London scavenger hunt for kids and families
London is enormous and most of a family day out is spent walking between the bits you came to see. This is a free self-guided scavenger hunt that turns the walking into the game: twelve things to find, six of them famous landmarks and six of them the small red things London is full of. Every find is photographed and checked on the spot.
How the hunt works
Each stop is a thing to find. When your child spots it, they take a photo, and the app checks two things at once: that you are actually at the location, and that the photo shows the right thing. Only then does the stop count.
That verification is the difference between a printed checklist and a game. Nobody can tick off the Münster from a café two streets away, which is exactly why children take it seriously.
What you'll find in London
12 verified stops listed below
London Landmarks
Six landmarks with a geofence on each, so they only count when you are genuinely there, plus six London things you can find anywhere in the city.
- 01Big BenThe clock tower at the Houses of Parliament. Any angle counts, including from across the river.
- 02Tower BridgeThe one with two stone towers and blue ironwork. Not London Bridge, which disappoints everybody.
- 03Buckingham PalaceThe facade, the gates, or the gold Victoria Memorial in front of it.
- 04Nelson's ColumnThe tall column in Trafalgar Square. The four bronze lions at the base count too.
- 05The London EyeThe big wheel on the South Bank, visible from a long way off.
- 06St Paul's CathedralThe dome. From a distance is fine.
- 07A red phone boxIncluding the ones converted into tiny libraries and coffee stands.
- 08A black cabAny hackney carriage, even under an advertising wrap.
- 09A red double-decker busNot hard. A good early win for a small child.
- 10A Tube roundelThe red circle and blue bar, on a station, a sign or a map.
- 11A blue plaqueThe round plaques marking who used to live where. The hardest one on the list.
- 12A pub sign with an animal on itA lion, a swan, a horse. There are more than you would think.
Questions parents ask
How much does the London scavenger hunt cost?
Nothing. The London Landmarks trail is free in the Scavvi app on iOS and Android, and there is nothing to book.
Is it walkable in one day?
The six landmarks span central London, so most families pick three or four and get the free-roam finds along the way. There is no requirement to complete it in one go and your progress is saved.
What ages does it suit?
Roughly four to fourteen. The bus, the cab and the phone box are easy wins for little ones. The blue plaque and the pub signs keep older children looking.
Does it work on the Tube?
The finding needs you above ground, and verification needs a connection, so underground stretches are a natural pause. Progress holds while you travel.
Can we play it on a school trip?
Yes, and it works well for one, because the app referees every find rather than a teacher having to. Free hunts cap at three players, so larger groups need Pro or several separate hunts.
Playing in London?
The app is free, the trail is free, and there is nothing to book. Download it before you go and it will be waiting when you arrive.
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