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Young visitors sitting in a teacup chair in the courtyard at Sutton House and Breaker's Yard, London
Young visitors sitting in a teacup chair in the courtyard at Sutton House and Breaker's Yard, London | © National Trust Images/Rob Stothard

Family-friendly places to visit in London

Discover the top places to visit in and around London with your family. Make memories to treasure as you get active, tackle trails and connect with nature together in the great outdoors, or enjoy immersing yourself in the history of famous historic houses.

Autumn for families across London

Two girls play wearing black and purple witches costumes and an orange pointed witch hat.

October half-term trail at Ham House & Garden 

26 October – 3 November. Enjoy a potion themed trail for children at Ham House & Garden this October, inspired by the Still House, a room in this Tudor mansion which would have been dedicated to the creation of medicines, makeup and cordials. Seasonal spotter and autumn leaves colouring-in sheets will also be available.

Icy cobweb at Avebury, Wiltshire

Morden Hall Park: Spiders aren't so scary 

Fri 18 and Sat 19 October, 5-7pm: These sessions are run by our nature group experts and give you a chance to discover some of the spiders which call Morden Hall Park home. Whilst it's suitable for all ages, we'd recommend that children should be 7+ to get the most out of it.

Halloween pumpkins carved with scary faces at Claydon, Buckinghamshire.

Ghostly games: Rainham Hall 

Escape outdoors into this 3 acre community garden this half-term for free family games with a spooky twist. Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 4pm.

Close up of a family carving pumpkins at a table outside

Pumpkin carving: Rainham Hall 

Get stuck into the squelch and create spooky decorations for your front doorstep, just in time for Halloween. Booking required £4 per pumpkin carving, 24 - 27 October, time slots between 11.15am and 4pm.

Planning ahead: Christmas in London

A glowing Christmas tree in the window of the Long Gallery at Ham House, looking really festive

Christmas in London 

Enjoy the sparkle of Christmas across London with family activity trails, frosty walks around historic estates and seasonal treats this Christmas.

Plan your family day out

A young child dressed in a fancy dress witch costume for Halloween, holding an orange witches hat in her hand and smiling at another child also dressed in a fancy dress witch costume
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Ham House and Garden 

Head to the Outer Courtyard where little people will love getting stuck into the Mud Kitchen, using imaginative play to create culinary masterpieces. The Wilderness is a wonderful place to explore too, with over a mile of Hornbeam hedges arranged in a maze-like pattern.

ZooLab Animal Encounters at Osterley during Halloween
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Osterley Park and House 

From bike rides to den building, discover the full range of family-friendly activities and events taking place at Osterley Park.

An adult lifts a child up so she can reach the falling autumn leaves from a tree at Morden Hall Park, London. The child is smiling and holds a large handful of yellow coloured autumn leaves.
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Morden Hall Park 

Explore the natural play area, spot wildlife from the boardwalk and enjoy a family walk at Morden Hall Park, with pushchair friendly routes available. Wander into the second hand book shop for a treasure trove of stories.

A smiling boy rides a red bicycle on a parkland trail

Outdoor activities in London 

There are plenty of ways to get active with all the outdoor activities available at National Trust places in London.

A family walking in the grounds at Osterley Park and House, London

Walking in London 

From acres of parkland at Osterley Park to the meadows, wetlands and woodlands of Ham House, discover where to go for the best walks in London.

Family members sat outside the café at Osterley Park and House, London

Places to eat in London 

Discover some favourite tea-rooms and cafés in London and plan where to stop for a tasty treat on your next adventure

Autumnal crafts and activities

Carved pumpkin display for Halloween at Wicken Fen Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire
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Carve a pumpkin lantern 

Learn how to make a pumpkin lantern this Halloween and find tips for recycling it afterwards. You can also find ideas for using natural materials as an alternative to plastic decorations.

Gingerbread with a sticky glaze and orange peel on the top
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Sticky gingerbread 

Treat yourself to some delicious sticky gingerbread.

Homemade bird feeders at Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire
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Make fat cakes for birds 

Encourage birds to visit your garden or outdoor space throughout winter and early spring by making these nourishing fat cakes. They're also a great way to make use of your food scraps and yoghurt pots.

Exterior view of Fenton House and Garden, London. The gardens include an orchard, kitchen garden, rose garden and formal terraces and lawns.

Discover more in London

From thriving wetlands to sprawling estates, intimate spaces and modernist masterpieces, London has it all, if you know where to look.