15 Best Free Things to Do With Kids in London
Taking the kids around London can get expensive very quickly.
Tickets for major attractions, meals, transport and little treats all add up, especially when you are travelling as a family.
But here is the good news: you don't need to spend a fortune to have a brilliant day out with children in London.
Some of the city's best museums are free. Its Royal Parks give children enormous spaces to run around. There are impressive playgrounds, famous landmarks, street performances and places where kids can learn something without even realising they are learning.
So if you're looking for free things to do with kids in London, here are 15 ideas that can fill anything from a couple of hours to an entire day.
1. Explore the Natural History Museum
If you only have time for one free museum with children, the Natural History Museum is one of the easiest choices.
Natural History Museum
The enormous blue whale skeleton hanging in Hintze Hall is enough to make an impression before you've even started exploring.
Then there are dinosaurs, fossils, volcanoes, earthquakes, minerals and displays covering the natural history of our planet.
The museum's permanent galleries are free, although some temporary exhibitions and experiences may require a ticket. Visit London currently recommends allowing around three to four hours if you want to see a good amount of the museum.
For younger children, the dinosaurs and huge animals tend to be obvious highlights. Older children can spend more time exploring the science behind the exhibits.
And because the museum is in South Kensington, you can easily combine it with the Science Museum next door.
Best for: Dinosaurs, animals and curious kids of almost any age.
2. Get Hands-On at the Science Museum
Just next door is the Science Museum.
Science Museum
This is where a museum visit can start feeling less like looking at objects behind glass and more like experimenting.
There are interactive galleries, space-related displays, engineering, medicine, technology and plenty of things designed to make children think about how the world works.
Visit London's current 2026 family guide specifically highlights the Science Museum as one of the best free museums for children, particularly because of its hands-on experiences.
The museum's permanent collection is free, although some special exhibitions and experiences can be separately ticketed.
The best part is that you don't necessarily need to spend the entire day there. If younger children start getting tired, you can simply focus on a few galleries rather than trying to see everything.
Best for: Science, space, machines and interactive learning.
3. Let Them Run Wild in Greenwich Park
Sometimes children don't need another attraction.
They need space.
Greenwich Park gives you plenty of it.
Visit London's current family guide highlights Greenwich Park as a free family day out, with open spaces, a deer park, playgrounds and views across London.
You can walk up towards the top of the park for the famous London skyline, let younger children use the playgrounds and spend time simply wandering around the enormous green space.
The park also gives you the chance to see the Royal Observatory and the Meridian Line from outside without paying for an attraction ticket.
If you're visiting Greenwich, you can easily turn this into a whole free day by combining the park with the National Maritime Museum and a walk around Greenwich itself.
Best for: Running around, views and a full outdoor family day.
4. Visit the National Maritime Museum
Greenwich has another excellent free option for families: the National Maritime Museum.
The museum explores Britain's relationship with the sea, ships, exploration and maritime history.
And importantly for parents, it isn't simply a museum full of text-heavy displays.
There are objects, models and interactive elements that can make the subject much more accessible to children.
Visit London currently includes the National Maritime Museum among its recommended free museums for kids, noting its family-friendly spaces and activities.
You can also combine it with Greenwich Park, making this one of the easiest ways to create a full day out without paying an attraction admission fee.
Best for: Ships, explorers and children fascinated by the sea.
5. Spend Time at the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
If you are travelling with younger children, this may be one of the most useful free stops on the list.
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
Inside Kensington Gardens, the playground has a large wooden pirate ship at its centre, surrounded by different play areas designed for children.
It is not somewhere you simply stop for five minutes.
Younger children can easily spend a substantial part of the afternoon here.
And because Kensington Gardens itself is free to enter, you can combine the playground with a walk through the park.
It is particularly useful if you've already spent a morning indoors at a museum and need somewhere for the kids to burn off some energy.
Best for: Younger children and active play.
6. Explore Kensington Gardens
You don't actually need to enter the playground to enjoy Kensington Gardens.
The park itself is a great free family destination.
You can walk around the gardens, see the Albert Memorial, explore the paths and open spaces and make your way towards the Serpentine.
For families, the advantage of a large London park is that the day doesn't have to follow a strict schedule.
Stop when the children are interested in something. Have a snack. Walk a little more. Let them run around.
Kensington Gardens is also close to several major museums, so you can combine it with the Natural History Museum or Science Museum if the weather is good.
Best for: A relaxed outdoor family day.
7. Discover the Young V&A
For younger children, the Young V&A in Bethnal Green is one of London's most interesting free museum options.
The museum is dedicated to children, young people and families, with galleries built around creativity, design and play.
Visit London currently identifies it as one of the strongest free museums for toddlers and younger children, with hands-on zones and spaces where children can get creative.
That makes it very different from visiting a traditional museum and asking children to quietly look at objects.
Here, play is part of the experience.
The permanent collection is free, although specific temporary activities or events may have their own arrangements.
Best for: Toddlers, younger children and creative play.
8. Explore the London Museum Docklands
If you're looking for somewhere a little less obvious than the major South Kensington museums, head east.
The London Museum Docklands tells the story of London's relationship with the River Thames, the docks and the people who lived and worked around them.
One of the family highlights is Mudlarks, a dedicated free gallery designed for younger children.
Visit London currently recommends London Museum Docklands and its Mudlarks gallery among the best options for toddlers and younger children.
The museum also gives you the chance to explore Canary Wharf and the historic Docklands around it, so you can combine the visit with a walk along the water.
Best for: Younger children and discovering a different side of London's history.
9. See the Changing of the Guard
You don't need to buy a ticket to watch one of London's most famous royal ceremonies.
Changing the Guard takes place outside Buckingham Palace and attracts crowds wanting to see the soldiers, uniforms, marching and ceremonial traditions.
The exact schedule can vary, so check the official Household Division information before planning your visit rather than assuming it happens every day.
Visit London currently includes Changing the Guard among its top free experiences for families.
For children who are interested in kings, queens, soldiers or anything that feels like a real-life ceremony, this can be much more memorable than simply looking at Buckingham Palace from outside.
Best for: A classic London experience.
10. Walk Across Tower Bridge
You don't have to pay for the Tower Bridge Exhibition to experience Tower Bridge.
The bridge itself is a public road and pedestrian crossing, so you can walk across it for free and get views of the Thames, the City and the Tower of London.
Visit London currently includes Tower Bridge among its free family recommendations.
For children, it can be fun simply because it feels like you're walking across one of London's most recognisable landmarks.
You can watch boats passing underneath, look along the river and explore the surrounding area afterwards.
If you want to go inside the bridge's high-level walkways and exhibition, however, that is a separate paid experience.
Best for: Iconic London views and a short family adventure.
11. Explore the British Museum
The British Museum is another enormous free museum where you could easily spend several hours.
The British Museum
For children, some of the most interesting sections include ancient Egypt, mummies, ancient Greece and objects from different civilisations around the world.
The museum's permanent collection is free, although special exhibitions can cost extra. Visit London's current 2026 guide recommends allowing several hours and suggests booking a free time slot in advance for priority entry.
The trick with children is not trying to see everything.
Pick a few things they are likely to enjoy and turn the visit into a treasure hunt: find a mummy, find the Rosetta Stone, find the oldest-looking object you can see.
Suddenly you're not “going to a museum”.
You're looking for things.
Best for: History, ancient Egypt and curious older children.
12. Have an Afternoon at Regent's Park
If the weather is on your side, Regent's Park is another excellent free option.
Visit London currently lists it among its best free family experiences, particularly for outdoor adventures.
There are wide open spaces, gardens, paths and plenty of room for children to move around.
You can also combine the visit with a walk towards Primrose Hill for one of London's best skyline views.
Just remember that London Zoo is inside Regent's Park but is not free. You can enjoy the park without buying a zoo ticket.
That distinction is useful when planning a genuinely free day.
Best for: Outdoor play, walking and picnics.
13. See the Animals in Richmond Park
Richmond Park is one of the best places in London to give children the feeling that they have escaped the city.
The park is famous for its free-roaming deer, enormous open spaces and woodland.
You don't have to pay an entrance fee to visit the park.
For children, simply spotting deer in the distance can become one of the highlights of the day.
Just remember that these are wild animals. Keep a safe distance, don't feed them and don't approach them for photographs.
Richmond Park is particularly good when you want to combine nature with a walk rather than spending the whole day inside a museum.
Best for: Wildlife, walking and getting away from central London.
14. Visit the Horniman Museum and Gardens
South London has one of the city's best family museums in the Horniman.
Horniman Museum and Gardens
The museum combines natural history, anthropology, musical instruments and other collections with a large outdoor garden.
Some areas of the museum have a particularly strong appeal for children because they can see animals, objects and displays that feel very different from a conventional history museum.
The gardens also give you somewhere to stretch your legs afterwards.
The museum's free collections make it a useful option when you want something educational but don't want another enormous central London attraction.
Best for: Nature, animals, culture and South London exploring.
15. Spend Time in the Olympic Park
For something more active, head to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The park itself is free to explore, and there are plenty of open spaces, paths, water features and public areas where children can run around.
One option is Tumbling Bay Playground, a large adventure playground within the park.
Tumbling Bay Playground
You can also walk around the former Olympic venues and explore the wider Stratford area.
The park works particularly well for families because you don't have to create a strict itinerary. You can arrive, walk around, stop at the playground and simply spend time outside.
Best for: Active children, playgrounds and a modern side of London.
What Are the Best Free Things for Younger Kids?
If you have toddlers or younger children, I'd prioritise:
Young V&A
Diana Memorial Playground
London Museum Docklands and Mudlarks
Natural History Museum
Science Museum
Greenwich Park
Tumbling Bay Playground
The important thing is not necessarily choosing the attraction with the biggest reputation.
A two-year-old may have much more fun climbing around a playground than looking at an ancient artefact.
What About Older Kids and Teenagers?
Older children can usually handle more museum time and may enjoy experiences where they can discover something for themselves.
Try:
British Museum
Science Museum
Natural History Museum
Tower Bridge
Greenwich Park
Richmond Park
Olympic Park
Changing of the Guard
For teenagers, you can also make the day more interesting by turning a free attraction into a challenge — photography, finding unusual objects, spotting landmarks or creating your own walking route.
Can You Have a Completely Free Day in London With Kids?
Yes although “free” doesn't mean you won't spend anything at all.
You still have to consider transport, food and drinks.
But you can absolutely create a day where the main activities cost nothing.
For example:
A South Kensington day
Start at the Natural History Museum, move to the Science Museum, then walk through Kensington Gardens and finish at the Diana Memorial Playground.
A Greenwich day
Explore Greenwich Park, see the skyline, visit the National Maritime Museum and walk around Greenwich.
A Central London day
Watch Changing the Guard, walk through St James's Park, continue towards Westminster and then walk along the South Bank.
An East London day
Visit the Young V&A, explore Bethnal Green and then head towards the Olympic Park for some outdoor time.
The trick is to group activities by location rather than spending half the day travelling across London.
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
“Free entry” does not always mean that everything inside is free.
Many London museums have free permanent collections but charge for temporary exhibitions or special experiences.
Some popular museums may also recommend or require advance booking or a free timed entry, particularly during busy periods. Visit London currently recommends booking free museum slots where available to help with entry.
Also check opening times before travelling, especially during school holidays, bank holidays and around Christmas.
And don't underestimate London's parks.
With children, you don't always need another ticketed attraction. A playground, a picnic, some open space and something interesting to discover can easily become the best part of the day.
Final Thoughts
London can look like an expensive city when you're travelling with children.
But some of its best family experiences cost absolutely nothing.
You can stand underneath a blue whale at the Natural History Museum, discover dinosaurs, run around Greenwich Park, play on a giant pirate ship, watch soldiers march outside Buckingham Palace, walk across Tower Bridge, see deer in Richmond Park or spend an afternoon exploring the Olympic Park.
And you don't have to squeeze all of these into one trip.
Pick one museum, one outdoor space and one simple experience nearby.
That's often enough for a brilliant family day in London without spending a fortune.
Planning your next London day out? Discover more neighbourhood guides, hidden gems, food spots and things to do on LondonYaar.com.
Follow @rohan.londonyaar for more London inspiration, recommendations and things to discover around the city.