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London is full of amazing places to see with your kids. There are so many great places just outside of the city as well that are well worth a visit. With access to some of the greatest museums, castles, historic sites, and amazing green spaces to play in, your kids will soak up a ton of knowledge while having fun. Spending time in and around this vibrant city is sure to delight you and your kids with memories to last a lifetime.Â
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Here are 12+ Day Trips to take from London with Kids. Check out the GowheeApp for more locations recommended by local and traveling parents.
For fun day trips from London with kids, it’s great to experience things that you can’t do in the city. One of these is the charming tradition of punting on the River Cam. You can pop up to Cambridge and join a group tour, or charter a private punting tour for a customized experience.
Key Information: Guided tours start around £60 for up to six people – Bring water and snacks – Plan for an hour or so in the boat
Good To Know: During bank holidays, school holidays, and weekends, the boats fill up quickly, so you will want to book in advance.
Stonehenge, one of the most recognizable monuments in the world is located a couple of hours from central London by car or train. The whole family will love learning about the history behind this 4000-year-old monument, taking a look at the living conditions of the neolithic population, and enjoying the fresh air.
Key Information: The family pass is £52 for 2 adults and 2 children, buses and accessible amenities onsite, hands-on exhibits. Most of the museum is outdoors.
Good To Know: To make this outing even more memorable, get a traditional fish and chips to go at the Frying Tuck in Salisbury, and enjoy a picnic by the stones.
The town of Brighton is the perfect destination for day trips from London with kids. You can visit the fabulous Royal Pavilion and Brighton’s famous pleasure pier. And don’t forget to try some Brighton rock, the old-fashioned candy invented in the city.
Key Information: Royal Pavilion admission is £17.00 adults, £10.50 for kids – Very walkable and stroller-friendly – Numerous public baby-changing facilities
Good To Know: While enjoying ice cream on the beach is a great time, the English Channel is extremely cold, even in summer– your kids probably won’t want to swim.
London is a modern urban center, so when you’re taking day trips from London with kids, why not go somewhere a little more traditional? When you visit Warwick Castle, you’re visiting a place that’s been a part of British history for over a thousand years! Kids will love seeing impressive demonstrations by modern-day knights and falconers.
Key Information: Tickets are £31 day of, but £21 if you book in advance – Two restaurants onsite – Lots of activities for all ages.
Good To Know: While the setting might be medieval, the food certainly isn’t– they cater to a wide range of food and drink allergies and intolerances for all of the 14 main allergen groups.
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All day trips from London with kids have to start somewhere, and starting your journey at King’s Cross Station is a great way to begin! Trains from King’s Cross go all over, but you can get to the famous Kew Gardens in just about 30 minutes from this train station. You can then have fun by picnicking in the open air, marveling at the beautiful exotic birds, or just enjoying the plants.
Key Information: Train tickets cost between £2 – £4 – Kew Gardens admission starts at £13.50 for adults and £4.00 for kids – Train stations have baby-changing facilities.
Good To Know: These trips are best taken on weekends, as King’s Cross is a very busy commuter station.
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Theme parks are wonderful destinations for day trips from London with kids. Visit Dreamland for some cool, retro fun. This vintage theme park is home to the oldest roller coaster in the UK, the Scenic Railway, and has a delightful roller disco and retro-styled diner.
Key Information: FREE to enter, but the park operates on a pay-per-ride system –Â Food onsite – Rides for all ages
Good To Know: Dreamland doesn’t sell ride tickets online and they don’t take cash at the gate, so make sure to bring your card or a contactless pay method with you!
If your kids are still waiting for their Hogwarts letter, why not take them to some of the spots where their favorite wizards hang out? Following Harry Potter can lead to great day trips from London with kids.Â
Take the train to Watford Junction and enjoy the WB Studio’s Harry Potter tour, where you can walk through sets and see authentic props and costumes from the films. This tour is especially magical for older kids who grew up with the books, but even the littlest Harry Potter fans will be swept away.
Key Information: Family tickets are £159 for a party of 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children – Shuttle bus from Watford Junction to studio included with ticket price – Tour lasts approximately 3½ hours
Good To Know: If you start your journey at King’s Cross station, there’s a fun photo op located at Platform 9 ¾, between platforms 9 and 10.Â
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Day trips from London with kids just aren’t complete without seeing something unexpected and wild. If you’ve taken a trip to Colchester, you can always find something wildly surprising at Colchester Zoo. Colchester is home to over 180 animal species, including majestic lions, intelligent elephants, fierce Komodo dragons… and familiar friends like cuddly alpacas and plump pink pigs.
Key Information: Adult tickets are £26.99; child tickets are £18.99 – Play areas available – Food onsite
Good To Know: You can pre-book picnic lunches that can be picked up during your trip for a fun, delicious, and convenient meal.
Take day trips from London with kids to step back in time at Hampton Court Palace! This palace was a favorite of King Henry VIII, and many rooms are set up just the way they were in his time, like the kitchen. There’s even a hedge maze just like the ones enjoyed by the royals in the 1500s.
Key Information: Tickets are £26.10 for adults and £13 for children – plan to spend several hours to half a day – Food onsite
Good To Know: For extra fun, ask for a cloak– the museum has velvet capes for kids (and fun-loving adults) to borrow and parade around in!Â
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Oxford isn’t just for university students! You can have lovely day trips from London with kids to this ancient, storied city– especially when you visit the Story Museum, the UK’s only museum dedicated to the art of the story. You and your kids can celebrate stories in all forms and explore their power to teach and delight. After the museum, you can stroll across the Bridge of Sighs and take in the history of the oldest university in the UK.
Key Information: Museum admission is £8 – Food onsite – Unisex baby changing facilitiesÂ
Good To Know: For an additional £5, your child can attend a Small Worlds storytelling session designed to dazzle and delight them, while Mom and Dad can have a nice break.
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Day trips from London with kids can be made even more special when you take their interests to heart whilst planning. Kids often have special connections to their favorite stories, and if your kid’s a fan of Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the BFG, or any of Roald Dahl’s other fantastical tales, a visit to the Roald Dahl museum in Great Missenden will make their day.Â
Key Information: Tickets are £7.40 for adults and £4.90 for kids – Unisex baby changing facilities on site – Currently no food onsite
Good To Know: While the museum’s café is closed, there are several Dahl-adjacent eateries in Great Missenden, including Matilda’s, The Nag’s Head (Dahl’s favorite pub), and The Stamp, a café in the former post office.
Visiting the seaside is always a good idea when planning day trips from London with kids. One of the most charming seaside destinations is Southend-On-Sea. Southend is home to the world’s longest pleasure pier, several beautiful parks, the Adventure Island amusement park, and the Sea Life Adventure Aquarium. The high street has lots of cute shops that kids will enjoy exploring.
Key Information: FREE to visit but various attractions will have admission prices – Easy-to-use local public transportation – Lots of kid-friendly restaurants
Good To Know: Grumpy’s Diner is a ‘50s themed restaurant that’s notable for being a kid-pleaser.
Did we miss any of your favorite day trips to take from London with kids? Let us know in the comments.
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