Things to do in London with babies

Things to do in London with babies

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.

In this guide
  1. The best things to do with babies and toddlers in London
    1. Young V&A – By children, for children
    2. Unicorn Theatre – The baby show must go on
    3. Natural History Museum – Storytelling adventure for toddlers
    4. British Museum – All sorts of things to do for babies
    5. National Maritime Museum – Fun for the whole family
    6. Cutty Sark – Different adventures for toddlers every week
    7. Picturehouse Cinemas – Movie night with the kids
    8. Flip Out – Dedicated soft play area
    9. Science Museum – Get an early start on that PhD
    10. Tate – Tate for tots
    11. Inflata Nation – Bouncing babies in North London
    12. Royal Albert Hall – Storytelling and music sessions for toddlers
    13. Milo and the Bull – Baby-friendly gym classes
    14. London Transport Museum – The wheels on the bus go round and round
    15. Babylon Park – It's in the name

The best things to do with babies and toddlers in London

Top baby activities in London

Young V&A

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.

Unicorn Theatre

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.

Natural History Museum – Baby activities
Natural History Museum
 – Baby activities
Natural History Museum – Baby activities
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum – Baby activities
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum – Baby activities
Natural History Museum
 – Baby activities
Natural History Museum – Baby activities
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum – Baby activities
Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum

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.

British Museum

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.

National Maritime Museum

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.

Cutty Sark

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.

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
Bromley Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/bromley-picturehouse
Clapham Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/clapham-picturehouse
Crouch End Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/crouch-end-picturehouse/information
East Dulwich Picturehouse & Café
picturehouses.com/cinema/east-dulwich
Greenwich Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/greenwich-picturehouse
Hackney Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/hackney-picturehouse
Ealing Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/ealing-picturehouse
Finsbury Park Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/finsbury-park
Fulham Road Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/fulham-road-picturehouse
Ritzy Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/the-ritzy
West Norwood Library & Picturehouse
picturehouses.com/cinema/west-norwood-picturehouse
Bromley Picturehouse
@bromleypicturehouse
Clapham Picturehouse
@claphampicturehouse
Crouch End Picturehouse
@crouchendph
East Dulwich Picturehouse & Café
@eastdulwichpicturehouse
Greenwich Picturehouse
@greenwich_picturehouse
Hackney Picturehouse
@hackneypicturehouse
Ealing Picturehouse
@ealingpicturehouse
Finsbury Park Picturehouse
@finsburyparkph
Fulham Road Picturehouse
@fulhamroad_ph
Ritzy Picturehouse
@ritzy_cinema
West Norwood Library & Picturehouse
@westnorwoodpicturehouse
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

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.

  • 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 St
    Bromley Picturehouse
    242 High St, Bromley
    Clapham Picturehouse
    76 Venn St Clapham, Clapham
    Crouch End Picturehouse
    Rosebery House, Haringey
    East Dulwich Picturehouse & Café
    116 Lordship Ln
    Greenwich Picturehouse
    180 Greenwich High Rd, Greenwich
    Hackney Picturehouse
    270 Mare St, Hackney
    Ealing Picturehouse
    Unit 8, Filmworks Walk, Ealing
    Finsbury Park Picturehouse
    17 City North Place
    Fulham Road Picturehouse
    142 Fulham Rd., Kensington
    Ritzy Picturehouse
    Coldharbour Lane, Brixton
    West Norwood Library & Picturehouse
    1 Norwood High St
  • Bromley Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/bromley-picturehouse
    Clapham Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/clapham-picturehouse
    Crouch End Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/crouch-end-picturehouse/information
    East Dulwich Picturehouse & Café
    picturehouses.com/cinema/east-dulwich
    Greenwich Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/greenwich-picturehouse
    Hackney Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/hackney-picturehouse
    Ealing Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/ealing-picturehouse
    Finsbury Park Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/finsbury-park
    Fulham Road Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/fulham-road-picturehouse
    Ritzy Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/the-ritzy
    West Norwood Library & Picturehouse
    picturehouses.com/cinema/west-norwood-picturehouse
    Bromley Picturehouse
    020-732 626 49
    Clapham Picturehouse
    08-719 025 747
    Crouch End Picturehouse
    08-719 025 747
    East Dulwich Picturehouse & Café
    08-719 025 747
    Greenwich Picturehouse
    08-719 025 747
    Hackney Picturehouse
    08-719 025 747
    Finsbury Park Picturehouse
    08-719 025 747
    Fulham Road Picturehouse
    08-719 025 747
    Ritzy Picturehouse
    08-719 025 747
    West 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
Flip Out Brent Cross – Baby activities
Flip Out Brent Cross
Flip Out Brent Cross – Baby activities
Flip Out Brent Cross
Flip Out Brent Cross – Baby activities
Flip Out Brent Cross
Flip Out Brent Cross – Baby activities
Flip Out Brent Cross
Flip Out Brent Cross – Baby activities
Flip Out Brent Cross
Flip Out Brent Cross – Baby activities
Flip Out Brent Cross

Flip Out

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.

Science Museum

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.

Tate Modern Tate Britain
Tate Modern
tate.org.uk
Tate Britain
tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain
Tate Modern Tate Britain

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.

  • Bankside, Southwark Millbank, Westminster
    Tate Modern
    Bankside, Southwark
    Tate Britain
    Millbank, Westminster
  • Tate Modern
    tate.org.uk
    Tate Britain
    tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain
    Tate Modern
    020-788 788 88
    Tate Britain
    020-788 788 88
  • Tate Modern Tate Britain

Inflata Nation

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.

 – Baby activities
 – Baby activities
Royal Albert Hall – Baby activities
Royal Albert Hall
 – Baby activities
 – Baby activities
Royal Albert Hall – Baby activities
Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall

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.

Milo and the Bull London Bridge Milo and the Bull Peckham Rye Milo and the Bull Clapham Junction
Milo and the Bull London Bridge
miloandthebull.com/booklondonbridge
Milo and the Bull Peckham Rye
miloandthebull.com
Milo and the Bull Clapham Junction
miloandthebull.com/clapham-junction
Milo and the Bull London Bridge Milo and the Bull Peckham Rye Milo and the Bull Clapham Junction

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.

  • 168-170 Bermondsey Street, Southwark Unit 6, 133a Rye Lane, Peckham 62 Saint John's Hill, Greater, Battersea
    Milo and the Bull London Bridge
    168-170 Bermondsey Street, Southwark
    Milo and the Bull Peckham Rye
    Unit 6, 133a Rye Lane, Peckham
    Milo and the Bull Clapham Junction
    62 Saint John's Hill, Greater, Battersea
  • Milo and the Bull London Bridge
    miloandthebull.com/booklondonbridge
    Milo and the Bull Peckham Rye
    miloandthebull.com
    Milo and the Bull Clapham Junction
    miloandthebull.com/clapham-junction
    Milo and the Bull London Bridge
    020-722 838 85
    Milo and the Bull Peckham Rye
    020-722 838 85
    Milo 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

London Transport Museum

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.”

Babylon Park

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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Editors

At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.