A successful visit to London, as any parent knows, depends on feeding and watering the kids regularly. Use our guide to find the best places for all budgets, close to the must-see key museums, galleries and attractions, where the children’s menus offer more than just chicken nuggets and chips.
Museum Mile
Mini burgers and chips in the kids meal at Big Fernand
Big Fernand - This French burger spot serves up smaller versions of their burgers along with croque monsieurs for those with smaller appetites.
Tapas Brindisa - The food here comes quickly and it's of a high standard - two bonuses. Get a plate of jamon to share and then keep the dishes coming, including padron peppers and croquetas.
Rocca di Papa - Swerve the large pizza chains and head to this independent spot instead where both the pizzas and pasta are good value for this part of town.
Oddono's - We're long-time fans of the amazing gelato at this Italian ice cream group. The stracciatella in particular is amazing.
National Gallery, London Transport Museum and Museum of Youth Culture
Dumpling making classes at Din Tai Fung
50 Kalo - One of the world’s best pizzerias this turns out to be surprisingly good value for a family meal.
Din Tai Fung - for a fast turnaround you can’t beat this Taiwanese spot and its famous soup dumplings. They also run dumpling making classes for kids in the school holidays.
Pho - The kids' menu can be tailored for fussy eaters and there’s even a picking plate aimed at toddlers.
Jamaica Patty Co - if you want to grab and co, the patties here are the perfect, good value eat-on-the-go snack.
Milk Train - check out their Insta page for a look at the amazing candy floss ice cream cones that this Covent Garden dessert bar serves up.
Tate Britain & Churchill War Rooms
Bento box delights at Sticks n Sushi
Kimchimama - A bowl of Korean fried chicken is always going to be a winner with kids (and grown-ups). They also do a nice line in chicken katsu cupbaps that will keep everyone going.
Bleecker - Bleecker’s cheeseburger is one of the best in London, which also makes it one of the best in the world.
Sticks n Sushi - As the name suggests, this is a good spot for teenagers who’ll love the yakitori sticks and well-made sushi.
Tozi - This Italian restaurant specialises in Venetian small plates - put plates of Parma ham or zucchini fritti on the table and watch it get hoovered up.
Madame Tussauds & The Sherlock Holmes Museum
A tray of tenders at Chicken Shop
Phoenix Palace - This old-school Chinese restaurant is incredibly family-friendly with lovely, warm service. If you're here at the weekends the place is knee-deep in children and their parents hoovering up the great dim sum.
Il Blandford's Cafe - As a change from the Carluccio's and Cafe Pastas, take the family to this wonderfully trad Italian just off the main drag. You can't go wrong with the pizza or pasta and the Spanish eggs for breakfast would set anyone up for the day.
Emila's Crafted Pasta - Having said avoid the chains, this boutique restaurant group is a good spot if your kids are on pasta-only diets.
Fischer's - Pop in for a pastry or some more substantial schnitzel and enjoy one of their amazing hot chocolates. This Marylebone High Street establishment is a great place to take grandparents who’ll appreciate the classic decor.
Chicken Shop - This fast-food offshoot of Chick n Sours serves up exemplary free-range fried chicken - as wings, tenders or burgers. There's also a cracking veggie version too. And if it's good enough for Beyoncé...
The British Museum, Wellcome Collection and The Cartoon Museum
The free ice cream at Flat Iron
Flat Iron - at the end of a hard day of culture and fun, the steak deal here is both good value and delicious. And all meals end with a free ice-cream.
Mowgli Street food - the ‘mini Mowgli’ menu includes butter chicken and rice and mango sorbet for dessert.
Abeno - for a bit of tableside theatre, head to this Japanese pancake restaurant where all the tables feature hotplates where the chef cooks the savoury pancakes on (better for older children).
See also: Most of the Chinese noodle and hotpot restaurants in the streets around here can be relied upon for good, cheap family food.
Southbank Centre, Somerset House, Tate Modern, Imperial War Museum
Did anyone order a margarita? Pizza stack at Pizza Pilgrims
Pizza Pilgrims - this cheery restaurant chain offers a good value children’s menu featuring a half-sized pizza, juice and ice cream.
Passyunk Avenue - teens and tweens will approve of the cool graffiti tunnels that this American restaurant is located in. There are plenty of kids dishes including smash burgers and pesto pasta but most of the main menu is child-friendly too.
Tonkotsu Bankside - Tonkotsu's kids okosama menu offers two bento box meals - one meat, one veggie - which includes a drink option too.
Toklas Bakery - for amazing sandwiches and pastries, this bakery/cafe is just a few minutes walk from Somerset House.
Museum of London, Barbican & St Paul’s
Perfect fish and chips at Kennedy's.
Kennedy’s Goswell Road - You can’t beat a good fish & chip shop for a family supper and this one offers both fried and grilled fish (along with plant-based options), and hand cut chips plus their own Aberdeen Angus beef burgers.
Paternoster Chop House - This lively City brasserie lets the grown-ups tuck into a nice grass-fed steak while the kids enjoy grilled chicken and spinach or mac ‘n cheese.
Pilpel - The St Paul's branch is handy for both grab and go as well as a quick pitstop lunch, the falafel here is second to none and served up with pitas and houmous.
Bread Street Kitchen - You can’t really beat the price at Gordon Ramsay’s St Paul’s restaurant; kids get a free main when an adult dines from the a-la-carte. Options on the kids' menu include bangers & mash and meatball pasta.
Tower of London and Tower Bridge
Emilia's Crafted Pasta
Emilia’s Crafted Pasta - Pasta is made fresh every day on-site at this spot down at St Katharine Docks with pretty reasonably (for London) priced dishes including rigatoni with tomato and mozzarella sauce.
The Coal Shed - You’ll find this steak restaurant in the One Tower Bridge development south of Tower Bridge. The children’s menu includes cheesburger sliders followed by ice cream.
Le Pont de la Tour - More for a special occasion visit, this riverside restaurant has a well-priced set menu for children with elevated options like roast tomato soup, steamed fillet of sea bass and a brownie sundae.
Museum of London Docklands
Big Easy
Big Easy - Children and grownups alike will love this lively spot on the water serving up great platters of BBQ. The children’s menu comes in under £10 and there are virgin cocktail options and jumbo milkshakes for the tweens and teens.
The Parlour - With a large alfresco area this is a good spot for families and their children's menu is interesting with coconut curry, pea and shallot tortelloni and stargazy pie all options for the kids deal.
Market Halls - When no-one can decide what they want to eat, a food hall is the obvious answer. The Canary Wharf branch has tacos, egg rolls, sushi and more to offer.
National Maritime Museum
Greenwich Market
Crosstown Greenwich - Parents can grab a coffee while their kids peruse the doughnuts menu. Everything from the dough to the fillings and toppings are made in house and there’s also a wide vegan selection.
Goddards at Greenwich - For a traditional pie and mash meal, this longstanding Greenwich restaurant is hard to beat. They also do a mean apple crumble with custard for dessert.
Greenwich Market - This popular market features a diverse set of traders from Da Fish Ting with their sustainable fish burgers and Korean Corn Dogs.
15 Grams - this coffee house serves up pastries from St John and must-have hot chocolate with blowtorched marshmallows.
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