BEST LONDON ATTRACTIONS FOR 5-12 YEAR OLDS

The Capital's Top Things to do with Kids as Nominated by YOU in the Time Well Spent Awards 2025

London excels at banishing the "I'm bored" groan from the mouths of its children, with a gaggle of extrardinary attractions - many of which are free.

But which are your top picks? It's a tough job, but our readers have boldly taken on the challenge with the following nominations.

The ultimate winner of London's best attraction for 5-12 year olds will be announced in August.

____________________________

Paddington Bear Experience

Read our review

There is no greater escapism than leaping into the perfect, joyous London of The Paddington Bear Experience, where the biggest life troubles revolve around a lack of oranges for the Marmalade Festival.

The immersive, theatrical experience is forensically faithful to the three much-loved Paddington films, with a series of actors, special effects and magical sets inspired by the franchise’s iconic locations, across 26,000 square feet of Southbank’s County Hall taking you on an adventure from Paddingto Station, through the Brown's iconic house, onto Peru and culminating in the big Marmalade Festival.

The Paddington Bear™ Experience, London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB

The Science Museum

Read our review

There’s a huge difference between reading about the world and experiencing it. And that’s what the Science Museum does so powerfully - big and little guests can see, smell, hear and touch these wonders, leaving the museum to head back into a world that feels bigger, more extraordinary and worth caring for.

It's brimming with free (and paid) galleries, events, activites, and exhibitions and particular hits are the excellent Wonderlab and Power Up interactive galleries.

Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD

Natural History Museum

This world famous museum is free and bulging with 80 million specimens, from dinosaur skeletons, to a jaw-dropping life-sized blue whale model, giraffes and gorillas. Kids love its interactive learning opportunities, from earthquake simulators, an animatronic T-Rex you can stomp with and the extraordinary Visions of Nature, Mixed Reality show, to explore the natural world in 2125.

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD

The Young V&A

The UK’s first museum designed by and for 0-14 year olds is FREE (woo) and packed with interactive and hands-on activities for kids and families.Highlights of the £13m revamp include colourful, sensory playscapes, including an ‘Imagination Playground’ construction zone, a performance and storytelling stage and sandpit.

The museum has been shaped around childrens' interests to encourage playful learning and spark their imaginations. Three galleries, Play, Imagine and Design, help children build the skills and creative confidence they need to thrive, alongside inspiring exhibitions, like the current Making Egypt show.

Young V&A, Bethnal Green, Tower Hamlets, Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA

Madame Tussauds

A stalwart of the capital, this destination was particularly popular with our parents of older children, who recognised most of the celebrities and political and historical figures.

Highlights for kids include Shrek, Tinkerbell, an ET you can sit on a bike with, the animatronic King Kong and Star Wars and superhero sections. Older children (8+) can also have their hand made from wax, as a fabulous memento.

Madame Tussauds, Marylebone Rd, London NW1 5LR

Warner Bros Studio Tour London

This received a gaggle of nominations from parents of little wizards and witches, who can explore original sets, animatronic creatures and breathtaking special effects. Along the way, you’ll enjoy interactive activities, like the opportunity to ‘fly’ a broomstick, try a frothy cup of Butterbeer, board the Hogwarts Express and step into iconic locations like Diagon Alley and The Great Hall.

Warner Bros Studio Tour London. Studio Tour Drive Leavesden, WD25 7LR

Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue

Read our review

The European premiere of the new Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue invites fans of all ages to team up and become heroes, rescuing a village under siege from zombies, in an interactive adventure through seven Minecraft zones.

Adventurers are given glowing, vibrating and colour-changing orbs to gather vital ingredients for a life saving potion to save villagers; battle blocky Creepers, and craft buildings.

The high octane quest has made quite the impression on our readers, with a highlight being a real-life “the floor is lava” game, leaping across molten magma to reach the fort.

Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue. Corner Corner, Maritime Street, London, SE16 7LL

Kedi Studio

Our review

This innovative art studio welcomes all ages and skill levels to enjoy the thrill and freedom of creative expression in their colourful Splat Room.

They provide the protective smock and shoes, stretched canvas and paints and kids provide the creativity - splashing, splattering, spraying, and throwing paint - in exactly the way they’re not allowed at home - to create their masterpiece, ready to take home in a custom box.

Kedi Studio, Arch 91 Tiverton St, London SE1 6FX

Chislehurst Caves

There are 22 miles of subterranean history and mystery for families to explore, in this labyrinth of tunnels.

Kids enjoy the thrill of grabbing a lamp for an underground adventure, learning about its amazing past, from the Stone Age, Romans and Saxons right up to the Second World War when the caves became one of the largest air raid shelters in the country.

Chislehurst Caves, Caveside Cl, Old Hill, Chislehurst BR7 5NL

Horrible Histories: Terrible Thames

This fabulously revolting, hour-long trip up the Thames omits the dry, boring bits of London's history, and brings the infinitely more fun, dark, gory and naughty bits to life.

There are fart jokes, singing and tales of historical characters like King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn, Julius Caesar, Queen Boudicca, and Jack the Ripper which delights kids from five and up.

Terrible Thames, Tower Bridge Quay, St Katharine's Way, London E1W 1LD

Centre of the Cell

Deliciously disgusting and sneakily educational centre in a futuristic, light-studded pod suspended above the laboratories of the Blizard Institute in Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Children can learn about the heart, teeth or senses, see scientists at work and enjoy their delightfully vile ‘Snot, Sick and Scabs’ session.

Centre of the Cell, 4 Newark St, London E1 2AT