Top 10 Stuff for Kids to Do in London

London has loads of annual events that kids would enjoy. Here are a few highlights throughout the year:

• January: New Year's Day Parade
• February: Pancake Day Races
• March: St. Patrick's Day celebrations
• April: Easter celebrations
• May: Museums and Galleries Month
• June: Trooping the Colour (Queen's Birthday Parade)
• July: Children's Art Day
• August: Notting Hill Carnival Children's Day and Kid's Week
• September: Open House London
• October: Punch and Judy Festival in Covent Garden
• November: Bonfire Night and The Lord Mayor's Show
• December: Christmas fun

The Museum in Docklands has a great play area for under 12s called Mudlarks. Everything is themed around life in the London docks so the big kids can weigh cargo or load a tea clipper while the small kids get to crawl around with large foam bananas and a London bus, plus they can pretend to drive a DLR train. Talking of trains, to get to the Museum in Docklands you need to take the DLR (Docklands Light Railway). Get a seat at the front as these trains don't have a driver and you, or your little one, can pretend to drive the train!

• Museum in Docklands Visitor Information
• Mudlarks and Family Activities at the Museum in Docklands

This bronze statue of Peter Pan is in Kensington Gardens, next to Hyde Park. The exact location was chosen by Peter Pan's author, J.M. Barrie. Barrie lived close to Kensington Gardens and published his first Peter Pan story in 1902, using the park for inspiration. In his Peter Pan tale, The Little White Bird, Peter flies out of his nursery and lands beside the Long Water lake - on the spot where the statue now stands.

• Peter Pan Statue in Kensington Gardens
• How To Find The Peter Pan Statue
• Kensington Palace Visitor Information

The Foundling Museum tells the story of the Foundling Hospital, London's first home for abandoned children. This remarkable collection of art and social history is now housed in a restored and refurbished building adjacent to the original site of the Hospital, which was demolished in 1926. The Foundling Museum is free for children at all times but there is a small charge for adults. They have regular family events on the first Saturday of every month and admission is free for all then. Just around the corner is Coram's Fields, a central London children's playground where adults are only permitted with a child and there is always staff on site. There's a Pet's Corner and a cafe as well as playground activities for all ages.

• Foundling Museum Visitor Information
• Foundling Museum Family Activities
• The Foundling Museum History
• Coram's Fields Playground

The London Dungeon calls itself "the world's most chillingly famous horror attraction." It covers 2,000 years of London's gruesome history. Kids love that stuff.

• London Dungeon Visitor Information
• London Dungeon Review
• London Dungeon Photos
• Save up to 50% on London Dungeon Tickets with lastminute.com

It can be a chore taking children shopping with you, particularly in a big city, as they can get easily bored. Hamleys is the most famous toy store in the world (I'm told). Hamleys was established in 1760 and has been a London landmark since the early 1800s. The Regent Street store has 7 floors packed full of the latest toys, games, and gifts. And there's an exclusive Narnia staircase too. Keep your little darlings stimulated by adding a few of the Top London Shops for Children into your day.

• Hamleys
• Top London Shops for Children

London Zoo opened in 1827 and I have heard it is so old it is actually where the word 'zoo' originates from. Its focus is on conservation and it has long-term breeding programs for 130 species as well as extensive education programs. Don't let the word 'education' put you off as London Zoo is an excellent family day out for all ages. There are plenty of free activities once you're inside so you can easily spend a whole day there.

• London Zoo Family Activities
• How to Save Money on London Zoo Tickets
• London Zoo Photos
• London Zoo Penguin Pool Photos

The British Museum opened in 1753 and has prided itself on remaining free for all that time. There is so much to see at the British Museum in London that it would easily take a week to get round everything, so to help I have put together some photos of the British Museum highlights that can be seen in a couple of hours. Kids love the Egyptian mummies and the Easter Island Statue.

• British Museum Visitor Information
• British Museum Free Daily Family Activities
• British Museum Highlights Photos

The Horniman Museum is a real find. Tucked away in the depths of south London, the Horniman Museum has exhibitions of the natural and cultural worlds. And it has an aquarium. And it's all free. Really, this place is worth the trip - it's actually only 13 minutes by train from London Bridge train station. You could go to The London Dungeon in the morning (as it's under London Bridge station) then jump on a train to Forest Hill and have more fun at the Horniman Museum. Now just how much fun can you handle in one day?

• Horniman Museum Basics
• Horniman Museum Review
• Horniman Museum Photo Gallery

All of these ideas are FREE!

• Trafalgar Square's National Gallery always has free family activities, plus ArtStart - a multimedia system that allows you to search the collection and helps you plan your visit.
• In South Kensington you've got the big three: the V&A, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum.
• In east London, there's the Geffrye Museum which is always having children's special days, and the Museum of Childhood which is all about children.
• The Guards Museum has real military uniforms for the kids to try on and receive a photo and certificate.
• You can always check the London with Kids section of this web site or visit kidslovelondon.com for even more ideas.