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 10 of the best free family activities to enjoy in London this half term.
Crossrail Place Roof Garden
Crossrail Place is an enormous, ship-like building that houses Canary Wharf railway station, and its roof is the largest timber project in the UK. Here, you’ll find a rooftop garden filled with exotic plants and hidden spots to escape the crowds below. The garden is carefully arranged according to hemisphere, with Asian bamboos to the east, and ferns from the Americas to the west. Families can also settle into its 80-seater amphitheatre which regularly hosts music, dance and theatre. Programmed by performing arts charity, The Space Theatre, all performances are free and have a true community feel.
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God’s Own Junkyard
Hidden in the unlikely setting of a warehouse in Walthamstow, a weird and wonderful world of light awaits families. God’s Own Junkyard is an alternative museum founded by the late neon artist and collector, Chris Bracey. Bracey began his career making signage for strip clubs in Soho but ended up working in Hollywood with directors including Stanley Kubrick and Tim Burton. God’s Own Junkyard embodies his passion for neon. Signs have been salvaged from movie sets and vintage displays and made by repurposing found objects. Fairground and circus lighting make for a truly carnivalesque experience!
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Tate Modern
Families can play, create and explore the world’s most exciting modern and contemporary art during a free trip to Tate Modern. Paintings, sculptures and large-scale installations are on display from artists around the world, including Pablo Picasso, Yayoi Kusama and Henri Matisse. Over in the Play Studio children can dress up and place themselves in a Tate collection artwork. Using digital sketch pads, they can also have a go at their own drawings and watch them come to life in the gallery space. Taking inspiration from the art on display, there’s also a regular programme of free activities and events for families.
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Leake Street Arches
Eight former railway arches beneath Waterloo Station have been transformed into an urban playground. Since 2008, when infamous street artist Banksy held a festival there, Leake Street Arches has become an ever-changing urban art gallery. A 300-metre tunnel features London’s longest legal graffiti art wall, featuring murals from some of the biggest names in street art. Visitors are actively encouraged to pick up the paints and leave their own mark too. Independent street food spots and dive bars add to the underground vibe and offer families a welcome pit-stop from all the painting.
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Natural History Museum
From the moment they step inside the Natural History Museum, children are often overawed by the enormous blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling. The whale serves as a reminder of humanity’s responsibility to protect our planet and sets the tone for what will be an enthralling and educational day out. There are 80 million objects to explore and many interactive exhibits. Children can unearth minerals, gemstones and rocks, get up close with the animal kingdom, learn about volcanoes and earthquakes, and much more. Don’t miss the dinosaur gallery where you can take part in an interactive quiz!
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Horizon 22
Kids will marvel at the views over the city from this brand-new 360-degree viewing platform. Horizon 22 is on the 58th floor of 22 Bishopsgate – the tallest building in the city. Unrivalled panoramic cityscapes await as you step inside this sleek skyscraper, feeling as though you are stepping into the future. The high-speed lift to the viewing platform belies the fact you’ve travelled 254 metres above ground level. Take in the city from every angle, pick out landmarks and watch the people below move through the streets like an army of ants.
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Barbican Conservatory
While actors tread the boards below, the Barbican Conservatory is an unexpected oasis that sits in stark contrast to the brutalist architecture of the Barbican estate. The 23,000-square- foot conservatory is the second biggest in London. It surrounds the Barbican’s fly tower from which scenery is lowered into place for productions below. Planted between 1980 and 1981, it houses around 1,500 species of established plants and trees – many rare and endangered. Tranquil pools accommodate koi, ghost, and grass carp from Japan and America, as well as other cold-water fish. A serene spot amid the bustle of the city.
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Museum of 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 Home, 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. A mix of contemporary and historical stories is explored to reveal hidden meanings about our identity. Housework, entertainment and heirlooms are the types of subjects examined within displays and, of course, family is at the heart of it all.
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See the King’s Guards
No tourist trip to the capital is complete without seeing the changing of the guards. Head to Buckingham Palace on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays 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.
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Street performers in Covent Garden
All the world’s a stage and that’s never 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.
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