February half-term is on the horizon, which means now is a good time to start thinking of activities to keep the little ones entertained.
London can be a magical city to explore with children if you know where to go. You’ll find galleries, museums and pop-up installations at practically every corner, and excellent transport options also make exploring the capital a breeze.
On a budget? No problem. There are plenty of free and affordable family-friendly activities to enjoy, especially if you take your own packed lunch, with most museums providing designated picnic areas to refuel.
Booking in advance online will also cut the cost of activities that do charge a fee; you could save up to 20 per cent by planning ahead rather than buying tickets at the attraction on the day.
Whether you have tots or teens, here are 11 of the best things to do with kids in London to make February half-term a memorable one.
Catch a B-Bakery bus from Trafalgar Square and gawp at some of London’s most iconic sights in the 90-minute ride. See all the best bits of the capital from the comfort of your seat, while devouring a delicious afternoon tea. You can choose from a Paddington themed bus, which will be enjoyed by children of all ages, or a Peppa Pig bus geared towards preschoolers and younger tots.
On the Paddington bus, each table comes with a special built-in screen providing guests with a bear-guided animation of the tour of London. Paddington and Mrs Bird will tell you all about the city’s most famous landmarks, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Borough Market and Piccadilly Circus. Freshly baked treats include a marmalade finger sandwich, chocolate cupcake with bear paw prints, and a delicious vanilla rice pudding.
Price: From £50, b-bakery.com
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With Hello Kitty looming large, as well as cute creatures and cuddly monsters, Somerset House has created the ultimate child-friendly day out. From emojis to internet memes, video games to plushie toys, this highly-anticipated new exhibition explores “the irresistible force of cuteness in contemporary culture”. Alongside a host of images and installations to amuse and coo over, the exhibit also includes toys and memorabilia that adults may remember playing with as children, such as Sylvanian Families and My Little Pony. With pieces that will make you go “awwww”, this is pure feel-good fun.
Price: Kids £11, adults £18.50, somersethouse.org
The British Museum is hosting five days worth of exciting, playful and exploratory activities as part of their Revolting Romans event. Here, kids can get stuck into some hands-on activities, such as handling replica Roman objects, playing Roman games and making special legionnaire figures to take home. Whether your kids are fans of the BBC show Horrible Histories, or simply enjoy hearing a few gruesome facts, this exhibition is sure to enlighten and amuse young minds.
Free to attend, Rotten Romans is expected to be popular, so it’s worth booking a timed entry slot in advance on the British Museum website.
Price: Free, britishmuseum.org
Harry Potter themed days out can be expensive, but there is one activity you can enjoy for free. Station authorities at King’s Cross Station erected a Platform 9 ¾ sign in honour of JK Rowling’s hit series between platforms 9 and 10 in the station. Since then, Harry Potter fans from all over the world have ventured to King’s Cross Station to pose and take a picture in front of the famous platform sign. It’s completely free to visit and to take a photo, but you might want to get there early in the morning to avoid the queues.
Special activites run from 12 February
Once you’ve bagged a photo, you could make the fun last longer by visiting a Harry Potter merchandise shop inside the station. Alternatively, burn off some energy with a walk down the canal and a play on the swings and slides in Handyside Gardens, just off Granary Square.
Price: Free
Indulge your kids’ love of splashing around with bubbles at this immersive 11-room exhibition in Wembley. Children will adore this unique activity, which takes the best parts of a bubble bath without the hassle; the bubbles are dry, so you won’t need to bring a change of clothes. It contains some epic ball pits, so you can throw yourself and the little ones into a smaller one with bigger balls, and a humongous one the size of a swimming pool that contains smaller balls. There’s also a VR experience, where you sit in bubble chairs suspended from the ceiling and put on the headsets to surround yourself with bubbles from all angles.
Price: Kids £16.90, adults £21.90, bubble-planet.com
The exhibition explores “the force of cuteness”
This activity is perfect for both older and younger children
