Things to do around London Bridge as a family

If seeing London from 800 feet up wasn’t breathtaking enough already, you can now get an extra adrenaline kick at The View from The Shard, thanks to the UK’s highest virtual reality experience. Hit speeds of up to 100mph on The Slide as you zoom through London’s skyline on an immense helter skelter, and test your never on Vertigo, as The Shard crumbles away from below your feet, leaving you balancing precariously. Thrilling stuff.

The View from The Shard, Joiner St, SE1 9QU

£10 per experience, tickets need to be purchase during a visit.

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Treat the little ones to the chance to stand like giants over London on a special trip to The View from The Shard in the school holidays with this amazing offer. It’s the perfect time to experience this incredible day out: from the moment you step into the super fast lift to the chance to take in the views, getting up close to the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows on Level 69 and on the amazing open-air Skydeck on Level 72. While you’re here, let the kids find out more about the City with the interactive Tell:scopes.

The View from The Shard, Joiner St, SE1 9QU

February 11-19 2017, 10am. £30.95 adult including two free child tickets, additional child tickets £24.95, students 18+ £25.95, disabled inc adult carer £26.95, disabled child inc adult carer £21.95. Book online in advance for an extra 15 percent off.

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A family visit to The View from The Shard is fun from the moment the kaleidoscopic lift takes off from the ground. Curious young minds will be inspired by the multimedia guides and digital Tell:scopes as well as the panoramic views. Download the activity sheet before you visit and let the kids play ‘Spot the Sights’ for the chance to win prizes. Plus, don’t forget that during half-term breaks there are great kids-go-free offers.

The View from The Shard, Joiner St, SE1 9QU 

Family Experience tickets (two adults, two children or one adult, three children) £74.95 in advance online.

Treat your child to a unique day out and – whisper it – they might get a history lesson while they’re at it. Moored on the Thames near London Bridge, HMS Belfast is now part of the Imperial War Museum collection, offering a chance to discover first hand what life was like on board a working ship during World War II. Enjoy family activities and tour the decks, seeing how sailors lived and worked, and what happened when the ‘action stations’ call was sounded!

The Queen’s Walk, SE1 2JH

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Dedicated solely to shows for children and teenagers, the Unicorn is a wonderful place to give kids their first taste of drama and comedy. Families are welcome to make themselves comfortable – laughing, shouting out, clapping and cheering. This is no place for children to be seen and not heard! And even when you’re not watching a show, there’s a cosy Living Room area with toys and activities for all ages.

147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ

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London’s favourite food and produce market isn’t just for grown-ups. Wander the colourful stalls with the children to help them work up an appetite for something different for lunch at one of the cafés and restaurants surrounding the market. Many stalls offer sample bites of what they sell so make a beeline for the biscuits and chocolates if you have a sweet tooth!

8 Southwark St, SE1 1TL

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Designed for new art, events and activities, The Tanks bustles with art lovers of all ages, including the youngest. Drop in at the main desk to find out what sonic trails and free activities are being hosted on the day you visit. You can also take a break from exploring the free galleries and let the kids get creative at the Bloomberg Connects: Drawing Bar on Level 1.

Bankside, SE1 9TG

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Tudor seafaring hero Sir Francis Drake travelled all the way around the globe in his ship, the Golden Hinde, between 1577 and 1580. Lovingly recreated to mark the 400^th anniversary of his achievement, the Golden Hinde II is an immaculate recreation that replicated Drake’s journey 40 years ago and is now permanently docked here. Kids can explore on deck and down below, getting a sense of what it was like to live aboard a small, sturdy vessel such as this in Elizabeth I’s time. There are special Drake and Tudor Fun Days too, with costumes, games, stories and treasure hunts.

Clink St, SE1 9DG

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With The Shard’s floor to ceiling windows, even the smallest visitors can enjoy the breathtaking views of London and feel like giants spotting the city’s iconic sights from 244 metres up. On the last Sunday of each month the Museum of London hosts free object-handling sessions where children can get hands-on with historical finds from the Thames foreshore and the 2012 Olympic site.

The View from The Shard, Joiner St, SE1 9QU

From £25.95 advance online, under-16s £19.95, under-fours free.