Kid-friendly dog-friendly things to do in London

Happy kids is all thrill and joy, eyes getting brighter, high pitch voices. There is a chance that the same things that you loved as a child are what your or your relatives’ and friends’ children will love too. Animals, trips on unusual means of transport, games and much more. In this post you will find some inspiration about the best kid-friendly things to do in London that allow you to take your dog along too. Because kid-friendly dog-friendly adventures are possible!

1. Meeting the animals at a dog-friendly farm

One of the most frequent questions children ask is “going to see the animals.” There is something bewitching with them, probably at any age, but for kids it’s a real treat. In London there are many city farms, some of which are dog-friendly, so you can arrange a kid and dog trip without having anyone feeling left out at home.

• Mudchute Park and Farm near Canary Wharf – a large farm with lots of farm animals from pigs to llamas, sheep and more
• Surrey Docks Farm near Surrey Quays  – a small lovely city farm by the river with lots of kid-friendly activities
• Bonus track: in Clissold Park there is a fenced off area with farm animals and deer – while dogs are banned from walking through it, you can still walk your dog outside the fence and see goats and deer.

2. All aboard Ruislip Lido miniature railway

All aboard! Ruislip Lido miniature railway is good fun for little ones and grown-ups and happens to be dog-friendly as well (although in the high season at peak times they may refuse access to dogs for space issues). Running in the woods, it is a lovely experience that will definitely capture kids fantasy.

There is a dog beach at Ruislip Lido nearby one of the miniature railway stations, so your dog could have a good time, but watch out for green-blue algae that has been previously reported in the area and remember that people are not allowed to enter the water.

3. Walk on the glass floor of Tower Bridge Exhibition

Tower Bridge Exhibition is most famous for its glass floor walkway, where you can dare standing 42 meters from the river, certainly an exciting attraction for kids! For an even more thrilling experience, you can make sure to be there at a time when the Tower Bridge is lifted to let large vessels through (check the timetable).

Since we discovered Tower Bridge Exhibition is dog-friendly and wrote about it on the blog, a couple of years back, this once not beated dog-friendly attraction has become very popular with London dogs, who keep sending us lovely pictures of their visits (keep them coming!), and Tower Bridge has recently added a dog section to their FAQs. Dogs of all sizes are welcome, provided they are kept on a lead, but watch for crowed times and hot weather, when the walkway can become really busy and hot and dogs may be refused access.

Tower Bridge has a two lifts up to the walkways (in the North and in the South Tower respectively), and to get down to the Engine Roomes, there is also an external lift, so it’s buggy-friendly too! Finally, there are baby changing facilities in the South Tower and the Engine Rooms.

4. London from above with Emirates cable car

Continuing on the heights theme, the Emirates cable car is something kids may be enraptured with. Reminiscences of ski trips may kick in at the station, but as the cable car takes off, you’ll find a very different view than the mountains. For the most enchanting view, pick a sunny day and late afternoon. This may not be one for you/your dog in case either of you are scared of heights and keep in mind that there can be some vibrations when the cable car passes the masts.

5. Going for a ride on a hire cargo bike

Parents pedalling school-bound, with little passengers on child seats are not too rare in London, but cycling with children can be a leisure activity too, and one that can also involve your dog. Instead of a child seat, you can hire a dog-friendly cargo bike (go for one with electric assist to make the ride easier), fitting a child and their furry best friend next to each other. From the comfort of their seat in the cargo, kids and dogs can enjoy the view and the breeze, while  you cycle.

Where to hire a cargo bike? CarryMe Bikes, in Hackney, is the place for you. All tips from our adventure and what you need to know in this blog post on taking your dog on a dog-friendly cargo bike in London.

6. Swing at a dog-friendly crazy golf

With older children (5+ years of age recommended), crazy golf is a great chance for all the family to get involved in a fun activity together. In London there are a few miniature golf places that allow you to bring along your dog too!

• Jurassic Falls in Waltham Forest, Chingford: a 18-holes adventure golf course with a dinosaurs theme, on the North Circular.
• Dinosaur Escape: another 18-holes crazy golf course in Ruislip Road, Norholt
• Dinosaur Safari Adventure Golf: an adventure golf course of the same circuit in Barnet
• Pirate Cove Adventure Park: land this last one is in Dartford
• Putts in the Park: there are 3 Putts in the Park venues across London (Wandsworth Park, Battersea Park, Acton Park), there dogs are welcome in the cafe/restaurant area, but not on the actual golf course, so you may be a bit limited in that someone will have to stay with the dog while the others play.

7. Adventures on a boat

Be it rowing boats, electric boats or a cruise on a ferry on the Thames, kids have nothing to worry about but sit back, relax and enjoy the adventure, and you can be sure they are going to talk about it for long! There are some good options to combine children entertainment and dog outing in London:

• Rowing boats:
  • Richmond Bridge Boat Hire in Richmond – read all about it in this blog post
  • Hollow Ponds Boat Hire in East London – check out all about it in this post
• Electric boats: For a more relaxing experience, GoBoat London offers dog-friendly self-drive boats from two Paddington on the Regents Canal (find our thoughts in this blog) and from Kington for an adventure on the Thames (more about an adventure on the Thames with GoBoat here).
• Ferries on the Thames: The best for kids are:
  • Turks Launch: beautiful traditional river boats sailing from April to October on the scenic route from Kingston upon Thames, to Richmond and Hampton Court.
  • Circular Cruise: an all-year service in Central London, enjoy the view from the upper deck with a guided tour, to discover London from a new perspective – It may take children to be a bit older to appreciate the talk, but the upper deck offers great views for everyone (all about an adventure with Circular Cruise here)
  • Thames Clipper: the classic river bus service, running fast on the river. Seats are inside (just a few at the stern), so it will be a rain-proof option to take you, with kids and dog around London but not as scenic as the other river boat options.

7. Getting together at a Lavender Field

Mayfield Lavender Field, near West Croydon, is incredibly popular with families with children, during the lavender blooming season, and being a dof-friendly one there are many pooches too! For pre-school kids it can be a great one to go to on a week day, when it is slightly less crowded, rather than during the weekend. This is a seasonal attraction, normally open from the end of June and early August – make sure you check their Facebook page for updates on blooming status!

Free dog-friendly things to do with kids

That you are a stay-at-home parent or not, it’s always good to know what things you can do for free or on a budget with your kids and dogs, so here is a summary.

Free for under age children:

• Thames Clipper: children under 5 go free (exceptions apply on certain services)
• Tower Bridge: children under 5 go free
• Ruislip Lido Miniature Railway: children under 3 go free

Free for everyone:

• City farms (but donations welcome)

What is your favourite thing to do with kids and dogs? Let us know in the comments below.