Things to do with your toddler in London

The London Aquarium is located on the South Bank next to the River Thames which is also right next to the Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament as well as the London Eye. So, you could give your little one a break from the sightseeing by going to the Aquarium. We took our little boy when he was about 17 months and he loved it. We were able to take him out of his pushchair so he could toddle around and he could see right into the fish tanks. At this age kids love fish so it was great.

The downside is the Aquarium is quite pricey although under 3 year olds are free. Additionally, If you book online at least 24 hours before you go you can get a 10% discount so its worth planning ahead to cut the costs. The other advantage of booking online is that you don't have to queue to get in and pay which is good when you have an impatient toddler in tow.
Go to the London Aquarium website to book online.

The Garden in the basement at the Science museum has a specific area aimed at the 0-5 age group. There is water play which my 23 month old son loved. The children are given orange waterproof jackets to protect their clothing and they can experiment with boats, floats and pushing levers to make the water go around. There are also textured play items, a play area with soft bricks where you can build huge towers and wheelbarrows to push the bricks around in. There's also musical instruments and a puppet theatre to put on your own show. Its fantastic for somewhere to go if the weather isn't that great.

The launchpad on the 3rd floor, also has activities aimed at older children but the younger ones may find interesting things there too such as big bubble blowers. Also there are loads of buttons to press on exhibits throughout the whole museum which can keep small children occupied while you're looking round. Another plus point is entry is free

For more information visit the 0 to 5 section of The Science Museum Website

This is another great free attraction which is very suitable for young children in Central London (situated very close to the British Museum). There are large green spaces for just running around or having a picnic, a paddling pool, a pets corner with ducks, sheeps, goats and hens, a sandpit and slides. Definitely worth a visit especially in the Summer.

Corams Fields, 93 Guildford Street, WC1 1DN

This is a free playground which your toddler is guarenteed to love. Opened in 2000 as a memorial to the late Princess Diana it is open to children up to 12 years and accompanying adults.

It really is great especially on a sunny day although it can get quite busy. There is a huge pirate ship at the centre of the park which is surrounded by sand (so this is one big sandpit for the toddlers). Further on into the playground there are teepees, and wooden houses to explore as well as the traditional swings and slide. There is a sensory trail with huge paving stones and when you jump on them they make different sounds. It definitely is a must see during a trip to London with the children in the Summer.

For adults there's plenty of seating and a cafe too. For more information go the the Diana Memorial Playground website

A great thing about London is the number of free museums. The Museum of Childhood is free and a great way to keep your toddler amused. It includes a sandpit, dressing up area, other play areas and a place to read for smaller children. There are free activities for children throughout the day which include art sessions, storytelling and games.

The museum itself exhibit toys dating back to as early as the 16th century. The exhibits include dolls collections, teddy bears, dolls houses, childcare items, games and dream toys.

For more information visit the Museum of Childhood website

The National Army Museum has a kids zone suitable for all ages under 10. It is an interactive learning area and play space equipped with tunnels to crawl through and slides as well as opportunties to dress up, play board games and do art activities. There is a soft play area specifically for babies.

Go to the National Army Museum website for more details.

Mudlarks is an interactive soft play area at the Museum of London in Docklands which specifically caters for toddlers. It's furnished with giant props including large bananas, a London bus and they can pretend to drive a DLR train. It will cost £5 to register as a member but it's then free for a whole year. There is also a lot for older children to do including interactive displays and activities such as building a replica of towers in Canary Wharf.

It is worth phoning ahead to make sure that the soft play area is open for the public as sometimes they have groups of children visiting or its closed for activities. Check the website for more details

Museum in Docklands

This zoo is really great for small children. There are lots of different animals that will fascinate your toddler. Monkeys, donkeys, owls, meerkats, pigs, goats, giant rabbits, mice and ponies to name but a few. There's farmyard animals and your little one can pet some of them. There's pony rides and there's a tunnel which you can crawl through to arrive in a glass room in the Meerkat enclosure. There is also a playground. There aren't any big animals and it costs £6.95 for adults and £4.95 for children between 2 and 14 but it is free for under 2s.

Battersea Park and Zoo

If you are on a budget you could consider visiting a city farm (see below). These are normally free although they do appreciate donations. However, you would miss out on looking at the more unusual animals and crawling through a tunnel to see the Meerkats!

There are lots of city farms in and around London which are normally free (although they do appreciate donations) and give children the chance to get up close to farm animals.

Here is a website with web links to all the city farms in and around London.
London City Farms

Mudchute farm is a particulary good city farm based in the Isle of Dogs, East London. It's a short ride from Canary Wharf on the DLR. If you're interested in going read my review of Mudchute Farm

I could write pages about what there is to do in London with toddlers and I will be updating the page with more information. But in the meantime here is a summary of a couple more things you could do.

London Parks - the good thing about London is the number of parks where your children can run around. Regents Park, St James Park, Holland Park and Hyde Park are all in Central London and can be a good stop when kids need to burn off some energy.

More museums - the Natural History Museum right next to the Science Museum also has exhibits that appeal to young children. If your little ones like dinosaurs the moving dinosaur exhibit is definitely a must. Again its free and there's also a wildlife garden where you can look out for different plants and animals.
Natural History Museum

London Zoo. London Zoo is based in Regents Park. Again it can be quite pricey but no doubt small children will love looking at the animals. London Zoo

Take a ride on a London bus. Go on a red double decker on the top deck. Choose an empty bus and sit at the front. What toddler wouldn't love that.

Kew Gardens is another great place to take a toddler. Walk around the gardens, explore the glass greenhouses, go on the playground, look at the lakes and the pagoda. I took my son when he was a nine month old baby and it was great even then to go for a walk with him in his pushchair and sit him in the gardens where he watched the birds and as I recall tried to crawl after them!! It's free for children under 17 although adults cost £13. See the Kew Gardens website for more information.