Great places to go with children!

Great London attractions for your kids!

London is rich in magical attractions for children and can be exciting, educational and great fun for all the family.

A tip to bear in mind is that most of London's attractions sell excellent value family tickets, which are usually for 2 adults and 2 to 4 children.

Information is correct at time of writing, but please check with each attraction before your visit.

So load up with the energy packs and try some out!

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Arsenal Museum

Arsenal Stadium, Avenell Road, London N5
Tel: 020 7704 4000

  London underground station: Arsenal

Open: Fri 0930-1600

Famous premier football club has worldwide fans that come to see Charlie George's double medals. There are interactive video games to test your knowledge and you can see the club's history on film. There is also a 1.25 hour stadium tour (book in advance; £4.00).

Admission: adult £2.00 child £1.00



Battersea Park Children's Zoo

Battersea Park, London SW11
Tel: 020 8871 7540

  London underground station: Sloane Square, train station: Battersea Park

Open: Sat, Sun 1100-1500

Based at a central London park this small children's zoo features farmyard animals, a reptile house, meerkat and mongoose, pony rides, monkeys and flamingos.

Admission: adult £1.10 child 60 pence



Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood

Cambridge Heath Road, London E2
Tel: 020 8980 2415/3204

  London underground station: Bethnal Green

Open: Mon-Thu, Sat 1000-1750, Sun 1430-1750. Closed Fridays, 24-26 Dec and 1 Jan

The National Museum of Childhood has a superb collection of toys, dolls, dolls' houses, puppets, toy theatres and games, children's costume and nursery furniture. There are children's activities on Saturdays and during the holidays. Free admission



Chelsea Football Club

Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London SW6
Tel: 020 7385 0710

  London underground station: Fulham Broadway

There is a weekly tour (except during school holidays) around this Premier League Football Club.



Chessington World of Adventures

Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey
Tel: 01372 727227

Train station: Chessington South then 10 minutes walk Bus Green Line 777 from Victoria coach station

Open: Mar-Nov daily 1000-1730 (last admission 1500). During Jul and Aug open until 2100 with reduced entry prices (last admission 1900)

On the outskirts of Greater London this is a major Theme Park and Fun Fair with over 100 thrilling attractions and rides including the Vampire roller coaster, Terrortomb Dark Ride and the new attraction, the rattlesnake - the ride that bites back! Also Zoo and Circus world and Skyway monorail.

Admission: adult £19.00 child £15.00



Commonwealth Experience

Kensington High Street, London W8
Tel: 020 7371 3530

  London underground station: High Street Kensington

Open: daily 1000-1700

Exhibition covering the cultures of over 40 Commonwealth countries with a fun-packed adventure around the globe. Features Hellride, a simulated helicopter ride over Malaysian rain forests and city rooftops and Interactive World, a 'hands-on' activity centre that illuminates the fascinating world of natural phenomena.

Admission: adult £4.45 child £2.95



Golden Hinde

St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street, London SE1
Tel: 020 7403 0123

  London underground station/train station: London Bridge

Open: 0900-sunset, daily

A full sized reconstruction of the warship in which Sir Francis Drake circum-navigated the world between 1577-1580. Tour the board of decks, cannons, galleys etc.

Admission: adult £2.30 child £1.50



House of Detention

Clerkenwell Close, London EC1
Tel: 020 7493 1089

  London underground station: Farringdon

Open: daily 1000-1800

In years gone by it was London's busiest prison with 70,000 prisoners a year. Experience 300 years of crime and punishments in these underground vaults.

Admission: adult £4.00 child £2.00



Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens)

Kew, Richmond, Surrey Tel; 020 8940 1171

  London underground station/train station: Kew Gardens, train station: Kew Bridge

Open: daily 0930. Closing between 1600-1930 according to time of year. Closed 25 Dec, 1 Jan

Once belonging to the Royal Family with 300 acres of beautiful specimen gardens, parkland, lake, water gardens and hot-houses it contains living collections of over 40,000 plant species and varieties. Also six glasshouses, two art galleries, visitors' centre, Evolution House, restored Japanese Gateway and landscape.

Admission: adult £5.00 child £2.50



Legoland

Winkfield Road, Windsor Park, Windsor, Berkshire
Tel: 0990 040404 Train station: Windsor then shuttle bus

Open: mid-Mar-end Oct, daily 1000-1800. In Aug daily until 2000

About 20 miles from Central London this Children's theme park is built from and around lego building blocks which appeals to the imagination and creativity of children of all ages; with over 40 rides, attractions and live-action shows set in 150 acres of landscaped parkland

Admission: adult £16.50 child £13.50



London Aquarium

The County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1
Tel: 020 7967 8000

  London underground station: Westminster/Blackfriars

  London underground station/train station: Waterloo

Open: daily 1000-1800. Closed 25 Dec

The new £25 million London Aquarium is one of Europe's largest exhibits of fish and marine life featuring thousands of aquatic specimens with over 350 species of fish from all over the world. Killer sharks to spectacular moon jellies, sea horses, stingrays and octopus.

Admission: adult £8.00 child £5.00 family ticket £22.00



London Balloon

Spring Gardens, Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, London SE11
Tel: 0345 023842

  London underground station/train station: Vauxhall

Open: daily 1000-dusk. Fri-Sun until 2400. Closed Dec 25

The world's largest helium balloon ride carries up to 30 people to a height of 500 feet offering fantastic panoramic views of London.

Admission: adult £12.00 child £7.50 (12 years or under)



London Butterfly House

Syon Park, London Road, Brentford, Middlesex
Tel: 020 8847 0946

  London underground station: Gunnersbury, train station: Gunnersbury/Kew Bridge

Open: daily 1000-1700 (from 25 Oct-Dec closes at 1530). Closed Dec 25,26

Large undercover tropical garden in an exotic setting with ponds and water cascades filled with colourful flowers and hundreds of free-flying butterflies. Also in the Insect House there are exotic displays of giant spiders, leaf cutting ants, stick insects, locusts and snakes.

Admission: adult £2.90 child £1.85



London Dungeon

28-34 Tooley Street, London SE1
Tel: 020 7403 7221

  London underground station/train station: London Bridge

Open: Apr-Sep daily 1000-1830 (last admission 1730); Oct-Mar 1000-1730 (last admission 1630). Closed 25 Dec

The world's first medieval horror museum is famous for its gruesome and macabre scenes of medieval torture, murders and executions. Realistic scenes include The Great Fire of London, Jack the Ripper Experience and the Theatre of the Guillotine. There is also the 'Judgement Day' ride experience, which casts the visitor in the role of the condemned, where you board a barge to travel along a waterway to meet your fate!

Admission: adult £8.95 child £6.50



London Planetarium

Marylebone Road, London NW1
Tel: 020 7486 1121

  London underground station: Baker Street

Open: star shows last 30 mins and take place Mon-Fri from 1220 and then every 40 mins until 1700 (last show). On Sat, Sun and during school holidays shows take place every 40 mins from 1020 to 1700. Closed 25 Dec

Experience a virtual reality trip through the gallery of astronomy and space travel before taking your reclining seat for the star show 'Planetary Quest'.

Admission: adult £5.85 child £3.85



London Toy and Model Museum

21-23 Craven Hill, London W2
Tel: 020 7706 8000

  London underground station: Lancaster Gate,

  London underground station/train station: Paddington

Open: daily 0900-1730

Amongst the best toy collections in Europe showing the history and development of commercially made toys and models including dolls, teddies, Dinky toys, Meccano, clockwork planes, cars, rows of shops, regiments of soldiers and dolls' houses. Also a 1930s children's carousel ride and in the museum's garden there is the only miniature steam railway in London.

Admission: adult £5.00 child: £3.50



London Zoo

Regent's Park, London NW1
Tel: 020 7722 3333

  London underground station: Camden Town/Regent's Park

Open: Mar-Sep daily 1000-1730; Oct-Feb daily 1000-1600. Last admission 1 hour before. Closed 25 Dec

World's most famous zoo with over 8,000 animals and a daily programme of events including animal encounters, the Moonlight World, various rides and feed the animals. Admission; adult £8.50 child £6.00 family ticket for 2 adults 2 children £26.00



Madam Tussaud's

Marylebone Road, London NW1
Tel: 020 7935 6861

  London underground station: Baker Street

Open: Mon-Fri 1000-1730, Sat, Sun 0930-1730. During Easter, Jun, Jul and Aug open 0900-1730. Closed 25 Dec

World famous collection of wax figures of famous people in themed settings including Superstars, The Chamber of Horrors and 'The Spirit of London', a time-taxi trip through London's history.

Admission: adult £9.25 child £6.10



Namco Station

County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1
Tel: 020 7967 1066

  London underground station/train station: Westminster,

  London underground station/train station: Waterloo

Open: daily 1000-2400

Lots of fun and games with 250 video games, simulators, ten-pin bowling, laser shooting, American pool and turbo dodgems which are allegedly the fastest in Europe

Free admission



Natural History Museum

Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7
Tel: 020 7938 9123

  London underground station: South Kensington

Open: Mon-Sat 1000-1750, Sun, Bank Holidays 1100-1750. Closed 23-26 Dec

World's leading museum to the wonders of the natural world with hundreds of exciting attractions for all ages with moving beasts, the spectacular dinosaurs, 3D-Video magic and the dramatic new earthquake experience.

Admission free



Pollock's Toy Museum

1 Scala Street, London W1
Tel: 020 7636 3452

  London underground station: Goodge Street/Oxford Circus

Open: Mon-Sat 1000-1700

A charming museum, which is like a child-size doll's house with toy theatres, dolls, teddy bears, games and toys of all kinds.

Admission: £2.50 child £1.00



Rock Circus

London Pavilion, Piccadilly Circus, London W1
Tel: 020 7734 7203

  London underground station: Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Square

Open: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 1100-2100, Tue 1200-2100, Fri, Sat 1100-2200. During Easter and summer holidays 1000-2100. Closed 25 Dec

The 'rock'n' roll sister' to Madame Tussaud's celebrates the story of rock and pop music from the 1950's to the present day. Where with spectacular robotic figures, lasers and videos the spirit of rock speaks, sings, moves and touches you

Admission: adult £8.25 child £6.25



Science Museum

Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7
Tel: 020 7938 8000

  London underground station: South Kensington

Open: daily 1000-1800. Closed 24-26 Dec

Features the world's most comprehensive collections of science, technology, industry and medicine and includes an Apollo Space Rocket and Stephenson's Rocket. Galleries include five interactive galleries for children, Food for Thought Gallery, Space Gallery, Challenge of Materials Gallery and Secret Life of the Home.

Admission: adult £6.50 child £3.50 - but free to all after 4.30pm



Sega World (in the Trocadero Centre)

1 Piccadilly Circus, London W1
Tel: 020 7734 2777

  London underground station: Piccadilly Circus

Open: daily 1000-2400 (until 0100 Fri and Sat). Closed 25 Dec

World's largest futuristic indoor entertainment park with six floors of some of the world's best interactive rides set in themed areas together with high-tech video games.



Thorpe Park

Staines Road, Chertsey, Surrey
Tel: 01932 562633/569393 Train station: Staines

Open: Mar-Oct

About 20 miles from central London a wonderful theme park offering thrills and excitement. Rides and attractions include Logger's Leap, Depth Charge and No Way Out - the world's first backward ride.

Admission: adult £16.50 child £15.95



Trocadero (Includes Segaworld)

1 Piccadilly Circus, London W1
Tel: 020 7434 0030

  London underground station: Piccadilly Circus

Open: daily 1000-midnight. Closed 25 Dec

The largest one-stop entertainment destination house in Europe with white knuckle rides, state of the art video games, hi-tech exhibitions, screen entertainment's, attractions and themed restaurants. Attractions include Segaworld, Pepsi MAX Drop Ride which drops you 120 ft, Madame Tussaud's Rock Circus, Funland and Laserbowl, Virgin Multiplex 3D Cinema, Planet Hollywood and Rainforest Café. Free admission



Wembley Stadium Tours

Wembley Stadium, Wembley, Middlesex
Tel: 020 8902 8833

  London underground station: Wembley Park, train station: Wembley Central

Open: Apr-Sep, daily tours from 1000-1600; Oct-Mar, daily tours from 1000-1500 (last tour). No tours on Event days or 25-26 Dec

This world famous sporting venue offers behind-the-scenes tours, which includes the England Changing Room, Players Tunnel, Event Control Rooms, The Royal Box and the Television Studio

Admission: adult £7.45 child £5.25 (under 5's are free) Family Ticket £22.50



Whipsnade Wild Animal Park

Dunstable, Bedfordshire
Tel: 01582 872171

Train station: Luton then bus Bus: Green Line from Victoria (summer only)

Open: Easter-Sep, Mon-Sat 1000-1800, Sun, Bank Holiday Mon's 1000-1900; Feb-Easter, Oct 1000-dusk. Closed Nov-Jan

About 35 miles from Central London it is one of Europe's largest with over 2,500 animals in 600-acre setting of beautiful parkland. Features include Tiger Falls, penguin feed, sea-lions, children's farm, Elephant Encounter and the Great Whipsnade Railway.

Admission: adult £8.90 child £6.50