London, the vibrant heart of the UK, is bursting with adventures waiting to be had. If you’re a parent with energetic kids, we’ve got your back. We’ve curated a list of incredible and, brace yourself, absolutely free activities for Autumn that’ll keep you and your little ones grinning from ear to ear. So, grab your explorer hats because we’re diving into a world of excitement without denting your wallet!
Marvel at Museums:
- Discover a Victorian computer at the Science Museum.
- Snicker at Tippoo’s Tiger’s quirky humour at the V&A.
- Take a moment to appreciate the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles.
- Watch the skies come alive with Spitfires at IWM London.
- Begin your journey into the modern world at the Faraday Museum.
Galleries of Delight:
- Unleash creativity at the Design Museum’s ‘Designer Maker User’ exhibition.
- Play a hilarious adult counting game with the National Gallery’s intriguing nipples.
- Let Turner and Hogarth guide your artistic voyage at Tate Britain.
- Witness imagination runs wild at White Cube’s avant-garde art.
- Step into the neon wonderland at God’s Own Junkyard.
- Delve into the mysteries of life at the Wellcome Collection.
Views That Amaze:
- Give a nod to St. Paul’s Cathedral from One New Change’s terrace.
- Come and enjoy an elevated perspective at the Sky Garden.
- Step into history, a London Roman amphitheatre remains.
- Witness the city from The Garden at 120.
Garden Escapades:
- Brave the rain in the jungle-like Barbican Conservatory on Sundays.
- Stroll through Streatham Rookery’s quintessential English gardens.
- Picnic among the bombed-out ruins at St Dunstan in the East.
- Search for exciting names on the gravestones in one of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries.
- Get Insta-friendly family moments at Hampstead’s Hill Garden and Pergola.
Whimsical Transport Ventures:
- Just for fun, cross the Thames on the Woolwich Ferry.
- Ascend London’s outdoor funicular railway. Or is it a lift?
- Spin through the turnstile guarding Wimbledon’s charming snickelway. At Dairy Walk SW19.
- Explore ‘pavements in the sky’ at the Barbican.
- Ride the Harrods’ Egyptian Escalator.
Talks and Imagination:
- Attend Gresham College’s diverse lectures, from Math to Christmas carols.
- Engage in captivating afternoon talks at Guildhall Library.
- Geek out on politics, war, and health at LSE.
- Channel your inner orator at Speakers’ Corner.
Kids’ Wonderland:
- Watch them captain an ice-breaker at AHOY! Children’s gallery.
- Get lost in the antiquated cobbled alleyways of Sailortown.
- Roar with delight at Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, South London’s Jurassic Park.
- Splash away at the Granary Square fountains.
- Show your kids what you used to play with at the Museum of Childhood. Reopens this year as the 2023 Young V&A.
Underground Escapades:
- Find graffiti masterpieces in Leake Street Arches.
- Explore a long-lost Roman temple secreted below the Bloomberg building.
- Traverse the Thames via the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.
- Stroll around Greater London via the London LOOP (not in one go — it’s 150 miles).
- Embark on a Local Weekend Walks.
Spiritual Sojourns:
- Be awed by the gilded beauty of Fitzrovia Chapel.
- Take part in a Hindu ‘Aarti’ ceremony at Neasden Temple.
- Attend a service at the stunning Bevis Marks synagogue.
- Immerse in Sikh culture at one of Europe’s largest Sikh temples.
- Take a tour of the East London Mosque.
- Sing hymns at majestic Westminster Abbey.
London Must-Do’s:
- Gather at Buckingham Palace for the Changing the Guard spectacle.
- Dial the red phone box in Westminster and see who answers! 020 7930 1397 btw
- Pay homage to the mystical London Stone.
- Would you like to test your strength by lifting solid gold bars at the former Bank of England?
- Predict the next music sensation at the Old Blue Last.
Self-Guided Expeditions:
- Search for chewed gum art on Millennium Bridge.
- Explore your poetic side with open mic spoken word sessions in Hackney.
- Marvel at borders at Stockwell Skatepark.
- Tune in to a 1,000-year-long musical piece at a lighthouse.
Melodies and Music:
- Dance on Joseph Grimaldi’s musical grave at Joseph Grimaldi Park.
- Visit the wonderfully loopy Lullaby Factory at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
- Savour 45 minutes of classical enchantment at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
- Immerse in Bach at a lunchtime concert at LSO St Luke’s.
- Listen to students’ harmonious melodies at Dulwich Picture Gallery’s Christ’s Chapel.
There you have it: quite a few thrilling and wallet-friendly escapades to keep your little explorers entertained and your budget intact. London, your city of possibilities, awaits – let the family fun begin!
Enjoy!
Awesome (and Free!) Adventures for London Parents.
Awesome (and Free!) Adventures for London Parents.
Awesome (and Free!) Adventures for London Parents.
Awesome (and Free!) Adventures for London Parents.