London is one of the best cities in the world. Regularly featured on lists of the most-travelled to destinations on the planet, the capital of the United Kingdom has been at the forefront of cultural, historical, scientific and artistic contributions for centuries. Its royal palaces and gardens, theatres, transport systems, markets, culinary scene, literary tradition, and music industry, to name just a few of its well-known attractions, are a joy to explore.
If you’re booking a summer vacation with your kids to a city previously known as the “Big Smoke,” here are a few activities that will have them smiling from ear to ear.
The iconic London Eye has sweeping views of the city. At 135m it is the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel. The company behind it even claims that it is the United Kingdom’s most popular paid-for visitor attraction. A full revolution takes about 30 minutes.
A standard ticket for a child aged between 2-15 years old costs approximately INR 4000. The London Eye is currently open from 11AM-6PM.
Meanwhile, the tallest building in town is The Shard, a jagged edge of glass reaching 309.6m into the sky. It has viewing platforms on the 68th, 69th and 72nd floors for visitors to observe 360-degree views for up to 64km.
The Shard is currently open from 10AM-10PM. Tickets start from approximately INR 3000 for kids aged four and above.
This historic structure has a special place in the annals of astronomy and navigation. It is the home of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) upon which our present time zones are based.
Kids can literally stand on the Prime Meridian, the geographical reference line which passes through the site. They can enter the Great Equatorial Telescope to admire the sheer scale of the 71cm refracting telescope. The Peter Harrison Planetarium puts on shows led by one of their resident astronomers. Visualisations and real-life space photography combine to provide a truly unique view of the night sky. Lastly, there are live science demonstrations and astronomy sessions held every weekend.
The Royal Observatory complex also houses the National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House and the clipper ship Cutty Sark in its vicinity. Timings for the observatory are 10AM-6PM. Tickets for children from 4-15 years old start at approximately INR 1000.
You will start to doubt your eyes and brain once you step into the rooms of the Twist Museum. Developed in collaboration with artists, neuroscientists and philosophers, kids will get up close and personal with unexpected interactive illusions. The museum is made up of a series of interconnected zones and encourages visitors to reflect on the ways in which we all perceive the world differently by delightfully combining art and science.
A standard ticket for a child aged 4-14 is approximately INR 2000. Opening hours are usually from 11AM-7:30PM.
For an outdoorsy adventure, take your children to this playground in Kensington Gardens. The design was inspired by JM Barrie's "Peter Pan." The playground's centrepiece is a wooden pirate ship alongside a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the pirate ship and various play sculptures. The playground is an example of a "natural play" concept, which is designed to stimulate children's imagination and encourage them to challenge their physical and mental powers.
The playground is open from 10AM-7:45PM. Entry is free.
Perhaps no visit to London is truly complete without a stop at this iconic wax museum. Besides gawking at the likenesses of global celebrities, kids can also take part in various fun events like walking the red carpet and striking a pose for the paparazzi or watching a 4D movie featuring their favourite Marvel characters like Thor, Black Panther, Rocket and Spider-Man.
Tickets are an estimated INR 4000 for kids from 2-15 years old. Timings vary depending on whether it's a weekend or weekday but 9AM-5PM are the general operating hours.
Another way to take in the city of London is by cruising down the river Thames. There are plenty of hop-on and hop-off river cruises which offer a 24-hour pass with unlimited access. Tickets start from approximately INR 1,600 for kids aged 5-15.
The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers leaves every 20 minutes from piers all along the river so you’re never too far away from a departure point. Tickets for kids are an estimated INR 1,600. Get down at North Greenwich pier before taking to the skies in an IFS Cloud Cable Car for views of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and The O2. There are also speedboat experiences and evening tours that you can take advantage of.
There are direct flights to London from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai and New Delhi airports.