London is a great city to spend a holiday in with the family. It has a number of family oriented attractions and activities that will keep the entire family occupied together. From museums to parks and natural sanctuaries among other interesting places to visit, London certainly has something for people of all ages. There are a wide variety of kid friendly spots to visit in London.
The first thing is to check into a suitable accommodation on a trip to London. To ensure you do not have to travel long distances in the capital it is ideal to stay at a Piccadilly hotel in London. There are a number of fine family centric hotels to be found in the heart of the city.
One such hotel is the Grand Royale London Hyde Park that is well suited for both business travellers as well as families. Some of the top kid attractions to visit with the family are:
Amazing Museums
All of the prominent museums in the city are very child-friendly, with various exhibitions and activities aimed at children of different ages. There also are workshops and storytelling sessions and you can get more information from their information counter.
Natural History Museum: The superb dinosaur skeleton collection at the Natural History Museum is a major draw with the kids. Visitors are greeted by the skeleton of Dippy the Diplodocus as soon as they enter. It has free 35 galleries to explore that include interactive exhibits, and also an actual sized model of a blue whale. It also plays host to a number of temporary exhibitions like the Wildlife Photographer of the year and the Annual butterfly house with different prize categories. Kids below 7 years of age can collect an explorer’s backpack from the information kiosk that contains guides to galleries, drawing materials and binoculars. For those who have infants below the age of three, items can be left at the cloakroom.
Science Museum: It is home to some of the finest permanent galleries with information about scientific discoveries, that include space exploration, flight, information and technology and all information related to science. It is such an engrossing place to explore that you could spend a day or two without a dull moment. And do not miss an opportunity to see their fabulous 3D IMAX screenings which feature movies ranging from the ice age to hidden mysteries of the universe. It also features fantastic interactive sections that are ideal for kid up to 8 years of age. It is also famous for its sleepovers both for kid and adults.
British Museum: With more than eight million artefacts and relics in the permanent collections of the British Museum, it is one of the greatest and biggest museums on the planet. Its famed collection includes priceless objects like the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles and the immensely popular Egyptian mummy exhibits. You can get a detailed guided tour for free or ask the information desk for a free guide copy. The gallery guide copy contains a well laid out plan, which has an interesting trail that is ideal for primary school kids to explore. And a tour of its magnificent Centre Court is not to be missed.
London Transport Museum: To know about how transport has developed over the past century a visit to the London Transport Museum is recommended. From an interactive Tube driver simulator to experiencing travel in a 19th-century train carriage there is a lot to see and explore at the museum. Located at Covent Garden the London Transport Museum offers a fascinating insight into the history of transport through the ages.
Green open spaces
It is estimated that 47% of Greater London has green open spaces, which make them ideal to explore with the kids. Hyde Park is a stroll away from the Science and Natural History Museums. The British Museum is in proximity of Coram Fields and Russell Square Gardens. Although the London Transport Museum is not near any green park there is some open space for the kids to expend their energy at Covent Garden Piazza that is close by. You will also find a variety of street performers in the area who will keep you and the kids entertained.
Princess of Wales Memorial Playground: It is also referred to as Peter Pan Park and is located in Kensington Gardens. With a massive life-size pirate ship moored in a vast expanse of sand and plenty of rope bridges, teepees and other children centric equipment, it is a great place to spend a day with the kids.
Battersea Park: It is another park well suited for kids with a small zoo, a playground, boating, A Go Ape treetop adventure trail and bikes on hire.
Hampstead Heath: It is spread over more than 320 acres of lush green open space that is perfect for hiking, walking or even a swim in its many natural ponds.
Queen Elizabeth Park: It was built in close proximity to the 2012 Olympic village and has plenty of playgrounds, large open green spaces and numerous other attractions. These include the London Aquatics Centre where visitors can swim in the actual Olympic pool.
Captivating animal life
London Zoo: The ZSL (London Zoo) has the distinction as the world’s oldest scientific zoo that was opened in 1828. With close to 19,000 animals it includes a large number of species including invertebrates. There are immersive exhibits, live shows and superb viewing platforms to see the animals in their recreated habitat. There also are special areas dedicated to creatures of the rainforest including monkeys, butterflies and other fauna. It offers a rare and unique opportunity to get up and close to the animals in their habitat.
The London Aquarium: Located on the South Bank, the London Aquarium is within walking distance of the London Eye. With stunning multi-storey tanks it contains a wide variety of sea creatures including fish, turtles and giant sharks.