Are you looking for the best museums in London for kids? Whether you’re planning a family day out, visiting with toddlers, or searching for hands-on exhibits to keep older children engaged, London is full of incredible, family-friendly museums. From world-class free museums to interactive gems designed just for kids, here’s a list of the very best spots that are perfect for curious minds and energetic explorers.
London’s museums are some of the best free indoor places for kids and parents to enjoy, perfect for the winter or rainy days. I’m also going to share honest thoughts on one popular one to avoid, so read on!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
ULTIMATE FAMILY-FRIENDLY LONDON MUSEUM BUCKET LIST
LONDON MUSEUMS WITH GREAT PLAY SPACES FOR KIDS
A PERFECT 4 DAYS IN LONDON WITH KIDS ITINERARY
OR READ ALL OUR LONDON MUSEUM REVIEWS HERE.
The 10 Best Museums in London For Kids
I’m going to just dive straight into our list of the best museums for children in London!
1. The Museum of London Docklands
This has to be one of the best free museums in London! It is our favourite of all the museums we’ve been to, we’ve visited many times and always want to go back for more.
This museum is vastly underrated in my opinion, but this means it’s usually not too crowded. I love that they have put a lot of effort into designing it with children in mind. There are free activity sheets specially designed for different ages, and so many hands-on activities for them to enjoy as they explore. They even have special red signs explaining things in an easy-to-read, child-friendly way.
They run a toddler activity session called Tots at the Docks. This is a free session which runs monthly, usually on the last Wednesday. Find out more about what’s on for families on their website here.
The museum is free to enter, and you don’t need to book. The museum also has a family gallery called Mudlarks, which is £3.50 per person and needs to be booked. It is a room dedicated to under 8s with sensory play, water tables and a small soft play.
Address: 1, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, London E14 4AL
Closest Stations: Canary Wharf Rail or West India Quays DLR – both pushchair (stroller accessible)
Opening Hours: 10-5 daily.
READ OUR FULL MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS REVIEW HERE
Mudlarks and the Museum of London Docklands, one of the best free museums for kids in London
2. The National Army Museum
I had never heard of the National Army Museum before we moved to London, and I started researching museums in London that are free. This is a hidden gem if you’re looking for a fun and free activity for families.
You can pick up activity sheets from the cart located near the entrance. They also have plenty of hands-on activities, including dressing up like one of the Royal Guards (or Beefeaters) and a life-sized tank kids can climb in!
They also have a playspace aimed at under 8’s. This costs £7 per child, and you can see more about that on the National Army Museum’s website here.
Address: National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 4HT
Closest Stations: Sloane Square tube station is just a 10-minute walk; however, this is not an accessible station. London Victoria Rail/tube is the closest accessible option. It’s a beautiful 20-minute walk, so I’d recommend doing that!
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10-5:30. Closed on Mondays.
READ OUR FULL NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM REVIEW HERE
Playbase and the National Army Museum: another great free Museum in London for families
3. The Postal Museum
I didnt expect a museum about the British Postal service to be very interesting, but it is actually fantastic, especially for kids! The exhibits are well designed with children in mind, and there’s plenty of hands-on activities to keep them entertained. You also have the option to ride ‘The Mail Rail’ a 100-year-old train that was originally used to carry mail but has now been transformed into a 15-minute ride that will take you on a journey through history and the original mail tunnels.
The Postal Museum also has a little town postal-themed role-play area called Sorted! This is a perfect space for young children to play!
Address: 15-20 Phoenix Pl, London WC1X 0DA
Closest Stations: Both Farringdon and King’s Cross train stations are less than a mile away, and each has train and tube options. Both of these are accessible stations, so perfect for families visiting with pushchairs/ strollers.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10-5:00. Closed on Mondays.
Cost: The Postal Museum costs £18.60 for an adult ticket. Children are £11, with ages under 3 going free. Sorted! is an extra £4.50 per child (under 6 months are free) or can be booked without visiting the rest of the museum.
BOOK POSTAL MUSEUM TICKETS HERE.
READ MORE: OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE POSTAL MUSEUM
The Postal Museum and Sorted! the role play area.
4. The National Maritime Museum
This is another fun and educational, free museum in London for kids. We go here a lot and always enjoy it. There’s no need to book, you can just turn up and enjoy.
They have various worksheets available for kids to enjoy as they explore, and most of the exhibits here have child-friendly activities. The All Hands Children’s Gallery is specifically designed just for kids, so make sure to check it out.
On Saturdays, they have “Character Encounters”, which will really bring your visit to life.
The National Maritime Museum has a great role-play space for kids under 8. It is also free during the week and £5 per child on weekends and school holidays, this area does require advance booking.
Address: Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF
Closest Stations: Located between Greenwich and Maze Hill train stations or the Cutty Sark stop on the DLR.
Opening Hours: 10-5 daily.
READ MORE: OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM
Ahoy role play space and the National Maritime Museum in London
5. The British Museum
The British Museum is one of London’s most iconic and most visited museums. It is also a great free London museum for families to enjoy.
Entry is free, but you do need to book an entrance ticket in advance on their website linked here.
Visiting here is cultural and educational while still being fun for children. When you arrive, visit the family desk. Here you can get a selection of activity sheets and also borrow an Explorer Backpack (£10 cash deposit is required, refunded when you return it). There are different options for different ages, and they are packed full of kid-friendly activities to keep children engaged throughout their visit.
As this is one of the best museums in London, it does get crowded. I would advise you to arrive first thing to beat the rush.
NOTE: The family desk is only open at weekends and school holidays: 10.00–12.30 and 13.15–16.30. I’d highly recommend arriving at 10 am on a weekend! See more information here.
Address: Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG
Closest Stations: Tottenham Court Road tube station (Northern and Central Lines) is just a 5-minute walk.
Opening Hours: 10-5 daily.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM HERE
The British Museum and the free kids’ treasure hunt worksheet
6. The Horniman Museum and Gardens
The Horniman is another hidden gem, this child-friendly museum in South East London has so much for the whole family, including a small farm area! The museum has many great hands-on exhibits, and the gardens are beautiful! I’d highly recommend visiting on a warm day to enjoy them properly.
The museum also has an aquarium and butterfly house, which require an entry fee. (I haven’t been to either of these personally) You can find out more information here.
Address: 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ
Closest Stations: Forest Hill Station is the closest station, which is an accessible station.
Opening Hours: 10-5 daily.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE HORNIMAN HERE
The Horniman Museum and Garden, a fun and free museum in London for kids.
7. The London Transport Museum
London’s best museum for little vehicle lovers! The London Transport Museum will take you back through time to discover the history of London’s transport. They also have two small role-play areas that are perfect for kids to enjoy.
This is another of the best museums for kids in London, and it gets very crowded, again, I would avoid weekends and school holidays if possible!
Address: Covent Garden Piazza, London, WC2E 7BB
Closest Stations: Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Holborn, Charing Cross, and Embankment Underground stations are all less than a 10 minute walk away.
Opening Hours: 10-6 daily.
BOOK LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM TICKETS HERE
8. The Young V&A / Museum of Childhood
The Young V&A is a great free London attraction for families with children. It has been specifically designed with children in mind so there is plenty to keep them entertained.
As this museum is so popular, I would recommend avoiding it at peak hours.
Address: Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA
Closest Stations: Bethnal Green Tube (the Central Line) is only a 2-minute walk, the nearest overground station is Cambridge Heath, which is a 5-minute walk. However, neither of these is are accessible station, meaning if you have a pushchair/ stroller, you’ll have to carry it up the steps. The closest accessible station is Whitechapel, which is a 30-minute walk.
Opening Hours: 10-5:45 daily.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE YOUNG V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD HERE
The Young V&A Museum of Childhood
9. The Science Museum
Most likely, you will have heard of The Science Museum, it’s one of the best free things to do in London with kids! It’s a huge museum and can easily keep kids entertained all day!
Although it is free, you need to book an entrance ticket here. I also recommend trying to avoid weekends and school holidays if possible. Due to its popularity, it does get crowded.
Address: Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD
Closest Stations: South Kensington Tube station (District & Circle and Picadilly lines) is just a 5-minute walk away. Earls Court (also on the District & Circle and Picadilly lines) is the closest tube station with step-free access. Alternatively, London Victoria Train Station is a 35-minute walk. There are also buses available.
Opening Hours: 10-6 daily
READ OUR FULL GUIDE ON THE SCIENCE MUSEUM HERE
The Science Museum: One of the best museums for kids in London, and it’s free!
10. The Museum of the Home
The Museum of the Home is a hidden gem, located in an area of London called Hoxton. This is another one of London’s free museums that is perfect for families. Don’t forget to pick up an activity sheet or a free explorer backpack from the front desk.
Here you can step into historical homes through the ages, which may sound boring but is, in fact, pretty fun for kids. There are lots of hands-on things for them to do, even an old computer with basic games like the original Sims and pinball.
The Museum of the Home also has a beautiful little, enclosed garden, so it’s a perfect museum to visit in spring or summer.
Bonus: One of The Most Popular Museums I Might Avoid
The Natural History Museum
This may come as a shock as the Natural History Museum is one of the most popular London attractions, especially for families on a budget. I really want to love the History Museum, but it always leaves me slightly disappointed.
It is always very crowded, and the Dinosaur Exhibit (which is the one all kids want to see) is not very well designed. You’re headed through a narrow walkway. Most of the dinosaurs are high up, and it’s difficult to see the signs around the edge due to the volume of people.
If you do have little dinosaur lovers, try to get there for opening time, and see the dinos first thing!
Thank you for reading our guide on the best museums for kids in London. I hope we’ve helped you to plan a fun and educational day out in London!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
ULTIMATE FAMILY-FRIENDLY LONDON MUSEUM BUCKET LIST
LONDON MUSEUMS WITH GREAT PLAY SPACES FOR KIDS
A PERFECT 4 DAYS IN LONDON WITH KIDS ITINERARY
OR READ ALL OUR LONDON MUSEUM REVIEWS HERE.
Happy Exploring,
