The best family days out in London and beyond rated by kids and teens
K-Rater Stan on a Thames Rocket
A cruise along the Thames is a fun and congestion-free way of seeing London’s top landmarks.
City Cruises give you the freedom to explore the many sights of the River Thames from four fantastic piers close to popular attractions: Westminster, the London Eye, the Tower of London and Greenwich. You can also enjoy lunch, afternoon tea and dinner cruises. Their fleet of boats are designed to give you the best vantage point from the river. Sit back, relax and enjoy the views from the open-air upper deck or the comfortable saloon.
Look out for Uber Boats by Thames Clippers as well. Oh and good news Mum and Dad – there’s a bar onboard.
But, if speed is more your thing, take a Thames Rocket which will see you tearing down the Thames at 50mph on a unique and funny guided tour.
For a truly horrible experience, the Horrible Histories Terrible Thames boat is back! Running from Tower Bridge Quay you can learn about all the terrible things that took place along the Thames.
Dinghy Sailing
There are loads of sailing activities along the river. The Westminster Boating Base helps young people to develop skills in water sports. Sessions are available from absolute beginners to gaining a Level 2 certificate.
The Youth Membership (10-23yr) is only £10 joining fee and from £7.50 a month and offers tuition in sailing, canoeing and kayaking. Hammersmith and Chiswick also have similar Boat clubs, where you can sail and race along the Thames, but you must be a member.
Richmond Riverside
Richmond is a beautiful section of southwest London with picturesque views all along the Thames, so it’s a great place to rent a rowing boat.
And for dog owners, many of the boat companies welcome dogs of all sizes and have a fleet of boats of different sizes available, that one can pick depending on the number of their human and canine crew members.
Companies offering boats for hire or boat trips include the Richmond Bridge Boathouse, Parr Boats, Thames River Boats and Turks Launches.
Elliot K-Rates Emirates Air Line
IFS Cloud Cable Car crosses the River Thames between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. It’s a great way to get a birds-eye-view of the Thames and discover a unique view of London and the Thames Barrier.
You can use your Oyster Card, but if you buy a ticket there you can keep it as a nice souvenir. There isn’t much to do at Royal Victoria Docks so get a return ticket.
Side note: If you need new ideas for a date night, you can actually book up a cable car to yourselves at night with champagne to go along with the view.
Skuna BBQ Boat, Canary Wharf
Why BBQ on land when you can BBQ on board a Skuna Boat? Their self drive electric boats at Canary Wharf come complete with a central BBQ grill.
Spend 100 minutes on the water cooking up your faves. You can bring your own food, or order a BBQ pack from Skuna Boats.
1 person drives and the others can concentrate on cooking!
Sunset in Waterloo
There are so many places to catch the sunset over the Thames but a great place is Waterloo Bridge. Find a nice bench, bring some to-go food and relax.
Or head down to Southbank for the day and choose from a variety of activities – especially in the summer – and also loads of restaurants.
So, once you’ve had your fill, saunter onto Waterloo Bridge and watch the sunset over the river against the backdrop of London.
Puppet Barge Theatre
Ok so it’s not on the river but…..The Puppet Theatre Barge hosts a variety of great little puppet shows for all the family. The audience begin their journey as soon as they step onto the gangplank and climb aboard. They descend below the waterline (wellingtons not necessary) and leave the real world behind.
The theatre’s golden curtain is softly lit and banks of seats slope gently to the roof. A ship’s bell is rung, the audience falls silent in anticipation. Music plays, the lights dim, the theatre goes dark and finally the curtain rises to the delight of children and adults alike.
The barge is usually located in Little Venice (actually on the canal, not the Thames) or in Richmond, and is a fun way to enjoy some puppetry, in the novel surroundings of the barge.
River Restaurant on the Thames
If you fancied a different dining experience, why not eat on a boat? Three courses anyone? How about four or even five!?
There are loads of different restaurants dotted around London that float along the Thames. It’s a great way to enjoy some views and great food. Some even have live music and a dance floor for you to show off some moves!
There’s a variety to choose from such as the Thames Dinner Cruise and City Cruises. Wherever you go, you’re sure to see some spectacular views.
Thames fishing
There are plenty of locations along the river Thames to fish. It’s a calming, but rewarding activity, that requires lots of patience.
This is a great way to clear your head and relax a little bit. You can bring that friend that you’ve been meaning to catch up with. Time flies when you’re having fun. You may even find yourself catching your own supper!
Bring a picnic and a pack of cards on a sunny day and enjoy some good old-fashioned angling. It’s free in many places, but you do need a rod license.
Doing some Mudlarking
People have been Mudlarking on the Thames for centuries, scavenging for things to sell. These days it’s a great way of remembering the past and making discoveries that add to the history. Anyone can do it but it’s a lot harder than it looks.
A good place to go for beginners is the beach below the Globe Theatre. You’ll need waterproof trousers and wellies, and a brick-pointing trowel – the ultimate tool for beachcombing.
Spend a couple of hours before the tide gets high hunting for treasure, and you’ll be amazed at what you can find. From Roman coins to monkey skulls – you never know what you might discover!
Clink Prison Museum
Matilda the Musical
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