The best family day out in North London — the Heath playgrounds, Golders Hill Park's free zoo, the canal boat, London Zoo and kid-friendly food. A timed itinerary.
A Family Day Out in North London: The Best Itinerary with Kids
North London is unusually good for families — vast free green spaces, a genuinely free zoo, excellent playgrounds, a canal boat, paddling pools and animals everywhere, all without the entry fees and queues that make a central-London family day so exhausting (and expensive). You can fill a brilliant day here with happy, tired children and barely open your wallet. This itinerary is built specifically for kids, with everything walkable or one short bus ride apart, most of it free, and built-in flexibility for naps, weather and meltdowns.
At a glance: A morning at Golders Hill Park's free zoo, a picnic, an afternoon on the Heath's playgrounds and Parliament Hill, and an early family dinner — with London Zoo or the Camden canal boat as a paid big-attraction alternative. Most of it costs nothing and it's all stroller-manageable on the main paths.
Before You Go: The Essentials
- Getting there: Golders Green (Northern line) for Golders Hill Park; Hampstead, Belsize Park (Northern line) or Hampstead Heath / Gospel Oak (Overground) for the Heath. A short bus links Golders Green to the park.
- Most of it is free: Golders Hill Park (including the zoo), the Heath and all its playgrounds cost nothing. Only London Zoo and the Camden canal boat charge.
- Buggy-friendly: The parks have paved main paths suitable for strollers; the Heath gets muddy and hilly off the surfaced routes, so stick to the main paths with a buggy.
- Pack: Layers, waterproofs, sun protection, snacks, and a full change of clothes (paddling pools and muddy playgrounds are a certainty).
- Toilets and cafés: At Golders Hill Park, the Heath's main entrances and Kenwood House.
Morning: Golders Hill Park and the Free Zoo (10am–12pm)
Start at Golders Hill Park, on the western edge of Hampstead Heath — home to one of London's best-kept secrets, a completely free zoo:
- Animals: Fallow deer, wallabies, ring-tailed lemurs, exotic birds (including flamingos and rheas) and a butterfly house in summer — all free to see.
- A large playground, a paddling pool (summer), and good open lawns to run on.
- The walled flower garden and duck ponds for a calmer wander when little legs need a break.
It's the perfect low-stress start to a family day — no tickets, no timed entry, no queues, and plenty of animals to point at and name. Children who'd melt down in a London Zoo queue are happy here within minutes.
Lunch: The Park Café or a Picnic (12pm–1pm)
The Golders Hill Park café serves locally famous ice cream plus simple lunches and drinks, with outdoor seating by the lawns. Or bring a picnic — the park's lawns are made for it, and a picnic keeps tired toddlers happier than a restaurant table. Time any nap for a post-lunch buggy walk through the park.
Afternoon: Hampstead Heath Playgrounds (1pm–3pm)
Cross into Hampstead Heath (you can walk from Golders Hill Park, or hop a short bus):
- Playgrounds — the Heath has several, with the Parliament Hill adventure playground a long-standing favourite (sandpit, climbing equipment, and a paddling pool in summer).
- Parliament Hill — fly a kite (a Heath tradition), with the London skyline as the backdrop. Kites are sold cheaply at the village shops.
- The model boating pond and, in summer, the paddling areas.
- Older kids: the bathing ponds (ages 8+ with supervision rules) or the Parliament Hill Lido for a proper swim.
Alternative Afternoon: London Zoo or the Canal Boat (1pm–4pm)
If you'd rather centre the day on one big-ticket attraction:
- London Zoo (ZSL) in Regent's Park — a classic, comprehensive family day (penguins, gorillas, the reptile house of Harry Potter fame), though it's ticketed (£30+ for adults, book ahead) and a half-day in itself.
- The Regent's Canal boat trip from Camden Lock to Little Venice — a gentle, novel way to see the city from the water, and a restful change of pace for all ages.
Late Afternoon: Ice Cream and the Walk Back (3pm–4:30pm)
Wind down with ice cream and a gentle wander. Hampstead village — its streets, hidden alleys and the pond at Whitestone — is pleasant for tired legs, and there are plenty of cafés for a sit-down and a treat before the journey home.
Evening: An Early Family Dinner (5pm onwards)
Hampstead and Belsize Park have family-friendly restaurants — pizza, pasta and casual options that welcome children in the early evening, before the adult dinner crowd arrives. Eating at 5–6pm beats the over-tired meltdown window and gets everyone home at a sensible hour.
Tips for a Smooth Family Day
1. Go in the morning when children are freshest — front-load the zoo and the playgrounds. 2. Build in the nap with a buggy walk after lunch. 3. Don't over-schedule — two big stops (zoo + Heath) is plenty; the Heath alone can fill an afternoon. 4. Free beats ticketed for young kids — Golders Hill's zoo delivers the animal magic of London Zoo with none of the cost, queues or scale-overwhelm. 5. End slightly early — a day that finishes before the meltdown is a day everyone remembers fondly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can families do for free in North London?
Golders Hill Park's free zoo, the Hampstead Heath playgrounds, kite-flying on Parliament Hill, the model boating pond, and the parks' paddling pools (summer) — all free.
Is there a free zoo in North London?
Yes — Golders Hill Park, on the western edge of Hampstead Heath, has a free zoo with fallow deer, wallabies, ring-tailed lemurs, exotic birds and a summer butterfly house.
What's the best family day out in North London?
A morning at Golders Hill Park's free zoo, an afternoon on the Heath's playgrounds and Parliament Hill, with London Zoo or the Camden canal boat as a paid alternative — most of it free, walkable and stroller-friendly.
Is North London good for toddlers?
Very — Golders Hill Park (animals, playground, paddling pool, duck ponds, café) is a stress-free toddler destination, and the Heath's surfaced paths are buggy-friendly. See our North London with toddlers guide.
Is Hampstead Heath buggy-friendly?
The main surfaced paths and the gentler areas (and Golders Hill Park) are buggy-friendly. Avoid the muddy, hilly off-path sections of the Heath with a stroller.
How much does a family day in North London cost?
It can be almost free — Golders Hill Park's zoo, the Heath and its playgrounds cost nothing. The main costs are food, and optionally London Zoo (£30+ per adult) or the canal boat. A free-zoo-and-Heath day costs little more than lunch and transport.
Can children swim on Hampstead Heath?
Older children (8+) can swim in the bathing ponds during designated hours (with supervision rules), or the heated Parliament Hill Lido. Younger children have the summer paddling pools at Golders Hill Park and Parliament Hill.
Where can families eat in North London?
Hampstead and Belsize Park have family-friendly pizza and pasta restaurants that welcome children early in the evening, plus the park cafés (Golders Hill, Kenwood) for daytime lunches and ice cream.
