Between Big Ben and black cabs, double-decker buses and red phone boxes, London is filled with icons from childhood, so there’s something special about heading there with your own kids.
Of course, the London of those footloose, kid-free years is quite a different place when travelling with a bub. There are a few ways to tackle London’s activities with a baby, depending on the age group of your child (and whether you’re travelling with older kids as well).
If yours is under six months old, you will likely be thinking: “Well, the baby is pretty small and basically is happy almost anywhere”. Using this approach you can happily cart him or her around major tourist sites, particularly if you have a good day sleeper and time your activities well.
For slightly older babies, you’ll take a second option: combining major attractions with really baby-friendly play breaks. A great way of combining adult and baby-friendly fun is heading to London’s wonderful museums and parks.
High chairs abound in London’s cafes, so you don’t have to limit your dining out to chain restaurants and kids’ eateries. For picnics in London’s parks, Marks & Spencer chains and Pret A Manger both have ‘food to go’, as well as ready-made meals.
Article by Sue White first published in Out & About with Kids magazine in 2016. Updated by Dan Campbell on June 8, 2025.
How to get around London with a baby
Airport transfers from Heathrow
Forget about getting into the city from Heathrow by tube. Instead, either use the Heathrow Express train to town, then a black cab to your hotel.
Or, for about the same price (cheaper if there’s more than one adult), book a Blackberry Car transfer from Heathrow. There’s nothing like spotting a guy with a sign bearing your name, after stepping off a long-haul flight with a baby; you won’t regret it.
London public transport with a pram
London’s underground is famously pram-unfriendly, but improvements have been made over the years. The Step-Free Tube Guide Map (which also covers the Overground and DLR lines) is a handy reference for planning ahead. Be sure to consider not only access in and out of stations, but also whether you might need to transfer between platforms.
For tube stations with steps only, it can be done with two adults (or one adult with a baby carrier, pram and a willingness to ask for help). Ask passengers or staff to assist lifting the pram in and out of trains, up and down stairs, and on and off the (often) long escalators.
Buses in London are very accessible and you can see the sights out the windows! The city’s Docklands Light Rail is also pram-friendly.
How to pay London public transport fares
Fare options include the Oyster card or contactless payment with your bank card or mobile device. You can buy a Visitor Oyster card ahead of your trip to enjoy perks like up to 50% off fares (compared to paper tickets) and capped daily travel costs.
Children under 11 travel free in London, so they won’t need an Oyster card or ticket. For kids ages 11-15, you’ll need to order them an Oyster card each, then get the Young Visitor 50% discount applied to it at a tube station or Visitor Centre when you reach London.
Top 8 things to do in London with a baby
1. Visit London's best baby-friendly museums
The London Transport Museum is super interesting, with two good kids’ play areas, and is a great place to pit stop after looking around neighbouring Covent Garden.
The Victoria & Albert Museum has a gorgeous large courtyard with a paddling pool that’s perfect for a break and some crawl time for the baby.
If you’re by the Thames, the Tate Modern gallery also has a fun kids area and a baby-friendly café!
2. Enjoy a family picnic at Greenwich
Because a baby is usually pretty happy on any old patch of grass, smart travellers will combine park visits with another activity, like a day at Greenwich. Gorgeous for wandering around, seven-day Greenwich Market has delicious food for picnicking on expansive grassy areas below the observatory.
Afterwards, enticing your baby to stand with one foot either side of the Greenwich Meantime marker makes a fun photo, just remember: the observatory is on top of a very steep hill – a real workout if pushing a pram. (TIP: It costs £16.50 per adult to access the prime photo spot behind the museum.)
Getting there
Greenwich is easy to combine with South Bank by taking a local Uber Boat by Thames Clipper along the Thames, rather than booking a cruise tour. Not only is it much cheaper, but all boats have ramps for easy pram access. The trip takes around 40 minutes; tickets can be pre-purchased, but it’s easy to board on the day with contactless payment or an Oyster card. It’s best to allow the whole day to see both Greenwich and South Bank.
Greenwich is also accessible via the pram-friendly Docklands Light Rail, which connects to the London Underground. The closest stations are Greenwich DLR Station and Cutty Sark DLR station, which is closer to the Pier (but is closed until Spring 2026 for upgrades).
3. Spend a day at the South Bank cultural precinct
While you’re riverside, the daytime activities at South Bank cultural precinct – think buskers galore and free puppet shows – are all naturally baby-friendly. There’s also the London Eye ferris wheel, where littlies two and under ride free (though you’ll still need to book them a no-cost ‘ticket’ when you purchase yours).
For a more local take on the views across to Parliament and Big Ben, head to the café, bar, and rooftop community garden above Southbank’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Prams can be carried upstairs if you have two people, or head to the Welcome Desk on Level 2 of the Royal Festival Hall for help with step-free access.
Getting there
Travelling by public transport is ideal since traffic is heavy and parking is extremely limited at Southbank. A congestion charge also applies for cars during peak times. The nearest tube stations to Queen Elizabeth Hall are Embankment (600 metres away) and Waterloo (200 metres away, also the nearest train station) with many bus routes also servicing the area.
4. Tour historic Kenwood House at Hampstead Heath
It’s well worth jaunting to Hampstead Heath, another famous spot of London greenery. Combine baby play and a picnic with adult art gazing (Monet et al) at the historic Kenwood House.
The house and gardens are open to visitors from 10 am to 5 pm daily, and entry is free (though guided tours require a small fee, so if you want to do it at your own pace, stick with the downloadable guide). Mac’s Kenwood Trail highlights kid-friendly activities for five- to 11-year-olds, though many are still delightful with babies and toddlers, like the wooden tea sets and felt play in the Orangery.
Prams aren’t permitted inside the house, but baby slings are available to borrow if you’re unprepared, and there’s lockable “buggy parking” to secure your pram while you’re inside. Kenwood House also has baby changing facilities in the Service Wing and high chairs at the cafe.
Getting there
The closest train stations to Kenwood House are Gospel Oak and Hampstead Heath. You can also take the tube to Golders Green or Archway stations, then transfer to the TfL route 210 bus to Kenwood House. The H3 bus route also travels to Hampstead Heath.
5. Catch a baby-friendly show at the Little Angel Theatre
Given that London is also filled with incredible baby-only (and kid-only) activities there’s a third approach: schedule a few baby-specific outings during your stay.
Little Angel Theatre, a famous puppetry children’s theatre in Islington, schedules specific performances that babies can attend. Angel’s Little Explorers is a weekly sensory play and storytelling event, with two sessions designed for babies aged six to 18 months and toddlers from 1 to 2 years old. Other short performances are designed for kids from two or three years of age, but all ages are still welcome to attend.
Getting there
Parking spots are hard to come by, so it’s best to travel by train or tube. The closest stations are Angel, Essex Road, Highbury and Islington. Several bus routes also stop nearby.
6. Visit the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden
In Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House has a wonderful children’s program. Babies sit on a play mat in front of the stage watching kid-friendly, immersive sensory opera performances. Go early: the upstairs bar area is a lovely space to wait and play
In addition to the events designed for little ones, the Royal Opera House also hosts family-friendly ‘relaxed environment’ performances. The show itself is the same, but the House Rules change: auditorium lights are kept on and it’s fine to make noise, move around and duck out as needed, taking the stress out of visiting the theatre with a baby.
Note that standard shows are only open to children five and over, so check the session details before you book to ensure little ones are welcome. All ages can still enjoy the Royal Opera House’s public spaces and café, so if you can’t make a performance, it’s still worth a visit.
Getting there
There’s no parking on-site at the Royal Opera House. Charing Cross train station is around 800 metres away and has good pram access. The nearest Underground station is Covent Garden, though for step-free access, opt for Leicester Square, Holborn or Tottenham Court Road. There are also bus stops nearby.
7. Enjoy playtime at one of London's historic Palaces
Yes, you read correctly: families are welcome to visit and play at Hampton Court Palace or (closer to town) Kensington Palace. The magnificent gardens at Kensington Palace – the London residence of The Prince and Princess of Wales and their family – are the perfect place for a peaceful walk with bub.
The Magic Garden adventure playground at Hampton Court Palace is a delight for kids of all ages. Access is included in palace admission tickets and entry is free for kids under five. If possible, visit on a weekday during school terms for a quieter experience. Keep an eye out for seasonal family events like the Peter Rabbit Trail.
8. Experience the creative Discover Children's Story Centre
The Jubilee line out to Olympic Park is a wonderful exception to the notoriously un-pram-friendly London Underground: finally, lifts! If you’re out that way, don’t miss the Discover Children’s Story Centre – its play centre and story times are both superb.
Where to stay in London with kids
If the budget allows, a stay at London’s family-run Athenaeum Hotel is superb – it was perfect! Yes, there are cots, baby toys and an excellent location opposite Green Park, and the hotel is just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace. You will be in love with this luxury property well before you arrive – the pre-visit survey from their kids’ concierge even asks what type of pillow you like!
Opening image: Happy tourist family with a baby taking a selfie by the River Thames in London. © Bogdan Pictures/Shutterstock
