Summer in London… The sun finally shows up (sometimes), the parks fill with picnic blankets and footballs, and families spill into the streets with ice cream cones and backpacks. London kids grow up bouncing between centuries. One minute they’re kicking a ball in a royal park older than the United States, the next they’re riding the Tube under a thousand years of history.

A typical summer Saturday might start with pastries from a neighborhood bakery, continue with a boat ride on the Thames, and end with fish and chips eaten on a park bench while buskers play guitar nearby.

For families, London is wildly interactive. Castles you can climb. Boats you can ride. Parks big enough to get lost in. Street markets bursting with food from around the world.

Here are eight brilliant things to do with kids in London this summer. The kind of experiences that will have everyone saying “that was proper fun.”

Also – Listen to this Play Here episode from our London podcast guide for even more tips!

1. Ride a Speedboat on the Thames

If you want to start your London adventure with a bang, hop on a high-speed boat ride along the Thames.

These RIB boats blast through the river past London’s most famous landmarks while music pumps and the guide shouts stories over the wind. Kids absolutely lose their minds when the driver hits the throttle near Tower Bridge.

But it’s not just a thrill ride. The Thames has been London’s main highway for nearly 2,000 years, carrying traders, explorers, and sometimes invading armies.

Tips:

• Book morning rides for calmer water
• Sit toward the front for maximum thrills
• Bring sunglasses — the wind is strong
• Pair the ride with lunch at nearby markets

Many tour companies also talk about river cleanup efforts and wildlife returning to the Thames, which is a cool sustainability story kids can understand.

2. Explore the Harry Potter Studios

If your kids have ever whispered the word Hogwarts, this experience will blow their minds.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter takes visitors through the real film sets used to create the Harry Potter movies.

Kids can walk through:

• The Great Hall
• Diagon Alley
• The Forbidden Forest
• Platform 9¾ and the Hogwarts Express

They’ll also see incredible filmmaking tricks—miniature castle models, creature animatronics, and elaborate costume designs.

Plan ahead:

• Book tickets weeks in advance – ESPECIALLY DURING SUMMER
• Allow 3–4 hours (assume most of the day will be taken up by this excursion)

The tour also highlights the artistry of British film production, which is a fun way for kids to see how storytelling and engineering come together.

3. Spend a Wild Afternoon in Hyde Park

London’s royal parks are massive, and Hyde Park is the crown jewel. Swans and all.

Highlights include:

• The Diana Memorial Playground, with a giant pirate ship
• Rowboats on the Serpentine lake
• Wide open lawns for football and frisbee
• Ice cream carts everywhere

One of the coolest things about London is how royal land that once belonged only to kings now belongs to everyone.

Pro move: grab sandwiches and pastries from a neighborhood bakery and have a picnic like the locals do.

4. Explore the Tower of London

Kids love castles, and Tower of London delivers one of the most fascinating in the world.

Built in 1066 by William the Conqueror, this fortress has been a palace, prison, treasury, and execution site.

Highlights :

• Spotting the famous ravens that guard the tower
• Hearing dramatic stories from the Beefeater guides (these guys are really good!)
• Seeing the glittering Crown Jewels

Legend says if the ravens ever leave, the kingdom will fall—so they are carefully protected.

Arrive early to avoid crowds and plan at least two hours to explore. The Beefeater tours are free and leave roughly every 15 minutes. If you arrive before 11am the groups are the smallest and you want to try to avoid traveling in a giant pack. But the tour is definitely worth it!

5. Paddle Boats and Playgrounds in Regent’s Park

Beautiful Regent’s Park might be London’s most elegant green space.

But for kids the main attraction is simple: boats and playgrounds. Families can rent pedal boats on the lake while ducks paddle nearby.

Regent’s Park began as royal hunting grounds in the 1500s, when the land formed part of the vast Middlesex Forest used by English monarchs for deer hunting. In the early 19th century, the area was transformed by visionary architect John Nash, who designed the park as part of an ambitious plan for the future Prince Regent (later King George IV).

Nash envisioned elegant terraces, landscaped gardens, and open parkland that would blend nature with urban living. Today the park still reflects that vision, combining formal gardens, sports fields, boating lakes, and cultural landmarks like the London Zoo, one of the world’s oldest scientific zoos, founded in 1828.

Afterward explore:

• The climbing playground
• Huge grassy lawns
• The famous Queen Mary Rose Garden with over 12,000 roses

It’s peaceful, scenic, and one of the best ways to experience London’s outdoor culture.

6. Eat Your Way Through Borough Market

If your kids travel better with snacks (they do), head straight to Borough Market.

This food market has existed near London Bridge for nearly 1,000 years.

Today it’s one of the best street food markets in Europe. For nearly a millennium, Borough Market has been feeding Londoners. The market’s roots stretch back to at least the 11th century, when traders gathered near the southern end of London Bridge to sell grain, fish, vegetables, and livestock to travelers crossing the Thames.

Because London Bridge was the only river crossing for centuries, the location became a natural trading hub. In the 13th century, authorities actually tried to shut the market down due to congestion, but local demand kept it alive.

By the 1700s, the market was officially established in its current location and began specializing in wholesale produce for the growing city. Today it has evolved into one of London’s most celebrated food markets while still honoring its centuries-old trading tradition.

It’ll be a food scavenger hunt to find:

• Fresh doughnuts
• Giant cookies
• TikTok famous strawberries covered in chocolate sauce

For the adults, find yourself…

• Spanish paella
• Ethiopian stews
• British cheeses
• Freshly-shucked single serve oysters

The best strategy: wander and share. Then take a walk over Tower Bridge back into central London.

Markets like this support independent farmers and food artisans, making them a great way to experience local culture responsibly.

7. Explore the Wild Trails of Hampstead Heath

If Hyde Park feels like a royal garden, Hampstead Heath feels like countryside inside the city.

This huge nature reserve is beloved by locals.

Kids can:

• Run through forest trails
• Fly kites in open meadows
• Climb hills with skyline views
• Spot wildlife and ponds

The best view is from Parliament Hill, where the entire London skyline unfolds in front of you.

Bring a picnic and let kids roam freely, and imagine yourself in a Jane Austen novel.

8. Visit the Natural History Museum

London has dozens of incredible museums, but if you choose one for kids, make it the Natural History Museum.

The building itself looks like a cathedral dedicated to science.

Kids love:

• The giant animatronic T-Rex
• Earthquake simulators
• Fossil displays
• The massive blue whale skeleton

The museum also runs major scientific research programs focused on biodiversity and climate science.

Best of all, admission is free, making it one of the best family experiences in London.