This guide covers fun things to do with kids in London in November 2026. Loopla reviewed over 170 activities to find the best family outings, free events and Christmas experiences for children of all ages.
When planning things to do with kids in London in November, it pays to have some rainy day activities in your pocket. To help you on that front, we put lots of them in this guide to family activities in November 2026.
Of course, November is also the month where most Christmas light switch-ons take place. For this reason, we also find outdoor activities like after-dark city exploration come into their own this month.
Loopla is run by London-based parents with kids ranging from teens to tots. In fact one of the dads on the team has a little one who celebrates her very first birthday this November!
Every week, we search for things to do with kids in London for our newsletter (sign up to our weekly newsletter for London parents to hear about them first, plus special offers and pop-ups).
In November, we’ve found 178 events for kids so far. We know that’s way too many to expect you to sift through, so we picked out 59 favourites and broke them into these categories:
- Free things to do with kids in London in November 2026
- Paid things to do with kids in London in November 2026
- Rainy day activities to do with kids in London in November 2026
We left out fireworks displays as we have a separate guide to Bonfire Night in London with kids.
Likewise, we have a whole page dedicated to toddler theatre shows in London if that’s the kind of activity you’re looking for.
Lastly, we suggest visiting our category page for children’s Christmas activities for events you can book right now.
Otherwise, keep scrolling for all 59 of our favourite things to do with kids in London in November 2026.
Free things to do with kids in London during November 2026
Free things to do with kids in London this November include the opening of the new London Museum. Teens can also step inside a free Hunger Games experience at Westfield London. This section covers Christmas light switch-ons, storytelling sessions and a lantern parade too, from Covent Garden to Greenwich.
| Best for? | Loopla’s pick | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Toddlers | National Portrait Gallery Little Explorers | Free 30-minute sessions for under-5s, with stories, songs and activities inspired by the people in the portraits. |
| Kids | Little Miss Marple at the British Library | Mr Men and Little Miss meet Agatha Christie. Mini sleuths solve a mystery, sing along and create their own backdrops. |
| Teens | The Hunger Games: The Capitol Experience | A free walk-through of the Capitol ahead of the new film. It ends with a sneak-peek clip you can only see here. |
| The whole family | London Museum | London’s newest museum opens on 28 November in Smithfield’s historic market buildings, and it’s free to visit. |
| A unique day out | Greenwich Lantern Parade | Local schoolchildren carry handmade lanterns past the Cutty Sark before the Christmas lights switch-on event. |
Pokémon Space Trail
Earlier this year, a Pikachu toy spent 67 days aboard the International Space Station. Now the Science Museum has launched a free trail that teaches kids about space using Pokémon.
Kids can explore the Pokémon Space Trail by grabbing a map in the Energy Hall, which will lead them to stops across nine galleries. Along the way, they learn about European Space Agency (ESA) missions and how some Pokémon connect to space. Pokémon GO players also have Astronaut Pikachu to catch in raids at the museum.
Event details
Dates: Until Sunday 3 January 2027
Where: Science Museum, SW7
Ages: All ages
The Hunger Games: The Capitol Experience
Hunger Games fans have maybe November’s most exciting free family event to look forward to. The Capitol Experience is a portal to Panem, with a Cornucopia installation to explore before you venture into the Hex.
The 30-minute experience then ends with a world-exclusive clip from the new film.
Event details
Dates: Until Monday 23 November 2026
Where: Westfield London, W12
Ages: Best for 12 years+
Little Miss Marple at the British Library
Little Miss Marple blends Mr Men and Agatha Christie in this free family workshop at the British Library.
Storyteller Vanessa Woolf shares a cosy Little Miss Marple mystery for mini sleuths to help solve. There’s also plenty of singing and drawing for kids to enjoy while doing so.
Afterwards, kids get to use colour and texture to create backdrops inspired by the Little Miss Marple book’s illustrations. The workshop is free, but you need to book.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 7 November 2026 (10.30am, 12.30pm + 2.30pm)
Where: British Library, NW1
Ages: 4 to 7 years
The Hill Garden and Pergola
If you can get to the Hill Garden and Pergola near Golders Green while the leaves are still falling it’s one of our favourite places to explore in autumn.
The area is a small pocket of beautiful gardens and walkways on the north-western edge of Hampstead Heath. It’s so scenic that on previous visits we’ve witnessed not one but two proposals.
The one catch is that it’s not very buggy friendly, as you can only get up to the walkways via narrow staircases.
The nearby Golders Hill Park has a playground, duck pond and free mini zoo. At this time of year, though, you may find most of the animals are hidden away.
Event details
Dates: Open daily from 8.30am (closes at 3pm from 16 November)
Where: Hill Garden and Pergola, Hampstead Heath, NW3
Ages: All ages
Covent Garden Christmas lights switch-on
Covent Garden switches on its Christmas lights on Thursday 12 November, but that’s just the start of its seven-week Theatre of Christmas extravaganza.
Over 300,000 lights will sparkle across the neighbourhood, and the gold bells and baubles will return to the Market Building. A 50ft Norwegian spruce also goes up on the West Piazza.
Inside, look out for a forest of Christmas trees inspired by West End shows, from Mamma Mia! to SIX. Every Thursday after that, you can enjoy late-night shopping and surprise performances too.
Event details
Dates: From Thursday 12 November 2026
Where: Covent Garden, WC2
Ages: All ages
National Portrait Gallery Little Explorers
Little Explorers is a free monthly session for under-5s at the National Portrait Gallery. It introduces little ones to the world’s biggest collection of portraits through stories, songs and creative activities.
The sessions are run by storytellers and artists, who are great at getting kids interested in the people in the portraits. Each session lasts about 30 minutes, suiting short toddler attention spans.
Tickets are free but you do need to book them. They go on sale three weeks before each session. Each booking covers your toddler and up to two adults.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 18 November 2026
Where: National Portrait Gallery, WC2H
Ages: 2 years and up
Greenwich Lantern Parade and Christmas Lights Switch-On
Greenwich Market‘s annual Lantern Parade is one of the more unusual Christmas lights switch-on events we’ve seen in London.
The parade is made up of local schoolchildren carrying handmade lanterns past the Cutty Sark. It sets off from the Old Royal Naval College at 4pm and ends at the market. There, the crowd counts down to the Christmas lights switch-on at 5pm.
It’s free to watch, and the route is mostly flat, which is good for those pushing a buggy. We suggest arriving early if you want to browse the market’s food and gift stalls first.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 18 November 2026
Where: Greenwich Market, SE10
Ages: All ages
The new London Museum finally opens
The brand-new London Museum opens at the Victorian Smithfield Market on 28 November.
Like many Londoners, we were sad to see the Museum of London’s Barbican location close almost four years ago. In particular, we’ve missed the narrow passages of replica Victorian shops kids could explore (after you’ve dragged them away from the Whitechapel Fatberg).
But the London Museum’s new incarnation is adding some new show-stoppers. Among these is a six-metre viewing window for watching Thameslink trains rumble by.
On Sundays, they’ll also be putting on sensory storytelling shows about the Great Fire and Roman London. These are free, too, and aimed at ages 5 and up.
Event details
Dates: From Saturday 28 November 2026
Where: London Museum, Smithfield, EC1A
Ages: All ages
See our guide to the best museums in London for kids for more rainy day outing ideas.
More free things to do with kids in London this November
Little Swifts at the RAF Museum
Dates: Tuesday 10 + Thursday 26 November 2026
Where: RAF Museum London, NW9
Ages: 2 to 5 years
Hands on Armour: The Knight Before Christmas
Dates: Saturday 28 November 2026
Where: The Wallace Collection, W1U
Ages: 5 years+
Paid things to do with kids in London during November 2026
Paid things to do with kids in London in November include Christmas at Kew and The Jungle Book’s world premiere. This section also covers Santa’s grottos, theatre shows, immersive experiences and festive days out.
| Best for? | Loopla’s pick | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Toddlers | Room on the Broom | The Olivier-nominated Julia Donaldson musical is the only West End show for toddlers we found opening this November. |
| Kids | The Jungle Book | A world premiere at the National Theatre, with puppets by the Olivier-winning team behind Life of Pi. |
| Teens | Snow Globe Climb | After climbing onto the O2’s roof, you’ll spend 20 minutes in a snow globe 170ft above the city. |
| The whole family | Lost Worlds by Luxmuralis | An after-dark walk through the Old Royal Naval College with dinosaurs, Atlantis and knights projected around you. |
| An unusual day out | Alice Immersive Wonderland | Ten rooms of riddles, live actors and larger-than-life sets, ending in a 20-minute Hall of Dreams finale. |
Everest: The First Ascent
Everest: The First Ascent is a VR experience where you relive a historic expedition to the top of the world’s highest mountain.
The story follows Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, who became the first people to reach the top of Mount Everest in 1953. Beyond the excitement of climbing 29,000 feet and battling freezing cold, kids will also learn about Sherpa culture and traditions.
Event details
Dates: Until Thursday 31 December 2026
Where: Eclipso, NW1
Ages: 8 years+
Price: From £21
Wallace & Gromit at Lightroom
Lightroom’s new Larger Than Life show celebrates 50 years of Aardman, the studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. It starts at the kitchen table where Aardman’s founders first experimented. From there, you’re swept into scenes like the train chase in The Wrong Trousers.
The whole show plays across the space’s 36-foot walls and the floor on a loop, so you can join at any point during your time slot.
Event details
Dates: Until Monday 4 January 2027
Where: Lightroom, N1C
Ages: All ages
Price: Kids’ tickets from £15 (under-3s free in selected slots)
Wake the Tiger: Absurd City
Billed as Europe’s biggest immersive art experience, Absurd City opened at Westfield London in October. The “Amazement Park” covers 80,000 square feet, almost as much as St Paul’s Cathedral.
This post-apocalyptic storyworld has a very different feel, though. You’ll find jungles of part-machine plants, telephone box mazes and a cute AI dog overlord.
Event details
Dates: Booking now open until Sunday 3 January 2027
Where: Westfield London, W12
Ages: All ages
Price: From £31.95
Pip and Posy Live on Stage
Pip and Posy Live on Stage is a brand-new puppet show that follows two best friends who love to play. Many tots already know them from Axel Scheffler’s bestselling picture books and the BAFTA-nominated TV series. But this 45-minute show is the first chance to see them on stage.
Featuring original songs, Pip and Posy Live on Stage is set to end in late November. It’s playing at Islington puppet specialists Little Angel Theatre. We’re yet to see how they bring to life the jungles, swamps and big red balloon rides set to feature in this latest adventure. But we’ve heard they’ve done a wonderful job.
Event details
Dates: Until Saturday 21 November 2026
Where: Little Angel Theatre, N1
Ages: 2 to 5 years
Price: From £14
House of Dreamers
House of Dreamers is an immersive attraction where you explore 16 different ‘dreamscapes’.
Exploring all these colourful, interactive settings generally takes about 60 to 90 minutes. The most kid-friendly bits in our opinion are the giant pink ball pit and magical landscapes that bring your little artist’s animal sketches to life via scanning. Just make sure the little one is wearing socks for the ball pit to avoid getting caught out once you’re there.
Event details
Dates: Until Sunday 31 January 2027
Where: Immerse LDN, E16
Ages: All ages
Price: Kids’ tickets from £16.90 (under-4s free)
Snow Globe Climb at Up at The O2
The Snow Globe Climb takes you over the O2’s roof on a guided route, with a festive twist at the top. At the 52m summit, you step inside a snow globe with falling snow and views across London.
You get 20 minutes up there, which is plenty of time for photos. Hot chocolate and mulled wine are on sale if you need warming up.
Climbers must be at least 8 years old and 1.2m tall. Under-18s need an adult with them.
For more ideas for older kids, see our page of things to do with teenagers in London.
Event details
Dates: Friday 6 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027
Where: Up at The O2, SE10
Ages: 8 years+
Price: From £44
Lost Worlds by Luxmuralis
This month’s new light-and-sound show at the Old Royal Naval College sounds like Luxmuralis’s most spectacular yet.
Lost Worlds will light up its Painted Hall, Chapel and Colonnades with special projections. The experience is designed to create an immersive walk through time, featuring mythical cities like Atlantis and the age of the dinosaurs.
Event details
Dates: Friday 6 to Sunday 8 + Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 November 2026
Where: Old Royal Naval College, SE10
Ages: All ages
Price: Adults £22 (under-5s free)
Gladiators Live
Gladiators Live‘s hugely popular debut tour sold over 200,000 tickets last year, and it’s back with new arena dates for 2026.
The show brings the stars of BBC’s Gladiators to OVO Arena Wembley for four shows in November. Over two hours, the Gladiators take on Contenders in a series of fan-favourite events from the TV show. All of this builds to an Eliminator finale.
There are morning and afternoon shows on both days at family-friendly times, with doors opening at 10am and 4pm.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 7 to Sunday 8 November 2026
Where: OVO Arena Wembley, HA9
Ages: All ages (under-14s must be with an adult)
Price: From £55.15
Meet Dog Man creator Dav Pilkey
Dog Man fans can meet his creator Dav Pilkey this month for pictures and live drawing. Fancy-dress is encouraged and tickets come with a signed copy of the latest Dog Man, plus a glow-in-the-dark tag.
They added this extra afternoon session because the morning event sold out fast.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 8 November 2026
Where: ODEON Leicester Square, WC2H
Ages: Best for 6 years+
Price: £15
Christmas Lights at Polka Theatre
Christmas Lights is a festive show for ages 1 to 4 at Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. It follows friends Alvie and Kit as they try to brighten their home with fairy lights that have a mind of their own.
As a highly visual show with very little dialogue, it’s suited to any tots still learning to talk. The actors also sign many words in British Sign Language. Afterwards, kids can stay and play with the performers in a snow-covered garden.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 11 to Sunday 22 November 2026
Where: Polka Theatre, SW19
Ages: 1 to 4 years
Price: £16
Alice Immersive Wonderland
Opening this month is Alice Immersive Wonderland, a 2-hour nonsensical, multisensory adventure. Its 10 rooms span a whopping 26,000 sq ft, taking you from the Mad Hatter’s tea party to a Hall of Dreams finale.
On the way, you’ll solve riddles, meet characters played by live actors and explore larger-than-life sets.
Event details
Dates: Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 21 March 2027
Where: Dock X, SE16
Ages: All ages
Price: Kids’ tickets from £19
The Jungle Book at the National Theatre
The Jungle Book‘s world premiere is perhaps London’s biggest new family show this Christmas. Among the performers are multiple Olivier Award-winners.
This includes the puppet-makers who’ll be bringing Baloo and Shere Khan to life on the National Theatre’s largest stage.
Event details
Dates: Friday 13 November 2026 to Saturday 6 February 2027
Where: National Theatre, SE1
Ages: 7 years+
Price: From £20
Christmas at Kew
Christmas at Kew is perhaps the closest thing you can get to an enchanted forest in London. The annual winter light trail is the biggest event of its kind in the city.
After dark, a million lights turn the gardens’ trees into a feast of glowing colour. We were especially gobsmacked by the dazzling greenhouse on our previous visit. As you wander by the Christmas Cathedral, your little one will light up, too. Especially if you buy them a hand-crafted churro or hot chocolate.
Speaking from experience, popular dates (around Christmas, for example) book up quickly. So act fast if you have a narrow window to plan your visit.
Event details
Dates: Selected dates, Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027
Where: Kew Gardens, TW9
Ages: All ages
Price: From £25.50
Hogwarts in the Snow
Hogwarts in the Snow is the Harry Potter Studio Tour’s special Christmas makeover event. It starts in the Great Hall, filled with towering Christmas trees, a festive feast and flaming puddings.
From there, kids can practise the Yule Ball waltz in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, just like Neville in the films. The experience ends at the snow-covered Hogwarts castle model, where you can challenge the kids to spot tiny hidden snowmen.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 14 November 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027
Where: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, WD25
Ages: Best for 6 years+
Price: From £58.50
Hamleys Santa’s Grotto
Where better to meet Santa than London’s most famous toy store? Stunning sets and joyful elf helpers turn Hamleys’ world-famous Santa’s Grotto experience into pure festive theatre.
For an extra sprinkling of magic, share your little one’s interests in advance when booking. That way, you’ll get to see their eyes go wide when Santa reveals he knows a thing or two about them.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 14 November to Thursday 24 December 2026
Where: Hamleys Regent Street, W1B
Ages: All ages
Price: From £75 (one ticket covers 3 people)
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a giant Christmas funfair and market that takes over Hyde Park from mid-November. It can cost up to £8.25 just to get in at peak times, mostly later in the day and at weekends.
But with a bit of planning, Winter Wonderland can be a fairly budget-friendly outing. Entry is £1 in off-peak slots, mostly Monday to Thursday in November.
It’s also home to what’s billed as London’s biggest free grotto. Mrs Claus will greet you from the balcony as you queue. Once inside the cosy cabin, well-behaved youngsters get a gift from Santa himself.
Rides and shows cost extra, but there are some great ones. Highlights include a 230ft Giant Wheel and the Magical Ice Kingdom, filled with tonnes of sculpted ice.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 19 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 (closed Christmas Day)
Where: Hyde Park, W2
Ages: All ages
Price: Entry from £1 (off-peak), rides and attractions extra
Room on the Broom
Eager to give your little one their first big theatre experience soon? We suggest Room on the Broom. The Olivier Award-nominated musical is the only West End show for toddlers we found opening this November. Tots who love the Julia Donaldson book won’t be disappointed by its songs, puppets and magical set.
For more, browse our page of shows for kids in London.
Event details
Dates: Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027
Where: Lyric Theatre, W1D
Ages: 3 years+
Price: From £12
Winter Palace: The Christmas Beast Ball
Winter Palace: The Christmas Beast Ball is a new immersive experience at Hampton Court Palace.
The former home of Henry VIII will become a meeting place for mythical creatures. Armed with your very own map, you’ll start in Clock Court, where the Guardian Dragon lies sleeping. Elsewhere, in the Great Hall, spectacular feast tables hide secrets to unravel. All of this is brought to life by enchanting installations, playful puppets and costumed performers. One of these is Yale, the caretaker of Princess Unicorn.
The experience comes with palace admission, and under-5s go free. Hampton Court’s outdoor ice rink also opens on 20 November, though you have to buy a separate ticket for that.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 28 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 (closed some dates)
Where: Hampton Court Palace, KT8
Ages: All ages
Price: Included with palace entry (kids from £16, under-5s free)
More paid things to do with kids in London this November
The Pied Piper: A Rat’s Tale
Dates: Until Saturday 7 November 2026
Where: Little Angel Theatre, N1
Ages: 5 years+
Price: From £14
The Lost Property Library
Dates: Until Sunday 8 November 2026
Where: Discover Children’s Story Centre, E15
Ages: 2 to 9 years
Price: £4
The Jolly Christmas Postman Challenge
Dates: Tuesday 3 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027
Where: The Postal Museum, WC1X
Ages: 2 years+
Price: £3 per person, plus museum entry
Harry Potter Shop opening on Oxford Street
Dates: From Wednesday 4 November 2026
Where: Oxford Street, W1
Ages: All ages
Price: Free to browse
A Victorian Christmas Village at St Katharine Docks
Dates: Saturday 7 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027
Where: St Katharine Docks, E1W
Ages: All ages
Price: Free to browse
How to Build a Chocolate Bridge
Dates: Saturday 7 November 2026
Where: Royal Institution, W1S
Ages: 7 to 13 years
Price: Kids £10.85 (adults £17.06)
Big Fish Little Fish Snow Ball Festive Family Rave
Dates: Sunday 8 November 2026
Where: The Pier, Southbank, SE1
Ages: All ages (aimed at 0 to 8 years)
Price: Kids £10.80 (adults £12.91)
Basilitrix: A Family Folk Rock Musical
Dates: Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 November 2026
Where: Upstairs at the Gatehouse, N6
Ages: All ages
Price: From £14
Wundrful World of Christmas
Dates: Friday 13 November to Thursday 24 December 2026
Where: Immerse LDN, E16
Ages: 3 to 8 years
Price: Kids’ tickets from £24.90
Christmas at Summit
Dates: Selected Fridays to Sundays, 13 November to 6 December 2026
Where: Alexandra Palace, N22
Ages: 8 years+
Price: Youth tickets from £21.12 (adults from £26.40)
London Eye Festive Afternoon Tea
Dates: Saturday 14 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027
Where: London Eye, SE1
Ages: All ages
Price: From £75
Santa’s Grotto at the Queen’s House
Dates: Saturday 14 November to Thursday 24 December 2026
Where: Queen’s House, Greenwich, SE10
Ages: All ages
Price: £30 per person (under-1s free)
Santa’s Grotto at Fujifilm House of Photography
Dates: Saturday 14 November to Thursday 24 December 2026
Where: Fujifilm House of Photography, WC2E
Ages: All ages
Price: From £37
Peter Pan: Remixing an Awfully Big Adventure
Dates: Saturday 14 November 2026 to Sunday 24 January 2027
Where: Polka Theatre, SW19
Ages: 5 to 12 years
Price: From £12
Nobuyuki Tsujii & Philharmonia Chamber Players
Dates: Sunday 15 November 2026
Where: Soho Theatre Walthamstow, E17
Ages: 8 years+
Price: From £14
The Railway Children
Dates: Monday 16 November 2026
Where: Lyric Hammersmith, W6
Ages: 5 years+
Price: From £10
Victorian Santa’s Grotto
Dates: Friday 20 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026
Where: London Museum Docklands, E14
Ages: All ages
Price: From £15
Santa’s Winter Garden at Fulham Palace
Dates: Friday 20 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026
Where: Fulham Palace, SW6
Ages: All ages
Price: Kids from £38 (adults from £20)
Tove Jansson and her Families
Dates: Saturday 21 November 2026 to Sunday 9 May 2027
Where: Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, EC1R
Ages: All ages
Price: Kids £6 (adults £15)
Robin Hood and the Merry Mandem
Dates: Saturday 21 November 2026 to Saturday 2 January 2027
Where: Theatre Royal Stratford East, E15
Ages: All ages
Price: From £26
Meet Santa at London Zoo
Dates: Saturday 21 November to Thursday 24 December 2026
Where: London Zoo, NW1
Ages: All ages
Price: Kids £19.50, plus zoo entry
Ms. Claus Storytime
Dates: Saturday 21 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026
Where: St Paul’s Church, WC2E
Ages: 0 to 12 years
Price: £9
Next Stop, Christmas
Dates: From Saturday 21 November 2026
Where: London Transport Museum, WC2E
Ages: All ages
Price: Included with entry (adults £27, kids free)
LIT/UP: Big Beat Playground – Flying High
Dates: Sunday 22 November 2026
Where: artsdepot, N12
Ages: 0 to 11 years
Price: From £9.50
Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations
Dates: From Wednesday 25 November 2026
Where: Chelsea, SW3
Ages: All ages
Price: Kids from £12 (under-2s free)
Santa’s Workshop at Battersea Power Station
Dates: Friday 27 November to Thursday 24 December 2026
Where: Battersea Power Station, SW11
Ages: All ages
Price: From £16.50
Christmas Choral Tots
Dates: Saturday 28 November 2026
Where: St James’s Piccadilly, W1J
Ages: 0 to 5 years
Price: Kids £5 (adults £10)
The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert
Dates: Saturday 28 November 2026
Where: Eventim Apollo, W6
Ages: All ages
Price: From £40.55
Father Christmas: Family Festive Magic in Greenwich
Dates: Saturday 28 November to Tuesday 22 December 2026
Where: Admiral’s House, Old Royal Naval College, SE10
Ages: All ages
Price: Kids from £15 (adults free)
Big Fish Little Fish Jingle Bell Ball Festive Family Rave
Dates: Sunday 29 November 2026
Where: Somerset House, WC2R
Ages: All ages (aimed at 0 to 8 years)
Price: Kids £10.80 (adults £12.91)
A Festive Family Sing-A-Long
Dates: Sunday 29 November 2026
Where: Blackheath Halls, SE3
Ages: All ages
Price: £12 (£10 concessions)
Rainy day activities to do with kids in London in November 2026
Rainy day activities for kids in London this November include the free Pokémon Space Trail and Wallace & Gromit at Lightroom. Every pick below is indoors, and each links to its full write-up in this guide.
| Best for? | Loopla’s pick | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Toddlers | Christmas Lights | A highly visual show with very little dialogue, plus a stay-and-play session in a snowy garden afterwards. |
| Kids | Pokémon Space Trail | A free trail through nine Science Museum galleries, where kids learn about real space missions through Pokémon. |
| Teens | Everest: The First Ascent | A 40-minute VR experience reliving Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s 1953 climb to the top of Everest. |
| The whole family | Wallace & Gromit at Lightroom | Aardman’s 50th anniversary show fills four 36-foot walls with stop-motion scenes made just for Lightroom. |
| An unusual day out | Wake the Tiger: Absurd City | Explore secret passageways and hidden rooms in a surreal “city” bigger than the pitch at Wembley. |
Other indoor options in this guide include House of Dreamers, Alice Immersive Wonderland and the new London Museum.
Common questions about things to do with kids in London
What free things can I do with kids in London in November 2026?
Free things to do with kids in London in November 2026 include The Hunger Games: The Capitol Experience at Westfield London. It runs until 23 November. The new London Museum also opens in Smithfield on 28 November, and it’s free to visit.
For Christmas fun, Covent Garden switches on its lights on 12 November. Greenwich Market’s free Lantern Parade follows on 18 November.
Younger kids can enjoy free sessions like Little Explorers at the National Portrait Gallery. Booking is needed, so plan ahead.
What can I do with a toddler in London in November?
Christmas Lights at Polka Theatre is made for ages 1 to 4, and runs from 11 to 22 November. Pip and Posy Live on Stage at Little Angel Theatre suits ages 2 to 5, and plays until 21 November.
For something free, try Little Explorers at the National Portrait Gallery on 18 November. Little Swifts at the RAF Museum is also free, for ages 2 to 5, on 10 and 26 November.
For more ideas, see our page of things to do with toddlers in London.
When are London’s Christmas lights switched on in 2026?
Carnaby switches on its Christmas lights on 4 November, and Regent Street’s lights go on from 5 November. (1) Covent Garden’s switch-on is on Thursday 12 November, kicking off its seven-week Theatre of Christmas season.
In Greenwich, local schoolchildren carry handmade lanterns past the Cutty Sark before the market’s switch-on on 18 November. For a light trail, Christmas at Kew opens on 13 November.
For more festive ideas, see our page of children’s Christmas activities.
When does Hyde Park Winter Wonderland open in 2026?
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens on Thursday 19 November 2026 and runs until 3 January 2027. Entry costs £1 in off-peak slots, mostly Monday to Thursday in November, and up to £8.25 at peak times.
Once inside, Santa’s Grotto is free, and well-behaved children get a present from Santa.
What are some unusual things to do with kids in London?
Riding Mail Rail at the Postal Museum is one of the more unusual things to do with kids in London. It carries you through old tunnels that once moved post beneath the city.
Older kids might also enjoy the Old Operating Theatre near London Bridge. Hidden in a church attic, it’s Europe’s oldest surviving surgical theatre.
Also this November, Lost Worlds projects dinosaurs, Atlantis and knights across the Old Royal Naval College after dark. Kids aged 8 and up can also climb over the O2’s roof to a snow globe 170ft up.
What are some free museums in London?
The Young V&A in Bethnal Green is one of the best free London museums for kids. It won the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2026. (2)
Entry to the Natural History Museum is also free, and it was the UK’s most visited attraction in 2025. (3) You won’t pay to get into the Science Museum or British Museum either, though some special exhibitions charge.
This November, the new London Museum opens in Smithfield on 28 November, and it’s free to visit.
How do I find more things to do with kids in London?
The easiest way to find more things to do with kids in London is to search Loopla by date, age and location. We add new classes, shows and events all the time. Our weekly newsletter for parents also rounds up what’s on, along with flash discounts and free family pop-ups.
References
- Londonist, When are the London Christmas lights switched on? View source
- Museums Association, “Young V&A wins European museum prize”, 3 December 2025. View source
- ALVA (Association of Leading Visitor Attractions), 2025 Visitor Figures. View source
How to save time and money, without missing magical family experiences
When it comes to planning family fun, sorting through what’s worth your time and money is half the battle. That’s especially true in the run-up to Christmas. Loopla’s weekly newsletter for London parents does the legwork for you.
Every week, our 30,000 subscribers get the latest things to do with kids in London, plus:
- Family-friendly deals and discounts
- Details for around 10 free family events
- A heads-up on popular Christmas events we think might sell out fast
✨ Subscribe to the weekly Loopla newsletter using the form below