By Paul Cartmell
London is one of the world's top tourist destinations, and, perhaps surprisingly, many of the city's attractions are family oriented. Whatever the weather in London, if the sun is shining or the rain is pouring, it is possible for kids of all ages to enjoy themselves and have a great day out on the town.
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Located in the center of London, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are just two of the royal parks scattered throughout London offering acres of lawns and opportunities to play. Hyde Park features the Serpentine Boating Lake and the Diana Memorial Fountain. Kensington Gardens is attached to Hyde Park and is aimed towards children. Kids can visit the Peter Pan statue or play in the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Playground which boasts a huge interactive wooden pirate ship.
London Zoo
The children's zoo housed within the London Zoo contains a number of different zones allowing children to interact with and view animals close-up. The Animal Adventure exhibit gives kids the chance to climb, touch, tunnel and splash their way through the animal kingdom.
Madame Tussaud's
For more than 200 years Tussaud's has housed wax models of celebrities, athletes, politicians and historical figures. These days the ropes have been removed from the museum allowing visitors to get closer to the models and take pictures which can be uploaded to the museum's Web site.
The Science Museum IMAX 3D
With a screen taller than four of London's famous double-decker buses, the Science Museum's IMAX cinema experience gives children a close-up view of science and nature. Films include a trip to space for the building of the International Space Station and an underwater adventure with sea creatures from prehistoric times.
The London Eye
Originally called The Millennium Wheel the 135-meter high London Eye opened in March 2000 as part of Britain's millennium celebrations and has become the United Kingdom's top paid visitor attraction. With views of more than 40 kilometer's in all directions, the 30-minute ride shows you all of London from a bird's eye view.
The V&A Museum of Childhood
Named after Britain's longest ruling monarch, Queen Victoria, and her husband, Prince Albert, the V&A contains a museum dedicated to the themes of childhood -- past and present. The museum includes a history of games and the largest dollhouse collection in Britain not in private hands.
Hamley's Of London
Still situated at its famous 188-196 Regent Street address, Hamley's contains five floors of toys. Opened in 1760 Hamley's has undergone many makeovers before its current guise and, in 1938, becoming an official supplier of toys to Britain's royal family with the issuing of a Royal Warrant by Queen Mary.
The Tower Of London
Work was begun on the stone Tower of London in 1080 by William the Conqueror. The tower has served many purposes during its history, including Royal Palace and Royal Jail. It currently houses a number of exhibits, including the British Crown Jewels displayed under armed guard in The Jewel House. Yoeman Warder Tours are included as part of your admission fee and provide both historical information and some of the myths and stories about the Tower.
The Unicorn Theatre For Children
The Unicorn Theatre is located on the south bank of the River Thames in a purpose-built building. Creating its own productions and hosting international groups for young people the Unicorn puts on 620 performances a year aimed at young people.
Discover Storymaking Center
Aimed at children up to the age of 11, the Discover Center in East London contains an indoor story trail allowing children to take part in dress-up adventures and explore secret caves. The outdoor Story Garden contains the Pirate's Ahoy area with a huge pirate ship and a dead man's cave.
About the Author:
Paul Cartmell began his career as a writer for documentaries and fictional films in the United Kingdom in the mid-1990s. Working in documentary journalism, Cartmell wrote about a wide variety of subjects including racism in professional sports. Cartmell attended the University of Lincoln and London Metropolitan University, gaining degrees in journalism and film studies.
