A city break with the family this half term doesn’t have to put a strain on your wallet! London has tons to offer for free, from the changing of the guards to world-class art.
There are plenty of hidden treasures too – make your mark on the longest graffiti wall in the city, see the sights from the sky, and discover a cave of neon lights. Here are 14 of the best free family activities in London this half term.
1. Natural History Museum
From the moment they step inside the Natural History Museum, your kids will be wowed by the enormous blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling. Serving as a reminder of humanity’s responsibility to protect our planet, the Natural History Museum is jam-packed with enthralling exhibits and ancient objects, making for an epic educational day out.
Children can unearth minerals, gemstones and rocks, get up close with the animal kingdom, learn about volcanoes and earthquakes, and so much more. With over 80 million objects to explore and countless interactive exhibits, be sure to check out What’s On at the Natural History Museum before you visit. Plus, don’t miss the extraordinary dinosaur gallery – a true highlight of the museum.
Stay nearby
2. Crossrail Place Roof Garden
Crossrail Place Roof Garden is an enormous rooftop garden filled with exotic plants and hidden spots to escape the crowds of Canary Wharf. Carefully arranged and divided into hemispheres, including plants like Asian bamboos and ferns from the Americas, prepare to lose yourself in a flourishing world of foliage.
Families can settle into its 80-seater amphitheatre, which regularly hosts a diverse range of music, dance and theatre events. Programmed by the performing arts charity, The Space Theatre, all performances are free and have a true community feel.
Stay nearby
3. Tate Modern
Get ready to discover the world’s most exciting modern and contemporary art during a free trip to the Tate Modern. With over 70,000 pieces of artwork, from paintings and sculptures to large-scale installations, introduce your family to the world of artists, including Pablo Picasso, Yayoi Kusama and Henri Matisse.
Over in the UNIQLO Tate Play, children choose from various free activities with the innovative Make Studio. Taking inspiration from the art around them, these interactive sessions are perfect for igniting creativity and imagination.
Stay nearby
4. Richmond Park
If you’re looking for a ‘wilderness’ escape without leaving the capital, Richmond Park is the ultimate family adventure this half-term. This sprawling sanctuary is home to over 600 wild red and fallow deer that roam freely through the ferns.
For those with energy to burn, grab the bikes and hit the Tamsin Trail or wander through the enchanting Isabella Plantation, where hidden streams are perfect for a competitive game of Poohsticks. The park’s highest points offer breathtaking views across London, making it the ideal spot to spread out a picnic blanket and enjoy the fresh air. It’s a fantastic way to disconnect from the screens and let the kids run wild in nature!
Stay nearby
5. Horizon 22
Kids will marvel at the views over the city from this epic 360-degree viewing platform. Located on the 58th floor of 22 Bishopsgate, Horizon 22 is the tallest free viewing platform in London and offers unrivalled panoramic cityscape views
The high-speed lift to the viewing platform belies the fact that you’ve travelled 254 metres above ground level. Take in the capital from every angle, pick out landmarks like Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral or The Shard and watch the people below move through the streets like an army of ants!
Stay nearby
6. Kyoto Garden & Holland Park
If you’re heading to West London, Kyoto Gardens and Holland Park are a total gem that manages to be both action-packed and incredibly peaceful. The kids will likely make a beeline for the adventure playground – and honestly, who can blame them? With a giant zip wire, massive tyre swings and a see-saw that’s always a hit, it’s the perfect spot for them to burn off that half-term energy.
Once the ‘big energy’ play is out of their system, take a short stroll over to the Kyoto Gardens, hidden right in the centre of the park. This ting oasis is genuinely enchanting, with cascading waterfalls, stone lanterns and even roaming peacocks! It’s an amazing spot to take a breather and let the kids marvel at the bright koi fish.
Stay nearby
7. God’s Own Junkyard
Hidden in the unlikely setting of a warehouse in Walthamstow, the weird and wonderful world of God’s Own Junkyard awaits. This alternative ‘museum’, founded by the late neon artist and collector, Chris Bracey, embodies a lifelong passion for all things neon.
God’s Own Junkyard features salvaged signs from movie sets and vintage displays, as well as many being made by repurposing found objects. This fairground of neo circus lighting makes for a truly carnivalesque experience that kids will adore!
Stay nearby
8. National Maritime Museum
For a world-class day out that doesn’t cost a penny, steer your crew toward the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Packed with fascinating British naval history, tons of exploration and world-renowned maritime art, the National Maritime Museum is a half-term essential. Plus, with extra events running specifically for the holidays, including creative workshops inspired by LGBTQ+ History Month and ship badge designing, half-term is the perfect time to visit with little ones.
The stars of the show are the dedicated children’s galleries. AHOY! is a nautical dream for the under-7s, complete with a ship they can ‘captain’ and a fish market for roleplay. While All Hands (for ages 6–12) lets older kids try their hand at steering a ship and firing cannons. Don’t miss the Great Map on the first floor, an enormous interactive floor map where kids can run across the world’s oceans and use touch-screen tablets to uncover stories of pirates and explorers.
Stay nearby
9. London Fields junior parkrun
View this post on Instagram
For a fun, high-energy way to kick off a half-term Sunday, London Fields junior parkrun is a brilliant addition to your itinerary. Every Sunday at 9:00 am, this free 2km event invites children aged 4 to 14 to run, jog, walk or even skip their way around the park. It’s all about participation rather than competition, with a dedicated team of volunteers cheering the kids on at every turn. It is a fantastic way to get the whole family out in the fresh air, and because it’s specifically for juniors, the atmosphere is incredibly supportive.
Stay nearby
10. Barbican Conservatory
While actors tread the boards below, the Barbican Conservatory is an unexpected oasis amid the bustle of the city. A stark contrast to the brutalist architecture of the Barbican estate, this 23,000-square-foot conservatory is the second biggest in London, housing around 1,500 species of established plants and trees – many rare and endangered.
Planted between 1980 and 1981, its tranquil pools accommodate koi, ghost and grass carp from Japan and America, as well as other cold-water fish.
Stay nearby
11. Museum of the Home
From the buildings we live in to a feeling that goes beyond a specific place, home means different things to us all. The Museum of the Home, situated in a 300-year-old almshouse in Hoxton, asks what it means to you. Galleries explore the concept of ‘home’ through our everyday experiences of making, keeping and being at home over the last 400 years.
With a mix of contemporary and historical stories, the Museum of the Home explores the hidden meanings of our identities. Housework, entertainment and heirlooms are the types of subjects examined within displays, and, of course, family is at the heart of it all.
Stay nearby
12. The King’s Guard
No tourist trip to the capital is complete without seeing the changing of the guards. Head to Buckingham Palace on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am to see this quintessentially British display of ceremony and tradition.
Carried out by soldiers on active duty to guard the King, the sight of their famous bearskin hats and red tunics is familiar in our imaginations. Accompanied by a full military band playing everything from traditional marches to modern pop and musical numbers, this lively military tradition is not to be missed.
Stay nearby
13. Street performances in Covent Garden
‘All the world’s a stage’ and that’s never been truer than in this part of London’s West End. The tradition of performance is as old as the cobbled streets in Covent Garden. Street performers have been drawing crowds here since the 1600s and today you will still find knife jugglers, high-wire walkers and fire eaters at every turn.
You never know what’s in store when strolling through Covent Garden, making a visit even more of an adventure. No two trips here are ever the same, with different acts performing each day – from breakdancers and buskers to acrobats and mimes.
Stay nearby
14. The Now Building
If you’re looking for a ‘wow’ moment that feels like stepping into a sci-fi movie, make a beeline for The Now Building at Outernet London. Located right outside Tottenham Court Road station, this is home to one of the world’s most advanced wrap-around LED screens – standing four storeys high! The Now Building is a completely free ‘urban gallery’ where the walls and ceilings come alive with breathtaking 8K visuals and surround sound.
Whether it’s a journey through a digital ‘Summer Palace,’ an interactive enchanted forest, or even a giant emoji shower, the rotating shows are short and guaranteed to keep even the most restless kids transfixed.
Stay nearby
