Kid-friendly museums in Ontario

Southwestern Ontario

London Children’s Museum 

It’s a child’s playground at London Regional Children’s Museum where playtime is the main attraction. Kids interact with activities that introduce them to science, history, technology and nature, through play in a fun environment.

Not only do the kids see the exhibits, but they are encouraged to touch and explore the exhibits and use their imagination interacting with the exhibits. Some activities have included architectural digs, interact with a one-room schoolhouse from long ago. Kids can pretend they are piloting a spacecraft or they can learn about weather and mechanical energy. The possibilities are endless.

Location: 21 Wharncliffe Road S, London  

Komoka Railway Museum

There’s a lot to learn about steam locomotive logging at the train museum that was inducted into the North American Hall of Fame in 2016.

There are various exhibits to see, including the exclusive full-size Shay locomotive and a baggage car with a HO scale model train layout and a caboose. Kids will want to ride on the miniature steam locomotive at the back of the museum.

Location: 131 Queen Street, Komoka

Niagara Region

Niagara Children’s Museum

Rooted in the philosophy of K.I.D.S (Kreate, Investigate, Discover and Solve), Niagara Children’s Museum is the ideal place to bring your child to foster growth.  

Three spacious floors filled with educational fun are available for your child to explore and expand their minds. Funded by the Niagara Falls Art Gallery, the Niagara Children’s Museum entertains kids as young as three with activities that will keep them occupied for hours. Programs such as art classes open the door to discovering new hobbies and encourage kids to roll up their sleeves and enjoy painting, drawing and making sculptures.  

Location: 8058 Oakwood Drive, Niagara Falls

Hamilton, Halton and Brant

Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology

Learn something new and fascinating about steam power technology and the industrial revolution in Canada. Tours are available for all ages. Interactive exhibits are entertaining and engaging.

Keep an eye out for the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamer Days, a popular summer attraction. It's an opportunity to hop on board a miniature steam train for an enjoyable ride around the property.

Location: 900 Woodward Avenue, Hamilton

Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington

THEMUSEUM

Kitchener’s THEMUSEUM is the ideal blend between exciting family-friendly exhibits and a true learning experience.

The museum is filled with all sorts of tools to sharpen young minds. Kids over 3 three years old can learn about science through interactive demonstrations. Older kids can visit The Underground Studio MakerSpace, where they can try a hand at 3D modelling, coding or screen-printing. Seasonal programs are also available. Check the daily programming schedule for available activities.

Location: 10 King Street West, Kitchener

Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

Royal Ontario Museum

With an exciting line-up of exhibitions and interactive galleries, there are lots for visitors of all ages to enjoy and discover at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).

Home to 18 million objects spanning art, culture, and nature, the ROM is an epic ode to life—and the most-visited museum in Canada. Experience one of the world’s great museums in the heart of downtown Toronto.

Location: 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto  

Toronto Railway Museum

Treat the railway enthusiasts in your family to a full day exploring the Toronto Railway Museum, located minutes from the CN Tower in Toronto’s historic Roundhouse Park.

Beyond learning about the history of Canadian railroads, you can also take an exciting ride on the mini-train with your little ones. Check out the big locomotives that were responsible for developing much of Ontario, learn about the people who built the railroads and explore the inside of a historic train car at this kid-friendly museum.

Be sure to visit the gift shop for fun train-themed toys and figurines, so your family can remember your day at the roundhouse.

Location: 255 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto  

Museum of Illusions 

Is it real or is it an optical illusion? Use your senses to navigate through perplexing brain-teasing installations that defy logic.

The Museum of Illusions is jam-packed with an assortment of activities that kids of all ages will enjoy. Take photos of your kids walking on the ceiling in the upside-down room or get lost in the mind-bending infinity room that plays optical tricks on you as you walk through. Tickets are available online for timed entry. 

Location: 132 Front Street East, Toronto

York, Durham and Headwaters

Pickering Museum Village

A variety of events, programs and entertainment are available at Pickering Museum Village. Young artists can join woodworking workshops or learn about natural and magical creatures on a whimsical fairy walking tour. There are so many things to do at Durham’s largest history museum.

Location: 2365 Concession Road 6, Greenwood

Bruce, Grey and Simcoe

Simcoe County Museum

Located North of Barrie, there are several historic buildings to visit along with the exhibits at Simcoe County Museum.

Engage with the immersive exhibits, like the reconstruction of actual stores of Barrie’s Main Street from the early 20th century. Stroll this faux main street and pore over the detailed storefronts and shops.

Outside the museum are ten historical buildings that were restored or relocated. Visit the old jail, the Anglican church or even the old fashion bread oven where you can see how pioneers baked over 100 years ago. The exhibits at the museum are designed for interactive education, making it fun to learn about the area’s fascinating history.

Location: 1151 Highway 26, Minesing

Ottawa Region

Canada Science and Technology Museum

The home of the Crazy Kitchen, ZOOOM Children's Innovation Zone and the Exploratek maker studio has a lot up its sleeves when it comes to showcasing new tech innovations, paying homage to the pioneers and cool science demonstrations that everyone will love.

It’s a place to take the kids where they will see the world from a new perspective. For example, the Hidden Worlds exhibition allows kids to get a closer look at things around them using microscopes and other technology. There’s a mixture of sound, light and vision and so many delightful discoveries that will keep you returning.

Location: 1867 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa

Algonquin Park, Muskoka and Parry Sound

Muskoka Heritage Place

Spend a day at the Muskoka Museum, Muskoka Pioneer Village and the Rotary Village Station.

Learn about the history of Huntsville. Next, take a 25-minute train ride along the Muskoka River to Fairy Lake Station aboard the vintage Portage Flyer Train. Get the inside story from the train’s conductor about the type of maintenance that keeps the train running.

Enjoy hands-on workshops and events. Make candles the old-fashioned way. Find out about cattail dolls and learn how to make them or experience churning butter and sample a scone or bannock.

Location: 88 Brunel Road, Huntsville  

Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre

Cruise around Lake Muskoka on the RMS Segwun, the oldest operating steamship in North America or the Wenonah II, which was built in 2002 to resemble the older steamship from the turn of the 19th century.

At the Discovery Centre, learn about steamships and other types of boats from engaging exhibits. Special features like Watershed Wonders have state-of-the-art technology to learn about aquatic lifeform. The KidZone offers activities influenced by STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) learning.

Year-round programs mean that there’s always something new and exciting to discover.

Locations: 

• 185 Cherokee Lane, Gravenhurst  
• 275 Steamship Bay Road, Gravenhurst

Northwest Ontario

Science North

As Northern Ontario's most popular tourist attraction, Science North consists of two snowflake-shaped buildings located on the southwestern shore of Ramsey Lake, just south of the city's downtown core.

Kids and adults will love the variety of interactive exhibits offered, including a 3D IMAX with Laser theatre, a Planetarium and F. Jean MacLeod Butterfly Gallery. With the variety of different stimulating learning opportunities present, you’ll have a hard time fitting everything in.

Location: 100 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury