| Many children events in London are absolutely free | | | | garden and collection of artwork. The Changing of |
| and many can be purchased reasonably cheaply as a | | | | the Guard can be viewed for free at 11.30am every |
| family package. A little planning before the vacation | | | | day during summer and alternate days during winter. |
| begins can help widen the scope of activities for your | | | | 5. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are popular |
| children. | | | | London landmarks and is one of the “must |
| | | | | do” children events. The Houses of Parliament, |
| Here are 10 must do children events in London. | | | | also known as the Palace of Westminster, was built |
| 1. London has well over 200 museums and galleries | | | | in AD 1040 by Edward the Confessor and was the |
| and most of them are free. Kids will love The Natural | | | | main Royal residence in London until Henry VIII move |
| History Museum, The Science Museum and The | | | | to Whitehall. It is the largest Gothic Building in the |
| Victoria and Albert Museum, and they are | | | | world with over 1,000 rooms and two miles of |
| conveniently located in South Kensington. | | | | corridor in it. |
| The Natural History Museum has well over 67 million | | | | Guy Fawkes unsuccessfully attempted to blow up |
| items in its collection. Look out for the skeleton and | | | | Parliament in 1606 and was tried and sentenced to |
| reconstruction of the extinct dodo in the Bird Gallery | | | | death in Westminster. |
| and in the section devoted to dinosaurs, the giant | | | | Big Ben, one of London’s most famous |
| flesh-eating Tyrannosaurus rex. | | | | landmarks, towers 96 metres high in the sky |
| The Science Museum is a fascinating place with a | | | | overlooking Westminster and is open to tours for UK |
| kid-friendly environment and plenty of hands-on | | | | residents who have made arrangements with their |
| exhibits which are both entertaining and educational. | | | | MPs. Unfortunately overseas visitors cannot climb the |
| There are five floors with each floor looking at | | | | 393 steps to the top. |
| different aspect of technology and science using | | | | 6.Covent Garden is a fun place not only for shoppers |
| displays and interactive information. The Science | | | | but also for kids. Covent Garden was originally known |
| Museum also has an ancient clock in the Time | | | | as Convent Garden where fruits and vegetables for |
| Measurement Gallery which is still in working order | | | | the Monks of Westminster were grown. The houses |
| more than 600 years after its construction! | | | | around Covent Garden were intended for |
| The Victoria and Albert Museum, more affectionately | | | | “gentlemen and men of ability” and up until |
| known as the V&A, has a vast collection of | | | | the Great Fire of London in 1666, Covent Garden |
| decorative and fine arts. | | | | was the most fashionable London address to live at. |
| | | | | You can find lots of activities in London for children in |
| 2. Children love to run around in parks and gardens | | | | this area. Street performers like jugglers, acrobats |
| and there are several well known parks in London. | | | | and fire-eaters are here to entertain kids and |
| Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are adjacent to | | | | shoppers. You may even spot a celebrity or two. |
| each other and together they cover an area of | | | | You can also visit Royal Opera House – home to |
| about 615 acres of flowers, trees and greenery. | | | | The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet. |
| The Serpentine is an area of entertainment and | | | | 7. This interesting children event, if you can get free |
| recreation, with boats for hire on the Serpentine in | | | | tickets, is to go for television and radio shows and be |
| summer. | | | | part of the studio audience. Exclusive tickets including |
| The Princess Diana Memorial Playground is in | | | | Dancing on Ice, The X Factor, Britain’s Got |
| Kensington Gardens opposite the Queensway | | | | Talents, The BRIT Awards and many more can be |
| underground (Central Line). There are lots of children | | | | obtained by applying early for them. Your kids will |
| events and activities in the playground with the Pirate | | | | love to be a part of the studio audience and this will |
| Ship taking centre stage. The children play area is | | | | add to their children events experiences. You can also |
| fenced up and is guarded by security personnel. | | | | apply forstanding room only tickets. |
| Regent’s Park is a couple of miles north of Hyde | | | | |
| Park. This is also a wonderfully organized park with | | | | 8. Children events can also include a visit to a city |
| lots of flowers and greenery. There is an Open Air | | | | farm and your kids can enjoy a bit of rural life |
| Theatre in Queen Mary’s Garden, which is very | | | | without leaving the city. These city farms are |
| popular in summer. Regent's Park Zoo is also within | | | | community led and managed projects and they are |
| the park if you fancy giving your children a treat. (It's | | | | located all over London. They offer a widespread of |
| free with a London Pass.) Bandstand music can be | | | | activities to encourage kids to be part of a rural |
| heard at lunchtime during peak summer months. | | | | experience and learn how to look after animals and |
| | | | | plants. Some farms may also have a riding school. |
| 3. Children events can include sightseeing on a London | | | | 9. You can encourage your children to get involved in |
| Pass. For a modest investment the children can enjoy | | | | wildlife and nature. London has many natural areas |
| free entry to over 55 sights and tourist attractions in | | | | bursting with wildlife. Get ideas for bird-watching or |
| London. These include: The London Zoo, Tower of | | | | lend a hand gardening for wildlife. Take an |
| London, Thames River Cruise, St Paul’s | | | | opportunity to cycle amongst nature. There are lots |
| Cathedral, Windsor Castle, Tower Bridge Exhibition, | | | | of activities for your children to do in London |
| Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace and many | | | | Wildweb. |
| more attractions. | | | | 10. There are lots of sporting activities that goes on |
| You simply pay the one off price for the London | | | | in London throughout the year and London’s |
| Pass of your choice (there are 4 durations to choose | | | | reputation for having some of the most prestigious |
| from) and then you can enter as many of the tourist | | | | sports venues in the world has attracted tourists |
| attractions included on the pass without further | | | | from all over the world. |
| payment. | | | | With a London Pass you can take your kids for free |
| 4. For pomp and ceremony, children events should | | | | to visit these famous London venues: Chelsea |
| include a visit to Buckingham Palace and the Changing | | | | Football Club’s Stamford Bridge, Lord’s |
| of the Guards. Buckingham Palace, the home of the | | | | Cricket Ground, Twickenham Rugby Ground and |
| Queen, was built in 1703. Look at the flag pole on the | | | | Wimbledon Lawn Tennis. |
| top of the Palace. When the Queen is in residence, | | | | Your kids will have the chance to experience what it |
| the Royal Standard Flag is raised. A soldier is | | | | feels like to run out of the player’s tunnel onto |
| responsible for taking it down as soon as the Queen | | | | the pitch and imagine the excitement felt by the |
| is away. | | | | players as the crowd greets them with an almighty |
| During summer you can visit its State Apartments | | | | roar! |
| (there is a charge) and see the Queen’s large | | | | |