London is developing fast to the Eastside. New developments of magnificent skyscrapers, shopping malls, entertainment houses are springing up everywhere from Hackney, Stratford, Docklands and over to the other side of River Thames on the Greenwich Peninsula. The general environment has changed beyond recognition. So if you are asking for things to do with kids near me, do not worry at all — today there are more things to do with kids in London Eastside than before.
There is no need for families to spend time in the overcrowded London underground tube looking for things for their kids to do in Central London. We have put together a few exciting places where you can conveniently spend a day out with the kids.
1. Thames River Taxi
There’s no better way to go to the Eastside of London than cruising in a river taxi on the Thames. The River taxi runs four services an hour from London Waterloo in the West and Woolwich in the East to Canary Wharf pier. The journey from Waterloo Pier takes 30 minutes, which is almost the same time from Woolwich.
There’s also another river taxi service that operates between London Bridge and Canary Wharf every 10 minutes during peak hours. During the journey, the kids can enjoy the comfort and the spectacular view of London’s many landmarks.
Oyster cards are accepted for Pay-As-You-Go payments for Thames River taxi services.
2. The Museum of London Docklands
The Museum of London Docklands stands next to Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs in East London. The museum occupies five floors of a splendid old warehouse, and all galleries display the history of London as a port from the Roman era to the modern-day. It has a lot of activities for kids of all ages.
Open: Daily 10am – 6pm
Price: free
DLR: Westferry Station
Tube: Canary Wharf Station
Address: West India Quay, No.1 Warehouse, Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AL
3. Cineworld London
Go to Cineworld London at West India Quay, and let the kids enjoy the best films and family movies. This modern 10-screen cinema is located right next to Canary Wharf, the upscale London financial district.
Age: All
Open: Daily 11am – 11pm
Price: Starting from £4.00
DLR: Westferry
Tube: Canary Wharf Station
Address: 9-11 Hertsmere Road, Poplar, London E14 4AL
4. Thames Rockets Captain Kidd’s Canary Wharf Voyage
Take the kids to the Thames Rockets Captain Kidd’s Canary Wharf Voyage. It is nearly an hour of the unforgettable speedboat ride, on River Thames. The experience on those speedboats is so electrifying and thrilling from the moment you set off at the London Eye Pier to the end.
On the way to Canary Wharf, the kids will see many of London landmarks along the river such as the Houses of Parliament, London Bridge, Tate Modern, The Shard, HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and more.
Start: London Eye Pier:
Prices: Adult from — £39.95 Kids 14 years and under — £29.95
Tube: Embarkment, Chairing Cross, Waterloo, Westminster
5. The O2 Arena
The O2 Arena is bursting with a range of activities for Kids. There’s a lot under one roof from one of the largest multiplex cinemas in London to a variety of children’s shows including Disney on Ice Passport. Kids can do urban mountaineering by climbing to the O2 roof without using an escalator, or a lift.
Open: Daily 6 am – closing times vary.
Price: Varies
River Bus: North Greenwich Pier
Tube: North Greenwich Station
Train: North Greenwich Station
Cable car
Address: Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0DX
6. The Emirates Cable Car
The Emirates Cable car carries people from one side of River Thames at the O2 Arena to the other at Royal Docks close to the ExCeL Centre. The kids will enjoy seeing the London skyline from ninety meters above the River Thames – but will also have a spectacular London City Airport, Canary Wharf, the Thames Barrier, and the O2 Arena.
Every evening after 19.00pm, flight durations are extended by 12 – 13 minutes each way, to allow people to enjoy more trip time across the Thames.
Open: Daily 10 am – closing times vary.
Price: Adult £3.50 – £8.40, Child £1.70 – £5.00
DLR: Royal Victoria
Tube: North Greenwich Tube Station
Address: Emirates Cable Car Terminal, Edmund Halley Way, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0FR
Address: Emirates Air Line (East), 27 Western Gateway, Royal Docks, London E16 1FA
7. Mudchute Park and Farm
The Mudchute Park and Farm is on 35 acres of countryside close to Canary Wharf in the heart of East London. It is one the largest inner-city farm in Europe, and it’s home to sheep, cows, goats, horses, ducks, geese, llamas, and many more.
The farm has a study centre, nurseries, and rider stables. It offers activities such as horse riding lessons, dog training, and many other children feel the animals, something they get from seeing them on television.
Mudchute is a piece of wilderness for kids and adults to enjoy, a place to learn, to see the unexpected and somewhere to play just closer to London’s major financial district.
Ages: 1+
Open: Daily 9am – 5pm
Entry: Free
DLR: Mudchute
8. ArcelorMittal Orbit
The ArcelorMittal Orbit is the world’s tallest and longest slide tunnel located in Stratford. It will allow kids to see the city’s skyline from a different side of East London. Children will embark on an exhilarating journey from the top through twists and turns on their way down to the ground.
Ages: 7+
Open: Monday to Friday 11am – 5pm, Saturday to Sunday 10am – 6pm
Entry: Adults £16.50, Children £10.50
DLR: Pudding Mill Lane
Tube: Stratford
Address: 5 Thornton Street, Stratford, London E20 2AD
9. Stepney City Farm
The Stepney City Farm is another urban farm located on a four-acre of Land in the East End of London. There’s a lot more here than just a place for farm animals. The farmstead is also a community meeting place, rural arts centre and somewhere where people go to learn how to grow their food.
Ages: 1+
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
Entry: Free
Tube: Stepney Green
Address: Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way, London E1
10. London Aquatics Centre
The London Aquatics was designed to cater for swimmers of all abilities from novices to professionals. The centre provides a variety of fun-packed activities for kids from lane swimming, diving lessons to other aquatic disciplines.
It is a world facility, and the kids will feel the excitement of swimming under the wave-like roof.
Ages: All
Open: Daily 6am – 10.30pm
Price: Kids from £2.80, Adults from £5.10
DLR: Stratford
Tube: Stratford Station
Train: Stratford Railway Station
Address: Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 2ST
11. The Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood
The Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum. It is a few steps from the Bethnal Green Tube station in East London.
It is a perfect museum for kids of all ages. Its galleries have an extensive collection of artefacts for the kid, doll’s houses, puppets, games, and everything you can imagine being used to care for a child.
Ages: All
Open: Daily 10am – 17.45pm
Price: Free
Tube: Bethnal Green Station
Address: Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 0ET
12. Kidzmania
Kidzmania is an ideal place for energetic kids. It provides a fantastic indoor playground experience for children in the heart of sprawling Hackney. The site has a slide, climb, jump, run and much more play equipment built for kids.
Ages: 1+
Open: Daily 10am – 6pm
Price: £2.00 – £5.00
Train: Clapton Railway Station
Address: 28 Powell Road, Hackney, London, E5 8DJ
13. Revolution Karting
Revolution Karting has one of the best outdoor Karting tracks in London. The track is in Mile End, East London, and karts can do speeds of more than 45 mph making the track the fastest in London.
They offer a choice of packages from individual races to group mini Grand Prix like racing competitions. Under 18 children must be accompanied by an adult.
Ages: 12+
Open: Daily 10am-11pm
Price: From £25
DLR: Devons Road DLR
Tube: Mile End Tube Station
Train: Limehouse Railway Station
Address: The arches 422-424 Burdett Road, Mile-End, London, E3 4AA
14. London Fields Lido
The London Fields Lido is a heated outdoor swimming pool located in Hackney, London. The swimming pool is available all day, all year round for all swimmers.
It also offers one-to-one swimming lessons for kids and adults. This is a top swimming facility in one fo loveliest environment in London.
Age: All
Open: Daily 6.30am – 21:00pm
Price: Kids from £2.85, Adults from £4.80
Tube: Bethnal Green Station
Train: London Fields Railway Station
Address: London Fields, Westside, Hackney, London, E8 3EU, England