With a fast track family ticket on the London Eye costing just over £111 and a "pay on the day" family ticket to Madame Tussaud's setting tourists back £99, trips to London can be expensive. Many attractions still price their family tickets according to the average "2 children and 2 adults", so one can end up paying additional full fares for any extra children. Add in lunch for everyone and the costs can quickly mount up.
However there are things to do and places to visit in London that do not cost a penny. The benefit of this is that one can spend a whole day in London and fit in two or three activities without having to rely on cost. There is plenty for children to discover and adults can enjoy the bustle of the city as well as the beautiful scenery and architecture.
Family Days Out in The Royal Parks
London has a surprising amount of greenery within its boundaries, which include the Royal Parks. All the parks at one time belonged to the Crown and were used for hunting, riding or purely for the enjoyment of the incumbent King or Queen. Now, they are open to the public and are the focus for many events, family picnics, dog walkers and joggers. Visit Hyde Park, used by Henry VIII as a deer chase. Or Kensington Gardens where a magnificent monument to Prince Albert was erected by Queen Victoria. For children, there is the huge Diana Playground, a play area in the shape of a huge pirate ship built in memory of the Princess of Wales in 2000.
Swans, cormorants and other wild birds can be seen in Kensington Gardens and around the Serpentine river, and many squirrels can also be seen around the parks. Kensington Gardens also hosts the Peter Pan statue, commissioned by JM Barrie himself. Barrie himself decided on its location in the park, tucked away opposite the river on an elevated platform. Children enjoy looking for the fairies on the sculpture and deciding which one is Tinkerbell!
The Royal Parks play host to many events throughout the year, including open air concerts and fairs - see the website for details of upcoming events.
Family Days at the Science Museum
The Science Museum is situated on Exhibition Road and offers free entry to the public. After a short security check, you are free to discover a world of materials, transport and even the depths of space! The museum has a modern feel, and exhibitions are set out on seven floors. There is a picnic area on the first floor just near the museum shop, with benches laid out for families to grab a bite before setting off to explore more.
Displays situated around the museum have buttons and activities that are in the reach of very young children, allowing them to press buttons and explore too. Families must not miss the LaunchPad, a large area with experiments for children on the third floor. Stand back, relax and let your children explore how bubbles are created, how magnets work, the world of electricity and let them let off a hydrogen rocket with a loud pop! Talks are given regularly and often these are also free - check when entering the museum or on the website for more details. Although entry is free, there are charges for some talks, presentations and for the simulators and 3D cinema. There are opportunities to make a voluntary donation to the museum if you wish.
Explore Dinosaurs and Nature at the Natural History Museum
Situated conveniently close to the Science Museum with its main entrance on Exhibition Road, is the Natural History Museum. It houses a large collection of preserved birds and animals as well as a Creepy Crawlies gallery. See a polar bear up close, and discover all about bugs and spiders. There is also a section dedicated to sea life - where a giant lifesize Blue Whale can be seen.
The main attraction however has to be the Dinosaur Gallery, situated in the Blue Zone. Queues can be long during school holidays for this attraction so arrive early! The gallery boasts a life size moving animatronic T-Rex, many complete skeletons including a sturdy Triceratops and of course the massive Diplodocus skeleton which snakes down the main hall. Entry is free, although some presentations and talks have a charge. Check at the museum or on the website for more details. Their website also has a "Parents Survival Guide" section which includes information about recommended activities, workshops and important information about babycare facilities and pushchair access.
Family Days Out in London Can Be Free
Once you have paid for the travel to London it is comforting to know that you can be more in control of your finances by visiting places and attractions that do not demand an entry fee. The museums are so large and their collections so vast that you may have to return another day to finish looking around! With free entry, this is not a problem and new exhibitions and presentations are being announced regularly so there is plenty to hold anyone's interest.
The parks appeal because of the beautiful scenery, historic relevance and provide somewhere for the children to run around to let off steam. Why not take a picnic to reduce the costs further? Family days out in London do not have to cost a fortune and apart from the costs of the initial travel, they can be enjoyed for free. This leaves open opportunity for you to come back as many times as you wish without monetary constraints and helps parents stay much more in control.
All information correct at time of writing. Please check individual attractions for more details.
For information on the Royal Parks, click here. To check upcoming events and exhibitions in the Science Museum, click here. To find out more about the Natural History Museum click here. An article on the animatronic T-Rex at the Natural History Museum can also be found here.
Jo Romero - Jo is a Freelance Food Writer, Food Blogger and Restaurant Reviewer, based in the UK. Visit her profile to find out more.
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