Family friendly museums
Keep the kids entertained with trips to these London museums, from the infamous Dippy the dinosaur at the Natural History Museum, to sleepovers at the Science Museum, and star-gazing at The Royal Observatory, they’ll provide tons of engaging and educational fun.
Best Museums for Kids in London
Natural History Museum, South Kensington
The Natural History Museum, photo: Adam Matieu, Unsplash
Full of dinosaurs (cue Dippy the dinosaur at 26 metres long) as well as a whole host of creatures from over the years, the Natural History Museum will wow the little ones. There’s a range of activities designed for kids, both free and paid for, from the outdoor Wildlife Garden to the volcano and earthquake gallery, and of course, lots of dinosaur related to dos, including the Dino Snores event — a sleepover for kids aged 7-11 that gives the opportunity to explore the museum at night by torchlight.
WHERE: Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD
BOOK IT: nhm.ac.uk
British Museum, Central London
The British Museum, Image: The Trustees of The British Museum ©
Families with children of all ages can enjoy a range of free gallery activities at the British Museum. At the weekends there is a museum explorer trail, and during school holidays, there’s a range of playful and educational workshops to keep the kids entertained. The exhibition programme is free for children under 16, when accompanied by a paying adult.
WHERE: Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG
BOOK IT: britishmuseum.org
Science Museum, South Kensington
Science Museum, © Science Museum Group
As the museum says, it’s the home of human ingenuity with iconic objects and stories of incredible scientific achievement, and even better it’s all for free. There’s a variety of exhibitions designed to keep the kids engaged and stimulated, from Our Future Planet that explores climate change, to SENsory Astronights, a sleepover event that’s designed for children with special educational needs or disabilities. Campers can enter the museum after it has closed to the general public, explore the galleries and take part in a selection
of fun activities, including workshops and shows.
WHERE: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
BOOK IT: sciencemuseum.org.uk
London Transport Museum, Covent Garden
The London Transport Museum
History of London transport from horse power onwards, with loads of contraptions for the kids to clamber on, it’s a great day out for the little ones. It’ll bring to life the history of London’s public transport network — its buses, trains, tubes and taxis, from the 19th century right through to current times. There’s also a focus on interactivity, and so, the exhibits, which explore 200 years of history, range from grand historic vehicles to striking examples of the transport network’s famous poster art and graphic design.
WHERE: The Piazza, London WC2E 7BB
BOOK IT: ltmuseum.co.uk
The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition at The London Film Museum, Covent Garden
The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition, London Film Museum
Review: Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Lasting about one hour, this Harry Potter exhibition will take movie enthusiasts behind-the-scenes of key moments in the film series, from Harry’s first day at Hogwarts through to the Battle of Hogwarts. A must-visit for all Harry Potter fans. Tickets are priced a £14 for children and £20 for adults.
WHERE: 45 Wellington St, London WC2E 7BN
BOOK IT: harrypotteronlocation.co.uk
The Cartoon Museum, Central London
Image courtesy of The Cartoon Museum
A hub for British cartoons, caricatures and comic strips, The Cartoon Museum is owned and operated by the Cartoon Art Trust. Impressively, there’s a library of over 5,000 books and 4,000 comics from the eighteenth century to the present day. Check out the school holiday workshops which are for children aged 8-14 and cost £12 per person.
WHERE: 63 Wells St, London W1A 3AE
BOOK IT: cartoonmuseum.org
Royal Observatory Greenwich, Greenwich
The Royal Observatory, Getty Images
Calling all star gazers there’s hours of space-themed fun to be had at The Royal Observatory Greenwich, and it’ll answer all the big questions about space, time and the universe — and all free of charge. There’s a range of family activities from the Starstruck Planetarium Show to learn all about stars, Ted’s Space Adventure for under 7s, and the immersive Meet The Neighbours show that’s packed with facts about the solar system.
WHERE: Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ
BOOK IT: rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth
Image courtesy of The Imperial War Museum
Introduce your kids to the most important moments in history at Imperial War Museum London. It offers a chance for them to learn about the impact of the First World War and Second World War, and stories of bravery with the world’s largest collection of Victoria Crosses. There is also a free kids stamper trail, along with exhibitions, events and family-friendly educational activities.
WHERE: Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ
BOOK IT: iwm.org.uk
SEE MORE
Family / How to Entertain Teenagers in London
Main Image: The Science Museum, sciencemuseum.org.uk | Image courtesy of The Science Museum Group
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