Looking for the best things to do in London with kids this winter?
Whether you’re visiting the city or keeping little ones entertained during the colder months, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy.
From top children’s museums and London’s most famous landmarks to creative indoor workshops and festive outdoor events, here’s our guide to the best winter activities in London for families.
1. Visit the city’s kid-friendly museums
The British Museum
Just like Paris has the Louvre, New York has the Metropolitan and Saint Petersburg has the Hermitage, London’s iconic museum is the British Museum. It is your chance to discover the largest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts outside Egypt, including mummies and the world famous Rosetta Stone. But that’s not all! Wait until you see the impressive frescoes of the Parthenon of Ancient Greece. Other attractions include the gigantic winged bulls of Assyria, the marble sculptures and frescoes of the Parthenon of Ancient Greece, and many more fantastic historical relics.
And why not make the most of your visit with your children by booking our Mystery at the British Museum tour? You’ll be covering the highlights of the museum in just 2 hours, and your children will have loads of fun listening to the family-friendly guide and solving the riddles in the entertaining game booklet.
Address: Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom. Nearest tube station: Tottenham Court Road (Central & Northern lines) or Holborn (Central & Piccadilly lines). Price: Free admission for everyone, but may charge for some special exhibitions. Opening Hours: Open every day from 10 AM to 5:30 PM, open until 8:30 PM on Fridays.
The London Transport Museum
If you are interested in the history of transport, then check out the London Transport Museum. After all, London was the first city in the world to have a subway network (the Tube). The museum is dedicated to the history of London’s transport system since 1800. Through approximately 80 vehicles (including a red London bus and the world’s first subway) and other interesting items, you and your children will understand the powerful link between transport and the growth of modern London.
Address: Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB, United Kingdom Nearest Tube station: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line). Price: Free for everyone under 17. £16.50 for adults if booked online in advance (£18 for adults if bought at the door). You can buy your tickets online in advance. Opening Hours: Open every day from 10 AM to 6 PM, last entry at 5:15 PM.
The Natural History Museum
Located in a beautiful building just a stone’s throw away from the iconic Royal Albert Hall, the Natural History Museum is a true fun and educational playground for children of all ages. Here, they will learn everything about the mysteries of our planet, from the time of the mighty dinosaurs to our modern era. It’s a great opportunity for you to refresh your memory as well! Highlights include skeletons of dinosaurs, a skeleton of a blue whale (the biggest creature that ever existed on earth) and even a Wildlife Garden.
The Natural History Museum is truly one of thebest things to do in London with kids in winter.
Address: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom. Nearest tube station: South Kensington Station (Circle, District & Piccadilly lines). Price: Free admission for everyone. Opening Hours: Open every day from 10 AM to 5:50 PM, last entry at 5:30 PM.
The Science Museum
Here’s a museum your whole family will want to warm up in when visiting London in winter: the Science Museum. If your kids love everything science, they will find this museum fascinating! The museum is entirely dedicated to science and presents objects related to topics such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, time, light, technological and medical achievements in a family-friendly way. In other words, your children will learn as much as they have fun!
Address: Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD. Nearest Tube station: South Kensington Station (Circle, District and Piccadilly lines). Price: Entry is free for everyone, but tickets are required for some activities, galleries, and special exhibitions. Opening Hours: Open every day from 10 AM to 6 PM, last entry at 5:15 PM.
2. Visit some of London’s iconic landmarks
If you don’t mind the cold weather, there are some landmarks in London that should be visited! And to make it even better for children, we recommend avoiding “classic” ways to visit these highlights and choosing something a lot more family-friendly.
The highlights that should not be missed when visiting London with kids in winter are the Tower of London, the “Royal” area (from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace), the London Eye and a cruise down the Thames River for an original overview of the capital city.
You can choose to visit these areas on your own, but it would be a shame to be in London and not to combine fun and education when visiting these highlights. Thanks to the fully trained professional guides and the entertaining game booklets, the Family Twist tours of these highlights will create family memories like never before.
3. Warm up with a workshop!
Why not warm up with a fun-filled, hands-on workshop with your children when tired of the cold weather? After all, these curated private experience were specifically designed for families, so might as well enjoy!
For example, going to a messy Chocolate Workshop. Let’s face it: winter is simply the perfect time to enjoy the warmth of a kitchen. And what better way to do that than to book a private, family-friendly cooking class. When it comes to chocolate, you can be sure your kids are going to love it!
Or have some fun and learn how to be proper members of British high society with our The Art of British Etiquette workshop! There will definitely be laughs involved (and some balancing of books on heads), and you’ll walk out of there having mastered the most crucial of British skills: how to properly drink a cup of tea.
We recommend the following chocolate workshop to do with children: https://mychocolate.co.uk/
We also recommend the following The Art of British Etiquette workshop to do with children: https://www.bettyblythe.co.uk/
4. Visit Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland
Embrace the Christmas spirit with Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park. This fun family event is one of the best things to do in London at Christmas. Featuring a huge selection of festive entertainment and activities to fill a whole day and evening. Here’s what you can get up to at this year’s Winter Wonderland:
Skate to live music on the Winter Wonderland ice rink, the UK’s largest outdoor rink. Marvel at the acrobatic wonders at a circus show. Soar into the sky on the iconic Giant Observation Wheel and see the twinkling London lights below. Ride on a traditional carousel or brave the giant loops of nine different roller coasters at the fairground. Step into the Magical Ice Kingdom to discover over 500 tonnes of ice sculpted into secret passageways, a snow tunnelled ice slide, a crystal carriage of the Ice Palace, and much more. Take on the Edelweiss Funhouse, a walk-through experience that is sure to play a trick or two on you, with a 300m (984 ft) alpine obstacle course and surprising illusion rooms.
We hope you’ll enjoy these wintery activities with your little ones this winter!
