Say goodbye to tears and tantrums at your next family lunch out with our top picks for London’s best family-friendly restaurants. From crowd-pleasing pizza joints to restaurants that feel grown-up but know how to charm your little ones, here are our favourites…
Looking for activities to keep the kids entertained? Here are the best summer activities for kids.
London’s top family-friendly restaurants
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants
He may be ferocious in the kitchen, but he’s obviously a softie at heart. Gordon Ramsay not only welcomes children to most of his restaurants; he also lets those under eight years old eat for free from the kids’ menus at selected Gordon Ramsay Restaurants.
Kiddies can look forward to the likes of macaroni and cheese; bangers and mash; meatball pasta with tomato sauce; and burger and chips. Finish with an extra sweet treat from chocolate brownie to sticky toffee pudding for just £3.50
Simply order from the a la carte menu when you dine and for every adult main, kids can enjoy a main on Gordon.
Various locations
Sea Containers Restaurant
Home to unmissable views of the River Thames, Sea Containers Restaurant has newly launched the ‘Capture the Moment’ family packaged inspired by Tate Modern’s ‘Capture the Moment’ exhibition. As well as the unique hotel stay, kids up to 12 years old can eat for free from the kid’s menu throughout the summer with a dining adult.
20 Upper Ground, SE1 9PD
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Padella
What kids don’t love pasta? And pasta doesn’t come much better and more affordable outside of Italy than at Padella.
Both the original Borough and newer Shoreditch restaurants are brilliant and affordable, with pasta dishes from just £8.50.
Padella Borough, 6 Southwark StREET, London SE1 1TQ
Padella Shoreditch, 1 Phipp Street, London EC2A 4PS
Los Mochis
Let your kids relive last summer’s Tulum adventures right here in London and book a table at Los Mochis. The Notting Hill restaurant serves up a Mexican-meets-Japanese menu, with a dedicated kids section for those up to 12 years old.
Priced at £12.50, it includes starters of guacamole and edamame and taco mains with trailer park chicken, cabo or bang bang cauliflower. It’s all washed down with refreshing ice cream or sorbet to finish.
2-4 Farmer Street, Notting Hill, W8 7SN
CARAVAN
With multiple locations in the capital, a dedicated kids’ menu, crowd-pleasing pizzas, banging brunches and some of the best coffee in the capital (for knackered mums and dads), CARAVAN is a fine choice for casual, fuss-free family dining.
Head to the Kings Cross restaurant (our fave) for cool, stripped back, industrial-style interiors, an outdoor terrace if you’re still unsure about eating inside and Granary Square’s famous fountains – which children absolutely love on a warm summer’s day.
Kings Cross, The City Exmouth Market, Bankside and Fitzrovia
Pizza East
Big banqueting tables, buzzy atmosphere and a place that parents will enjoy just as much as little ones, Pizza East is a great choice if you’re in Shoreditch.
The menu doesn’t have a dedicated kids’ section but there’s plenty to choose from, from their signature pizzas to mozzarella sticks, baked carbonara to gelato scoops. Oh, and they have Aperol Spritz on draught for the adults.
Pizza East, Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ
St Pancras By Searcys
St Pancras By Searcys’ new Sunday brunch feast lets you get your brunch fix even with your little monsters in tow.
The new feature lets you enjoy unlimited buffet stations with something for everyone, from live waffle and cheese stations to succulent roasts and seafood. It’s all paired with live jazz music.
Children ages 6 to 12 can enjoy the brunch for just £30, while children under 6 eat free.
St Pancras International Station, N1C 4QL
Jurassic Afternoon Tea at The Ampersand Hotel
As if afternoon tea didn’t already win you brownie points, The Ampersand Hotel’s Jurassic-themed tea sure will. Your dino-loving kids will be able to head back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the earth with dinosaur-themed treats along the way.
Look forward to chomping through T-Rez foot-shaped cheese straws, raspberry and lemon crémeux volcano eruptions, dark chocolate and caramel dinosaur egg nests and mini dinosaur biscuits with chocolate fossils hidden within ‘soil’.
10 HARRINGTON ROAD, SW7 3ER
Pivot Bar & Bistro
Free Sunday roasts for kids – we repeat, free Sunday roasts for kids!
Pivot Bar & Bistro is helping make the holidays a little more manageable with its new summer holiday offering. You’re invited to dine at Pivot and enjoy their award-winning Sunday roast and the kids can eat for free. Children under the age of ten can choose a free main meal (as a kids-size portion) from the Sunday Roast menu when two or more adults select a main meal each.
3 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8LU
The Teahouse at Petersham Nurseries
Getting little ones on and off the bus or the Tube in Central London is no mean feat, so plan a family lunch out at this hidden gem of a family-friendly restaurant. Tucked away in leafy Richmond, Petersham is essentially a garden centre with a gorgeous store and a charming restaurant.
The Teahouse restaurant offers everything from delicious seasonal salads to child-friendly cream cakes. There is also plenty of open space for them to burn off their energy afterwards and a bounty of plants and blooms to keep them engaged.
Petersham Nurseries, Off Church Lane, Petersham Road, Richmond TW10 7AB
Mosaic at The Westin London City
Taking pride in ensuring that guests eat well as part of their stay, Mosaic at The Westin London City has curated a menu that reflects this commitment. And the kids won’t be missing out either.
Little ones can get both a delicious and nutritious meal, featuring favourites such as the family vegetable platter; grilled chicken breast with mash; salmon with soba noodles; or even build your own pizza, allowing them to get fully stuck into the process.
60 Upper Thames St., EC4V 3AD
Granger & Co.
No dedicated children’s menu as such but we defy you to find a child who doesn’t love Bill Granger’s hot ricotta pancakes.
This place is the perfect choice for a late breakfast or lunch with little ones in tow when you can’t face another bowl of chips.
Plus, grown-ups will love the seasonal, Aussie-inspired interiors, quality ingredients and easy-going attitude.
Chelsea, Kings Cross, Clerkenwell, Notting Hill
Pizarro Restaurant Bermondsey Street
Get your Spanish fix right here in London courtesy of José Pizarro Restaurants. If you have a pram in tow, head over to the Bermondsey Street venue as they have dedicated space and serve up a feast of traditional Spanish delights.
Share with the table and order in a selection of tapas favourites, from croquetas to pan con tomate.
194 Bermondey Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3TQ
The Wolseley
The facade of London institution The Wolseley, on Green Park, might look imposing from the outside but inside, the restaurant is anything but pompous.
The team are friendly and great with children, there’s always plenty of atmosphere to soak up and it’s great for people watching too.
Tuck into everything from soups and salads to posh sandwiches and their famous burger, or treat your little lords and ladies to afternoon tea. They will be welcomed like royalty.
The Wolseley, 160 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9EB
Smith’s Bar & Grill
Heading over to Paddington to search for the famous bear this half term? Bring the kids in tow and book in for lunch at Smith’s Bar & Grill where the little ones can eat for just £8.
The little ones can tuck into dishes like mini sausages and chips; tomato spaghetti; chicken bites and chips; or classic fish and chips.
25 Sheldon Square, Paddington, W2 6EY
St Martins Lane
Whether you’re looking to fuel up for the day with a nourishing brekkie, delight in a light lunch or after an early dinner option with the kids, St Martins Lane’s Restaurant is the perfect, laidback spot to know. While the menu is a little more grown up, children and families are always welcome and dishes can be accommodated to keep even the fussiest of eaters happy. It’s dog-friendly too so even your pooch will be happy here!
45 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4HX
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Pan Pacific London
A tiny tea for you and your little one? Yes, please!
Celebrating the hotel’s Singaporean roots, The Orchid Lounge at Pan Pacific London has launched an afternoon tea inspired by the floral fantasy of the renowned Singaporean landmark Gardens by the Bay. Little ones can join in on the action with the hotel’s miniature afternoon tea ‘Little Kopi Tiam’, complete with adorable finger sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and two sweet treats.
They’ll be kept entertained throughout the afternoon thanks to the children’s colouring activity pack, including pencils and word searches.
80 Houndsditch, EC3A 7AB
Eataly
One for the little one and one for you. Treat the whole family this summer to traditional pasta and wood-fired pizza at Eataly’s Pasta E Pizza restaurant.
Tuck into your favourite Italian dish and order your bambini their traditional margarita pizza – mini-sized just for them, cute! Finish with a traditional Italian dessert made fresh every day by their pastry chefs.
135 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3YD
Holborn Dining Rooms
Not necessarily a ‘kids’ restaurant but one that is happy to serve even the littlest of diners (our kind of place), Holborn Dining Rooms has that perfect mix of great food, cool interiors and somewhere that children will feel all grown up in but you won’t have to worry about them breaking something.
Choose from a menu of hearty British classics from a scotch egg to delicious steaks and their famous pies.
Talking of which, next door in the Pie Room, budding Jamie Oliviers can take part in the upcoming Holborn Pie Masterclass experience.
Equipped with a personalised apron, hat and mini rolling pin, they will learn how to make one sweet and one savoury treat that they can take home, in a two-hour immersive masterclass with the restaurant’s pastry experts.
Holborn Dining Rooms, No. 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
Eastway Brasserie
For anyone looking for a more relaxed dining experience for their family, Liverpool Street’s Eastway Brasserie is perfect.
Serving up an all-day menu, from breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers up lets kids up to three eat free and kids under 12 eat for half price. From Fish or Chicken Goujons & Fries to Linguine Pasta with Fresh Tomato & Basil, followed by Strawberry Sorbet for dessert, parents can be assured that their children will be getting a healthy, yet delicious, meal in.
40 Liverpool Street, Ec2M 7QN
Sanderson London
For an afternoon tea with an epic twist, look to Sanderson London’s Mad Hatters edition.
Kids and adults alike are invited to tumble down the rabbit hole and discover this tea party inspired by the Alice in Wonderland world. From Tweedle Brothers’ savoury choux pastry bites to Red Knight Army shortbread cookies, all of your wildest concoctions have been dreamed up for this special tea.
50 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 3NG
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Aqua Shard
Let yourself unlock your inner child and journey to Neverland with Aqua Shard’s Peter Pan inspired afternoon tea. Created in partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, the experience will see you enjoying sandwiches, scones, treats and beverages all that hint to the children’s classic tale.
Each part has been carefully chosen and named after the colourful characters in the story, from ‘The Lostboys’ roasted chicken, crispy bacon, mayonnaise and mustard sandwiches to the ‘Tinker-Bell’ sweet pastry biscuit that’s topped with white icing and gold fairy dust.
For those wanting to add an alcoholic element to the experience, try one of the two cocktails on offer. The ‘Fairy Dust’, made up of mint and cucumber Ketel One, apple liqueur, ginger switchel, Kaffir lime leaf powder, Absinthe and gold fairy dust, is simply delicious.
LEVEL 31 THE SHARD, 31 ST. THOMAS STREET, SE1 9RY
The Pelham
Calling all future scientists and dinosaur enthusiasts of South Kensington’s museums district: after seeing the T-rex, we all crave nice lunch. And where better to head than The Pelham Hotel’s Italian restaurant that’s just around the corner from the museums…
Boasting a brilliant two-course lunch menu for just £16, La Trattoria by Alfredo Russo at The Pelham London – Starhotels Collezione welcomes you and your family with five different types of fresh pasta options. Think Bucatini alla Amatriciana with tomato sauce, pork cheek, and pecorino Romano. The lunch special is from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, perfect for post-dinosaur time.
15 Cromwell Place, South Kensington, SW7 2LA
One Aldwych
Afternoon tea doesn’t get much more special than One Aldwych’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired edition. From fizzy lifting drinks to snozzbery jam and chocolate swudge milkshake mixed by waterfall, every ounce of this tea has been thoroughly thought out. Guaranteed to make every Roald Dahl lover excited, book in for both your kids and your own entertainment.
1 Aldwych, WC2B 4BZ
Swan London
The perfect stop-off during any London day trip out, The Swan is the restaurant that boasts the best children’s menu on the river.
Priced at £12.50, little ones can look forward to a freshly pressed juice or soft drink and crudites with hummus and flatbread to start. Followed by a choice of mushroom croquettes, roast chicken breast or battered haddock, all served with chips and peas or a children’s roast portion on a Sunday. Dessert is always welcomed by the kids and here they can choose between warm cookie pie with vanilla ice cream, fresh fruit salad, or ice cream or sorbet scoops.
21 New Globe walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT
London Cabaret Club
Ever wondered what it’s like to dine on dishes curated by the world’s tiniest chef? Let your kids’ imaginations run wild with London Cabaret Club’s Le Petit Chef experience.
The internationally renowned dinner theatre experience will take visitors on a sensory journey through food. Expect a complete show on your plate, with the table transformed into a screen with a little chef entertaining you through performances and recordings as he attempts to create elaborate meals that always end in disaster. Thankfully, the London Cabaret Show’s team are on hand to bring the visionary dishes to life.
Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, Holborn, WC1B 4DA
Cafe Murano
If you’re aching to try Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred Murano but you’ve got little ones in tow, make this Plan B.
The sister restaurants, Cafe Murano, in St James and Bermondsey, are basically watered down versions of the real deal with better price points. Plus, they have an excellent build-your-own style kids menu of pastas. Basically choose a pasta dish with a sauce of your little one’s liking, from sausage ragu to cheesey parmesan.
Murano St James’s, St James’s Street, SW1A 1HD
Murano Bermondsey, 184 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ
The English Grill
Located inside The Ruben’s at the Palace, The English Grill welcomes families to dine inside its flagship restaurant. Boasting a live-action kitchen, signature classics for children include shepherd’s pie; classic beef burgers in a brioche bun; Mrs Tollman’s sesame fried chicken; and macaroni cheese.
39 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0PS
Gloria
We’ve waxed lyrical about how much we love this place on many occasions but it’s just one of those places you can take anyone – friends, a date, your mum or indeed little ones. The menu is casual Italian fare – the pasta dipped in a wheel of cheese at the table is a must and the pizzas will please fussy little eaters – but we recommend going for the interiors alone. The highchairs look like they’re made by Gucci and we’d quite like to pop the crockery in our bags (we don’t). Oh and the staff are utterly charming with little ones.
Gloria, 54-56 Great Eastern Street, Hackney, London EC2A 3QR
South Place Chop House
South Place Chop House is a classically British restaurant, centred around carefully sourced cuts of meat, seasonal ingredients and freshly caught fish. For the kids, they have a dedicated menu filled with child-friendly saviours like fish and chips; Angus beef sliders and chips; and pumpkin and sage tortellini.
South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, EC2M 2AF
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All Star Lanes
Who wouldn’t want their buttermilk fried chicken with a side order of skittles? This upmarket bowling alley and restaurant, which has four venues in London, is the quintessential retro American experience.
Children are more than welcome and there’s a finger-lickin’ kids’ menu deal that includes food, a milkshake and a game of bowling.
There are also luxurious private rooms available for hire, should your little one want to get into the competitive spirit to celebrate their birthday.
Brick Lane, Holborn, Westfield Stratford, Westfield White City and Manchester
The Montague on the Gardens
Refuel after a morning strolling around the British Museum and book in for the Montague on the Gardens’ family-friendly afternoon tea. Expect plates to be laden with freshly baked plain and raisin scones, delicious cakes, and freshly hand-cut sandwiches including egg and mayo, smoked salmon, chicken, cucumber, and cream cheese.
15 MONTAGUE STREET, WC1B 5BJ
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