New parents with helpless, screaming babies in tow might think they aren't very welcome in most places, but there are, in fact, quite a few venues in London where little ones are not only tolerated but entertained with activities designed to help their development. There are lots of things to do in London with babies and toddlers, from special activities for tots to entertainment for adults where they can bring toddlers along. Our guide to the best things to do in London with babies highlights the top spots where babies can have fun, and parents can have a bit of a break.
Things to do in London with babies
In this guide
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The best things to do with babies and toddlers in London
- Young V&A – By children, for children
- Unicorn Theatre – The baby show must go on
- Natural History Museum – Storytelling adventure for toddlers
- British Museum – All sorts of things to do for babies
- National Maritime Museum – Fun for the whole family
- Cutty Sark – Different adventures for toddlers every week
- Picturehouse Cinemas – Movie night with the kids
- Flip Out – Dedicated soft play area
- Science Museum – Get an early start on that PhD
- Tate – Tate for tots
- Inflata Nation – Bouncing babies in North London
- Royal Albert Hall – Storytelling and music sessions for toddlers
- Milo and the Bull – Baby-friendly gym classes
- London Transport Museum – The wheels on the bus go round and round
- Babylon Park – It's in the name
The best things to do with babies and toddlers in London
Top baby activities in London
By children, for children
The Young V&A is a spin-off of the Victoria & Albert Museum, co-designed by and aimed at children to help them develop creativity and confidence. As such, it regularly offers different events and workshops for children of all ages, including toddlers. For example, babies can further hone the one thing they're really good at – making noise – at the informal Sound Explorers sessions, or you can book a multi-week sensory play course.
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Cambridge Heath Road, Tower Hamlets
- Website • 020-794 220 00
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The baby show must go on
Unicorn Theatre is considered the leading theatre for young audiences in the country, and its programme includes productions for children of all ages. Toddlers from six to 18 months of age can enjoy “Baby Show”, a sensory performance in a garden-inspired set. Featuring captivating images and sounds, the performance is designed to keep the little ones enthralled throughout. The show is followed by a play session.
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147 Tooley St, Southwark
- Website • 020-764 505 60
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Storytelling adventure for toddlers
In collaboration with Adventure Babies, an award-winning company offering sensory storytelling classes run by trained professionals nationwide, the renowned Natural History Museum runs regular sensory storytelling sessions for toddlers. Featuring sensory props, a sing-along, and messy play, the magical story about the natural world is designed to engage babies and help their development.
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Cromwell Road, Kensington
- Website • 020-794 250 00
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All sorts of things to do for babies
The famed British Museum is well-equipped to handle children of all ages. In addition to baby-changing facilities and a family centre where you can enjoy a picnic, the museum hosts different activities for under-5s. Toddlers can join the Little Feet teddy bears as they explore different exhibitions and historic periods, or they can get a themed backpack with activities for use in any area of the museum.
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Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury
- Website • 020-732 382 99
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Fun for the whole family
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is a very interesting place even – or especially – for those who don't know much about naval history, babies included. The museum runs weekly sessions for under-5s in its dedicated Learning Space, with experienced facilitators taking families on different journeys with the help of playful and creative activities that are sure to prove useful at home as well.
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Romney Road, Greenwich
- Website • 020-885 844 22
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Different adventures for toddlers every week
Once one of the fastest ships in the world, now a fascinating piece of naval history, the Cutty Sark welcomes children of all ages aboard. Its weekly Toddler Time sessions are designed to support little ones' development. Taking place on the ship, the sessions use music and storytelling to present the history of the Cutty Sark and the stories of its crew.
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King William Walk, Greenwich
- Website • 020-885 844 22
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Movie night with the kids
Crying babies are generally frowned upon in the cinema, but not at Picturehouse's Watch with Baby screenings. Parents or carers with babies under the age of one can bring their little one along to select Picturehouse cinemas to watch the latest Hollywood releases. Slightly-less-little little ones aren't forgotten about either – Picturehouse's Toddler Time programme is designed exclusively for pre-schoolers.
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242 High St, Bromley 76 Venn St Clapham, Clapham Rosebery House, Haringey 116 Lordship Ln 180 Greenwich High Rd, Greenwich 270 Mare St, Hackney Unit 8, Filmworks Walk, Ealing 17 City North Place 142 Fulham Rd., Kensington Coldharbour Lane, Brixton 1 Norwood High StBromley Picturehouse
242 High St, BromleyClapham Picturehouse
76 Venn St Clapham, ClaphamCrouch End Picturehouse
Rosebery House, HaringeyEast Dulwich Picturehouse & Café
116 Lordship LnGreenwich Picturehouse
180 Greenwich High Rd, GreenwichHackney Picturehouse
270 Mare St, HackneyEaling Picturehouse
Unit 8, Filmworks Walk, EalingFinsbury Park Picturehouse
17 City North PlaceFulham Road Picturehouse
142 Fulham Rd., KensingtonRitzy Picturehouse
Coldharbour Lane, BrixtonWest Norwood Library & Picturehouse
1 Norwood High St -
Bromley Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/bromley-picturehouseClapham Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/clapham-picturehouseCrouch End Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/crouch-end-picturehouse/informationEast Dulwich Picturehouse & Café
picturehouses.com/cinema/east-dulwichGreenwich Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/greenwich-picturehouseHackney Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/hackney-picturehouseEaling Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/ealing-picturehouseFinsbury Park Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/finsbury-parkFulham Road Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/fulham-road-picturehouseRitzy Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/the-ritzyWest Norwood Library & Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/west-norwood-picturehouseBromley Picturehouse
020-732 626 49Clapham Picturehouse
08-719 025 747Crouch End Picturehouse
08-719 025 747East Dulwich Picturehouse & Café
08-719 025 747Greenwich Picturehouse
08-719 025 747Hackney Picturehouse
08-719 025 747Finsbury Park Picturehouse
08-719 025 747Fulham Road Picturehouse
08-719 025 747Ritzy Picturehouse
08-719 025 747West Norwood Library & Picturehouse
08-719 025 747 -
Bromley Picturehouse Clapham Picturehouse Crouch End Picturehouse East Dulwich Picturehouse & Café Greenwich Picturehouse Hackney Picturehouse Ealing Picturehouse Finsbury Park Picturehouse Fulham Road Picturehouse Ritzy Picturehouse West Norwood Library & Picturehouse
Dedicated soft play area
Flip Out is an all-weather family destination featuring indoor trampolines and adventure playgrounds, ideal for children of all ages. While older kids jump around, babies can enjoy the soft play area at the Brent Cross branch. They can explore the colourful area safely to their heart's content as their carer looks on.
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Unit 7 Staples Corner Retail Park, Geron Way, Barnet
- Website • 020-843 271 63
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Get an early start on that PhD
Highlighting humanity's scientific achievement through interactive exhibits, the Science Museum is guaranteed to blow kids' minds. Under-5s can visit The Garden, the museum's dedicated space for discovering science through play. Accompanied by friendly Explainers, they'll learn how to observe, test, and draw conclusions – or just have a jolly good time trundling around the play area.
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Exhibition Road, Kensington
- Website • 033-005 800 58
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Tate for tots
The Tate galleries are some of the most famous galleries in the world, and little ones can enjoy a visit there too. Different activities for babies and toddlers are available, ranging from free Read Aloud storytelling sessions in Tate Britain's dedicated Story Space to workshops exploring sensory sound-making objects.
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Bankside, Southwark Millbank, WestminsterTate Modern
Bankside, SouthwarkTate Britain
Millbank, Westminster -
Tate Modern
tate.org.ukTate Britain
tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britainTate Modern
020-788 788 88Tate Britain
020-788 788 88 -
Tate Modern Tate Britain
Bouncing babies in North London
Inflata Nation in North London offers a fantastic family day out with entertainment for all ages. Filled with inflatables, the park provides a variety of fun things to do, including bouncy slides, ball pits, and thrilling obstacle courses. There's a special mini inflatable section specifically tailored for toddlers under four years old, and there are also special Inflata Tots classes when the whole arena is open exclusively to pre-schoolers and their carers.
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Unit 1 Colindale Retail Park, 355 Edgware Road, Brent
- Website • 016-171 023 50
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Storytelling and music sessions for toddlers
The Children & Families series at the famed Royal Albert Hall includes a broad range of workshops and shows for children of all ranges, promising an unforgettable day out for the whole family. Babies and toddlers can attend storytelling and music sessions hosted by seasoned storytellers. The 30-minute sessions aim to engage and encourage interaction between parents and their little ones using musical instruments, singing, movement, and stories, exploring the Hall's diverse musical history.
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Kensington Gore, Kensington
- Website • 020-758 982 12
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Baby-friendly gym classes
Promoting a holistic approach to fitness, the boutique Milo and the Bull gyms can be found at multiple locations in South London. New mums can get back on the workout programme at one of the gym's Strong Mum sessions, where their babies can join them in the studio while they exercise. The strength classes are attended by a community of like-minded mums and mums-to-be and held in small groups of up to eight people to ensure the safety of mums and babies.
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168-170 Bermondsey Street, Southwark Unit 6, 133a Rye Lane, Peckham 62 Saint John's Hill, Greater, BatterseaMilo and the Bull London Bridge
168-170 Bermondsey Street, SouthwarkMilo and the Bull Peckham Rye
Unit 6, 133a Rye Lane, PeckhamMilo and the Bull Clapham Junction
62 Saint John's Hill, Greater, Battersea -
Milo and the Bull London Bridge
miloandthebull.com/booklondonbridgeMilo and the Bull Peckham Rye
miloandthebull.comMilo and the Bull Clapham Junction
miloandthebull.com/clapham-junctionMilo and the Bull London Bridge
020-722 838 85Milo and the Bull Peckham Rye
020-722 838 85Milo and the Bull Clapham Junction
020-722 838 85 -
Milo and the Bull London Bridge Milo and the Bull Peckham Rye Milo and the Bull Clapham Junction
The wheels on the bus go round and round
The London Transport Museum, conveniently located in Covent Garden, hosts weekly singing, stories, and crafts workshops for little ones under five years. Spanning 15 minutes of crafts and half an hour of interactive singing and storytelling, these activities are designed in collaboration with the educational organisation Artburst and feature timeless transport-themed toddler hits such as “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round.”
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The Piazza, Covent Garden
- Website • 0343-222 50 00
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It's in the name
Babylon Park is a space-themed amusement park in Camden, perfect for visitors of all ages, from toddlers to adults. Little ones and their carers can enjoy a variety of attractions, including blasting off into space aboard the Alien Ship, riding the train convoy, going around on the kiddie Ferris wheel, exploring the baby-friendly Gymboree, and more.
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8 Castlehaven Road, Camden Town
- Website • 020-881 900 44
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