London with children 2026: The best attractions and the right sightseeing pass
Which attractions really excite children, how do you plan a relaxed family day and which sightseeing pass suits the pace of travelling with children? We show you the best family highlights, a real cost calculation for four people and lots of practical tips.
Top child-friendly attractions in London
These six highlights reliably inspire children and are included in both the Explorer Pass and the London Pass®. This way, the whole family can collect many experiences without having to pay for each ticket individually.
The Ferris wheel on the Thames shows the whole of London from above. Children love the slow ride in the glass cabins, and toddlers are safe too.
Recommended from: any age
Real knights' armour, the crown jewels and the famous ravens: The fortress looks like a walk-in knight's castle. Costumed beefeaters tell stories suitable for children.
Recommended from: 5 years
A trip on the water is an adventure for children and a welcome break for tired legs. The 24-hour ticket for the Thames allows as many stops as you like.
Recommended from: any age
Sitting in the open red double-decker is an experience in itself for children. You can get from highlight to highlight in comfort and save yourself long walks with a pushchair.
Recommended from: any age
The glass floor high above the Thames makes children's eyes light up and gives them a bit of a thrill. The exhibition explains the bridge briefly and clearly.
Recommended from: 4 years
From the highest building in Western Europe, London looks like a toy city. Children with binoculars look for the landmarks they already know from below.
Recommended from: 4 years
Three of the most popular attractions with children are not included in either the Explorer Pass or the London Pass®: the SEA LIFE London Aquarium (normal price £35), Shrek's Adventure! (£32) and the London Dungeon (£35). These three belong to Merlin Entertainments.
If these experiences are the main focus for your children, a Merlin Multi Attraction Ticket is often the better choice. It combines several Merlin attractions such as the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE into one favourable package. Find out more in the cost calculation below.
How much does London cost with children? A real family bill
Example: two adults and two children aged between 5 and 15 visit four highlights - London Eye, London Zoo, Tower of London and Madame Tussauds. This is what the comparison looks like.
Explorer Pass instead of single tickets
Single tickets as an estimate with usual child discounts. The prices for the Explorer Pass are real Go City prices from 2026: Adults £109, Children £79 for 4 attractions. Children under 5 are free of charge.
Buy Explorer PassWhy the Explorer Pass is a better fit for most families
Travelling with children is different. Instead of ticking off five attractions in one day, you plan one thing in the morning, a long lunch break and perhaps a highlight in the afternoon. This is exactly the pace that suits the Explorer Pass.
The Explorer Pass lets you choose between 2 and 7 attractions and gives you 30 days to redeem them. There is no obligation to start on consecutive days. A rainy day, a sick day or simply a quiet afternoon in the park won't change your plans. You only pay for the experiences you actually have.
The London Pass®, on the other hand, only pays off if you manage to complete many attractions in a few days. It runs on consecutive calendar days from activation - so the clock is ticking continuously, even on break days. It can be the right choice for very active families who want to make the most of every day and also see Windsor Castle. For the typical, more relaxed family pace, however, the Explorer Pass is usually the more suitable and cheaper solution.
If your favourites are SEA LIFE, Shrek's Adventure! or the London Dungeon, a Merlin Multi Attraction Ticket is worthwhile. Popular combinations: London Eye plus Madame Tussauds plus SEA LIFE for around £54 per person instead of about £113 individually. These packages cover exactly the attractions that are missing in the Explorer Pass and London Pass®.
Practical tips for London with children
A few things make the difference between a relaxed family day and a stressful one. These tips have proven their worth.
Children under 11 travel free on the bus and tube. Not every tube station has a lift - look out for the step-free symbol on the Tube map. Red buses are suitable for pushchairs almost everywhere and are often the more relaxed choice.
Plan fixed breaks, preferably in one of the many parks. Hyde Park, St James's Park and the meadows at the Tower offer space to run around. Picnics save money and waiting time - there are supermarkets like Tesco on every corner.
London weather is unpredictable. Inside, Madame Tussauds, the London Transport Museum with climbing buses and the free Natural History Museum with dinosaurs will delight you. This is where the 30-day flexibility of the Explorer Pass comes in handy.
Toddlers love boats, buses and animals. From around 5 years of age, Tower of London and interactive museums become exciting. Don't expect too much per day: one or two highlights are enough, otherwise even the best excursion will become a burden.
Frequently asked questions about London with children
The Explorer Pass is best suited to most families. With children, you plan fewer attractions per day and need flexibility in terms of time. The Explorer Pass lets you choose between 2 and 7 highlights and gives you 30 days to redeem them. Only very active families who want to see a lot of attractions in a few days and also want to see Windsor Castle are better off with the London Pass®.
Children under the age of 5 are free with both Go City Passes and do not need their own Sightseeing Pass. Children between the ages of 5 and 15 receive a reduced children's rate. With the Explorer Pass for 4 attractions, for example, a child pays £79 instead of £109 like an adult.
Toddlers love exercise, animals and water. A Thames boat trip, the Hop-On Hop-Off open top bus tour, the London Eye and London Zoo are all good choices. The SEA LIFE London Aquarium is also very popular - but this is only available with a Merlin Multi Attraction Ticket, not the Explorer Pass or the London Pass®.
One or two highlights per day are realistic. Children need breaks, meal times and enough sleep, and travelling between attractions takes time. If you plan more, you risk overtired children and stressed parents. This is precisely why the Explorer Pass, with its relaxed pace, suits families so well.
No. These three attractions belong to Merlin Entertainments and are not included in Explorer Pass or London Pass®. If they are the centre of attention for your children, a Merlin Multi Attraction Ticket is the better choice. It combines several Merlin attractions such as the London Eye, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE into one package price.
Children under the age of 11 travel free on buses and the Tube when accompanied by a paying adult. Look out for step-free stations on the Tube if you are travelling with a pushchair. The red buses are suitable for pushchairs almost everywhere and are an experience for children anyway.
Yes, both Go City Passes can be cancelled free of charge 90 days after purchase as long as they have not yet been activated. Only the first visit to an attraction starts the validity period. This is a great advantage, especially with children whose plans can change at short notice - you can buy in advance and secure the discount of 5 %.
The right sightseeing pass for your family
For a relaxed family pace, we recommend the Explorer Pass. Very active families who want to see a lot should opt for the London Pass®. With code you save in both cases 5 %.
London Explorer Pass
Choose 2 to 7 attractions freely and redeem them in 30 days - without any time pressure. No need for consecutive days, perfect for breaks, rainy days and one highlight per day.
- From £64 for 2 attractions
- 30 days flexibility without daily constraints
- Children under 5 free, 5 to 15 reduced
- With code LONDONCP05 additional 5 % save
The London Pass®
All-inclusive sightseeing pass with over 100 attractions. Worthwhile if you want to see many highlights in a few days and Windsor Castle. Runs on consecutive days.
- From £99 for 1 day
- Over 100 attractions including Windsor Castle
- Children under 5 free, 5 to 15 reduced
- With code LONDONCP05LP additional 5 % save