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Guide 12

Kid's Guide to London

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✨ red-bus buzz • dino-roar wonder • castle-and-ravens • river-capsule views • wizard magic • penguin splash

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CONNECTING TOLondon

<ol> <li>🚇 London built the world's first underground train all the way back in 1863 — so every Tube ride sits on the oldest secret-tunnel railway on Earth.</li> <li>🐦‍⬛ The Tower of London keeps a team of big black ravens, and an old legend says the Tower will only stay standing while they live there — so a real Ravenmaster looks after them every day.</li> <li>🚌 The famous bright-red double-decker buses have been red since 1907. Grab the top deck at the front for the best view in the whole city.</li> <li>🐻‍❄️ Way back in 1251, a king kept a real polar bear at the Tower of London and let it swim and catch fish in the River Thames on a long rope!</li> <li>🚩 Look up at Buckingham Palace: when a flag is flying on the very top, it means the King is actually at home inside.</li> </ol>

SHORT HISTORY

- 🏘️ Long ago, London started as a small town beside a big river called the Thames, built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago. - ⚓ Over time, boats and traders sailed up the river, markets popped up, and the little town grew into a busy city full of bridges and streets. - 🏙️ Today, London is a huge, exciting city where old castles and palaces stand right next to tall glass skyscrapers and fast trains.

Highlights

TOP KID APPROVED ADVENTURES

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Natural History Museum

Alfred Waterhouse's 1881 Romanesque Revival cathedral holds 80 million specimens across zoology, botany, palaeontology, entomology and mineralogy. The central Hintze Hall — presided over by the blue-whale skeleton Hope — draws crowds with its Victorian grandeur.<br/> Children squeal at the animatronic T-Rex; Hope the blue whale sweeps overhead in Hintze Hall. Stained glass filters light onto terracotta columns; behind each doorway, glass cases reveal specimens by the thousand.<br/> - • Holds 80 million specimens — one of the world's largest natural history collections - • Alfred Waterhouse's 1881 Romanesque Revival building is a London landmark in its own right - • Free admission to permanent galleries, funded by government and private donations - • Home to Hope, the 25-metre blue whale skeleton suspended in Hintze Hall since 2017

🦕 Natural History Museum ** Come face to face with giant dinosaur skeletons, then look up at an enormous blue whale hanging from the ceiling in the grand main hall. The hands-on Investigate zone lets you touch real bones and fossils. Great for kids who love dinosaurs, animals and asking why — and it is free to enter.

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Tower of London

William the Conqueror's riverside fortress has served as royal palace, prison, mint, menagerie and execution ground across nine centuries. It remains home to the Crown Jewels and the ravens whose presence, by legend, keeps the kingdom standing.<br/> Beefeaters in scarlet tunics relate Tudor beheadings with dry wit. Wet stone smells of the Thames; ravens croak from their keepers' blocks. Cobblestones and inner walls muffle the traffic beyond.<br/> - • UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 - • Home to the Crown Jewels, used in every coronation since the 17th century - • Consistently ranked among London's top three paid attractions - • One of the oldest continuously inhabited buildings in the UK

🏰 Tower of London ** See the sparkling Crown Jewels, meet the famous black ravens, and hear spooky true stories from a Yeoman Warder (a real Beefeater guard) in a grand uniform. Great for kids who love castles, knights and a little bit of gory history.

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London Eye

A wheel of 32 capsules lifts riders 135 metres above the Thames for a slow, 30-minute revolution. What opened as a 2000 Millennium landmark has become one of London's most distinctive silhouettes.<br/> Capsules glide silently upward as the city unrolls — Parliament to the north, Tower Bridge east, Wembley Arch on a clear day. Inside, glass from every angle; outside, wind off the river.<br/> - • Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel at 135 metres - • Opened for the Millennium celebrations in March 2000 - • Hosts around 3 million riders annually - • Ranked among the world's most popular paid attractions for two decades

🎡 London Eye ** Climb into a giant glass capsule and float slowly high above the city for about 30 minutes. On a clear day you can see for miles in every direction. Great for younger kids and anyone who would rather not walk — you just stand, spin and look. Strollers are welcome.

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London Theatre: Disney's The Lion King

A ticket to Disney's The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre on Wellington Street, Covent Garden. The Julie Taymor-directed musical has run continuously since 1999. Runtime is 2 hours 30 minutes including an interval. The production uses puppetry, mask work and South African choral music composed by Lebo M and Elton John.<br/> - The Lion King is the third longest-running West End musical, behind Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera. - Won six Tony Awards in 1998 including Best Musical and Best Direction for Julie Taymor. - Reviewers flag the opening number 'Circle of Life' processional through the auditorium as the musical's signature moment.

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🦁 Disney's The Lion King ** Watch Simba's story come alive with amazing animal costumes, giant puppets and the unforgettable Circle of Life opening. The colours, drums and singing fill the whole theatre. Great for kids who love music, animals and a big wow first trip to the theatre.

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Buckingham Palace

London's most visited royal residence sits at the end of The Mall, embodying nearly three centuries of monarchy and public spectacle. It is where state banquets unfold and the nation gathers for its milestone moments.<br/> Crowds press against black railings as guardsmen in bearskins march past. The clink of brass instruments and rhythmic stamp of boots fills the forecourt before the palace hush returns.<br/> - • Official residence and administrative headquarters of the British monarch - • State Rooms open to the public each summer and on select winter and spring dates - • Home to the Royal Collection, one of the world's largest private art collections - • The Changing of the Guard draws thousands to the forecourt year-round

👑 Buckingham Palace ** Watch the Changing of the Guard, where soldiers in tall furry black hats and bright red coats march to a real marching band. It is like a live parade. Great for kids who love soldiers, marching and spotting the royal flag.

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Tower Bridge

London's Victorian bascule bridge has split to let ships pass since 1894, its twin Gothic towers a counterpoint to the stone of the City. The crossing, the glass-floor walkways and the Engine Rooms form a single visitor route.<br/> Traffic rumbles beneath while the walkways sway almost imperceptibly at wind gusts. The glass floor sits 42 metres above churning river traffic — the view is vertiginous, the effect theatrical.<br/> - • One of London's most photographed landmarks, lit in changing colours at night - • Bascules still raise around 800 times a year for river traffic - • Original Victorian steam engines preserved in the Engine Rooms - • Frequent backdrop for films, royal processions and Olympic celebrations

🌉 Tower Bridge ** Cross London's most famous bridge, then step onto the high glass floor and look straight down at the boats on the river below. Sometimes the whole bridge lifts up to let tall ships through. Great for brave kids who like looking down from way up high.

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London Zoo

Opened in 1828 as a private scientific collection and opened to the public in 1847, London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. Now home to 750 species, it combines Victorian Grade-I heritage (the Penguin Pool) with cutting-edge conservation (the Tiger Territory and Gorilla Kingdom).<br/> Penguins splash behind glass; gorilla feet thud in enclosed rainforest. Children squeal in the Butterfly Paradise; sea lions bark from the pool. Lord Snowdon's 1964 aviary rises above the walkway, part aviary part sculpture.<br/> - • The world's oldest scientific zoo, opened 1828 - • Houses 750 species — 18,000 animals in total - • Grade I listed architecture including Lord Snowdon's 1964 Aviary - • Operated by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a global conservation charity

🐯 London Zoo ** Meet Asiatic lions in the Land of the Lions, watch gorillas play in Gorilla Kingdom, and giggle at penguins splashing in England's biggest penguin pool with an underwater window. There is even a petting area with friendly farm animals. Great for animal-loving kids — it is the oldest scientific zoo in the world, tucked right inside a big park.

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TOY & GAME HEAVEN

🧸 Hamleys – London's giant, world-famous toy shop with seven whole floors of toys, games and fun demos to try.
🕹️ The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience (LON-PROD-151) – Step inside a real-life game show and solve clever puzzles with your team to win crystals.
🚎 London Transport Museum (LON-POI-47) – Climb aboard old red buses, trains and trams, press the buttons and pretend to be the driver.
🌀 Frameless (LON-POI-54) – Walk right into giant moving paintings that swirl all around you on the floor, walls and ceiling.
🌿 Hampton Court Palace Maze (LON-PROD-77) – Get happily lost in a real outdoor hedge maze in the gardens of a king's old palace.

WHAT KIDS LOVE TO EAT

🍟 Fish and Chips – Crispy fried fish with hot, chunky chips. Soft inside, crunchy outside, and on almost every menu. 🍳 Full English Breakfast – A big plate with eggs, sausages, beans and toast. Pick your favourite bits and build your own plate. 🍗 Sunday Roast – Roast chicken or beef with crispy potatoes and a puffy, golden Yorkshire pudding to soak up the gravy. 🍮 Sticky Toffee Pudding – A warm, soft sponge cake covered in sweet, sticky toffee sauce. Lovely with a scoop of ice cream. 🍫 Knoops Hot Chocolate – Rich, creamy hot chocolate where you choose how chocolatey you want it. Perfect on a chilly London day. 🎭 Covent Garden (LON-POI-101) – A buzzy square full of street performers, sweet shops and lots of family food spots to choose from. 🧱 Leadenhall Market (LON-POI-128) – A pretty covered market with colourful painted roofs and snack stalls — it even looks like Diagon Alley from Harry Potter!

PHOTOS & REELS HOTSPOTS

🐧 Press your nose to the underwater window as penguins zoom past at London Zoo (LON-POI-75).
🦈 Walk through the see-through ocean tunnel with sharks gliding over your head at SEA LIFE London Aquarium (LON-POI-76).
🪟 Lie down on the high glass floor and film the river and tiny boats far below you at Tower Bridge (LON-POI-4).
🌆 Look out over the whole city from way up high at The Shard (LON-POI-60).
🏺 Stand under the enormous glass roof and pose next to ancient Egyptian mummies at the British Museum (LON-POI-41).
🦌 Spot real deer and roll down the big grassy hill for the perfect jumping photo at Greenwich Park (LON-POI-64).

PARENTS FAQS

When are the best times for outdoor versus indoor activities?

London weather changes quickly. Plan outdoor spots (parks, the London Eye, markets) for the driest part of the day, and keep indoor options (museums, the Aquarium, theatres) ready for rain. Mornings are usually quieter at the big attractions.

Should we pre-book the main attractions?

How much time should we plan for the big places?

Are strollers and public transport easy with kids?

What should we pack in a day bag ?

London weather changes quickly. Plan outdoor spots (parks, the London Eye, markets) for the driest part of the day, and keep indoor options (museums, the Aquarium, theatres) ready for rain. Mornings are usually quieter at the big attractions.

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INSIDER TIPS FROM
OUR EXPERTS

⏱️ <strong>Follow the 90-minute rule:</strong> Plan about 90 minutes at each big attraction, then take a snack-and-run-around break in a nearby park so little legs don't get tired.

🎟️ <strong>Book the big ones first:</strong> Lock in the Harry Potter Studio Tour, London Eye and any West End show before your trip — these sell out and cost more on the day.

🗺️ <strong>Turn travel into a game:</strong> Give each child a London map and let them tick off red buses, black cabs, ravens and royal guards — the journey becomes part of the fun.

Planning a trip to London?

HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED.

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Introducing London

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Key Information Guide