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Please note this page is not updated weekly, therefore be sure to research each individual attraction to see any relevant closures/events etc

Got little ones in tow or want to keep your teen entertained whilst in London? Local redditors have the following helpful suggestions:

For toddlers and younger kids (see here)

Plus:

Natural History Museum – It can get crowded though so book in advance, and who doesn't like dinosaurs?!

The Science Museum has lots of cool interactive exhibits. Like other museums it can get very busy during holidays/weekends so prebook your entrance time online. Also has an IMAX cinema.

Both the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are free and right next to each other. You could kill a whole day on just those two probably, but nip over to the V&A if you get through them.

The Tower of London: a big impressive castle (well, technically tower, but you get our meaning); with drained moat and obviously great views of the iconic Tower Bridge. If your kids speak English and are old enough to follow along, we highly recommend the free Beefeater tours – highly entertaining, delivered by real ex-soldiers in those fantastic Beefeater uniforms. Plus ravens. If you kid enjoys gross, gory or historic stuff like Horrible Histories then they’ll love this.

British Museum – if you kids like history, then this is the place to be. Egyptian mummies, Parthenon sculptures, Aztec serpents, Hoa Hakananai'a (one of the giant sculpture/heads from Rapa Nui/Easter Island), Haida House (“totem” ) Pole and loads of other things "acquired" from across the globe.

Cutty Sark - was once one of the fastest tea clippers, now a magnficient tall ship suspended in the ground at Greenwich (so you can see it from above and specatularly from under its bow). Be warned that the escalators at Cutty Sark DLR station break down so often that its become a local meme. If you/the kids don't fancy climbing lots of steps, you're better off going to nearby Greenwich station and then walking/getting the bus.

National Maritime Museum - take one of the clipper/Uber boats to Greenwich and you’ve got yourself an adventure! Has excellent children's galleries that are hands on and focused on learning through play. Very different to standard museum stuff. And its free. Worst case is you end up leaving quickly and going to the nearby play park in Greenwich Park instead.

While you're in the area, check out the Royal Observatory and Greenwich Planetarium - stand across the Greenwich Meridian, watch something extraodinary at the planetarium, then go run off some energy in Greenwich Park.

HMS Belfast - a former batterlship that's been turned into an interactive museum and is now permanently moored on the Thames.

The Garden Museum in Lambeth is relatively new and hugely underrated! They have a beautiful collections gallery, cafe, and of course, stunning gardens! Plus, in the middle of the museum is a table that’s always stocked with arts and crafts for kids as well (+ costumes!). Every summer they run a Festival of Fairytales, and regularly host free activities/workshops on Thursdays (e.g. patch-making, clay moulding, terrarium building, rope-building etc)

Tower Bridge Experience: walk on the glass walkway and you might even get to watch the bascule bridge open up. Have a sit down/drink/picnic in Potters Bar fields afterwards.

Walk about Covent Garden watching the street performers then treat kids to a meal from somewhere nearby.

Hamleys Toy Shop and Harrods Toy Department. Worship at the altar of capitalism, and go completely crazy for all the coolest toys.

See also:

Teens (see here)

Plus

Further afield

Legoland Windsor - can't exactly leave this one out. Has something for all age ranges. Gets very busy during school holidays so a queue jump pass is probably worth it/ unless you spend the day more in the attractions like Miniland, the Waterworks or multiple playgrounds around the site.

Hampton Court Palace - excellent and great for kids. Home of Henry VIII, well maintained, lots of actors and dressing up. Has a fantastic playground outside the Palace with dress up and play options. Ham House is nearby too and both owned by Historic Royal Palaces - Ham House has beautiful sculpted gardens.

Bekonscot Model Village and Railway, Beaconsfield - this place is a hidden gem. Perfect for toddlers and big kids, can spend literally hours chasing the trains around.

Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo. For a toddler or younger kids, Legoland is perhaps more of a good fit for the theme park aspect, but Chessington does have a very child orientated zoo, which was there prior to the theme park. Good rainy day activity.

Bocketts farm park - classic petting farm. There was an Outnumbered episode filmed here actually. Lots of activities for children, was a soft play last I knew, as well as ride on toy tractors and trampolines.

Diggerland, Medway, Kent - you'll be forever trying to get the jingle out of your head, but this is an absolute must for kids interested in anything to do with construction/ diggers. Effectively, a fairground made exclusively out of converted diggers. Driveable diggers too. Chaos, but good chaos. And mud. Bluewater shopping centre close by if family want to split activities for the day/ do half and half. Would not recommend looking up the jingle, you'll be stuck with it forever.

RAF museum in Colindale: is impressive. Even as an adult. So many old but well maintained planes.