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Some of the best things to do in London with a toddler are completely free: the newly renewed Diana Memorial Playground, the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, the pelicans in St James's Park and the Changing of the Guard. These are the 12 free things we did with Y, aged 3½, on our trip from 26 to 29 September 2026, each with the address, opening hours and our toddler tips, plus 8 more free ideas we didn't have time for.
Under-11s also ride the Tube and buses free with a paying adult, so a toddler day out in London can cost you nothing but snacks. For the full day-by-day plan, including the paid sights, see our 4-day London itinerary with a toddler.
12 Free Things to Do in London with a Toddler at a Glance
| Free thing | Area | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Memorial Playground | Kensington Gardens | 10am; closes 3:45–7:45pm by season | Climbing, sand, water play |
| Natural History Museum | South Kensington | Daily 10am–5:50pm | Dinosaurs, rainy days |
| St James's Park pelicans and playground | Westminster | Gates 5am–midnight; pelicans fed ~2:30pm | Animals, sandpit |
| Changing the Guard | Buckingham Palace | Usually 11am Mon, Wed, Fri | Marching bands |
| South Bank walk: London Eye to Big Ben | South Bank / Westminster | Open 24 hours | Classic London photos |
| Covent Garden street performers | Covent Garden | Piazza 24 hours; shows all day | Shows, people-watching |
| Portobello Road and Notting Hill | Notting Hill | Mon–Wed 9am–6pm, Thu 9am–1pm, Fri–Sat 9am–7pm | Colourful streets, snacks |
| Kensington Gardens | Kensington | From 6am; closes at dusk (about 5pm in late Oct) | Space to run, Peter Pan statue |
| Tower Hill playground | Tower of London | Open daily | A quick run-around |
| Platform 9¾ and St Pancras trains | King's Cross | Station open early to late | Train-mad toddlers |
| Granary Square fountains and Regent's Canal | King's Cross | Fountains usually daily, about 8am–7pm | Water play, canal boats |
| Chinatown's red lanterns | Soho | Streets open 24 hours | A pre-dinner stroll |
In this post
- Diana Memorial Playground
- Natural History Museum
- St James's Park pelicans and playground
- Changing the Guard
- South Bank walk: London Eye to Big Ben
- Covent Garden street performers
- Portobello Road and Notting Hill
- Kensington Gardens
- Tower Hill playground
- Platform 9¾ and St Pancras trains
- Granary Square fountains and Regent's Canal
- Chinatown's red lanterns
- 8 more free ideas we didn't get to
- Two free days in London with a toddler
- More ways to save
- FAQ
1. Diana Memorial Playground
If you do one free thing in London with a toddler, make it this. The Royal Parks reopened the playground in August 2026 after a £3 million renewal, and the new 17 m pirate galleon on a sandy beach is the star: crow's nests, a tunnel slide, a play kitchen below deck and lots of nooks to hide in. It's fenced and staffed, and the whole thing is inspired by Peter Pan. It was the first big stop of our trip, and an hour went by fast.
| Address | Kensington Gardens, near Black Lion Gate, Bayswater Road, London W2 (Queensway station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily from 10am. Closes at 7:45pm (May–Aug), 6:45pm (Apr and Sep), 5:45pm (Mar and early Oct), 4:45pm (Feb and late Oct), 3:45pm (Nov–Jan). Last entry 15 minutes before closing |
| Cost | Free |
| Time needed | 1–2 hours |
Toddler tips
- Adults can only enter with a child aged 12 or under, so it never feels like a tourist sight.
- On sunny days a queue starts at 10am. Arrive at opening or come back after lunch.
- Pack spare clothes and a towel: between the sand and the water play, your toddler will need them.
2. Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is free and made for small children: the blue whale skeleton hanging in Hintze Hall, the dinosaur gallery and halls full of giant animal skeletons. It's a 20-minute walk from Kensington Gardens, so it pairs perfectly with the Diana playground for a free west-London day, and it's the obvious backup if it rains.
| Address | Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD (South Kensington station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5:50pm (last entry 5:30pm). Closed 9 October and 24–26 December |
| Cost | Free; book a free timed ticket online to skip the queue |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
Toddler tips
- Book the free timed ticket on nhm.ac.uk. At weekends and in school holidays, the walk-up queue can be long.
- The Dinosaurs gallery is the busiest. Go first thing or in the last hour.
- There's a café inside if you need a lunch break between galleries.
3. St James's Park: pelicans and playground
Pelicans have lived in St James's Park for over 350 years, and they're often lounging on the rocks in the lake or even on park benches. 2026 is a special year to visit: four pelican chicks hatched in the park for the first time in over 360 years. On the Birdcage Walk side of the park, there's a playground with a big sandpit, swings and climbing frames, where Y played on the morning we watched the guards. St James's Café, a timber pavilion on the lake, is the place for a coffee.
| Address | St James's Park, London SW1A 2BJ; playground on the Birdcage Walk side, SW1E 6HQ (St James's Park station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Park gates 5am–midnight. Pelicans are usually fed at around 2:30pm daily. St James's Café: 8am–8pm in summer, 8am–4pm in winter |
| Cost | Free |
| Time needed | 1–2 hours |
Toddler tips
- Time your visit for the 2:30pm pelican feed by the lake.
- Please give the pelican chicks space: they're in a protected part of the park while they grow.
- Bring a bucket and spade for the sandpit.
4. Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Military bands, red tunics and bearskin hats: the Changing of the Guard is free and pure theatre for a 3-year-old. With a toddler, the edges work better than the crush at the palace gates. We watched the band march along The Mall and caught the guards lined up outside Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk, right next to the St James's Park playground.
| Where | Buckingham Palace forecourt, London SW1A 1AA (Green Park or St James's Park station); Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, SW1E 6HQ |
|---|---|
| When | Usually 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Check the Household Division calendar the day before; it can change or be cancelled in bad weather |
| Cost | Free |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours including getting a spot |
Toddler tips
- Arrive by 10:15am if you want a spot by the palace railings.
- With a toddler, try the edge of The Mall or Birdcage Walk: less crush, and you'll still see the band up close.
- Watch your bags; pickpockets work the crowd.
5. South Bank walk: London Eye to Big Ben
The riverside walk from the London Eye to Big Ben is free, flat and full of the views everyone wants a photo of. We did it early in the morning for a family photoshoot: Jubilee Gardens beside the Eye, the Queen's Walk along the Thames, then across Westminster Bridge with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben behind us. From Big Ben, St James's Park and the guards are a 15-minute walk away.
| Start | London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB (Waterloo station) |
|---|---|
| Finish | Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower), Westminster, London SW1A 0AA (Westminster station) |
| Opening hours | Outdoors and open 24 hours |
| Cost | Free |
Toddler tips
- Go before 9am: Westminster Bridge is packed with tour groups by mid-morning.
- The bridge pavement is narrow and busy, so use a carrier or hold hands.
💡 Paid add-on nearby: the London Eye ride itself costs from about £29 online. Book London Eye tickets on Klook. (Affiliate link)
6. Covent Garden street performers
Licensed street performers take turns on the West Piazza in front of St Paul's Church all day and into the evening, from jugglers to escape artists, and you'll pass gold living statues on the way in. Toddlers can sit on the cobbles right at the front. We went after an early dinner in Chinatown, 10 minutes' walk away, and it was a free, easy end to a long day.
| Address | The Piazza, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8RF (Covent Garden or Leicester Square station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | The Piazza is open 24 hours and shows run through the day; shops usually Mon–Sat 10am–8pm, Sun 11am–6pm |
| Cost | Free (performers pass a hat at the end) |
| Time needed | 30–60 minutes |
Toddler tips
- Shows last about 20–30 minutes. Keep a few coins or a contactless card for the hat.
- The covered market hall has toilets and baby-changing.
7. Portobello Road and the pastel houses of Notting Hill
Walking Portobello Road costs nothing, and on a Saturday it's at its liveliest: antique stalls, vintage shops and street-food stands with giant pans of paella. The real free treat is the side streets, lined with pastel terraces that make every photo look like a postcard. We pushed Y's stroller down from Ladbroke Grove towards Notting Hill Gate, which set us up for Kensington Gardens.
| Address | Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London W11 (Ladbroke Grove or Notting Hill Gate station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Market Mon–Wed 9am–6pm, Thu 9am–1pm, Fri–Sat 9am–7pm; antiques on Fridays and Saturdays; mostly closed on Sundays. The streets are open any time |
| Cost | Free to browse |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
Toddler tips
- Saturday is the big market day, but it's shoulder to shoulder by late morning. Go before 10am with a buggy.
- Walk north to south, so you finish near Kensington Gardens and the Diana playground.
8. Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens is where you let a toddler run. Beyond the Diana playground, there's the Peter Pan statue by the Long Water, the Italian Gardens with their fountains, and the clipped gardens in front of Kensington Palace. We walked across the gardens from the playground to the palace, a good chance for Y to stretch his legs between sights.
| Address | Kensington Gardens, London W2 2UH (Queensway, Lancaster Gate or High Street Kensington station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Pedestrian gates from 6am; closing time follows dusk (about 5pm in late October) |
| Cost | Free |
| Time needed | As long as you like |
Toddler tips
- Find the Peter Pan statue by the Long Water before or after the playground: it's the same story, and toddlers love spotting him.
💡 Paid add-on nearby: going inside Kensington Palace costs £24.70 per adult (under-5s free). Book Kensington Palace tickets on Klook. (Affiliate link)
9. Tower Hill playground
Across the road from the Tower of London, in Tower Hill Gardens by the old Roman wall, there's a small free playground with a slide, wooden climbing steps and a roundabout, plus a view of the Tower walls. We stopped here after two hours inside the Tower, and it was a good reset for a toddler.
| Address | Tower Hill Gardens, Tower Hill, London EC3N (Tower Hill station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Open daily (public garden) |
| Cost | Free |
| Time needed | 20–30 minutes |
Toddler tips
- The City of London plans to rebuild it with a fort theme, so check it's open before you promise it. Portsoken Street Gardens, about 10 minutes' walk away, has another small playground with a sandpit.
💡 Paid add-on nearby: Tower of London tickets are £38 per adult, and under-5s go free. Book Tower of London tickets on Klook. (Affiliate link)
10. Platform 9¾ and the trains at St Pancras
Our hotel window looked out towards St Pancras station, and that's where you'd often find Y. St Pancras International is free to wander, with Eurostar trains under its huge glass roof. Next door in King's Cross station is Harry Potter's Platform 9¾, a luggage trolley disappearing into a brick wall. You can take your own photo there for free, or queue for the staff photographer. When we went, the queue was long, so we skipped it.
| Address | King's Cross station, Euston Road, London N1 9AL; St Pancras International, Euston Road, London N1C 4QP (King's Cross St Pancras station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | The stations are open from early morning to late at night. The Harry Potter shop next to Platform 9¾: Mon–Sat 8am–10pm, Sun 9am–8pm; the photo queue closes an hour before the shop |
| Cost | Free (the staff photo is optional and paid) |
| Time needed | 20–45 minutes |
Toddler tips
- The Platform 9¾ queue is shortest early in the morning or in the evening.
11. Granary Square fountains and Regent's Canal
A 5-minute walk north of King's Cross, Granary Square has 1,080 fountain jets set into the ground, and on warm days children run straight through them. The wide steps lead down to Regent's Canal, where narrowboats pass by, and Coal Drops Yard's shops and restaurants are next door. We spent the evening of our third day here.
| Address | Granary Square, King's Cross, London N1C 4AA; Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, London N1C 4AB (King's Cross St Pancras station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | The square is open all day; the fountains usually run daily, roughly 8am–7pm, and may be off in bad weather. Coal Drops Yard shops: generally Mon–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 11am–5pm |
| Cost | Free |
| Time needed | 30–60 minutes |
Toddler tips
- Bring a towel and spare clothes if your toddler is likely to run through the fountains.
12. Chinatown's red lanterns
Walking under the red lanterns on Gerrard Street and Wardour Street is free and a fun change of scene for little ones. We combined it with an early roast-duck dinner at Gold Mine on Wardour Street, then walked 10 minutes to Covent Garden for the street performers.
| Address | Gerrard Street and Wardour Street, Chinatown, London W1D (Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | The streets are open 24 hours; most restaurants open from about noon |
| Cost | Free to walk around |
| Time needed | 20–30 minutes |
Toddler tips
- Eat early, around 5pm, to beat the dinner queues with a hungry toddler.
8 More Free Things to Do in London with a Toddler (We Didn't Get To These)
Four days wasn't enough for everything on our list. We haven't been to these yet, so there are no photos or first-hand stories, but each one is free, toddler-friendly and well reviewed by London families. Details were checked on the official websites in October 2026.
Coram's Fields
A big free playground and park in Bloomsbury, with an under-5s play zone and a splash park. Adults can only go in with a child, so it feels calm and local. It's a 10-minute walk from King's Cross St Pancras, so it's an easy add-on if you stay where we did.
| Address | 93 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1DN (Russell Square or King's Cross St Pancras station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily from 9am; closes at 7pm in summer and earlier (at dusk) in winter |
| Cost | Free; adults only with a child under 16 |
Science Museum
Next door to the Natural History Museum, so you can do both in one day. For toddlers, head for the Pattern Pod, a free interactive gallery for under-8s. Wonderlab, the big hands-on gallery, is paid.
| Address | Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD (South Kensington station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–6pm (last entry 5:15pm); Pattern Pod 10am–5:40pm |
| Cost | Free, but book a free timed ticket online before you go |
Diana Memorial Fountain
A flowing granite ring of water in Hyde Park, a short walk from Kensington Gardens. You're welcome to sit on the edge and dip your feet in, which toddlers love on a warm day. Walking in the water isn't allowed.
| Address | Hyde Park, south side of the Serpentine, London W2 (Knightsbridge or Lancaster Gate station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Apr–Aug 10am–8pm; Sep 10am–7pm; Mar and Oct 10am–6pm; Nov–Feb 10am–4pm. May close in bad weather |
| Cost | Free |
Sky Garden
A free indoor garden with 360° views at the top of the "Walkie-Talkie" skyscraper, 10 minutes' walk from the Tower of London. Tickets are free but must be booked, and they go fast.
| Address | 1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF (Monument station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Weekdays from 10am, weekends from 11am; under-16s can't enter after 6pm on weekdays or 9pm at weekends |
| Cost | Free; book on skygarden.london (released weekly, three weeks ahead). One adult per three children; children need their own ticket |
Young V&A
The V&A's museum for children in Bethnal Green, rebuilt in 2023 with play, design and imagination galleries for babies and up. General admission is free and you don't need to book.
| Address | Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA (Bethnal Green station, 2-minute walk) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5:45pm (galleries close from 5pm). On 29–30 October 2026 it's open for pre-booked events only |
| Cost | Free |
London Museum Docklands
A free museum about London's river and docks in a historic warehouse at Canary Wharf. Mudlarks, its play gallery for under-8s, is the draw for toddlers; it runs in short sessions that are worth booking ahead.
| Address | No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL (West India Quay DLR or Canary Wharf station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm; Mudlarks sessions from about 9:10am (Fri–Sun and holidays) or 10:10am (Mon–Thu) until 4:45pm |
| Cost | Free museum; Mudlarks sessions are booked online |
Mudchute Park and Farm
One of Europe's largest city farms, on the Isle of Dogs, with sheep, goats, pigs, llamas and a big park. It's a short DLR ride from London Museum Docklands, so the two make an easy east-London day.
| Address | Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, London E14 3HP (Mudchute or Crossharbour DLR) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Farm daily 9am–4pm (animals go in from 3pm); park dawn to dusk. Courtyard and café closed on Mondays except holidays |
| Cost | Free (donations welcome) |
Horniman Museum and Gardens
A free museum with large gardens in south London, including an animal walk and a music gallery with instruments to try. The aquarium and butterfly house are paid.
| Address | 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill station) |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Museum daily 10am–5:30pm; gardens from 7:15am (8am on Sundays), closing time varies by season |
| Cost | Free; aquarium and butterfly house are paid |
Two Free Days in London with a Toddler
Most of these sights sit in two clusters, so you can fill whole days without buying a ticket.
West London free day
- Morning: Portobello Road and the pastel houses of Notting Hill
- Late morning: Diana Memorial Playground
- Afternoon: Kensington Gardens, then the Natural History Museum
Westminster free day
- Early morning: South Bank walk from the London Eye to Big Ben
- 11am: Changing the Guard (Mon, Wed or Fri), then the St James's Park playground
- 2:30pm: Pelican feeding in St James's Park
- Evening: Chinatown and the Covent Garden street performers
We fitted most of these into our 4-day London itinerary with a toddler, alongside a few paid sights like the Tower of London and the Postal Museum.
More Ways to Save in London with a Toddler
- Transport: children under 11 ride free on the Tube, buses, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line with a paying adult. Adults tap in and out with a contactless card, and daily caps apply automatically.
- Paid sights: under-5s go free at the Tower of London and Kensington Palace, so you only pay for adult tickets.
- Buses: the front seats on the upper deck of a double-decker are a free sightseeing tour.
- Food: pick up dinner from a food hall or supermarket and eat in a park; the Harrods Food Halls have no seating anyway.
- Data: we use this Shopee eSIM for the UK and Europe (affiliate link), which is cheaper than roaming.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Pullman London St Pancras, a 5-minute walk from King's Cross St Pancras, where six Tube lines meet. Platform 9¾, Granary Square and the Eurostar were all on our doorstep. Check Pullman London St Pancras rates on Agoda or compare family rooms near King's Cross. (Affiliate links)
Free Things to Do in London with a Toddler: FAQ
What can you do for free in London with a toddler?
Our favourites were the Diana Memorial Playground, the Natural History Museum, the pelicans and playground in St James's Park, the Changing of the Guard, the street performers in Covent Garden and the Granary Square fountains at King's Cross. All are free, and most are within one or two Tube stops of each other.
Do toddlers pay on the London Underground?
No. Children under 11 travel free on the Tube, buses, DLR, Overground and Elizabeth line when they're with a fare-paying adult. Adults simply tap in and out with a contactless card or phone.
Are London museums free for children?
Most big national museums are free for everyone, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the British Museum. Some special exhibitions and smaller museums, such as the Postal Museum, charge an entry fee.
What time are the pelicans fed in St James's Park?
The pelicans are usually fed fish at around 2:30pm every day, near their rocks in the lake. In 2026 the park added an extra morning feed after pelican chicks hatched there for the first time in over 360 years.
Is the Diana Memorial Playground free?
Yes. It's free and staffed, but adults can only go in with a child aged 12 or under. On sunny days there's often a queue from opening time at 10am.
One last tip: the free sights are free for everyone, so the crowds come too. Do the big ones, like the Diana playground, Westminster Bridge and Portobello Road, first thing in the morning, and save the parks and fountains for the afternoon.
Opening hours and prices were checked in October 2026 on official websites where available (Royal Parks, Natural History Museum, Historic Royal Palaces, Household Division, Covent Garden). Hours change by season, so check before you go. This post contains affiliate links; if you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.