10 fun and affordable things to do in London with the kids
Summer in the city can be frustrating for parents and carers who want to keep their kids entertained and a day out in London can often break the piggy bank. Hailo the black cab app has pulled together a handy list of ten fun and affordable things to do in the capital helping to keep kids entertained over the long summer holidays. A black cab is the perfect way of transporting kids, buggies and everything you need for a day out in the City, getting you there quickly and safely.
And if you’re planning holidays via a London airport Hailo now offers fixed fares to all airports further helping families to save money.
Hit the beach at Beach East
Price: adult entry £2, children £1, under 3s free When: until September 4th
The Olympic Park is home to a man-made beach with 2,200 square metres of sand. Kids can spend the day building sandcastles, playing in the gigantic paddling pool, and enjoying funfair rides. You can even catch the Olympic Games on big screens plus two beach bars for parents.
Check out the Festival of Love
Price: half the shows at the festival are free; some are up to £20 When: 9 July – 29 August
The Southbank Centre is bursting with family-friendly activities filled with music, art, dance and performance. Enjoy a circus adventure with ‘Air Play’, do some pottery at ‘Come and Clay’, or enjoy a night of dance and music with ‘ZooNation: The Next Generation’. If it all gets too much kids can cool down in the ever-popular Appearing Rooms fountain.
Explore the ‘Power Up’ exhibition at London’s Science Museum Price: Adults £8, Children £6.50 When: all year
Power Up celebrates the greatest video games and consoles of all time. From Pong and Pacman to Lego and Halo, there’s loads to keep kids intrigued and grown parents fueled with gaming nostalgia. Great for a rainy day.
Experience ‘Sensational Butterflies’ at Natural History Museum Price: £5.85 (free for members) When: 24 March – 11 September
Escape the city into the temporary, tropical world of ‘Sensational Butterflies’. Wander amongst hundreds of free-flying moths and butterflies from around the world, keep a lookout for camouflage caterpillars, and even watch a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis.
Get skating at BaySixty6 Price: £7 per session, £10 day pass, £4 beginners’ session When: open all year
For adventurous kids, BaySixty6 is London’s premier, all weather, covered Skate Park. Whether you’ve got a pro skateboarder on your hands or a couple of complete beginners, kids of all levels can have a thrilling afternoon. The space has three sections giving your kids to option to practice their balance or finesse their kick-flips. It’s not a problem if you don’t have your own equipment: You can hire Helmets for £2 and skateboards for £5.
Get on board the HMS Belfast Price: Adult £16, Child £8, under 5s free When: open all year
Go back in time and experience life aboard a warship. Moored on the Thames, the HMS Belfast tells the stories of those who worked on board during the second world war and beyond. Kids can explore nine decks of amazing history, from peeling potatoes in the Galley to controlling a fleet of ships in the interactive Operations Room.
Get animated at the V&A Museum Of Childhood’s Family Film Festival Price: £6.50When: Every Wednesday between 27 July – 31 Aug
Make Wednesdays more exciting with new film screenings at the V&A. Kids can do an hour of craft activities, like Play-Doh modelling, before they sit down to watch the film of the day. Afterwards you can all set off on the special “Animated! Family Trail”, tracking down key objects and doing some activities that will get kids thinking like animators.
Catch a show at London Wonderground Price: tickets to shows are about £8/£10 When: 5 May – 25 September
The magical circus world of London Wonderground is a great family day (or night) out. Toddlers and parents can hit Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall, while older children can be dazzled by Victorian magic at Morgan & West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular Magic Show. Last but not least there’s the famous Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids.
Get a rush on the slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit Price: Adult (17+) £10, Child (3-16) £5, Senior/Student £7, Family £26 When: Until 31 December
Brave over 8s (and their parents) can slip down the world’s highest longest tunnel slide. Travelling 178m in 40-seconds, you watch London’s dramatic skyscape whizzing by. You go through a dizzying corkscrew section, before ending with a 50m straight run back down to earth. Fun and fear for the whole family!
Hunt for lost treasure on the St Katherine Docks Treasure Trail Price: £6.99 per Trail (not per person)
This self-guided treasure trail sends families off on a fun and challenging adventure as both generations work together to find missing treasure. The route leads you around an iconic part of London and kids will love the detective work involved in solving clues found on plaques, buildings, and monuments.
Hailo is a fast and trusted service, providing excellent accessibility for families, mums and dads, buggies and those with disabilities. If you’re lucky enough to jet away for the summer then take advantage of Hailo’s fixed fares to London airports promotion and pre-booking service.
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