Mentioned by Globetotting
45 really fun things to do in London with kids
"20 Fenchurch Street was beautifully designed by renowned architect Rafael Viñoly. The building spans 37 storeys and rhubarb occupies the top three levels alongside the public space known as Sky Garden, which provides 45,000 sq ft of high level amenity space. Visitors can wander around the exquisitely landscaped gardens with 360 degree panoramic views of London and all of the flora and fauna they need!"
"Sky Garden is one of the modern but still equally famous attractions in London. Since its opening in 2015 on the 43rd floor of the "Walkie Talkie" building, the Sky Garden has gained a lot of popularity and has become one of London's best gardens to visit. This attraction serves as a public park for visitors on top of a commercial building."
"Offering perhaps the best free vantage point in Central London, the indoor viewing decks and restaurants occupying the top three floors of 20 Fenchurch Street (known to locals as the "walkie-talkie") are a great place to hang out without spending a penny. It is open daily, just book your free visit in advance."
"Chin Chin Ice Cream was lauded as Europe's first liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour when it opened up in 2010 and it hasn’t taken long for that style to get a foothold in the favour of the general populace. Chin Chin now boasts multiple outlets across London where the clever clogs behind the counter are hand-churning enticing ice cream flavours like tonka bean and burnt butter caramel with liquid nitrogen. Adding liquid nitrogen means that the fat and water particles in the ice cream remain small and tightly knitted together during the freezing operation, resulting in intensely creamy ice cream."
"For truly breathtaking ice-cream creations, head on down to Chin Chin. This little dessert spot is famous for its extravagant flavors (you can find things like meringue pie and tonka bean on the menu!), and you can even grab a signature hot chocolate if you want something to enjoy on the go. Such a great option if you’re looking for the best desserts in London."
"The sweet treats get scientific at Chin Chin Labs, where all the ice cream is hand-churned with liquid nitrogen. Its short but inventive menu of regular flavours includes tonka bean and burnt butter caramel, with an array of topping options including bee pollen honeycomb and truffle crumble."
"This North London bakery describes itself as ‘a bit health conscious’: cakes contain low fat and sugar, but enough to ensure they taste delicious. Cutter & Squidge cakes make the perfect centrepiece for a big celebration too: the Macron Drip Cake, for instance, is a layered creation decorated with macarons, topped with chocolate shards and finished with 24 carat gold. Vegan cakes are also available, and everything can be personalised."
"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."
"Nestled in the heart of Soho lives Cutter & Squidge, artisan cake makers who specialise in extravagance and wonder. Serving up slices of uniquely flavoured and decorated cakes along with their signature Biskie - a mix of cake, biscuit and cookie topped with marshmallow, buttercream and other goodies - it’s a one-of-a-kind shop in London. And it’s not just for the dairy eaters and gluten-friendly."
"Greg Boyce and Dom Sherington’s cafe on Hackney Road is named for Scottish author Alasdair Gray’s labyrinthine depiction of Glasgow’s streets; the cafe itself is about 20 feet wide with floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s at least one layer of irony to everything else in the place, too. It began as a guest roaster affair, with beans according to vibes and a heavy lean on south west London roaster Alchemy, but it’s now strictly a Dark Arts joint, whose roastery is also based in Hackney."
"Just a stroll from Hackney City Farm, Lanark is one of east London’s lesser-known excellent cafes, opened by Greg Boyce and Dom Sherington. Roasters are rotated with near alarming regularity: Alchemy, Square Mile and Dark Arts more frequently on the roster, with a pared back menu of espresso, espresso with milk, and filter. ‘Supersize dat’ if you’re after something larger; that said, for straight-up deliciousness, the quality of the espresso is on a par with anywhere in the city."
"If you love doughnuts, you need to try Longboys in BOXPARK Wembley. Their artisan finger doughnuts are a whole new player in the game, challenging the humble glazed ring, their menu is full of delicious flavour twists and perfect pastries, as well as soft-serve ice-cream. Their menu is always changing but one classic that remains is there Lemon Meringue Pie doughnut and we say try it!"
"Longboys are all about gorgeous doughnuts, excellent coffee, and soft-serve ice cream delights, bringing their joy and passion for food to BOXPARK Wembley. Their doughnuts are made from a light brioche base and gourmet fillings that give them just enough sweetness and a complex flavour profile. These treats are next level decadent without the extra calories."
"This is the place to go for proper Italian gelato - it's known for its incredible flavours and high quality taste - one of the owners is actually a chef. Some flavours change every week, and the focus is on fruit sorbets, alcoholic sorbets, desserts and classic crowd pleasers - think Pimm's and lemonade, eton mess and blood orange."
"The iconic Soho gelateria is taking its ice cream to the streets, with flavours like ricotta with sour cherry and fresh mint stracciatella. A two tub minimum order makes the choosing less taxing, with delivery to all London postcodes available."
"Gelupo – Gelupo is as italian as it can get in central london. The excellent gelatos and sorbets are kept fresh in a deep counter"
"Born from a man’s dream to recapture the American diner scene, along with home-grilled burgers, hand-cut fries and thick milkshakes, Big Moe’s diner perfectly encapsulates classic American eating. Their menu spoils you for choice, from chargrilled beef and chicken burgers, lamb ribs and steaks to Cod and veggie options. If you want to start your day right, their breakfast menu serves New York-style Cro-dough and huge platters of beef sausages and chicken rashers served with free-range eggs and baked beans."
"39 James St, Marylebone, London W1U 1DL Why should you care?. Curry and rice are primarily the order of the day at the latest London outpost of this huge Japanese curry chain."
"If you’re craving classic American diner favourites, like fantastic burgers, milkshakes, hot dogs, and US breakfasts, head to Big Moe’s Diners. Kids can choose from vegan nuggets, a Texan burger, or chicken strips, all served with hand-cut chips. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Big Moe’s massive selection of shakes and soda floats – you’ll feel like you’re on holiday in the Big Apple."
"Some of the most famous names from the comedy circuit feature at Comedy Carnival, stars of Live At The Apollo and Mock The Week among them. At Bar Rumba on Shaftesbury Avenue off Leicester Square, Comedy Carnival has shows every Friday and Saturday night from 8.00-10.00pm and also stages a gig on one Saturday each month at Infernos on Clapham High Street. The familiar faces of Reginald D Hunter and Holly Walsh are complimented by some of the freshest talent from across the world."
"A multiple winner of the Best London Comedy Club award, you’ll get a top class evening of entertainment with the likes of Russell Howard, Lee Mack, Stephen K. Amos, Andy Parsons, Jason Manford, Rich Hall, Lenny Henry among those to have performed. You’re more likely to see some of the world’s up-and-coming comedians do their stuff at the venue in the heart of Leicester Square or at additional venues in Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus the 99 Club has expanded to."
"There's top notch comedy at the 99 Club every day of the week. Even when they're big news, comedians continue to play here — of late the great James Acaster has been putting on something of a residency. Always good to sign up to their mailing list to get the last minute heads-up on their sooper-seekrit special guests too."
"Kae Kurd, Chris McCausland, Simon Brodkin, Sara Barron, Marlon Davis, Micky Overman, Darrien Harriott, Jo Caulfield and more. Tickets: 99clubcomedy.com"
"The Markfield Beam Engine and Museum is a Grade II listed building that houses a 100 horsepower beam engine built during the 1880s with the intention to pump sewage from Tottenham towards the Beckton Works. Each engine pump is capable of moving more than two million imperial gallons of water daily. Today, the engine only runs at the museum for guests to enjoy."
"Railway Fields was first established as a nature park in 1986. Originally, the area functioned as a goods yard, or a freight station, on the Tottenham and Hampstead Junction Railway. It was declared a local nature reserve in 1990 and, since then, it has become an open space area where children can learn directly about nature; there is even a classroom in the centre."