Rowing boats and pedaloes are available for hire on the Serpentine and in a special section the Lido offers swimming. It is open from the end of June to 8th September each year.

The children’s paddling pool area is particularly useful for very young children; apart from a pool it has a sandpit and playground; it is enclosed giving parents a moment to relax.

Kensington Gardens includes the exciting Diana Memorial playground, with its huge wooden pirate ship.

St James Park has a beautiful lake and uniquely Pelicans, the Mall runs parallel leading up to Buckingham Palace.

The Regents Park further North of Marble Arch has London Zoo and in the summer the outdoor theatre which always puts on a brilliant children’s production. There is also a boating pond with row boats and small pedaloes for children.

A pleasant walk across the park is Exhibition road with three excellent museums - all offer specific exhibits and activity packs for children and entry is free.

Natural History Museum is extremely popular for dinosaur and fossil exhibits but also has a comprehensive display of life on earth.

Science Museum has an entire sprawling floor dedicated to transport from the first steam engine to space rockets. Other exhibits range from medicine to astronomy. There is also a UMAX cinema with regular 3D features and various hands on exploration centres which will interest children as young as two, up to teenagers.

V&A houses a fabulous record of art and design spanning 3,000 years, from Medieval jewellery to Vivienne Westwood dresses.