Free places in London
Free to enter. Some may charge for special exhibitions or rides.
🎠Activities 4
- Camden Arts CentreArt centre with one-off events and workshops for families.
GamesIndoor
Official website
- Kenwood HouseNeoclassical house on Hampstead Heath with a free art collection and wide parkland. Buggies are not allowed inside the house.
IndoorPark
Official website
- Pimp Hall PlaygroundGreen space suited to family walks and outdoor play.
Play areaOutdoor space
Official website
- The British LibraryNational library with free exhibition galleries and a programme of storytelling and craft sessions for children of all ages.
GamesIndoor
Official website
🌳Parks 217
- Archbishop's ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Battersea Park Millennium ArenaPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Camley Street Natural ParkPark with small pond and free visitor centre.
Petting farm
Official website
- Culpeper ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Dickens Square ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Elephant ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Fortune Street ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Geraldine Mary Harmsworth ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Hyde ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Joseph Grimaldi ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Kennington ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- King Square GardensPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Mint Street ParkPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Myddelton Square GardensPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Newington GardensPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Paddington Street GardensPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Quaker GardensPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Saint James' GardensPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
- Sky GardenSkyscraper features a top-floor restaurant. The garden can be visited for free, book in advance.
Indoor
Official website
- Tabard GardensPark with open space and a play area.
Play area
Showing the 20 most central. See all 217 parks in London
🏛️Museums 14
- Bank of EnglandFamily-friendly museum exploring the bank's history with activity sheets for all ages and child-friendly displays.
Indoor
Official website
- Dulwich Picture GalleryMuseum with free family trail and Sensory backpacks (best to book it). Free under 18.
Indoor
Official website
- Islington MuseumThis will be redeveloped soon. The most interesting thing is the toy corner, and the play kitchen.
Games
Official website
- Museum of London Archaeological ArchiveMuseum with a family programme and activities for children, including "Become an archaeologist for the day" for kids 5+ but also a play area for all ages.
Ages 2+Play areaGames
Official website
- Museum of the HomeRe-created domestic interiors from 1600 to the present, with a walled herb garden.
Indoor
Official website
- National Portrait GalleryMuseum with a family programme and trails for children 4+.
Games
Official website
- Natural History MuseumLandmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. Free admission but book online to skip the queue!
Indoor
Official website
- Sir John Soane's MuseumMuseum with hands-on workshops and activities led by specialist artist educators who explore themes related to the Museum and its collection, on weekends and school holidays.
Indoor
Official website
- South London GalleryArt gallery with temporary exhibition programme. Family activities for free.
Ages 8+
Official website
- Southbank CentreTheatres, concert halls and an art gallery with many family activities.
Games
Official website
- Tate BritainMuseum with a family programme and activities for children.
Games
Official website
- Tate ModernMuseum with a family programme and activities for children.
Games
Official website
- The British MuseumOn weekends and school holidays, take your free activity backpack or a Museum explorer trail from the Families Desk to guide you around the galleries.
Indoor
Official website
- The Foundling MuseumThe first British home for abandoned children, with art collection and children activities for all ages: family workshops for 5-12 and creative activities for under 5s. Free under 21.
Games
Official website
🛝Playgrounds 149
- Bloomsbury SquareSquare with toddlers playground.
Outdoor
- Brill PlacePark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Causton Street PlaygroundPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Channel 4 TelevisionPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Cleaver SquarePark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Coram's FieldsPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Crabtree FieldsPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Crumbles Castle Adventure PlaygroundPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Cumberland MarketPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Edward SquarePark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Elm VillagePark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Graham st playgroundPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Granville SquarePark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- judd street open space - childrens play areaPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Mint Street Adventure PlaygroundPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Packington Square PlaygroundPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Polygon Road Outdoor GymPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Purchese StreetPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Radnor Street Open SpacePark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
- Spa FieldsPark with open space and a play area.
Outdoor
Showing the 20 most central. See all 149 playgrounds in London
🧺Picnic Sites 16
- Adelaide Nature ReserveWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Barnsbury Wood Nature ReserveGreen space suited to family walks and outdoor play.
Outdoor
- Belsize WoodWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Blackbush & Twenty Acre Shaw WoodsWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Bluebell Wood, LondonWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Bostall Heath and Woodsroyalgreenwich.gov.uk/directory_record/3760/bostall_heath_and_woods/category/167/all_parks.
Outdoor
- Castle WoodWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Clapton PondGreen space with a pond, suited to a short family walk.
Outdoor
- East Ham Nature ReserveWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Harmony WoodWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Jack WoodWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Oxleas WoodWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Pond SquareGreen space with a pond, suited to a short family walk.
Outdoor
- Russia Dock WoodlandWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Sheperdleas WoodWoodland with paths for family walks and wildlife spotting.
Outdoor
- Sydenham Hill WoodGreen space suited to family walks and outdoor play.
Outdoor
See everything we have mapped in London
Practical tips
- Free entry, paid extrasThe big museums are free to walk into but charge for temporary exhibitions. The permanent galleries are usually the better bet with children anyway, since you can leave when interest runs out.
- Playgrounds are the real budget saverLondon playgrounds are well equipped and everywhere. Two hours in a good one costs nothing and often beats a paid attraction for children under six.
- Travel is the actual expenseUnder elevens travel free on the Tube and buses with a fare paying adult. Buses are slower than the Tube but have no stairs, which matters with a pushchair.
If you want one paid thing in the week, spend it on something the city does not give away for free: a river trip, a view from height, or a show. Everything else on this list will hold up on its own.