Taking the kids to explore London is no mean feat; you have to plan everything that little more meticulously, and keeping little ones engaged and entertained for a decent amount of time can be tricky. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the top kid-friendly London tours that’ll keep their brains and imaginations ticking. From guided museum tours to vintage bike tours of London’s epic landmarks, here’s our rundown of the top kid-friendly tours to take the kids to.
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(WA= Wheelchair Accessible)
Kid-Friendly Private Tower of London Guided Tour
The Tower of London is an architectural landmark built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s after his victory and as a way to proclaim his royal power. This kid-friendly private Tower of London tour will take you around the site, with an informative, child-friendly commentary along the way, including insightful legends and stories from over the centuries. You’ll visit the White Tower, Medieval Palace and Crown Jewels and get up close to the red-dressed Beefeaters. You’ll also see the giant ravens that call The Tower of London their home and stop by the Beasts of the Royal Menagerie, once home to an assortment of exotic beasts, including lions and bears. The guides are renowned for being excellent with kids; they keep them engaged and intrigued with facts and stories delivered in a knowledgeable and friendly manner.
Kid-Friendly Private Tower of London Tour | Tower Hill
Image Courtesy of Natural History Museum
Kid-Friendly Private Natural History Museum Tour
The Natural History Museum is for sure one of the most magical places for kids to explore in London, and this kid-friendly tour of the Natural History Museum only reinforces that. It’s been specially designed for families with children and takes the little ones to explore the exciting exhibitions, like the Life and Earth Galleries, Jurassic-era fossils and more than 70 million artefacts spanning a range of collections, from botany and entomology to mineralogy and more. They’ll meet a lifelike T-rex in the Dinosaur Gallery and an incredible 122-129-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton. No trip to the Natural History Museum is complete without seeing the 25.2-metre-long blue whale skeleton that the museum is most famous for. Along the way, you’ll enjoy intriguing anecdotes about the collections from your enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, who will keep your kids entertained from start to finish, telling facts and stories along the way and answering any questions they may have about everything they’ll get to see on the tour.
Kid-Friendly Natural History Museum & Dinosaurs Private Guided Tour | South Kensington | WA
Image Courtesy of Warner Bros Studio
Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour
We should probably stop proclaiming places as the most magical in London, especially when this Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour is next on our list of the top kid-friendly London tours. They’re all magical, but this one, located just outside of London, really does include a hefty dose of witchcraft and wizardry. On this tour, kids will learn all about the making of the Harry Potter series while getting an up-close look at the behind-the-scenes secrets of how the films were produced. They’ll see a range of the props, sets and costumes used in the movies and climb aboard the Hogwarts Express, where the little ones can imagine they’re about to set off for their first day at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They’ll also be able to step foot inside Gringott’s Wizarding Bank, where a gallery of goblins awaits. It’s for sure the best place to explore the magic of the Harry Potter films whilst gaining some insider knowledge about the special effects and animatronics used to craft one of the best film franchises ever made.
Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour | Victoria
Image Courtesy of Get Your Guide
London Children’s Bus Tour with Commentary
Nothing screams London more than a red double-decker bus, perhaps the number one symbol of the capital. This kid-friendly open-top bus tour has been designed specifically for children aged 6-12, taking them to see the main sights and landmarks of the city while providing a fun and informative commentary and stories about the fascinating history of London. Children will get to learn all about the city’s major landmarks, including the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Pall Mall, Piccadilly Circus, Downing Street, and many more. You’ll also get free access to the open-top double-decker bus app, which lets you pinpoint the main attractions and enjoy self-guided walking tours.
Children’s Bus Tour with Commentary | Central London | WA
Image Courtesy of Get Your Guide
London’s Postal Museum and Underground Rail Ride
London’s Postal Museum tells the story of the first-ever social network via various interactive galleries. This Postal Museum and Underground Rail Ride ticket will grant you access to the museum, which is chock full of interactive galleries, educational games and activities suited for all ages. Kids will see the first postage stamp and the flintlock pistols used to defend the mail from theft. There’s also a miniature Victorian rail car and a 100-year-old immersive subterranean rail ride which you’ll get the chance to hop on board and ride through the long-hidden tunnels of the Post Office’s very own railway. Children can also try sorting the mail on a mock-up train carriage with a wobbly floor.
London: Postal Museum Entry Ticket and Underground Rail Ride | Clerkenwell | WA
Image Courtesy of Get Your Guide
Paddington Bear™ Tour of London
Let the kids’ imaginations run wild on this Paddington Bear™ Tour, where you’ll visit many of the locations associated with the movie and books by Michael Bond. Retrace the paw prints of Paddington Bear™, swinging by the London landmarks featured across more than 20 books and two films. See the famous statue of Paddington Bear™ in the concourse before stopping at the official shop to stock up on souvenirs from your trip. Learn about his adventures through the city as you head to the actual sites he visited, like Mr Gruber’s antique store, while learning about how the StudioCanal movies were produced. The guides are great at keeping the kids entertained and engaged, offering regular rest stops along the way and telling facts and stories of specific sights along the way.
Paddington Bear™ Tour | Paddington
Image Courtesy of National Gallery
Kid-Friendly National Gallery Tour
Last on our top kid-friendly London tours list is a tour of The National Gallery, home to one of the most impressive collections of European paintings ever. It’s brimming with works of art dating back to the 13th century up to the early 20th. It could feel a little overwhelming for children who don’t understand the world of art, but that’s where this National Gallery tour for children comes in handy. The tour starts in Trafalgar Square, home to some of London’s most famous landmarks, before taking kids for an up-close look at artwork by some of the best artists in the world, including Van Gogh, Cézanne, Michelangelo, Klimt, Picasso and many more. Along the way, they’ll learn about art history from a certified art historian guide who has tailored the information to suit children.
Kid-Friendly National Gallery Tour | Trafalgar Square | WA
Image Courtesy of Tally Ho
Vintage Bike Tour of London’s Landmarks
Ticking off London’s landmarks is a bucket-list activity, and exploring them by vintage bicycle has to be one of the best ways to do it. This award-winning bike tour will thoroughly introduce you to the city’s most famous spots, like the Royal Palaces, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and more while hearing stories about them from a ‘hipster historian’. Enjoy cruising through the city on your own two-wheeled vintage bike, take a break to try your hand at street art in a graffiti tunnel that once had an original Banksy, and stop at an old London pub for a drink (a soft drink for the kids). Please note kids can only take part in this tour if you book the private option because the pace is slowed down for smaller cyclers. Child seats for adult bikes are available too.
Use code LOVEBIKES24 at checkout for 10% off.
Private Landmarks & Gems tour by Vintage Bike | Lambeth North
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