The idea of visiting a museum or gallery with a toddler or baby can be stressful! Have you ever been concerned about your child making noise, worried about what they can or can’t touch, or unsure if there are necessary facilities for you?
There’s no need to fear at these museums, which have been specially designed with their littlest visitors in mind! From soft play to creative activities, these great museums for toddlers and babies go the extra mile to make under 5s – and their grown ups – feel comfortable and welcome.
Each museum has been shortlisted for our Family Friendly Museum Award, meaning they have already been tested out by families.
Scroll on to see why these museums made our list…
Museum of London Docklands
West India Quay, London
Shortlisted: Family Friendly Museum Award 2022
Discover how the docks created the London we know today at this free family museum. Park up the buggy and borrow a baby carrier to explore hands free. Children can learn through play in the Mudlarks children’s gallery packed with soft play and games for children aged up to 8 years old. Download an activity sheet or trail for under 5s or join a monthly Tots at the Docks play session inspired by the history of the Docklands.
Great North Museum: Hancock
Newcastle upon Tyne
Winner – Best Medium Museum: Family Friendly Museum Award 2019
This museum of natural history, archaeology, geology and world cultures really values its smallest visitors. There are opportunities for children to get hands on throughout the museum, as well as the Mouse House, a dedicated play space for under 5s. Enjoy regular specialised events for different ages, from pre-crawling babies in Nurture Nest to pre-school children in Museum Mice. There have even been Toddler Takeover Days, where toddlers get to try out museum jobs for the day.
Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum
Birmingham
Shortlisted: Family Friendly Museum Award 2021
MiniBrum is Thinktank’s very own mini city, where children are in charge! Aimed at under 8s, this child-sized world features Birmingham landmarks and different play zones for children to enjoy, including a special sensory area for babies. It also features a coffee corner selling refreshments, which includes a buggy park, lockers and baby change facilities. Visit on a Toddler Thursday to join a family friendly relaxed Planetarium experience.
National Maritime Museum
Greenwich, London
Winner – Best Large Museum: Family Friendly Museum Award 2022
Set sail on a fun family day out for all ages at the National Maritime Museum. Take your little ones on a maritime adventure in weekly Play Tuesdays or follow a Mini Mariners museum trail. The AHOY! Children’s Gallery is designed specifically for under 7s. Kids can captain a ship, stoke the boiler of a steamship, buy and sell fish in the marketplace, and make new friends in the interactive boatyard.
Museum of Liverpool
Liverpool
Winner – Best Large Museum: Family Friendly Museum Award 2019
The Little Liverpool gallery is the perfect place to introduce little ones to the Museum of Liverpool. The hands-on mini city is crammed with fun activities for children under the age of six to play and learn. As you explore the rest of the museum, look out for Winnie the spider for things to do with young visitors. There are regular events for under 5s, including storytelling and Liver Tots toddler-friendly craft sessions.
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester
Shortlisted: Family Friendly Museum Award 2016
The Lion’s Den family gallery was designed with 2 and 3 year olds from local nurseries, after staff noticed the children were drawn to images of animals. Build a den with the colourful cushions, play table tennis, see children’s artwork on display, or join in a monthly sensory play session for babies and parents. The gallery has worked with local NHS teams to support Manchester families, including distributing sensory baby boxes to families during lockdown.
The Lightbox
Woking, Surrey
Shortlisted: Family Friendly Museum Award 2014
If you’re looking for arts and crafts activities for under 5s, look no further than The Lightbox. This gallery and museum in Woking aims to improve the wellbeing of its community. Get messy in Mini Painters workshops or become a Mini Gallery Explorer with interactive stories, rhymes and creative crafts.
The Herbert
Coventry
Shortlisted: Family Friendly Museum Award 2017
This art gallery and museum in Coventry has a great programme of activities for under 5s, including sensory play days and sensory stories and rhymes. Mini Makers messy play sessions aim to expose little ones to mark making, build concentration, develop muscle control and encourage their imagination! The gallery is breastfeeding friendly and has baby change facilities on the ground floor.
London Transport Museum
Covent Garden, London
Winner – Best Medium Museum: Family Friendly Museum Award 2021
Discover the world of London’s transport through regular singing, dancing, making, play and story sessions for under 5s. Take a trip to the All Aboard play zone for age 0-7 and play on a fleet of mini vehicles, dress up in uniform and even explore a Lost Property office. The Baby DLR is great for the youngest visitors with an interactive wall and building blocks to play with.
The Whitworth
Manchester
Shortlisted: Family Friendly Museum Award 2018
This Manchester art gallery runs hugely popular PLAY Live sessions, both online and in person. With adaptable activities for all ages, these award-winning workshops are led by an artist who will guide you through playful activities using materials you already have to hand at home. You can also join the Outdoor Art Club come rain and shine, complete with Mud Painting Studio! There are Art Baby sensory play sessions for non-walking babies and their grown-ups. The gallery has also launched a programme using art to support parents who have experienced baby loss called Still Parents.
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