London Days Out: Family with Young Children

Morning: London Days Out: Families

Start your family day out in London with a visit to the ultra child-friendly Horniman Museum. 

Entry is free and there's plenty to keep young children occupied, including the aquarium and the museum's huge collection of stuffed animals. You can also join in one of the regular Busy Bees activity sessions, designed especially for under 5s.

If the weather's nice, head out to the huge gardens where you can meet goats, rabbits, chickens and geese in the Animal Enclosure. Both the museum and gardens are pushchair-friendly, with accessible toilets and baby changing facilities.

Lunch: London Days Out: Families

Why not stay at the Horniman Museum for lunch? 

You can eat packed lunches in the picnic area, located near the bandstand. Or you can buy lunch from the museum café, which overlooks the gardens and Victorian conservatory, and offers a good range of hot and cold food.

Alternatively, walk down the hill to Forest Hill Train Station, which has step-free access to the ticket office and platform one – from where you can catch a train to London Bridge. At London Bridge, make the simple connection to Charing Cross Station.

Around Charing Cross, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to family-friendly restaurants. 

Options include Wahaca, where you'll find ethically and locally sourced Mexican market food, and Fire & Stone, which offers gourmet pizza plus a kids menu. Both are situated in Covent Garden and have lift entrances suitable for pushchairs.

Afternoon: London Days Out: Families

From Charing Cross, walk to St James's Park – passing Nelson's Column and the huge lion statues and fountains of Trafalgar Square on the way. St James's Park has lots to keep under 5s occupied, including a playground with play equipment.

The beautiful lake at St James's Park is home to four pelicans and if you visit between 2.30pm and 3.30pm you can see them being fed by the wildlife officers. 

The park is also surrounded by some of London's top attractions, from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade. To avoid the London rush hour, leave the area before 4pm.

Evening: London Days Out: Families

Make bedtime as uncomplicated as possible by having an early dinner at a restaurant close to where you're staying. Giraffe is a family-friendly restaurant chain with 15 London branches which all offer a kids' menu (mains cost from £2.95).

If you're staying in Central London, take a walk on the wild side and go to the Rainforest Cafe. 

This tropical eatery recreates the sights and sounds of the rainforest with life-like animated gorillas, elephants and butterflies. Kids meals cost £11.95 for a main course and dessert, with a drink and activity pack available for an additional £3.

For parents who want to explore the city at night, some London hotels offer a babysitting service, including Fraser Place Queen's Gate, Copthorne Tara Hotel and Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf.