The best family days out in London tend to be built around one main stop, a place to run around and a plan for food. This guide groups reliable options by the kind of day you want, with the practical details that matter with children: what is free, what needs booking, and where pushchairs are a problem. It sits alongside our wider things to do in London guide.
Details were checked on official sites on 2 October 2026. Check the official page for your date before you travel.
Family days out in London by type of day
| Free museum day | Natural History Museum, Science Museum, British Museum |
| Something different | The Postal Museum and its Mail Rail ride |
| History with space to roam | Tower of London, or Eltham Palace and Gardens |
| Outdoors | The Royal Parks, with playgrounds in Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park |
| A day in Greenwich | National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House and Greenwich Park |
Free museum days
The Natural History Museum says its galleries are free to explore, though queues can build at weekends and school holidays; a free entry ticket lets you skip them. The Science Museum is free but asks you to pre-book a free ticket, and its Wonderlab and IMAX are paid extras. The British Museum publishes family visit information, including object trails and details of family facilities. Our guide to free museums for a rainy day compares them.
Something different: Mail Rail
At The Postal Museum, a ticket includes entry to the museum and one ride on Mail Rail through the old postal tunnels. The museum recommends booking in advance, notes that weekends and busy periods can sell out, and suggests planning two to three hours. Its café is accredited by Kids in Museums as part of their Family Café Standard. One practical point: buggies and pushchairs are not allowed on the lower ground floor of Mail Rail, though buggy parking is available on the ground floor.
History with space to roam
The Tower of London publishes a family day out guide. Allow at least two to three hours, and note that suitcases and large bags are not allowed and there is no left-luggage. Eltham Palace and Gardens pairs a 1930s art deco mansion with a medieval Great Hall where Henry VIII spent his childhood. It has gardens, a play area and a café in the glasshouse, and Mottingham station is a 15-minute walk away.
Outdoors
Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill both have children’s playgrounds, and every Royal Park is free to explore, according to the Royal Parks. Richmond Park suits older children who like wildlife, but the deer need respect: keep at least 50 metres away and dogs on leads. See our best parks in London guide for more.
A day in Greenwich
The National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House are free, and Royal Museums Greenwich recommends booking both. The Royal Observatory is ticketed. Greenwich Park has a high point with views across the skyline, a good place to let children burn off energy between museums.
Older children and teenagers
London Transport Museum’s Hidden London tours of disused Underground stations are open to guests aged 10 and over, so they suit older children. See our guide to hidden gems in London for more.
Practical tips
- Pick one main stop and one outdoor stop, not three museums.
- Book any free tickets that are required or recommended.
- Travel light: several major venues restrict large bags and wheeled suitcases.
- Check official pages for pushchair rules, café facilities and closures.
- Fancy leaving the city? See our day trips from London by train.
FAQs
What is a good free day out with children in London?
The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are free to enter and are common choices for families. The Science Museum asks you to pre-book a free ticket.
Can I take a pushchair on Mail Rail?
No. Buggies and pushchairs are not allowed on the lower ground floor of Mail Rail, according to The Postal Museum, but buggy parking is available on the ground floor.
Sources checked
- Natural History Museum: Visit
- Science Museum: Visit
- British Museum: Visit
- The Postal Museum: Visit us
- Historic Royal Palaces: Tower of London
- English Heritage: Eltham Palace and Gardens
- The Royal Parks
- Royal Museums Greenwich
- London Transport Museum: Hidden London
- Featured image: Robert von Oliva, National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
