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Top 10 Fun Things To Do In North London With Kids in 2026
Quick summary
- For active little ones (under 12): let them loose at Topsy Turvy Soft Play, say hello to the animals at Golders Hill Park's free zoo, or find the play areas at Waterlow Park.
- For older kids who like a challenge: take on a Game Over escape room, then race and bowl at TeamSport Indoor Go Karting and Bowling.
- For lunch and shopping: explore Nando’s family menus, wagamama and Pasta Remoli, and then do some kids' shopping at Waterstones, TG Jones, H&M, Newbie and MINISO, all at Brent Cross.
- For a day out in the fresh air: walk the Parkland Walk and hunt for the Spriggan, or go looking for murals around Camden.
- For young creatives: get stuck into a family workshop at Camden Arts Centre.
Need to wear the kids out for a day without dragging everyone into the middle of town?
North London has more than enough to fill the hours: soft play and electric karting, a free zoo, an old railway walk, and a gallery where children can get creative.
Below are ten family days out worth your time, with Brent Cross as the easy starting point and the rest of North London a short hop away:
Burn off energy at Topsy Turvy Soft Play
Location: Outside Brent Cross, Prince Charles Drive, NW4 3RW.
Topsy Turvy World is an indoor soft play centre for children under 12, with a dedicated area for the under-3s and a multi-tiered play frame for older kids.
The frame is fully padded and runs on a one-way system, which makes it easier to keep track of children as they play.
There is a café on site for parents, and the venue takes bookings for birthday parties.
➡️ Good to know: there is a 1.5 metre height limit on the play frame.
Take on an escape room at Game Over
Location: Outside Brent Cross, Prince Charles Drive, NW4 3RW.
Game Over is an escape room venue in Brent Cross, where groups work through a series of themed puzzles against the clock to escape the room.
Each room has its own theme, including the School of Magic and the Lost City of Atlantis, and most are suitable for children aged 10 and over.
The Nightmare Hotel is the scarier option and is reserved for ages 16 and over, so check the room before booking if you have younger children with you.
Walk-ins are welcome, though booking ahead is advisable.
Race and bowl at TeamSport Indoor Go Karting & Bowling
Location: Level 4 of the Red Car Park, Brent Cross Shopping Centre, London NW4 3FP.
TeamSport Indoor Go Karting & Bowling is an indoor entertainment venue that combines electric go-karting, ten-pin bowling and arcade games under one roof.
The karting runs on near-silent electric karts, with a dedicated Mini Racers track for children aged 4 to 7.
Older children and adults can drive the main circuit from age 8 with a 45 mph max speed and a 350m track length.
Alongside the track, there are eight bowling lanes, pool tables and arcade games, plus food and drink on site. The venue also takes bookings for children's parties.
➡️ You can book TeamSport’s karting experience here.
Sort out lunch at Brent Cross
Brent Cross has several family-friendly places to eat when it is time for a break:
Nando's
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Nando's serves its flame-grilled peri-peri chicken at a range of spice levels, available to eat in, collect or have delivered.
There is a children's menu, with Nando's Dino meals aimed at younger diners.
Pasta Remoli
Location: Inside District, Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Pasta Remoli serves fresh handmade pasta and Roman-style pizza, with a children's menu alongside gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options.
Wagamama
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Wagamama serves pan-Asian food, including ramen, katsu curry and a range of plant-based dishes.
It is well set up for families, with high chairs, a children's menu and bottle warming for babies.
Pick up something for the kids around Brent Cross
If there is time between activities, these Brent Cross stores are worth a look with children:
Waterstones
Location: Upper Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Waterstones is a bookshop stocking titles for all ages, with a strong children's section and staff on hand for recommendations.
Weekly half-price offers, click and collect and gift services are also available.
TG Jones
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FB.
TG Jones sells books, stationery, cards and gifts, and has a Toys R Us section at the back of the store stocked with games and toys for children of all ages.
H&M
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
H&M carries a full kidswear range alongside its womenswear, menswear and beauty lines, with everyday basics and trend-led pieces at affordable prices.
Newbie
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
Newbie is a Swedish brand specialising in sustainable baby and children's clothing, much of it organic cotton and designed to last.
It offers complimentary gift wrapping in store and accepts pre-loved Newbie items to be passed on.
MINISO
Location: Lower Mall, Brent Cross, NW4 3FP.
MINISO is a variety store selling plush toys, blind boxes, beauty items and homeware, with regular character collaborations from brands such as Sanrio, Pokémon and Care Bears.
Walk the Parkland Walk and hunt for the Spriggan
Location: Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace, North London (the Spriggan is near the old Crouch End station).
The Parkland Walk is a 4km green trail that follows a former railway line through North London, with a flat, traffic-free path suitable for walkers and bikes.
The main point of interest for children is the Spriggan, a man-sized sculpture by Marilyn Collins set into the brickwork, which has a Cornish folk legend attached to it.
A short woodland trail along the route includes bug hotels and a frog pond, and the old platforms and bridges are reminders of the trains that once ran here.
Spend a few hours at Waterlow Park
Location: Highgate Hill, Highgate, London N6 5HD.
Waterlow Park is a 26-acre hillside park with open green space and some of the best views over the City of London.
It has two children's play areas towards the southern end and three spring-fed ponds in the middle, home to ducks, herons and frogs.
Wide paths and grassy slopes provide space for a picnic or a game, and there are tennis courts available.
The park is generally quieter than nearby Hampstead Heath, which suits families with younger children.
Meet the animals at Golders Hill Park's free zoo
Location: North End Way, London NW3 7HE (part of Hampstead Heath).
Golders Hill Park is home to one of London's free zoos as a small animal collection that children can visit at no cost.
The 'residents’ include ring-tailed lemurs, red-necked wallabies, a Scottish wildcat, kookaburras, fallow deer, donkeys and bantam chickens.
As there is no entry fee, families can call in for a short while or stay longer.
The surrounding park has an adventure playground and a large sandpit, along with gardens and open lawns.
The zoo opens daily in line with the park, so it is worth checking the seasonal closing time before visiting.
Go mural-spotting around Camden
Location: Around Camden Town, North London (NW1).
Camden is one of London's best-known areas for street art, with murals covering walls throughout its side streets.
Streets such as Harmood Street, Hawley Mews and Stucley Place are good places to look, with large-scale works on display.
Notable artists include Irony, known for his photorealistic portraits, and Gnasher, whose monkey mural appears on Stucley Place.
Note: The artwork changes regularly, so the pieces on show will vary from one visit to the next.
Get creative at Camden Arts Centre
Location: Arkwright Road, London NW3 6DG.
Camden Arts Centre is a free contemporary art gallery in Hampstead, with changing exhibitions and a programme of family workshops and children's courses.
Entry to the exhibitions is free, and the displays change through the year.
The centre runs family workshops and children's courses in subjects such as ceramics and mixed media, particularly during the school holidays, most of which need to be booked in advance and may carry a charge.
It’s worth checking the website beforehand, as the building can close for works.
Plan a day out with the kids from Brent Cross
Brent Cross is a convenient base for a family day out in North London, with the parks and streets of North London within easy reach.
You can plan your visit to Brent Cross on the website, which sets out how to get there by car, taxi, train, bus or bike.
Brent Cross also offers free parking all year round, which makes arriving with children and equipment more straightforward than travelling into central London.
EV drivers are also covered through RAW Charging's points on site.
