7 Top things to do in London with Kids

*This post is a list of some of our favourite places to visit in London. I was recently provided tickets to the Tower of London and The Postal Museum in exchange for an honest review. 

I'm lucky to be able to take my boys to London a couple of times a year as we live in Cardiff which is only 2hrs from the capital by high-speed train. Over the half term, we spent a night in the city and explored a part of London we hadn't really been to as well as different museums and attractions so I thought I would share a list of a couple of things you should consider doing in London with kids.

1. Tower of London

If you are a history buff or simply want to take in one of the most iconic sites in London then the Tower of London is a must-visit, with over 1000 years of history as well as the chance to see the Crown Jewels first hand, get up close to the famous ravens and have your photo taken with a Yeoman Warder, makes it a pretty special place. Children will particularly like the Armory, spotting the Royal Beasts and also watching the London guards who protect the Crown Jewels. The Tower is also located near the Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and The Shard so it's a fantastic base if you only have a day or two in the capital. Admission is quite pricey but you can easily spend the best part of a day here and it offers up a lot for the price. 

2. Glass Walkway at Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is one of London's most defining landmarks and besides watching the bridge lift which is really quite impressive, you can also walk across the top of the Bridge. As I have a terrible phobia of lifts I was lucky enough to use the original victorian stairwell to the top of the bridge which was a treat in itself. Once you get to the top you are not only spoilt with incredible views across the Thames and London but there is also a glass walkway which once you get over any nerves is fantastic and kids loved it. Included in the price is also entry to the engine room which has an interactive space for children. A family ticket comes in at around £22 when bought online, you can also use the 2 for 1 special if coming into the city by train. 

3. Catch A West End Show

London’s West End is known around the world as one of the best places to indulge your love of theatre and with so much going on there is always something suitable for the whole family so you don't need to feel consigned to seeing a musical if you don’t like them. If you shop around and are flexible with what you want to see you can usually pick up some bargain tickets. This is one of my favourite London experiences there are to have, having gone to shows with my parents as well as taking my kids to the What the Lady Bird heard a while back.

4. Ride the Thames Clipper 

You don't need to purchase an expensive Thames tour to take advantage of the river running through the city. The Thames clipper offers another option of getting around so instead of taking the underground we hopped on from the London Tower and took the clipper to Westminster, passing the Tate Modern, St Paul's Cathedral and Shakespeare's Globe along the way and the kids loved it. You have a cheaper rate if you use an Oyster card or Contactless and 5-15yrs have 50% off (although you need to purchase this at the ticket office or self-service machine) and those under 5s travel free. 

5. Ride the Mail Rail train

We visited The Postal Museum for the first time this half term and it's quickly become a firm favourite as there is plenty to see and do including two exhibition spaces, the Mail rail ride and "Sorted" postal play space. My boys enjoyed a 45min session in Sorted which is aimed at children 0-8yrs and encourages children to take on the role of postal workers in a fun and interactive way including using trolleys, pulleys, scanners, slides and chutes. We then braved the Mail Rail which is a unique 15-minute ride on a train that was originally made to carry mail, not people (so it's pretty small). We then had a chance to learn more about the postal system in the UK through the two engaging exhibitions and of course, refuel ourselves at the family-friendly cafe. I highly recommend a stop at The Postal Museum for a truly unique experience and I know we will be back. Your ticket includes one ride on the Mail rail and unlimited access to the exhibitions for one year.

6. Wave to the queen at Buckingham Palace & enjoy Hyde Park

You can't visit London for the first time without visiting Buckingham Palace! Now you don't need to fork out money on a tour or entry to the palace to experience the atmosphere as you can get some great views from the Victoria Memorial and if you time it right you can watch the changing of the guard for free. A short walk from Buckingham Palace is Hyde Park which is a great spot for kids to run off any excess energy and you can stop at some of my personal favourites that is the Peter Pan statue, Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and the Italian gardens.

7. Go on an Adventure with Shrek

If your children love the Dreamworks classic Shrek then they will really enjoy the all-ages Shreks adventure which includes a ride aboard a magical 4D flying bus driven by Donkey, exploring Shreks swamp and meeting many of the magical characters from the show. There are also other Dreamworks worlds including Madagascar and How to Train your dragon. If you're looking for something with a bit more of a view then the London Eye is located right outside the Shreks Adventure.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the amazing family-friendly attracts in London and I am always amazed that with each visit we discover something new. A few more personal favourites are Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, walking along canals from Camden to Regents Park and the Transport Museum to name a few. As long as you plan your break in the capital well, taking in account the travel distance between each attraction and not packing too much in (to avoid feeling overwhelmed) then your sure to have a blast.