LONDON'S Top Family Attractions for Autistic Children
- Apr 11
- 12 min read
Updated: 15 hours ago
We've been taking our autistic kids to London's museums and galleries since before they could walk.
We have enjoyed great days out, but also some epic failures!
Below we have compiled our best experiences across a range of London attractions, read on to discover the perfect day trip for your own autistic kids.
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Travel Smart - beat the queues and book advance tickets for the incredibly popular Hop on Hop Off Bus Tour of the London*
Can you take autistic children to London's main attractions?
In the early days, (when the boys were younger) J and I had had high hopes for many of our London visits - however we were often disappointed to discover how difficult it is for neurodivergent families like ours to access to these incredible places. Â The sheer number of people, the noise, the queues for everything from getting a coffee to using the toilet rendered the visits one big stress-fest. So in the end we stopped going.
Then one day I saw an article about a SEND Friendly session at a London museum. It was in the past and had taken place during the day when the boys would have been at school but it got me thinking. So I started looking up the accessibility pages on the websites of all the museums in London that I'd like to visit as a family. I was amazed to discover that the museum's Quiet Session was not exclusive to them, but something that many of the big attractions run a number of times a year. To find out more you had to sign up to an Accessibility Newsletter which I did.
This was nearly 3 years ago, and since then we have taken the boys to lots of these Family SEND Sessions - they can also be called 'Quiet' or 'Relaxed' Events. Some have been better than others, but all of them have helped support us to access these places as a family.
Our 10 Favourite London Attractions for Families with Autistic Kids
The London Eye for Autistic Kids
The boys loved their first time on the London Eye so much that we took them for a second trip 10 months later as part of a festive visit up to London. It is a slick operation (admittedly we've only been in the quieter months, so I can't comment on the August crowds) but the staff seem to know what they are doing. They recognised the Hidden Disability sunflower lanyard for autism that we wore (more information here) and were responsive to our needs. This included actually responding to my shout of 'stop that child' when our youngest bolted and shot down the ramp for the exit queue. The glass pods are also quite spacious and they don't overfill them - there is a large bench in the middle and plenty of room for everyone to get a great view over the city. This definitely helped the boys feel relaxed even though they were standing with strangers.
Although the London Eye experience only lasts 30 minutes, it feels longer, and the thrill you get looking out over the London rooftops make this attraction a worthy choice for a special treat. For an added bonus carers go free. As one of London's most popular attractions make sure to book your tickets in advance.
LONDON EYE BOOKING HINT
If you want the flexibility of refundable tickets book here*
If you want to add free carers tickets to your basket book here*
Entrance to the London Eye is free for annual merlin pass holders - you can purchase one here*. Â
For an even more detailed guide on visiting the London Eye with autistic kids read our dedicated London Eye blog post - it includes top tips, a visual story and information on accessibility.
London Transport Museum
My husband and eldest son visited this museum together and they both really really loved it. For our transport obsessed child it was a dream attraction - plenty to see and lots that he was allowed to touch and explore. The staff were friendly and on a May weekend it wasn't too busy. We haven't yet taken our youngest son as there are a number of fragile exhibits that are just for looking at and we are not confident he could resist touching or climbing on them. However when he gets older we will definitely go again.
BOOKING HINT
For this attraction it is best to book in advance. To buy a refundable ticket for the Transport Museum book here*
It costs around £27 per adult (disabled concession £25) Children are free, and carers too (with proof).
The ticket offers good value for families as it is valid for a year and you can visit as many times as you like. The museum also offers a £5 ticket for people who receive universal credit, book directly on their website.
SEND QUIET SESSIONS
The Transport Museum run special SEND sessions called Early Explorers, normally on a Wednesday during the half term breaks, but do check their website for up to date information and ticket prices. Carer / companion tickets are available.
Here is their excellent pdf visual story (one of the best I've seen) and you can borrow ear defenders and a sensory bag during your visit.
London Sea Life Aquarium (+ SEND Quiet sessions)
Our youngest son ADORES going to aquariums, and the London Sea Life Aquarium was a dream visit (so much so we have now been three times). For older kids there are some interesting exhibits about climate and habitats, and there is fun to be had finding all the different creatures in their display tanks. My youngest loves watching the sharks and penguins, and as a visual tracking activity it is very calming.
For more information on visiting the London Sea Life Aquarium, including notes on accessibility read our blogpost here.
BOOKING HINT
To avoid the queues, especially in summer it is a really good idea to prebook your tickets in advance.
If you want the flexibility of refundable SeaLife tickets book here*Â
If you want to add free carers tickets to your SeaLife basket book here*Â
If your autistic child would benefit from a quieter experience then make sure to do what we do and book their monthly SEND Quiet at the Aquarium session. These tickets allow autistic families entry to the aquarium an hour before the general public and a reduced sensory experience. We've done this twice and it was absolutely worth the extra money.
If you are thinking of buying an annual merlin pass*, its good to know you can book these special sessions at no extra cost - winning!
Madame Tussauds, London (+ SEND Quiet sessions)
Don’t let fear of a "no touching" rule deter you. Madame Tussauds is surprisingly interactive and was a huge hit with kids who love to learn through touch. As long as they are gentle, kids can get up close with everyone from Spider-Man to the Royal Family.
For our detailed sensory-friendly guide to visiting Madame Tussauds with autistic kids, read our dedicated blog post here.
QUIET / SENSORY FRIENDLY SESSIONS
If you are keen to pose with the stars but concerned about crowds and sensory overwhelm consider visiting one of Madame Tussauds Quiet Sessions. They run every couple of months, provide entry at 9am (so you definitely beat the crowds!) and reduce some of the sensory aspects by turning the music down and keeping the lighting static.
BOOKING HINT
If you want the flexibility of refundable Madame Tussauds Tickets - book here*
Quiet session tickets are limited to keep the experience relaxed. They must be prebooked in advance, you can purchase Quiet Session tickets here*.
Dates for the 2026 Quiet Sessions:Â
Saturday 13th June 2026Â (9:00 am Entry)
Saturday 12th September 2026Â (9:00 am Entry)
Saturday 12th December 2026Â (9:00 am Entry)
Natural History Museum (NHM), London
Oh the Natural History Museum! It might be a cliché but our autistic boys love dinosaurs, geography and our youngest especially likes animals. The Natural History Museum is literally their happy place and we try and go two or three times a year, making use of their simply wonderful SEND sessions called Dawnosaurs. We really cant rate these special museum sessions highly enough.
For more information on visiting the Natural History Museum with your autistic kids read our Dawnosaurs at the NHM article here. It is genuinely the boys' favourite day out in London.
Postal Museum, London
The Postal Museum in London offers an interactive, tactile experience ideal for autistic children.
Highlights include:
a sorting depot challenge
the brilliantly fun subterranean Mail Rail ride, which requires pre-booking in advance.*
the SORTED! play space
SENSORY PLAY SPACE
The dedicated "SORTED!" play space serves as a regulated environment for younger children, while the museum provides free carer tickets and relaxed, low-sensory events.
For more detailed information including accessibility, sensory triggers and how to book, visit my dedicated Postal Museum blog post.
London Science Museum
Both the boys love space and transport, so this is a fun museum for them. The gallery with the huge planet earth and space suits is a particular favourite, as is the flight gallery where you can get up close and personal with scale replicas of the earliest planes. For younger children (3 - 6yrs) there is also The Garden, a fun interactive space to discover science through play. It can get quite splashy so make sure to bring waterproofs or a change of clothes!
Although entry is free, the Science Museum have a number of 'experiences' that you can pay for; Power Up!, the red arrows 3D experience and flight simulators and the WonderLab.
On one trip we visited the Power Up! a hands on gallery featuring computer games and consoles from the last 50 years. My husband loved it but it was too overstimulating for the boys so it was a mixed bag, in the end we had to leave and take them somewhere to re-group. If your autistic child is a gamer this could be great, but for our boys it was too much and I wouldn't take them back again any time soon.
On a different visit we explored the WonderLab which the boys really enjoyed. There was loads of hands on physical experiments / exhibits for them to explore that really made science come alive, especially for our older son.
We have also tried out the Red Arrows 3D flight experience, which was good fun. Our youngest coped quite well with the tilting, jerking chairs but wouldn't wear the 3D glasses so I'm not sure how much he actually ended up getting out of the experience! However the rest of us enjoyed it.
If you are keen to take your autistic kids to the Science Museum then make sure to read our full article An Autism Family Guide to visiting the Science Museum
London Southbank Centre and Royal Festival Hall
The Southbank Centre and Royal Festival Hall (and Elizabeth Purcell Rooms) is my outlier on the list, as it is not really a tourist attraction in the traditional sense. Rather it is a collection of buildings containing theatres, the Hayward Gallery, other performance arenas and outdoor spaces. Its modernist rather brutalist exterior (more info here) sprawls between the Charing Cross and Waterloo Bridges on the south side of the river.* It is also very close to the British Film Institute and the IMAX theatre which are only a hop further along the cobbled pedestrianised pathway that runs alongside the river Thames.
FAMILY PERFORMANCES
All the venues run a packed schedule of cultural events, particularly focusing on families during the half term break and longer holidays. The best bit is they really do a great job at trying to meet the different needs of the neurodivergent community, including relaxed events and reduced price tickets.
We have had great experiences taking the boys to a number of different events including Dr Ronx (from Operation Ouch!) being interviewed on her Amazing Bodies book, a performance by Andy and the Odd Socks (only the boys favourite show!) and a free SEND family poetry workshop led by punk poet and DJ Brigitte Aphrodite.
ACCESS SCHEME
It is worth signing up to their newsletter and access scheme if you are at all interested in inspiring autism-friendly cultural events. Tickets can sell out pretty quickly, and often I have spotted things late on only to find I couldn't get seats, so its worth checking back every month or so.
Even if you don't have tickets to a performance or workshop the buildings themselves are very welcoming and have cafes and bars, along with seating options and lots of free pop up events as well as interesting art and sculpture installations.
SENSORY FRIENDLY COMMUNAL SPACES
There is a changing calendar of interactive exhibits both inside and outside, a musical lift that the boys adore and often just ride up and down(!) and funky sculptures dotted around designed to change the way people engage with cultural and urban spaces.
It has also proved very useful to duck into when the weather has turned against us or our little one suddenly needs the toilet!
GREAT LOCATION
The Southbank Centre is conveniently situated a stone's throw from many other autism friendly London attractions. If you are in the area consider booking a visit to :
the London Eye
or a London Thames River Cruise - they depart from the nearby Westminster and London Eye piers.
LARGE OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND
As an added bonus the Southbank Centre is very near to a really great free playground for kids that the boys insist on visiting every time in London - they just love it!!
It's called the Jubilee Gardens Adventure Playground and is on Belvedere Road, at the back of the plaza immediately behind the London Eye.
The playground is enclosed, with bench seating and trees for shade. It has been designed for children up to the age of 11 years and features boat themed climbing structures, a Timberwood Triangle and lots of opportunities to jump and spin. There are no swings. It is perfect for kids who need to burn off energy and we are regular visitors as part of our many day trips!
TATE Modern London
I love art, and it makes me immensely happy to take the boys to art galleries and show them all the different ways people can be creative. Unfortunately not all galleries are as welcoming to SEND children as they could be. The TATE Modern stands out for its inclusive approach and understanding staff. We take an annual membership out every second year, and have visited with the boys many times. If you are interested in visiting a free art gallery with your autistic kids then the TATE modern would be a good place to start.
Read our TATE Modern for autistic families article for a full guide and top tips for making your day a success.
Tower of London
We've visited the Tower of London twice, the first time with the crowds and the second as part of a special early hours SEND session.* You can guess which one we enjoyed more!
UNDERSTANDING STAFF
On the whole the staff were friendly, helpful and understanding about the needs of our two autistic boys at both sessions. The costumed performers were very respectful of the boys' wariness towards them, and adopted the right approach.
HISTORICAL WOW FACTOR
If your child is at all interested in history then this is a great attraction to visit - the crown jewels were the real winner for us. Even our youngest got excited by all the pageantry items and shiny stones on display.
QUEUE MANAGEMENT
There will definitely be a queue to access this, but we showed the queue staff our disability ID, (Access Card or National Disability Card) and they were great about taking us to the special access entry at the front of the line.
SENSORY MOVEMENT BREAKS
If your child struggles indoors and likes movement then there is plenty of outside stairs to climb, walls to run along, a spooky tunnel and other spaces to retreat to, including the moat surrounding the castle which is now a stunning walkthrough garden.
BOOKING HINT
To avoid lengthy queus at the gate it is a good idea to prebook your tickets.
For refundable Tower of London advance tickets  book here*
If you want to book a free carer ticket just select the free infant under 4 yrs ticket option.
Historic Royal Palaces Membership
The Tower of London is free for members of the Historic Royal Palaces (this pass also included Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace).
Even if you are a royal palaces member you should still prebook your tickets in advance.
Tower of London is also part of the £1 entry scheme for those on universal credit and other named benefits, this needs to be booked directly through their own website.
You might find their Autism Accessibility Guide useful (download here).
Final Thoughts on Visiting London Attractions with Autistic Kids
So that's our current top 10 list, but as always it remains a work in progress! We have to been to more attractions than I have included in the list, and some were simply ok, or just unable to meet the needs of our family at this time. The boys' needs are constantly evolving, and it may be that we attempted too much too soon, got the timings wrong or the venue is still not inclusive enough yet - so we never totally write off a destination - rather say not for us right now.
There are a number of destinations we are still keen to visit, these include the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, the Victorian and Albert Museum in South Kensington, the TATE Britain in Vauxhall and the Charles Dickens Museum.
There are so many incredible things to see and do in London, if you are in need of further inspiration(!) then make sure to check out these awesome ideas for making your dream London day trip* come true today!
My final reminder is to always check for special SEND sessions at the attractions you are interested in and keep in mind the option for free carer and companion tickets. It is always worth a phone call to check what documentation they will accept. Visit early. Plan downtime afterwards. Remember to pack your sunflower autism lanyard!!!
I hope this article inspires you to explore this amazing city with your autistic children; despite the chance of things going wrong, I promise you it is possible - and there is so much joy & wonder to uncover!
Happy travels! x
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