TL;DR: The Best Themed Restaurants in London for Kids at a Glance
London’s themed restaurants for kids go way beyond novelty menus and plastic decor. The best ones feel like a proper part of the day out, with immersive settings, kid-friendly food, and enough wow factor to keep primary-school-age children genuinely excited. Here’s a quick look at our top picks:
- Rainforest Cafe (Shaftesbury Avenue) – best for jungle vibes, animatronic animals, and central London convenience
- Bunyip (Covent Garden) – best for an immersive underground adventure that feels unlike anything else in the city
- Inamo (Soho/Covent Garden) – best for interactive tech-led dining with a cool, futuristic twist
- Cutter & Squidge (Soho) – best for sweet-loving families and a magical, whimsical atmosphere
- Jurassic Kingdom dining experiences – best for dinosaur-mad kids who want prehistoric thrills with their meal
- All Star Lanes (various) – best for combining bowling, American diner food, and a retro fun atmosphere
Read on for the full breakdown, including who each venue suits best and which London attractions to pair them with!
Why Themed Restaurants Work So Well for Family Days Out in London
A great themed restaurant doesn’t just fill a gap between attractions. It adds a whole chapter to the day, one that children talk about on the way home just as much as the museum or the show they saw earlier.
For primary-school-age children especially, the setting matters enormously. A jungle canopy overhead, a glowing interactive table, or a room that looks like it belongs underground can turn a simple lunch into a memory. The food becomes almost secondary to the experience of being somewhere that feels genuinely different.
What we looked for when putting this guide together:
- A theme that genuinely immerses kids, not just a logo on the menu
- Family-friendly food options that work for fussy eaters and adventurous ones alike
- Locations that are easy to slot around London’s major attractions
- Booking practicalities that parents can actually work with
- Real wow factor for primary-school children, not just adults looking for an Instagrammable backdrop
London is full of restaurants that call themselves themed. The ones worth your time are the ones where the kids are still buzzing about it at bedtime.
Best Themed Restaurants in London for Kids
1. Rainforest Cafe, Shaftesbury Avenue
If you’ve never been, the Rainforest Cafe is exactly what it sounds like, and somehow even more impressive in person. The interior is a full-scale tropical rainforest, complete with animatronic gorillas, erupting volcanoes, thunderstorms that roll through every 20 minutes, and enough lush greenery to make you forget you’re in the middle of London’s West End.
- Theme: Tropical jungle and wildlife
- Best for: Younger primary-school children and animal lovers
- What kids love: The animatronic animals that move and make noise, plus the theatrical thunderstorm effects
- Parent notes: Book ahead, especially at weekends and school holidays. The menu covers burgers, pasta, and sharing platters that most children will happily eat. It’s on the pricier side but the experience genuinely justifies it
- Nearest attractions: Leicester Square, Covent Garden, the National Gallery
2. Bunyip, Covent Garden
Bunyip is one of London’s most genuinely original dining experiences for families. The concept is built around an underground world, with theatrical storytelling woven into the meal itself. Think dark, cave-like interiors, mysterious characters, and a sense that something magical might happen at any moment.
- Theme: Immersive underground fantasy world
- Best for: Children aged 6 and up who love storytelling, adventure, and a bit of theatrical drama
- What kids love: The immersive setting that feels like stepping into a story, with surprises throughout the meal
- Parent notes: This is more of an experience than a quick lunch stop. Allow plenty of time and book well in advance, as it sells out fast
- Nearest attractions: Covent Garden, Somerset House, the London Transport Museum
3. Inamo, Soho and Covent Garden
Inamo takes the concept of interactive dining further than almost anywhere else in London. The tables themselves are projection screens, letting children draw, play games, and customise their orders directly from the surface in front of them. The pan-Asian menu is genuinely good, and the tech-led concept keeps kids engaged from the moment they sit down.
- Theme: Futuristic interactive dining
- Best for: Children aged 7 and up, especially those who love gaming and technology
- What kids love: Drawing on the table, ordering via the interactive surface, and watching the projections change around them
- Parent notes: Two London locations make it easy to fit around your day. The menu suits adventurous eaters well, though there are plenty of accessible options too. Booking recommended
- Nearest attractions: Covent Garden, Soho, the National Portrait Gallery
4. Cutter & Squidge, Soho
Cutter & Squidge is the choice for families with a serious sweet tooth. This Soho bakery and tearoom has built a devoted following for its magical, whimsical interiors and extraordinary baked creations, from elaborately decorated layer cakes to their signature “biskies” (a cross between a biscuit and a cake). The atmosphere is warm, colourful, and genuinely enchanting for younger children.
- Theme: Magical bakery and sweet shop
- Best for: Children who love baking, sweet treats, and a cosy, colourful setting
- What kids love: The extraordinary cakes and pastries, the whimsical decor, and the sense of stepping into a fairytale kitchen
- Parent notes: Better as a treat stop or afternoon tea than a full lunch. Book for afternoon tea sessions, which are particularly popular with families
- Nearest attractions: Soho, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street
5. Shrek’s Adventure! Themed Dining
For families visiting Shrek’s Adventure! London on the South Bank, the on-site dining options lean fully into the Far Far Away theme, making it a natural extension of the experience rather than a separate stop. Character-led elements and themed food make it a seamless part of the day.
- Theme: DreamWorks animation and fairy-tale characters
- Best for: Fans of Shrek, Puss in Boots, and the wider DreamWorks universe
- What kids love: The character-led atmosphere and the continuity from the main attraction into the dining experience
- Parent notes: Best combined with a visit to Shrek’s Adventure! itself. The South Bank location puts it near the London Eye and the Tate Modern for a full day out
- Nearest attractions: London Eye, Tate Modern, the South Bank
6. All Star Lanes, Various Locations
All Star Lanes combines American diner food with retro bowling alley aesthetics in a way that works brilliantly for families. The food is solid, the portions are generous, and the atmosphere is fun without being overwhelming. It’s the most flexible option on this list, as you can eat with or without bowling, and the locations in Brick Lane and Holborn make it easy to slot into a wider London itinerary.
- Theme: Retro American diner and bowling
- Best for: Families who want a lively, relaxed meal with an activity built in
- What kids love: The bowling lane setting, the classic American comfort food, and the vibrant, colourful interiors
- Parent notes: Booking lanes alongside your meal is recommended. The food menu includes plenty of child-friendly options and the atmosphere is reliably fun without being chaotic
- Nearest attractions: Brick Lane markets, the British Museum (Holborn branch), Spitalfields
How to Choose the Right Themed Restaurant for Your Family
Not sure which one is right for your family? Start with your child’s interests, then match the location to whatever else you have planned. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:
| Restaurant | Theme | Best age | Location | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainforest Cafe | Jungle and wildlife | 4-10 | West End | Yes, essential |
| Bunyip | Underground fantasy | 6+ | Covent Garden | Yes, sells out |
| Inamo | Interactive / tech | 7+ | Soho / Covent Garden | Recommended |
| Cutter & Squidge | Magical bakery | 4-12 | Soho | For afternoon tea |
| Shrek’s Adventure! dining | DreamWorks characters | 4-10 | South Bank | With attraction |
| All Star Lanes | Retro diner / bowling | 5+ | Brick Lane / Holborn | For lanes |
The golden rule: pick the theme your child will actually respond to, not the one that looks best on paper. A dinosaur-obsessed seven-year-old will get far more out of a prehistoric-themed experience than the most beautiful bakery in London.
Pair Your Meal With a London Day Out
A themed restaurant works best when it’s part of a bigger plan. Here are some natural pairings to help you build a full family day in London:
- Rainforest Cafe + West End – pair with a matinee show, a wander through Covent Garden, or a visit to the National Gallery for a classic central London day
- Bunyip + Covent Garden – combine with the London Transport Museum or street performers in the piazza for a full afternoon
- Inamo + Soho – works brilliantly as a dinner stop after a West End show or a day exploring the Science Museum
- Shrek’s Adventure! dining + South Bank – pair with the London Eye, a walk along the Thames, or a visit to the Tate Modern for a packed South Bank day out
- All Star Lanes + Brick Lane – combine with a wander through Spitalfields Market or a visit to the Museum of London Docklands
Want to explore more ideas for your London trip? Browse all things to do in London with kids and plan your perfect family day out!
Final Verdict: The Best Pick for Different Kinds of Family Days Out
Every family’s perfect themed restaurant is a little different. Here’s our quick verdict to help you land on the right one:
- Best all-rounder: Rainforest Cafe. Reliable, central, and reliably brilliant for primary-school children of almost any age
- Best for wow factor: Bunyip. Nothing else in London quite matches its immersive, theatrical approach to dining
- Best for tourists on a tight schedule: All Star Lanes. Easy to book, flexible, and genuinely fun without requiring a full afternoon
- Best sweet treat experience: Cutter & Squidge. Perfect as a memorable afternoon tea stop rather than a main meal
- Best combined with an attraction: Shrek’s Adventure! dining, which turns the meal into a seamless part of a bigger immersive day
Whichever you choose, the best themed restaurants in London for kids all share one thing: they make the meal feel like part of the adventure, not a pause in it. And that’s exactly what a great family day out deserves!