In an effort to book more city breaks as a family, I’m all about making cities fun for the kids and finding the most unique, child-friendly experiences so they don’t feel like they’re just being dragged around countless museums. With 3 boisterous boys under 10, I’m an expert in finding outdoor experiences for kids in London: there’s a limit to how much quiet time we can spend in an indoor environment, quietly looking and listening. To put it another way, if we spend too long indoors, they just start wrestling in an effort to burn off pent-up energy.
I always search for outdoor spots for families when we’re on vacation, so the boys can run off some steam and play together safely (without annoying other contemplative sightsee-ers). Luckily in London, there are so many great places to do this, so you can team up a trip to a playground with a nearby cultural spot and keep everyone happy.
After you’ve visited all the amazing galleries, museums and sights the city has to offer, there are heaps of fun, outdoor-based activities to try. Here are some of our favorites…
Spitalfields City Farm and Hackney City Farm
Two really fun farms in the most unexpected locations. Spitalfields is a short walk from busy Spitalfields Market (another must-visit spot for kids and parents alike) and the surrounding city offices. Highly community-minded, this quirky spot is small but authentic, the nearest farm to the city’s square mile and sited on a former railway goods depot. A great place to visit if you’re heading to vibrant Brick Lane for street art, pop-ups and the city’s best bagels (and a great outdoor spot for teens).
Hackney City Farm is equally surprising, nestled within the green spaces of Haggerston Park. Book an Animal Handling workshop for kids aged 11-17, where they can get up close to some of the farm residents.
Columbia Road Flower Market
Not too far from Hackney City Farm, Columbia Road is a quiet and unassuming street of Victoria cottages during the week but comes to life on Sundays, welcoming hundreds of visitors to its vibrant flower market. The road is also lined with 60 gorgeous independent boutiques, delis, antique shops and gift stores, so it’s a real treat to explore on a sunny day. Top tip: if you can leave the stroller I would recommend a carrier for babies or toddlers – it gets extremely crowded.
Food Markets: Maltby Street & Broadway
London is now so famous for its fabulous food markets, and equally popular with kids who are often astounded by the sensory experience in brings (recent feedback: ‘this cheese is so stinky!’). Our favorites are the little-known Maltby Street food market (Fridays to Sundays), famed for its good coffee stands and global cuisine options. It’s a short walk from Borough Market, which will no doubt already be on most visitors’ lists. (Borough can be super busy with tourists, but you’ll find Maltby Street is easier to walk around, although still bustling come late morning).
Another favorite of ours is Broadway Market (not too far from Columbia Road and Hackney City Farm) which runs on Saturdays, and is a great place to pick up ingredients for cooking at home. Team with a trip to Haggerston Park or Victoria Park – both teaming with families at weekends – or a trip to the Young V&A, a children’s museum in the East End. Book a dedicated London Food Tour if you’re heading to the capital for all the culinary delights.
Battersea Power Station
A new edition for London! The recently opened Battersea Power Station is a hub of restaurants, shops and apartments, homed in a historic power station building which has remained empty and derelict since 1983. Not only is there now a Lego store and a Peppa Pig store, but they’ve built a great playground for kids, a soft play, a cinema, and plenty of pedestrianised open spaces where children can run around. Team with a trip to nearby Battersea Park – one of the best green spaces in the capital for families.
Chinatown
An inspired idea of ours last year was to take the kids to Chinatown in the heart of the West End. We couldn’t walk more than a few minutes without stopping over and over again to stare at the various window displays, colorful streets and eye-catching scenery. This is a great spot to wander around if you’re heading to Theaterland for a show or visiting Covent Garden.
Southbank
This incredible part of the city was transformed around the Millennium by the opening of the Tate Modern. The brutalist architecture of the 1960s Southbank buildings frames miles of pedestrianized Thameside paths (this is where you’ll find the National Theater, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Festival Halls, not to mention Shakespeare’s Globe) but the walkways are now filled with food trucks, street entertainers, green spaces, busy restaurants and the best views of the city, from Westminster to Tower Bridge. If you’re visiting any of the museums or theaters here, make sure to allocate time for hanging around outside.
London Zoo
An almost entirely outdoor attraction, London Zoo is one of the city’s best. Kids of all ages will love seeing the exotic animals and learning about conservation, as well as the play areas. It’s also nestled inside the grounds of Regents Park, in itself a huge green space where you could spend a whole day exploring the playgrounds and beautiful gardens.
Browse all our family-friendly vacation rentals in London or read our guide to more things to do in London with kids.
Kid & Coe Tip:
If your kids are calm or mature enough to enjoy dedicated tours, check out the best tours for kids in London from our partners at Context Travel.
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/queen-s-park/the-queens-park-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/kensington-chelsea/the-edith-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/knightsbridge/the-william-mews-residence
- https://www.kidandcoe.com/destinations/camden-town/the-camden-town-residence
