Most family trips to London will pass by the Tower of London and Tower Bridge at least once – but once you’ve had a glimpse of the two iconic landmarks, you’ll find a string of other things to do near Tower Bridge with kids.
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So whether you’re looking to fill an hour or two in your London itinerary, or trying to work out how to spend a whole day around Tower Bridge with kids, I’ve picked out my top tips.
Everything is within around a 10 minute walk of one of the two sites and mostly inside the area between Tower Bridge and London Bridge – so if you’re looking for things to do near London Bridge, you’ll find plenty of ideas here.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is easily the most famous of London’s bridges, and as well as getting a view of its famous blue and white paint and taking a walk across Tower Bridge, you can head inside to discover its history – including the fact that it was a chocolate brown colour when it first opened, repainted for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Head into the Tower Bridge Exhibition and you can cross its high-level walkways and experience views down over the bridge and River Thames through its glass floors. One for the brave!
Did you know that when the bridge was opened in 1894, eight years after construction began, it had high-level walkways so people could still cross even if the bridge itself was opened – although these closed 16 years later for lack of use!
And as well as the chance to stand on the glass walkway and nervously enjoy the views, head into the engine rooms, and there are regular family activities for kids too.
Check out the Tower Bridge Trail for Little Explorers and family trail, as well as special events during holidays and the chance to some famous events in its history, including the time a double-decker bus jumped across the opening bridge.
To guarantee entry buy tickets to Tower Bridge in advance, although you can also get walk-up entry. A visit usually takes around 60-90 minutes.
See Tower Bridge rise
One of the most famous facts about Tower Bridge is that the central sections can be raised to allow larger boats to sail into the Upper Pool of London – and the times are published in advance.
The bridge – which is technically a combined suspension and bascule bridge – rises around 800 times a year, so time your visit right and you can watch as it lifts open to let the river traffic through.
For some of the best views of Tower Bridge opening there are viewpoints on both banks too. On the north bank, head near the Tower of London and towards St Katherine’s Pier – spot the girl with a dolphin fountain as you do – or on the south bank find a spot near HMS Belfast or around Butler’s Wharf.
Check the most up to date schedule of bridge lift times here.
The Tower of London
The Tower is one of my own personal favourite days out in London with kids, from the astonishing crown jewels to the famous ravens, beefeaters and centuries of history.
You can explore former royal apartments, decorated as they would have been when kings lived there, and discover the Tower’s grim history as a prison too, including a memorial to two of Henry VIII’s executed queens.
It also houses part of the Royal Armoury, plus you’ll find displays on the Tower’s menagerie of animals, discover live performances during school holidays, and have a chance to walk the walls.
Top tip: If you’re visiting, head to the Crown Jewels first as the queues only tend to get longer throughout the day – but shortly after opening, you can often stroll in without waiting.
Tickets can be bought on the day, although prebooking is strongly recommended. Tours with the beefeaters (properly known as Yeomen Warders) are including in entrance, and you can simply turn up on the day.
For a memorably unusual evening, you can visit in the evening to observe the Ceremony of the Keys – check out my experience of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with kids here.
Gunpowder Experience
This new immersive experience near the Tower of London is themed around the Gunpowder Plot, where you’ll be whisked back to 1605 to see if you can foil Guy Fawkes…
Suitable for kids aged 12+, The Gunpowder Plot takes place in the Tower Vaults, beneath the Tower of London, where Guy Fawkes and his fellow trailers were imprisoned and tortured after their plan was foiled.
Using a mix of VR technology, special effects, immersive theatre, and physical sensations (including dark and loud noises), your challenge is to stop the infamous plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Lasting around 1 hour 40 minutes, including a 20-minute interval in the recreated Duck and Drake – only open to those taking part (and plotters!), the Tower Vaults are right next to the Tower of London itself, although they’re separate entrances and tickets.
As an added bonus for Harry Potter fans, Guy Fawkes himself is played by actor Tom Felton (although no, you won’t get to meet him on the day).
The Sky Garden
London’s highest public garden, the Sky Garden is one of the city’s most unusual viewpoints – and one of the best free things to do near Tower Bridge.
Set in the skyscraper known as the Walkie Talkie (if you’re struggling with directions, it’s not tricky to spot), the terraces are filled with Mediterranean and South African plants, so it feels like you’re far from the city below.
Until you check out the great 360-degree views of London, that is! With a covered terrace, you can get some amazing views across to the Shard, St Paul’s, Tower Bridge and along the Thames, with views through the glass if you prefer not to go outside.
While tickets are free, you have to book in advance (and adults need ID to enter), with tickets getting snapped up quickly for weekends and school holidays.
They’re released three weeks in advance, although there are usually some walk-in spaces if you’re happy to queue on the day – it’s best to arrive early though. You can also book tables at the two restaurants as an alternative way to visit (although obviously it’s not then free).
For more free things to do in London with kids, check out my top picks
View from the Shard
The View from the Shard is one of the more expensive London viewpoints, but it’s also deservedly one of the most memorable.
The large viewing platform sits on floors 68 and 69 of London’s tallest building, a whopping 310m above the ground, making it London’s highest viewpoint.
The 360 degree view over the capital lets you see for up to 40 miles on a clear day, and The View from the Shard is the only place where you can really see the whole city at once.
There’s also an Open-Air Skydeck on floor 72 so you can feel almost as if you’re floating in the air above London. Click here to book tickets.
Check out these other great views in London with kids for more ways to soak up the skyline
St Katherine’s Dock
Just a stone’s throw from the Tower of London, St Katherine’s Dock is a great chilled out place to escape the bustle of London – and perfect if you’re looking for places to eat near Tower Bridge with kids.
Once the docks where some of London’s most valuable cargo was unloaded, today it’s a marina – you can even sleep abroad some of the yachts, including Sea Dancer – with a whole string of restaurants, plus a regular street food market, Kerb.
The Dickens Inn is a reconstructed 18th century pub, today serving great pizza and with tables outdoors overlooking the water for sunny days. Or there are family-friendly chains including Cote Brasserie, Zizzi and Cafe Rouge, plus dim sum at Ping Pong among others.
Keep an eye out for events as well, plus the Terrible Thames boat tour also departs from Tower Bridge Quay, by the marina, as does the Thames Tigers speedboats.
Terrible Thames boat tour
What do you get when you cross the creators of Horrible Histories with 2,000 years of drama along London’s riverbanks? The fantastically child-friendly Terrible Thames cruise.
With tales of revolution, beheadings and pirates (and the stomach-turning reason why Queen Victoria’s pleasure cruise lasted only minutes), you sail from near Tower Bridge to Westminster and back via Execution Dock, while prizewinning school-child Billy (or Billie) and their teacher perform and provide the commentary.
The cruise itself only takes 45 minutes but with songs, just the right amount of audience participation, plus a great balance of fun and facts, it feels like you get twice as much packed in – all including the usual Horrible Histories recipe of gruesomely ridiculous, gory sound effects, plus plenty of toilet humour.
Some genuinely quirky facts, plus it doesn’t shy away from the difficult topics, including London’s role in the slave trade. Departs from Tower Bridge Quay near St Katherine’s Dock, from early April to late October – buy tickets or gift vouchers here
Check out my review of the Terrible Thames boat tour here
Boat trip along the Thames
The Horrible Histories boat tour isn’t the only way to see London from the river, with a huge choice of boat tours in London with kids too.
You can choose from sightseeing cruises and hop-on hop-off options departing from Tower Pier, whether you fancy heading all the way to Greenwich after your day out around Tower Bridge with kids, or along the Thames towards Bankside and Westminster.
For sightseeing, check out City Cruises which runs various tours along the river, or if you’re not bothered about commentary, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers can be a cheaper option, and a good way to get from A to B.
Or head over to Tower Bridge Quay, by St Katherine’s Docks, for a more adventurous boat trip along the river with Thames Tigers speedboats (suitable for ages 7+).
Click here to check out the complete set of boat trips in London with kids
HMS Belfast
Once a Royal Navy light cruiser, now a museum ship permanently moored on the Thames, HMS Belfast is the most significant surviving Second World War Navy warship – present at the D-Day landings and in the Korean War.
Reopened after major renovations, you can discover what life would have been like on board for the crew who served aboard – and with nine decks to explore, there’s plenty to see aboard.
Interactive experiences range from a sound installation inside a gun turret to a chance to see just what it takes to feed the 950 men aboard (hint: that means peeling a LOT of potatoes) and steering the ship.
There are also memories from veterans who served on HMS Belfast, as well as regular family trails and activities during school holidays.
Prebooking tickets is recommended but not essential.
Walk the Thames Path
The Thames is the heart of the city, so a walk along the river is always one of the best things to do in London with kids.
It’s easy to stroll along the banks of the river along the Thames Path – or if you’re feeling energetic, it stretches off for miles in each direction from around Tower Bridge.
Look out for some of the quirky details like the dolphin lampposts – if you don’t think the decoration looks much like dolphins, you’d be right, they’re actually sturgeon.
And as you enjoy the views across the river, you could think of some of the highlights from through its history. Roman artefacts have been dug up on its banks by archaeologists and mudlarks for centuries, including an oil lamp and bone hair pin within the past decade alone, as the tides and wakes of the boat traffic stir up the silt.
Keep going a little further beyond London Bridge and you can see the Golden Hinde, a recreation of the ship in which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe, as well as Borough Market, plus all the attractions of the South Bank and Bankside, including the Clink prison, the Globe Theatre and Tate Modern
Visit London Bridge City
Head across the river from Tower Bridge to discover the area called London Bridge City – stretching all the way from Tower Bridge to London Bridge, there are regularly family-friendly events and trails to follow.
In the summer, check out the fountains near The Scoop at More London, 200 jets arranged in lines which spring up to catch the unwary, as well as free theatre performances, live music and film and sports screenings at The Scoop itself.
In winter, there’s the Christmas by the River Christmas market, with twinkling lights and festive decorations along the riverside.
There’s often free public art to discover, including the Chimps Are Family trail, with statues and information about chimpanzees dotted around the area, including at Hay’s Galleria with its shops and restaurants.
Discover Roman London
There are plenty of reminders of the Roman city of Londinium if you know where to look including part of London Wall near Tower Hill tube station.
You can also spy a statue of the emperor Trajan in front of the stone and tile wall, built in 200AD. The emperor’s head and body originally came from completely different statues.
The citizens of Londinium had their own public bathhouses, while the wealthy enjoyed private baths attached to their house – using either was as much of a social occasion as a chance to get clean – including the Billingsgate Roman Bathhouse at 101 Lower Thames Street.
Tucked away in the basement of an office block, it includes the remains of several of the different rooms – the cold frigidarium, the tepidarium and the hotter caldarium where iron scrapers called strigils would remove the dirt and sweat, with perfumed oils applied. Normally open to the public on Saturdays between April and November.
Walk a bit further to the Mithraeum, where you can discover the Roman temple of Mithras – founded in the 3rd century, it lay hidden for centuries but since 2017, it’s been open to the public. Free to enter but prebooked tickets are recommended.
Climb the Monument
Standing 202 feet high, the Monument is 202 feet from the spot where the Great Fire of London started on Pudding Lane – if you laid it down, it would reach right to the bakery.
Sitting at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill, the pillar with its flaming orb on top was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and finished in 1677 to commemorate the famous fire in 1666.
And as well as reading the plaque at the bottom, you can also climb the 311 steps to the gallery at the top to look out across the city.
For more Great Fire of London locations, check out this post to plan a walking tour to some of the key sites
Only 33 people are allowed inside at any time, with a free certificate for those which make the climb. Needless to say, it gets very chilly on the top if you’re visiting in winter!
If you want to climb the Monument, tickets are only available at the site itself (bring cash to be on the safe side), with adult entry costing £5.40, and £2.70 for children aged five to 15. You can also get joint tickets for the Monument and the Tower Bridge Exhibition, as well as family tickets.
It’s open daily from 9.30am-6pm, with admission 30 minutes before closing and it’s closed entirely from December 24-26.
Visit London’s oldest church
Dating back to 675AD, All Hallows-by-the-Tower is believed to be the oldest surviving church in London, overlooking the Tower of London from Byward Street.
Founded by the Abbey of Barking, it’s more than three centuries older than the Tower itself, and you can still see an arch from the Saxon church today.
Head down to the crypt, with its little museum tracing the history of the church, and there’s a Roman pavement that’s even older, dating from the 2nd century.
With such a long history, it has links to a string of famous people. Samuel Pepys watched London burn from its tower (though thankfully the blaze didn’t reach All Hallows), while many of those beheaded on Tower Hill were brought to the church, including Thomas More.
John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the USA, was married in the church in 1797, while William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania was baptised in the church.
There are guided tours as well as a free audio tour available.
Visit a park in a church
There’s been a church of St Dunstan on this site since around 1100, added to by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London before being damaged in the Blitz during the Second World War.
But while the bombing left the church in ruins, it also led to one of the most remarkable green spaces in the whole of London – and easily one of the most unusual things to do near the Tower of London.
Transformed to a public garden, you can still see the arched stone windows of St Dunstan in the East, now with ivy entwined around the stone and moss growing.
At the heart of the church, trees grow and there are benches set in a circle to relax amid this busy section of the city between the Monument and the Tower of London (although it’s less of a quiet oasis than it once was on a sunny day).
Enter from Idol Lane or St Dunstan’s Hill, from 8am to 7pm/dusk (unless there’s an event taking place).
For more unusual things to do in London with kids, check out my top picks
See part of old London bridge
The church of St Magnus the Martyr stands at the head of the old London Bridge, and is home to a 4 metre model of the old bridge as well as parts of the city’s early river crossings.
Built around 900 years ago, possibly longer, the churchyard is also home to several ancient sections of previous London Bridges, including medieval stones, as well as a timber thought to date back to 75AD inside an 18th century archway.
Found on Fish Street Hill, one of the most important streets in Roman Londinium, it’s a reminder of just how long Londoners (and visitors!) have been crossing the Thames at this point, when London Bridge was once the bridge downstream of Kingston for centuries until Putney Bridge was built in 1729.
Cross London Bridge
London Bridge has spanned the Thames since the Romans built the first one in 55BC – over the years, it has often ‘fallen down’ (as the nursery rhyme has it), been destroyed by fire and repeatedly rebuilt.
The early pontoon-style bridge was replaced by timber bridges then a 13th century stone bridge, with shops and houses built along the bridge – it was once one of London’s busiest shopping streets.
It even had public toilets, or latrines, at one stage… though it was distinctly risky to use them at times, with one set falling into the Thames in the late 15th century.
The ‘new’ bridge, replacing the medieval crossing in 1831, was later sold and now stands in Lake Havasu City in Arizona.
The present-concrete day bridge, linking the City of London and Southwark, is definitely not the most exciting one – but on the plus side, it’s a great place to get a good view back over to Tower Bridge (and a reminder that the two are not the same!) and the Shard.
Look out for the dragons as you reach the southern bank, marking boundary of the City of London, where you officially cross from the old Liberty of Southwark. Often mistaken for griffins, there are 13 around the city – this pair is a later smaller recreation of the 19th century originals near Temple Gardens.
The London Bridge Experience & London Tombs
Travel back in time to discover over 2,000 years of the area’s dark and gruesome history as part of The London Bridge Experience. The spooky interactive walk-through adventure features live actors playing some of London’s most infamous characters, including Jack The Ripper, William Wallace, and many more.
Then, for a truly terrifying Halloween experience in London, you can make your way down to the scare maze that is the London Tombs. Here you’ll need to squeeze your way through the confined catacombs, attempting to escape the zombies, spiders, clowns, bloody butchers, and other creatures of nightmares around every corner.
The London Bridge Experience is for children 4+, while the London Tombs is only suitable for children 11+ – but be warned, the Tombs have been crowned the UK’s scariest attraction for the last 13 years, so the attraction definitely isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Visit Leadenhall Market
Who wouldn’t want to step through the magical entrance into Diagon Alley? The real life filming location from Harry Potter is not off Charing Cross Road – instead the Victorian covered market in the City of London was used for the street of wizarding shops in the first movie.
For more Harry Potter locations in London, check out this post
You’ll also find pop-up shops, performances and art installations – tentacles were seen entwining from the ceiling at Halloween – as well as regular family-friendly events taking place.
And the way in to The Leaky Cauldron? You need the curved door next to the optician in Bull’s Head Passage… previously blue, it’s now been painted white.
For more ideas of things to do in London with kids, check out my top tips
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Tower of London/Sky Garden/Terrible Thames/lamppost/dragon statue copyright MummyTravels, all other images courtesy of Depositphotos
