Eating Out With Kids: Child-friendly Restaurants
 A few years ago, you could count the number of child-friendly restaurants in the UK on one hand. Happily things are now very different, with many chains and independent restaurants courting the family market. We've hand-picked our favourite places around the country, but would welcome your input. If you think we've missed out a real family gem, let us and other parents know here.
Jump to...
London
Cumbria
Essex
Gloucestershire
North West England
Norfolk
Scotland
Sussex
Wales
London:
Frizzante at Hackney City Farm
Surrounded by animals this may be the perfect place to explain where food comes from…or maybe choose the vegetarian breakfast instead! This city farm's café won the Time Out Best Family Restaurant 2004 for its organic food and lively atmosphere.
We like: the laid-back atmosphere and all the entertainment of the farm
Where: Hackney City Farm, 1a Goldsmith's Row, E2 8QA
Price: Pasta with cheese and tomato - £3.45
Click here for the Frizzante website
Giraffe
Voted Best For Kids in the 2005 Observer Food Monthly Awards; ‘Giraffe is that rare British beast, the family-friendly restaurant which manages not to scare off the young and childless.'
We like: the space for buggies, the emphasis on fresh and healthy food
Where: Battersea, Chiswick, Hampstead, Islington, Kensington, Marylebone, Muswell Hill, Richmond, Heathrow, Spitalfields, Royal Festival Hall City Farm
Price: Main courses from £2.95
Click here for the Giraffe website
Rainforest Cafe
Yes it's big and brash and likely to give most adults a headache, but the Rainforest Cafe has a huge appeal for kids with its wildlife sounds and light show accompanying the meal. The menu is reassuring global with plenty for adventurous children and it's good to see fruit salad included in the desserts.
We like: clear references on the children's menu for gluten, dairy and egg-free options
Where: Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC1
Price: £10.90 for main course and dessert
Click here for the Rainforest Cafe website
Tamarind
At first glance a Michelin-starred restaurant wouldn't be the first place you'd think of taking your brood, but chef Alfred Prasad is apparently keen on helping kids expand their palate. That aim was behind Tamarind's decision to offer a free gourmet Sunday lunch to any child under 10, as long as they're accompanied by an adult ordering the £24.50 tasting menu. Older kids can have three courses for £12.50.
We like: the child-friendly, mildly spiced menu
Where: 20 Queen Street, London W1J 5PR
Click here for the Tamarind website
Tate Modern
There are two great places to eat as a family here at the Tate Modern – the Café on Level 2 actively welcomes families and offers all meals in children-sized portions. But for a real blow-out take the kids up to the Tate Modern Restaurant on Level 7. The fish is particularly good here – well-sourced and impeccably fresh and when the kids tire of adult conversation they'll be wowed by the amazing views over London.
We like: the amazing views are great for grown-ups and kids alike
Where: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Price: £5.95 main course, dessert and drink
Click here for the Tate Modern website
Cumbria:
Gilpin Bridge Inn, Nr Kendal
Keep the kids happy and their parents will have a great time; that's the thinking behind Craig and Melanie Thorpe's award-winning pub. Although there's fish fingers for the fussiest of eaters and the kids' menu features chips with all the main courses, adult meals can be served in child-sized portions and there's a huge new outdoor adventure playground.
We like: the cupboards full of building bricks to keep little ones happy
Where: Bridge End, Levens, Nr Kendal
Price: £3.95 for choices from the Kids Menu
Click here for The Gilpin Bridge website.
Essex:
The Cricketers, Clavering
You'd expect Jamie Oliver's parents to put out a red carpet for children in their Essex pub and the Cricketers doesn't disappoint. The children's menu features free range chicken strips and organic salmon, while more educated younger palettes can enjoy any of the main adult dishes in a children's portion size.
We like: trying the food that inspired school food champion Jamie Oliver
Where: Clavering, near Saffron Walden, Essex
Price: Main courses on the children's menu start at £4.50
Click here for The Cricketers' website.
Bath:
Demuths Vegetarian Restaurant, Bath
This award-winning vegetarian and vegan restaurant welcomes children with open arms. There's a specific kids menu available during the day up until 7.30pm and it's full of healthy and delicious options. When the kids get fidgety, there's crayons and scrap paper to keep them happy.
We like: the signposting for food that's wheat-free
Where: North Parade Passage, Bath
Price: From £2.75 for soup of the day and ciabatta fingers
Click here for the Demuths website.
Manchester and North West England:
Olive Press
et up by Michelin-starred chef Paul Heathcote, the four branches of Olive Press promise no chicken nuggets on their menus and all the burgers are chargrilled. Instead, kids get involved in the cooking process, by making their own pizzas.
We like: that toddlers aged under 3 eat for free.
Where: Preston, Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington and Bolton
Price: £7.50 for a main course and a dessert
Click here for the Olive Press website.
Ego Restaurants
Based on the premise that the Italians and Spanish know how to eat and have fun, the Ego chain of restaurants promises good food in a laid-back environment and a promise that everything is cooked fresh.
We like: that all the children's dishes are low-salt and low-fat.
Where: Chester, Heswall, Liverpool, Bramhall and Stockton Heath
Price: £4.50 for two courses with the Little Ego menu
Click here for Ego Restaurants website.
Head Over Heels, Chorlton
This huge indoor family experience boasts the perfect combination of children's entertainment and top-notch food. It's no wonder then, that Head Over Heels, was voted as one of the best kids' restaurants in the UK in this year's Observer Food Monthly Food Awards. Let the kids run up an appetite in the play centre and then tuck in at the restaurant, knowing there's no fast food in sight.
We like: the food ethos - locally sourced and freshly cooked.
Where: The Albany Trading Estate, Chorlton, Manchester
Price: Main courses start at £3.60
Click here for the Head over Heels website.
Norfolk:
The King's Head, Letheringsett
Winner of countless awards, this Norfolk pub has a massive garden complete with child-sized Norman castle and toddler toys. There's an extensive children's menu complete with jam sandwiches and homemade baby food. If the weather's bad, head indoors to the playroom with snooker and table football.
We like: their accommodation of special diets from gluten-free to diabetic.
Where: Letheringsett, North Norfolk
Price: Sandwiches start at a bargain basement £1.20
Click here for the King's Head website.
Norfolk: The Victoria at Holkham
A great family favourite, the Victoria is situated just a few minutes from the white sands of Holkham Bay. There’s a playground in the garden at the back, a separate menu for the kids and the staff are extremely friendly. Best of all, once you’ve finished lunch you can walk off the calories on the beach.
We like: this restaurant/hotel’s perfect location
Where: Holkham, Norfolk
Price: £6.50 for two courses
Click here for the Victoria website.
Scotland:
The Bridge Inn, Ratho
One of Scotland's most-lauded pub for family-friendliness, The Bridge Inn has an extensive children's menu balancing pizza and homemade burgers with corn-on-the-cob and melon cocktail. There are child-changing facilities, highchairs and an outdoors playground.
We like: that the fish and chips on the menu is fresh haddock, locally sourced
Where: Ratho, just by the Union Canal, 5 minutes from Edinburgh Airport
Price: £3.50 for two courses
Click here for The Bridge Inn website.
Sussex:
Sussex: Momma Cherri’s Soul Food Shack, Brighton
A Brighton landmark, Momma Cherri’s offers soul food and sustenance to families in off the beach. There’s a separate kids menu with the usual children fare. The Junior Soul Burger and all plates come with a small salad, fruit and corn on the cob.
We like: the massive, gut-filling portions. Starve yourself before a visit!
Where: 11 Little East Street, Brighton
Price: £5.50 before 6pm for meal, fries, salad and corn on the cob.
Click here for the Momma Cherri's website.
Wales:
Talardy Hotel, St Asaph, Denbighshire
Jelly Beans playrestaurant at the Talardy Hotel might not have the most innovative children's menu on the planet - but it does have the added bonus of a huge soft play area. If the weather's good, families can eat outside in sight of the sandpit, bouncy castle and toddlers lawn.
We like: that there are two age ranges on the children's menu, taking account of older kids' appetites.
Where: St Asaph, Denbighshire
Price: £7.95 gets them a main course, drink, balloon and unlimited playtime.
Click here for the Talardy Hotel website.
Have you got a favourite family-friendly restaurant that we've missed out? Click here to tell us and other parents about it.
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