21 Best Tours in London for Families (2024)
Almost double the size of New York City, the British capital city of London is a great place for a family vacation. The sheer size and historical importance of Central London offers endless activities, toy stores, and museums for kids of all ages. This guide includes only the best tours in London for families so that your entire family has a fun, educational, and memorable experience.
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The Best Tours in London for Families
The London Underground public transportation system makes navigating this sprawling city with a family in tow doable and the choice of day trips are endless. It can be overwhelming to plan a family trip to London, especially if you don’t have much time.
Instead, let an expert guide take your whole family on food tours, themed tours, bus tours, or any other type of tour of the top London attractions. This ensures you will have the best time possible with minimal stress.
Free Tours in London
1. Walking Tour
One of the best tours in London for families on a budget is a tip-based walking tour. Sandemans New Europe’s Free Tour of London is a comprehensive two-and-a-half-hour walking tour. It takes place rain or shine (in London’s case, probably rain), around London’s important sites.
The meeting point is in Covent Garden. From there you will visit Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, and so much more. It’s perfect for older kids who can handle long London walks. And you know your guide will be entertaining since they have to work for their tips!
2. Street Art Tour
It can be difficult to find tips-based tours that aren’t classic walking tours in most cities, but not London! Free Tours by Foot runs several pay-what-you-think walking tours (with a $3 booking fee), including this two-hour London Graffiti and Street Art Tour.
Creative kids will love exploring London’s cool Shoreditch neighborhood witnessing impressive murals and works by top British street artists like Banksy.
Unique London Tours
3. Ghost Bus Tour
Is there a more quintessentially London activity than riding on double-decker buses? Nope, and you can raise the thrill factor by booking a ghost tour with interesting facts about the city’s dark past.
Ghost Bus Tours runs a fantastic Comedy Horror Ghost Tour on a Bus which is perfect for kids.
This one-hour tour is a great way to see famous sights including Westminster Abbey, Fleet Street, The Tower of London, and Tower Bridge from a creepier perspective. Special effects and actors make the experience all the more immersive.
4. Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
This is a great alternative to the Ghost Bus Tour if you are visiting London with teens. The tour is an intimate experience in which to learn about London’s criminal history. Book either a public or private Jack the Ripper Walking Tour to discover all about London’s most notorious Victorian serial killer. Kids get a huge discount on this tour too!
For two hours, walk along the back alleys and cobblestone streets of the Whitechapel and Spitalfields neighborhoods in London’s East End. Learn about Jack the Ripper’s victims, the Scotland Yard police investigation, and more about the dangers of city living at the turn of the 20th century.
5. Tower of London Beefeater Tour
Beefeaters (or more formally, ‘Yeoman Warders’) are part of a special armed force protecting His Majesty’s Royal Palace. They are also the guardians of The Tower of London, a 1,000-year-old fortress, castle, and prison. We recommend an official Yeoman Warders Tour of the Tower. This is an exciting way of exploring this famous London landmark with kids.
Learn how William the Conqueror built the White Tower, discover the Traitor’s Gate and its famous prisoners, see the Royal Mint, and even see the Crown Jewels of the British Royal Family.
Don’t miss the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Sentries near the Jewel House. This occurs every two hours (ask at the information desk about specific timings).
Tours run every thirty minutes in good weather and can’t be booked in advance. Book your family tickets to the tower in advance and show up early, especially during British school holidays.
6. Harry Potter Studio Tour
If your family loves the Harry Potter films, you really can’t miss Harry Potter Studios just north of London. Part behind-the-scenes studio and part theme park, this Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour includes your tickets as well as convenient, luxury transport to and from London.
Visit the actual sound stages used in the movies including the set of The Great Hall, the dormitories, and Diagon Alley. See incredible special effects at Gringotts, take fun photos flying on a broomstick over Hogwarts, and enjoy sips of butterbeer. There are so many fun things to do on this tour, you could spend a whole day here without getting bored.
7. Harry Potter City Walking Tour
Don’t have time to visit the Harry Potter Studios? Not a problem. Harry Potter fans will love this Harry Potter Walking Tour of the filming locations around London city center through Viator.
Visit the Millennium Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Borough Market (the location of the Leaky Cauldron), Leadenhall Market where Hadrid walks with Harry, and St. Paul’s Cathedral which stands in as part of Hogwarts.
These Harry Potter tours aren’t all business, you can play games and win prizes too! Earn house points for knowing Harry Potter trivia and learn tons of insider facts about the making of the movies.
8. Regent’s Canal Tour
London’s River Thames flows right through the city all the way north to Oxford, so you can only imagine the number of canals and streams around Central London. Sail along the leafy Regent’s Canal on this Canal Boat Tour from Little Venice to Camden Lock on a public tour or with your own private guide.
Take a traditional narrowboat by Browning’s Island, the nesting site of swans, herons, geese, and more. Steam past Regent’s Park, and the London Zoo, and learn about London’s maritime history on these fun and unique family-friendly tours.
9. Classic Afternoon Tea on a Bus
If your kids want to ride a double-decker bus but aren’t into scary stories, one of the best tours in London for families is an afternoon tea bus. Yes, Brigit’s Bakery offers a one-of-a-kind, Classic Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Bus Tour around London.
Climb aboard a vintage 1960s red bus to munch on finger sandwiches, pastries, and cakes. Of course you will wash everything down with a cup of authentic English tea.
The top deck of a bus is a great place to view the landmarks. Expect to pass by Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, St James’s Park, Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, Marble Arch, Downing Street, and many more.
10. Wembley Stadium Tour
If your kids play soccer in school or are interested in music, they will love visiting the enormous Wembley Stadium. This Wembley Stadium Guided Tour is a two-hour long, highly-rated tour of the UK’s largest sporting and music venue in the UK
Visit backstage areas like the dressing rooms and players’ tunnel that most of the public never get to witness. It is impossible to imagine the sheer size of the empty Wembley Stadium unless you see it with your own eyes!
Food Tours in London for Families
11. Secret London Food Tour
The UK has a reputation for bland cuisine. But as a large, cosmopolitan city, London is one of the best places in the world to visit for incredible food!
Secret Food Tours runs a phenomenal three-and-a-half-hour London Walking Food Tour the whole family will love. You can book the public option or a private tour guide which is ideal if any member of your family has specific dietary needs.
Find out where to taste the best fish and chips on their ‘London Bridge’ option (don’t forget the curry sauce and mushy peas!). Dine on sausage rolls, British cheese, mouth-watering sticky toffee pudding, and a classic bacon and egg breakfast bap. Adults over 18 years old can sample local beers and ciders too.
12. Tour of Borough Market
London has tons of exciting outdoor food markets and one of the best is Borough Market.
It’s a great choice if you’re seeking a shorter food tour with less walking and you would like to sample some top-tier international dishes as well as local fare. This London Borough Market Small-Group Food Tour offers all of the above!
Tuck into classic British food like fish and chips and learn about the history of the market and London’s ever-evolving food scene.
13. Kid-Friendly Cooking Classes
Family-friendly cooking classes are one of the best things to do on any vacation with kids. You can all have fun while learning about a new cuisine and gaining new skills to take home with you.
Two great options are the Gordon Ramsey Academy Classes where families can learn the skills to cook international dishes like pasta or sushi, or British treats like pies and tarts.
The Jamie Oliver Cookery School also offers international cooking classes like Indian curries and Vietnamese street food. They also have quintessentially British classes where you can learn how to look a British roast dinner.
Bike Tours in London
14. City Center Bike Tour
While London traffic might not look very friendly to cyclists, its many bike lanes. Its flat streets are perfect for bike tours. You can pack in more sights than if you were on a walking tour and you can stop and soak in the stops which is difficult on a bus tour.
One great bike tour option is the Classic London Landmarks Bicycle Group Tour. Cycle past Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, and up to 12 more stops on this tour.
Another is this Secret London Tour by Bike. This three-and-a-half-hour tour covers London’s famous landmarks as well as lesser-visited spots in the East End. Both tours have a minimum age of 10 years old and helmets are provided.
Fat Tire Tours also offers this Small Group Royal Bike tour that visits the Royal Parks and includes a stop for lunch.
History Tours in London
15. Tower of London Tour
The Beefeaters Tour of The Tower of London is unique, but it can get quite busy during the peak seasons. Context Travel offers a fantastic kid-friendly Private Tower of London Tour and it’s one of the best tours in London for families with younger children.
This two-and-a-half-hour tour of London’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site includes fascinating facts your kids won’t believe. Learn about why it’s located on the Thames River, the Crown Jewels, the gory executions that took place at the tower, and the curious reason why so many ravens live on the grounds.
16. Secret London Tour
If this is your second family vacation in London, you will all have already visited the main attractions like the London Eye and the British Museum.
Luckily, this 90-minute Secret London Walking Tour will introduce your family to a different side of the city far from the usual tourist trail.
Uncover the World’s Smallest Police Station, the address where Mozart composed his first symphony, and the only surviving home of Benjamin Franklin. Get ready to learn about London’s eclectic and hidden history on one of the best tours in London for families seeking an alternative, exciting tour.
17. London in a Day Tour
It’s arguably tougher to plan a one-day trip to London than it is to plan a five-day family vacation. How are you supposed to know what to visit and what to leave out?! Don’t worry, this private London in a Day Tour for Kids will do all the legwork for you.
Over six hours, you will eat at Borough Market and explore St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, and many more landmarks with a family-focused expert guide.
Stroll along London’s beautiful South Bank and even see the Tate Modern Art Gallery and Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. It will be the most relaxing, stress-free day you’ve ever spent in London with kids.
18. Small Car Big City Tour
Tapping an Oyster Card on the London Underground, double-decker buses, and on foot aren’t the only ways to explore London. Take a ride in an iconic British Mini Cooper car on a Private Car Tour by Small Car Big City.
Their 90-minute London Landmark and two-hour Panoramic London tours are perfect for kids of all ages. Younger kids will enjoy the sights without getting tired, while older kids will enjoy riding in the cool cars. Note that there is a maximum of three people per car, so you may need to book two or more.
Day Tours from London for Families
19. Cotswolds
The Cotswolds (about 100 miles west of the city) is one of the best day trips families can take from the capital. Cotswolds Full Day Trip from London includes a detour to Oxford and a private driver/personal guide.
Visit quintessentially English storybook villages and towns like Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold, Swinbrook, and Upper and Lower Slaughter. Walk and ride past thatched cottages, stone farmhouses selling homemade preserves, babbling brooks, and miles of lush green fields.
20. Stonehenge and Bath
Visit an ancient wonder and an ancient city only 90 miles from London in Southwest England in just one day. This small group Stonehenge and Roman Baths Full Day Trip is perfect if you’re seeking a fun yet educational trip for your children.
Stonehenge is a world-famous neolithic monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site which is unmissable on a trip to England.
Nearby is the Roman city of Bath. Not only is it the home of historic Roman spas but also the setting of many Jane Austen novels. There is a lot of bang for your buck on this tour!
21. Windsor Castle
One of the best half-day London tours is to Windsor. It is an easy trip only one hour west of the city center. This Windsor Castle Half-Day Tour provides luxury coach travel from London and pre-booked Windsor Castle admission.
Windsor Castle is one of the British Royal Family’s palaces and where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married in 2018. Although there are many chapels, historic monuments, and grounds you can visit, it’s perfect for families who only have a few hours to spend outside of London.
Book the Best Tours in London for Families on Your Vacation
Booking tours is a great way for your family to experience the best of London. Food tours and classes will open your taste buds to London’s diverse variety of international cuisine.
Joining a sightseeing tour will allow you all to learn about the history of London from a fun, kid-friendly guide. Day tours from London are a great way to see other parts of England without the headache of trains or rental cars.
Whether you’re traveling with young kids or older children, this list of the best tours in London for families should offer plenty of inspiration for an unforgettable trip to England’s capital city.
