Stroll down any avenue in London and the echoes of town’s previous are throughout. With a settlement alongside the Thames for effectively over 2,000 years, the Roman settlement of Londinium has left its traces to search out at present – and that’s solely the beginning of what you may see throughout sooner or later in London with children who love historical past.
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Enterprise again to Roman instances with remnants of previous partitions and the Mithraeum temple, whose first worshippers set foot right here within the third century AD. Round 900 years later, the Normans set their stamp on town with the White Tower, the primary a part of the Tower of London.
Tudors, Stuarts and Georgians adopted of their wake, a protracted line of kings, queens, traditions and ceremonies which make town an ideal place to go to with children who love historical past.
London is dwelling to a number of the world’s biggest museums as effectively, with collections from civilisations all over the world in addition to displays on town itself. In my second itinerary for sooner or later in London with children – take a look at my options for animal-lovers right here – I’ve picked a number of the child-friendly highlights to step again into the previous.
With actions, challenges and video games, in addition to excursions, that is as removed from a dry, dusty classroom historical past lesson as you may think about, with concepts for pre-schoolers in addition to older children.
Frankly, this changed into one thing of a mammoth submit… and the realisation that there was no approach I might match each possibility in for history-loving children, so I’ve picked a number of the finest and my favourites. As ever, I’m together with tips about how a lot time to spend, to work out how a lot you may fairly match into sooner or later in a metropolis the dimensions of London, and options for numerous budgets.
For extra concepts on how to economize on days out in London with children, take a look at my high ideas
Sooner or later in London with children who love historical past
Don’t miss: The Tower of London
Maybe my very own favorite place to go to in London with children, the Tower has been royal residence and feared jail, it has seen rebel and the execution of queens, it homes the crown jewels and was as soon as dwelling to a menagerie of unique animals.
Right now, the ravens hopping across the inexperienced include their very own legend whereas the Beefeaters of their superb uniforms are the guides to introduce you to lots of of years of historical past.
How lengthy: Permit round half a day – the free Beefeater excursions take an hour, and chances are you’ll effectively have to queue to see the Crown Jewels, with an hour really helpful for these too. You could possibly spend even longer however youthful children’ consideration spans may wane earlier than you’ve run out of issues to see.
Do: Flip up at opening and head straight to the Crown Jewels earlier than the queues get too lengthy. And be sure you obtain the Time Travellers app with digital missions for teenagers.
Plan forward for one particular additional – it’s nonetheless doable to watch the Ceremony of the Keys earlier than the Tower is locked at 10pm each evening, which is alleged to be the oldest army ceremony on the planet, instituted by Edward III. Whereas tickets are free (aside from an admin price), restricted quantity imply you’ll have to snap them up as quickly as they turn into obtainable.
Try my expertise of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with children
How a lot? Tickets value from £35.80 for adults when you purchase on-line, from £17.90 for teenagers. There could also be hourly time slots in class holidays however in any other case you may arrive everytime you need. You’ll nonetheless must queue for safety and a bag verify however you may skip the ticket queue by reserving on-line.
In the event you declare Common Credit score, there are additionally a restricted variety of £1 entry tickets which have to be booked upfront (and also you’ll have to deliver proof of eligibility while you arrive).
In the event you get Historic Royal Palaces membership – from £60 for one grownup and as much as six youngsters – you additionally get admission to 5 different palaces, together with Kensington Palace and Hampton Court docket Palace.
For extra royal locations in London to go to with children, take a look at my decide of the most effective, from palaces to castles and extra
Uncover town: The London Museum
The place higher to find London’s historical past than a museum devoted to it? Not least to be taught the truth that as soon as upon a time, hippos lived in Trafalgar Sq..
EDIT: The museum is now briefly closed till reopening in its new website at Smithfield in 2026 however you may nonetheless go to the sister museum, The London Museum Docklands, which has a terrific play space for youthful children and focuses on London’s historical past as a submit – learn extra right here
Going again to 450,000 BC, the everlasting galleries hint London’s historical past proper from prehistory to these Romans, medieval instances, by means of plague and fireplace, to move of an Empire and multicultural current.
There are additionally particular exhibitions – 2018 has one on the suffragettes, in addition to Roman cemeteries and a gruesomely fascinating chunk of the Whitechapel fatberg, a 130 tonne sewer blockage. Bleurgh.
How lengthy: There’s loads to cowl so that you’re more likely to get museum fatigue earlier than you discover each little bit of the gathering – as there’s no entry cost, you would cease in for a number of brief visits when you’re within the space, however permit a few hours in any other case.
Do: Put it aside for the weekend – usually quieter than London’s different museums, particularly because of its Metropolis location, Sundays is usually a good day for a go to. Be careful for the museum’s deliberate transfer to Smithfield, the place it’s set to double its measurement.
How a lot? Completely free.
For my full set of tips about visiting London’s museums with toddlers and children, take a look at my final information
Wet day: The British Museum
The mummies are most likely probably the most well-known displays for households on the British Museum, among the many museum’s intensive Egyptology assortment, however you’ll discover items from misplaced civilisations galore, together with Historical Greece, Saxon England, Easter Island and African empires.
In the event you’re feeling overwhelmed, the 12 highlights for teenagers is an efficient begin.
How lengthy: You could possibly spend all day within the museum and nonetheless barely scratch the floor – however because it’s free, it’s additionally simple to pop in for an hour. One thing in between is right, a few hours to discover the areas which notably tempt your children, with out leading to museum fatigue.
Have a look on-line earlier than you go… there are 4 million objects within the on-line assortment alone which provides you an thought of simply how a lot you would uncover.
Do: Try the exercise choices for teenagers (additionally obtainable to obtain earlier than you go to). There are easier concepts for trails for under-fives based mostly on color and quantity in addition to choices for older children to discover.
Skip the queues by going within the again door – take a look at my different ideas right here – and plan a while outdoor afterwards, Households-only Coram’s Fields, with its play areas, will not be far-off for some contemporary air afterwards. And you may skip the queues to the bathrooms within the basement too: there are additionally services close to the Asian galleries as effectively.
How A lot? Free – though there’s a value for particular exhibitions. Tickets have to be prebooked.
Day journey: Hampton Court docket Palace
From the recreated medieval kitchens to the well-known maze, this Tudor palace is an enchanting glimpse into royal life – Henry VIII famously acquired Hampton Court docket from Cardinal Wolsey, and the ghost of Catherine Howard, his fifth Queen, is alleged to hang-out one gallery after a failed try to succeed in the king from right here.
Inside, the palace rooms are nonetheless embellished as they might have been at completely different phases of historical past, there are treasure hunts for teenagers and you may even decide up miniature velvet robes to discover in model.
In addition to the formal gardens, there’s the previous ‘actual’ tennis court docket, the well-known hedge maze and the magic backyard play space based mostly on legendary beasts.
How lengthy? Whichever approach you journey, the palace is a bit approach outdoors west London so it is advisable think about time to get there – there’s lots to occupy when you get there, so it’s price making a day of it.
Do: Trains run from Waterloo in central London to Hampton station which is just a few minutes stroll away from the palace. In summer time, boats do run to Hampton as effectively, though it’s not probably the most sensible possibility – it takes round two hours from Richmond, and 4 from Westminster, though it’s a incredible approach to arrive.
Be careful for particular occasions – there’s virtually at all times one thing on throughout college holidays, plus ice skating round Christmas however chances are you’ll need to keep away from visiting across the well-known flower present because it’s even busier.
How a lot? Tickets value from £28 for adults and £14 for kids when you purchase on-line upfront. The gardens have free entry on a handful of days annually, though that doesn’t get entry into the palace, maze or Magic Backyard.
In the event you declare Common Credit score, there are additionally a restricted variety of £1 entry tickets which have to be booked upfront (and also you’ll have to deliver proof of eligibility while you arrive).
In the event you get Historic Royal Palaces membership – from £60 for one grownup and as much as six youngsters – you additionally get admission to 5 different palaces, together with Kensington Palace and the Tower of London.
For older children: The Homes of Parliament
Mixing the prospect to stroll in historical past and see the place historical past remains to be being made, the tour of the Homes of Parliament – inside what’s nonetheless formally generally known as the Palace of Westminster – is fascinating.
The choices embody a self-guided tour with audio information which lasts simply over an hour, with a model geared toward youngsters aged as much as 11, in addition to barely longer guided excursions, geared toward youngsters aged 5+. There are typically particular household guided excursions as effectively, though these aren’t at present operating.
In addition to visiting the Commons Chamber and the Lords Chamber, you may stroll by means of the Central Foyer and discover Westminster Corridor which is sort of 1,000 years previous – constructed by England’s second Norman king, and nonetheless housing a medieval desk the place 17 completely different monarchs would have eaten.
How lengthy? The guided tour lasts 90 minutes, whereas the audio information takes 60-75 minutes.
Do: Examine the dates and ebook upfront – you may go to with an audio information on Saturdays, some college holidays and most weekdays when Parliament will not be in session (most of August, and for a few weeks in September and October, for example).
The guided excursions function on comparable dates however are barely extra restricted. The Elizabeth Tower, dwelling to Huge Ben, can be now open with restricted excursions operating – just for older children, these have to be booked upfront and also you do have to be fast if you wish to snap up tickets..
How a lot? The audio information prices £27 for adults, with one youngster aged 5 to fifteen free with every paying grownup (they do nonetheless want a booked ticket). Extra youngsters value from £10. A guided tour prices £34 for adults, £18 for kids aged 5-15, with youngsters beneath 5 free – with restricted slots, it’s strongly really helpful to ebook upfront.
Dwelling historical past: The Altering of the Guard
Historical past needn’t imply wandering round previous buildings or taking a look at even older displays – particularly when you may watch a standard ceremony, because the King’s Guard adjustments.
The Family Troops have guarded Buckingham Palace since Queen Victoria moved in in 1837, though they’ve guarded the monarch and royal palaces since 1660. Watching the guards march of their vivid crimson uniforms and well-known bearskin hats, all with a full army band taking part in is a really memorable sight.
In the event you’re visiting between July and September, you may ebook to go to the State rooms on the palace afterwards too. There’s a multimedia tour for beneath 12s, though it’s price figuring out there are not any buggies allowed, restricted bathrooms and no consuming inside (so I actually wouldn’t advise it with toddlers!)
Try my ideas for visiting Buckingham Palace with children
How lengthy? The ceremony itself runs from round 10.45am for round 45 minutes – the handover from the Outdated Guard to the New Guard takes place at 11am, though you may see the guards beginning to type up by St James’s palace from 10.30am and the brand new guard arriving from Wellington Barracks.
Doublecheck that it’s going down as normal – though you may usually watch the ceremony on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, it’s sometimes cancelled for main occasions within the capital. And if it’s pouring, don’t courageous the rain to see them: it’s usually cancelled in unhealthy climate.
If you wish to see the State Rooms, permit round two to a few hours for that, and also you’ll want a timed ticket.
Do: Get there early to have an opportunity of seeing something. Watched by thousands and thousands yearly, turning up at 10.45 (and even 10.30) will discover crowds already lining the obstacles – and even when you’re proper by Buckingham palace, you may wrestle to see a lot by means of the gates. I’d advocate reserving one of many free excursions (pay what you need) to get the most effective views.
In any other case with youthful children, get a style by heading to St James’s Palace or Wellington Barracks, on Birdcage Stroll at round 10.15, the place they’ll be forming up and music will likely be taking part in whereas the troops are inspected. Or watch the Aid march up The Mall simply after 11am to alleviate the sentries who’ve been standing guard in the course of the handover.
You may as well watch the King’s Life Guard change on Horse Guards Parade, which tends to be much less busy – 11am every single day, besides Sunday when it takes place at 10am
How a lot? Free to look at.
For extra concepts of free issues to do in London with children, take a look at my high picks
Better of the remainder – London with children who love historical past
- Take a Horrible Thames cruise – created by the folks behind Horrible Histories, you get a whistlestop run by means of London historical past aboard a 45-minute boat journey (April-October, college holidays solely).
- Climb aboard the Golden Hinde, a reproduction of the ship with Sir Francis Drake sailed all over the world. There are family-friendly excursions when you fancy pretending you’re an Elizabethan explorer (or pirate) in addition to the prospect to sleep in a single day on the Golden Hinde.
- Discover London’s historical past by the river, on the London Museum Docklands – set in a 200-year-old warehouse, it follows commerce and port life from Roman instances to Canary Wharf. Try what we thought once we visited.
- Return to highschool… on the Ragged Faculty Museum, as soon as the biggest free college in London. You may nonetheless sit within the genuine Victorian classroom, you may participate in a lesson on the primary Sunday of the month (restricted numbers), or there are additional actions in vacation instances.
- Uncover toys by means of the ages, on the Younger V&A in east London. Additionally free, you may spot toys, dolls, video games and extra, relationship again to the 17th century (and play with a number of extra trendy ones).
- Play at Lords and Women – each the Nationwide Belief and English Heritage have a string of properties inside London, from Osterley and Ham Home within the west to Eltham Palace within the south east and Marble Hill Home within the south west.
- Take a bus tour – you may select the open-top vacationer buses to see a number of the capital’s historic buildings, together with Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s, plus Buckingham Palace. Or select your route rigorously, and sit on high of a double-decker to spy them for much less – buses 15 and 26 are a very good begin. Try my picks of the finest bus excursions in London with children
*First revealed 2018, final up to date 2025*
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