With its long-held fame as one of many coolest locations in London, due to its markets and musical hyperlinks, a go to to Camden with children and teenagers simply tops numerous metropolis break wishlists.
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Whereas there are many issues to do in Camden for teenagers of all ages, it’s one a part of London that’s significantly good higher with teenagers and tweens fairly than toddlers.
However from some enjoyable household actions to the waterfront, cool new exhibitions, occasions, meals and locations to buy, right here’s my choose of the very best issues to do in Camden with children.
Discover Camden Markets
No journey to Camden with children and teenagers is full with out exploring the realm’s well-known markets – as a result of there’s not only a single Camden market.
As a substitute Camden is made up of a sequence of markets that eat a majority of the neighbourhood. Probably the most outstanding markets are Camden Lock Market, Stables Market, Buck Avenue Market, Inverness Avenue Market, and the most recent addition, Hawley Wharf.
Teenagers and older youngsters will love exploring the eclectic assortment of merchants and shops. Youthful children can benefit from the uncommon sights, sounds, and smells of the bustling markets too, however do preserve little ones shut by because the markets can get extraordinarily busy.
Don’t miss the intense neon lights and large robotic sculptures at CyberDog (simply don’t go all the way down to the basement degree) and the abundance of anime, superhero, and popular culture merchandise on supply on the Stables Market, additionally house to the well-known bronze statue of Amy Winehouse.
Dwell music at Roundhouse
Camden can also be well-known for its world-class stay music scene – and there’s nowhere that may impress younger music followers fairly just like the Roundhouse.
Roundhouse is positioned in a Grade II listed former railway engine shed, which was transformed right into a live performance corridor within the Nineteen Sixties. The architecturally distinctive venue is without doubt one of the most unbelievable stay efficiency areas on this planet.
The venue performs host to many big worldwide names, up-and-coming artists, and different stay occasions and exhibits all year long so attending a gig at Roundhouse is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Camden with teenagers or tweens.
Some occasions do have ‘age steering’ or particular guidelines about the place folks underneath 16 might be seated, so it’s price checking upfront. Roundhouses’ Younger Creatives scheme additionally affords tasks and workshops for younger creatives and artists 11+.
Take a Camden avenue artwork tour
Camden is considered one of London’s largest avenue artwork hubs too, so it’s an excellent place to wander. The realm has a whole lot of fantastic murals by a few of the world’s finest avenue artists – together with the one-and-only Banksy.
The one drawback with the road artwork in Camden is that it may be pretty tough to search out your self, with a lot of it positioned down small backstreets away from the primary vacationer areas.
This is the reason a Camden Avenue Artwork Tour is a good thought. Appropriate for all ages, a avenue artwork tour will take you to find most of the space’s finest murals whereas instructing you the tales behind them.
This Camden strolling tour additionally consists of a few of the space’s finest avenue artwork, or you may tailor this Camden tour by an area to cowl avenue artwork as nicely. Or do this self-guided audio tour to discover at your individual tempo.
Go to The Jewish Museum
One in all Camden’s prime instructional experiences for households is The Jewish Museum, the place children can study all about British Jewish historical past, tradition, heritage, and identification.
The 4 everlasting galleries characteristic some fascinating shows, together with its world-leading assortment of uncommon Jewish ceremonial artwork and objects reflecting the on a regular basis house lifetime of Jews in London. Plus don’t miss the shifting private journey of Holocaust survivor Leon Greenman.
The museum additionally runs a schedule of participating family-friendly occasions, together with talks, excursions, workshops, baking classes, and themed competition days. For those who’re visiting Camden on the weekend, it’s price being conscious that the museum closes on Fridays and Saturdays.
Go to London Zoo
Proper on the sting of the Borough of Camden, in Regent’s Park, London Zoo is simply a 20-minute stroll from Camden City, so it’s an excellent one to mix with a day trip in Camden with children.
The world’s oldest scientific zoo, London Zoo remains to be one of many metropolis’s largest sights – for teenagers and adults – greater than 170 years after it opened.
As soon as house to the bear that impressed Winnie the Pooh, nowadays, you may see all the pieces from lions and tigers to with the ability to stroll with lemurs, enterprise into rainforest circumstances, see animals from the African savannah and Australian Outback, and plenty extra.
There are three colour-coded routes across the zoo, pink, blue and orange – all completely different lengths, they begin and finish in roughly the identical place so you are able to do them in any order you need, and if you happen to’re in need of time, it allows you to focus in your favourites.
There are keeper talks which happen all through the day, in addition to particular animal experiences – you may even assist feed the gorillas. For those who’re fortunate, you may spot the keepers feeding the animals as you discover.
Maintain a watch out for normal particular household occasions, particularly throughout college holidays, too. Tickets have to be prebooked.
Take a waterbus to Little Venice
The Thames isn’t town’s solely waterway, and Camden is a good place to get out on a ship with a number of completely different canal waterbus choices cruising alongside Regent’s Canal.
Perseus, from the London Waterbus Firm, has been operating since 1935, whereas Jason’s Journey Canal Waterbus has been working since 1951.
The classic narrowboats take you on a 45-minute journey from Camden Lock to Primrose Hill, previous Regent’s Park, London Zoo (look out for a few of the animals!) then on to fairly Little Venice, with its cafe-lined canals, the place you may hop off to discover Paddington or stroll the streets.
There’s a commentary in regards to the canal’s historical past over the previous two centuries aboard Perseus – or if you happen to’d want to sail in silence, go for Jason’s Journey and putter to Little Venice with out the guided chat (solely customary on Jason’s Journey cruises beginning on the Little Venice finish).
Kids are welcome and you may take buggies or strollers on board Jason’s Journey, so long as you may fold them, whereas under-fours go free on Perseus, which additionally has barely extra sailings each every day and all year long.
Paddle Down Regents Canal with the Pirate Citadel
Situated not removed from Camden Lock, The Pirate Citadel – sure it really appears like a mediaeval fort – is a boating charity and group for native deprived children and incapacity teams.
The charity affords boat cruises and several other enjoyable paddlesports, together with stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking, alongside the picturesque Regents Canal.
You possibly can e-book a non-public group session for teenagers/households. The charity additionally affords college holiday schemes for kids aged 8+.
And whereas non-public classes right here could also be a bit of costlier than elsewhere in London, all earnings assist local people tasks. So you may relaxation assured your cash goes in the direction of an excellent trigger.
Take a Musical Boat Cruise
One other enjoyable technique to expertise the Regents Canal with children on a sunny day in London is aboard The Music Boat.
On this distinctive boating expertise, you’ll sail alongside the scenic canal on a conventional punt, whereas an area musician serenades you with their guitar and well-known hits from Camden’s musical historical past.
The Music Boat units off near Camden Lock’s West Yard Meals Market and takes you on a 90-minute journey as much as London Zoo and again. You possibly can take your individual meals and drinks onto the boat, so I’d recommend choosing up lunch from the meals market and having fun with it throughout your journey.
There’s additionally a reserve now, pay later choice in addition to free cancellation.
Benefit from the views from Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill is without doubt one of the finest locations to search out superb free views of London with children, nearly 63 metres above sea degree.
One of many six protected viewpoints in London, the place the timber are saved low in order to not obscure the view, the hilltop park sits to the north of Regent’s Park and is near the upmarket London neighbourhood of Primrose Hill, identified for its grand Victorian townhouses.
From the summit, you may absorb some improbable 360-degree views over town; to the south is a transparent view of the long-lasting landmarks of central London, whereas to the north you may see over the neighbourhoods of Hampstead and Belsize Park.
It’s a brief stroll from London Zoo, or round 20 minutes from Camden City tube station.
Again to the Future exhibition
In case your children are followers of the Again To The Future films, you may’t miss the brand new Again in Time exhibition, with the biggest assortment of memorabilia from the films in Europe.
There are greater than 70 unique gadgets used in the course of the trilogy’s filming and manufacturing, in addition to the possibility to study a few of the behind-the-scenes secrets and techniques from interviews with Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Steven Spielberg.
Alongside the way in which, there are many interactive shows too, similar to flying a hoverboard. And the very best half? You even get to sit down inside a duplicate of the DeLorean Time Machine. Nice Scott!
Set at Hawley Wharf, tickets are at present accessible to January 2023.
Plonk Loopy Golf
For some aggressive enjoyable with the household in Camden, head to Plonk Loopy Golf, an indoor loopy golf course which was utterly rebuilt in late 2020
Hidden within the Victorian arches of the Stables Market, the venue is decked out in a unusual mixture of camouflage and UV lights, and the nine-hole loopy golf course is full of traditional beams, ramps, and jumps, in addition to some extra uncommon obstacles.
The course at Plonk Loopy Golf is completely indoors, so it’s additionally the most effective issues to do in Camden City with children on a wet day.
Children have to be 7+ to play and underneath 18s are welcome earlier than 5pm on weekdays. Evenings and weekends are adults solely.
DNA: London’s First Digital Actuality Arcade
Younger players will love DNA VR, London’s very first digital actuality arcade, the place you may escape actuality to develop into something from an area pirate to a grasp murderer, a deep-sea explorer and extra.
At an arcade session at DNA VR, every individual enters their very own gaming pod and is provided with a VR headset and handsets. You’ll then be immersed in the identical Digital World, the place you may take pleasure in a wide range of multiplayer video games and experiences.
From surviving a zombie apocalypse or defending the world from killer robots to swimming by means of the deepest oceans and having an epic dance-off, there’s a sport for everybody.
DNA additionally has VR escape rooms the place you may head on an immersive journey to unravel puzzles and full missions collectively.
As a result of dimension of the headsets, DNA VR is really useful for teenagers 7+, whereas the VR escape room is best suited to these 10+.
Tomb Raider: The LIVE Expertise
Add some extra journey to your day trip in Camden for teenagers at Tomb Raider: The Dwell Expertise.
Within the enjoyable immersive expertise, you’ll want to unravel puzzles, full bodily challenges, gather historic relics, and outsmart enemies (performed by real-life actors) to assist famed archaeologist Lara Croft on her mission.
Throughout the distinctive journey, you’ll have to climb, run, leap, zip-line your approach by means of the Costa Rican jungle, rummage for treasures in a sinking ship, escape the snowy planes of Finland, and extra.
Tomb Raider is really useful for kids 12+, however these 9+ can play (though some elements of the expertise do have minimal top and weight limits).
Get Lunch at Hawley Wharf
For those who’re searching for someplace to refuel after all of the enjoyable in Camden with children, there are many locations throughout Camden’s markets to take pleasure in a few of London’s tastiest avenue meals. One in all our favourites is the newly opened Hawley Wharf.
Hawley Wharf’s river-side meals courtroom is break up into two big areas and has a complete number of improbable avenue meals to select from. Some merchants is perhaps a bit of too extravagant for youthful palates, however there are many family-friendly choices too.
Try HotBox for unbeatable BBQ smoked meats, BaoziInn for vibrant dim sum and dumplings, and Buk Burger for mouthwatering burgers. The pizza slices from True Romance are at all times a giant hit with youthful children too.
And if you happen to’re nonetheless hungry, spherical off your meal with a decadent dessert from DZRT – assume indulgent waffles, crepes, and cookie dough – or connoisseur finger doughnuts from Longboys.
Indulge at Chin Chin Labs
It doesn’t matter if you happen to go to Chin Chin Labs in the midst of summer time or the depths of winter: it is perhaps higher identified for its liquid nitrogen ice cream, however when temperatures drop, you’ll discover fabulous sizzling chocolate too.
The primary of its variety in Europe to make use of liquid nitrogen to create connoisseur ice cream, flavours change all year long and also you’ll discover some quirky mixtures in addition to the classics, plus a string of toppings and choices for ice cream sandwiches and sundaes.
Or seize a sizzling chocolate that’s nearly as a lot of a deal with for the eyes as on your abdomen, with oozily scrumptious charred (veggie) marshmallow fluff on prime for probably the most Instagrammable model (if you happen to can wait to {photograph} it earlier than diving in).
Contains vegan choices too – there’s additionally a Soho department now, in addition to pop-ups round London, however whenever you’re planning issues to do in Camden City, you shouldn’t miss the unique place the place it began.
Treat your candy tooth at Hans & Gretel
Based mostly on the Brothers Grimm’s well-known story of Hansel & Gretel, Camden Market’s Hans & Gretel is a magical fairy-tale impressed dessert cafe, completely lined from ground to ceiling in sweet canes, lollipops, cupcakes and vibrant sweets galore.
There are additionally large statues of Hansel and Gretel to greet you on the store’s entrance and a makeshift sweet home that youngsters can sit inside for images.
Not solely is the shop itself a enjoyable and quirky place to go to in London with youthful youngsters (however nonetheless successful if you happen to’re in Camden with teenagers), however its many indulgent desserts are positive to be a giant hit with children of all ages. You possibly can select from candy Hungarian funnel desserts, bubble waffles, freakshakes, ice-cream, choose’n’combine and extra.
For extra uncommon issues to do in London with children, in addition to all the very best issues to do in London with children, take a look at my prime picks
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Photographs: Penguin copyright MummyTravels, avenue artwork through Picfair, all different pictures courtesy of Depositphotos
