We are constantly on the search for new activities that are fun as well as sneakily educational for our kids. Playing family board games with London as a backdrop is a great way to introduce kids to the city and its history and landmarks. From the amazing wonders at the British Museum to the Royal history of Buckingham Palace, there is so much to learn. With these games, your kids will soon be familiar with London’s hotspots!
We love playing card and board games bringing the family together around the table, spending quality time together. From the list of games that we have picked for our list, there should be something for the whole family to enjoy. Learning how to win or lose graciously is not always that easy though, so we try to play games that require a combination of cooperation and competition! Not everyone enjoys board games, so we also included two London card games. Simple card games can be easier for the youngest children to get into, and they are also great to bring when travelling. We’ve sorted all the games by recommended age.
Trumps Cards: London 30 Things to See
By Top Trumps
Best for children 4+
When I was a kid, trumps were all about cars, planes and tanks. It’s nice to see that things have come along, and Trumps’ London Landmarks is a great way for the youngest kids to get to know the city better. These cards are great to keep in the backpack as a reserve when kids get bored. Perhaps on the way to your next family day out to one of London’s museums?
Paddington Bear Sightseeing Adventures Board Games for Families
By Paddington Bear
Best for children 5+
We got this game for Christmas and it’s been a solid family favourite afterwards. It’s a family game that is fairly easy to understand and quick to play. You roll the dice while wandering through London with Paddington and taking selfies in front of famous hotspots. You get marmalade wild cards thrown in to help or hinder your progress.
Mind the Gap Card Game
By Gibsons
Best for children 6+
This is a great family card game, getting kids familiar with London’s tube network. It encourages reading and tactical thinking and is small and portable. The concept is the same as UNO, using the colours of the stations/tube-lines and few extra cards that can help you win.
London Underground Monopoly Board Game for Families
By Winning Moves
Best for children 8+
People tend to either love or hate the timeless game of Monopoly. In the London Underground version, you’ll be able to build a property empire of tube stations. Travel around all the most famous stations on the London Underground as you race to the top!
The London Board Game
By John Adams
Best for children 7+
Try to be the first commuter to travel to each of your London hotspots and get back to your start station. Watch out for station closures and hazards. This is a London family board game where the competitive and uncompetitive can play together, as the outcome if very much based on luck and chance.
Ticket to Ride: London
By Days of Wonder
Best for children 8+
Players race one another to claim the most important bus lines and complete their Destination Tickets, connecting Districts in London. Once you have completed your routes, you can hunt for additional routes. The game ends when you run out of your coloured trains. A great London board game for school-age kids as well as adults that takes about 60-90 minutes to play. After playing this game, our visits to London Transport Museum became even more interesting!
Scotland Yard Family Strategy Board Game
By Ravensburger
Best for children 8+
Another favourite family board game! You have to team up with each other to create a strategy to outwit the person on the run (the dangerous criminal Mr X ). It becomes very strategic and you need to pay attention to the other players as you move through the game.
Don’t forget to check our Quiz Page for some challenging London trivia questions! And if need more tips for how to activate your kids, we have created a list of 100+ activities for kids bored at home.
