In the future in London with youngsters who love historical past

Stroll down any avenue in London and the echoes of town’s previous are throughout. With a settlement alongside the Thames for effectively over 2,000 years, the Roman settlement of Londinium has left its traces to seek out as we speak – and that’s solely the beginning of what you possibly can see throughout someday in London with youngsters who love historical past.

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Enterprise again to Roman occasions with remnants of outdated partitions and the Mithraeum temple, whose first worshippers set foot right here within the third century AD. Round 900 years later, the Normans set their stamp on town with the White Tower, the primary a part of the Tower of London.

Tudors, Stuarts and Georgians adopted of their wake, an extended line of kings, queens, traditions and ceremonies which make town an ideal place to go to with youngsters who love historical past. 

London is residence to among the world’s biggest museums as effectively, with collections from civilisations world wide in addition to displays on town itself.  In my second itinerary for someday in London with youngsters – try my strategies for animal-lovers right here – I’ve picked among the child-friendly highlights to step again into the previous.

With actions, challenges and video games, in addition to excursions, that is as removed from a dry, dusty classroom historical past lesson as you possibly can think about, with concepts for pre-schoolers in addition to older youngsters.

Frankly, this was one thing of a mammoth put up… and the realisation that there was no method I may match each possibility in for history-loving youngsters, so I’ve picked among the finest and my favourites. As ever, I’m together with recommendations on how a lot time to spend, to work out how a lot you possibly can moderately match into someday in a metropolis the dimensions of London, and strategies for varied budgets.

For extra concepts on how to economize on days out in London with youngsters, try my prime suggestions

In the future in London with youngsters who love historical past

Don’t miss: The Tower of London

Maybe my very own favorite place to go to in London with youngsters, the Tower has been royal residence and feared jail, it has seen rebel and the execution of queens, it homes the crown jewels and was as soon as residence to a menagerie of unique animals.

At the moment, the ravens hopping across the inexperienced include their very own legend whereas the Beefeaters of their superb uniforms are the guides to introduce you to lots of of years of historical past.

How lengthy: Permit round half a day – the free Beefeater excursions take an hour, and chances are you’ll effectively must queue to see the Crown Jewels, with an hour really useful for these too. You could possibly spend even longer however youthful youngsters’ consideration spans would possibly wane earlier than you’ve run out of issues to see.

Do: Flip up at opening and head straight to the Crown Jewels earlier than the queues get too lengthy. And be sure you obtain the Time Travellers app with digital missions for teenagers.

Plan forward for one particular additional – it’s nonetheless attainable to watch the Ceremony of the Keys earlier than the Tower is locked at 10pm each evening, which is claimed to be the oldest navy ceremony on this planet, instituted by Edward III. Whereas tickets are free (aside from an admin payment), restricted quantity imply you’ll must snap them up as quickly as they change into obtainable.

Try my expertise of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with youngsters

How a lot? Tickets price from £35.80 for adults in case you purchase on-line, from £17.90 for teenagers. There could also be hourly time slots at school holidays however in any other case you possibly can arrive everytime you need. You’ll nonetheless need to queue for safety and a bag test however you possibly can skip the ticket queue by reserving on-line.

In case you declare Common Credit score, there are additionally a restricted variety of £1 entry tickets which have to be booked prematurely (and also you’ll must convey proof of eligibility while you arrive).

In case you get Historic Royal Palaces membership – from £60 for one grownup and as much as six youngsters – you additionally access 5 different palaces, together with Kensington Palace and Hampton Court docket Palace.

For extra royal locations in London to go to with youngsters, try my decide of the very best, from palaces to castles and extra

Uncover town: The London Museum

The place higher to find London’s historical past than a museum devoted to it? Not least to be taught the truth that as soon as upon a time, hippos lived in Trafalgar Sq..

EDIT: The museum is now quickly closed till reopening in its new web site at Smithfield in 2026 however you possibly can nonetheless go to the sister museum, The London Museum Docklands, which has an ideal play space for youthful youngsters and focuses on London’s historical past as a put up – learn extra right here

Going again to 450,000 BC, the everlasting galleries hint London’s historical past proper from prehistory to these Romans, medieval occasions, by way of plague and hearth, to go of an Empire and multicultural current.

There are additionally particular exhibitions – 2018 has one on the suffragettes, in addition to Roman cemeteries and a gruesomely fascinating chunk of the Whitechapel fatberg, a 130 tonne sewer blockage. Bleurgh.

How lengthy: There’s loads to cowl so that you’re prone to get museum fatigue earlier than you discover each little bit of the gathering – as there’s no entry cost, you could possibly cease in for a number of quick visits in case you’re within the space, however enable a few hours in any other case.

Do: Put it aside for the weekend – usually quieter than London’s different museums, particularly because of its Metropolis location, Sundays is usually a good day for a go to. Be careful for the museum’s deliberate transfer to Smithfield, the place it’s set to double its dimension.

How a lot? Completely free.

For my full set of recommendations on visiting London’s museums with toddlers and youngsters, try my final information

Wet day: The British Museum

The mummies are most likely probably the most well-known displays for households on the British Museum, among the many museum’s intensive Egyptology assortment, however you’ll discover items from misplaced civilisations galore, together with Historical Greece, Saxon England, Easter Island and African empires.

In case you’re feeling overwhelmed, the 12 highlights for teenagers is an efficient begin.

How lengthy: You could possibly spend all day within the museum and nonetheless barely scratch the floor – however because it’s free, it’s additionally simple to pop in for an hour. One thing in between is good, a few hours to discover the areas which significantly tempt your youngsters, with out leading to museum fatigue.

Have a look on-line earlier than you go… there are 4 million gadgets within the on-line assortment alone which supplies you an thought of simply how a lot you could possibly uncover. 

Do: Try the exercise choices for teenagers (additionally obtainable to obtain earlier than you go to). There are less complicated concepts for trails for under-fives based mostly on color and quantity in addition to choices for older youngsters to discover.

Skip the queues by going within the again door – try my different suggestions right here – and plan a while outside afterwards, Households-only Coram’s Fields, with its play areas, isn’t distant for some contemporary air afterwards. And you’ll skip the queues to the bathrooms within the basement too: there are additionally services close to the Asian galleries as effectively.

How A lot? Free – though there’s a price for particular exhibitions. Tickets have to be prebooked.

Day journey: Hampton Court docket Palace

From the recreated medieval kitchens to the well-known maze, this Tudor palace is a captivating glimpse into royal life – Henry VIII famously acquired Hampton Court docket from Cardinal Wolsey, and the ghost of Catherine Howard, his fifth Queen, is claimed to hang-out one gallery after a failed try to achieve the king from right here.

Inside, the palace rooms are nonetheless embellished as they’d have been at totally different levels of historical past, there are treasure hunts for teenagers and you’ll even decide up miniature velvet robes to discover in model.

In addition to the formal gardens, there’s the outdated ‘actual’ tennis courtroom, the well-known hedge maze and the magic backyard play space based mostly on legendary beasts.

How lengthy? Whichever method you journey, the palace is a little bit method outdoors west London so you could think about time to get there – there’s loads to occupy when you get there, so it’s value making a day of it.

Do: Trains run from Waterloo in central London to Hampton station which is only some minutes stroll away from the palace. In summer season, boats do run to Hampton as effectively, though it’s not probably the most sensible possibility – it takes round two hours from Richmond, and 4 from Westminster, though it’s a incredible technique to arrive.

Be careful for particular occasions – there’s nearly all the time one thing on throughout college holidays, plus ice skating round Christmas however chances are you’ll wish to keep away from visiting across the well-known flower present because it’s even busier.

How a lot? Tickets price from £28 for adults and £14 for youngsters in case you purchase on-line prematurely. The gardens have free entry on a handful of days every year, though that doesn’t get entry into the palace, maze or Magic Backyard.

In case you declare Common Credit score, there are additionally a restricted variety of £1 entry tickets which have to be booked prematurely (and also you’ll must convey proof of eligibility while you arrive).

In case you get Historic Royal Palaces membership – from £60 for one grownup and as much as six youngsters – you additionally access 5 different palaces, together with Kensington Palace and the Tower of London.

For older youngsters: The Homes of Parliament

Mixing the prospect to stroll in historical past and see the place historical past continues to be being made, the tour of the Homes of Parliament – inside what’s nonetheless formally often called the Palace of Westminster – is fascinating.

The choices embody a self-guided tour with audio information which lasts simply over an hour, with a model aimed toward youngsters aged as much as 11, in addition to barely longer guided excursions, aimed toward youngsters aged 5+. There are typically particular household guided excursions as effectively, though these aren’t at present operating.

In addition to visiting the Commons Chamber and the Lords Chamber, you possibly can stroll by way of the Central Foyer and discover Westminster Corridor which is sort of 1,000 years outdated – constructed by England’s second Norman king, and nonetheless housing a medieval desk the place 17 totally different monarchs would have eaten. 

How lengthy? The guided tour lasts 90 minutes, whereas the audio information takes 60-75 minutes.

Do: Test the dates and guide prematurely – you possibly can go to with an audio information on Saturdays, some college holidays and most weekdays when Parliament isn’t in session (most of August, and for a few weeks in September and October, as an example).

The guided excursions function on related dates however are barely extra restricted. The Elizabeth Tower, residence to Large Ben, can be now open with restricted excursions operating – just for older youngsters, these have to be booked prematurely and also you do have to be fast if you wish to snap up tickets..

How a lot? The audio information prices £27 for adults, with one baby aged 5 to fifteen free with every paying grownup (they do nonetheless want a booked ticket). Further youngsters price from £10. A guided tour prices £34 for adults, £18 for youngsters aged 5-15, with youngsters beneath 5 free – with restricted slots, it’s strongly really useful to guide prematurely.

Dwelling historical past: The Altering of the Guard

Historical past needn’t imply wandering round outdated buildings or taking a look at even older displays – particularly when you possibly can watch a standard ceremony, because the King’s Guard adjustments.

The Family Troops have guarded Buckingham Palace since Queen Victoria moved in in 1837, though they’ve guarded the monarch and royal palaces since 1660. Watching the guards march of their vibrant pink uniforms and well-known bearskin hats, all with a full navy band enjoying is a really memorable sight.

In case you’re visiting between July and September, you possibly can guide to go to the State rooms on the palace afterwards too. There’s a multimedia tour for beneath 12s, though it’s value figuring out there are not any buggies allowed, restricted bathrooms and no consuming inside (so I actually wouldn’t advise it with toddlers!)

Try my suggestions for visiting Buckingham Palace with youngsters

How lengthy? The ceremony itself runs from round 10.45am for round 45 minutes – the handover from the Previous Guard to the New Guard takes place at 11am, though you possibly can see the guards beginning to kind up by St James’s palace from 10.30am and the brand new guard arriving from Wellington Barracks.

Doublecheck that it’s happening as ordinary – though you possibly can usually watch the ceremony on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, it’s sometimes cancelled for main occasions within the capital. And if it’s pouring, don’t courageous the rain to see them: it’s usually cancelled in dangerous climate. 

If you wish to see the State Rooms, enable round two to a few hours for that, and also you’ll want a timed ticket.

Do: Get there early to have an opportunity of seeing something. Watched by thousands and thousands yearly, turning up at 10.45 (and even 10.30) will discover crowds already lining the limitations – and even in case you’re proper by Buckingham palace, you would possibly wrestle to see a lot by way of the gates. I’d advocate reserving one of many free excursions (pay what you need) to get the very best views.

In any other case with youthful youngsters, get a style by heading to St James’s Palace or Wellington Barracks, on Birdcage Stroll at round 10.15, the place they’ll be forming up and music shall be enjoying whereas the troops are inspected. Or watch the Aid march up The Mall simply after 11am to alleviate the sentries who’ve been standing guard through the handover. 

You can even watch the King’s Life Guard change on Horse Guards Parade, which tends to be much less busy – 11am daily, besides Sunday when it takes place at 10am

How a lot? Free to look at.

For extra concepts of free issues to do in London with youngsters, try my prime picks

Better of the remaining – London with youngsters who love historical past

Take a Horrible Thames cruise – created by the individuals behind Horrible Histories, you get a whistlestop run by way of London historical past aboard a 45-minute boat journey (April-October, college holidays solely).

Climb aboard the Golden Hinde, a reproduction of the ship with Sir Francis Drake sailed world wide. There are family-friendly excursions in case you fancy pretending you’re an Elizabethan explorer (or pirate) in addition to the prospect to sleep in a single day on the Golden Hinde.

Discover London’s historical past by the river, on the London Museum Docklands – set in a 200-year-old warehouse, it follows commerce and port life from Roman occasions to Canary  Wharf. Try what we thought once we visited.

Return to highschool… on the Ragged Faculty Museum, as soon as the most important free college in London. You may nonetheless sit within the genuine Victorian classroom, you possibly can participate in a lesson on the primary Sunday of the month (restricted numbers), or there are additional actions in vacation occasions.

Uncover toys by way of the ages, on the Younger V&A in east London. Additionally free, you possibly can spot toys, dolls, video games and extra, courting again to the seventeenth century (and play with a number of extra trendy ones).

Play at Lords and Women – each the Nationwide Belief and English Heritage have a string of properties inside London, from Osterley and Ham Home within the west to Eltham Palace within the south east and Marble Hill Home within the south west.

Take a bus tour – you possibly can select the open-top vacationer buses to see among the capital’s historic buildings, together with Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s, plus Buckingham Palace. Or select your route rigorously, and sit on prime of a double-decker to spy them for much less – buses 15 and 26 are an excellent begin. Try my picks of the very best bus excursions in London with youngsters

*First printed 2018, final up to date 2025*

PIN FOR LATER: ONE DAY IN LONDON WITH KIDS WHO LOVE HISTORY

Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee

Tower picture copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy of Depositphotos 

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