The best playgrounds in London
Written October 2026
London keeps its best playgrounds in royal parks. Diana's has a pirate ship, a nod to Peter Pan.
Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens is worth crossing the city for, and Gloucester Gate Playground in Regent's Park wins for anyone under five. The rest each have something going for them: a fence at Jubilee Gardens, water play at Coram's Fields and Greenwich Park, a nature play area beside the Horniman Museum.
Kensington and Holland Park
Two west London favorites, a short bus ride apart.
Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
Kensington Gardens
The big wooden pirate ship is the draw. Kids climb aboard, run the decks and carry on into the sand and tipis, with more climbing beyond. It's the only playground here we'd plan a day around.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
Holland Park Adventure Playground
Holland Park
An adventure playground in the woods of Holland Park, all timber: trees overhead, wooden structures, swings to finish on.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Accessible play
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
Regent's Park and Bloomsbury
Regent's Park has a playground on each side, and Coram's Fields is a short walk south.
Gloucester Gate Playground
Regent's Park
The best-equipped toddler and preschool playground here, with swings, water play, a changing table, a restroom and picnic tables. At the Camden end of Regent's Park, a few minutes' walk from London Zoo.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Water play
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Picnic tables
- Yes
- Accessible play
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
Hanover Gate Playground
Regent's Park
The quieter of the park's two, on the west side near the lake and the boats. It's handy from St John's Wood or the Lord's end.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
Coram's Fields playground
Bloomsbury
A big playground and green space in Bloomsbury with water play, which makes it the best bet on a hot day in central London. Adults only get in with a child. Coram's Fields Café is a few steps away, and the Postal Museum and its play space are a short walk off if the afternoon turns indoors.
Nice after a morning at the British Museum.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Water play
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
Westminster and the South Bank
Two playgrounds right on the tourist trail.
St James's Park Playground
Westminster
A playground inside St James's Park, between Buckingham Palace and Whitehall. The lake and the pelicans are right there.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Shade
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
Jubilee Gardens Playground
South Bank
A fenced playground for infants through school age, and the London Eye is about 100 meters away.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Fenced
- Yes
- Shade
- Yes
- Accessible play
- Yes
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
- Ages
- All ages
Greenwich
Two in Greenwich and a third in Forest Hill.
Greenwich Park Playground
Greenwich
The widest age range here, from infants to school age, with water play and picnic tables. The park around it has the hill, the Observatory and the views, enough walking for a whole day.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Water play
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Picnic tables
- Yes
- Ages
- All ages
The Cove Playground
Greenwich
It sits right at the National Maritime Museum, so it's easy to add to a museum visit. Greenwich Park Playground is about 400 meters up the hill, so you can do both.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Accessible play
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
Kusuma Nature Play Area
Forest Hill
A nature play area in the Horniman Gardens, next to the Horniman Museum, and worth the trip south of the river. It's built from natural materials and green space, with swings too.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Picnic tables
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
East London and Kew
Further out, and each a trip of its own.
Tumbling Bay Playground
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
A big playground in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. The park around it is wide and flat, with paths for scooters and bikes, and Brew Street Café and Bar at Timber Lodge is a short walk away.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Swings
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
Kew Children's Garden
Kew
A play garden inside the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. It's inside the gardens, easy to fit in between the glasshouses and the rest of the grounds.
- Restroom
- Yes
- Shade
- Yes
- Ages
- Ages 3 and up
Where to stay near these playgrounds
Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge
Lambeth
The fenced playground is about 300 meters away, with the wheel right behind it. There's an indoor heated pool, and the suites or rooms have a kitchenette.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Suites
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes, indoor, heated
Premier Inn London County Hall
Waterloo
Jubilee Gardens Playground is about 110 meters away, the closest of any hotel in the guide, with the London Eye next door. Rooms have a fridge, and cribs are available.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
Royal Garden Hotel
Kensington
The Diana Memorial Playground is about 680 meters away through Kensington Gardens. The suites have a kitchenette.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Connecting rooms
- Yes
- Suites
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences
Mayfair
St James's Park Playground is about 760 meters away, across Green Park and down to the lake. The Residences are apartments with a kitchenette, and laundry is on site.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Connecting rooms
- Yes
- Suites
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes
- Laundry
- Yes
The Landmark London
Marylebone
Hanover Gate Playground is about 850 meters away, close enough to walk to Regent's Park without the Tube. The indoor heated pool covers the midday break.
- Cribs
- Yes
- Connecting rooms
- Yes
- Fridge
- Yes
- Kitchenette
- Yes
- Pool
- Yes, indoor, heated
Rainy and hot days
Sandscape Kids Play and Cafe in Finsbury Park is an indoor play space for the under-fives, and the museums fill the rest of a wet day. On a hot day, The Garden at the Science Museum has water play.
Plan the rest of the trip
3 days in London fits the playgrounds in around the big sights. For places to sleep, see The best family hotels in London.
Questions
Which London playgrounds have a restroom and a changing table?
Gloucester Gate, Hanover Gate, The Cove, Kusuma Nature Play Area and Kew Children's Garden are all listed with both.
More in London
3 days in London
The best family hotels in LondonPhoto credits
Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground: Caroline Hampton (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Holland Park Adventure Playground: Peter Smyly (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Gloucester Gate Playground: Phillip Perry (CC BY-SA 2.0) · The boating lake, Regent's Park: Chmee2 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Coram's Fields playground: Stephen McKay (CC BY-SA 2.0) · St James's Park Playground: Dave Green (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Jubilee Gardens Playground: Lewis Clarke (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Greenwich Park Playground: Stephen Craven (CC BY-SA 2.0) · The Cove Playground: Harry Bond (CC BY-SA 4.0) · The bandstand in Horniman Gardens, Forest Hill: OrdinaryTomatoes (CC BY 4.0) · Tumbling Bay Playground: Oast House Archive (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Kew Children's Garden: David Hawgood (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge: Fæ (CC BY-SA 3.0) · County Hall from across the Thames: mattbuck (category) (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Royal Garden Hotel: Jim Linwood (CC BY 2.0) · The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences: Anthony O'Neil (CC BY-SA 2.0) · The Landmark London: Ricardalovesmonuments (CC BY-SA 4.0)