Free Things to Do with Kids in London This Half Term
May half term. The schools close, the kids are home, and if you spend more than a couple of days inside you'll all go stir crazy. The good news: London has more genuinely excellent free things to do with children than almost any city on earth. Here's where to go.
Free Museums (All Year, Not Just Half Term)
Natural History Museum
Possibly the best free thing in London for kids aged 3+. The blue whale skeleton alone is worth the trip. Book a timed entry ticket in advance — it's free but they fill up fast over half term. The Dinosaur gallery and the Earth Hall (with the giant escalator through a globe) are the highlights.
Where: South Kensington | Age: 3+ | Book: nhm.ac.uk
Science Museum
Right next door to the NHM and equally free. The Wonderlab interactive gallery costs extra but the main floors are brilliant and free. The rockets, the steam engines, the space capsules — genuinely impressive stuff for all ages.
Where: South Kensington | Age: 4+ | Book: sciencemuseum.org.uk
V&A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green
Renamed the Young V&A and recently refurbished — this is now one of the best children's museums in Europe. Brilliant play areas, design-focused exhibits, and much less crowded than the South Ken museums. Underrated.
Where: Bethnal Green | Age: 0–12 | Book: vam.ac.uk/young
British Museum
The Egyptian mummies alone justify the trip. The Great Court is spectacular and the children's trails make navigation much easier. Book in advance.
Where: Bloomsbury | Age: 5+ | Book: britishmuseum.org
Tate Modern
The Turbine Hall installations are always worth seeing and always free. The views from the top floor are outstanding. Less obviously child-oriented than the others, but great for curious older kids.
Where: Bankside | Age: 6+ | Book: tate.org.uk
Free Outdoor Activities
Diana Memorial Playground, Kensington Gardens
See our Best Playgrounds in London guide. Free, excellent, book a time slot in advance.
Hampstead Heath
Miles of open space, ponds, kite-flying hills, and a brilliant playground. Pack a picnic and make a half day of it. No booking required.
Greenwich Park & the Royal Observatory
The park is free. The Observatory grounds (not the interior) are free and the views over London from the hill are extraordinary. Walk down to the Cutty Sark afterwards.
Coram's Fields, Bloomsbury
Seven acres of play space in central London, free entry with a child. Farm animals, sandpits, paddling pool (summer). One of the best urban play spaces in the city.
Half Term Events (Check Listings)
Most of London's major museums and galleries run free half term events — workshops, trails, drop-in activities. Check their websites for May half term programming:
- Natural History Museum — usually runs free explorer trails and drop-in workshops
- Tate Modern / Tate Britain — free family art workshops, usually drop-in
- Museum of London Docklands — free family workshops, often themed
- Southbank Centre — free outdoor programming in the Clore Ballroom area
Tips for Making the Most of It
Book ahead. The most popular free attractions now require timed entry. Book as early as possible — NHM and Science Museum slots go fast in half term week.
Go early or late. Arrive when attractions open or in the last two hours of the day. Midday is consistently the busiest time.
Pack your own food. Museum cafes are expensive and slow when they're busy. A packed lunch makes the whole thing dramatically less stressful.
Use the Overground. For Bethnal Green, Peckham, Crystal Palace and other less central destinations, the Overground is often faster and less stressful than the Tube with kids.
Looking for things beyond half term? Browse our Listings and Events sections for year-round recommendations.