You’re by no means wanting concepts to entertain your loved ones through the daytime, however discovering issues to do within the night in London with youngsters may be surprisingly restricted at instances.
comprises affiliate hyperlinks*
Whereas youthful youngsters are prone to be tucked up in mattress or quick asleep in a buggy, there’s nonetheless a giant chunk of time to fill for older major age youngsters, tweens and youthful teenagers who positively aren’t going to be planning an early evening however aren’t sufficiently old for some issues geared to older teenagers.
So once you’re planning what to do in London after 6pm, I’ve picked out 24 of the very best issues to do within the night in London with youngsters – and tips about the apparently child-friendly night actions which aren’t pretty much as good as you’d assume.
Head to the theatre
London’s theatre is among the many greatest on the earth, and also you received’t be wanting family-friendly reveals to look at, from big-name productions like The Lion King, Matilda and Six to Depraved, Mrs Doubtfire and Again to the Future, to call a number of.
I’m a giant fan of the TodayTix web site and app for reductions on tickets, together with rush tickets and lotteries – together with £40 seats for Harry Potter And The Cursed Little one, which doesn’t simply fill your night however your entire afternoon as nicely.
When you’re already in central London, the TKTS ticket sales space in Leicester Sq. is open day by day (Monday-Saturday from 10.30am to 6pm, Sundays 12-4.30pm) – the one Official London Theatre ticket sales space, it ought to all the time have the very best offers of the day. When the tickets are gone, they’re gone although. There’s additionally the possibility to see all of the offers on the TKTS web site when you’re not close to Leicester Sq..
Ceremony of the Keys
Head to the Tower of London after darkish and you’ll watch historical past in motion on the historic Ceremony of the Keys, some of the uncommon issues to do in London with youngsters.
Again within the 14th century, Edward III was livid to find he might stroll into the Tower of London unchallenged – and decreed the fortress must be locked at sundown and unlocked at dawn from that time on. And the custom continues to at the present time.
With a view to see it, you’ll have to prebook – tickets can be found from the beginning of the month and get snapped up very quick. The go to begins at 9.30pm and runs for round 35 minutes (latecomers will not be allowed in, so it’s value getting there a bit early as there are additionally safety checks).
Take a look at my expertise of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with youngsters
Experience the London Eye
One of many metropolis’s hottest sights, the London Eye can also be a unbelievable night expertise with youngsters, as you watch town’s lights start to change on as nightfall falls.
Take a night “flight” over the capital because the solar units and you’ll see some unbelievable views of iconic landmarks like Massive Ben, the Homes of Parliament, and the River Thames, illuminated for the evening.
In summer season, the London Eye stays open till round 8:30pm though when you’re visiting throughout winter, sundown is far earlier, at round 4pm in December so you will have extra choices to look at town lit up. You may verify the sundown instances for London right here.
View from The Shard
Whereas not all of London’s viewpoints permit under-16s to go to within the night, the View From the Shard is family-friendly in any respect hours. The statement deck, which is without doubt one of the tallest within the metropolis, stays open till 10pm newest, relying on the season.
From the highest, you possibly can take pleasure in 360-degree views of the capital, together with well-known websites like Tower Bridge, The Gherkin, and the London Eye, all lit up in opposition to the evening sky. Youngsters will love the interactive telescopes highlighting key sights, whereas teenagers can benefit from the thrilling digital actuality expertise.
When you’re contemplating one other of London’s viewpoints with youngsters, keep in mind that the favored Sky Backyard doesn’t permit kids after 6pm, whereas Horizon 22 closes at 6pm or earlier than so is simply an excellent choice throughout winter. The Backyard at 120 does keep open to 9pm throughout summer season so it’s one other free choice for issues to do after 6pm in London with youngsters
Evening River Cruise
One other nice strategy to see town from a distinct perspective is on a night boat journey alongside the Thames with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Youngsters will love seeing London’s high sights illuminated at evening as you cruise alongside the river.
Soar on at Greenwich and head west till you attain the London Eye (or vice versa), taking in iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral alongside the way in which. Boats run usually till round 10:30pm and youngsters beneath 15 get 50% off the usual fare.
Metropolis Cruises is another choice – the particular evening cruises are often 18+ however you possibly can catch one of many later scheduled sightseeing cruises from Westminster pier to Tower pier, which is able to see the river lit up throughout late autumn and winter.
Evening Bus Tour
For a enjoyable and enjoyable strategy to see London’s landmarks after darkish, hop on an evening bus tour. These open-top buses take you previous a few of the metropolis’s most well-known sights illuminated at evening, together with the Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Piccadilly Circus.
Most bus excursions embody a stay guided commentary that may preserve friends of all ages entertained with fascinating details and enjoyable tales in regards to the metropolis, making it each an academic and thrilling night exercise. Simply keep in mind to wrap up heat when you plan on sitting on the highest flooring.
There’s a alternative of bus routes as nicely – Tootbus has a daily London evening bus tour, in addition to a shorter Christmas lights tour, whereas Golden Excursions additionally runs an evening bus tour.
IFS Cloud Cable Automobile
Take within the sights of East London from above with a journey on the IFS Cloud Cable Automobile (previously Emirates Air Line Cable Automobile), operating till 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9pm the remainder of the week.
The journey takes you 90 metres above the River Thames between Greenwich and the Royal Docks. Alongside the way in which, you possibly can soak up sights like The O2 Enviornment reflecting on the river and the brilliant lights of Canary Wharf.
The journey lasts about 10 minutes, or you possibly can guide a spherical journey for an extended expertise. End in Greenwich and luxuriate in a meal at one of many family-friendly eating places at The O2.
Go to the Outernet
Head to the Outernet subsequent to Tottenham Court docket Highway station, an incredible free digital leisure area which options enormous wraparound digital screens. The most important of its variety in Europe, the screens present a wide range of cutting-edge immersive artwork shows and exhibitions on rotation.
Open into the night, Outernet is a superb cease with youngsters after buying on Oxford Road or earlier than heading down into the West Finish for dinner.
It’s fully free to go to and there’s no have to guide. You may merely simply stroll in and benefit from the unbelievable shows.
Jack the Ripper Tour
For older youngsters serious about horrible historical past, a Jack the Ripper strolling tour is a captivating night exercise in East London, with an entire string to select from.
On an immersive tour, you’ll discover the streets of Whitechapel and comply with within the footsteps of London’s most infamous serial killer. A educated information brings historical past to life with participating tales, details, and pictures from the previous.
Youngsters can examine potential suspects and piece collectively clues shared all through the tour to resolve who they assume dedicated the notorious unsolved murders of 1888.
One of the uncommon is the Jack The Ripper tour from Insurgent Excursions, and quite than specializing in the thriller of the serial killer, appears to be like on the girls who misplaced their lives. Subtitled ‘What About The Ladies’, it goals to inform the victims’ tales, share the truth of life within the East Finish quite than serial killer sensationalism.
Ghost bus tour
Ghost excursions aren’t only for Halloween. Older kids and teenagers can take pleasure in listening to darkish tales from London’s previous on this Ghost Bus Tour, the UK’s solely comedy-horror theatre sightseeing expertise on wheels.
On the 75-minute London bus tour, you’ll go to town’s most well-known sights and listen to tales of murders and hauntings that the majority different excursions miss out on. So whether or not you’re a neighborhood or simply visiting the capital, you’re assured to study one thing new.
You’ll be guided by a stay ‘conductor’, and some thriller friends alongside the way in which, who’re there to verify the interactive tour is a enjoyable, spooky, and memorable expertise for all of the household.
The tour departs from a bus cease on Northumberland Avenue at 19:30 and 21:00 every night – appropriate for kids 5+, though realistically this one’s higher with older youngsters.
Take a look at my overview of the Ghost Bus Tour of London – with youngsters, or with out
Night buying within the West Finish
Deal with that household to a night buying spree in London’s West Finish, with loads of retailers open till late.
Hamleys, town’s oldest and largest toy retailer, is open till 9pm, with seven flooring of toys, video games, and crafts to discover. With loads of interactive shows and hands-on actions, it’s enjoyable to go to even when you don’t purchase something!
After Hamleys, head to Leicester Sq. to take a look at The LEGO Retailer and M&M Retailer, each open till 10pm.
The LEGO Retailer options enormous LEGO fashions of London landmarks, together with a full-sized tube carriage, whereas the M&M Retailer provides 4 flooring of chocolate-filled enjoyable.
Loads of retailers alongside Oxford Road are additionally open till 10pm on weekdays and Saturdays, if you wish to squeeze in some extra retail remedy, or hop on the tube to Westfield White Metropolis or Westfield Stratford, that are each open till 9pm day by day besides Sundays.
Babylon Park London
For a enjoyable night exercise for youths of all ages, head to Babylon Park, a hidden underground amusement park in Camden Market.
The distinctive space-themed park options a wide range of rides and video games. For youthful youngsters, there’s a mini-roller coaster, bumper automobiles, and drop tower, whereas older youngsters and teenagers can benefit from the park’s many arcade and video video games, ability video games, and VR experiences.
The park is open till 8pm on weekdays, 10pm on Saturdays, and 9pm on Sundays. It’s fully free to go to however you’ll have to buy “cash” to benefit from the rides and video games.
For extra issues to do in Camden with youngsters, try my high picks
Indoor mini golf
My daughter is a large fan of mini golf, each the standard out of doors model (enjoyable however not nice for the night when it’s darkish!) and the high-tech indoor choices like Puttshack and Junkyard Golf.
So it’s positively value maintaining a household recreation of mini golf on the record of what to do in London after 6pm – with a number of provisos.
As a result of most indoor programs are adults-only after 7pm, together with each Puttshack and Junkyard Golf’s varied places throughout London – so that you might be able to guide in for a 6pm slot relying on the day, which ought to go away sufficient time to finish your recreation, however you’ll must be out as quickly as you’ve completed.
When you’re seeking to fill an hour earlier than dinner with older youngsters, it’s a enjoyable choice to strive, but it surely definitely received’t fill the entire night (and don’t count on to show up after consuming).
Paradox Museum
The Paradox Museum is a brand new interactive museum in Knightsbridge full of cool optical illusions and immersive displays that play methods in your thoughts and problem your notion of actuality.
It’s a enjoyable night exercise for households in London, with loads of mind-boggling immersive shows and alternatives to snap some quirky household pictures.
The distinctive museum is open till 8:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7pm the remainder of the week. Give your self at the very least 90 minutes to benefit from the many displays.
Warner Bros Harry Potter tour
Though the Warner Bros studios aren’t in London itself, it’s solely a 20-minute practice journey from Euston (plus the shuttle bus from Watford Junction station) to succeed in the location in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, and it stays open to 10pm at weekends.
And once you’re this shut, there’s no means you need to danger lacking this final vacation spot for Harry Potter followers in London – it’s greatest to guide forward as tickets get snapped up nicely upfront, though if daytime tickets are gone, it’s nonetheless one of many enjoyable issues to do in London after 6pm with youngsters, particularly older youngsters.
Permit loads of time to journey broomsticks, drink butterbeer (non-compulsory!), uncover props, see the Hogwarts Categorical, stroll into The Forbidden Forest and watch a dragon rampage by means of Gringotts financial institution.
There are shows galore, and it’s solely once you go to that you just realise the astonishing element and simply how a lot work has gone into every facet, to not point out an array of magical creatures plus background on how the units and animatronics had been created.
Take a look at hippogriff Buckbeak, whose feathers had been added by hand and saved groomed by the Creature Results staff, or work together with Dobby the Home Elf. And when you’ve all the time needed to go to Hogwarts, that is the one place you’ll discover the entire fort.
There are particular occasions all year long, in winter you possibly can uncover Hogwarts within the Snow or a Darkish Arts theme for Halloween, in addition to different momentary exhibitions.
When you’re searching for resorts close to Harry Potter Studios London, try my high picks, or if you favor to guide tickets with a coach switch from London, click on right here or direct through Golden Excursions
Road performers in Covent Backyard
Covent Backyard is one among London’s high neighbourhoods to go to with youngsters always of the day. The big central piazza is all the time full of proficient road performers who entertain the crowds nicely into the night.
From quirky human statues to musicians, acrobats, magicians, and comedians, road performers present enjoyable leisure for youths and adults of all ages. They’re free to look at, but it surely’s all the time good to depart a tip when you loved their efficiency.
After the present, you possibly can discover close by retailers, seize a chew to eat, or just benefit from the space’s vibrant power. There are sometimes pop-up occasions going down, so it’s a enjoyable space to discover year-round.
Wander the South Financial institution
The River Thames is the guts of town, so a stroll alongside the river is all the time among the best issues to do in London with youngsters – don’t simply rush from A to B, save a while to find the quirky particulars, take in the river views at sundown and illuminated at evening, and benefit from the road performers.
Stroll from Westminster Bridge to Southwark Bridge, and there are views of landmarks just like the Homes of Parliament and St Paul’s, in addition to strolling previous the London Eye.
Preserve strolling in the direction of the Oxo Tower (whose home windows cleverly obtained across the prohibition on promoting) to Gabriel’s Wharf the place the financial institution widens and also you get an excellent view in the direction of Blackfriars Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral, in addition to some pretty locations to eat, earlier than reaching the Tate Fashionable and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre.
When you do preserve going a little bit additional and you’ll see the Golden Hinde, a duplicate of the ship by which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe, plus the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
There are sometimes altering momentary artwork installations, even an city seaside in summer season, plus festivals and occasions all year long – try this stroll alongside the South Financial institution for extra inspiration, in addition to these highlights to identify.
Take a more in-depth have a look at the lampposts as you head alongside The Queen’s Stroll and the riverside too – often called dolphin lamp requirements, they’re primarily based on creatures on the Fontana del Nettuno within the Piazza del Popolo in Rome.
QUEENS Skate Dine Bowl
QUEENS in Bayswater is a superb spot for lively households, with a enjoyable vary of actions to strive, together with ice skating, ice karting, curling, bowling, and arcade video games.
After you’ve loved the actions, you may also seize some scrumptious burgers from MEATliquor on website.
It’s value realizing that QUEENS is an adults-only venue after 8pm, with the final entry for youths at 7pm, but it surely’s nonetheless an excellent spot for some early night household enjoyable in West London, near Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
Monopoly Lifesized
Be careful for… Monopoly Lifesized. A cross between a real-life model of the board recreation and an escape room, you’ll tackle challenges so as to purchase properties.
Appropriate for age 9+, there are 4 boards to select from, together with a Metropolis model for modern-day London and the Basic board.
Count on to be taking part in in opposition to extra than simply your loved ones (except you will have a HUGE household), with as much as 24 taking part in without delay, and groups of a most of six. Video games final round 80 minutes and it closes at round 11pm.
Crystal Maze Stay
Whether or not you’ve obtained your personal fond reminiscences of the Crystal Maze or fancy one thing a bit uncommon to do in London with youngsters, the Crystal Maze Stay is a enjoyable and family-friendly immersive expertise on Shaftesbury Avenue within the coronary heart of London’s West Finish.
Dad and mom will take pleasure in travelling again in time into the enduring 90s TV present, whereas youngsters will love operating across the maze with the highly-enthusiastic Maze Masters, finishing a collection of foolish themed challenges, from driving an enormous buckaroo-ing spaceship to decoding riddles – it’s appropriate for youths 9+.
You’ll battle in opposition to the clock within the 4 zones – Industrial, Futuristic, Medieval and Aztec – as you resolve mysteries and face bodily challenges. Then you definitely’ll even get to go contained in the Maze’s centrepiece, the Crystal Dome, the place you’ll soar round and gather gold tokens that add factors to your closing rating. Final classes are round 8pm at weekends.
Sleep at a museum
When you’ve obtained barely youthful youngsters who nonetheless don’t need the enjoyable to finish after 6pm in London, try the museum sleepovers which run often all year long.
Dino Snores on the Pure Historical past Museum is for youths aged 7-11, the place you’ll get to seek out out extra about a few of the Museum’s creatures by torchlight, take pleasure in some enjoyable actions and sleep over in one of many galleries.
Be ready for a late evening, settling right down to sleep at midnight, then an early breakfast earlier than a path across the galleries earlier than the museum reopens at 10am. In case you have older youngsters who’d additionally take pleasure in it, the DIno Snores Particular occasions are for teenagers (as much as 17-year-olds)
Or try Astronights on the Science Museum for a similar age vary, with space-inspired workshops, reveals and actions, plus VIP tickets together with airbeds, and breakfast earlier than you head off the following morning.
The British Museum sleepovers are an excellent choice for older youngsters or when you’ve got a giant age vary within the household. appropriate for ages 8-15.
Every sleepover has a novel historic theme, with workshops, actions and storytelling, the place you would sleep within the Egyptian, Assyrian and Greek galleries, then comply with an unique path after breakfast earlier than the museum reopens.
Evening Voyage on the Golden Hinde
Uncover the secrets and techniques of Tudor medication (bleeding and extra bleeding), study the realities of life at sea and struggle off the Spanish on board the Golden Hinde – the duplicate of the ship which Sir Francis Drake sailed all over the world.
Even higher than a go to on board the galleon, moored on the South Financial institution close to Southwark, is the possibility to sleep in a single day with the Golden Hinde evening voyage – the Household Evening Voyage consists of (almost) genuine vegetable stew for dinner and actors bringing tales of Elizabethan pirates and privateers to life.
Learn my overview of a sleepover on the Golden Hinde
Sleepover on the Zoo
Simply some of the uncommon issues to do in London with youngsters is to take pleasure in an in a single day keep on the London Zoo Lodges inside roaring distance of the lions.
The zoo’s 9 themed Lodges may be discovered contained in the Land of the Lions exhibit, inside roaring distance of the pleasure of Asiatic lions. The distinctive in a single day expertise consists of three particular after-hour excursions, dinner and breakfast, plus entrance to the zoo each days of your keep.
The Zoo Lodges have particular household nights for kids aged 5-15, whereas teenagers 14+ can keep on adult-only nights too. Sadly, kids beneath 5 can’t keep in a single day.
Seasonal enjoyable – pop-up occasions
You’ll discover loads of particular seasonal occasions all year long as one other strategy to spend the night in London with youngsters.
Brighten up the darkish evenings throughout winter with gentle trails for Halloween in addition to lots happening at Christmas.
Attempt a strolling route previous the London Christmas lights, comply with a festive illuminated path or head to one of many Christmas markets – Winter Wonderland is enjoyable for all ages, however teenagers will take pleasure in hitting the rides and snacking on the meals stalls into the night.
Or through the summer season months, there are out of doors theatre performances and out of doors cinema screens popping up across the capital, for an evening out with youngsters in London that’s a bit extra enjoyable than your common multiplex.
Disclosure: This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Photos: Tower of London/Ghost bus/Diagon Alley/Golden Hinde copyright MummyTravels, Puttshack courtesy of Puttshack, all others courtesy of Depositphotos
