We love free London family activities, especially during long and pricey summer holidays so here’s our round up of free things to do in London with your kids, right now.
Summer Splash, Victoria Dock ©Emma Nathan
Summer Splash 2025 is one of the coolest free London family activities in July & August
How do you know it’s summer? Summer Splash is back at Royal Victoria Dock and it’s a free for all from 25 July until 17 August 2025. The great tradition of the London Lido comes with a distinctly family vibe so there are lifeguards, shallow sections, mini-beaches, deckchairs for parental lounging and kids activities.
We can’t guarantee the weather, but the views are reliably amazing.
When: Open 7-days, 10am to 6pm
Where: Royal Victoria Dock, London E16
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Catch the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace
Too touristy or the very definition of spectacle? Either way the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace is an iconic sight, and it’s one of the top free things to do in London with your kids.
If you can’t stand the idea of going full tourist and don’t mind missing the bit in front of the Palace, head to The Mall. You’ll see the Guards marching past, the views are pretty good and close up, and it’s probably the least crowded spot.
When: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am
Where: Buckingham Palace
Go on a Sunday at 10.45am to see the Sunday Parade complete with marching band, from Wellington Barracks to Buckingham Palace.
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Vauxhall City Farm, free things to do in London with kids
Vauxhall City Farm is completely free and unbelievably cute
Vauxhall City Farm had us at alpacas? Although we’ve got our eyes on the rabbits: apparently you can help brush them, if you’re lucky. Pygmy goats get the prize for cuteness, but Kune Kune pigs wearing sun screen are the overall summer winners.
This is London’s oldest city farm and it’s as free as always, but they do appreciate a donation and £4 is recommended.
If you feel like splashing out, Cuddle Corner is a great investment: even chickens like hugs! Or you can adopt an animal. Fuss free pets and an excuse to visit Vauxhall more often?
When: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm
Where: 165 Tyers Road, London E11
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Fern the Diplodocus, Natural History Museum gardens
Natural History Museum tops the list for free London family museums this summer
The UK’s second most visited attraction, the Natural History Museum is free and with that comes big queues, especially in summer – mainly because the rest of the world just cannot get over the free UK museum thing!
If you’re going with kids, and you should, book your tickets online. They’re still free, but you get to skip the queues and sail right in, as if you owned the place.
Best spot to catch a breath this summer is in the new gardens which take you on journey through evolution, intro some impressive dinosaur art and tactile fossils, as well as wildlife ponds alive with the likes of dragonflies.
When: Open 7-days, 10am to 5.50pm
Where: Cromwell Road, London SW7
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Go see London’s longest legal graffiti wall for free at Leake Street Arches
London’s longest, legal graffiti wall might be missing the clandestine thrill of illicit tagging, but Leake Street Arches are still a sight to behold. And what they lose on not breaking any laws they makes up for in renegade creativity.
Banksy was responsible for the original art and it’s more tunnel than ‘wall’ – the arches sit under Waterloo Station. Walk the walk for free and watch graffiti artists at work then, if kids are up for getting creative, Leake Street holds Graffiti Workshops, four times a day, from Thursday to Sunday each week. Anyone aged 12 and over can join, it costs £40 per workshop for under 18s and you get to graffiti on the legendary Leake Street Arches’ walls. Priceless!
When: Leake Street Arches are open 24-hours; workshops from Thursday to Sunday year round
Where: Leake Street, London SE1
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The Play Pavilion, free things to do in London with kids
Try The Play Pavilion for free London family activities in Kensington Gardens
Pitch up with your kids in Kensington Gardens this summer and pop into The Play Pavilion beside Serpentine South.
Designed by the most playful of British architects, Sir Peter Cooke, it’s a celebration of playfulness in partnership with LEGO®, so naturally it’s big on bricks and encouraging children to build and create.
As well as free-range fun, there are workshops and talks, challenges and tournaments, along with giveaways – more free stuff.
When: now until 10 August 2025
Where: Serpentine South, Kensington Gardens, London W2
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Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, London
Bring your kids to meet the OG dinosaurs at Crystal Palace
Compared to the animatronic prehistoric giants your kids are probably used to these days, the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs may seem a little low-key. But this is the world’s first ever dinosaur park dating way back to 1853.
Palaeontology has moved on a bit since then, so don’t go looking for scientifically accurate models. This experience is more about atmosphere, an inspired setting and the element of surprise: even an inaccurate Megalosaurus emerges from the undergrowth with a bit of clout.
Where: Crystal Palace, London SE19
When: open 7-days from 7.30am – sunset
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Sky Garden, London’s highest public garden
Soar over London with your kids at the spectacular free Sky Garden
London’s highest public garden looks out over a 360° view of the city and it’s a breath of fresh air that’s absolutely free. Explore the greenery, admire the landscaping and step out on to the open air terrace for that incredible overlook, all for zero money. With the proviso that you book in advance. The Sky Garden is a popular spot, spaces are limited and you might have to wait three weeks to go and gaze, but it’s worth it.
Where: Fenchurch Street, London EC3M
When: Monday to Thursday 9am to 6pm; Saturday & Sunday 9am to 9pm
Read more: 10 unusual things to do in London with kids
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- Tate Modern free Family Tours
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- Down with the art, Tate Modern
Tate Modern Family Tours are free during every school holiday
Unpicking two to three artworks from the vast collection, Tate Modern runs Family Tours during school holidays for free. There are three morning tours a week from now until the end of August, and you don’t even have to book in advance, just turn up and join.
Where: Tate Modern, Bankside SE1
When: 11am to 11.30am on selected dates until 30 August 2025
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Pelicans ruling the roost in St. James’s Park
Turn up for free pelican feeding time at St. James’s Park any day
There are pelicans in St. James’s Park and you’re invited to feeding time, any day, from 2.30pm.
The show is one of the more unusual free London family activities, and if kids have never seen hungry pelicans in action, keep phones at the ready to capture the look on their faces.
Where: St. James’s Park, London SW1A
When: 7-days, 2.30pm daily
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