*** Keep scrolling down for photos ***

London, baby…

If, like me, you live in, or visit, the capital and are finally ~~a bit bored~~ bored stiff of the same walk around the same local park, then you might like to hear of a few places to visit in London that it is possible to take a baby to, and enjoy. Babies are like little sponges, so if you fancy getting out and about (or have to because your baby is climbing you and the walls) then a spot of sightseeing, among those soft play and sensory classes, can keep things interesting for all of you.

This is a ‘work in progress’ wish list, so I’ll add a photo to each activity, below the initial list of links, as we do each one.

It is worth checking out the websites of the places before you plan a visit – lots have soft play areas or baby-friendly activities on at various times of the week/year. Do check opening hours before setting off. I have included info on the underground station lift access situation for each day out, but always check your own specific route.

*** We would love to hear more suggestions and will keep adding to the list, so please comment below with your favourite spots ***

Categories: Museums, Farms, Walks, Parks, Attractions, Swimming, Stately homes and palaces, Places to eat, Getting about, Days out of town, Christmas, Play centres/soft play

Museums:
Plenty of space, usually free to visit, lots to see to engage baby, space for crawlers and great for sheltering from heat/rain

1. The Natural History Museum – South Kensington (no lift) Earls Court is nearest station with lift, around 20 minute walk
2. Greenwich Maritime Museum and giant floor map (fun for crawlers) – Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich DLR (lift access)
3. V&A Museum of Childhood and Gallery café (such good wraps and sandwiches!) – Bethnal Green (no lift), or around 20 minute walk from Shoreditch High Street Station (lift access)
4. Tate Modern Gallery and cafe with a magnificent view over the Thames – Southwark (lift access)
5. The Science Museum – South Kensington (no lift) Earls Court is nearest station with lift, around 20 minute walk
6. William Morris Gallery – Walthamstow Central (no lift, mix of escalator and steps)
7. Design Museum – High Street Kensington (no lift), could walk from Kensington Olympia or Earls Court, both not too far and have lifts
8. Horniman Museum and Gardens –lots of antique stuffed animals in the museum, here, including a walrus – Forest Hill (lift access)
9. The V&A Museum and Garden – South Kensington (no lift) Earls Court is nearest station with lift, around 20 minute walk
10. Imperial War Museum – Waterloo (lift access)
11. London Transport Museum – Covent Garden (no lift), could walk from Tottenham Court Road, which has a lift
12.The Museum of London – Offers regular baby and toddler groups – St Pauls (no lift), walk from Bank or Faringdon, which have lifts
13. Museum of London Docklands – Offers weekly kids’ events, and daily soft play times – Canary Wharf (lift access)
14. Dulwich Picture Gallery – Brixton (lift access), then can take National Rail to West Dulwich or take the P4 bus, or walk

Farms:
Perfect for introducing a little country life in the middle of the city, and usually have a nice cafe on site

15. Mudchute Farm – Mudchute DLR (lift access)
16. Woodlands Farm in Welling – (Christmas Fair 2^nd December 2018) – Welling National Rail, steps to leave station
17. Spitalfields City Farm – Shoreditch High Street (lift access)
18. Hackney City Farm – Hoxton (lift access)
19. Surrey Docks City Farm – Canada Water (lift access)

Walks:
Free, fresh air, brilliant sightseeing and good exercise – plus good for motion naps

20. Stroll Chelsea Embankment and the King’s Road – Sloane Square (no lift – steps or escalator)
21. Northern Heights Parkland Walk – ghost stations – Alexandra Palace National Rail to Finsbury Park stations (no lift)
22. The Thames path – Various station points all along the river. I like walking along from Rotherhithe to Tower Bridge
23. Stroll around Soho – Plenty of shops and restaurants, here – Tottenham Court Road (lift access)
24. Portobello Road – Notting Hill or Ladbroke Grove (no lift)
25. London Southbank – London Waterloo rail and tube (lift access)
26. Little Venice, London – The spot where the Grand Union Canal meets the Regent’s Canal. Peaceful canal walks – London Paddington (lift access)
27. Cutty Sark and Thames Path, Greenwich – You can pay to go into the Cutty Sark, or just enjoy the walk around it, and perhaps the nearby park – Cutty Sark DLR (lift access)
28.Battersea Power Station development – Good selection of family-friendly restaurants – by public MBNA boat is easiest, can walk from Clapham Junction through Battersea Park
29. Southbank walk up to opposite Houses of Parliament – walk from London Waterloo (lift access)

Parks:
London is the greenest city in the world – make the most of it!

30. Greenwich Park and viewpoint – Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich (lift access)
31. Hyde Park – Green Park, for lift access
32. St James’ Park – in March to see bluebells and the blue bridge, and look out for the pelicans! – Victoria, for lift access
33. Battersea Park – Peace pagoda – Clapham Junction (lift access)
34. Buddhapadipa Thai temple, Wimbledon – Wimbledon Park (no lift)
35. Crystal Palace dinosaur park and children’s farm with Shetland ponies – Crystal Palace (lift access)
36. Holland Park Kyoto garden – Holland Park (no lift), could walk from Shepherd’s Bush, which has a lift
37. Regent’s Park, Queen Mary’s rose garden – Regents Park (no lift, Bond Street for nearest lift access)
38. Sydenham Hill Wood – Forest Hill/Sydenham Hill (lift access at both)
39. Walthamstow Marshes – Clapton (no lift)
40. Dulwich Park – + Pavillion café – Forest Hill overground (lift access) or West Dulwich National Rail
41. Primrose Hill – Chalk Farm (no lift)
42. Hampstead Heath – Hampstead (no lift)
43. Richmond deer park – Richmond Station – National Rail or District Line (and then catch the 371 or 65 buses to the pedestrian gate at Petersham)
44. Queen Elizabeth Park – Stratford (Jubilee and Central lines and Overground lift access)
45. Coram’s Fields park – seven acre park, only accessible for people with children – Kings Cross (lift access)
46. Highbury Fields – playpark and could walk along to Angel – Highbury and Islington (lift access from Overground line)
47. Brockwell Park – Herne Hill rail – has lifts // Brockwell Park train – Sundays from March-October – Herne Hill rail or Brixton (with lift access)
48. Blackheath Common – Blackheath rail
49. Clapham Common – Clapham Junction (lift access) and walk

Attractions:
A few of these are big, bold and pricey, but all are guaranteed entertainment for all ages

50. Sea Life Aquarium – Waterloo (lift access)
51. Kew Gardens – Kew Gardens (lift access)
52. ZSL London Zoo – Regents Park or Camden Town (escalators – no lift access)
53. Tower of London – Tower Hill (lift access)
54. Greenwich Planetarium – Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich (lift access)
55. Columbia Road flower market and Royal Oak pub – Market open Sunday 8am to 3pm-ish – Old Street (no lift, escalator only)
56. The Barbican Centre – Tropical gardens (only open on Sundays) and events, and St Alphage gardens – Barbican (no lift – walk from Faringdon, which has lift)
57. God’s Own Junkyard– Huge collection of neon sign art, this place is incredible! – Walthamstow Central (no lift from platform, mix of escalator and steps)

Swimming:
If your little one loves splashing about in a pool, here is where is worth braving the trauma of the changing room for…

58. The Aquatics Centre – Home of the swimming events for the Olympics 2012 – Stratford (lift access)
59.Charlton Lido – Woolwich train station, and bus

Stately homes and palaces:
It’s never too early to introduce them to a touch of great British regality

60. Alexandra Palace – Wood Green (no lift access) or Alexandra Palace Rail
61. Hampton Court Palace – Hampton Court rail station, from Waterloo
62. Eltham Palace – Eltham or Mottingham rail stations, or 161 bus
63.Buckingham Palace – visit the outside anytime and the State Rooms in the summer – Green Park (lift access)

Places to eat:
Here are a few alternatives to the tried and tested family-friendly food chains spark your tastebuds

64. Chiswick High Street and cake at American bakery, Outsider Tart – Chiswick Park or Turnham Green (no lift)
65. Brixton’s food market – Brixton (lift access)
66. Brick Lane and Spitalfields walk and lunch – Shoreditch High Street (lift access)
67. Serpentine Bar and Kitchen, Hyde Park – Green Park (lift access)
68. Stoke Newington West Reservoir sports centre café– Manor House (no lift access)
69. Pancakes at Brockwell Lido café – Herne Hill rail or Brixton (with lift access at both)
70. Borough Market and walk to Golden Hinde – London Bridge (lift access)
71. Maltby Street Market on Saturday and Sunday (Bea’s Diner pancakes) – Bermondsey (lift access)
72. Mercato Metropolitano (fantastic open space for lots of prams – best to visit midweek during day with babies – the gelato is amazing) – Elephant and Castle
73. Deptford Bites food market on Saturdays – Deptford (lift access)
74. Tate Modern Gallery cafe on the top floor – brilliant river and city views – Southwark (lift access)
75. Southbank Centre and food market – London Waterloo (lift access) Southbank Centre has no soft play, but is a great place for a coffee with lots of space for crawlers – London Waterlook (lift access)
76. Greenwich Market – Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich (lift access)

Getting about:
As well as the tube and trains, there are some ways to get about that are as much fun as the destination

77. Ride on the MBNA Thames Clipper – Various stops. You can use your Oyster card, or buy a ticket. The boats run to a tight schedule, which you can find online and run between the O2 and Westminster. You can continue beyond Westminster, West, by changing boats there.
78. Emirates airline cable car – North Greenwich (lift access) – to Royal Victoria DLR (lift access)

Days out of town:
A few things worth getting out of the big city, for…

79. Mayfield Lavender farm, Surrey, best in July – Cheam National Rail station
80. Perivale bluebell Wood – best to visit last Sunday in April – Greenford (lift access)
81. Kingston for a shopping day out – Kingston Rail
82. Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, Epping Forest – (Larder at Butler’s Retreat) – Chingford rail
83.Crockford Bridge Pumpkin Patch, from beginning of October – Byfleet & New Haw rail (lots of steps)
84. Petts Wood – snowdrops in February – Petts Wood National Rail
85. Horseden Hill on a clear day for amazing view – Greenford (lift access)
86. Richmond town and river walk – Richmond tube and rail (lift access)
87. Folkestone town and Harbour Arm – National rail fast train from Stratford International (lift access at Stratford International and ramp at Folkestone Central)
88. Whitstable, seaside town – National rail from London Victoria

Christmas:
‘Tis the season to dress baby up in funny outfit and distract them with lots of bright lights

89. Ham House to meet Father Christmas – Richmond rail
90. Scandinavian Christmas market, Rotherhithe, 23/24/25 November 2018 – Rotherhithe (no lift) or Canada Water (lift access)
91. Ruxley Manor Grotto
92. New Years Day London parade at Trafalgar square – Charing Cross (no lift access)
93. Christmas lights and windows – Bond Street (lift access) and along Regent Street
94. Harrods Christmas department – babies will love the lights! Knightsbridge (no lift) walk from Green Park, which does have a lift
95. Winter Wonderland – There’s a special area for young children, but the rides are pricey. Nice to wander and absorb the atmosphere Knightsbridge (no lift access), walk from Green Park, which does have a lift

Play centres/soft play:
Perfect places to overload the sense, escape the rain and tire them out

96. Discover Children’s Story Centre, Stratford (Tues-Fri) – Stratford (lift access)
97. AHOY! at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich – Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich DLR (lift access)
98. Under 1 Roof – Woolwich Arsenal DLR (lift access)
99. Museum of London Docklands – Mudlarks – book in ahead of visit – Canary Wharf (lift access)
100. Cloud Twelve members club – Notting Hill (no lift, steps and escalator)
101.. ABC Studios – Forest Hill (lift access)

IN PICTURES…

[We get out and about around London with our Cybex Mios pram -lightweight, and with a mesh seat perfect for summer and a cosy toes muff and seat cover for winter]

Museums

Museum of London Docklands

Greenwich Maritime Museum