You’re by no means in need of concepts to entertain your loved ones through the daytime, however discovering issues to do within the night in London with children may be surprisingly restricted at instances.
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Whereas youthful children are prone to be tucked up in mattress or quick asleep in a buggy, there’s nonetheless an enormous chunk of time to fill for older major age children, tweens and youthful teenagers who undoubtedly aren’t going to be planning an early evening however aren’t sufficiently old for some issues geared to older teenagers.
So whenever you’re planning what to do in London after 6pm, I’ve picked out 24 of the most effective issues to do within the night in London with children – and recommendations on the apparently child-friendly night actions which aren’t nearly as good as you’d assume.
Head to the theatre
London’s theatre is among the many finest on the earth, and also you received’t be in need of family-friendly exhibits to observe, from big-name productions like The Lion King, Matilda and Six to Depraved, Mrs Doubtfire and Again to the Future, to call a couple of.
I’m an enormous 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 Baby, which doesn’t simply fill your night however your complete afternoon as properly.
Should you’re already in central London, the TKTS ticket sales space in Leicester Sq. is open every day (Monday-Saturday from 10.30am to 6pm, Sundays 12-4.30pm) – the one Official London Theatre ticket sales space, it ought to at all times have the most effective offers of the day. When the tickets are gone, they’re gone although. There’s additionally the prospect to see all of the offers on the TKTS web site if you happen to’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 historical Ceremony of the Keys, one of the vital uncommon issues to do in London with children.
Again within the 14th century, Edward III was livid to find he may stroll into the Tower of London unchallenged – and decreed the fortress needs to be locked at sundown and unlocked at dawn from that time on. And the custom continues to today.
With a view to see it, you’ll must 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 aren’t allowed in, so it’s price getting there a bit early as there are additionally safety checks).
Try my expertise of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with children
Trip the London Eye
One of many metropolis’s hottest points of interest, the London Eye can be a unbelievable night expertise with children, as you watch the 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 Huge 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 if you happen to’re visiting throughout winter, sundown is far earlier, at round 4pm in December so you’ve extra choices to observe the town lit up. You possibly can test 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 remark deck, which is likely one of the tallest within the metropolis, stays open till 10pm newest, relying on the season.
From the highest, you may get pleasure from 360-degree views of the capital, together with well-known websites like Tower Bridge, The Gherkin, and the London Eye, all lit up towards the evening sky. Children will love the interactive telescopes highlighting key sights, whereas teenagers can benefit from the thrilling digital actuality expertise.
Should you’re contemplating one other of London’s viewpoints with children, 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 barely 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 children
Night time River Cruise
One other nice technique to see the town from a special perspective is on a night boat trip alongside the Thames with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Children will love seeing London’s prime points of interest illuminated at evening as you cruise alongside the river.
Bounce 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 recurrently till round 10:30pm and youngsters underneath 15 get 50% off the usual fare.
Metropolis Cruises is an alternative choice – the particular evening cruises are often 18+ however you may 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.
Night time Bus Tour
For a enjoyable and stress-free technique 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 points of interest illuminated at evening, together with the Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Piccadilly Circus.
Most bus excursions embrace a reside guided commentary that may preserve visitors of all ages entertained with fascinating info and enjoyable tales concerning the metropolis, making it each an academic and thrilling night exercise. Simply keep in mind to wrap up heat if you happen to plan on sitting on the highest ground.
There’s a alternative of bus routes as properly – 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 trip 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 may absorb sights like The O2 Area reflecting on the river and the intense lights of Canary Wharf.
The trip lasts about 10 minutes, or you may ebook 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 Courtroom Highway station, a tremendous free digital leisure area which options large wraparound digital screens. The most important of its sort in Europe, the screens present quite a lot of cutting-edge immersive artwork shows and exhibitions on rotation.
Open into the night, Outernet is a good cease with children after purchasing on Oxford Road or earlier than heading down into the West Finish for dinner.
It’s utterly free to go to and there’s no must ebook. You possibly can merely simply stroll in and benefit from the unimaginable shows.
Jack the Ripper Tour
For older children focused on horrible historical past, a Jack the Ripper strolling tour is an enchanting 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 partaking tales, info, and images from the previous.
Children 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, seems on the girls who misplaced their lives. Subtitled ‘What About The Ladies’, it goals to inform the victims’ tales, share the fact 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 get pleasure from 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 the town’s most well-known points of interest and listen to tales of murders and hauntings that the majority different excursions miss out on. So whether or not you’re an area or simply visiting the capital, you’re assured to be taught one thing new.
You’ll be guided by a reside ‘conductor’, and some thriller visitors 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 children.
Try my overview of the Ghost Bus Tour of London – with children, or with out
Night purchasing within the West Finish
Deal with that household to a night purchasing spree in London’s West Finish, with loads of retailers open till late.
Hamleys, the 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 if you happen to 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 large 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 every day besides Sundays.
Babylon Park London
For a enjoyable night exercise for teenagers of all ages, head to Babylon Park, a hidden underground amusement park in Camden Market.
The distinctive space-themed park options quite a lot of rides and video games. For youthful children, there’s a mini-roller coaster, bumper automobiles, and drop tower, whereas older children and teenagers can benefit from the park’s many arcade and video video games, talent video games, and VR experiences.
The park is open till 8pm on weekdays, 10pm on Saturdays, and 9pm on Sundays. It’s utterly free to go to however you’ll must buy “cash” to benefit from the rides and video games.
For extra issues to do in Camden with children, take a look at my prime picks
Indoor mini golf
My daughter is a large fan of mini golf, each the standard outside 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 undoubtedly price maintaining a household sport of mini golf on the checklist of what to do in London after 6pm – with a couple of provisos.
As a result of most indoor programs are adults-only after 7pm, together with each Puttshack and Junkyard Golf’s numerous areas throughout London – so that you could possibly ebook in for a 6pm slot relying on the day, which ought to go away sufficient time to finish your sport, however you’ll must be out as quickly as you’ve completed.
Should you’re trying to fill an hour earlier than dinner with older children, it’s a enjoyable choice to strive, however it definitely received’t fill the entire night (and don’t anticipate 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 tips 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 images.
The distinctive museum is open till 8:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7pm the remainder of the week. Give your self at the 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 prepare journey from Euston (plus the shuttle bus from Watford Junction station) to achieve the location in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, and it stays open to 10pm at weekends.
And whenever you’re this shut, there’s no manner it’s best to threat lacking this final vacation spot for Harry Potter followers in London – it’s finest to ebook forward as tickets get snapped up properly prematurely, though if daytime tickets are gone, it’s nonetheless one of many enjoyable issues to do in London after 6pm with children, particularly older children.
Permit loads of time to trip broomsticks, drink butterbeer (elective!), uncover props, see the Hogwarts Specific, stroll into The Forbidden Forest and watch a dragon rampage by way of Gringotts financial institution.
There are shows galore, and it’s solely whenever you go to that you simply realise the astonishing element and simply how a lot work has gone into every side, to not point out an array of magical creatures plus background on how the units and animatronics had been created.
Try hippogriff Buckbeak, whose feathers had been added by hand and stored groomed by the Creature Results staff, or work together with Dobby the Home Elf. And if you happen to’ve at all times 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 may uncover Hogwarts within the Snow or a Darkish Arts theme for Halloween, in addition to different short-term exhibitions.
Should you’re on the lookout for resorts close to Harry Potter Studios London, take a look at my prime picks, or if you like to ebook tickets with a coach switch from London, click on right here or direct through Golden Excursions
Road performers in Covent Backyard
Covent Backyard is considered one of London’s prime neighbourhoods to go to with children always of the day. The massive central piazza is at all times filled with gifted road performers who entertain the crowds properly into the night.
From quirky human statues to musicians, acrobats, magicians, and comedians, road performers present enjoyable leisure for teenagers and adults of all ages. They’re free to observe, however it’s at all times good to depart a tip if you happen to loved their efficiency.
After the present, you may discover close by retailers, seize a chew to eat, or just benefit from the space’s vibrant vitality. 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 center of the town, so a stroll alongside the river is at all times probably the greatest issues to do in London with children – don’t simply rush from A to B, save a while to find the quirky particulars, absorb 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 direction of the Oxo Tower (whose home windows cleverly acquired across the prohibition on promoting) to Gabriel’s Wharf the place the financial institution widens and also you get a fantastic view in 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.
Should you do preserve going a bit additional and you’ll see the Golden Hinde, a duplicate of the ship through which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe, plus the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
There are sometimes altering short-term artwork installations, even an city seashore in summer season, plus festivals and occasions all year long – take a look at this stroll alongside the South Financial institution for extra inspiration, in addition to these highlights to identify.
Take a better take a look at the lampposts as you head alongside The Queen’s Stroll and the riverside too – often known as 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 good spot for energetic 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, it’s also possible to seize some scrumptious burgers from MEATliquor on website.
It’s price realizing that QUEENS is an adults-only venue after 8pm, with the final entry for teenagers at 7pm, however it’s nonetheless a fantastic 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 sport and an escape room, you’ll tackle challenges to be able 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 Traditional board.
Count on to be taking part in towards extra than simply your loved ones (until you’ve a HUGE household), with as much as 24 taking part in directly, 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 acquired your individual fond reminiscences of the Crystal Maze or fancy one thing a bit uncommon to do in London with children, the Crystal Maze Stay is a enjoyable and family-friendly immersive expertise on Shaftesbury Avenue within the coronary heart of London’s West Finish.
Mother and father will get pleasure from travelling again in time into the long-lasting 90s TV present, whereas children will love operating across the maze with the highly-enthusiastic Maze Masters, finishing a sequence of foolish themed challenges, from using a large buckaroo-ing spaceship to decoding riddles – it’s appropriate for teenagers 9+.
You’ll battle towards the clock within the 4 zones – Industrial, Futuristic, Medieval and Aztec – as you remedy mysteries and face bodily challenges. Then you definately’ll even get to go contained in the Maze’s centrepiece, the Crystal Dome, the place you’ll leap round and accumulate gold tokens that add factors to your last rating. Final classes are round 8pm at weekends.
Sleep at a museum
Should you’ve acquired barely youthful children who nonetheless don’t need the enjoyable to finish after 6pm in London, take a look at the museum sleepovers which run sometimes all year long.
Dino Snores on the Pure Historical past Museum is for teenagers aged 7-11, the place you’ll get to seek out out extra about a few of the Museum’s creatures by torchlight, get pleasure from some enjoyable actions and sleep over in one of many galleries.
Be ready for a late evening, settling all the way down to sleep at midnight, then an early breakfast earlier than a path across the galleries earlier than the museum reopens at 10am. When you have older children who’d additionally get pleasure from it, the DIno Snores Particular occasions are for teenagers (as much as 17-year-olds)
Or take a look at Astronights on the Science Museum for a similar age vary, with space-inspired workshops, exhibits and actions, plus VIP tickets together with airbeds, and breakfast earlier than you head off the following morning.
The British Museum sleepovers are a fantastic choice for older children or when you’ve got an enormous age vary within the household. appropriate for ages 8-15.
Every sleepover has a singular historic theme, with workshops, actions and storytelling, the place you could possibly sleep within the Egyptian, Assyrian and Greek galleries, then comply with an unique path after breakfast earlier than the museum reopens.
Night time Voyage on the Golden Hinde
Uncover the secrets and techniques of Tudor drugs (bleeding and extra bleeding), be taught 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 world wide.
Even higher than a go to on board the galleon, moored on the South Financial institution close to Southwark, is the prospect to sleep in a single day with the Golden Hinde evening voyage – the Household Night time Voyage consists of (practically) 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 one of the vital uncommon issues to do in London with children is to get pleasure from 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 satisfaction 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 underneath 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 technique to spend the night in London with children.
Brighten up the darkish evenings throughout winter with mild trails for Halloween in addition to a lot occurring at Christmas.
Strive 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 get pleasure from hitting the rides and snacking on the meals stalls into the night.
Or through the summer season months, there are outside theatre performances and outside cinema screens popping up across the capital, for an evening out with children in London that’s a bit extra enjoyable than your common multiplex.
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Pictures: Tower of London/Ghost bus/Diagon Alley/Golden Hinde copyright MummyTravels, Puttshack courtesy of Puttshack, all others courtesy of Depositphotos