Guidebook for San Francisco
Parks & Nature
It’s exciting cycling along the canal here with my daughter on the front of my bike. There’s a skate park and two imaginative playgrounds, one for younger kids and one with big slides (put sand on to make them faster!). In summer try the splash pool, fishing, boating lake, gigs at the bandstand, and puppet shows.
Make a day of it by starting with scrambled eggs or Sri Lankan breakfast of coconut pancakes with chutneys at the child-friendly Pavilion Cafe nearby, or buy picnic stuff from the shops on Lauriston Road and set up lunch as soon as the kids are hungry.
1666 locals recommend
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford RoadIt’s exciting cycling along the canal here with my daughter on the front of my bike. There’s a skate park and two imaginative playgrounds, one for younger kids and one with big slides (put sand on to make them faster!). In summer try the splash pool, fishing, boating lake, gigs at the bandstand, and puppet shows.
Make a day of it by starting with scrambled eggs or Sri Lankan breakfast of coconut pancakes with chutneys at the child-friendly Pavilion Cafe nearby, or buy picnic stuff from the shops on Lauriston Road and set up lunch as soon as the kids are hungry.
Farm animals in the city! What’s not to love? Sheep, goats, cows, pigs, and chickens teach kids about animal welfare and farming. Don’t miss the miniature donkeys.
On Saturday mornings and school holidays, kids can join the Wild Club for nature crafts, animal encounters, collecting eggs, and outdoor cooking.
44 locals recommend
Spitalfields City Farm
Buxton StreetFarm animals in the city! What’s not to love? Sheep, goats, cows, pigs, and chickens teach kids about animal welfare and farming. Don’t miss the miniature donkeys.
On Saturday mornings and school holidays, kids can join the Wild Club for nature crafts, animal encounters, collecting eggs, and outdoor cooking.
Kids have so much fun here! The fountains are spread over a large paved area, and the phased sequences of water shooting straight up from the ground keep young minds entertained for hours as they dash through the water in their swimmers on a hot day. Some dare to stand over the holes while others just scoot around the periphery.
When you’re done splashing around, grab a bite at Caravan, a restaurant right by the fountains, with loads of space where your noise just dissipates. Kids can have pizza while adults share small and large plates.
164 locals recommend
Granary Square
1 Granary SquareKids have so much fun here! The fountains are spread over a large paved area, and the phased sequences of water shooting straight up from the ground keep young minds entertained for hours as they dash through the water in their swimmers on a hot day. Some dare to stand over the holes while others just scoot around the periphery.
When you’re done splashing around, grab a bite at Caravan, a restaurant right by the fountains, with loads of space where your noise just dissipates. Kids can have pizza while adults share small and large plates.
We always have a jolly time at this landscaped water-and-sand play area, which you can access from the Westfield Stratford shopping centre. There are big slides and high rope bridges—all in a natural setting with stunning wildflower plantings. The Olympic Park is pedestrianised, pathways are broad, and it feels very safe.
The nearby Timber Lodge Cafe has good coffee to pep up parents, sandwiches, and snacks. Or, if everyone is still in a good mood, extend your outing with a 10-minute walk to the charming East Village E20, where I love kid-friendly Hand cafe and the creative kids’ clothes shop Olive Loves Alfie East.
8 locals recommend
Tumbling Bay Playground
Olympic Park AvenueWe always have a jolly time at this landscaped water-and-sand play area, which you can access from the Westfield Stratford shopping centre. There are big slides and high rope bridges—all in a natural setting with stunning wildflower plantings. The Olympic Park is pedestrianised, pathways are broad, and it feels very safe.
The nearby Timber Lodge Cafe has good coffee to pep up parents, sandwiches, and snacks. Or, if everyone is still in a good mood, extend your outing with a 10-minute walk to the charming East Village E20, where I love kid-friendly Hand cafe and the creative kids’ clothes shop Olive Loves Alfie East.
Once a deserted space in a built-up and hectic area, this plot has been redesigned into an attractive, cleverly planted, and beautifully nurtured garden, a triangular space which backs down to the railway line. The garden is fully enclosed and has an outdoor cafe, so you can sit with a coffee and let the kids run off, knowing they can’t get out.
They have decided to leave one play area natural at the end of the garden, with bendy overgrown shrubs kids love to climb through and a wet, muddy area for splashing in Wellington boots.
178 locals recommend
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston LnOnce a deserted space in a built-up and hectic area, this plot has been redesigned into an attractive, cleverly planted, and beautifully nurtured garden, a triangular space which backs down to the railway line. The garden is fully enclosed and has an outdoor cafe, so you can sit with a coffee and let the kids run off, knowing they can’t get out.
They have decided to leave one play area natural at the end of the garden, with bendy overgrown shrubs kids love to climb through and a wet, muddy area for splashing in Wellington boots.
Stoke Newington is a very trendy family area, and the playground here is brilliant. A short walk from Church Street’s cafes and beautifully stocked kids’ clothes shops, you’ll find a lake, ducks, deer, quail, rabbits, and a large paddling pool.
Look for the zip wire—kids love it.
505 locals recommend
Clissold Park
Green LanesStoke Newington is a very trendy family area, and the playground here is brilliant. A short walk from Church Street’s cafes and beautifully stocked kids’ clothes shops, you’ll find a lake, ducks, deer, quail, rabbits, and a large paddling pool.
Look for the zip wire—kids love it.
Arts & Culture
My daughter loves this architectural giant of an art gallery. The underground space called the Tanks, on the right of the Turbine Hall, is her favourite. Dedicated to video and interactive art, it’s totally immersive for children, and I enjoy exploring art genres I wouldn’t normally engage with.
There’s a “drawing bar” on level one in the Boiler House where anyone can take a seat at a digital sketch pad and get drawing. My daughter and I have spent hours here—she never tires of seeing her digital drawings projected on the wall.
2008 locals recommend
Tate Modern
BanksideMy daughter loves this architectural giant of an art gallery. The underground space called the Tanks, on the right of the Turbine Hall, is her favourite. Dedicated to video and interactive art, it’s totally immersive for children, and I enjoy exploring art genres I wouldn’t normally engage with.
There’s a “drawing bar” on level one in the Boiler House where anyone can take a seat at a digital sketch pad and get drawing. My daughter and I have spent hours here—she never tires of seeing her digital drawings projected on the wall.
It’s fun for kids to run around the big space of this museum dedicated to homes through the ages, and we all love looking at the period rooms, re-creating homes through the past 400 years, from a 1600s parlour to a 1990s loft. The gardens have lovely spots for a picnic and an herb garden. Plenty of seasonal events happen here throughout the year.
My daughter loves the creative kids’ workshops. We’ve made Christmas tree decorations, stars decorated with jewels, lanterns. Arrive 30 minutes before the workshop start time to ensure you get a place.
326 locals recommend
Museum of the Home
136 Kingsland RoadIt’s fun for kids to run around the big space of this museum dedicated to homes through the ages, and we all love looking at the period rooms, re-creating homes through the past 400 years, from a 1600s parlour to a 1990s loft. The gardens have lovely spots for a picnic and an herb garden. Plenty of seasonal events happen here throughout the year.
My daughter loves the creative kids’ workshops. We’ve made Christmas tree decorations, stars decorated with jewels, lanterns. Arrive 30 minutes before the workshop start time to ensure you get a place.
Dedicated to the V&A’s collection of toys, from dollhouses and puppet theatres to Lego and action figures, this museum also offers plenty to admire from an adult perspective, from its mosaic floor to art exhibitions. Look for the sensory area, with a sandpit, dressing-up box, and interactive displays like a Victorian kitchen.
Make sure that you find the leather rocking horses and take a ride. They have two sizes, with crash-mats all around.
418 locals recommend
V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath RoadDedicated to the V&A’s collection of toys, from dollhouses and puppet theatres to Lego and action figures, this museum also offers plenty to admire from an adult perspective, from its mosaic floor to art exhibitions. Look for the sensory area, with a sandpit, dressing-up box, and interactive displays like a Victorian kitchen.
Make sure that you find the leather rocking horses and take a ride. They have two sizes, with crash-mats all around.
An excellent multi-activity centre, with storytellers wandering around who get your child to think creatively. Indoor and outdoor themed areas have fake boats, trees, slides, and things to climb. It’s all about stories and creative play.
Events happen throughout the day at exhibitions tied to particular books, like Dr. Seuss’s. A storyteller reads from a book, then takes kids round the exhibition so the book is brought to life. Reserve a slot ahead!
323 High St
323 High StreetAn excellent multi-activity centre, with storytellers wandering around who get your child to think creatively. Indoor and outdoor themed areas have fake boats, trees, slides, and things to climb. It’s all about stories and creative play.
Events happen throughout the day at exhibitions tied to particular books, like Dr. Seuss’s. A storyteller reads from a book, then takes kids round the exhibition so the book is brought to life. Reserve a slot ahead!
At this contemporary art gallery, you can book onto special Crib Notes tours of the current exhibition, designed for parents with babies and toddlers to engage little ones and stop parents fretting about being noisy and disruptive in the usually quiet gallery setting. It’s basically for people who like art and also happen to have children.
Get on their mailing list and book a family workshop in advance. They’re brilliant, and you actually get to work with the artist. Last time we went, we made elaborate masks and headdresses, then there was a parade and a little disco.
589 locals recommend
Whitechapel Gallery
77-82 Whitechapel High StAt this contemporary art gallery, you can book onto special Crib Notes tours of the current exhibition, designed for parents with babies and toddlers to engage little ones and stop parents fretting about being noisy and disruptive in the usually quiet gallery setting. It’s basically for people who like art and also happen to have children.
Get on their mailing list and book a family workshop in advance. They’re brilliant, and you actually get to work with the artist. Last time we went, we made elaborate masks and headdresses, then there was a parade and a little disco.
This contemporary art gallery is an enormous space, and kids just love being in big, open spaces, don’t they? I really like the taste of the person who creates the shows here. The last thing I enjoyed was Rana Begum’s The Space Between, a darkened room full of light sculptures made from UV tubes of different colours and shapes—hugely enjoyable for kids.
They run excellent Sunday family workshops in the galleries for 5- to 15-year-olds.
26 locals recommend
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art
32 Fitzroy SquareThis contemporary art gallery is an enormous space, and kids just love being in big, open spaces, don’t they? I really like the taste of the person who creates the shows here. The last thing I enjoyed was Rana Begum’s The Space Between, a darkened room full of light sculptures made from UV tubes of different colours and shapes—hugely enjoyable for kids.
They run excellent Sunday family workshops in the galleries for 5- to 15-year-olds.
Sightseeing
This Walthamstow warehouse is a visual sensation stuffed full with neon signs—some glowing, some in disrepair. Kids will be dazzled by vintage circus lights and original neon art hanging from the ceiling, walls, and propped against every available surface. When you need a break, their Rolling Scones cafe does good coffee and cake.
Visit as part of a day spent hopping round Walthamstow Village’s shops and cafes—nearby Sodo Pizza Cafe is delicious and super kid-friendly.
112 locals recommend
Gods Own Junkyard
Shernhall StreetThis Walthamstow warehouse is a visual sensation stuffed full with neon signs—some glowing, some in disrepair. Kids will be dazzled by vintage circus lights and original neon art hanging from the ceiling, walls, and propped against every available surface. When you need a break, their Rolling Scones cafe does good coffee and cake.
Visit as part of a day spent hopping round Walthamstow Village’s shops and cafes—nearby Sodo Pizza Cafe is delicious and super kid-friendly.