London museums for children: Best interactive exhibits and family-friendly picks

When it comes to London museums for children, family-friendly spaces where learning happens through touch, play, and discovery. Also known as interactive museums, these aren’t the quiet, glass-case kind—you won’t find kids whispering here. They’re loud, messy, and full of wonder. This is where toddlers press buttons to make lightning crackle, teens pilot virtual subways, and parents finally get to sit down without hearing "Are we there yet?"

These museums aren’t just about being kid-friendly—they’re built around how children actually learn. At the Science Museum, a world-class London institution where physics becomes play, kids can stand inside a giant bubble or trigger a mini earthquake. The Postal Museum, a hidden gem where history rides on rails, lets families hop aboard a real 1930s mail train that zooms through underground tunnels. And it’s not just about science—museums like the Museum of London, a city-scale playground of stories from Roman times to modern street culture, turn history into a scavenger hunt with costumes, touchscreens, and real artifacts you can hold.

What makes these places work isn’t just the exhibits—it’s the freedom. No "don’t touch" signs. No long walks past plaques no one reads. Kids get to build bridges with foam blocks, test gravity with rolling balls, and even dress up as Victorian postmen. Parents get coffee, quiet corners, and the rare chance to watch their child’s face light up because they figured something out themselves.

And yes, these spots are free or cheap. Most major museums in London don’t charge entry, which means you can spend half a day here without worrying about the bill. The real cost? The sticky fingers, the excited yelling, the "Mum, look what I did!" moments that stick longer than any photo.

Below, you’ll find real picks from locals—places where families keep coming back, not because they’re famous, but because they actually work for kids. From the smell of old paper in a secret library to the roar of a simulated train ride, these aren’t just museums. They’re places where childhood curiosity gets to run wild.