Free Things To Do With Kids in London

A beautifully restored South London park with a wild swimming lake, adventure playground, café and meadows.

Europe's largest urban wetland nature reserve, offering free family birdwatching trails, seasonal crafts and nature activities.

A free splash pad in a beautiful Bexley park, with water jets and fountains perfect for hot summer days.

A hidden nature reserve on the Greenwich Peninsula with ponds, wildflower meadows and free family wildlife activities.

Free weekly story time and rhyme sessions at Greenwich Library for babies and toddlers.

A beautifully designed playground with views of the Thames Barrier, featuring climbing frames, swings and splash play in summer.

A free splash park on Southend's seafront with jets, sprinklers and water cannons — a brilliant hot-weather day trip from East London.

A community garden near the Olympic Park offering family volunteering sessions, nature play and seasonal growing activities.

A well-equipped staffed adventure playground offering free after-school and holiday activities for local children.

A beautifully quirky university museum housing around 67,000 specimens — from complete skeletons to microscopic creatures preserved in glass jars. Small, child-friendly and completely free. A hidden gem that sparks real curiosity in young minds.

One of the most family-friendly free museums in London, with close to 100 aircraft on display across vast hangars. The 4D Theatre and Flight Simulator are huge hits, plus Little Swifts sessions for younger children. Free tickets must be pre-booked online.

The world-famous modern art gallery on the South Bank offers free family trails, Uniqlo Tate Play and Tate Draw — all designed to engage children with contemporary art in a fun, accessible way. New exhibitions launch regularly. Free entry to main galleries.

Discover ancient civilisations from Greece, Egypt, Persia and beyond with free family trails, school holiday workshops and the world's greatest collection of human history. Museum Explorer Trails and Minecraft Masterpieces make this brilliant for older children.

A reimagined branch of the V&A co-designed with young people, specifically for children and families. Explore design, imagination and play across three floors with sensory areas, sandpits, a storytelling stage and a finger skateboard park. Completely free.

A wonderfully eclectic and beloved South London gem with anthropology collections, musical instruments, a butterfly house, aquarium and 16 acres of gardens. Free entry to the museum and gardens, with paid add-ons. Perfect for a whole day with little ones.

A powerful and surprisingly family-friendly museum covering World War I and II with human stories at its heart. Free entry, regular storytelling for families, and a Flight Academy activity. The Churchill War Rooms and changing exhibitions add further depth.

Home to the iconic blue whale skeleton 'Hope', dinosaur galleries and 4.6 billion years of Earth's history. Permanently free with spectacular temporary exhibitions. A classic London family day out that never disappoints.

An absorbing look at London's river and dock history, housed in a 19th-century warehouse. Mudlarks (£3.50 per person, book ahead) is an award-winning interactive gallery for under-8s with water tables, sensory play and role-play activities. Free entry to main museum.

The world's largest maritime museum, set in Greenwich with stunning park views. The AHOY! gallery for 0–7s is an immersive soft play with a maritime theme — children can stoke boilers, fire cannons and explore a ship's cabin. Free entry.