It’s finally time to take the kids on a UK family break and all their friends keep talking about the cool stuff they saw in London. Now your kids want to go too and you’re worrying that it’s just going to cost too much – everything in London costs a lot, right? It doesn’t have to if you’re #InnTheKnow.
When you book at one of our Premier Inn London hotels, you can save money with great value accommodation and enjoy loads of brilliant experiences with your kids for free (or very little) in London. Booking at one of our hotels nearby gets rid of the usual worries about travelling and getting to places in time that can ruin a trip before it’s even began. Save money on your trip and enjoy brilliant accommodation wherever your trip takes you with our great budget hotels in London.
We’ve listed our top 8 favourite free and best value spots for kids in London below:
Free family breaks and activities
The Science Museum
The Science Museum
We could easily fill this list with museums and galleries. London has some of the best in the world, and most of them are totally free to enter. From the Natural History Museum to the British Museum and the Tate Modern Gallery – they’re all great for teaching kids new things in a way they’ll connect with, and they’re also a lot of fun for adults.
So, why the Science Museum? Because it’s probably the most interactive out of all of them. From exhibits where you can feel the weight of a human brain to live demonstrations of lightning strikes, it’s a place your kids can really explore and get their heads around. That’s not even counting the technology exhibits, ranging from some of the first cars to the latest in space exploration.
The Science Museum even had a gaming event where it showcased consoles from their creation to the latest gens to highlight how far technology had come. There’s always something fun going on for kids and it’s a great spot for a family day out.
Our Premier Inn London Kensington (Earl’s Court) is just a 15-minute trip on the District line from the Science Museum, which means more time enjoying the museum with your kids and less time worrying about getting home.
Granary Square
Granary Square
Sometimes the simplest things in life are the best – benches, river views and water jets. In the summer, Granary Square is essentially a free water park and kids never seem to stop having fun trying to dodge the jets of water from the ground.
Granary Square is also in a very pretty part of the city, with stone steps looking out on to the canal, Central Saint Martins art school next door and King’s Cross St Pancras around the corner. In fact, being so close to King’s Cross is a big thing on a trip for the kids – that’s less time travelling and more time enjoying your day out. You’re also right next to Platform 9 ¾, which is free to visit and take pictures of (with the Harry Potter Platform 9 ¾ shop next door). It’s a great spot for budget family breaks that won’t compromise on fun for your kids.
Our Premier Inn London King’s Cross hotel is ideal for any trip to London, we’re a 5-minute walk from the station, close to Eurostar services and trains across the country.
Hackney City Farm
Hackney City Farm
This might be a bit of a surprise, but London is full of city farms! They make the most of the space they have and are a green oasis in a mostly grey and urban city environment. Hackney City Farm is in a trendy part of London that isn’t too expensive to get to. It has a full stable of loveable farm animals that kids can give treats to.
It might not be the London Zoo, but kids love getting close to nature and there’s few things better than a day out on the farm in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the city.
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Kids spend a lot of time reading about kings and queens in books, and a trip to Buckingham Palace can be like bringing the magic of their stories to life. The Changing of the Guard is probably one of the most exciting events outside the Buckingham Palace grounds, and it’s a treat to watch. As soon as your kids hear “make way for the Queen’s Guard!” and see all the excitement for themselves, you’ll see their eyes light up – just keep them out of the way of the guards! Plus, you’re right next to St James’s Park Playground afterwards.
We can’t get you in to Buckingham Palace, but we can get you close – our Premier Inn London Victoria hotel is under a mile and only a 15-minute walk away. It’s perfect for exploring nearby Westminster Cathedral and parks in the area, too.
Spot entertainers on the South Bank
Spot entertainers on the South Bank
There are a few spots in London where street entertainers can wow passersby and amaze kids with tricks, magic and songs. The South Bank is one of the best spots to find some hidden gems, from living statues to levitating heroes, London’s street entertainers are charismatic and often great with kids – perfect for keeping the little ones hyped when you’re getting from A to B.
Of course, if you enjoy the show you should tip too, but it’s still a lot cheaper than paying for a show and there’s just something magical about being in the right place at the right time and discovering these acts for yourself. The amazing views of the Thames and the generally fun and lively atmosphere are great too.
Picnics in Greenwich Park
Picnics in Greenwich Park
London has some of the best parks in the UK. It’s easy to see London as this gigantic grey giant, but there’s vast rolling fields and hills right there in the middle of the city. There’s plenty to choose from and some of the most famous like Hyde Park and Regent’s Park are popular and get incredibly busy, which isn’t always great if you have noisy kids to look after. For us, Greenwich Park is one of the best spots for a picnic with kids.
First, there’s a hill up to Greenwich Observatory which overlooks Canary Wharf and the whole of the city, and just getting up there is a fun adventure that’s sure to tire them out. Secondly, Greenwich Park is surrounded by shops and great places to eat, and even fantastic free museums like the London Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House. Thirdly, it just tends to be a bit quieter because it’s so spread out, there’s just so many good spots to sit for a picnic.
Plenty of shade too, so there’s no need to worry about finding a good spot even on a hot summer’s day.
Make it a short family break and see everything there is to see in Greenwich when you book at our Premier Inn London Greenwich hotel. We’re right on Greenwich High Street, close to the park and the Thames.
Sightseeing in Central London
Sightseeing in Central London
You don’t have to be #InnTheKnow to know about London’s top sights, and they’re probably the ones the kids will be most excited about. What’s handy to know is a great route to spot some of the biggest ones all in one go though.
Start from Westminster station, where you’re next to the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey (the site of many a royal wedding!) and, of course, likely every kid’s favourite: Big Ben. From there you can walk down the South Bank past the London Eye, the Tate Modern, the Globe Theatre and across the Millennium Bridge (which is sure to be a hit with the kids, there’s nothing else like it in the city) across to St Paul’s Cathedral – an impressive figure that looms above as you cross the bridge.
The steps of St Paul’s are a great spot for lunch and leave you right next to St Paul’s station on the Central line, which is perfect for travelling onwards to other spots in the city.
If you want to see more of the sights, a family weekend break to the city is a great idea and our recommended weekend break hotels in London are ideal for getting more ‘wow’s!’ into your trip.
River bus on the Thames
River bus on the Thames
This one isn’t free, but it’s one of the best (and most affordable) ways to get closer to the river without paying for a tour or hiring a private boat. London’s river buses glide past all the major sights on the Thames like Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the London Eye all the way to the O2.
They’re also fully stocked with food and drink while you’re on board. River buses are still buses and it can get busy during peak commuting hours, but generally they’re a lot quieter than regular buses and the Tube, and they’re a refreshing way to get across the city.
There’s nothing to stop you spending lunch on a Thames Clipper, tucking into sandwiches with the backdrop of the best of the river around you.
So there we go, 8 free (or almost free) things to do with kids in the UK’s largest, biggest, busiest city. Now you’ve saved money on your day out, make sure to save money on your accommodation too with our guide to budget hotel breaks in London. When you book at our Central London hotels you can stay virtually next to these places for less, with spacious family rooms, safe, reliable service and friendly team members on hand with great tips for exploring the city.
Don’t rush your next special city break with the kids, book a hotel and take your time – London is a fantastic city, and these trips are something that’ll stay with them for the rest of their lives.