Family outings in London

Broad Walk, Kensington Gardens, W2 2UH

London's best-known playground, next to Kensington Palace, renewed in 2026; very busy at weekends, arrive at opening time.

Regent's Park, NW1 4NR

Rose garden, boating lake, London's largest sports area, playgrounds, and the Primrose Hill view for an afternoon snack.

Richmond, TW10 5HS

London's largest park, with free-roaming deer, the Isabella Plantation and miles of tracks for children's bikes.

Hampstead, NW3

Swimming ponds, kites on Parliament Hill, playground and paddling pool in summer: the countryside in north London.

Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ

Two hundred riverside acres: lake, promenade, renewed toddler and junior playground, and the paid Children's Zoo for ages 2 to 15.

93 Guilford Street, WC1N 1DN

Seven acres for children in Bloomsbury: playgrounds, animals, paddling pool, cafés; adults only enter with a child.

Stratford, E20

The 2012 Olympic legacy in Stratford: Tumbling Bay playground, fountains to run through in summer, Olympic pool and velodrome.

Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, E14 3HP

London's largest city farm, free, on the Isle of Dogs with a view of Canary Wharf; llamas, sheep and a riding centre.

Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AE

The royal botanic gardens in Richmond, thirty minutes from the centre: Victorian glasshouses, treetop walkway and the Children's Garden for ages 2 to 12, included in the paid entry with no booking needed.

Ilchester Place, W8 6LU

Kensington's elegant park: adventure playground, two play areas for under-5s and ages 5 to 14, the Japanese Kyoto Garden, café; open from 7:30 until dusk.

Outer Circle, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY

The Regent's Park zoo, open daily from 10am except Christmas Day: gorillas, tigers, penguins and the ZooTown play area; paid entry, cheaper booked online.

Cromwell Road, South Kensington, SW7 5BD

Dinosaurs, blue whale and the volcano gallery: the favourite museum of 3 to 10-year-olds, next to the Lycée français; free, booking advised at weekends.

Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PA

The design and play museum for ages 0 to 14, in Bethnal Green: Play, Imagine and Design galleries, free.

100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ

Aquarium, giant walrus, musical instruments to try and gardens with a view in south London; free except the aquarium and butterfly house.

No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, E14 4AL

The history of London's docks in a Canary Wharf warehouse, with the Mudlarks gallery where under-8s play at being dockers; free.

Bankside, SE1 9TG

Free modern art in a former power station, the Turbine Hall to run around and the panoramic terrace; family workshops at weekends.

Romney Road, Greenwich, SE10 9NF

Ships, pirates and the Ahoy! gallery for under-7s, at the foot of Greenwich Park and the Observatory; free.

383-387 High Street, Stratford, E15 4QZ

A story and imagination centre for ages 0 to 11 in Stratford: worlds to explore, garden, storytelling sessions; paid entry.

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN

The old masters, free, on Trafalgar Square; children's trails and family workshops, before the lions outside.

Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD

Rockets, steam engines and the hands-on Wonderlab gallery (paid): the Natural History Museum's neighbour, free, book online at weekends.

Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3DG

Mummies, the Rosetta Stone and the Great Court: free, with a free ticket to book for faster entry, family activities and backpacks at the Families Desk.

Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB

The Crown Jewels, the ravens and the Yeoman Warder tours: paid, run by Historic Royal Palaces, allow three hours and book ahead.

Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 7BB

Buses, Tube carriages and trams to climb aboard in Covent Garden: free for under-18s, adult ticket valid a year.

15-20 Phoenix Place, WC1X 0DA

The underground Mail Rail ride and the Sorted! play space for under-8s, near King's Cross; paid, Sorted! is booked separately.

17 Queensberry Place, South Kensington, SW7 2DT

The heart of French reading in London: children's space, Art Deco reading room, digital library, next to the Ciné Lumière.

The central network (Marylebone, Pimlico, Paddington, Maida Vale, Church Street) with baby sessions and summer reading challenges for children.

21 Surrey Quays Road, SE16 7AR

The flagship library of the south-east, on the Canada Water basin, with a large children's area; Southwark network.

321 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BU

Tower Hamlets' new-generation libraries: children's areas, classes and activities, open late and on Sundays.

Hackney (E5 à E9, N16)

Eight libraries, free membership even if you live outside the borough, free reservations for under-18s.

96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB

The national library, next to St Pancras: free treasures gallery, exhibitions and family events in the holidays.

7 Harrington Road, SW7 3ES

The French bookshop of South Kensington: picture books, children's novels, textbooks and French press.

Kensington Central Library, Phillimore Walk, W8 7RX

The library network of the French schools' borough (Kensington Central, Chelsea, Notting Hill Gate, Brompton, North Kensington): children's activities and resources, free membership.

Swiss Cottage Library, 88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA

Swiss Cottage, Kentish Town, Camden Town, Holborn: free weekday rhyme times for under-5s, large refurbished children's library at Swiss Cottage, near the CFBL.

17 Queensberry Place, South Kensington, SW7 2DT

Children's films in the original version at the Ciné Lumière, relaxed screenings, free art workshops on some holiday days.

Battersea Park et Hampstead Heath

Bilingual multi-activity camps for ages 4 to 13 at Battersea Park and Hampstead Heath during school holidays: sport, arts, drama, DBS-checked staff.

Fulham (SW6)

French-immersion holiday camps, French clubs, after-school clubs and home tutors, in Fulham.

Chelsea, Fulham et Notting Hill

French immersion for ages 6 months to 8 years since 1993: parent and child workshops, FLAM groups, camps in Chelsea, Fulham and Notting Hill.

5 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX

Cubs, scouts and guides in French from age 8, summer camps in the countryside; meetings at the Notre-Dame de France parish.

5 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX

London's French-speaking Catholic church, behind Leicester Square: Mass in French, catechism, youth chaplaincy and community life.

The federation of FLAM little schools in the UK: directory of Saturday structures near you, to keep up the French of children in English schools.

Hyde Park, W2

Ice rink, rides, Christmas market and shows in Hyde Park, mid-November to early January; entry booked online, free at some times.

Chinatown et Trafalgar Square, WC2

Parade, lion dances and stalls, from Chinatown to Trafalgar Square, on a Sunday in January or February; very busy, come early with a pushchair.

Domaines autour de Londres

At Easter, egg hunt trails in National Trust properties around London (Osterley, Ham House, Morden Hall Park); family membership pays off after a few visits.

Horse Guards Parade, SW1A

The King's birthday parade on Horse Guards Parade in June: horses, guards and a flypast, watched for free from the Mall.

Inner Circle, Regent's Park, NW1 4NU

Open-air theatre from May to September, with a family production every summer; picnics allowed before the show.

Hyde Park, W2 2UH

Open-air swimming in the Serpentine, paddling pool and playground, open in summer; one of the few central lidos.

Notting Hill, W10 et W11

The Caribbean carnival of Notting Hill, end of August: Sunday is for children and costumes, Monday for the big sound systems.

Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY

North London's big Bonfire Night fireworks, early November, with ice rink and funfair; tickets to book.

Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX

The riverside arts centre: more than half its events free, family workshops every holiday, Winter Market from November to Christmas and summer festivals.

Brighton, East Sussex

The pebble beach, the pier with its rides, the Lanes and the Sea Life centre: one hour from Victoria, London Bridge or St Pancras.

Windsor, Berkshire

The castle, the changing of the guard, the Great Park and Legoland Windsor for ages 2 to 12; one hour from Waterloo or Paddington.

Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR

The original film sets at Leavesden: twenty minutes by train from Euston to Watford Junction then shuttle; booking essential, well ahead in the holidays.

Cambridge

The colleges, punting on the Cam and the free Fitzwilliam Museum; fifty minutes from King's Cross.

Oxford

The Harry Potter colleges, the natural history museum and the Pitt Rivers, free and loved by children; one hour from Paddington or Marylebone.

Exceat, Seaford, BN25 4AD

The white chalk cliffs and the beach at Cuckmere Haven: the big nature outing of the year, two hours by train and bus via Brighton or Seaford.

Warwick Road, Beaconsfield, HP9 2PL

The world's oldest model village, with its trains, in Beaconsfield: a joy for 3 to 8-year-olds, thirty minutes from Marylebone.

Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7LB

Gentle walks, stepping stones across the Mole and views over Surrey; Box Hill & Westhumble station an hour from Victoria or Waterloo.

East Molesey, KT8 9AU

Henry VIII's palace, thirty-five minutes by train from Waterloo: hedge maze, Magic Garden playground and Tudor kitchens, included in the paid entry.

Windsor, SL4 1NJ

The royal residence and St George's Chapel, open Thursday to Monday; changing of the guard at 11am on some days inside the grounds; ticket convertible into an annual pass.