London with Kids 2026: 20 Fun Activities for Arab Families

# London with Kids 2026: 20 Fun Activities for Arab Families London is one of the best cities in the world for families with children. Many of its top attractions are free, public transport is child-friendly, and halal food is widely available. This guide organises the best activities by age group so you can plan the perfect family day out. --- ## Free Activities (Ages 2+) ### 1. Natural History Museum **Best For:** Ages 3-14 **Cost:** Free (some exhibitions paid) **Time Needed:** 2-3 hours The star attraction is the blue whale skeleton in the main hall, but kids love the dinosaur gallery most. The interactive earthquake simulator is popular with older children. **Halal Food:** Comptoir Libanais in South Kensington (5 min walk) **Prayer:** Quiet room available, ask at information desk ### 2. Science Museum **Best For:** Ages 4-16 **Cost:** Free (Wonderlab £11, IMAX £12) **Time Needed:** 2-4 hours Hands-on science with flight simulators, space galleries, and the Wonderlab interactive zone. The IMAX cinema shows science films on a five-storey screen. **Halal Food:** Same area as Natural History Museum **Prayer:** Multi-faith room available ### 3. V&A Museum **Best For:** Ages 8+ (younger kids prefer Science Museum) **Cost:** Free **Time Needed:** 1-2 hours with kids The Islamic Art galleries (Gallery 42) are fascinating for Arab families. Beautiful Qurans, ceramics, and textiles spanning centuries. The fashion galleries appeal to older children. ### 4. Tate Modern **Best For:** Ages 6+ **Cost:** Free **Time Needed:** 1-2 hours The Turbine Hall installations are spectacular for all ages. Walk across the Millennium Bridge from St Paul's Cathedral for the full experience. **Halal Food:** Borough Market (10 min walk) has halal stalls ### 5. Hyde Park & Diana Memorial Playground **Best For:** Ages 2-12 **Cost:** Free **Time Needed:** 2-3 hours The Diana Memorial Playground features a massive wooden pirate ship that kids can climb on. The surrounding Kensington Gardens are perfect for picnics and running around. **Halal Food:** Edgware Road restaurants (10 min walk) **Prayer:** Marble Arch mosque adjacent to park --- ## Ticketed Attractions (Ages 3+) ### 6. Warner Bros. Studio Tour — Harry Potter **Best For:** Ages 6+ **Cost:** Adults £53.50, Children £43 **Time Needed:** 3-4 hours **Location:** Watford (train from Euston, 20 min) The number one family attraction in London. Walk through the Great Hall, try Butterbeer (non-alcoholic), and see real movie props and sets. **Halal Food:** Cafe on site has some options. Bring halal snacks to be safe. **Prayer:** Space available on request **Booking:** Must pre-book. Sell out 2-3 weeks ahead. ### 7. London Eye **Best For:** Ages 4+ **Cost:** Adults £32, Children £27 (under 3 free) **Time Needed:** 30 minutes (plus queue) 30-minute ride with stunning views of the Thames, Big Ben, and the city skyline. Book fast-track tickets to skip the queue. **Halal Food:** Street food near South Bank **Tip:** Go at sunset for the best photos ### 8. Tower of London **Best For:** Ages 6+ **Cost:** Adults £33.60, Children £16.80 **Time Needed:** 2-3 hours The Crown Jewels are dazzling and the Beefeater tours are entertaining. Younger kids enjoy the raven spotting challenge. **Halal Food:** Multiple halal restaurants near Tower Hill **Audio Guide:** Available in Arabic ### 9. SEA LIFE London Aquarium **Best For:** Ages 2-10 **Cost:** Adults £33, Children £28 (book online for 20% off) **Time Needed:** 1.5-2 hours Walk through underwater tunnels surrounded by sharks, rays, and tropical fish. The touch pools let kids handle starfish and crabs. **Halal Food:** South Bank restaurants nearby ### 10. London Zoo **Best For:** Ages 2-12 **Cost:** Adults £27, Children £17.50 **Time Needed:** 3-4 hours Over 750 species of animals. Penguin Beach, Gorilla Kingdom, and the Tiger Territory are highlights. The children's zoo allows petting and feeding. **Halal Food:** Cafe on site has limited options. Bring a halal picnic. **Prayer:** Regent's Park Mosque is adjacent to the zoo --- ## Outdoor Adventures (Ages 4+) ### 11. Serpentine Boating Lake **Best For:** Ages 4+ **Cost:** £14/hour per boat **Time Needed:** 1 hour Row across the beautiful Serpentine lake in Hyde Park. Each boat holds up to 5 people. Safe for children with life jackets provided. ### 12. Thames Clipper River Bus **Best For:** All ages **Cost:** £8-10 per adult (Oyster/contactless), children half price **Time Needed:** 30-60 minutes Not a tourist cruise but a regular river bus — kids love it just as much. Great views, runs frequently, and you can hop on and off at different piers. ### 13. Hampstead Heath **Best For:** Ages 4+ **Cost:** Free **Time Needed:** 2-3 hours 800 acres of wild parkland with stunning views from Parliament Hill. Kite flying, pond dipping, and adventure playgrounds. Less crowded than central London parks. **Halal Food:** Halal restaurants on Finchley Road (bus ride away) --- ## Rainy Day Activities (Ages 3+) ### 14. KidZania London **Best For:** Ages 4-14 **Cost:** From £22 per child **Time Needed:** 3-4 hours **Location:** Westfield London, Shepherd's Bush A child-sized city where kids role-play real jobs — pilot, doctor, firefighter, journalist. They earn "KidZos" (play money) and learn about work. **Halal Food:** Westfield has several halal restaurants (Comptoir Libanais, Nando's halal options) ### 15. Legoland Discovery Centre **Best For:** Ages 3-10 **Cost:** From £18 per person **Time Needed:** 2-3 hours **Location:** County Hall, South Bank Smaller than Legoland Windsor but perfect for a rainy afternoon. Miniland London built from Lego is impressive. Build-and-test zones keep kids busy. ### 16. Hamleys Toy Store **Best For:** Ages 2-12 **Cost:** Free to enter **Time Needed:** 1-2 hours Seven floors of toys on Regent Street. Staff demonstrate toys on every floor. Kids can play and test before buying. **Halal Food:** Edgware Road (10 min walk) --- ## Day Trips from London (Ages 4+) ### 17. Legoland Windsor **Best For:** Ages 3-12 **Cost:** From £37 per person (book online, save 40%) **Time Needed:** Full day **Location:** Windsor (40 min by train from Paddington) The original Legoland theme park with over 55 rides. Miniland, the driving school, and Splash Safari are favourites. **Halal Food:** Limited on-site. Bring your own halal food. ### 18. Brighton Beach **Best For:** All ages **Cost:** Train from £12 return **Time Needed:** Full day **Location:** 1 hour south by train The pier has rides for kids, the beach has pebbles to throw (not sand), and the Sea Life Centre is right on the seafront. **Halal Food:** Several halal restaurants in Brighton city centre ### 19. Chessington World of Adventures **Best For:** Ages 4-14 **Cost:** From £35 per person **Time Needed:** Full day **Location:** Chessington (30 min by train from Waterloo) Theme park, zoo, and sea life centre combined. Gruffalo ride and Tomb Blaster are favourites. ### 20. Windsor Castle **Best For:** Ages 6+ **Cost:** Adults £30, Children £17 **Time Needed:** 2-3 hours The world's oldest occupied castle. Queen Mary's Dolls' House fascinates children. Combine with Legoland for a full day. **Audio Guide:** Available in Arabic --- ## Money-Saving Tips 1. **Merlin Annual Pass** (£99/child) — unlimited entry to London Eye, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE, Legoland Discovery, and more 2. **Children under 11 travel free** on all London transport with a paying adult 3. **Free museums** — Natural History, Science, V&A, Tate Modern, British Museum 4. **Book online** — most attractions are 10-30% cheaper online than at the door 5. **Supermarket lunch** — Tesco, Sainsbury's, and M&S have halal sandwiches and snacks for under £5 6. **2-for-1 offers** — Days Out Guide (daysoutguide.co.uk) offers 2-for-1 entry to many attractions with a National Rail ticket --- ## Practical Tips for Arab Families ### Transport - **Oyster Card for kids:** Free for under 11s travelling with an adult - **Buggies on the Tube:** Most stations have step-free access (check TfL) - **Black cabs:** Fit a family of 5 with a buggy easily ### Halal Food Zones - **South Kensington** — near museums, Comptoir Libanais + others - **Edgware Road** — largest selection, 10 min from Hyde Park - **Covent Garden** — Dishoom, Hummingbird Bakery - **Westfield** — both Shepherd's Bush and Stratford have halal food courts ### Prayer With Kids - Most museums have quiet rooms — ask reception - Major mosques welcome families with children - Parks are suitable for prayer (bring a mat) - Many hotels provide prayer mats on request ### Weather Preparation - **Always carry rain gear** — London weather changes fast - **Layer clothing** — heated museums + cold outside = sweaty kids - **Comfortable shoes** — you will walk 10,000+ steps daily --- *London with kids is an unforgettable experience. With free museums, incredible parks, and world-class attractions, there is something for every age. And with halal food widely available and prayer facilities at most major venues, Arab families can enjoy everything London has to offer.* *Last updated: February 2026*