Mentioned by The Points Guy UK
16 kid-friendly things to do in London
"Located on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie building in the City of London, the Sky Garden is the capital’s highest public garden and one of the coolest places to visit in London for free. The garden’s large plant-filled atrium has floor-to-ceiling windows with amazing panoramic views out over the city below and is open throughout the day and into the evenings on weekends – making it one the best free things to do in London at night too!. There’s also an open-air covered terrace on one side."
"Located on floor 36 of the iconic Walkie Talkie, the views from the Darwin Brasserie are pretty striking. Although Fenchurch Restaurant – one of Sky Garden’s other offerings – is higher, the Darwin Brasserie has better views thanks to its position further back from the Sky Garden’s atrium roof. A good option if you want to enjoy the sights without the flocks of camera totting tourists."
"A lush oasis from the chaotic pace of London, it will captivate children and adults alike. Spectacular 360-degree views, exotic plants and an array of dining choices await you, and admission is free!. Your visit begins with an online ticket reservation."
"Restaurants Ice-cream parlours Soho. Those nitro-fuelled experimentalists at Chin Chin are the Willy Wonkas of the ice-cream world, and this Soho shop is an ostentatious showcase for their wares. Not only their signature ices, but also full-on desserts – there’s some seriously elaborate stuff going on here amid all the bells and whistles (try the decadent tiramisu sundae)."
"Must try: Griddled vegan cookie dough with burnt butter ice cream. Chin Chin is Europe’s very first liquid nitrogen ice-cream parlour and one of the best spots to discover some of the most unique and delicious desserts in London. Their exciting selection of ice cream flavours are frozen with liquid nitrogen in giant tanks, in a space that looks more like a mad scientists lab than a dessert parlour."
"A thick, brownie-like cookie with sweet-and-sticky dulce de leche, toasted hazelnuts and cranberries, it’s luxurious – full of Valhrona chocolate – and super indulgent. 54 Greek St, London W1D 3DS or 49-50 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF. Open for take-away in the weekends."
"A biscuit isn’t quite a dessert – unless it’s in the hands of Cutter & Squidge, that is. Enter the Biskie, the Soho bakery’s signature dessert which sees two discs of a cake-cookie hybrid sandwich an array of flavoured creamy fillings. The chocolate s’more version is filled with buttercream and a handmade marshmallow, while the blueberry cheesecake version layers jam, cheesecake cream and a wedge of digestive biscuit."
"It’s pretty, it’s pink and the cakes and treats are equally as gorgeous to eat as well as look at. Their famous for their ‘biskie’ creations which are a cross between a cake and a cookie sandwiched with cream or chocolate. If you prefer you can go for one of their perfectly presented cakes by the slice."
"Each one features two biscuit pieces closing in on a layer of cream to create a beautiful dessert sandwich. They’re the perfect sugary pick-me-up and come in a selection of creative flavours. Try the rich billionaire dreambar, which is served with an extra layer of chocolate in the middle."
"Having started out as a small street food stall, its innovative use of tangy sourdough has turned its sweet treats into a London must-try. There are now 20 Crosstown locations across the capital, selling doughnuts in exciting flavours including pomegranate with orange blossom, caramel with banana cream and peanut butter with blackberry compote. Various locations, crosstowndoughnuts.com"
"Another place that absolutely slays the donut game is Crosstown. These guys have only been in London since 2014, but they’ve garnered a massive following since then. As plenty of Londoners would confirm, a donut from Crosstown is absolutely one of the best desserts in London."
"The Blackberry & Pear – one of our banging new seasonal (vegan) flavours available in-store and on-demand across London, direct from the Crosstown website. 🍐🍩✖️ #crosstown#vegancrosstown#crosstowndoughnuts. 📸: chefclarisseflon 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/SV4poI3Jr6"
"Housed in the old Hampstead Central Library on Finchley Road, Camden Arts Centre began life as a local initiative, providing art classes for the community. Now, it is a powerhouse of contemporary art showing ambitious exhibitions by well-known British and international artists such as Kara Walker, Rose English, Ben Rivers and Jennifer Tee. The bookshop stocks a range of artist’s editions, and the garden is the perfect spot for a sunny afternoon."
"In 1965 a former library was converted into a gallery to promote contemporary art. The exhibitions feature emerging artists, international artists debuting in London, significant historic figures who have inspired contemporary practice, and group shows relevant to current debate. Arkwright Road, NW3 6DG Free entrycamdenartscentre.org"
"Situated in the heart of Haringey, Forks and Green is a little gem of a place. With their cosy decor, exceptionally attentive staff, and hearty food, one word comes to mind: home. Consistent with the service and quality at Forks and Green, when it comes to the menu, you are spoilt for choice."
"267 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 2UQ Why should you care?. Butcher & Brew have been established in Streatham for a few years, and now they've also just opened on the opposite side of London on Islington's Upper Street. Beer and meat is the neme of the game here."
"You may have heard of British vegan activist Earthling Ed, whose calm and collected approach to educating people on the realities of animal agriculture has helped to spread awareness to hundreds of thousands of people. Unity Diner is his restaurant, and in true Earthling Ed fashion, all profits at Unity Diner are put towards animal rights campaign work. Unity Diner is a great place to be, with beautiful decor in the form of greenery and fairy lights to set the scene."
"Nestled in East London's Spitalfields, Unity Diner has expanded to a much larger space shortly after opening, making this wholesome restaurant one of the biggest completely vegan diner and cocktail bars in the city. Founded by a couple friends, including vegan advocate Earthling Ed, this not-for-profit eatery is a safe haven for everyone, with options so good it's hard to tell the difference from traditional fish and meat dishes."
"Earthling Ed’s non-profit restaurant Unity Diner deserves a spot on this list for the three epic burgers that don’t just taste great but help animals too. You can choose from the classic Moving Mountains Burger featuring ‘beef’ patties, cheese, bacon, and all the trimmings. There’s also the VFC Burger – a vegan take on the Southern-fried chicken patty with cheese, bacon, and a hash brown."
"If you’ve never been to Xi’an Impression next to the Emirates Stadium, you either have terrible taste or simply couldn’t get in. The founders have now understood that delicious, handmade noodles and Shaanxi province cuisine deserves a bigger surface area and opened a second outlet in Whitechapel last year (a third, Master Wei, can now be found in Bloomsbury). In this far more capacious eatery, all the same classics are available with far more room to breathe."
"Dating back to 1115, the cathedral and surrounding abbey were once a self-contained community and the original gatehouse and the striking tower of the church are still standing, after more than 1000 years. The abbey is also home to the shrine of St Alban, England’s first martyr, for whom the city is named. To make the most of your visit here, take a free guided tour, run by a very knowledgeable local volunteer, who will explain the exquisite sculptures and stained glass windows."
"If you’re trying to decide what to do in St Albans first, a guided walking tour is a great option. Not only will you gain historical insight about this fascinating city, but you’ll also become more familiar with the layout, which is sure to come in handy. St Albans Tour Guides offers a nice variety of themed walks throughout the year."