You’re never short of ideas to entertain your family during the daytime, but finding things to do in the evening in London with kids can be surprisingly limited at times.
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While younger kids are likely to be tucked up in bed or fast asleep in a buggy, there’s still a big chunk of time to fill for older primary age kids, tweens and younger teens who definitely aren’t going to be planning an early night but aren’t old enough for some things geared to older teens.
So when you’re planning what to do in London after 6pm, I’ve picked out 24 of the best things to do in the evening in London with kids – and tips on the apparently child-friendly evening activities which aren’t as good as you’d think.
Head to the theatre
London’s theatre is among the best in the world, and you won’t be short of family-friendly shows to watch, from big-name productions like The Lion King, Matilda and Six to Wicked, Mrs Doubtfire and Back to the Future, to name a few.
I’m a big fan of the TodayTix website and app for discounts on tickets, including rush tickets and lotteries – including £40 seats for Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, which doesn’t just fill your evening but your whole afternoon as well.
If you’re already in central London, the TKTS ticket booth in Leicester Square is open daily (Monday-Saturday from 10.30am to 6pm, Sundays 12-4.30pm) – the only Official London Theatre ticket booth, it should always have the best deals of the day. When the tickets are gone, they’re gone though. There’s also the chance to see all the deals on the TKTS website if you’re not near Leicester Square.
Ceremony of the Keys
Head to the Tower of London after dark and you can watch history in action at the ancient Ceremony of the Keys, one of the most unusual things to do in London with kids.
Back in the 14th century, Edward III was furious to discover he could walk into the Tower of London unchallenged – and decreed the fortress should be locked at sunset and unlocked at sunrise from that point on. And the tradition continues to this day.
In order to see it, you’ll need to prebook – tickets are available from the start of the month and get snapped up very fast. The visit starts at 9.30pm and runs for around 35 minutes (latecomers are not allowed in, so it’s worth getting there a bit early as there are also security checks).
Check out my experience of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with kids
Ride the London Eye
One of the city’s most popular attractions, the London Eye is also a fantastic evening experience with kids, as you watch the city’s lights begin to switch on as dusk falls.
Take an evening “flight” over the capital as the sun sets and you can see some fantastic views of iconic landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and the River Thames, illuminated for the night.
In summer, the London Eye stays open until around 8:30pm although if you’re visiting during winter, sunset is much earlier, at around 4pm in December so you have more options to watch the city lit up. You can check the sunset times for London here.
View from The Shard
While not all of London’s viewpoints allow under-16s to visit in the evening, the View From the Shard is family-friendly at all hours. The observation deck, which is one of the tallest in the city, stays open until 10pm latest, depending on the season.
From the top, you can enjoy 360-degree views of the capital, including famous sites like Tower Bridge, The Gherkin, and the London Eye, all lit up against the night sky. Kids will love the interactive telescopes highlighting key sights, while teens can enjoy the exciting virtual reality experience.
If you’re considering another of London’s viewpoints with kids, bear in mind that the popular Sky Garden doesn’t allow children after 6pm, while Horizon 22 closes at 6pm or before so is only a good option during winter. The Garden at 120 does stay open to 9pm during summer so it’s another free option for things to do after 6pm in London with kids
Night River Cruise
Another great way to see the city from a different perspective is on an evening boat ride along the Thames with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Kids will love seeing London’s top attractions illuminated at night as you cruise along the river.
Jump on at Greenwich and head west until you reach the London Eye (or vice versa), taking in iconic landmarks like Tower Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral along the way. Boats run regularly until around 10:30pm and kids under 15 get 50% off the standard fare.
City Cruises is another option – the special night cruises are usually 18+ but you can catch one of the later scheduled sightseeing cruises from Westminster pier to Tower pier, which will see the river lit up during late autumn and winter.
Night Bus Tour
For a fun and relaxing way to see London’s landmarks after dark, hop on a night bus tour. These open-top buses take you past some of the city’s most famous attractions illuminated at night, including the Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Piccadilly Circus.
Most bus tours include a live guided commentary that will keep guests of all ages entertained with interesting facts and fun stories about the city, making it both an educational and exciting evening activity. Just remember to wrap up warm if you plan on sitting on the top floor.
There’s a choice of bus routes as well – Tootbus has a regular London night bus tour, as well as a shorter Christmas lights tour, while Golden Tours also runs a night bus tour.
IFS Cloud Cable Car
Take in the sights of East London from above with a ride on the IFS Cloud Cable Car (formerly Emirates Air Line Cable Car), running until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9pm the rest of the week.
The journey takes you 90 metres above the River Thames between Greenwich and the Royal Docks. Along the way, you can take in sights like The O2 Arena reflecting on the river and the bright lights of Canary Wharf.
The ride lasts about 10 minutes, or you can book a round trip for a longer experience. Finish in Greenwich and enjoy a meal at one of the family-friendly restaurants at The O2.
Visit the Outernet
Head to the Outernet next to Tottenham Court Road station, an amazing free digital entertainment space which features huge wraparound digital screens. The biggest of its kind in Europe, the screens show a variety of cutting-edge immersive art displays and exhibitions on rotation.
Open into the evening, Outernet is a great stop with kids after shopping on Oxford Street or before heading down into the West End for dinner.
It’s completely free to visit and there’s no need to book. You can simply just walk in and enjoy the incredible displays.
Jack the Ripper Tour
For older kids interested in horrible history, a Jack the Ripper walking tour is a fascinating evening activity in East London, with a whole string to choose from.
On an immersive tour, you’ll explore the streets of Whitechapel and follow in the footsteps of London’s most notorious serial killer. A knowledgeable guide brings history to life with engaging stories, facts, and photos from the past.
Kids can investigate potential suspects and piece together clues shared throughout the tour to decide who they think committed the infamous unsolved murders of 1888.
One of the most unusual is the Jack The Ripper tour from Rebel Tours, and rather than focusing on the mystery of the serial killer, looks at the women who lost their lives. Subtitled ‘What About The Women’, it aims to tell the victims’ stories, share the reality of life in the East End rather than serial killer sensationalism.
Ghost bus tour
Ghost tours aren’t just for Halloween. Older children and teens can enjoy hearing dark tales from London’s past on this Ghost Bus Tour, the UK’s only comedy-horror theatre sightseeing experience on wheels.
On the 75-minute London bus tour, you’ll visit the city’s most famous attractions and hear stories of murders and hauntings that most other tours miss out on. So whether you’re a local or just visiting the capital, you’re guaranteed to learn something new.
You’ll be guided by a live ‘conductor’, and a few mystery guests along the way, who are there to make sure the interactive tour is a fun, spooky, and memorable experience for all the family.
The tour departs from a bus stop on Northumberland Avenue at 19:30 and 21:00 each evening – suitable for children 5+, although realistically this one’s better with older kids.
Check out my review of the Ghost Bus Tour of London – with kids, or without
Evening shopping in the West End
Treat that family to an evening shopping spree in London’s West End, with plenty of shops open until late.
Hamleys, the city’s oldest and largest toy store, is open until 9pm, with seven floors of toys, games, and crafts to explore. With plenty of interactive displays and hands-on activities, it’s fun to visit even if you don’t buy anything!
After Hamleys, head to Leicester Square to check out The LEGO Store and M&M Store, both open until 10pm.
The LEGO Store features huge LEGO models of London landmarks, including a full-sized tube carriage, while the M&M Store offers four floors of chocolate-filled fun.
Plenty of shops along Oxford Street are also open until 10pm on weekdays and Saturdays, if you want to squeeze in some more retail therapy, or hop on the tube to Westfield White City or Westfield Stratford, which are both open until 9pm daily except Sundays.
Babylon Park London
For a fun evening activity for kids of all ages, head to Babylon Park, a hidden underground amusement park in Camden Market.
The unique space-themed park features a variety of rides and games. For younger kids, there’s a mini-roller coaster, bumper cars, and drop tower, while older kids and teens can enjoy the park’s many arcade and video games, skill games, and VR experiences.
The park is open until 8pm on weekdays, 10pm on Saturdays, and 9pm on Sundays. It’s completely free to visit but you’ll need to purchase “coins” to enjoy the rides and games.
For more things to do in Camden with kids, check out my top picks
Indoor mini golf
My daughter is a huge fan of mini golf, both the traditional outdoor version (fun but not great for the evening when it’s dark!) and the high-tech indoor options like Puttshack and Junkyard Golf.
So it’s definitely worth keeping a family game of mini golf on the list of what to do in London after 6pm – with a few provisos.
Because most indoor courses are adults-only after 7pm, including both Puttshack and Junkyard Golf’s various locations across London – so you may be able to book in for a 6pm slot depending on the day, which should leave enough time to complete your game, but you’ll need to be out as soon as you’ve finished.
If you’re looking to fill an hour before dinner with older kids, it’s a fun option to try, but it certainly won’t fill the whole evening (and don’t expect to turn up after eating).
Paradox Museum
The Paradox Museum is a new interactive museum in Knightsbridge filled with cool optical illusions and immersive exhibits that play tricks on your mind and challenge your perception of reality.
It’s a fun evening activity for families in London, with plenty of mind-boggling immersive displays and opportunities to snap some quirky family photos.
The unique museum is open until 8:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7pm the rest of the week. Give yourself at least 90 minutes to enjoy the many exhibits.
Warner Bros Harry Potter tour
Although the Warner Bros studios aren’t in London itself, it’s only a 20-minute train journey from Euston (plus the shuttle bus from Watford Junction station) to reach the site in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, and it stays open to 10pm at weekends.
And when you’re this close, there’s no way you should risk missing this ultimate destination for Harry Potter fans in London – it’s best to book ahead as tickets get snapped up well in advance, although if daytime tickets are gone, it’s still one of the fun things to do in London after 6pm with kids, especially older kids.
Allow plenty of time to ride broomsticks, drink butterbeer (optional!), discover props, see the Hogwarts Express, walk into The Forbidden Forest and watch a dragon rampage through Gringotts bank.
There are displays galore, and it’s only when you visit that you realise the astonishing detail and just how much work has gone into each aspect, not to mention an array of magical creatures plus background on how the sets and animatronics were created.
Check out hippogriff Buckbeak, whose feathers were added by hand and kept groomed by the Creature Effects team, or interact with Dobby the House Elf. And if you’ve always wanted to visit Hogwarts, this is the only place you’ll find the whole castle.
There are special events throughout the year, in winter you can discover Hogwarts in the Snow or a Dark Arts theme for Halloween, as well as other temporary exhibitions.
If you’re looking for hotels near Harry Potter Studios London, check out my top picks, or if you prefer to book tickets with a coach transfer from London, click here or direct via Golden Tours
Street performers in Covent Garden
Covent Garden is one of London’s top neighbourhoods to visit with kids at all times of the day. The large central piazza is always packed with talented street performers who entertain the crowds well into the evening.
From quirky human statues to musicians, acrobats, magicians, and comedians, street performers provide fun entertainment for kids and adults of all ages. They’re free to watch, but it’s always nice to leave a tip if you enjoyed their performance.
After the show, you can explore nearby shops, grab a bite to eat, or simply enjoy the area’s vibrant energy. There are often pop-up events taking place, so it’s a fun area to explore year-round.
Wander the South Bank
The River Thames is the heart of the city, so a walk along the river is always one of the best things to do in London with kids – don’t just rush from A to B, save some time to discover the quirky details, soak up the river views at sunset and illuminated at night, and enjoy the street performers.
Walk from Westminster Bridge to Southwark Bridge, and there are views of landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s, as well as walking past the London Eye.
Keep walking towards the Oxo Tower (whose windows cleverly got around the prohibition on advertising) to Gabriel’s Wharf where the bank widens and you get a great view towards Blackfriars Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral, as well as some lovely places to eat, before reaching the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre.
If you do keep going a little further and you can see the Golden Hinde, a replica of the ship in which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe, plus the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
There are often changing temporary art installations, even an urban beach in summer, plus festivals and events throughout the year – check out this walk along the South Bank for more inspiration, as well as these highlights to spot.
Take a closer look at the lampposts as you head along The Queen’s Walk and the riverside too – known as dolphin lamp standards, they’re based on creatures at the Fontana del Nettuno in the Piazza del Popolo in Rome.
QUEENS Skate Dine Bowl
QUEENS in Bayswater is a great spot for active families, with a fun range of activities to try, including ice skating, ice karting, curling, bowling, and arcade games.
After you’ve enjoyed the activities, you can also grab some delicious burgers from MEATliquor on site.
It’s worth knowing that QUEENS is an adults-only venue after 8pm, with the last entry for kids at 7pm, but it’s still a great spot for some early evening family fun in West London, close to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
Monopoly Lifesized
Watch out for… Monopoly Lifesized. A cross between a real-life version of the board game and an escape room, you’ll take on challenges in order to buy properties.
Suitable for age 9+, there are four boards to choose from, including a City version for modern-day London and the Classic board.
Expect to be playing against more than just your family (unless you have a HUGE family), with up to 24 playing at once, and teams of a maximum of six. Games last around 80 minutes and it closes at around 11pm.
Crystal Maze Live
Whether you’ve got your own fond memories of the Crystal Maze or fancy something a bit unusual to do in London with kids, the Crystal Maze Live is a fun and family-friendly immersive experience on Shaftesbury Avenue in the heart of London’s West End.
Parents will enjoy travelling back in time into the iconic 90s TV show, while kids will love running around the maze with the highly-enthusiastic Maze Masters, completing a series of silly themed challenges, from riding a giant buckaroo-ing spaceship to decoding riddles – it’s suitable for kids 9+.
You’ll battle against the clock in the four zones – Industrial, Futuristic, Medieval and Aztec – as you solve mysteries and face physical challenges. Then you’ll even get to head inside the Maze’s centrepiece, the Crystal Dome, where you’ll jump around and collect gold tokens that add points to your final score. Last sessions are around 8pm at weekends.
Sleep at a museum
If you’ve got slightly younger kids who still don’t want the fun to end after 6pm in London, check out the museum sleepovers which run occasionally throughout the year.
Dino Snores at the Natural History Museum is for kids aged 7-11, where you’ll get to find out more about some of the Museum’s creatures by torchlight, enjoy some fun activities and sleep over in one of the galleries.
Be prepared for a late night, settling down to sleep at midnight, then an early breakfast before a trail around the galleries before the museum reopens at 10am. If you have older kids who’d also enjoy it, the DIno Snores Special events are for teens (up to 17-year-olds)
Or check out Astronights at the Science Museum for the same age range, with space-inspired workshops, shows and activities, plus VIP tickets including airbeds, and breakfast before you head off the next morning.
The British Museum sleepovers are a great option for older kids or if you have a big age range in the family. suitable for ages 8-15.
Each sleepover has a unique historical theme, with workshops, activities and storytelling, where you could sleep in the Egyptian, Assyrian and Greek galleries, then follow an exclusive trail after breakfast before the museum reopens.
Night Voyage on the Golden Hinde
Discover the secrets of Tudor medicine (bleeding and more bleeding), learn the realities of life at sea and fight off the Spanish on board the Golden Hinde – the replica of the ship which Sir Francis Drake sailed around the world.
Even better than a visit on board the galleon, moored on the South Bank near Southwark, is the chance to sleep overnight with the Golden Hinde night voyage – the Family Night Voyage includes (nearly) authentic vegetable stew for dinner and actors bringing tales of Elizabethan pirates and privateers to life.
Read my review of a sleepover on the Golden Hinde
Sleepover at the Zoo
Easily one of the most unusual things to do in London with kids is to enjoy an overnight stay at the London Zoo Lodges within roaring distance of the lions.
The zoo’s nine themed Lodges can be found inside the Land of the Lions exhibit, within roaring distance of the pride of Asiatic lions. The unique overnight experience includes three special after-hour tours, dinner and breakfast, plus entrance to the zoo both days of your stay.
The Zoo Lodges have special family nights for children aged 5-15, while teens 14+ can stay on adult-only nights too. Unfortunately, children under 5 can’t stay overnight.
Seasonal fun – pop-up events
You’ll find plenty of special seasonal events throughout the year as another way to spend the evening in London with kids.
Brighten up the dark evenings during winter with light trails for Halloween as well as plenty going on at Christmas.
Try a walking route past the London Christmas lights, follow a festive illuminated trail or head to one of the Christmas markets – Winter Wonderland is fun for all ages, but teens will enjoy hitting the rides and snacking at the food stalls into the evening.
Or during the summer months, there are outdoor theatre performances and outdoor cinema screens popping up around the capital, for a night out with kids in London that’s a bit more fun than your average multiplex.
Fever also has some great pop-up exhibitions and interactive experiences to check out.
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Images: Tower of London/Ghost bus/Diagon Alley/Golden Hinde copyright MummyTravels, Puttshack courtesy of Puttshack, all others courtesy of Depositphotos
