The Best Things to do in London with Kids

Rocco Forte Hotels

London is a true playground with a plethora of thrilling activities for kids to enjoy, from curious museums to vibrant shops and immersive attractions to a zoo specially created for children. Discover the exciting activities and attractions in London that are sure to delight the whole family.

Meet the animals at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

Located on the picturesque Southbank, and a 20-minute taxi ride from Brown’s Hotel, the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is truly London’s most lovable attraction. The zoo is home to over 100 animals from around the world including adorable otters, mischievous monkeys and a range of farm animals, many of which you can see being fed throughout the day.

For young zoologists, the Gold and Silver Keeper Experiences are there to give first-hand experience of what it’s really like to be a zoo-keeper and they can come face to face with a number of the animals who call Battersea Park their home.

Get lost in Hamleys

Affectionately nicknamed ‘the joy emporium’, Hamley’s is a seven-story paradise for all ages that's sat on Regent Street since 1881. A mere ten-minute stroll from Brown’s Hotel, you’ll arrive at the iconic storefront where you’ll be greeted by vibrant colours and the sound of excited chatter from every direction. Spend a morning exploring all the floors where welcoming assistants demonstrate the toys and encourage the kids to have a play with them as well.

Nearby and new to the London museum scene is the Twist Museum of Illusions on Oxford Street, the groovy pet project of a number of artists, neuroscientists and philosophists. The mind-boggling exhibits aim to change perceptions with installations small and large playing with colour, shape, sound, heat and more.

Feed their curiosity at London’s interactive museums

In South Kensington, 15 minutes by car from Brown’s Hotel, is the wonderful museum quarter of London, with dozens of collections to satisfy curious young minds, and many of them offering interactive installations that always prove a delight to kids of all ages.

The Science Museum, Europe’s most-visited science and technology museum, is a hub of exciting invention with more than 15,000 exhibits to see. Kids, especially, will adore the Wonderlab, an interactive hive of learning with seven sections showcasing the science of our everyday lives, inspiring your little ones to see the world around them in a whole new way. Fly down giant slides, see lightning strike before your eyes and wander under a canopy of stars – the opportunities are endless.

The whole family can also travel through time at the Natural History Museum, seeing giant dinosaurs and other extinct animals, learning more about the natural world and even feeling the shake of an earthquake in the earthquake room.

See a kid-friendly performance on the West End

Welcoming 16 million visitors a year, the bright lights of the West End always have something on for every age. World-renowned musicals such as Frozen, The Lion King and Matilda show all year round, while other plays, performances and pantomimes pop up on the circuit seasonally- and their matinee performances are a great way to escape a rainy afternoon.

The London Bridge Experience

For the bravest young adventurers, The London Bridge Experience is a truly spooky experience. Discover London’s gruesome history in the vaults beneath London Bridge with live performers playing characters from the past 2000 years in stories both funny and scary in equal measure. This one is not for the faint-hearted!

Feel the magic at the Warner Bros Studio Tour

While the Warner Bros Studio Tour lies a little further afar, around an hour’s drive from Brown’s Hotel, it is well worth the trip for young fans of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. See how the magical movies came to life through the sets, learn all the behind the scenes secrets, ride your own broomsticks and even drink the delicious butterbeer.

Delight the kids with a family city break, and discover London’s best child-friendly activities close to Brown’s Hotel.


You may also like

Easy access to great European golf destinations

One of the great things about golf is that it is a sport you can play anywhere around the world. It doesn’t matter what country you’re visiting in Europe, you’re never too far away from a relaxing 18 holes at some of the continent’s premium golf venues with Rocco Forte Hotels. Here are a few suggestions.

Beyond the castle: Edinburgh’s seaside getaways

Yet, just a short journey from the city’s cobblestone lanes, Edinburgh’s sandy shores offer a serene, and salty, escape. Within just an hour’s drive from The Balmoral, discover our selection of Edinburgh’s finest beaches, and whittle away those languid summer days with cool dips, fish and chips, and stirring sea views.