Need to know the most effective London museums for younger youngsters? London is a metropolis full of wonderful museums, however many individuals who go to London with younger youngsters are shocked to find out how child-friendly they’re. On this information, we’ll inform you all our favourite museums in London for younger youngsters, exhibitions and points of interest it is best to look out for and way more!
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Museums are typically one in every of my favourite issues to do in London with youngsters and a minimum of one is at all times on our household London itinerary irrespective of how lengthy we’re within the capital. They’re additionally nice locations to go to when it is raining, which occurs all too typically in London, and since London has many free museums, they’re additionally a really low-cost time out.
Listed below are all our favourite museums in London to go to with younger youngsters!
The most effective museums for younger youngsters in London
Pure historical past museum with babies
My little son is completely obsessive about dinosaurs so his favourite museum in London is unquestionably the Pure Historical past Museum.
A spotlight for younger youngsters visiting museums should be the dinosaur gallery which incorporates many dinosaur fossils and skeletons, together with an Iguadon skeleton, a Triceratops and a T Rex head.
Nevertheless, in case your baby is nervous, it is price noting that this gallery additionally contains an animatronic t rex that may scare some little ones. If you’re fearful about seeing this along with your baby, you possibly can take a path to the gallery that avoids this space.
My little one additionally likes to attend Andy’s class. That is the watch featured within the favourite youngsters’s CBeebies Present, Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures and Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures. If you enter the museum from the primary entrance of the NHM, you will note a big skeleton of a blue whale in entrance of you. From there flip left in direction of the cafe and you can see the clock within the archway between the primary lobby and the cafe.
Along with the dinosaur-related reveals, the little ones may even benefit from the Animal Gallery and revel in lunch on the T Rex Grill which additionally options some smaller animatronics.
Simply do not forget that when you do not need to face a protracted queue – and who needs to queue with babies, then you definately’ll want a pre-booked time ticket. They’re nonetheless free, however should be finished upfront.
Finest recommendation: If you happen to’re visiting London in December, I like to recommend combining a go to to the Pure Historical past Museum with an ice skating journey in your London Christmas itinerary!
London Transport Museum
If you ask folks what the most effective museum in London is for younger youngsters, the London Transport Museum is usually talked about.
That is particularly nice for younger youngsters who’re inquisitive about transport as you possibly can see and even board historic automobiles together with London buses and underground trains. My little ones’ favourite space on this museum is the All Aboard play space which has mini automobiles in addition to a big altering space.
The museum is positioned in Covent Backyard so it may simply be mixed right into a family-friendly itinerary with different points of interest within the space.
However the one draw back to this museum is that it is truly one of many few museums on this listing that pay for admission. Entrance charges to the museum (on the time of writing):
- £24 for adults
- £23 for concessions
- Below 17 free
which makes it fairly an costly time out so not for these wanting a household journey to London on a finances. Nevertheless, it is also price noting that each one tickets are 12-month annual passes, so when you dwell regionally, this is usually a cut price.
Additionally as an added bonus, it is price looking for the London Transport Museum’s open day thrice a 12 months (often in April, July and September) at their depot in East Acton. The depot is filled with automobiles not on show in the primary museums that little ones will like to discover.
Museum of Science
The Science Museum is positioned subsequent to the Pure Historical past Museum, so it may be mixed for a really busy day filled with museums when you like. Personally, my little ones want the Pure Historical past Museum, however the Science Museum is an in depth second.
The Science Museum is a conventional museum, not a science heart, so not all reveals are crammed with sensible and interactive reveals. Due to this, not all galleries will likely be fascinating for little ones. Nevertheless, if you’re visiting the Science Museum with babies, we suggest going straight all the way down to the basement to the backyard.
The Backyard Space is a play space designed for youngsters from 3 to six years previous. This space is filled with hands-on experiences that children, particularly toddlers, will love. Be warned although, there are lots of water video games on this space and the museum not affords waterproof aprons. So be sure you deliver one with you or just change after they find yourself on this space.
Word: One other hands-on exhibit space on this museum is the Wonderlab, but it surely’s undoubtedly not for younger youngsters. I took my toddler after we visited with my older daughter, nevertheless if you’re visiting with younger youngsters by yourself I’d keep away from this space as it’s merely not meant for them.
Finest recommendation: the museums in South Kensington are very busy through the college holidays. So if you’re visiting with babies slightly than older college youngsters, we suggest you attempt to keep away from holidays and weekends and it will likely be a lot much less busy.
Nationwide Military Museum
A navy museum may not be the primary place you consider visiting with younger youngsters, however the Nationwide Military Museum in London is a good place to go to with younger youngsters. Just like the Science Museum, I would not say all of the galleries are kid-friendly, however the Playbase 22 space is completely incredible for little youngsters.
Playbase 22 is definitely a comfortable play space that’s designed for youngsters underneath 8 and there may be even a particular zone for infants, so even if you’re visiting with infants, there’s a zone for them.
Please be aware: Though the Nationwide Military Museum is free to go to, there’s a cost for Playbase. The present charges are:
On the road:
Kids 1-8 years: £6.25
Kids as much as 1 12 months: FREE*
Adults: FREE
A reserving charge of £1.00 applies per on-line transaction
Postal Museum
The Postal Museum in London is surprisingly fascinating for younger youngsters. There are two areas that my baby significantly enjoys, and they’re:
- a experience on the mail practice that runs from the museum and
- Sorted exhibition.
The Sorted exhibition is a play house within the Postal Museum, once more designed with youngsters underneath 8 in thoughts. Additionally, when you youngsters are followers of the Jolly Postman e-book, there may be additionally a clue based mostly on this e-book.
Please Word: the postal museum just isn’t one of many free issues to do in London. Tickets price £16 for adults and £9 for youngsters if purchased upfront.
Tate Fashionable
I like visiting Tate Fashionable with infants and toddlers as I discover it to be one of many best museums in London to go to with a pram. I additionally love the truth that this museum encourages younger youngsters to be younger by taking part in video games and encourages them to attract within the Tate Draw exhibition.
This museum additionally has a complete host of household occasions all year long.
Younger V&A
The Younger V & A is the most recent museum devoted to youngsters and younger youngsters in London. Beforehand referred to as the Museum of Childhood, it not too long ago reopened in early 2023, and the whole museum was designed with youngsters in thoughts. The primary areas of the gallery are referred to as: Think about, Play and Design and have many studying experiences for youngsters from toddlers upwards.
The museum additionally caters nicely for folks with particular wants and autism with a quiet house.
Horniman Museum and Galleries
My little ones love the Horniman Museum as a result of it is greater than only a museum. Whereas there are glorious galleries inside with a lot of studying reveals, my little ones particularly love the aquarium and butterfly home which might be additionally on web site.
Please be aware: though admission to the museum is free, there may be a further cost for the aquarium and butterfly home.
London Docks Museum
If you’re visiting this museum with a small little one, it’s best to go straight to the Mudlarks Gallery. That is an interactive comfortable play space within the museum that’s designed for younger youngsters.
Entrance to the museum and playground is free.
Museum of London
The Museum of London was once an important place to go to with younger youngsters, however is presently closed for full renovation. As soon as the museum reopens, we’ll replace this part with the newest info on the most effective space to go to with younger youngsters.
British Museum
Personally, my youngsters don’t get pleasure from visiting the British Museum as a result of it isn’t designed for little ones. Due to this fact, I do probably not suggest visiting with babies. Nevertheless, I do know many guests to London have seen the Rosetta Stone on their London bucket listing.
So when you determine you need to go to the British Museum with younger youngsters, be sure you go to the Households Desk within the Nice Court docket to choose up one of many Museum Explorer Path or the Little Toes Explorer Path for underneath 5s.
What’s your favourite London museum for younger youngsters?