Taking a newborn baby to events and attractions in London can be overwhelming but I’m here to help. Your baby seems so tiny and you’re newly postpartum plus a new mum! You may think, there’s nothing I can really do with a newborn (I’m counting under 6 months as newborn!) but actually there’s plenty. And as newborns mostly sleep don’t be afraid to do something for you whether that’s a visit to a restaurant, afternoon tea or a slow walk around a museum.
As a London mum of two boys (aged 6 and 2), I’ve got a lot of experience and I’ve tried and tested many of the best experiences around London. Here’s a comprehensive list of the best things to do in London with newborn babies.
Indoor Attractions
Science Museum – London’s famous museum dedicated to science also caters well for little children and even small babies. The Pattern Pod is great for light exploration, sensory and interactive fun.
Location: Exhibition Road, South Kensington
Price: Free
Natural History Museum – The museum takes you through 4.6 billion years of the planet’s history. Brave little ones can get up close and personal with dinosaurs as well as exploring the museums gardens. Noah and I loved the Adventure Babies classes – perfect for under 1s.
Location: Cromwell Road, South Kensington
Cost: Free
While lots of museums have soft plays and even special sections for babies, a newborn really is too young for a soft play and it would a be waster of money!
Frameless – Immersive art experience where classic masterpieces are brought to life through projections and surround sound. Multi-sensory tots classes every Friday morning. The light and colour contrast works even for the smallest tot.
Location: 6 Marble Arch
Opening: Open daily times vary
Duration : Allow two hours
Cost: £18 or children and £28 for adults
SEALIFE Aquarium – I remember taking Oscar here for his 6 month birthday. The London aquarium is the perfect sensory exploration for babies and toddlers.
Location: South Bank
Price: From £28
The London Eye – One of London’s most iconic attractions is bound to please even small babes. The gentle motion of the wheel and spotting London buses and other landmarks will be no end of fun!
Location: The Southbank
Price: Starting from £29
Sky Garden – A visit to the Sky Garden (it’s free by the way!) is a great way to get a scenic view of London and the greenery and plants make it a sensory experience.
Location: 1, Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF (inside the Walkie-talkie)
Price: Free
Best Outdoor Attractions
London Zoo – The Regent’s Park zoo is home to 100s of animals and immersive exhibits such as Penguin Beach and the Land of Lions.
Location London Zoo, Outer Circle, London NW1 4RY
Price: £1 on top of zoo entry. 45 min duration.
Battersea Children’s Zoo – Located in Battersea Park, this smaller scale zoo is less overwhelming and perfect for post partum mums who want to wonder around and point out the animals.
Location: Battersea Park
Price: Adult: £15.95 Child (2 to 15 years): £12.95
Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) – London’s most famous botanical garden with over 50,000 plant species. The perfect place for mum to have a walk and get some fresh air!
Location: Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE
Price: Adult from £24, child over 4 form 6
Parks and Playgrounds
While a newborn is too little for a playground, I loved meeting my mum friends for a park walk It’s the perfect free thing to do. The eight Royal Parks include:
Hyde Park – London’s most famous park has huge open spaces, the Serpentine lake for boating and playgrounds.
Kensington Gardens – A pretty park that’s home to Princess Diana Memorial Playground (temporarily closed)
Green Park – the small park near Buckingham Palace. Very quiet and good for picnics.
St James’s Park – London’s oldest park, you can see the palace, observe pelicans take in the views.
Regent’s Park – Beautiful rose gardens and boating lake. It’s close to London Zoo and home to the open air theatre.
Greenwich Park – Home to deer, the Royal observatory and various playgronuds
Richmond Park – the largest Royal Park. Great for wildlife spotting.
Bushy Park – Home to fountains, waterfalls and a playground.
Battersea Park – A spacious park near Battersea Power Station. Home to Battersea Children’s Zoo and some lovely cafes.
Hampstead Heath Ponds & Playgrounds – One of London’s Iconic green spaces
Theatres
Polka Theatre – A venue dedicated to children with shows for babies. Shows are often interactive, imaginative and sensory. The theatre also has play spaces.
Location: 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SB
Little Angel Theatre – famous for puppetry and storytelling. Many of the shows are designed for babies.
Location: 14 Dagmar Passage, London N1 2DN
The Unicorn Theatre – Dedicated to shows for babies, toddlers and children. There’s even special shows for the tiniest of tots.
Location: London Bridge
Classes
There are so many options for wonderful baby classes in London. Many will let you have a free taster session. I always think attending a class with a newborn really is more for you. The chance to get out and about and meet mums in similar situations.
Monkey Music – Our absolute favourite, I took Oscar to these classes from when he was born up to 4 years old and I start Noah from about ten days old! With a pink monkey mascot these are gentle music classes with original that support baby’s early development and teach toddlers about music. Locations around London. The Beautiful Noise classes are intended just for newborns,
Mini Mozart – Introducing babies and toddlers to classical music. Locations around London.
BB Broadway – Inclusive classes with singing, dancing, musical instruments, sensory magic and to the hits of West End and Broadway shows. Starting from 3 months.
Hartbeeps – Gentle and imaginative sensory classes with music, storytelling and dressing up. I loved these classes for Oscar and Noah. Locations around London. Very little ones can attend the ‘Baby Bells’ session.
Robot Reg – It’s never to early to learn phonics. Classes start from 3 months. Various locations.
Music and Concerts Suitable for Newborns
Bach to Baby – Classical concerts for babies and small children. Locations throughout London.
Baby Broadway – Interactive family concerts with Broadway and Gospel themes. Locations throughout London.
Wigmore Hall Concerts – This music halls runs For Crying Out Loud – concerts for babies up to one year old as well as Chamber Tots for toddlers.
There’s also plenty to do in London that’s more fun for parents especially when babies are young enough to come along for the ride.
For You
Baby Cinema – There’s a few places that offer baby cinema. Basically it’s a film for you rather than your baby and they can sit on your lap and (hopefully) fall asleep while you get some time for yourself. I used to love the Electric Cinema for this! It’s also available at The Barbican and Everyman Cinemas.
Bring Your Baby – Bring your Bay run pub quizzes and walking tours, they a brilliant fun and a great chance to meet fellow parents. Kind of like a regular pub quiz … but this one is at 10.30am with no glass of wine…
Comedy – I also really enjoyed Bring Your Own Baby comedy sessions. Be warned make sure your babies are small enough not to understand and repeat rude words!
Fitness – I used to love mum and baby fitness classes as they really felt like a chance to get back to yourself! I recommend Mumhood at Frame. Also check out the classes run at The Notting Hill Club as there are options for the whole family plus baby massage and baby yoga.
As you can see there are so many things to do with newborns in London. What will you start with?
PIN IT!!!
