The 10 best FREE days out in London with kids!

Table of Contents

If you’re looking for cheap family fun in the capital, here are the 10 best free days out in London with the kids. There are LOADS of free places to visit in London, and things to see and do, to entertain kids of all ages. And, with free travel for children aged 10 and under too (for travel via the tube, DLR, Overground and TfL rail services) it can be great fun exploring the capital on a small budget! If you’re travelling into London from the surrounding areas in the South-East, then you’ll also want to check out my ‘kids for a quid’ article, for more info on how to get £1 children’s train tickets.

We love a London mini-break with the kids, and when we’ve planned visits to places like ZSL London Zoo, to see a theatre show or to pricier London attractions, then we’ll balance out our trip with things like play parks, museums, the Sky Garden, the Changing of the Guard and all of the other free and wonderful things that the city has to offer. Keep reading for my top tips for saving money on your paid activities too – I’ve added ways to save money on your London adventure further down. But first, here are my top 10 suggestions for FREE days out in London with the kids.

1. The Natural History Museum

We’ve visited the Natural History Museum a few times now – Lola always wants to go there whenever we head to London as she loves the animals, and Finn enjoys their huge dinosaur exhibit. I think most kids love getting up close and personal with the creatures which used to roam the Earth! The good news about indoor activities (like museums) is that you can explore whatever the weather – so if you’re visiting London in the winter or you get a rainy day, then this is the perfect place to spend a few hours in the warm without spending a penny. For more info, visit their website: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/.

2. The Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace

The Changing of the Guard is the ceremony where The King’s Guard hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Palace to the New Guard. As the guards march, they are accompanied by marching bands – creating a fantastic atmosphere whilst keeping everyone entertained. I would definitely recommend a morning watching The Changing of the Guard – this is one of Finn and Lola’s favourite things to do in London! Just head over to Buckingham Palace first thing – it begins at 11am and lasts for around 45 minutes – arrive a little early to make sure that you don’t miss it. My kids absolutely adore watching it all unfold, and the bands are brilliant! Before visiting check the schedule on their website (changing-guard.com) for up-to-date days and times.

3. Golders Hill Park Zoo

Golders Hill Park Zoo is a small zoo in the Hampstead Heath area of London – it’s completely free to enter, and it’s home to rare species of birds and animals. They’ve got wallabies, lemurs, Scottish wildcat and more! Also, in the same area, there are swimming ponds and a lido too so it could be worth a visit if you want to make a day of it this summer – there’s a lot of family-friendly things to do in this part of London. You can find out more at: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

4. London’s Fabulous Playgrounds

There are lots of brilliant play spaces in London, so pack a picnic and entertain the kids for free! In fact, there are so many play areas that you could easily spend a weekend just letting the kids explore and play in the London parks. You can find details about the London play areas at: londonplay.org.uk. A popular park is the Princess of Wales’ Memorial Playground – most of the action takes place around the enormous Peter Pan-inspired pirate ship and surrounding beach, but there’s also a sensory trail, teepees and plenty of seating for parents to rest their weary legs! We’ve been lucky with the weather during our London visits, so the parks have been a good way for the kids to have some fun while we’ve relaxed with a flask of coffee!

5. The Science Museum

London’s Science museum is a great place for the kids to discover how the world works. And, if you have a budding young astronaut, they’ll adore the gallery dedicated to space exploration, featuring a full-sized model of the lander that put the first men on the moon! For Finn and Lola, their favourite trip to the Science Museum was when we booked them into the Wonderlab. If you’re happy to spend a little, it offers a great hands-on experience for the kids with experiment demonstrations, talks, activities and educational play zones. So, if you have got little bit of money in the budget, you might want to add the Wonderlab to your list of things to do. Find out more at: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk.

6. Coram’s Fields

Coram’s Fields is a great place for the kiddies to let off some steam if you’re in central London – seven acres dedicated entirely to children! There’s an adventure playground with an aerial slide plus sand pits, a paddling pool (perfect for the summer months) and a small city farm. If you’re visiting in the summer especially, then the little ones could have a great time exploring and splashing around in the water at Coram’s Fields! You can find out more about it at: coramsfields.org.

7. Imperial War Museum London

If you have slightly older children, or teens, then I’d really recommend an afternoon at London’s Imperial War Museum. It’s so interesting and educational for adults and kids (I learnt a lot too!) – we would all happily go back. We visited when my children were learning about World War 2, and it’s a big and engaging place to explore. You can get a first-hand look at wartime vehicles and planes, and we found the video screens throughout really helpful. If your kids are aged 8+ then add this museum to your ‘free days out in London’ list. More info here: www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london.

8. Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

Crystal Palace Park is a fantastic place for little dinosaur lovers to explore, so once you’ve seen the dinosaur exhibit at the Natural History Museum, you’ll want this park to be next on your to do list. Wooden carved dinosaurs peep over the tree tops and can be climbed on in the play area, and you can also make the most of the maze and lakes too – have a picnic in Jurrasic Park! Details at: cpdinosaurs.org.

9. The British Museum

The British Museum holds artefacts from all over the world. If your kids are interested in Ancient Egypt then they’ll enjoy exploring history through statues of pharaohs and ancient board games – there’s even a large, mummified bull. At the weekends, the kids can pick up a free activity backpack, or a Museum explorer trail, from the Families Desk, and they also run workshops during the school holidays. Find all of the info you’ll need at: www.britishmuseum.org/

10. Sky Garden

Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden – it offers 360-degree views of the fantastic London skyline, surrounded by lush greenery, landscaped gardens, observation decks and an open-air terrace. It’s best to book your day / time slot in advance, but tickets to visit the Sky Garden are free. The gardens inside have a very tropical feel, and it’s a great place to sit with the kids to see if you can spot London’s famous landmarks – it offers brilliant views over the city without the expensive entry cost from other buildings like the Shard. Tickets are valid for one hour. Children under 16 are not able to enter Sky Garden after 6pm on weekdays and 9pm at weekends as they run adults-only events. You can get tickets here: https://skygarden.london/.

How can I get discounts on the big London attractions?

If you’re also looking to do some paid activities during your trip to London, look for combination tickets to get the best deals. For instance, Merlin have five main London attractions with each typically priced at around £30pp, but book a multi-attraction ticket and you can visit them for less than £12 per attraction! This includes SEA LIFE London Aquarium, The London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure, Bus Tours, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon. You get 90 days from the date of your visit to enjoy the other attractions, so it’s worth saving up and buying in bulk – click here to find ticket options and prices for your visit date, plus combo ticket options.

But for huge savings, opt for a Merlin Annual Pass – you can access absolutely loads of attractions including all of the London days out mentioned above, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures, Warwick Castle, tons of SEA LIFE Centres and more! Kids under 90cm won’t need a pass as they can enjoy the attractions for free. Check out all of the pass options and what’s included here: Are Merlin Annual Passes worth it and which pass is best?

Never pay full price for your London activities without having a good hunt around for the best offers! Lots of reward schemes and discount providers offer brilliant savings to make your city adventures more budget-friendly, so here are some other ways to save money on the pricier activities and attractions:

Tesco Clubcard points: Lots of London attractions are part of the Tesco reward scheme so save your points and you could visit for free!
National Rail 2-for-1 offers: If you’re travelling by train you can get 1/3 off or 2 for 1 tickets on loads of London attractions when booked through the National Rail 2 for 1 scheme.
lovetovisit.co.uk: The ‘Love to Visit’ website offers discounted tickets for family-friendly days out with the kids all over the UK – London included – so it’s worth checking their current prices before you book. The attraction tickets are often so much cheaper than those bought directly from the attractions – the savings can be huge!
Kids Pass: You can sign up to a trial for just £1 to access discounts on days out and eating out in the capital.
Supermarket promotions: Cereal brands like Kelloggs also often run promotions where you can find discounts or even free tickets (things like 2 for 1 tickets) for some of the London attractions by purchasing specially-marked boxes so look out for these in the supermarket.
Blue Peter Badges: Blue Peter Badges are awesome because the kids can get in free at over 200 UK attractions – literally halving the cost of your family days out! In London, you can use them at ZSL London Zoo, The Tower of London, the HMS Belfast, The London Bridge Experience and Tombs, Battersea Park Children’s Zoo and loads of other places – read more about it here: How can my child get a Blue Peter Badge?

What is there to do in London for FREE with the kids at Christmas?

London is a fabulous place for a FREE Christmas adventure with the kids – there are lots of things to do to get the whole family feeling festive in the capital without spending a small fortune! From dazzling light displays, to snow, carols, magical walks, Christmas markets and more – there’s plenty on offer so, for lots of budget-friendly ideas, make sure you check out my article: 10 FREE things to do in London at Christmas with kids. And, if you’ve got a little money in the kitty, there are some brilliant shows and events running this Christmas too – things like festive ice-skating, Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, Santa at Hamleys, Elf the Musical and the London Polar Express Train are bound to be great fun. To see what’s on offer for 2025, take a look at this article for a mix of paid events and budget-friendly ideas: London with kids – the 15 best things to do at Christmas!

And an extra tip for some cheap sightseeing…

Ride the Routemaster

This one is technically not free, as there is a small charge for adults, but the kids won’t cost a penny as children aged 10 and under travel free. The top deck of a real double-decker bus is good fun and a lot cheaper than a tourist bus. A good route is the No11; running from Fulham Town Hall to Liverpool Street, past the Houses of Parliament, Nelson’s Column, Westminster Abbey, Horse Guards Parade and St Paul’s Cathedral in about an hour. Details: tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/11

Whatever you get up to on your London adventures, I hope that you have a fabulous time with the kids – blending some free activities into your itinerary is a great way to make your days out more affordable even if you’re opting for some pricier attractions too. Keep scrolling for more ‘days out in London’ content and let me know in the comments if you discover any more great London attraction deals too – have a great time! 😊 And, if you’re looking to save money on days out over the school holidays, check out my article: UK days out with the kids: School summer holidays 2025 discounts!