London is a wonderful city for families but it can be expensive. The good news is, however, that there are lots of fun things to do that won’t break the bank, you just need to know where to look.
As a mum to three kids living in London, I’ve worked out the best free things to do in London and how best to organise your time.
Here, we’ve put together six one-day cheap days out in London for families itinerary ideas for enjoying some of London’s best-known attractions – plus eating some of its most delicious food – for less than £50. Enjoy!
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1. Royal London: Parks, palaces and pelicans
Table of Contents
Some of London’s grandest experiences are also its cheapest and you can explore much of royal London on a budget.
Morning: The Mall, Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard
Start your morning at Horse Guards Parade, the large parade ground off Whitehall. This is where the annual Trooping the Colour ceremonies take place. It’s a great spot for a family photo.
From here, take a stroll along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace.
The tree-lined Mall dates to 1660 and is runs from Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace. Arriving at the Palace, make sure to take some photos including the enormous statue of Queen Victoria that stands directly opposite the palace in the middle of the roundabout. This statue was commissioned by her grandson, King George V, in 1911.
There are very few free attractions in London that can compete with the pomp and ceremony of the Changing of the Guard. Held at Buckingham Palace, the ceremony sees the Old Guard switch duty with the New Guard and usually lasts around 45 minutes.
The free event typically takes place at 11am outside Buckingham Palace every day except Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday but make sure to check the schedule as it can change suddenly.
You can find a spot outside the Palace to watch the ceremony or head towards Wellington Barracks (the Royal Military Chapel not the map) where there will be far fewer crowds. Here you can watch the New Guard forming, their inspection, the Colours being handed over and hear the band play – this is all before they head off for Buckingham Palace. You will need to get here earlier, around 10.15.
Once you have finished watching the ceremony take a stroll through St James’s Park. This is one of my favourite parks in London and it’s a fun one to visit with kids thanks to the resident pelicans.
Pelicans have been living in the park since 1664 when a Russian ambassador presented a pair to King Charles II. They were joined by several more Eastern White pelicans in 2013 as a gift from the city of Prague.
You can see them being fed every day between 2.30pm and 3pm at the eastern end of the park’s lake.
There are various kiosks where you can get something to eat or buy an ice cream but you may just want to bring a picnic along – assuming the weather plays ball of course!
Afternoon: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey & The Houses of Parliament
After lunch in the park, walk towards Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
Big Ben is one of London’s most iconic landmarks and something that I tell every visitor to London that they must see. Although known the world over as Big Ben, the tower’s official name was the Clock Tower. It was changed to the Elizabeth Tower after the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.
Big Ben refers to the clock tower’s largest bell, which weighs 13.7 tons. It is possible to take a tour of the tower, climbing 334 steps to reach the belfry where Big Ben hangs. Unfortunately the tours don’t take place that regularly and they sell out very quickly so you need to be organised!
Next door is the Palace of Westminster, otherwise known as the Houses of Parliament where the UK government sits. You can tour the Houses of Parliament but it’s a paid-for attraction and you will need to book your tickets in advance (it’s well worth doing though and interesting for kids too).
Nearby is Westminster Abbey, royal church that was founded in 960AD (the building you see today dates from the 13th century). This is where all big royal celebrations take place including weddings and coronations. If you visit on the second Monday in March you can see the King and other members of the Royal Family arrive at the Abbey for the Commonwealth Day service.
The Abbey is free to enter for worship but there is a fee if you want to go in and look around. During school holidays the Abbey hosts regular events and workshops for kids which are included in the admission price.
2. South Kensington: Museums, parakeets and playgrounds
There are lots of great things about London but one of the best things is the many incredible museums that have free entry. add something weird museums
South Kensington is home to some of London’s best-loved museums including the Natural History Museum, the neighbouring Science Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum that sits opposite.
All three of these museums are free to enter the main galleries (temporary exhibits and the Science Museum’s popular Wonderlab all require an entry fee). All three have something to engage and entertain kids of all ages.
I would only recommend visiting one of the following museums in a day; there is so much to see and do in all of them that trying to tackle more than one may be overwhelming for you, let alone for the kids!
Morning: Natural History Museum
One of London’s most recognisable buildings, the Natural History Museum is also one of London’s most loved museums (and even featured in the original Paddington movie).
The Romanesque building first opened its doors on 18 April 1881 as a ‘cathedral to nature’ and remains today a place where anyone, young or old, can travel through 4.6 billion years of the planet’s history.
You can easily spend a day here there is so much to see and do but I would recommend spending a morning.
One of the most famous exhibits – and among the most popular with kids – is the Dinosaur Gallery where you can watch dinosaurs, including the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex, stomp and roar. Kids will also love trying out the museum’s earthquake simulator and riding through the centre of the earth in Earth Hall.
There are also the new museum gardens that opened in the summer of 2024. Follow in the footsteps of evolution as you wander through grassland, wetland and woodland habitats, meet Fern the life-size bronze Diplodocus and watch for insect life in the wildlife ponds.
My recommendation is to get to the museum when it opens at 10am to try and avoid crowds, particularly if you are visiting during popular times such as the summer holidays. During busy times you will need to book a free ticket to enter.
There are a number of places where you can grab something to eat near the Natural History Museum or you can dine inside the museum. They have a new Inspired by Nature afternoon tea or, for a more budget option, you can bring your own lunch and enjoy it in the Picnic Area on the lower ground floor in the Green Zone.
Science Museum
If science is more your thing then swap dinosaurs for engines and visit the Science Museum.
Even after countless visits, I can find the sheer volume of exhibits overwhelming so if it’s your first time visiting (or even if its your 10th), I highly recommend following one of the museum’s Family Trails.
These free family trails (you can either open the PDF on your smartphone or print at home before you visit) are themed and include the Science Fiction Trail, the Chemistry Tour and the Gaming Tour.
There are trails themed around codebreaking and another designed for children under 7.
One of our favourite is the Big Tour, that covers some of the biggest items in the museum such as the enormous big mill steam engine and the hospital bed cycle, that was designed by one of the founders of the Paralympic Games.
You can see all the trails here.
Again, I recommend spending a morning here (book your free entry tickets here) and then enjoy lunch as one of the museum cafes or picnic areas. If the weather is good, you could even take your picnic outside to nearby Kensington Gardens.
There are also some good places to eat nearby.
V&A Museum
The V&A Museum is one of my favourite museums in London, packed full of exhibits “dedicated to the power of creativity”. Again, there’s so much to see here that you can quite quickly feel lost if you don’t have some kind of idea of what you want to see.
One of my favourite corners of the V&A is the museum’s jewellery collection. There are over 3,000 pieces from across Europe and spanning millennia.
Like the Science Museum, the V&A has a number of themed trails to follow.
For younger kids the Curious Family Trail is a lot of fun and the Refugee Stories trail is both engaging and informative. If it is your first time visiting then start with the introductory trail that includes some of the museum’s best known pieces including Tippoo’s Tiger, a rather terrifying mechanical organ from 1793.
Afternoon: Parks, playgrounds and parakeets
It’s just a short walk from the museums to Kensington Gardens that connects seamlessly with Hyde Park. Kensington Gardens is one of eight Royal Parks in London and it’s also where you’ll find Kensington Palace, the current home of Wills and Kate, otherwise known as The Prince and Princess of Wales.
One of the most famous park residents is the statue of Peter Pan. Author J M Barrie lived in Kensington and commissioned the statue. He had it installed on night in May 1912 as a surprise, much to the delight of the children who arrived the next day (and ever since).
The Peter Pan statue is one of London’s “Talking Statues”. Swipe your phone on the statue’s plaque and you will receive a call from Peter Pan who will tell you his story.
One of the main reasons to visit Kensington Gardens with children is the Diana memorial Playground.
Located in the corner of the park near Queensway station, this is one of the best playgrounds in London, a whimsical space with a huge pirate ship in the centre. There’s also a sensory trail, teepees and a giant sandpit with water pumps and splash park around the ship where children can play. The space has been designed for less able-bodied children to enjoy as well.
An alternative play ground option is the Hyde Park Playground on South Carriage Drive. Paths lined with bamboo and shrubs wind their way around this fun play space with slides, swings, climbing frames and more. Ok, it doesn’t have a pirate ship but it’s still a lot of fun.
If you have time and / or are still looking for things to do then head along to The Hyde Park education centre where Discovery Days take place during the school holidays. Themed crafts, activities, storytelling and more are free to attend.
3. The South Bank: Skateboarders, street art and board games
The South Bank is home to some of the most popular London attractions including the London Eye, the London Dungeons and Shrek’s Adventure but it’s easy to enjoy this slice of London for free.
Morning: Tate Modern & Borough Market
Located along the banks of the River Thames in the former Bankside power station is the Tate Modern, one of London’s best museums.
Even if art is not your thing it is worth stepping inside to see the Turbine Hall, the vast and dramatic entrance space where incredible art installations are regularly staged. It’s free to enter, as are some of the permanent galleries.
If you have younger children in tow then make a note of the UNIQLO Tate Play workshops that take place regularly and are free to attend. Or, you can visit Tate Draw and use one of the free digital sketch pads to create your own masterpiece. Completed works are displayed on the wall in a digital art gallery.
For lunch you can always try nearby Borough Market. This is not the cheapest place to eat but, if you are savvy, you can find some cheap(er) and tasty eats.
Nana Fanny’s Salt Beef & Falafel serves sandwiches and bagels with hot salt beef, chicken schnitzel sandwiches and falafel wraps. Horn OK Please dish up generously portions of curry as well as dosa chaat and yummy egg kati rolls for a similar price to the viral chocolate-covered strawberries. I love the grilled cheese sandwiches from Kappacasein.
One option is to enjoy a picnic along the river bank and then get a dessert from Borough Market; Humble Crumble is possibly the most delicious dessert in town!
Afternoon: Beaches, Skate Parks & Graffiti
From Borough Market follow the Thames river until you reach Ernie’s Beach (also known as the Thames Beach).
Admittedly, this is not a white sand and sun lounger kind of beach, rather a tidal beach on the Thames river shoreline.
Named after local resident John ‘Ernie’ Hearn who fought tirelessly for the Thames river to be recognised as an asset of London accessible to the public, the sand and pebble shoreline is unique in the city.
Mudlarking – the act of searching along the banks and shores of rivers for items – needs an official license (or you can join a guided tour) but you can still explore the beach. Don’t be surprised to find pieces of Victorian clay pipes, bits of glass and maybe even old pieces of pottery, just make sure to leave anything you find behind.
Also be aware of the tides; the Thames river tide moves by 4 metres so you need to pay attention to the tide timetable.
Continue along the river’s edge and you will hit the Southbank Centre, that often hosts children’s activities during the school holidays, many of them free.
During summer months you may find street performers putting on a show around here and you will also discover the wonderful Appearing Rooms.
This is one of the best splash parks in London, jets of water that shoot from the ground seemingly at random creating “rooms” as they rise and fall. On sunny summer days it is packed with happy children getting absolutely soaking wet.
Nearby is the Southbank Skatepark, a tunnelled area under the Southbank Centre where skaters can drop-in, flip and switch. Even if you – or the kids – don’t skate, it’s a fun place to watch skateboarders perform tricks.
Not far from here, near Waterloo station, is Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel.
Once part of the entrance to the old Eurostar tunnel (this has now moved to Kings Cross), the tunnel is today a kaleidoscope of colour and a vibrant street art zone.
Anyone can have a go at making their own graffiti art and while workshops are available, you can also buy your own can of spray paint and let loose! There’s a tool shop nearby (marked on the map).
Also in Leake Street tunnel is Draughts, a fun board game cafe home to over 1,000 board games. Perfect for a budget-friendly afternoon (particularly on a rainy day). Admission costs £7.50 off-peak and £9.50 during peak hours per person. Children under 12 are free and kids and 13-17 are half price.
4: Central London: Street performers, statues and LEGO
The Central London neighbourhoods of Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Chinatown are some of my favourite to explore with visitors. Right in the heart of the city, these neighbourhoods really feel like “London”, a cacophony of lights, colour, noise, and people. If you are not careful, you can send a lot of money here but there are plenty of things to do that won’t cost you much.
Morning: Covent Garden
My kids love Covent Garden and will happily spend weekends here wandering around, browsing for records in Fopp and eating ice cream from Udderlicious.
It’s a popular neighbourhood for shopping and is also home to the excellent London Transport Museum (admission is not free but it is valid for a year so it’s a pretty good deal) and the beautiful Royal Opera House.
It’s a fun neighbourhood to wander around and soak up the atmosphere. It is always busy and there’s plenty going on including pop-up installations in the market area and a twinkling tree at Christmas.
Don’t miss Neal’s Yard while you’re here, it’s one of the most colourful places in the city and great for photo ops.
One of the best things to do in Covent Garden with kids is to watch the street performers. Magicians, dancers, comedians, jugglers and clowns perform regularly for encouraging crowds and are great fun to watch.
Covent Garden has always been a site for street performances with the first recorded show – a marionette show – having taken place in 1662. Head to the open square in front of St Paul’s Church on the West Piazza and you’ll almost always find someone performing.
If you want a treat then Covent Garden is home to one of our favourite ice cream shops, the Milk Train, home to the UK’s first candy floss ice cream cones.
If you want to grab a bite to eat then there are a number of places where you can dine on a budget. This is especially true if you’re visiting during the school holidays when a number of restaurants offer a free and discounted meals for kids.
Typically these are for children aged 12 and under (10 and under in some places) and restaurants have traditionally included Yo! Sushi, Bill’s, Brewdog, Frankie & Benny’s, The Real Greek, and Gordon Ramsay Restaurants among others.
There are still budget options even if the deal is not on, however. Wahaca has a good kids’ menu and BrewDog Seven Dials offers good value for money. One of my favourite cheap eats in Covent Garden is Xian Biang Biang Noodles that cooks amazing hand-pulled noodles and dumplings.
Your other option for lunch is to head straight for Chinatown. There are lots of places to choose from but my favourite is Bun House.
Afternoon: Chinatown, Leicester Square & Piccadilly Circus
Red paper lanterns, Chinese street signs and two grand red-coloured gates mark the entry to London’s lively Chinatown.
This neighbourhood has been around since the 1950s (the original Chinatown was located in London’s East End) and is packed full of restaurants, cafes, bubble tea shops, Chinese supermarkets, souvenir stores, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and much more.
From Chinatown you can walk straight into Leicester Square, a perennially busy hub filled with activity day and night. This is where London’s big movie premieres take place so you may spot a star or two on your visit!
If not, there’s always the Scenes in the Square trail, a series of film character statues positioned around the square. Look out for Harry Potter playing Quidditch, Paddington Bear eating a marmalade sandwich and Mr Bean sitting on a bench.
If you visit during the summer months then Leicester Square fountains are a refreshing place to cool off and just one of many great splash parks in the city.
Leicester Square is also home to M&M World (the largest sweet store in the world) and the LEGO store (also the largest in the world). Now, these two emporiums of fun are by no means cheap but it will be hard to walk past and not go inside if you are visiting London with kids.
Most of what’s sold in M&M World is vastly overpriced but it’s still a great place to see – four floors of M&M themed fun – and there are some good photo opportunities such as the Fab M&M Four crossing a makeshift Abbey Road.
Similarly, a trip to the LEGO store can be expensive but one way to keep the costs down is to visit the in-store LEGO Minifigure Factory.
Here, kids can sign and create their own unique LEGO mini figure, which is a really fun souvenir to take home from London. Each one costs £10.99 which admittedly is not cheap but a bargain compared to a lot of the other items for sale in store.
It’s just a short walk form here to Piccadilly Circus, a popular London landmark. Named after the Piccadill, the broad collar that was fashionable in the late 16th century, the road has been a main thoroughfare since Medieval times. Standing in the centre is the famous Eros statue (although it’s actually Anteros, his twin brother).
5: The City: Views, history and hidden gems
London’s City is the historic financial hub, home to the Stock Exchange and Bank of England but it’s also home to some of the capital’s best things to do with kids – for free!
Morning: Sky Garden, Monument & St Dunstan in the East
Located on the 35th floor of a towering skyscraper in the City of London is the Sky Garden, London’s highest public garden home to some of the best views of the London skyline. Even better, tickets to visit the Sky Garden are completely free!
Depending on what time of year you visit you may be able to stroll up to the entrance and get your ticket at the door but this is a popular place and it gets very busy, particularly during school holidays and Easter and Christmas.
Free tickets are released very Monday morning (excluding bank holidays) three weeks in advance for the whole week. Choose which entry time suits you best and book your ticket. Tickets are delivered via email.
It’s easy to spend a couple of hours in the Sky Garden admiring the view over the Tower of London, River Thames and beyond and snapping photos. There are also two snack bars where you can buy drinks and snacks.
If you don’t manage to get tickets for the Sky Garden then there are other places where you can get free views of London including the nearby Horizon 22, the highest free viewing platform in London.
Monument
From the Sky Garden, it’s a short walk to Monument, a reminder of the Great Fire of London of 1666. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and the 202-feet-high structure stands just 202 feet from the spot where the fire started on Pudding Lane.
You can climb to the top although you will need to pay (adult/child £6/3) and then climb 311 steps to the gallery. Not only will you be rewarded with some fantastic city views you also get a certificate stating that you completed the climb! Only 33 people are allowed inside at any one time so you may have to wait.
Church of Saint Magnus-the-Martyr
Given that you are in the area, it is really worth stopping in the Church of Saint Magnus-the-Martyr. While the kids might be inclined to roll their eyes at the mention of a church visit, this church is home to one of the more unusual sights in London, a 20-foot-long model of Old London Bridge.
The model is an incredible representation of a historical bridge that once spanned the River Thames, and depicts the bridge as it would have looked in around 1440. It was made in 1987 by David T Aggett, a policeman, liveryman and keen model maker who created this incredibly detailed model predominantly out of cardboard boxes.
The church is also home to a 2,000-year-old piece of wood that was found in the Thames and dates back to Roman times.
St Dunstan in the East
Also nearby is one of London’s most unusual gardens, within the bombed-out ruins of St Dunstan’s church in the heart of London. The church was seriously damaged during the Great Fire of London and later hit during the blitz.
One of the reasons I love this spot so much is because it is so unexpected and today the public park is a welcome respite from the busyness of the city. It’s the perfect place to come and catch a breath or even have a picnic lunch.
Harry Potter fans will immediately recognise magical Leadenhall Market – the market was used to represent Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Located in the heart of what was once Roman London, this picturesque market is today home to lots of great restaurants, bars and cool shops. Even if you don’t eat here, it’s worth wandering through and taking a look.
Afternoon: Tower Bridge
It’s an approximately 20 minute walk from Leadenhall Market to Tower Bridge, one of London’s most impressive bridges.
Built between 1886 and 1894, when it was first constructed the bridge was the largest bascule (seesaw) bridge ever completed. If you are lucky, your visit will coincide with the bridge lifting. Check up-to-date timings here.
You can also visit inside Tower Bridge and learn more about this iconic structure (plus walking over the glass walkways). A family ticket for two adults and two children is £36.20.
Your walk to Tower Bridge will lead you past the Tower of London. Entrance to the fortress is not free but you can still get a good look at the tower from the outside including a glance at the infamous Traitor’s Gate (you will have to pay to go inside and see the Crown Jewels however).
6: East London: Young V&A, City farms & Street Art
There are lots of fun things to do in East London that won’t break the bank.
Morning: Young V&A
One of the best free museums in London – especially if you are visiting with younger children – is the Young V&A.
This magical space reopened in the autumn of 2023 after undergoing a serious £13 million renovation project and the newly designed space is light-filled and fun, with thousands of childhood objects on display.
The free museum is separated into three different galleries called Imagine, Play and Design with plenty of interactive exhibits and hands on family activities to delight children aged 0 – 14, including a mysterious “sound tree”, a make-your-own board game table and a giant foam construction set.
Temporary exhibitions also take place in the upstairs gallery. The first one, Japan: Myths to Manga, was excellent. A new exhibition, Making Egypt, will open in February 2025.
Regular drop-in activity sessions for kids take place too so do check the schedule – these are particularly handy if your London visit coincides with rainy days.
There’s a cafe on the ground floor so you can grab lunch here or, if the weather is nice, there are the museum gardens outside for a picnic or nearby Bethnal Green Gardens. Alternatively, I recommend walking from the museum to E. Pellici, one of the best places to have breakfast in London.
This Bethnal Green institution has been feeding the local community for more than 120 years. Named after Elide, wife of Primao Pellicci who first started working in the cafe in 1900, the traditional cafe is still owned and managed by the family. It’s a truly unique place and they serve their famous full-English breakfast all day long.
Afternoon: Street Art or Spitalfields City Farm
Depending on the age of your children and their interests you have a couple of options for the afternoon.
My kids love exploring the street art in east London and if you think this is something your children (particularly teens) would enjoy then you can hop on the 388 double-decker bus from the Young V&A to Shoreditch High Street.
This colourful corner of London is renown for its street art and is a fun place to explore. Street art tours are available (but they can be pricey) or you can explore on your own using this guide.
If you have younger children then I would suggest wandering from the museum to Spitalfields City Farm. The walk takes about 20 minutes from the museum and just over 10 minutes if you stop by E. Pellici first for lunch.
Located on a 1.3 acres site, it’s easy to forget that you are in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities when you visit Spitalfields City Farm.
Home to donkeys, goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and ferrets, this is a wonderful bucolic retreat in the heart of London and was established to help empower people – especially young people – to make a positive change to their lives, community and planet.
It’s a really special place and completely free to visit.
We’re big fans of the farm’s Tea Hut where you can grab a hot drink, toasted sandwich, slice of cake and more.
The farm is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, March to December. During the school holidays the farm runs activities for children and young people.
Another city farm option is Hackney City Farm that is also near to the Young V&A and is free to visit.
