The Perfect 1-day London Itinerary for Families (That Actually Works): Canary Wharf Edition

There’s a particular kind of joy when you discover a museum that your kids enjoy and you don’t feel the instant need to grab their hands and leave. I’ve often found well known museums that my kids love a bit overwhelming due to them being huge or really crowded. But London Museum Docklands is not that museum.

We first started coming here when my kids, or at least one of them, was still in a pram. It has a buggy park and baby changing facilities with a small café right next to the playroom for under 8s. All the things that instantly spoke to me as a parent. I never thought I’d be writing and praising a museum for their toilets, but when there’s multiple and you don’t have to make a mad dash to the ground floor when your toddler announces an emergency, well, we all know that us, parents, are grateful for that.

Quite a few years on (and a lot less “mummy, I’m desperate” moments) and we still love returning to this secret London museum. After more than 15 years of living in London (and discovering more hidden places than I can count), this still remains one of our most returned-to London musuems.

Getting There

The DLR

Getting to London Museum Docklands is half the fun because there’s plenty of transport options that keep kids engaged. One of our favourites is the DLR from Bank, where kids always try to grab the front seats. They then pretend to be the drivers and I love watching their imagination coming to the surface. The driverless view down the track is genuinely exciting at any age, and you get elevated views across the Docklands that feel nothing like the rest of London.

From the station it’s a short, easy walk across the North Dock footbridge, and the museum appears right in front of you in a beautifully preserved Georgian warehouse. It looks exactly like what it is: a building with history. The kids usually start running when they see it.

Uber Boat aka The Thames Clipper

You can board at various piers across London and disembark at Canary Wharf. From there it’s a quick walk to the Musuem. Pro tip is pre-booking the tickets online to save some money. Plenty of ticket options available, from one way, return or hop on hop off, so you can pick the one that works best for your family. Using the Thames Clipper is lots of fun (plus there’s bar and tolilets on board) and seeing London from the river is an experience in itself. Who doesn’t want to sail under the Tower Bridge?

The tube

One of the fastest and easiest transport options where kids go free with a paying adult. Canary Wharf is served by the Jubilee and Elizabeth lines. And it the heat of the summer, the air conditioned Elizabeth Line is a perfect choice.

At the Musuem

The entry to this museum is free and there’s no need to pre-book. The Museum of London Docklands tells the story of the River Thames, the docks and the communities who lived and worked here. Exhibition goes from the days of the Empire all the way through to the Second World War and the transformation of the Docklands in the 1980s. It sounds like it might be dry. It very much isn’t.

What makes it work for children is that it doesn’t talk down to them. The exhibitions are layered and there’s enough surface-level wow for small children and enough depth that older kids (and parents) can actually learn something. Ours have always found something to latch onto, and those things have changed with every visit as they’ve grown. There’s also various trails families can embark upon. We have been looking for rats on numerous occasions and the kids still consider that one of their favourite things to do.

Sailortown gallery is the exhibition they are always mesmerised by as we stroll through the replica of the streets sailors would have walked down after getting of long journeys. This particular sailortown is a recreation of Ratcliffe Highway – infamous for drinking, vice and crime. This gives it a dark and scary feel and really helps with evoking the feelings of a particular period.

Hands on activities are strategically placed and they really help breaking up looking at the exhibits. There’s a giant hamster wheel that shows us how dock workers in the past moved heavy load and kids love trying to do it themselves. There’s track building and play, bridges and tunnels, playing on a reconstructed balcony and so much more.

Museum Events – the big dig

While the museum is free, occasionally they put on a paid exhibition or an event. In summer, there’s The Big Dig, which introduces archeology to children aged 5 and over. The first time we visited, our youngest was 4 and still really engaged in uncovering the hidden objects from London’s past. The event is back for 2026 and we were lucky enough to be invited to try it out before opening to the public.

The Big Dig at London Musuem Docklands from £6.50 per person or £33.50 for a whole trench. The price depends on whether you want your own trench or not. There’s maximum 6 people per trench, which is filled with wood chippings and hides a treasure trove or genuine artefacts from London’s past. We learnt about layers, how to identify objects and the period they were used in. All equipment is provided and there’s staff on hand to offer advice.

Our kids were super excited when uncovering bones and figuring out whether we were in a Roman home or a roundhouse. Our youngest visited Celtic Harmony a day before the Big Dig and felt extremely proud of himself using his newfound knowledge during our dig.

Mudlarks Gallery

A perfect spot to release some energy and learn about Docklands. It’s designed for under 8s and features a softplay, building areas, an interactive map of the world with shipping routes, water play and dock work based play. Entry is £4.50 per person (adults and children over 10 months old), sessions last 45 minutes, which is ample time for children to explore the playroom.

after musuem

Spending hours in Canary Wharf is really easy, from paid activities to free fun, there’s something for everyone.

We love stopping at Fairgame, children usually engage in a free game of cornhole or climb on a carousel horse, while we enjoy a drink in peace. For hungry tummies, there’s snacks, Pizza Pilgrims right next to the museum or head to Market Halls for street food and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. If you sit outside, enjoy the views and the futuristic looking Crossrail place. Inside, there’s roof gardens, a peaceful oasis in the middle of a busy city.

Spend s bit of time walking around the Jubilee Gardens, there’s colour changing benches that always catch children’s eye or sit down by the Eden Dock and watch the world go by. For amazing views over Canary Wharf and London cross the South Quay Footbridge and head to Bokan 37, a rooftop bar on top of Novotel.

With children, we wander towards the Wood Wharf. There’s small play area at Harbour Quay with beautiful views and a few more street food options at Mercato Metropolitano. Continue toowards the east and you’ll bump into Harbord Square Park with a small sand and waterplay area. At Graving Dock, have a look at the Floating Ecosystem, a new floating park great for nesting birds.

Further afield

Walking by the Thames is a day well spent, historic pubs, bumping into locals and picture perfect views without the crowds. From Canary Wharf you can walk into central London and mostly stick to the Thames Path. The walk partly takes you down the roads London Marathon runners chase their PBs on.

Shortly after leaving Canary Wharf, there’s The Grapes, a historic pub owned by Ian McKellen. If you look closely, you’ll notice Gandalf’s Staff behind the bar. A stone’s throw away, there’s Stepney Beach, a pebbled shore with beautiful views of Canary Wharf. Perfect at low tide.

If you make it all the way to Wapping, stop at the oldest riverside pub in London, one that was frequented by pirates and still has a noose hanging on the riverside. The Prospect of Whitby has a small outside seating area and a very popular smaller balcony.