South Kensington
The Natural History Museum · Photo: Ryan Hodnett
Dinosaurs in the morning, a garden picnic at lunchtime and hands-on science in the afternoon, all within a five-minute walk of each other and all free to enter. Because everything is indoors except the V&A garden, it holds up in any weather.
Museum · 10:00–12:15 (2h15m)
Start at opening with the dinosaur galleries and the blue whale in Hintze Hall. Book the free timed ticket; weekends and holidays queue.
An indoor museum in London.
Photo: Ryan Hodnett
Museum · 12:20–14:00 (1h40m)
Packed lunches are allowed in the John Madejski Garden (garden open 10:00-17:00), or use the museum cafes. Pick up a free family trail afterwards.
An indoor museum in Kensington, aimed at ages 0–12.
Photo: Lobster1
Museum · 14:10–16:45 (2h35m)
Afternoon of space and flight galleries. Wonderlab (paid, from £13.50, aimed at 7-14s, 3 and under free) is optional. Last entry 17:15, closes 18:00.
An indoor museum in London.
Photo: Christine Matthews
LondonGreenwich
Walk beneath the copper hull of a Victorian tea clipper, graze the street-food stalls at the covered market, peek up the spiral stairs of the Queen's House and finish by climbing Greenwich Park for the view across to Canary Wharf. Everything is in one compact riverside town centre.
Cutty Sark Clipper Ship → Greenwich Market → Queen's House → Greenwich Park
LondonGreenwich / Canary Wharf
A morning on the slopes of Greenwich Park and lunch at the market, then a hop across the Thames to Canary Wharf for the free London Museum Docklands and its Mudlarks play gallery. Ends with a short wander in the covered roof garden above the Elizabeth line station.
Greenwich Park → Greenwich Market → Uber Boat by Thames Clipper → Museum of London Docklands + 1 more
LondonKew
One ticket, one big day: Victorian glasshouses for a showery morning, a picnic on the lawns, and a long session in the Children's Garden, a play space for 2-12s built around how plants grow. Child tickets are heavily discounted.
Kew Gardens → Kew Gardens → Kew Gardens
