Holding your toddler’s birthday party at home might not be an option if you don’t have the space (or fancy clearing up the mess afterwards…). If drafty village halls aren’t your vibe, then thankfully there’s plenty of cool alternative venues in London. Here’s a round-up of our favourites for all party sizes and budgets.

The Unicorn Theatre 

If you’re keeping your little one’s birthday celebration to a small group of friends or family, then a trip to the theatre could be just the ticket. The Unicorn Theatre in Southwark has a brilliant schedule of shows tailored to little ones – from babies to teenagers.

unicorntheatre.com

Maggie & Rose 

Party planning can be stressful, but not at Maggie & Rose. The family member’s club take care of every last detail – from entertainers, to decorations and food. Everything has been thought of and they even provide a present for the birthday boy or girl. And you can be sure of Insta-worthy pictures as parties are hosted at their beautifully designed, family-friendly spaces.

maggieandrose.com

Macaroni Penguin

You won’t need an entertainer if you hire out east London Royal Wharf-based play cafe Macaroni Penguin. The stylish space has a brilliant soft play area which is perfect for toddlers, complete with slides and a lookout tower. There’s also lots of aesthetically-pleasing toys to keep little ones busy. Parents will enjoy the waffle and bubble tea bar and you can set up the venue’s private room with your own party food and cake.

macaronipenguin.co.uk

Stepney City Farm 

For animal-mad little ones, the farm has got to be top of the list. Entry to Stepney City Fram is free if you want to do a day trip, but you can also hire out their classroom and or garden deck if you want to host a party. Catering can be provided through The Allotment Kitchen, and the farm can also arrange activities tailored to your little one’s interests.

stepneycityfarm.org

The Horniman Museum 

If you’re looking for a beautiful space to host your toddler’s birthday party, then look no further than The Horniman Museum. Children’s birthday parties are held at The Pavilion – which is close to the Animal Walk and Butterfly House. Catering can be taken care of by The Horniman Cafe, and the venue is also able to arrange a storyteller or entertainer.

horniman.ac.uk

Curiouser Family 

Curiouser Family is a new family hub on Finchley Road for little ones aged 0-6. The beautifully-designed space is the perfect destination for a toddler birthday party. Party goers get access to the whole space – which includes a soft play area and chill-out reading lounge. The venue’s facilitators will organise all the entertainment, with a wide range of crowd-pleasing themes – from pirates to superheroes.

curiouser-family.com

Arts Depot 

The Arts Depot in North Finchley has family-friendly theatre shows nearly every weekend. For bigger groups, you can also book an area to serve birthday cake and the venue can cater with party lunchboxes.

artsdepot.co.uk

The Britannia Leisure Centre

The Britannia Leisure Centre was revamped in 2020, and has a brilliant kids splash pool and decent soft play. The venue offers lots of different options for kid’s birthdays – from a bouncy castle party to a sensory experience in the training pool.

better.org.uk

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