family as the costs increase the more people you are. Because of this, I have gathered a list of fun and free things to do in London with kids below.
By focussing on free activities for your London visit, you can spend more of your travel budget on the things that do cost money, such as your hotel and dining out.
Free things to do in London with children
Let’s get started with the list of free things to do in London with children. All of the below are actually free for children to do, not just cheap or low cost. All except for public transport are free for adults too.
– See the famous London landmarks
If it’s anyone’s first time visiting London, a bit of sightseeing is a must. There are so many important and impressive landmarks to see around London. Big Ben, The Tower of London, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, and many more. Depending on how long your stay is, pick the ones that your family is most interested in and make sure you see them. You could aim to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace or perhaps watch Tower Bridge open and close?
If the weather is good and your legs are strong, London is a very walkable city. I love seeing a city on foot as I find it a great way to properly experience a place. If you don’t want to walk all day, do avoid the expensive tour buses. Instead check out the London Underground and the famous double decker buses. Children under 5 travel completely free on public transport. Children up to the aged 5-10 travel free on buses and trams but need a Zip Oyster photocard to travel on the Underground, Overground, and more, for free. Check out the Transport for London website for all the details.
– Visit London museums with free entry
In London there are lots of brilliant museums that are free to enter, which is fantastic. Though you could spend most of a day in each one, when it’s free you don’t need to worry about getting the most out of your money and can just pop in to see certain exhibitions that your family is interested in.
A few examples of London museums that are free include: RAF Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Tate Modern, V&A Museum of Childhood, Imperial War Museum, National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, British Museum, and Horniman Museum and Gardens. Though these are all free to visit, some require a free ticket to be booked in advance so do check with each museum you want to visit.
– Harry Potter Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station
For fans of Harry Potter, Platform 9 ¾ is a must. You can pose with the sign, complete with a luggage trolley disappearing through the wall. It can get very busy here though so be aware that there might be some queuing time. There’s often a professional photographer there ready to take your photo with props in exchange for a fee but you can take your own photos completely free. While you’re there, you can’t miss the Harry Potter Shop which is absolutely amazing for Harry Potter fans. It’s so big and full of wonderful Harry Potter merchandise of all kinds.
If your kids are fans of the Paddington books and films, plan a visit to Paddington Station. Here, you can take a photo with a statue of Paddington Bear. There’s also a Paddington Bear Shop!
– Browse Markets & Shops
London is a great place for shopping but you don’t have to be buying things all the time. Some shops and markets are fun to visit just for a browse, even for children. Covent Garden and Camden Market are both full of interesting stalls. You might also see some street performers and, if you get hungry, there are plenty of family friendly food stalls and restaurants available too. A shop that kids are sure to be excited to visit in London is of course Hamleys, the world’s largest and oldest toys store.
– Visit Spectacular London Parks
Last but not least, London has lots of wonderful parks to explore. There are many options, such as Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, and Regent’s Park to mention just a few. These are beautiful spaces to enjoy walking through, to sit down for a picnic and a little rest, or to explore for more activities – many have excellent playgrounds that young children will love.
As you can see, though London is known to be an expensive city, there are plenty of free things to do in London with kids too.
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