With its long-held repute as one of many coolest locations in London, because of its markets and musical hyperlinks, a go to to Camden with children and youths simply tops loads of metropolis break wishlists.
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Whereas there are many issues to do in Camden for teenagers of all ages, it’s one a part of London that’s notably good higher with teenagers and tweens fairly than toddlers.
However from some enjoyable household actions to the waterfront, cool new exhibitions, occasions, meals and locations to buy, right here’s my choose of the perfect issues to do in Camden with children.
Discover Camden Markets
No journey to Camden with children and youths is full with out exploring the world’s well-known markets – as a result of there’s not only a single Camden market.
As a substitute Camden is made up of a collection of markets that devour a majority of the neighbourhood. Probably the most distinguished markets are Camden Lock Market, Stables Market, Buck Avenue Market, Inverness Avenue Market, and the most recent addition, Hawley Wharf.
Teenagers and older youngsters will love exploring the eclectic assortment of merchants and shops. Youthful children can benefit from the uncommon sights, sounds, and smells of the bustling markets too, however do maintain little ones shut by because the markets can get extraordinarily busy.
Don’t miss the brilliant neon lights and big robotic sculptures at CyberDog (simply don’t go all the way down to the basement degree) and the abundance of anime, superhero, and popular culture merchandise on supply on the Stables Market, additionally dwelling to the well-known bronze statue of Amy Winehouse.
Reside music at Roundhouse
Camden can be well-known for its world-class stay music scene – and there’s nowhere that may impress younger music followers fairly just like the Roundhouse.
Roundhouse is positioned in a Grade II listed former railway engine shed, which was transformed right into a live performance corridor within the Nineteen Sixties. The architecturally distinctive venue is without doubt one of the most unbelievable stay efficiency areas on the earth.
The venue performs host to many enormous worldwide names, up-and-coming artists, and different stay occasions and exhibits all year long so attending a gig at Roundhouse is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Camden with teenagers or tweens.
Some occasions do have ‘age steering’ or particular guidelines about the place folks underneath 16 will be seated, so it’s price checking upfront. Roundhouses’ Younger Creatives scheme additionally presents initiatives and workshops for younger creatives and artists 11+.
Take a Camden avenue artwork tour
Camden is certainly one of London’s largest avenue artwork hubs too, so it’s an excellent place to wander. The world has a whole bunch of fantastic murals by a few of the world’s greatest avenue artists – together with the one-and-only Banksy.
The one drawback with the road artwork in Camden is that it may be pretty tough to search out your self, with a lot of it positioned down small backstreets away from the primary vacationer areas.
This is the reason a Camden Avenue Artwork Tour is a good concept. Appropriate for all ages, a avenue artwork tour will take you to find lots of the space’s greatest murals whereas educating you the tales behind them.
This Camden strolling tour additionally consists of a few of the space’s greatest avenue artwork, or you’ll be able to tailor this Camden tour by a neighborhood to cowl avenue artwork as effectively. Or do that self-guided audio tour to discover at your personal tempo.
Go to The Jewish Museum
Considered one of Camden’s high academic experiences for households is The Jewish Museum, the place children can be taught all about British Jewish historical past, tradition, heritage, and identification.
The 4 everlasting galleries characteristic some fascinating shows, together with its world-leading assortment of uncommon Jewish ceremonial artwork and objects reflecting the on a regular basis dwelling lifetime of Jews in London. Plus don’t miss the shifting private journey of Holocaust survivor Leon Greenman.
The museum additionally runs a schedule of participating family-friendly occasions, together with talks, excursions, workshops, baking periods, and themed pageant days. Should you’re visiting Camden on the weekend, it’s price being conscious that the museum closes on Fridays and Saturdays.
Go to London Zoo
Proper on the sting of the Borough of Camden, in Regent’s Park, London Zoo is simply a 20-minute stroll from Camden City, so it’s an excellent one to mix with a day trip in Camden with children.
The world’s oldest scientific zoo, London Zoo continues to be one of many metropolis’s largest points of interest – for teenagers and adults – greater than 170 years after it opened.
As soon as dwelling to the bear that impressed Winnie the Pooh, nowadays, you’ll be able to see all the things from lions and tigers to having the ability to stroll with lemurs, enterprise into rainforest situations, see animals from the African savannah and Australian Outback, and plenty extra.
There are three colour-coded routes across the zoo, pink, blue and orange – all totally different lengths, they begin and finish in roughly the identical place so you are able to do them in any order you need, and in case you’re wanting time, it helps you to focus in your favourites.
There are keeper talks which happen all through the day, in addition to particular animal experiences – you might even assist feed the gorillas. Should you’re fortunate, you’ll be able to spot the keepers feeding the animals as you discover.
Preserve a watch out for normal particular household occasions, particularly throughout college holidays, too. Tickets have to be prebooked.
Take a waterbus to Little Venice
The Thames isn’t town’s solely waterway, and Camden is a good place to get out on a ship with a number of totally different canal waterbus choices cruising alongside Regent’s Canal.
Perseus, from the London Waterbus Firm, has been operating since 1935, whereas Jason’s Journey Canal Waterbus has been working since 1951.
The classic narrowboats take you on a 45-minute journey from Camden Lock to Primrose Hill, previous Regent’s Park, London Zoo (look out for a few of the animals!) then on to fairly Little Venice, with its cafe-lined canals, the place you’ll be able to hop off to discover Paddington or stroll the streets.
There’s a commentary in regards to the canal’s historical past over the previous two centuries aboard Perseus – or in case you’d choose to sail in silence, go for Jason’s Journey and putter to Little Venice with out the guided chat (solely normal on Jason’s Journey cruises beginning on the Little Venice finish).
Youngsters are welcome and you may take buggies or strollers on board Jason’s Journey, so long as you’ll be able to fold them, whereas under-fours go free on Perseus, which additionally has barely extra sailings each every day and all year long.
Paddle Down Regents Canal with the Pirate Fortress
Positioned not removed from Camden Lock, The Pirate Fortress – sure it truly seems to be like a mediaeval fortress – is a boating charity and neighborhood for native deprived children and incapacity teams.
The charity presents boat cruises and a number of other enjoyable paddlesports, together with stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking, alongside the picturesque Regents Canal.
You’ll be able to e-book a non-public group session for teenagers/households. The charity additionally presents college holiday schemes for kids aged 8+.
And whereas non-public periods right here could also be a bit of costlier than elsewhere in London, all earnings assist area people initiatives. So you’ll be able to relaxation assured your cash goes in direction of a very good trigger.
Take a Musical Boat Cruise
One other enjoyable solution to expertise the Regents Canal with children on a sunny day in London is aboard The Music Boat.
On this distinctive boating expertise, you’ll sail alongside the scenic canal on a standard punt, whereas a neighborhood musician serenades you with their guitar and well-known hits from Camden’s musical historical past.
The Music Boat units off near Camden Lock’s West Yard Meals Market and takes you on a 90-minute journey as much as London Zoo and again. You’ll be able to take your personal meals and drinks onto the boat, so I’d recommend choosing up lunch from the meals market and having fun with it throughout your journey.
There’s additionally a reserve now, pay later possibility in addition to free cancellation.
Benefit from the views from Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill is without doubt one of the greatest locations to search out wonderful free views of London with children, nearly 63 metres above sea degree.
One of many six protected viewpoints in London, the place the bushes are saved low in order to not obscure the view, the hilltop park sits to the north of Regent’s Park and is near the upmarket London neighbourhood of Primrose Hill, recognized for its grand Victorian townhouses.
From the summit, you’ll be able to soak up some unbelievable 360-degree views over town; to the south is a transparent view of the enduring landmarks of central London, whereas to the north you’ll be able to see over the neighbourhoods of Hampstead and Belsize Park.
It’s a brief stroll from London Zoo, or round 20 minutes from Camden City tube station.
Again to the Future exhibition
In case your children are followers of the Again To The Future motion pictures, you’ll be able to’t miss the brand new Again in Time exhibition, with the biggest assortment of memorabilia from the flicks in Europe.
There are greater than 70 unique objects used through the trilogy’s filming and manufacturing, in addition to the possibility to be taught a few of the behind-the-scenes secrets and techniques from interviews with Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Steven Spielberg.
Alongside the best way, there are many interactive shows too, reminiscent of flying a hoverboard. And the perfect half? You even get to take a seat inside a reproduction of the DeLorean Time Machine. Nice Scott!
Set at Hawley Wharf, tickets are at the moment obtainable to January 2023.
Plonk Loopy Golf
For some aggressive enjoyable with the household in Camden, head to Plonk Loopy Golf, an indoor loopy golf course which was fully rebuilt in late 2020
Hidden within the Victorian arches of the Stables Market, the venue is decked out in a unusual mixture of camouflage and UV lights, and the nine-hole loopy golf course is stuffed with traditional beams, ramps, and jumps, in addition to some extra uncommon obstacles.
The course at Plonk Loopy Golf is completely indoors, so it’s additionally probably the greatest issues to do in Camden City with children on a wet day.
Children have to be 7+ to play and underneath 18s are welcome earlier than 5pm on weekdays. Evenings and weekends are adults solely.
DNA: London’s First Digital Actuality Arcade
Younger players will love DNA VR, London’s very first digital actuality arcade, the place you’ll be able to escape actuality to change into something from an area pirate to a grasp murderer, a deep-sea explorer and extra.
At an arcade session at DNA VR, every individual enters their very own gaming pod and is provided with a VR headset and handsets. You’ll then be immersed in the identical Digital World, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from a wide range of multiplayer video games and experiences.
From surviving a zombie apocalypse or defending the world from killer robots to swimming by way of the deepest oceans and having an epic dance-off, there’s a recreation for everybody.
DNA additionally has VR escape rooms the place you’ll be able to head on an immersive journey to unravel puzzles and full missions collectively.
As a result of measurement of the headsets, DNA VR is really useful for teenagers 7+, whereas the VR escape room is best fitted to these 10+.
Tomb Raider: The LIVE Expertise
Add some extra journey to your day trip in Camden for teenagers at Tomb Raider: The Reside Expertise.
Within the enjoyable immersive expertise, you’ll want to unravel puzzles, full bodily challenges, acquire historical relics, and outsmart enemies (performed by real-life actors) to assist famed archaeologist Lara Croft on her mission.
In the course of the distinctive journey, you’ll must climb, run, bounce, zip-line your approach by way of the Costa Rican jungle, rummage for treasures in a sinking ship, escape the snowy planes of Finland, and extra.
Tomb Raider is really useful for kids 12+, however these 9+ can play (though some elements of the expertise do have minimal peak and weight limits).
Get Lunch at Hawley Wharf
Should you’re in search of someplace to refuel after all of the enjoyable in Camden with children, there are many locations throughout Camden’s markets to get pleasure from a few of London’s tastiest avenue meals. Considered one of our favourites is the newly opened Hawley Wharf.
Hawley Wharf’s river-side meals courtroom is cut up into two enormous areas and has an entire number of unbelievable avenue meals to select from. Some merchants may be a bit of too extravagant for youthful palates, however there are many family-friendly choices too.
Take a look at HotBox for unbeatable BBQ smoked meats, BaoziInn for vibrant dim sum and dumplings, and Buk Burger for mouthwatering burgers. The pizza slices from True Romance are all the time a giant hit with youthful children too.
And in case you’re nonetheless hungry, spherical off your meal with a decadent dessert from DZRT – suppose indulgent waffles, crepes, and cookie dough – or gourmand finger doughnuts from Longboys.
Indulge at Chin Chin Labs
It doesn’t matter in case you go to Chin Chin Labs in the course of summer season or the depths of winter: it may be higher recognized for its liquid nitrogen ice cream, however when temperatures drop, you’ll discover fabulous scorching chocolate too.
The primary of its sort in Europe to make use of liquid nitrogen to create gourmand ice cream, flavours change all year long and also you’ll discover some quirky combos in addition to the classics, plus a string of toppings and choices for ice cream sandwiches and sundaes.
Or seize a scorching chocolate that’s nearly as a lot of a deal with for the eyes as in your abdomen, with oozily scrumptious charred (veggie) marshmallow fluff on high for essentially the most Instagrammable model (in case you can wait to {photograph} it earlier than diving in).
Contains vegan choices too – there’s additionally a Soho department now, in addition to pop-ups round London, however if you’re planning issues to do in Camden City, you shouldn’t miss the unique place the place it began.
Treat your candy tooth at Hans & Gretel
Primarily based on the Brothers Grimm’s well-known story of Hansel & Gretel, Camden Market’s Hans & Gretel is a magical fairy-tale impressed dessert cafe, completely coated from flooring to ceiling in sweet canes, lollipops, cupcakes and vibrant sweets galore.
There are additionally big statues of Hansel and Gretel to greet you on the store’s entrance and a makeshift sweet home that children can sit inside for photographs.
Not solely is the shop itself a enjoyable and quirky place to go to in London with youthful youngsters (however nonetheless successful in case you’re in Camden with teenagers), however its many indulgent desserts are certain to be a giant hit with children of all ages. You’ll be able to select from candy Hungarian funnel truffles, bubble waffles, freakshakes, ice-cream, choose’n’combine and extra.
For extra uncommon issues to do in London with children, in addition to all the perfect issues to do in London with children, take a look at my high picks
Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Photos: Penguin copyright MummyTravels, avenue artwork by way of Picfair, all different pictures courtesy of Depositphotos
