Where to Take Kids This Christmas in London Fun, Safe, Indoor & Open Attractions
Taking kids to London at Christmas is… a lot.
Magical, yes. But also: crowds, naps that don’t happen, £6 hot chocolates, and someone crying in a buggy (sometimes the adult).
If you’re a parent, aunt/uncle, older sibling, or the “responsible one” bringing kids to London in December, this isn’t just about where to see pretty lights. You need places that are actually doable with children:
Fun, without being total sensory overload.
Safe and easy to reach with prams and tired legs.
A mix of indoor (for rain) and outdoor (for when everyone needs fresh air).
And ideally, not the kind of day that ends with a meltdown on the Tube.
This guide is written like a friend who lives here and has watched many families trying to negotiate buggies, scooters, and snack demands through central London. I’ll walk you through where to go, how to get there, and the kind of day that actually works in real life especially if it’s your first Christmas trip to London.
All info is checked and up to date for Christmas 2025, but always double-check timings and tickets before you go.
First things first: how to “do” Christmas in London with kids (without losing your mind)
Before we jump into specific places, a few ground rules that make the whole trip easier:
Book the big stuff in advance. Things like Winter Wonderland, Christmas at Kew, SEA LIFE combo tickets, and ice skating usually need timed booking, especially in late December.
Aim for mornings or early afternoons. Kids are happier, London is calmer, and you’re not dragging them across town at 10 pm.
Stay near at least one big attraction cluster. For example, South Bank (London Eye, SEA LIFE, Shrek’s Adventure), Kensington (Natural History Museum and Science Museum), or Covent Garden (London Transport Museum, central lights). If you haven’t booked yet, it can be worth choosing a base like a HOTEL near southbank so you can walk to a lot of things and minimise buses and Tube changes.
Layer up. London in December is cold and often wet. Lots of thin layers are easier to adjust than one giant coat.
Okay, now let’s build your kid-friendly Christmas London.
1. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland but stick to Santa Land
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is the huge one you’ve seen on TikTok. It runs from 14 November 2025 to 1 January 2026, with rides, markets, shows and the UK’s largest open-air ice rink.
With young kids, don’t try to “do everything”. Focus on Santa Land.
Santa Land is the family area inside Winter Wonderland, designed especially for little ones, with gentler rides, festive decor and a chance to meet Santa.
Where it is and how to get there:
Winter Wonderland is in Hyde Park, with multiple entrances. The closest gate to Santa Land is Red Gate, near Bond Street, Marble Arch and Oxford Circus stations.
Tube options within walking distance include Marble Arch (Central line), Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly), Green Park (Piccadilly, Victoria, Jubilee) and Bond Street (Central and Elizabeth lines).
Tips with kids:
Book an off-peak entry slot earlier in the day; evenings, Fridays and weekends are much busier and noisier.
Decide in advance roughly how many rides, snacks and “yeses” you’re going to do to avoid arguments.
If your kids are small, stay mostly in Santa Land, try a show or two (like a circus performance), and then leave before everyone gets tired and cold.
If you know your little ones get overwhelmed by big crowds, you might prefer some of the next options instead.
2. Christmas at Kew magical light trail that kids actually love
If you want the “wow” without the same level of chaos, Christmas at Kew is incredible for families.
From 14 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, Kew Gardens transforms into a 2.7km illuminated festive trail with installations, music and food stops. It’s explicitly billed as a family-friendly evening event.
Where it is and how to get there:
The event is at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in Richmond, west London.
Easiest route is Kew Gardens station (District line, Richmond branch, and London Overground) about a 5–10 minute walk to the Victoria Gate entrance.
You can also use Kew Bridge station (South Western Railway from Waterloo) for some entry gates.
Why it works with kids:
It’s outdoors but feels safe and enclosed, with staff along the route.
The trail is long enough to feel special, short enough for most kids to manage (you can take breaks at food stalls).
There are toilets and food options along the way, which matters when you’re with small humans.
For prams and younger kids, book an earlier time slot (just after it gets dark) so you’re not finishing way past bedtime. If you’re staying nearby in Richmond or Kew at a place like HOTEL near kew gardens, the journey home becomes just a short walk, which massively reduces end-of-night stress.
3. South Bank cluster: SEA LIFE, Shrek’s Adventure and riverside wanders
If you want a day that’s mostly indoors but still feels Christmassy, the South Bank is perfect with kids.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
SEA LIFE London is in County Hall on the South Bank, right by the London Eye. It has more than 5,000 creatures including sharks, rays, turtles and penguins, and is popular with families year-round.
Nearest main station is Waterloo (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee, Waterloo & City lines, plus trains), or you can walk across Westminster Bridge from Westminster station.
Shrek’s Adventure! London
Right next door is Shrek’s Adventure, a themed, interactive walk-through attraction with live actors, sets and Shrek-world storytelling ideal for kids who love the films. It’s run by the same company as SEA LIFE and they often sell multi-attraction tickets that combine Shrek’s Adventure, SEA LIFE, the London Eye and others over 90 days, which can work out cheaper if you’re doing a few.
Because everything is in one building cluster, you can:
Do SEA LIFE in the morning.
Break for lunch somewhere along the South Bank.
Then do Shrek’s Adventure after nap time.
That way you’re not constantly wrestling prams on and off public transport. If you’re arriving from outside London, you could even line this up with your journey in and base yourself at HOTEL by London Eye for one or two nights, so the kids start and end the day in the same area.
4. Museum day: dinosaurs, rockets and indoor warmth
London’s big free museums are absolute winter lifesavers when you have kids.
Natural History Museum dinosaurs and more
The Natural History Museum in South Kensington has become an unofficial Christmas classic for families. It’s free to enter (you may need to book a timed slot), with dinosaur skeletons, giant whales, volcano and earthquake galleries, and new exhibitions added regularly.
Nearest Tube: South Kensington (Piccadilly, Circle and District lines). From there it’s a short signed walk via underpass to the museum entrances.
Science Museum and Wonderlab
Two minutes’ walk away is the Science Museum, which is also free to enter, with loads of interactive galleries. The Wonderlab area is a paid, hands-on science gallery recommended especially for ages 7–14, with shows and experiments.
You can easily make a full day by doing:
Morning at the Natural History Museum.
Lunch in South Kensington (there are child-friendly chains everywhere).
Afternoon at the Science Museum, saving Wonderlab as the “special treat” activity.
Go on a weekday if you can; weekends and school holidays can be very busy, but they are still manageable if you book early, arrive near opening and take breaks.
5. London Transport Museum a hit with vehicle-obsessed kids
For younger kids who love buses and trains, the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden is gold.
The museum has historic buses, Tube carriages, interactive exhibits and dedicated family activities. Kids under 18 go free, and adults buy an annual pass that gives unlimited daytime entry for a year so if you’re staying longer or planning to return, it’s great value.
Where it is and how to get there:
Right on Covent Garden Piazza, with the entrance on the side of the old market hall.
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line) is about 2 minutes away; Leicester Square, Holborn, Charing Cross and Embankment are all within a 5–10 minute walk.
It’s indoors, stroller-friendly, and central which means you can combine it with:
A wander to see Covent Garden’s Christmas tree and decorations.
A quick peek at the West End lights or Trafalgar Square tree if energy allows.
If your children are into Santa, the museum has previously hosted Santa meet-and-greet experiences as part of London’s wider Santa’s grotto circuit, so keep an eye on their “What’s On” pages in case something similar runs in 2025.
6. Ice skating with kids: Somerset House and Glide at Battersea
If your kids are old enough to enjoy skating (and not just lying dramatically on the ice), London has some very photogenic rinks that work for families.
Skate at Somerset House
Somerset House’s courtyard turns into one of London’s most iconic rinks each winter. For 2025, Skate at Somerset House runs from 12 November 2025 to 11 January 2026, with hour-long sessions and special events.
Where: Somerset House, on the Strand in central London.
How to get there: easy walks from Temple, Covent Garden, Embankment, or Charing Cross stations.
They usually have children’s sessions and skate aids available; check the FAQs when booking.
Glide at Battersea Power Station
If you want a rink that feels like it’s straight off Instagram, Glide at Battersea Power Station is stunning. It runs from 7 November to 4 January, with three interconnected rinks around a huge Christmas tree, right beside the river.
Where: Battersea Power Station, south-west London.
How to get there:
The easiest is the Battersea Power Station stop on the Northern line (Battersea branch).
You can also arrive by river bus (Thames Clippers) or local buses and walk in.
For families, look out for Tot’s on Ice or family-focused sessions, plus the fact you have restaurants, cafes and indoor shopping in the same complex for warm-up breaks.
If you’re worried about getting everyone home tired and cold afterwards, you can always plan to hop on the Tube or pre-book CAB SERVICE back to your hotel or apartment so the day ends quietly rather than with a long, crowded journey.
7. Low-pressure festive extras: Southbank Centre and Hamleys (done smart)
Southbank Centre Winter Festival
Around the same South Bank area, the Southbank Centre Winter Festival usually brings a winter market, lights, free art installations like Winter Light, and lots of family events and performances.
It’s a great one to wander with kids at their pace: grab hot chocolate, look at the river, see a free performance if you stumble across one, then head back before everyone’s exhausted.
Hamleys, Regent Street only at the right time
Hamleys on Regent Street is a seven-floor toy shop with demonstrations, events and Christmas windows magical for kids, intense for adults.
If you go:
Aim for weekday mornings, not weekend afternoons.
Have a budget and a “we’re only choosing one thing” rule.
Combine it with a quick lights walk along Regent Street and Carnaby Street, then escape to a quieter side-street café when everyone’s done.
Important 2025 details to know
A few extra things that matter this particular year:
Christmas at Kew 2025 runs on selected dates from 14 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 (closed some Mondays and on Christmas Day itself)
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2025 is scheduled from 14 November 2025 to 1 January 2026, with timed entry tickets and separate bookings for attractions.
Skate at Somerset House runs 12 November 2025–11 January 2026.
Big museums like the Natural History Museum and Science Museum remain free to enter but often require or strongly recommend advance timed entry, especially in school holidays.
If you’ve seen KidZania London mentioned in older blogs, note that the London site has paused operations and is asking guests not to travel until they receive further updates. Always check their official site before planning a visit.
Transport can also be different on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with reduced or no services on some days, so always check TfL before you head out, especially if you’ve booked something time-specific.
You’re allowed to design a kid-friendly Christmas that works for your family
If you take one thing away from this: you don’t have to do everything.
You don’t need to tick off every single famous thing in one weekend. You don’t need the “perfect” Winter Wonderland reel if your kids would actually be happier looking at fish at SEA LIFE and pressing every button on a bus at the London Transport Museum.
A really good Christmas trip to London with kids might just be:
One big treat (Kew, Winter Wonderland Santa Land, or skating).
One museum or aquarium day for guaranteed indoor warmth.
One gentle walk for lights and hot chocolate, and then home for pyjamas and a film.
And that’s more than enough.
Let’s stay in touch especially if you’re planning London with kids
If this helped you feel a bit calmer about bringing kids to London at Christmas, I’d honestly love to keep helping you.
Save this blog, send it to the other adult who’s coming on the trip, and when you’re planning your days and thinking “Is this actually doable with a buggy and a four-year-old?”, come find me online.
I share real-life London tips, kid-friendly ideas, cosy spots, and honest thoughts on what’s actually worth it and what you can happily skip.
Come say hi and follow @london.yaar on Instagram think of it as having a local London friend in your pocket when you’re trying to make Christmas magical without completely exhausting yourself (or your kids).
You bring the snacks and the wipes; I’ll bring the London ideas.