Stroll down any road in London and the echoes of town’s previous are throughout. With a settlement alongside the Thames for properly over 2,000 years, the Roman settlement of Londinium has left its traces to seek out right now – and that’s solely the beginning of what you possibly can see throughout in the future in London with youngsters who love historical past.
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Enterprise again to Roman occasions with remnants of previous partitions and the Mithraeum temple, whose first worshippers set foot right here within the third century AD. Round 900 years later, the Normans set their stamp on town with the White Tower, the primary a part of the Tower of London.
Tudors, Stuarts and Georgians adopted of their wake, a protracted line of kings, queens, traditions and ceremonies which make town an ideal place to go to with youngsters who love historical past.
London is house to a few of the world’s biggest museums as properly, with collections from civilisations all over the world in addition to reveals on town itself. In my second itinerary for in the future in London with youngsters – take a look at my strategies for animal-lovers right here – I’ve picked a few of the child-friendly highlights to step again into the previous.
With actions, challenges and video games, in addition to excursions, that is as removed from a dry, dusty classroom historical past lesson as you possibly can think about, with concepts for pre-schoolers in addition to older youngsters.
Frankly, this become one thing of a mammoth submit… and the realisation that there was no approach I may match each possibility in for history-loving youngsters, so I’ve picked a few of the finest and my favourites. As ever, I’m together with recommendations on how a lot time to spend, to work out how a lot you possibly can fairly match into in the future in a metropolis the scale of London, and strategies for numerous budgets.
For extra concepts on how to economize on days out in London with youngsters, take a look at my prime ideas
At some point in London with youngsters who love historical past
Don’t miss: The Tower of London
Maybe my very own favorite place to go to in London with youngsters, the Tower has been royal residence and feared jail, it has seen riot and the execution of queens, it homes the crown jewels and was as soon as house to a menagerie of unique animals.
As we speak, the ravens hopping across the inexperienced include their very own legend whereas the Beefeaters of their superb uniforms are the guides to introduce you to tons of of years of historical past.
How lengthy: Permit round half a day – the free Beefeater excursions take an hour, and you could properly must queue to see the Crown Jewels, with an hour beneficial for these too. You would spend even longer however youthful youngsters’ consideration spans would possibly wane earlier than you’ve run out of issues to see.
Do: Flip up at opening and head straight to the Crown Jewels earlier than the queues get too lengthy (or should you’re visiting within the afternoon, it’s usually quietest within the hour earlier than closing).
Plan forward for one particular additional – it’s nonetheless doable to look at the Ceremony of the Keys earlier than the Tower is locked at 10pm each night time, which is alleged to be the oldest navy ceremony on this planet, instituted by Edward III. Tickets price £10 and there’s solely a restricted quantity, so that you’ll must snap them up as quickly as they develop into obtainable.
Take a look at my expertise of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with youngsters
How a lot? Tickets price from £37 for adults should you purchase on-line, from £18.50 for youths. There could also be hourly time slots in class holidays however in any other case you possibly can arrive everytime you need. You’ll nonetheless should queue for safety and a bag examine however you possibly can skip the ticket queue by reserving on-line. It’s also possible to get a small low cost by reserving by way of Tiqets utilizing my code MUMMYTRAVELS6.
When you declare Common Credit score, there are additionally a restricted variety of £1 entry tickets which should be booked upfront (and also you’ll must carry proof of eligibility while you arrive).
When you get Historic Royal Palaces membership – from £80 for one grownup and as much as six youngsters – you additionally get admission to 5 different palaces, together with Kensington Palace and Hampton Court docket Palace.
For extra royal locations in London to go to with youngsters, take a look at my choose of the most effective, from palaces to castles and extra
Uncover town: The London Museum
The place higher to find London’s historical past than a museum devoted to it? Not least to be taught the truth that as soon as upon a time, hippos lived in Trafalgar Sq..
EDIT: The museum is now quickly closed till reopening in its new website at Smithfield in late 2026 however you possibly can nonetheless go to the sister museum, The London Museum Docklands, which has a terrific play space for youthful youngsters and focuses on London’s historical past as a submit – learn extra right here
Going again to 450,000 BC, the everlasting galleries hint London’s historical past proper from prehistory to these Romans, medieval occasions, via plague and hearth, to move of an Empire and multicultural current.
There are additionally particular exhibitions – 2018 has one on the suffragettes, in addition to Roman cemeteries and a gruesomely fascinating chunk of the Whitechapel fatberg, a 130 tonne sewer blockage. Bleurgh.
How lengthy: There’s loads to cowl so that you’re prone to get museum fatigue earlier than you discover each little bit of the gathering – as there’s no entry cost, you can cease in for a number of quick visits should you’re within the space, however enable a few hours in any other case.
Do: Put it aside for the weekend – usually quieter than London’s different museums, particularly due to its Metropolis location, Sundays could be a good day for a go to. Be careful for the museum’s deliberate transfer to Smithfield, the place it’s set to double its measurement.
How a lot? Completely free.
For my full set of recommendations on visiting London’s museums with toddlers and youngsters, take a look at my final information
Wet day: The British Museum
The mummies are in all probability essentially the most well-known reveals for households on the British Museum, among the many museum’s intensive Egyptology assortment, however you’ll discover items from misplaced civilisations galore, together with Historic Greece, Saxon England, Easter Island and African empires.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, the 12 highlights for youths is an effective begin.
How lengthy: You would spend all day within the museum and nonetheless barely scratch the floor – however because it’s free, it’s additionally straightforward to pop in for an hour. One thing in between is good, a few hours to discover the areas which significantly tempt your youngsters, with out leading to museum fatigue.
Have a look on-line earlier than you go… there are 4 million objects within the on-line assortment alone which provides you an thought of simply how a lot you can uncover.
Do: Take a look at the exercise choices for youths (additionally obtainable to obtain earlier than you go to). There are easier concepts for trails for under-fives based mostly on color and quantity in addition to choices for older youngsters to discover.
Skip the queues by going within the again door – take a look at my different ideas right here – and plan a while outdoor afterwards, Households-only Coram’s Fields, with its play areas, shouldn’t be far-off for some contemporary air afterwards. And you’ll skip the queues to the bogs within the basement too: there are additionally amenities close to the Asian galleries as properly.
How A lot? Free – though there’s a price for particular exhibitions. Tickets should be prebooked.
Day journey: Hampton Court docket Palace
From the recreated medieval kitchens to the well-known maze, this Tudor palace is an interesting glimpse into royal life – Henry VIII famously acquired Hampton Court docket from Cardinal Wolsey, and the ghost of Catherine Howard, his fifth Queen, is alleged to hang-out one gallery after a failed try to succeed in the king from right here.
Inside, the palace rooms are nonetheless adorned as they might have been at totally different levels of historical past, there are treasure hunts for youths and you may even choose up miniature velvet robes to discover in fashion.
In addition to the formal gardens, there’s the previous ‘actual’ tennis court docket, the well-known hedge maze and the magic backyard play space based mostly on legendary beasts.
How lengthy? Whichever approach you journey, the palace is a little bit approach exterior west London so it is advisable consider time to get there – there’s a lot to occupy when you get there, so it’s price making a day of it.
Do: Trains run from Waterloo in central London to Hampton station which is just a few minutes stroll away from the palace. In summer time, boats do run to Hampton as properly, though it’s not essentially the most sensible possibility – it takes round two hours from Richmond, and 4 from Westminster, though it’s a implausible solution to arrive.
Be careful for particular occasions – there’s nearly all the time one thing on throughout college holidays, plus ice skating round Christmas however you could wish to keep away from visiting across the well-known flower present because it’s even busier.
How a lot? Tickets price from £29 for adults and £14.50 for youngsters should you purchase on-line upfront. The gardens have free entry on a handful of days annually, though that doesn’t get entry into the palace, maze or Magic Backyard.
When you declare Common Credit score, there are additionally a restricted variety of £1 entry tickets which should be booked upfront (and also you’ll must carry proof of eligibility while you arrive).
When you get Historic Royal Palaces membership – from £80 for one grownup and as much as six youngsters – you additionally get admission to 5 different palaces, together with Kensington Palace and the Tower of London.
For older youngsters: The Homes of Parliament
Mixing the possibility to stroll in historical past and see the place historical past remains to be being made, the tour of the Homes of Parliament – inside what’s nonetheless formally generally known as the Palace of Westminster – is fascinating.
The choices embrace a self-guided tour with audio information which lasts simply over an hour, with a model geared toward youngsters aged as much as 11, in addition to barely longer guided excursions, geared toward youngsters aged 12+. There’s additionally a household path booklet for youths aged 5-7.
In addition to visiting the Commons Chamber and the Lords Chamber, you possibly can stroll via the Central Foyer and discover Westminster Corridor which is sort of 1,000 years previous – constructed by England’s second Norman king, and nonetheless housing a medieval desk the place 17 totally different monarchs would have eaten.
How lengthy? The guided tour lasts 90 minutes, and permit an identical period of time for the audio information, though you possibly can go at your personal tempo for this.
Do: Verify the dates and ebook upfront – you possibly can go to with an audio information on Saturdays, some college holidays and most weekdays when Parliament shouldn’t be in session (most of August, and for a few weeks in September and October, as an example).
The guided excursions function on comparable dates however are barely extra restricted. The Elizabeth Tower, house to Massive Ben, can be now open with restricted excursions working – just for older youngsters, these should be booked upfront and also you do should be fast if you wish to snap up tickets..
How a lot? The audio information prices £31 for adults, with one little one aged 5 to fifteen free with every paying grownup (ebook the bundle possibility). Further youngsters price from £12. A guided tour prices £40 for adults, £20 for youngsters aged 5-15, with youngsters below 5 free – with restricted slots, it’s strongly beneficial to ebook upfront.
Dwelling historical past: The Altering of the Guard
Historical past needn’t imply wandering round previous buildings or even older reveals – particularly when you possibly can watch a conventional ceremony, because the King’s Guard adjustments.
The Family Troops have guarded Buckingham Palace since Queen Victoria moved in in 1837, though they’ve guarded the monarch and royal palaces since 1660. Watching the guards march of their brilliant crimson uniforms and well-known bearskin hats, all with a full navy band taking part in is a really memorable sight.
When you’re visiting between July and September, you possibly can ebook to go to the State rooms on the palace afterwards too. There’s a multimedia tour for below 12s, though it’s price understanding there aren’t any buggies allowed, restricted bogs and no consuming inside (so I actually wouldn’t advise it with toddlers!)
Take a look at my ideas for visiting Buckingham Palace with youngsters
How lengthy? The ceremony itself runs from round 10.45am for round 45 minutes – the handover from the Outdated Guard to the New Guard takes place at 11am, though you possibly can see the guards beginning to kind up by St James’s palace from 10.30am and the brand new guard arriving from Wellington Barracks.
Doublecheck that it’s going down as common – though you possibly can usually watch the ceremony on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, it’s sometimes cancelled for main occasions within the capital. And if it’s pouring, don’t courageous the rain to see them: it’s usually cancelled in dangerous climate.
If you wish to see the State Rooms, enable round two to 3 hours for that, and also you’ll want a timed ticket.
Do: Get there early to have an opportunity of seeing something. Watched by hundreds of thousands yearly, turning up at 10.45 (and even 10.30) will discover crowds already lining the obstacles – and even should you’re proper by Buckingham palace, you would possibly wrestle to see a lot via the gates. I’d suggest reserving one of many free excursions (pay what you need) to get the most effective views.
In any other case with youthful youngsters, get a style by heading to St James’s Palace or Wellington Barracks, on Birdcage Stroll at round 10.15, the place they’ll be forming up and music can be taking part in whereas the troops are inspected. Or watch the Reduction march up The Mall simply after 11am to alleviate the sentries who’ve been standing guard in the course of the handover.
It’s also possible to watch the King’s Life Guard change on Horse Guards Parade, which tends to be much less busy – 11am daily, besides Sunday when it takes place at 10am
How a lot? Free to look at.
For extra concepts of free issues to do in London with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
Better of the remainder – London with youngsters who love historical past
Climb aboard the Golden Hinde, a reproduction of the ship with Sir Francis Drake sailed all over the world. There are family-friendly excursions should you fancy pretending you’re an Elizabethan explorer (or pirate) in addition to the possibility to sleep in a single day on the Golden Hinde.
Discover London’s historical past by the river, on the London Museum Docklands – set in a 200-year-old warehouse, it follows commerce and port life from Roman occasions to Canary Wharf. Take a look at what we thought once we visited.
Return to high school… on the Ragged Faculty Museum, as soon as the biggest free college in London. You possibly can nonetheless sit within the genuine Victorian classroom, you possibly can participate in a lesson on the primary Sunday of the month (restricted numbers), or there are additional actions in vacation occasions.
Uncover toys via the ages, on the Younger V&A in east London. Additionally free, you possibly can spot toys, dolls, video games and extra, relationship again to the seventeenth century (and play with a number of extra trendy ones).
Play at Lords and Girls – each the Nationwide Belief and English Heritage have a string of properties inside London, from Osterley and Ham Home within the west to Eltham Palace within the south east and Marble Hill Home within the south west.
Take a bus tour – you possibly can select the open-top vacationer buses to see a few of the capital’s historic buildings, together with Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s, plus Buckingham Palace. Or select your route rigorously, and sit on prime of a double-decker to spy them for much less – buses 15 and 26 are a very good begin. Take a look at my picks of the most effective bus excursions in London with youngsters
Sadly, the Horrible Thames tour is now not working, as of September 2025
*First printed 2018, final up to date 2026*
PIN FOR LATER: ONE DAY IN LONDON WITH KIDS WHO LOVE HISTORY
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Tower picture copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy of Depositphotos
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