London is a great destination for families – there’s something to do around every corner. But with so much going on, it can be hard to decide which sights are ‘must-sees’ for you and the children.
We’ve listed the top 10 family attractions London has to offer so that you can make the most of your time in the city. Most family attractions are suitable for children of all ages but they’ll be particularly popular with children aged 4 to 14.
Shrek’s Adventure
South Bank, SE1
Tickets from £21.00: Shrek’s Adventure
Shrek’s Adventure is an interactive experience where you and the family are given the mission to find Shrek as you walk through the exhibit with the help of some family activities.
It’s a fun way to step into the enchanted kingdom of Far Far Away and meet the characters from the Shrek films. You also get to see classic sets from the Shrek universe, a live DreamWorks game show and a magic mirror maze.
To avoid crowds, visit Shrek’s adventure near the first or last admission (10 am or 2.45 pm). At busy times, queuing can last between 10 and 35 minutes.
We love
Younger kids will love exploring the Mirror Maze of Insanity and searching for sleeping beauty. There’s fun to be had in Farquaad’s Dungeon too, where you have to answer three questions to set Pinocchio free.
Shrek’s Adventure prices
Advance standard ticket prices start at £21 per adult and £16 per child when booked online. Kids under 2 go free but require a ticket.
Get special offers and discounts to Shrek’s Adventure in your inbox by signing up for Loopla’s weekly newsletter here.
Where to book Shrek’s Adventure
Visit the Shrek’s Adventure website for more information and to book tickets from £21.00: Shrek’s Adventure.
London Eye
South Bank, SE1
Tickets from £26.00: London Eye
This iconic London Ferris wheel is located on the south bank of the River Thames. From one of the London Eye’s glass pods, you get a 360-degree view of London’s skyline – including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and St Paul’s.
During the UK school holidays, the London Eye is busiest between 11 am and 3 pm. To get the most out of your experience, we recommend going during school term times or visiting early or late during school holidays.
We love
The London Eye has a range of exclusive and seasonal offers, including the option to book a Private Pod and a Champagne Experience in the Eye Lounge.
London Eye prices
Advance standard tickets cost £29 per adult and £26 per child when booked online. Kids under 2 go free but require a ticket.
You can get special offers and discounts to London Eye in your inbox by signing up for Loopla’s weekly newsletter: here.
Where to book the London Eye
Visit the London Eye website for more information and to book tickets from £26.00: The London Eye.
SEA LIFE Aquarium
South Bank, SE1
Tickets from £20.00: SEA LIFE Aquarium.
There’s plenty to do at SEA LIFE London, with 180,000 creatures to discover in over 50 aquariums. You can wander through the attraction’s underwater tunnels, feed turtles, meet penguins and even swim with sharks!
SEA LIFE is quietest on off-peak days, outside of public and school holidays. You can save money on tickets by booking entry for the last hour of the day.
We love
The rockpools at SEA LIFE are a fun and interactive way for young children to learn about the underwater world. Here, they can find out what stingray eggs and mermaid’s purses feel like!
SEA LIFE Aquarium prices
Advance, standard tickets cost £20 for adults and children when booked online. Kids under 2 go free but require a ticket.
Get special offers and discounts to SEA LIFE in your inbox by signing up for Loopla’s weekly newsletter here.
Where to book SEA LIFE Aquarium
Visit the SEA LIFE website for more information and to book tickets from £20.00: SEA LIFE.
The London Dungeon
South Bank, SE1
Tickets from £26.50: The London Dungeon
The London Dungeon tells stories of the capital’s chilling past, brought to life through interactive performances. Here you can learn about London’s haunting histories, including the Gunpowder Plot, the Plague and Sweeny Todd.
To avoid the crowds, book your tickets for first or last admission, or towards late afternoon. As this is a popular attraction, tickets can sell out quickly during peak holiday times and at weekends.
We love
The Dungeon’s 19 interactive shows offer opportunities for entertainment, education, and scary thrills! This is a great venue for older children aged 12 years and over.
The London Dungeon prices
Advance, standard tickets cost £26.50 per adult and £20.50 per child when booked online. Under 5’s are not allowed into the attraction.
Get special offers and discounts to The London Dungeon in your inbox by signing up for Loopla’s weekly newsletter: here.
Where to book The London Dungeon
Visit The London Dungeon website for more information and to book tickets from £26.50: The London Dungeon.
Madame Tussauds
Marylebone, NW1
Tickets from £29.00: Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is a famous wax museum featuring life-sized models from across history and the globe. Your family can take pictures with Queen Elizabeth I and II, Barack Obama, Spider-Man, Darth Vader, and many more famous characters!
To avoid crowds, we recommend visiting early in the morning, or from 2 pm onwards. The last admission is at 3 pm.
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The Marvel Universe 4D experience is an 8-minute 4D film, featuring wind-chilling, water-soaking and face-flinching special effects. In the movie, iconic Marvel heroes are invited to Buckingham Palace to receive awards from the Queen for their services.
Madame Tussauds prices
Advance standard tickets cost £29 per adult and £26 per child when booked online. Kids under 2 go free but require a ticket.
Get special offers and discounts to Madame Tussauds in your inbox by signing up for Loopla’s weekly newsletter: here.
Where to book Madame Tussauds
Visit the Madame Tussauds website for more information and to book tickets from £29: Madame Tussauds.
Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibit
Tower Hill, EC3N
Book admission and one hour tour: Tower of London & Crown Jewels Exhibit
The Tower of London is a 1,000-year-old castle with a gruesome history. Plenty of famous historical figures have been held captive, tortured and even executed there – including Anne Boleyn and Guy Fawkes.
While you’re there, you can walk along the battlements, admire the Crown Jewels, meet the Tower’s ravens, and learn the castle’s secrets on a Beefeater tour.
To avoid the crowds, we recommend visiting on weekdays and planning your trip early in the morning, at least before 3 pm.
We love
The Medieval Mayhem performance on the South Lawn features famous fairytales, mythical legends and stories about different parts of the tower.
The performance is hosted by a group of medieval folk, preparing a mini-pageant for their Queen. Each performance lasts 15 minutes and runs from 1 pm to 2.30 pm daily.
Tower of London prices
Standard tickets cost £34.80 per adult and £17.40 per child. Kids under 5 go free and don’t require a ticket.
Where to book the Tower of London
Book admission tickets to the Tower of London which includes a 1 hour tour from £34.80: Tower of London.
Buckingham Palace
Westminster, SW1A
Book for £36.00: Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has been the seat of UK royalty for 150 years and is currently home to King Charles II. Here, you have the chance to explore a real-life palace and learn more about British culture and history.
The magnificent State Rooms are open to visitors from July to September, when visitors can book tours inside the palace. To avoid the crowds, we recommend booking a time slot early in the morning.
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Buckingham Palace’s free family multimedia tour features games, videos, and fun facts for children aged 7 to 11.
Meanwhile, the Little Trekkers activity trail is great for under 5s and helps them discover some of the wonderful treasures at the Royal Mews.
Buckingham Palace prices
Advance standard tickets cost £32 per adult, £20.50 per young person (18-24 years), and £16 per child (5-17 years). Children under 5 go free but require a ticket.
Where to book Buckingham Palace tours
Book tickets on Viator to the Buckingham Palace Tour from £36.00 per person: Buckingham Palace.
London Zoo
Regent’s Park, NW1
Book from £27.00: London Zoo
London Zoo is located in the heart of London, right in the centre of Regent’s Park. It’s one of the largest zoos in the UK, housing nearly 700 species and over 10,000 individual animals.
Here, you can marvel at fierce predators, like tigers, lions, and gorillas, or learn more about the world’s smallest creatures, from leafcutter ants to bush babies.
For older children, there are daily talks where they can discover more about their favourite animals, including penguins, tigers, and Komodo dragons.
To avoid the crowds, the best time to visit is on weekends, early mornings or slightly later in the afternoon.
We love
At the London Zoo Farmyard, little ones can meet alpacas, llamas, pigs, rabbits and donkeys. Children can also enjoy the nearby Animal Adventure playground, which hosts a splash zone, swinging bridges and slides.
During the Sensory Story event, the zoo’s youngest guests (0-8 months) can experience the sights, sounds and textures of the underwater world.
London Zoo prices
Advance, standard tickets cost £27.00 per adult (16 – 64) and £21.70 per child (3 – 15) when booked online. Kids under 3 go free but require a ticket.
Where to book London Zoo
Visit London Zoo ticket sellers to book admission from £27.00: London Zoo.
LEGOLAND
Windsor, SL4
Tickets from £37.00: LEGOLAND Windsor
This LEGO theme park is home to LEGO rides, shows, and entertainment, a mini village, and 11 different lands to explore. There is also plenty of room for creativity at the minifigure factory and LEGO mosaic event.
During peak hours, you can keep track of queue times via the LEGOLAND app. We recommend visiting the most popular rides early in the morning (10 am) or later in the afternoon.
We love
The new Minifigure Speedway is a thrill for kids aged 5 years + (over 1.05 m tall). Here, your children can zoom around on the LEGO-themed duelling rollercoaster, winning races forward and in reverse.
For those under 3 years old, the DUPLO Airport is a colourful alternative. While accompanied by a responsible person (16 years +), children between 0.9 and 1.3 m can pretend they are a pilot soaring into the air.
Legoland prices
Advance online saver tickets start at £37 per person when booked online. Children under 90 cm go free but require a ticket.
Where to book Legoland
Visit the LEGOLAND website for more information and to book tickets from £37: LEGOLAND.
Harry Potter at Warner Bros. studios
Leavesden, WD25
Tickets from £53.50: The Making of Harry Potter
If your child is a Harry Potter fan, they will probably enjoy The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. studios. You can walk around sets used in the original film locations, including the Great Hall, Herbology Greenhouse and Forbidden Forest.
Along the way, you also get the chance to admire some of the props and costumes used in the series, including Dumbledore’s cabinet of memories and Harry’s quidditch robes.
For smaller crowds, visit between November and March. Weekdays and early hours tend to be quieter, too.
We love
The beginning of this event is very special. You will start your tour in a movie theatre, which shows a short film about the making of Harry Potter, hosted by Harry, Hermione and Ron.
After this ends, there’s an awe-inspiring moment when the screen rises to reveal the doors to the great hall. We think this is the perfect way to transport you and your family into the wizarding world!
Harry Potter at Warner Bros. studios prices
Tickets for this attraction have to be booked in advance. Standard tickets cost £53.50 per adult and £43 per child (5-15 years). Children under 5 go free but require a ticket.
Where to book Harry Potter at Warner Bros. studios
Visit the Warner Bros. website for more information and to book tickets from £53.50: The Making of Harry Potter
What’s the best family attraction in London?
The best family attraction in London depends on the kind of activities you and your family enjoy the most.
If your kids have a love of animals and want to learn more about their favourite creatures, the London Zoo and SEA LIFE are great options for a family day out.
Older kids who want to learn about London’s history will enjoy the Beefeater Tour at the Tower of London or the thrilling performances at the London Dungeon.
If you’re looking for an entertaining day out, the immersive performances at Shrek’s Adventure and LEGOLAND’s rides are likely to provide plenty of fun.
Finally, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace are great options for families with kids of all ages if you want to visit the city’s most iconic sites.
Whatever kind of family attraction you’re interested in visiting with your kids, there’s something on this list for everyone.
Whether you want to connect with animals, enjoy an interactive experience, or learn about the city’s history, enjoy your trip to London!
