Last updated on January 12, 2024

Whatever age they are, there’s always something amazing for kids in Los Angeles. I first visited at age 7 when my excitement at going to nearby Disneyland overshadowed everything else. Fast forward a few years to when I was 11 and it was the stars and movie scene that had me hyped. I’ve been back since with Otis and Arlo, first on our epic California road trip, and again for a trip to Disneyland and the OC. I have no doubt we’ll return as the boys get older. It’s one of those cities that beckons you back.

There are oodles of things to do in Los Angeles with kids, but here’s my pick of the best. It’s a mixture of must-dos plus a few hidden gems. Also see our guide to the best and coolest Los Angeles hotels for families.

And if you’re heading south, see our guide to the best things to do in San Diego with kids, or our San Francisco with kids guide if you’re heading north. We also have a big round-up of the best things to do with kids in all of California.

The most fun things to do in Los Angeles with kids

1. Disneyland

It’s not strictly in Los Angeles (it’s just outside in Anaheim), but what would a post about things to do in L.A. with kids be without a mention of Disneyland?! I dreamed of going there as a kid and then my kids did the same. Does any kid not dream of Disneyland? It’s one of the top family attractions in California, if not the world.

I got my wish age 7, and we we took Otis and Arlo, age 3 and 5. And it was everything we’d dreamed of. I’ve written a full guide on how to get the best of out Disneyland with toddlers and little kids, including how to reduce wait times and save money. It definitely requires a bit of planning to get it right.

Disneyland is about 45 minutes from downtown L.A, so while you could do it as a day trip, we recommend staying in Anaheim. We chose the Howard Johnson Hotel, a cool mid-century retro hotel just an 8-minute walk from Disneyland.

Find the latest prices for Disneyland tickets here.

See more bucket list destinations like this in our guide to family vacation ideas.

2. Universal Studios

Universal Studios is a big crowd pleaser for all ages – it’s exciting to be in Hollywood and see the setting for some of your favourite programmes on the studio tour. Plus there are rides and shows for every age, ranging from fun performances to the thrill-seeking Revenge of the Mummy rollercoaster.

And that’s not even to mention the incredible Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I’ve been a few times and almost prefer it to Disneyland, especially for older kids over 5. That said, we went with Otis when he was really small and had a great time taking turns to ride the grown-up attractions. See my guide to visiting Universal Studio with a toddler. It’s definitely one of the big must-dos when it comes to what to do in Los Angeles with kids.

Not far from Universal Studios (around a 10-minute drive) is Warner Brothers where you can do a guided studio tour. You get to do things like wear the Harry Potter sorting hat, sit on the Friends couch and find out how shows are made. We haven’t done this yet as the kids were a bit young (you have to be over 5), but it gets rave reviews and is really popular with older kids.

3. Venice Beach

Venice Beach is one of the most fun places in L.A. It oozes good vibes and has an offbeat, bohemian edge that makes it interesting for all the family. Head to the beach where you’ll find all sorts of performers on the boardwalk. Or hang out watching the skaters at the skate park. The Venice Canals are also lovely for a walk.

Plus the adults will enjoy Abbot Kinney Boulevard for excellent boutique shopping and restaurants. Take the kids to Salt and Straw to keep them happy!

There are a lot of “characters” near the actual beach in Venice Beach and some people are put off by the chaos of it all. But we quite enjoyed experiencing the vibe, and if you stick to the main areas, it feels safe. Do keep a close eye on your kids though as it does get crowded. And if you prefer something more polished, head up the coast to Santa Monica. We’d pick Venice every time though as it has a lot more character.

See my guide to the best Airbnbs in Venice Beach.

4. Santa Monica Pier

Just up the coast from Venice Beach is Santa Monica where you’ll find the famous Santa Monica Pier. It’s home to the iconic ferris wheel and roller coaster, plus lots of other rides and amusement games that kids will love. It’s touristy for sure, but still a fun thing to experience for an afternoon or so.

It’s a classic stop on a Pacific Coast Highway itinerary. Plus it’s also where another famous USA road trip – Route 66 – ends.

For us, the highlight of Santa Monica is the beach, which is lovely and wide. And there’s a cute little playground on it for little ones. You can catch a bus between there and Venice Beach or even cycle the whole way along. Unlimited Biking offer kids’ bike hire or trailers for little ones.

There’s also a small aquarium under the pier. Although for a more impressive aquarium, head to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

A lot of people love the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica for shopping, but we prefer Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach, which has more independents shops and bit more soul.

I’ve put together a guide to the best Airbnbs in Santa Monica, including family-friendly options.

5. Hollywood

It’s hard not to get caught up in the buzz of Hollywood, and older kids in particular are likely to be hyped. It’s fun to see the places that are so familiar from TV and films, and spot your favourite stars on the Walk of Fame. Also see the TCL Chinese Theatre where stars go to see their movies premiere. And the sight of the Hollywood Sign is always impressive.

To go extra deep, you could also do a tour of the stars’ homes (something I was sooooo excited about aged 11). And there’s also this fun self-guided tour of famous movie locations.

Other things to do in Hollywood include World of Illusions and Madame Tussauds Hollywood.

6. Griffith Park and Observatory

Visiting the Griffith Observatory is high on the list for things to do in L.A. for anyone, but kids will love it too. While parents might be in it more for the view, kids will love the planetarium inside. It’s in Griffith Park, one of the biggest parks in North America and L.A’s answer to Central Park. There are some great hikes to do in the park, incluidng short walks suitable for younger kids.

Other highlights of the park include: the Travel Town Museum where you can ride and explore trains; the incredible, universally accessible Shane’s Inspiration Playground; and the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

7. Le Brea Tar Pits and Museum

The Le Brea Tar Pits and Museum takes natural history museums up a notch by incorporating hundreds of Ice Age fossil displays with a genuine tar pit, which you can see bubbling away.

Excavations are ongoing and you can watch the palaeontologists at work. There’s also the brilliant Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Both are two of the best kids activities in Los Angeles (especially if they’re into science).

La Brea Tar Pits is part of Museum Row on the Miracle Mile, which also has the L.A. County Museum of Art, Craft Contemporary Museum, and The Petersen Auto Museum. The first two are better suited to older kids and adults, but the car museum is great for families and does workshops for kids as young as 3.

It’s also close to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

8. Kidspace Children’s Museum

For kids around 11 and under, the Kidspace Childrens Museum in Pasadena is a wonderland. Mostly outdoors, there are loads of great hand-on activities, including water play, climbing, building and music. It’s by far one of the best kids places in Los Angeles.

America does these kids museums so well – I wish we had more of them in the UK too.

9. California Science Center

Space-obsessed kids will love the California Science Center where you can see the Space Shuttle Endeavour. It’s also a fantastic science museum with all sorts of interactive exhibits and galleries, exploring things like fire, ecosystems and the body.

And there’s an IMAX too. Put it high on your list of places to take kids in Los Angeles.

10. Take your pick from the parks

Los Angeles has plenty of parks to choose from. We’ve already mentioned the epic Griffith Park, but other favourites include

• Echo Park Lake where you can rent a paddle boat with a view of downtown LA
• Los Angeles State Historic Park with lots of walkways perfect for biking/scooting, picnic areas and a fruit orchard
• Tongva Park in Santa Monica for great views and an inventive playground
• Or Descanso Gardens where they can ride the enchanted railroad.

Let me know what else you’d add to the list. And see more family travel guides here, including the best things to do in San Francisco with kids.

11. Visit the Last Bookstore

Steve and I always seek out the best bookshops in a city and The Last Bookstore is our favourite in Los Angeles. Housed in a restored historic building, it has both new and used books on a maze of shelves across two floors. Kids will love the whimsical sculptures, including many made from books.

Otis and Arlo went wild running around it (be warned it’s easy to get lost in here!). And it also has some galleries and small boutiques on the second floor.

12. Explore downtown LA

Downtown LA used to be a definite no-go area, but a lot of money was put into revitalising it so it has become nicer in recent years, and there are a lot of things worth seeing there. For example, it’s where the Last Bookstore is, plus The Broad Art Museum (free entry!) and Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall.

A highlight in downtown LA for kids is the Angel’s Flight Railway, an 119-year-old funicular and the world’s shortest railway. It reopened for rides to the public in 2017 after getting some important safety upgrades following a crash in 2001 and derailment in 2013. It costs $1 each way for a ride.

We also enjoyed the Grand Central Market, which had lots of food stalls, incluidng many family-friendly options.

You might read about Oue Skyspace, a glass slide that went down the side of California’s tallest building. Unfortunately this is now closed.

I also want to add that although downtown LA is nicer than it used to be, we still found it a bit sketchy when we visited in 2023. I think the pandemic may have set it back a bit. The streets are pretty dirty (the stench of urine was common), and there are sadly many homeless people with drug or mental health issues, and unpredictable behaviour. So while we found it to be generally fine around the main tourist attractions, we didn’t enjoy walking around downtown, especially with kids.

I think it’s a good place for a trip in and out to see some of the attractions, but I’d definitely base yourself elsewhere.

13. Ride the hop-on-hop-off bus

Because Los Angeles is so vast, a good way to see a lot of things efficiently is to ride one of the hop-on-hop-off bus tours. There are two main companies: City Sightseeing and Big Bus Tours. They offer 3 and 2 routes respectively, and hit lots of the main sights like the Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica and La Brea Tar Pits. It’s a perfect option if you don’t have a car in Los Angeles.

Where to stay in Los Angeles with kids

Los Angeles is vast so where you say will depend somewhat on what you want to do and where you want to be close to. We’re written a full and detailed guide to all the best places to stay in Los Angeles with kids, including the pros and cons of all the different neighbourhoods. Read that post for all the details, but here are a few of our favourites…

The Garland – Studio City

The Garland hotel is just 10 minutes from Universal Studios. They even have a free trolley service that takes you to the park and saves you money on parking. It’s a stylish boutique hotel with retro-cool decor that echoes California in the late 1970s – think warm orange tones, bold patterns and retro touches. The hotel is well set up for families, and kids will love the outdoor pool. Plus they have special rooms and suites for families that come complete with a partitioned area for bunk beds.

Rooms at The Garland start from $250 per room. Book your stay now.

The Kinney – Venice Beach

The Kinney is a fun family-friendly hotel less than a mile from Venice Beach boardwalk. The rooms are quirky with bold colours and design. And he hotel’s outdoor courtyard, The Quad, is a fun place to kick back and relax in front of the fire pits or with a game of ping pong.

Rooms starts at $180. Check availability now.

Beverley Wiltshire Hotel – for luxury on Rodeo Drive

Any fans of Pretty Woman will recognise this hotel, The Beverly Wiltshire, part of the Four Seasons group. Probably not something the kids can appreciate, but it’s a great option for families looking for a luxury stay with multiple pools and a programme of family events

Check prices and availability.

The Magic Castle Hotel – Hollywood

Staying a this hotel grants you access to the legendary Magic Castle. But if you’re travelling with kids, make sure you book for a weekend as kids are only welcome to the Saturday and Sunday brunch shows.

Staying at the hotel comes with all sorts of fun added extras for kids, including daily free ice cream, a huge snack bar, kiddie-sized bathrobes and the ability to order a poolside ice lolly by using the Popsicle Hotline, a little red telephone that’s used exclusively for ordering lollies! The hotel itself isn’t all that special in terms of decor, but these added extras make it a fun, memorable stay.

Check prices and availability.

Omni Los Angeles, California Plaza – Downtown Los Angeles

If you’d really want to be downtown (we wouldn’t recommend it!), the Omni is a good option as it’s close to the main attractions, so you won’t have to walk around too much. We stayed at the Ace Hotel and this wasn’t a good option for families as the walk from there to the attractions such as Angels Flight, took us through some areas that didn’t feel as safe as we’d have liked

Check prices and availability.

How to get around Los Angeles with kids

Los Angeles is a city of cars, and driving is pretty much the only viable way to get around. There is a metro and bus system, but many people told us these were unsafe, especially with kids. It’s California law for children to use a car seat, so taxis/Ubers are also tricky as even if you have a car seat, you probably don’t want to carry it around all day!

That said, we didn’t have a car when we were most recently in Los Angeles and it was okay as we stayed downtown, which is walkable. Similarly, it would have been okay in neighbourhoods like Venice or Santa Monica as these are also pretty walkable. We got to and from the airport/our next destination with an Uber using our own car seats. The trains, leaving from downtown LA, are also convenient for getting to your next destination and reportedly much safer than the buses/metro.

If you don’t have a car, the hop-on-hop-off bus tours would be a good option for getting around the touristy sights. Just make sure your accommodation is near one of the stops.