Over the past four years, I have explored many museums with my young children but return to these four museums over and over as the best museums in London with young kids.
Postal Museum
The Postal Museum usually does not usually top tourist lists but is surprisingly fun. The museum is in the old mail depot and includes a 15-minute train ride along the old mail route in hidden underground tunnels. Young children love the small size of the tiny two-foot (610-millimeter) narrow-gauge train.
The Postal Museum also has a play space called “Sorted!” that young children enjoy. The play space is light and airy and the ticketed entry means that the numbers are capped at 20 so there’s always space to play.
Location: Clerkenwell. 15-20 Phoenix Place WC1X 0DA.
There are two entrances. The train and Sorted! area are on one side of the street. The museum and kid-friendly Benugo café are on the other side of Phoenix Place.
Cost: £4 online or £5 in person for Sorted! play area only (ticketed entry, ages 0–8 suggested; adults free); £12 for play area and train ride for children; £17 for adults. All mail rail tickets include admission to the exhibit in the museum across the road.
Hours: Daily from 10am–5pm
London Transport Museum
At least once a month, my boys and I visit the London Transport Museum. Normally a museum covering 200 years of transportation history would not appeal to me, but I really enjoy the exhibits. It has amazing play areas for kids ages 0–7 called “All Aboard” with pretend buses to drive. Also, it seems to be a museum that both of my children enjoy through the years, which helps foster their shared experiences.
The museum’s family program includes a sing and story time on Tuesdays during the British school year and an extensive program of tours, storytelling and crafts during school holidays, Christmas and Easter.
It is free for ages 17 and under, and while the adult ticket is expensive for London, it is good for an entire year, although it is nontransferable and the museum strictly checks ID.
Location: Covent Garden Piazza (southeast corner)
Cost: 17 and under free; £18 for adults at the door; prebook online for £16.50
Hours: Open daily 10am–6pm (last entry 5:15pm)
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is always a favourite — free entry for all and a full-size tyrannosaurus housed in a gorgeous Gothic building. My kids love the dinosaur-centered kid-centric café T. rex Grill (open 11am–4pm) while the Darwin area allows older children to delve deeper into natural science. It’s ideal to go to the Science Museum around the corner first and then the Natural History for lunch and an afternoon of exploration. A tip from a friend of mine is to go just at closing to the Natural History Museum in order to get the place to yourself.
We are really supportive of their iniatives with a morning event called “Dawnosaurs” for children on the autism spectrum to enjoy the museum with their families before it opens.
Location: South Kensington. Cromwell Road SW7 5BD
Cost: Free; there is a charge for some temporary exhibitions
Hours: Open daily. 10am–5:50pm (last entry 5:30pm)
Science Museum
Sometimes overshadowed by its nearby neighbor the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum takes the prize as the most child-friendly museum for all ages. The basement (go through the Space exhibit and then down the elevators) is home to “The Garden,” an interactive space for children 3–6, where I’ve brought my children alone from just a few months old. It has a water station (with raincoats), a small climbing frame and a sensory area with instruments and plenty of interactive bits for little ones. You often need to arrive at the opening to avoid lines, but as it opens at 10am, it is not usually too difficult for families with little ones (depending on jet lag) to make it.
Older children love exploring the museum with Treasure Hunters, the Science Museum’s app, where you snap photos of places in the museum and challenge other visitors. Other sections of the museum host an Imax movie theater and interactive experiment exhibits.
Location: South Kensington. Exhibition Road SW7 2DD
Cost: Free for permanent exhibitions; Imax and special exhibits are extra
Hours: Open daily 10am–6pm (last entry 5:15pm)
You might also like
Comment
Hi Kathleen-
Great post! Heading to London/Paris over Christmas break with the kids. First time visiting so thank you for the information. Used my Chase Ultimate Rewards points for our flights. We also have two boys (8 and 7) so these are great tips. Anything else you can recommend is greatly appreciated. Staying 4 nights in London and 2 in Paris.