London is magical in the sunshine and of course everyone wants to head outdoors when summer comes! London is home to some brilliant imaginative outdoor playgrounds and family-friendly play spaces many of which have wonderful unique themes.
As a London mum of two boys, I’ve spent years testing some of the best playgrounds in London – from the huge pirate ship at the Diana Memorial Playground to the brilliant Children’s Garden at Kew. These are the London playgrounds and outdoor play spaces I actually recommend, including the best options for toddlers, free playgrounds and places with water play.
If you’re planning a family day out, looking for things to do with a toddler or baby then you’ve come to the right place. In this guide you will find a mix of the very best outdoor play areas and spaces that are both free playgrounds or part of a ticketed attraction.
Best overall: Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
Best for toddlers: Holland Park
Best for water play: Greenwich Park
Best for a full day out: Kew Gardens
Best playground at a free attraction: The Cove
Best for older children: Battersea Park
If you’re looking for more ideas beyond playgrounds, have a look at my guide to the best things to do in London with kids.
The Best Playgrounds in London for Kids
Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is known as one of the best playgrounds in London and a top destination with kids. The playground in Kensington Gardens is inspired by Peter Pan. Children will love the giant centrepiece which is a wooden pirate ship. It’s surrounded by play equipment, a sandy lagoon and sensory trails. It’s just been refurbished and has a new under-3s area.
Location: Kensington Gardens
St James’ Park
St James’s Park is London’s oldest park. You can see Buckingham Palace from the bridge and spot real pelicans who call the park their home. Or spot ducks, geese and swans in the pond.
We love the adventure playground with sand pit, swings and seesaw though take care when visiting as there are some spaces where you should be weary of young children.
There are coffee kiosks dotted around the park or visit St James Cafe for a cooked lunch.
Location: St James Park
Age: All ages
Price: Free
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park – Greenwich Park has a record-making history as the place where east meets west at Longitude 0° on the Meridian Line, part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. It is also the site of London’s longest herbaceous border, and over 3,000 trees.
Greenwich Park Playground was recently refurbished and is fully inclusive with imaginative play inspired by Maritime Heritage. The play space features basket swings, sand and water play, roundabouts and raised play channels that encourage collaborative and creative exploration. Bring a change of clothes!
All made from natural materials including logs, bark and rope which blend into the historic park landscape, while sensory planting adds colour, texture and scent throughout the space.
Battersea Park
Battersea Park is one of my favourite parks – it’s huge and much less busy than Royal Parks. There are several playgrounds dotted around the park with a few dedicated toddler playgrounds with classic play equipment, sand pits and imaginative play. We love the Pear Tree cafe which is adjacent to the lake and visitors will also find Battersea Children’s Zoo and Go Ape.
Location: Battersea Park
Age: All ages
Price: Free
Holland Park
Holland Park – An oasis in urban London, Holland Park is brilliant for families. The adventure playground features zip wires and climbing frames but we love the more sedate playground for under 5s. The Kyoto Garden is beautifully tranquil and you may even spot a peacock!
Location: Ilchester Place, W8 6LU
Coram’s Fields, Bloomsbury
Coram’s Fields is a brilliant central London option, where children can run around after sightseeing. There are playgrounds for different ages, plenty of space to run around and, in warmer weather, a splash area too. It’s specifically for children and adults can only enter if they’re accompanied by a child.
Paddington Recreation Ground, Maida Vale
Paddington Recreation Ground is a useful local spot that children love. There’s a large playground with equipment for different ages, lots of open green space and plenty of room for scooters, bikes and running around. Choose it if you’re around Maida Vale, Little Venice or north-west London and want something easy and low-key rather than a full day out.
Hampstead Heath
I love a day in Hampstead – it’s just a really pretty area that doesn’t feel like the city. There’s so much else to make a day of it. Hampstead Heath has plenty of space for children to run around, several play areas and a slightly-wild feeling that makes it feel very different from the more perfect central London parks.
And once everyone’s had enough of the playground, you can reward yourself with a trip to one of Hampstead’s many excellent pubs. Playground for them, pub for you – win-win.
For more budget-friendly (but still special) ideas, see my guide to the best free things to do in London with kids
Best Attractions in London with Brilliant Outdoor Play Areas
The Children’s Garden at The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew – Noah and I loved this garden when we visited! It’s huge and actually the size of 40 tennis courts. It’s the perfect place for children to learn about plant life, mini beasts and the natural elements.
The Earth, Air, Sun and Water Garden each have different elements to explore and different play equipment to allow children to learn through play. There are climbing frames, slides, a sand pit and water play which will delight any toddler. In the wild woodland there are log trails, bug hotels and a giant badger set. A really special feature is the 100 mature trees and 4 metre high canopy walk.
Children will also love checking out The Hive and experiencing the secret life of bees at Kew.
The Children’s Garden is designed for children aged 2 to 12 years. They also run quiet sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
There’s an adjacent Family Kitchen & Shop which is also themed around the natural world and contains food and gifts that kids will love.
Location: Victoria Gate, Kew Road, TW9 3JR
Age : 2 – 12
Price: Entry is £25 per adult. Child £2, under 4s are free. There is no extra charge to enter the children’s garden.
The Cove
The Cove at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich – One of the best playgrounds in London, this sea themed playground allows children to learn more about maritime life through play. They can climb a Kraken, explore a ship’s deck, climb in the ‘Cutty Shark’s’ jaws and spin on a compass themed roundabout. Children will love the bright colours and the multi-sensory elements of this playground.
There’s a larger side of the playground more suitable for around 5 or 6 year olds and then there’s a more toddler-friendly bit.
It’s a space that has been designed for everyone with sensory activities, accessible structures and inclusive games. It’s adjacent to Parkside Café of the National Maritime Museum – the perfect place to refuel. There’s also an ice cream kiosk next to it.
Location: Romney Road, SE10 9NF
Age: Parental guidance
Price: Entry to the museum and playground is free
The Magic Garden, Hampton Court Palace
The Magic Garden, Hampton Court Palace – The Magic Garden is the perfect way for kids to learn about history at Henry VIII’s palace through play. My boys loved running to the top of the Royal Towers, climbing the dragon, sliding down the slide, playing in the sand and exploring aerial walkways. There’s a splash pad which isn’t open all year round so check the website to make sure. Afterwards kids can go and get lost in the maze!
There’s an onsite cafe to refuel at too!
The historic palace also offers Relaxed Mornings in the Magic Garden which is aimed at neurodivergent and Learning-Disabled children, and their families.
Location: Hampton Court Palace
Age: Under 12
Price: Entry £29 adults £14.50 children. Under 5s are free. There is no extra cost to enter the garden.
WWT London Wetland Centre
WWT London Wetland Centre is a serene nature reserve in Barnes where families can discover restored wetland habitats of birds, butterflies, otters etc. Little ones will love the multi-sensory playground, playing with the mud kitchen and sound garden. There’s a new splash pad too! Check the website for opening times.
Location: Barnes
Price: Adult from £16.29, children over 3 are £11.65. Playground included in the cost.
Horniman Museum and Gardens
Horniman Museum and Gardens is a lovely and wholesome experience which can be a whole day out with toddlers. There are 16 acres of garden including a sunken garden with perennial flower displays, a sound garden with musical instruments, a meadow field where dogs can roam, a prehistoric garden with a monkey puzzle tree, a bee garden (currently getting a makeover), a wildlife garden and nature trail. There’s also an animal walk with goats, sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and alpacas.
The museum has also just added the Kusuma Nature Play Area which includes a basket swing, sensory planting, log steps, timber balance beams, and a den building frame, wooden jetty with a slide, climbing webs and lookout points. Everything is themed around species local to the museum. Spot a robin, fox, grass snake, spot the butterflies and bees. There’s a cafe and toilets right next to the play area.
Location: 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ
Age: The playground is for 0 – 11 but I personally think it’s most suited to toddlers
Price: The museum, gardens and play area are free. Aquarium and some exhibitions are chargeable.
The Royal Air Force Musuem
The Royal Air Force Museum – A brilliant free museum with six aircraft hangars containing the history of the RAF from its creation in 1918 until today. There’s over 100 historic aircraft (including Spitfires, Lancaster bombers and helicopters) and children will be blown away by the sheer size of them plus the opportunity to actually go inside. There’s lots of interactive opportunities throughout the museum such as flight simulators, 4D theatre and cockpit experiences. It’s somewhere you can just spend the whole day with lots of outdoor space for children to run around safely. We love the aviation themed playground.
Location: The nearest tube is Colindale and from there its a 10 minute walk. It’s not central London but easy to reach.
Age: All ages
Cost: Entry Free. AeroPlay is chargeable depending on the child’s age and the time of visit. Tickets are around £9.50
Best London Playgrounds for Toddlers
Having explored London playgrounds with both of my boys when they were toddlers, these are the ones I think work particularly well for younger children with gentler play areas, age-appropriate equipment and the kind of set-up where you’re not constantly terrified your child is about to break an arm.
Holland Park – dedicated under-5s playground
Horniman Nature Play – gentle, exploratory play
Battersea Park – good toddler-specific areas
Diana Memorial Playground – separate younger children’s areas
The Cove – younger children’s zone
If you’re visiting London with younger children, I’ve also rounded up the best things to do in London with babies and toddlers.
Best London Playgrounds with Water Play
If the weather is warm, playgrounds with water play are always a winner. Personally, I’d rather avoid them like the plague, but kids absolutely love them. These are some of the best places in London for children to splash around and to cool off in an outdoor play space, just make sure you bring a change of clothes. Please note these aren’t all available all year round.
Greenwich Park – sand and water play
Kew Children’s Garden – water features and outdoor fun
Hampton Court Magic Garden – water play plus adventure playground
WWT London Wetland Centre – splashy outdoor play
Diana Memorial Playground – sand and water play
These are some of my favourite outdoor play spaces and playgrounds in London for families, from brilliant toddler-friendly spots to playgrounds that are worth building a whole day around. Have you visited any of them, or is there a London playground you think deserves a place on the list?
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