Fact: Hangry kids are the worst kinda kids! Thankfully, we know exactly where the best family friendly restaurants in London are at: the ones perfect for a pit stop after a day of adventuring around town. Read on for our fave eateries in London where fun is on the menu and easy dining is the dish of the day.
Purezza
If it’s a vegan family-friendly restaurant with sustainable ethics that you’re after, then look no further than the UK’s first vegan pizzeria, Purezza. Head over to Camden for a slice of the yummy action and don’t forget to try one our fave pizza creations of all time: BBQ Bourbon which is a white base covered with fable mushrooms marinated with Bourbon Whiskey and BBQ sauce, kimchi and parsley. Whether you’re vegan or not, this will send those taste buds into overdrive. Not only is it kid friendly (and includes kids eat free deals) but it's dog friendly too: doughtally awesome.
Purezza, 45-47 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7PN
Wright Brothers
After a busy day exploring all the things to do around Battersea Power Station, head to seafood experts, Wright Brothers, and check out its under the sea themed children’s menu, which makes it a great family friendly restaurant pick. Kids can enjoy smaller portions of popular dishes; fish & chips, mussels, a burger or pasta, and they will also get to dive into their creativity by colouring in and exploring under the sea with a children’s activity sheet.
Wright Brothers, 26 Circus West Village Battersea Power Station, London SW11 8EZ
Inamo
Asian tapas, Sichuan chicken, gyoza, sushi, Korean chicken wings - we're talking a delicious menu with a side order of interactive tables! Play over 20 games while waiting for your food including space invaders, pool, air hockey and more!
Inamo Soho, 134-136 Wardour Street, London W1F 8ZS
Inamo Covent Garden, 11-14 Hanover Place, London WC2E 9JP
Top Hat Restaurant
Do not pass go until you've tried a Monopoly-themed restaurant that's will definitely make you a winner in the kids' eyes. Inspired by the classic board game, choose from fun dishes including Cash Cow Burger and Mr Monopoly's Millionaire cheesecake, grab a bite either before or after a game of Monopoly Lifesized: an immersive, physical version of the world’s favourite family game played on a 15m x 15m lifesized Monopoly board!
Monopoly Lifesized, 213-215 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7PS www.monopolylifesized.com/the-top-hat-restaurant-bar
Puttshack
Score a family-dining hole in one by playing a game of mini golf while also filling the kids' boots with pizza, delish sharing platters (we especially love the crispy fried salmon sushi and red pepper hummus boats) and big,fat, juicy burgers. Oh, and did we mention the licensed bar? Win, win. Hot tip: if you’re going to be playing golf, make sure you book in advance. There’s nothing worse than tantrums over tacos if the kiddos don’t get to play!
Puttshack Bank, 1 Poultry, Queen Victoria Street, London, EC2R 8EJ
Puttshack Westfield, Ariel Way, London, W12 7HB
Puttshack Lakeside, The Quay intu, West Thurrock Way, Grays, Essex, RM20 2AD
Brigit's Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus
Okay, so not a restaurant, but still a worthy inclusion for a fun place to dine with kids in London! Choose from a classic afternoon tea or one of its themed afternoon tea tours including Paddington, The Grinch (Xmas time only), Peppa Pig and more. Fabulous food and fabulous sites: win win. Brigit's Afternoon Tea Bus, Routes start from Victoria Coach Station or Trafalgar Square. Pre-booking essential. www.b-bakery.com/london/bus-tours
All Star Lanes
Strike it lucky by combining a game of bowling with a kid's meal which includes any kids main, a soft drink, choice of a dessert or shake and one game of bowling! - all for £15 per child during the week and £17.5 at weekends and school holidays. The US diner-style food will certainly keep the kids’ tums full, and the chance to beat mum and dad with a spot of bowling will definitely seal the happiness deal.
All Star Lanes Holborn, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Place, Holborn, London WC1B 4DA
All Star Lanes Brick Lane, 95 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL
All Star Lanes Westfield Stratford, Montfichet Road, London E20 1ET
All Star Lanes Westfield Shepherd’s Bush, Ariel Way, London W12 7FU
Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium
This one is only purr-fect if you have kids age 12 years or up (there is strictly no admission for small humans below this age), but with a menu that has us feline full and its well looked after, off-the-scale-cute rescue kitties, this charming cat café hits the family-friendly dining spot.
Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, 152-154 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 6DG
Mudchute Kitchen
Set in the courtyard with a bird’s eye view of the horses, this London city farm is not only a fun-packed and educational day out for the whole fam, but its lovely little café is low in cost and big on flavour too. Pets are also welcome so make it a whole family affair and bring your fur babies too. The cafe is open until 5pm at the weekend, and until 3pm Wednesday to Friday (closed Monday and Tuesday). Hot tip: Entry into Mudchute Park & Farm is absolutely free.
Mudchute Kitchen, Mudchute Park & Farm, Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, London E14 3HN
Din Tai Fung
While there are no themes or activities to be found at Din Tai Fung, there is a whole lot of happiness to be had in its little parcels of delicious dim sum. Originally from Taiwan, and with a Michelin star accolade to the brand name, kids will love the top notch food in this Covent Garden, Selfridges or Tottenham Court Road based restaurant. It's also great fun teaching them to use chopsticks (pictured top with our own roving reporter), plus if your kids are anything like ours, once they’re done stuffing themselves with delectable pork dumplings, they’ll want to watch the chefs at work making all that dim sum: there’s a window through to where all the magic is happening!
Din Tai Fung, 5 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8PT
11 St Giles Square, Centre Point, London, WC2H 8AP
Selfridges, 4th Floor, 400 Oxford Street, London W1A 1AB
The Rosendale
Originally a Victorian coaching Inn, not only does this lovely pub welcome kids (up until 8pm), it also serves up super tasty seasonal and sustainable food. Whether you’re looking for vegan dishes or delectable steaks, there’s something on the menu for all. Add in an award-winning selection of wines, large range of local ales plus table tennis, colouring books and crayons, table football, a toddler zone and climbing frames, and you’ve found yourself one of the best places to dine with kids in all of London. You’re welcome.
The Rosendale, 65 Rosendale Road, West Dulwich, London SE21 8EZ
Café Murano
For amazing Italian food created by celeb chef, Angela Harnett, Cafe Murano is where it’s at. These gastronomic eateries, located in Bermondsey, St James’ and Covent Garden, are a more chilled version of Hartnett's Michelin-starred Murano in Mayfair (and the prices are more wallet-friendly too). Kids will love the mix and match £10 children’s menu at the Covent Garden branch. Tasty tip: Adults can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but our faves include the salt cod fritters with parmesan and lemon, the braised rabbit with olives and orzo, and the sea bream with fennel, chili and pistachio. Also, those roast spuds pictured above. Say no more.
Cafe Murano, 184 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ
Cafe Murano, 33 St James’ Street, London SW1A 1HD
Cafe Murano, 36 Tavistock Street, London WC2E 7PB
Archipelago
For the more adventurous kiddos, it's just got to be Archipelago where menu delights include python, kangaroo, crocodile and crickets: this really is the nearest the fam is going to get to a bush tucker trial this side of the world! The decor is as divine as the menu is diverse, making it one of our all-time favourite restaurants not just in London, but anywhere! Tasty tip: There are also standard classics on the menu including fish, vegetarian and chicken options if zebra and alpaca are not your taste bud bag.
Archipelago, 53 Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 4JJ
Marugame Udon
It's quick, it's easy and the food is delicious: yep, there are udons of reasons to head to a Marugame Udon when it comes to a family friendly restaurant in London. In the name of research we recently tried the O2 location and are happy to report that it was a huge thumbs up all round. With udon bowls starting from £3.45 and a delightfully good kids' menu including a bowl of deliciousness, a drink and an apple for £4.95, this is also a pick that won't pack too huge a child-shaped hole in your wallet! Kids will also love the 'serve yourself' concept and watching the chefs whip up the culinary delights behind the counter for sure.
8 locations around London including Liverpool Street, The 02, Bond Street and Waterloo, and more set to open soon.
The Attendant
Now here's an unusual pit stop for a coffee, brunch and loo break while your exploring London that the kids will love: a quirky café located in an actual toilet! Yep, just 5 minutes walk from Oxford Street, this former Victorian toilet has been lovingly transformed into one of London’s most unusual brunch spots, and it's open until 3pm every day. Potty humour at the ready, folks.
The Attendant, 27A Foley Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6DY
God's Own Junkyard
If you like your activities and your dining experience big, bright and 'grammable then you need God’s Own Junkyard on your neon radar. Expect a huge and eclectic collection (the largest in Europe in fact) of vintage neon signs to dazzle your eyeballs with and then pop into its onsite eatery, The Rolling Scones Café, for a dazzling array of bites to eat (open weekends only).
God's Own Junkyard, Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall Street, London E17 9HQ
Creative Biscuit
Creative Biscuit is more than just a family friendly restaurant in London, it's also a paint your own ceramics café! Located on the east of town in South Woodford the whole fam can get busy painting pottery and unleashing that inner creative genius.
Creative Biscuit Ceramics Café, 61 George Lane, South Woodford, E18 1JJ
Lost Souls Pizza
Black charcoal pizza, killer cocktails (for the grown ups),80's tunes and the lightest (albeit black) pizza base you'll ever taste and what have you got? The Lost Souls Pizza restaurant for vampires (and the occasional human too). Based in Camden, the kids are definitely going to want a slice of this pizzeria with a difference. Bloody Good Ragu, anyone?
Lost Souls Pizza, 245 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1BA
Top image: London for Kidz at Din Tai Fung
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