Welcome to the January 2025 edition of our posts on free things to do in London with kids! Here we round up a selection of free London events for you and your family to enjoy in the first month of the new year.
We know that planning a trip to be London requires a lot of thought and that lots of events require pre-booking and can fill up quickly, which is why we’ve published this post early. We will keep adding to it as more free things to do are released. So do keep checking back!
Before we dive in, please note that while all activities listed here are free to attend, some may require advance booking or free tickets to manage capacity. We strongly recommend checking the official websites of any venues or events you’re interested in before making your journey, as opening times and entry requirements can change.
Please be aware that we are not affiliated with any of the venues, organizations, or events mentioned in this guide. We don’t specifically endorse any particular activity – every family is different, and what works brilliantly for one might not suit another. This guide aims to help you discover new possibilities, but the final choice of activities should always be based on your family’s interests, children’s ages, and comfort levels.
Let’s explore what London has to offer in January 2025!
What: London New Year’s Day Parade
Details: The London New Year’s Day Parade attracts over 10,000 participants from the USA, UK, Europe and beyond to delight a street audience in Central London.
Where: Piccadilly, Regents Street St James’s, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall
When: Wednesday 1 January, 12.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: New Year’s Day Ceilidh
Details: Join London’s most radical and vivacious ceilidh band, the Ceilidh Liberation Front, and kick the new year off with dancing for everyone.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Wednesday 1 January, 13.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Growing Together: Creative Play Workshop (Sensory Friendly)
Details: Join the wonderful Tales from the Shed team from Chickenshed Theatre Company for a special creative play session, designed especially for visitors with sensory differences or Special Educational Needs and Disability and their families.
Where: Young V&A
When: Friday 3 January 11.00-15.00
Who: Children with sensory differences or SEND and their families
Find out more here.
What: Family Tour at Tate Britain
Details: Each tour is different and unpacks 2-3 artworks through a multisensory experience. They can include responses to textures, shapes, colours and sounds which are expressed verbally and non-verbally.
Where: Tate Britain
When: Saturday 4 January, 14.30-15.00
Who: Ages 5-11
Find out more here.
What: Penguin Sculpture Trail
Details: Embark on a fabulous festive adventure to discover 12 adorable penguin sculptures throughout the Quarter..
Where: Fleet Street Quarter
When: Until Sunday 5 January 2025
Who: Everyone
Find out more here.
What: Storytelling and Music with Paul Rubenstein
Details: Free storytelling and singing and dancing sessions led by Paul Rubenstein.
Where: Museum of the Order of St John
When: Wednesday 8 January 10.00-10.45 and 11.15-12.00
Who: Under 3s
Find out more here.
What: Hear It Live!
Details: Nathaniel Mander is delighted to be returning to perform at the Horniman. He will present a programme of brilliant and virtuosic works by Handel and Scarlatti played on the harpsichord by Jacob Kirckman (London, 1772).
Where: Horniman Museum
When: Thursday 9 January 15.30-16.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Early Birds
Details: Early Birds is a sensory friendly event for families with members who need a quieter environment to enjoy the museum.
Where: Science Museum
When: Saturday 11 January 08.00-11.00
Who: Suitable for families with children aged 4–15
Find out more here.
What: Second Saturday Family Activities
Details: A fun range of activities to celebrate the New Year at the Guildhall Art Gallery and its inspiring collection of paintings. This session has a special theme of the Great Fire of London, responding to paintings in the collection.
Where: Guildhall Art Gallery
When: Saturday 11 January, 11.00-16.00
Who: This event is for children aged 3-13 and their families
Find out more here.
What: Saturday Sessions with Body Odyssey
Details: Through workshops and live performance, step inside a human wonderland as we play, make and experience a journey through the body.
Where: Southbank Centre
When: Saturday 11 January, 13.00 (a relaxed session takes place at 10.30)
Who: Ages 5-11
Find out more here.
What: Drop-in: Crafting with Colours & Screening
Details: Take part in a creative drop in where you’ll get to make and dance inspired by the Naomi exhibition, mindfulness, and fashion. Each session will include a workshop and the screening of short dance films.
Where: V&A
When: Saturday 11 January 2025, each session is approximately 60 minutes long, starting at 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00.
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Sensory Friendly: Design and Draw with Light
Details: As a family you’ll get to design, make and draw using lightboxes and overhead projectors. Play with light and dark, reflections, shadows, and colours. Create and experiment using a mixture of different art materials to make colourful projections in the space.
Where: V&A
When: Saturday 11 January, 11.00-16.00
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Wonderful Wildlife Weekends
Details: Explore the ponds and surrounding areas to discover the wildlife that lives at Camley Street Natural Park. 
Where: Camley Street Natural Park
When: Sunday 12 January and Sunday 26 January, 13.00-15.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Little Feet Exhibition explorer
Details: The Little Feet teddies invite you to a free, drop-in session in the Silk Roads exhibition. Join the teddies as they explore the awesome objects on display while engaging in activities designed for under-fives and their parents and carers.
Where: British Museum
When: Friday 17 January 10.30-12.00
Who: Under 5s
Find out more here.
What: Pollinators in the making
Details: Blow away the January blues, and protect one of the rarest butterflies in the UK. Brown hairstreaks are beautiful delicate butterflies which rely on both ash trees and blackthorn (sloe) bushes to thrive and to complete different stages of their life cycle. Visitors can get involved with both hands-on planting and citizen-science activities.
Where: Regent’s Park
When: Saturday 18 January 11.00-15.00
Who: Everyone
Find out more here.
What: Curious Corals with Francesca
Details: Come and feed your curiosity around reefs through stories, myths, games and craft. Find out how these crucial invertebrates protect themselves against predators, pretend to be a coral yourself and create your own unique coral and fact file to take home.
Where: Grant Museum of Zoology
When: Saturday 18 January 11.00, 12.30 and 14.00
Who: Everyone
Find out more here.
What: Winter Lights 2025
Details:Â The Winter Lights Festival trail will take you on a journey through 12 spectacular temporary installations, as well as our ever-popular permanent light artworks.
Where:Â Canary Wharf
When: Tuesday 21 January – Saturday 1 February, 17.00-22.00
Who:Â All ages
Find out more here or see our post A look at: Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival.
What: Battersea Power Station Light Festival
Details: A free interactive art trail for all to enjoy, explore eight must-see light installations from British and international artists, a number of which are making their UK or London debut.
Where: Battersea Power Station
When: Thursday 23 January – Sunday 23 February, 08.00-23.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
What: Story Festival
Details: A special day of free family workshops and performances across Young V&A, celebrating stories through music, design, dance, film and poetry.
Where: Young V&A
When: Saturday 25 January, story Festival activities will run between 11.00 and 15.30 on a drop-in, and first come first served basis.
Who: All ages.
Find out more here.
What: SENsory Sailors
Details: Disabled children, children with additional needs and their families are invited to a monthly session at the National Maritime Museum led by disabled creatives. Explore the Museum’s collections, enjoy the opportunity to be creative together as a family, and meet other local families.
Where: National Maritime Museum
When: Saturday 25 January, 11.00-12.30
Who: Sessions are tailored to children under 13 years. Siblings under 13 years old without SEND are welcomed.
Find out more here.
What: Hands on Armour: We’ve Got Mail
Details: Learn how magnificent mail armour was used for more than two thousand years, from the legions of the Roman Empire to the courts of Mughal India, and beyond. Find out how these mini metal rings made marvellous armour and try on both real and replica mail with the help of a team of Hands on Armour volunteers.
Where: The Wallace Collection
When: Saturday 25 January, 13.30-16.00
Who: Ages 5+
Find out more here.
What: Relaxed Hour at the Tower
Details: Enjoy two hours at the Tower of London free from crowds, with our Relaxed Hour at the Tower. This event has been designed for Neurodivergent and Learning Disabled children (aged five to 16) and their families. You’ll receive free entry to the Tower, the Crown Jewels and access to relaxed and SEN programming led by disability-aware contractors and facilitators.
Where: The Tower of London
When: Sunday 26 January, 09.00-11.00
Who: Ages 5-16
Find out more here.
What: Tots at the Docks
Details: Dive deep in the river, stack cargo, put on a puppet show or build the tallest tower! Tots at the docks is an unticketed, drop-in play session.
Where: London Museum Docklands
When: Wednesday 29 January 10.30-14.00
Who: Under 5s
Find out more here.
What: Traditional Lion Dance for Chinese New Year
Details: The lion dance is one of the most important traditions at Chinese New Year. It is performed to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits for the upcoming year. Celebrate Chinese New Year with a traditional lion dance.
Where: Merchant Square, Paddington
When: Wednesday 29 January 12.30-13.00
Who: All ages
Find out more here.
And don’t forget to also check out our post The ULTIMATE list of free things to do with kids in London which provides plenty of ideas of things to do in London that are free and always available.
