Things to do in London this weekend with kids
- Tracy Tristram
- 3 days ago
- 13 min read
Your weekly roundup of all the best things do in London this weekend with kids. Check back every week for updates and the full lowdown on the cool activities and events you need to know about in London town (and beyond). This is the ONLY guide you need for what's on in London for kids for 2025.
Cheer on the runners at the London Marathon
It's time again to cheer on the 56,000-ish runners who will be taking on a sightseeing tour of London in a test of determination and stamina. Come along, cheer and join in the feel-good factor at an event that really does bring together the whole of London and beyond. The course map is via the link below so you can pick your spot.
When: 27th April 2025
Where: All over London
Cost: Free to cheer
Explore the 53-acre home of 700 rescued animals
Our favourite place to see animals, Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, is open for another weekend of fun in the fresh air. Visit favourites like Chewie the alpaca, Darwin the rhea, Doris the donkey, Wendy the pony and Simon the sheep. If you do decide to visit then every penny of profit goes back into caring for the nearly 700 rescued animals that call the sanctuary home.
When: Open Friday to Monday, 10am to 3pm
Where: Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9BZ
Cost: From £6 (under 2s free)
Catch a West End Musical
Whether you decide to defy gravity at Wicked, get your moon dance on at MJ the Musical, or catch Mean Girls before it finishes in a few weeks, there are soooo many amazing West End Musicals happening, and we know the best place to book them... via Official London Theatre. We've been busy watching lots of family faves, so keep your eyes peeled in the coming weeks for all our reviews - we're beefing up the theatre section of the London for Kidz website as we think it happens to be a particuarly wonderful thing to do in London this weekend with kids and all the weekends!
Check out the thrills 'n' spills of Thorpe Park
With rides for little ones to adventure-seeking teens, there's something for the whole family at Thorpe Park, and we challenge you all to try Hyperia - next level awesome! Book via the link below for the best deals.
When: Open daily from 10am
Where: Staines Rd, Chertsey KT16 8PN Cost: From £28
Blast down the Thames like a Rebel
Now here's a high speed activity that's guaranteed to thrill! Revved up and raring to fly, the Thames Rockets team will take you on a sightseeing tour like no other and one packed not just with high speeds, but with lots of humour and banter too. The perfect combo! Plus, launched just last week, is the brand new Rebel Rocket! This brand new, 24-seater has all the fun of the original tours but in a bigger, high octane version that we know you’re going to love. It just launched this month and we already tried itin the name of research - cannot actually recommend it more. Do it, rebels!
When: Daily, various times
Where: Boarding Gate One, The, London Eye Millennium Pier, London SE1 7PB
Cost: From £39.95 for kids and £44.95 per adult
Go to a museum with a Twist
Now here’s a #londonadventure that will literally blow your mind! We London for Kidz girlz took ourselves to the Twist Museum (which stands for The Way I See Things) for an immersive experience which was - we’re not gonna lie - at times a tad trippy. Developed in collaboration with some seriously clever artists, neuroscientists and philosophers, Twist Museum deffo needs to be on your 'things to do with kids in London this weekend' radar.
When: Open daily from 11am in the week, and 10am at weekends
Where: 248 Oxford St, London W1C 1DH
Cost: From £16.50 per person
Head into the sky on the London Eye
For a birdseye view of the London skyline it doesn't get much better than the iconic London Eye. Our advice? Combine it with a visit to the nearby and super delish Southbank Food Market for a refreshment pitstop.
When: Open daily from 11am during the week, and 10am at weekends
Where: Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB
Cost: From £29
Immerse yourself in all things Friends
Step into the iconic world of Friends and explore interactive set recreations for a nostalgia-packed immersive experience. Get your cameras out and re-create your favourite scenes from the show; pose in front of the fountain, peep through the iconic purple door at Rachel and Monica’s apartment, play foosball at Joey and Chandler’s and take a selfie on the orange couch in Central Perk.e o
When: 10am until 7pm daily
Where: Immerse LDN, ExCeL Waterfront, E16 1XL Cost: From £20 for adults and from £5 for children (under 3s are free)
n the orange couch in Central Perk.
Head somewhere where everything is awesome
There's always a ton of adventure to be had at Legoland Windsor from rides to workshops, adventure golf to VIP experiences. We were there recently and had the BEST time racing on roller coasters, being bounced around on rides and, of course, meeting Ninjago heroes and checking out all the amazing Lego models. Head to the link below for all the deets.
When: Open daily from 10am
Where: LEGOLAND Windsor, Winkfield Road, Windsor SL4 4AY
Go on a most Shrekcellent adventure
We checked out Shrek's Adventure! London recently and had a blast. Check out our review here and then book tix for your own rib tickling activity winner. Even our moody tween (who made his cousin pose with Shrek instead of him) cracked the odd smile!
When: Open daily, 10am to 5pm
Where: Shrek's Adventure! London, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7PB.
Cost: Adults from £30 (online discount), and children from £24 (age 3 to 15 years). Children age 2 and below are free.
Challenge the family to carnival-themed crazy golf
Good news alert! If you’re looking for a fun-packed activity in #londontown that’s sure to be a hole in one with the whole family, then you need Swingers West End on your radar! Expect a fabulous blend of crazy golf, delish street food (including top notch vegan options), most excellent cocktails / mocktails and a British sea-side feel arcade packed with retro games such as Whack a Mole and a digital Coconut Shy at its new family-friendly Sunday sessions. Usually Swingers is adults only so we’re loving this new initiative for quality family time in a lovely setting. Kiddos must be 7+ years to play crazy golf, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a grown up, and under 18s must vacate the venue by 6pm.
When: Every Sunday until 6pm
Where: Swingers West End, 15 John Prince's St, London W1G 0AB
Cost: From £12 per person
See London - on a bus
How about a kid-friendly sightseeing bus tour of London? Tootbus has several routes to choose from and sights can include famous sights from the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey, to Pall Mall, Piccadilly Circus, Downing Street and more.
When: Daily, various times
Where: Board at Haymarket
Cost: From £22 for a child (4-12 y), From £39 per adult, family discounts available.
Enjoy art - digitally
We checked out Frameless London recently and were blown away. With the weather being a bit moody right now this is the perfect activity in London with kids that will be hit with all ages. Frameless is redefining the experiential immersive art world and is the largest permanent multi-sensory experience in the UK. Our advice? Give it a go!
When: Open daily
Where: 6 Marble Arch, London W1H 7AP
Cost: From £17 for kids and £27 for adults. Family tickets available.
Hang out with your famous friends
We say head to Madame Tussauds London and get a selfie with a wax model so real, you'll have all your friends fooled. Filled with multiple exciting and interactive zones, including the amazing Marvel Super Heroes 4D movie experience, Madame Tussauds London combines glitz and glamour with incredible history for a family hit of an adventure in London this weekend. And who wouldn't want to hang out with Harry Styles anyway?
When: Open daily Where: Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR
Cost: From £26 per child and £29 per adult. Best rates via link below.
Go around the world in a 90 minute tour around the British Museum
Explore some of the most famous objects on display at the Museum on a guided highlights tour recommended for children (and their adults) age 12 and above.
When: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am and 2pm
Where: The British Museum,
Cost: £14 per person
Power Up at the Science Museum
Calling all gamers to the Science Museum! Immerse yourselves in a hands-on gaming experience, featuring the very best video games and consoles from the past 50 years. From Pong to Pacman, Minecraft to Mario, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a retro games fan, a serious gamer or just want to beat your family at Mario Kart. Play against friends in multiplayer showdowns, rediscover your childhood favourites and test out some of the latest next-gen virtual reality experiences in this ultimate interactive gaming experience.
When: Open daily
Where: Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
Cost: It's free admission into the museum, but Power Up is from £10 for a day pass, and from £15 for an annual pass
Explore London Wetlands
Did you know that London, the urban jungle we call home, actually has its own wetlands? It's a must visit place to not only spot all kinds of wildlife, but is the place to keep the kids busy with rope bridges, pond dipping, a mud kitchen and amazing trails.
When: Daily from 10am until 5pm
Where: London Wetlands, Queen Elizabeth Walk, London SW13 9WT
Cost: Children under 4 are free. Children 4+ from £10.72 and adults from £16.54. www.wwt.org.uk
Keep the kids busy with messy play
We love, love, love everything about Art Play nestled in the Old Spitalfields market part of the city, and can highly recommend its cool weekend classes. There are all kinds of sessions for the whole family, you don't have to do the clearing up AND there's a bar on the premises All the wins.
When: Every Saturday, various times
Where: Art Play, Old Spitalfields Market, E1
Cost: Various depending on class.
Go wild at the NHM London
Explore the natural world in all its fragility and diversity at the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, where 100 powerful photographs tell the story of a planet under pressure. And once you're done with that you still have the rest of this amazing museum to explore.
When: Open daily.
Where: Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London
Cost: Free for members, from £15 per adult and £9 per child
Travel back in time to the days of Shakespeare's London
Visit the Globe's brand-new, walk-through exhibition space, and you’ll be immersed in the sights, sounds, and secrets of Shakespeare’s London, travelling through over 400 years of fascinating history. You’ll be able to relive some of The Globe's iconic shows with seasonally curated displays, and even have the chance to get ready for the stage yourself with interactive costumes and props.
When: Ongoing
Where: 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT
Cost: From £18 per person
www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/shakespeares-globe-story-and-tour
Visit Ancient Egypt... at Westfield!
Brand new and located at Westfield Stratford City, Horizon of Khufu is a new virtual reality experience showcasing Ancient Egypt that features innovative VR technology developed in partnership with a leading Egyptologist and team from Harvard University. Voyage back in time 4,500 years ago to Ancient Egypt to the land of the Pharaohs in an Immersive Expeditions suitable for anyone age-8 and older. We tried it (and LOVED it) a few weeks ago so look out for our review, coming soon! When: Open daily 10am until 10pm (12pm until 6pm on Sundays)
Where: London Stratford Westfield City, 157 Montfichet Road, London E20 1EJ Cost: From £39 www.horizonkheops.com/en/
Have a friendly (mostly!) family battle
Laser Quest over in the east of town has a special promo on making this fun family activity an affordable winner for the weekend. If you're early birds over the weekend then check out its Zappy Hour special offers!
Where: Laser Quest Romford, 57-59 High St, Romford RM1 1JL
Cost: From £12.95 per game
Get your craft on: for free
Head along to the Kids Craft club for a fun, free event at Wood Street Library. When: Every Saturday, 3pm-4pm
Where: Wood Street Library, 1 Troubridge Square, Walthamstow, London E17 3GN
Cost: Free www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wood-street-library
Ditch the kids and go on a date
For a night full of laughs sail on over to The Boat Show Comedy Club aboard The Tattershall Castle, which you'll find on Victoria Embankment. You deserve this, parents.
When:,Every Friday and Saturday, 7pm
Where: The Tattershall Castle, Victoria Embankment
Cost: From £18 per person.
Fling yourself off of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Now here's a fun-packed adventure the kids are sure to love: the Dare Skywalk over at Tottenham Hospur FC! You'll need a head for heights when climbing to the top of the stadium before standing at more than 46 metres high above the famous pitch below. And if you're over 12, then you can also fling yourself off the side: abseil style! Which is exactly what Mum was about to do in that pic above.
The Dare Skywalk is open to children from the age of 8, and for younger fam-members there's the rather excellent stadium tour for families: check out our review of that right here.
When: Various times Where: Lilywhite House 782 High Road London N17 0BX Cost: From £44 for adults and £33.50 for kids. Member discount available.
Hop aboard a floating museum
For an interactive gem of a day out it doesn't get much better for families than hopping aboard HMS Belfast. We recently checked it out and it was a huge success with the kids: even the teenager! All the wins and a surprisingly cool adventure. Read our full review here.
When: Open daily 10:00am - 5:00pm
Where: The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2JH
Cost: Adults from £23.60. Members and under-fives free.
Flex your palaeontologist skills: VR Style
New adventure kid on the block DIVR Labs has brought a prehistoric world to Westfield London and we had a blast checking it out. With its state of the art VR system and a huge arena to explore, this is a roarsome activity the whole gang will love. Suitable for kiddos age around 7 and up, this Virtual Reality experience will take you on a mission around prehistoric terrain that features not just mindbogglingly real swamps, volcanoes and landscapes, but also a life-sized T-rex amongst other dinos. A huge hit here for Team London for Kidz and, if you're game, we happen to have a 15% saving for you. Just pop the code TRACY15 in at checkout and voila: a lovely saving.
When: Daily, various times
Where: Westfield London Shopping Centre Ariel Way, London W12 7GF Cost: From £27.45 per person (before discount) www.divrlabs.com/global
Things to do in London this weekend with kids: Farmer's Market
Shady tree lined Phillimore Walk is the perfect place for a farmer's market and that's what you'll find there this Sunday: rain or shine. We're talking fresh food in the fresh air including from freshly caught fish and shellfish, seasonal fruit, vegetables, pies, bread, seasonal game, free range and organic eggs plus poultry, meat, preserves, flowers and much more. Happy browsing!
When: Every Sunday, 10am-2pm
Cost: Free admission
Have an awesome time at Lego Club
It's free and it's awesome: yep, it's the weekly Lego Club held at Blackfen Community Library every Saturday. Unleash your inner Master Builder and have a fun, family time whipping up creations galore. If the whole team are on board then make sure to book a family table to play and create together on.
When: Every Saturday, 10-11am
Where: Blackfen Community Library and Rooted Coffee House, Blackfen Road, Blackfen DA15 9LU
Cost: Free but make sure to register.
Discover a love of art at Tate Modern
Entry to the gallery remains free for everyone, with a charge for some exhibitions, and we love that Tate Modern has a whole programme for families. Booking is needed for exhibitions, but tickets are available on the door. You don’t need to be an expert to look at or talk about art and Tate encourages this for kids with plenty of activity ideas designed with them in mind. It's ok to talk at Tate and noise is encouraged! Check out its website before you go for the family fun that includes workshops, tactile activities and plenty more.
When: open daily, 10am - 6pm
Where: 53 Bankside, Bankside SE1 9TG
Cost: Free admission
Check out a quirky, free museum
An aquarium, a butterfly house and the vast collections of well-travelled Victorian tea trader and philanthropist Frederick John Horniman, this wonderful gem of a museum is a treasure trove packed with anthropology, natural history and a stack load of curiosities. It's free to get into the museum and gardens but do book your spot ahead of time.
When: Open daily except Wednesdays
Where: 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ
Cost: Free (small charge for the aquarium, butterfly house and some exhibitions). Donations welcome.
Get down to a city farm
We've got not 1, not 2, not even 3 but 10 udderly fabulous farms and animal sanctuaries for you to check out in and around London this weekend and beyond.
Discover London's dark history
If it's a day out with a difference you're after when it comes to things to do in London with kids, then Clink Prison Museum is exactly the kinda gruesomely good adventure you're after. Read our review on one of the best museums in London when it comes to hands-on, historic family fun and then get yourselves over there this weekend. When: 10am-6pm daily Where: 1 Clink Street, London SE1 9DG (nearest station: London Bridge)
Cost: From £6.50 per person
Check out the oldest natural history collection in the UK
Pickled brains, bones aplenty and over 68,000 zoological specimens: For an unusual day out in London with kids it doesn't get much quirkier than this! Head over to The Grant Museum of Zoology for a fascinating journey around the animal kingdom through a heap of family activities: all for free!
When: Every Saturday 11am-5pm
Where: Grant Museum of Zoology, Rockefeller Building, University College London, 21 University Street, WC1E 6DE
Cost: Free, and no booking currently required
Go on a free walking tour
The City of London has been plagued by disaster for Centuries and this free walking tour will take you to some of the historical sites you might not otherwise know about. From Pudding Lane (where the Great Fire of London started) to Roman ruins, mass plague graveyards to execution sites from the middle ages, this is a fascinating, guided tour not to be missed. When: Every Saturday, 2.30pm sharp
Where: Monument Station: look out for your guide carrying a green umbrella
Cost: Free
Now you're all set for a weekend in London, don't forget to #londonforkidz on your social media platforms so we can see what you got up to.
Psst: if you have an event that you would like featured in our weekly 'things to do in London this weekend' guide then drop us an email on tracytristram@londonfordkidz.com to find out more.
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