RunCity

London with kids

London has more to see than one walk can hold with children. Day 1 goes from Buckingham Palace through St James's Park to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, then over Westminster Bridge to the London Eye. Day 2 stays on the river further east: Shakespeare's Globe, Borough Market, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Each day has its own playgrounds and is a short, outdoor walk.

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London
Photo: Ilya Grigorik · CC BY-SA 3.0

Day 1: Buckingham Palace to the London Eye

  • 4Sights
  • 2Kid stops
  • about 2.5 kmDistance
  • 1.5 hoursWith play time

This walk of about 2.5 km links four of London's best-known sights: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the London Eye. It starts at the Palace, crosses the Thames once, by Westminster Bridge, and stays outdoors all the way.

The first kid stop is the St James's Park playground, a short walk from Buckingham Palace, with a sandpit for younger toddlers and climbing walls and boulders for older children. Westminster Abbey and Big Ben follow, then you cross Westminster Bridge to the London Eye and end at the Jubilee Gardens playground, an enclosed adventure playground with a climbing structure at the foot of the wheel.

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  1. Buckingham Palace

    Buckingham Palace

    The palace front seen from the Victoria Memorial.

    Photo: Julian Herzog (Website) · CC BY 4.0

  2. St James's Park playground Playground

    A playground in St James's Park with a sandpit for younger toddlers and climbing walls and boulders for older children.

    On the map

  3. Westminster Abbey

    Westminster Abbey

    The twin western towers of the coronation church.

    Photo: Prioryman · CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower)

    Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower)

    The clock tower beside Westminster Bridge.

    Photo: Christian David · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. London Eye

    London Eye

    The giant wheel on the South Bank, seen from the riverside path.

    Photo: Khamtran · CC BY-SA 3.0

  6. Jubilee Gardens playground Playground

    An enclosed adventure playground with a climbing structure at the foot of the London Eye, mapped for children up to 11.

    On the map

Tips for parents

  • The St James's Park playground has a sandpit for younger toddlers and climbing walls and boulders for older children. One guide says it suits younger children better than older ones looking for more adventure.
  • St James's Park is famously home to a small group of pelicans. You can spot them swimming on the lake and lounging on Pelican Island.
  • Westminster Bridge is the place for a family photo with Big Ben. One guide also suggests a ride on the traditional merry-go-round by the Golden Jubilee Bridges.
  • The Jubilee Gardens playground has a huge climbing structure, smaller wooden animals for younger children and sensory features. It is mapped as for children up to 11.
  • Most of the South Bank is pedestrianised, which makes it easy with a pushchair. A public toilet block is mapped about 140 m north of the Jubilee Gardens playground, and it is marked as paid.

Public toilets

  • About 140 m from Jubilee Gardens playground · On the map

Day 2: Bankside, Borough Market and Tower Bridge

  • 4Sights
  • 1Kid stops
  • about 2.5 kmDistance
  • 1.5 hoursWith play time

This walk of about 2.5 km links four of London's best-known places: Shakespeare's Globe, Borough Market, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. It starts on the south bank at Bankside, crosses the Thames once, on Tower Bridge, and stays outdoors all the way.

The kid stop is the playground in Perkins Square on Bankside, between the Globe and Borough Market. From the market the walk goes on to Tower Bridge, which you cross on foot, and ends beside the Tower of London on the north bank. There is time to stop at the playground and to wander the market stalls with the children.

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  1. Shakespeare's Globe

    Shakespeare's Globe

    The round thatched theatre on the river bank.

    Photo: Thomas Roessler · CC BY-SA 3.0

  2. Perkins Square playground Playground

    A playground in Perkins Square on Bankside, between Shakespeare's Globe and Borough Market.

    On the map

  3. Borough Market

    Borough Market

    The food market under its railway arches.

    Photo: Øyvind Holmstad · CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. Tower Bridge

    Tower Bridge

    The two towers of the bridge seen from the south bank.

    Photo: Fuzzypiggy · CC BY-SA 3.0

  5. Tower of London

    Tower of London

    The medieval fortress and its White Tower.

    Photo: SkyRose18 · CC0

Tips for parents

  • One writer says the walk along the Thames at Bankside offers some of the best views in London.
  • Time Out suggests wandering the colourful stalls of Borough Market with the children, and notes that many stalls offer sample bites of what they sell.
  • A public toilet is mapped about 70 m from Borough Market. It is marked as free and wheelchair accessible.
  • Crossing Tower Bridge on foot is free, and this walk goes over it to the Tower of London.
  • A toilet with a changing table is mapped about 70 m from the Tower of London, at the end of the walk.

Public toilets

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Questions

How long is the family walk in London?

There is one walk a day: Day 1: Buckingham Palace to the London Eye, about 2.5 km; Day 2: Bankside, Borough Market and Tower Bridge, about 2.5 km.

Are there public toilets on the way?

Yes. 3 public toilets are mapped within a few minutes of the walk; this page lists where they are.

Is the walk free?

Yes. The route, the map and the playgrounds on this page are free. Some sights charge for going inside; the walk passes them outdoors.

Sources

The tips were checked on 16 October 2026 against these pages, and the playgrounds and toilets against OpenStreetMap.