The Top Family-Friendly Attractions in South London

Immerse the family in the harrowing history of war at the Imperial War Museum, one of five museums within the collection. Founded in 1917, the museum encourages the study and understanding of modern warfare and wartime experience through a range of interactive exhibits and genuine military hardware.

Observe the beauty of London from a sturdy pod suspended in the sky over the River Thames. Looking down, to the east are St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the snaking tracks of Waterloo station, while the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben sit just across the river on the north bank.

Marvel at the wonders of aquatic life at the London Aquarium on the south side of the river, just by Westminster Bridge, across from the Houses of Parliament and next to the London Eye. Catch an animal at feeding time, take a walk over a tank full of sharks and learn about all things subaquatic. Fun for all the family.

Explore the rich biodiversity in the flower fields of London’s largest Unesco World Heritage site. Striving to express the truth that all life depends on plants and fungi, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew is perhaps the most striking natural setting London has to offer.

Survey the pioneering works of international modern and contemporary art on display at Tate Modern on the south bank of the Thames. Come to understand the political propensity of modern art and learn about how art relates and responds to different spheres of modern life in this former power station.

Jump aboard the HMS Belfast, the buoyant branch of the Imperial War Museums that has been anchored in the River Thames since 1971. This maritime museum is itself an exhibit, having fired some of the first shots during the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944, before seeing further action in the Korean War.

Discover the home of the prime meridian and the international waypoint of time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park, overlooking the Thames. Commissioned by King Charles II in 1675, and opened the following year, the observatory has served as a hub of astrological advancement for British astronomers ever since.

Make some furry friends at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, which has been responsible for helping over 3m cats and dogs find new homes since it was established in 1860. Originally founded in Holloway, north London, the animal rescue centre moved to its current location next to Battersea power station in 1871.