This post shares the best things to do during the summer holidays in London. It highlights the top attractions, events, sights, musicals, plays and more taking place over the summer school holidays in London in 2025.
In the words of the inimitable Alice Cooper, “school’s out for summer” and, as we wave goodbye to another school year, it’s time to start planning your summer holidays in London. As always, London has a jam-packed calendar of events aimed at families from 0 to 18!
In 2025, the school holidays typically run from 22 July to 2 September although term dates do differ with some local schools finishing earlier around 18 July. Private schools tend to finish early July.
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In addition to the events listed below we have lots of ideas on how to make the most of your summer holidays in London. There are some brilliant splash parks and lidos for keeping cool when the weather is hot, we share our favourite places for ice cream (Udderlicious is probably by all time favourite) as well as where you can get out and about on the water – including learning to kayak in Regent’s Canal.
If you feel like you need a break from the city then these are some of the best beaches near London that you can reach by train.
The best things to do during the summer holidays in London
Table of Contents
I love London during the summer time. This is when the city really comes to life and everywhere is busy, from the parks and playgrounds to the shops and pubs. Of course the downside is that the London Underground can feel unbearably hot during summer months but personally, I think a hot tube ride is a small price to pay for enjoying London in the summer sun.
The following are our pick of the best things to do during the summer holidays in London from workshops and shows to festivals and dinosaurs…and more!
Museum Exhibitions & Experiences in London
The best of London’s museums and experiences this summer for families.
The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace
Every summer Buckingham Palace opens its gates for 10 weeks, welcoming visitors to tour the magnificent State Rooms including the Throne Room, the Ballroom and the White Drawing Room. Whether or not you’ll see a member of the Royal Family on your tour is another matter…
Buckingham Palace will be open from 10 July to 28 September
Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs
Go inside scenes from seasons one and two of Apple TV+’s Prehistoric Planet series this summer at Lightroom in Kings Cross and be surrounded by 360-degree visuals of dinosaurs. This is one of the best immersive experiences taking place this summer – and the only way to find out what planet Earth was like 66 million years ago!
Prehistoric Planet runs from 9 July to 2 November.
Summer Holidays at London Museum
Dive into London’s vibrant history this summer at the London Museum Docklands who are hosting a series a family days over the school summer holidays.
Become an archaeologist for the day and unearth ancient objects in your own excavation pit during the Big Dig, experience the story of the Great Fire of London brought to life through a lively show, celebrate London’s Caribbean culture during an intergenerational family festival and much more.
Duke and Disorderly at the Tower of London
The year is 1826 and the Duke of Wellington has just been made Constable of the Tower and it’s a mess! But he has big plans to bring order to the Tower, including shutting down the Royal Menagerie and the many taverns operating onsite.
Join the Duke as he attempts to brings some order to the Tower of London this summer – don’t forget to see the crown jewels while you are here.
Duke and Disorderly runs until 31 August and is included in palace admission.
Rail Adventures at the London Transport Museum
The London Transport Museum in Covent Garden is celebrating 200 years of railways this summer with a number of fun family activities including storytelling, arts & crafts and workshops.
Scheduled activities include a storytelling session that asks children to imagine what it was like to live in London when the first Underground Railway was being built, a pop-up model railway-making activity, a trains birthday party and much more.
Different activities take place on different dates, check the website for details.
Scream through the Summer at the London Dungeon
Meet Jack the Ripper, torturer Mrs Lovett and the Plague Doctor when you step out of the sunshine and into the dark embrace of the London Dungeon.
Immersive sets, live actors and spine-tinging thrills bring London’s dark side to life…for those who date to enter!
Triwizard Tournament at Warner Bros Studio Tour
Discover the filming secrets behind the Triwizard Tournament this summer at the Warner Bros Studio Tour. Learn how filmmakers shot underwater and crated the Hungarian Horntail Dragon, listen as Interactors share special effect secrets in the new Backlot Stage and admire new magical costumes.
The Triwizard Tournament runs until 8 September 2025.
V&A East Storehouse
Recently opened, the V&A East Museum is absolutely phenomenal.
Located on the site of a former media centre, (which in turn sits on the site of a former dog-racing stadium) this vast modern warehouse is where the V&A Museum has created storage for over 1,000 individual archives, 250,000 objects and 350,000 library books.
The museum’s central Weston Collections Hall has over 100 mini displays – everything from a bin from Glastonbury festival to a piece of the concrete facade from the brutalist Robin Hood Gardens housing estate that once stood nearby.
There’s also the intricately carved dome from a palace near Toledo and a beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright timber-lined 1930s office interior
One of the highlights (which I want to book for next visit) is the Order an Object experience, which allows visitors to access any object in the collection free of charge, seven days a week. This means you can get up close and personal with everything from an original Japanese tea ceremony set to ancient Egyptian shoes.
The museum offers free entry and while younger kids might not find it that exciting, older children will love it.
Summer School Holiday at Young V&A
The Young V&A is an absolute favourite with young kids and this summer it’s running as series of summer holiday activities and play sessions.
These include Sound Explorers for under 3s, Summer Design Club for 11-14 year olds a weaving workshop in the Make-Lab and more, including sensory friendly activities.
Summer School opens on 25 July and runs during the school holidays.
Make sure to visit the Making Egypt exhibition while you’re here,
Design and Disability at the V&A South Kensington
Proving that disability-led design is about far more than ramps and railings is this joyous exhibition that celebrates how disabled people have adapted the world to better represent themselves. The exhibition is divided into three parts: Visibility, Tools and Living and includes items such as the harness that allows deaf and hearing impaired music fans feel music as vibrations on their chest and a bicycle with a built-in leg brace.
It’s a fascinating – and important – insight into disability culture as a vibrant, fun and positive force.
Join the Zoo Crew at ZSL London Zoo
ZSL London Zoo is a firm favourite with kids on family visits to London and this summer they can join the Zoo Crew!
There are lots of fun role-play and costume dress-up activities taking place during the summer vacation so pint-sized animal-lovers can get a feel for what it’s like to work at the zoo.
Kids can step into the role of Zookeeper, Field Conservationist and Scientist and learn exactly what each role does to make sure the zoo runs smoothly and all the animals are looked after. Complete all the tasks during your day out at the zoo and you will graduate as an official member of the Zoo Crew!
Activities are included in zoo admission.
Summer Holiday Fun: 3D Drawing at Tower Bridge
Get a new perspective on Tower Bridge with their fun summer 3D drawing activity. Kids are invited to drop by and design one of the Tower Bridge characters and then use special glasses to see it pop off the page.
The 3D Drawing workshops are taking place on Tuesday 29 July and Tuesday 5 August between 10am and 4pm and are included in museum admission.
Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? at the Natural History Museum
Blast off into Space at the Natural History Museum in this exhibition that transports visitors out-of-this-world to discover in life exists beyond planet earth. Go back in time on mars, dive under the surface of icy moons, take a photo with the Allende meteorite (which is a mind-boggling 4.567 billion years old) and more.
Space runs until 22 February 2026. Paid.
Splash! at the Design Museum
You’ve still got a few weeks to enjoy Splash!, which explores swimming pools, lidos and nature, and examines how design influences our experiences of swimming in each.
The exhibition runs until 17 August and, if you’re feeling inspired post-museum visit, then here’s a selection of the best swimming pools and lidos in London to enjoy. Paid.
Print and Paint at The British Museum
Taking place on 19 July in the Great Court is a free day of fun family activities inspired by the museum’s exhibition Ancient India: living traditions.
Join artist and printmaker Neera Sehgal and try printing with Indian woodblocks, paint your own wild section of an ancient Indian forest and get hands-on with objects with the museum’s volunteer team.
The Print and Paint family day out takes place on 19 July and is free to enjoy.
Deities, demons and mischief-makers at The British Museum
Taking place on various dates throughout the month of August is a family storytelling session inspired by the museum’s exhibition Ancient India: living traditions.
Every Wednesday in August, third-generation storyteller, Debbie Guneratne, will take you on a journey of stories about trials and tears, conflict and cobras, music and mischief, rivers and an ocean of milk.
These sessions are aimed at children aged 6+ and are free and non-ticketed. Spaces are limited, however, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Performances take place on August 6, 13, 20 and 27 at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. See more details here.
Ocean Fun at the National Maritime Museum
Head to the National Maritime Museum this summer for a series of fun family events including storytelling sessions, craft workshops and interactive fun to learn about the wonders of the ocean, what goes on below the surface, and the journeys we’ve made across it.
Events are free and there’s no need to book in advance. Most activities are suitable for all ages, although a few sessions are primarily designed for under 5s.
Acitivites take place daily except for Mondays from 23 July to 31 August and are free.
Meet the crew of the Cutty Sark
Head to Cutty Sark in Greenwich and discover the stories behind what was once the world’s fastest tea clipper – that’s a very fast ship to you and me.
School holidays and weekends are the best time to visit because that’s when characters from the Cutty Sark’s sailing heyday are on board to help you learn more about this famous ship. Meet the captain, chat with the cook and learn all about how Jock Willis built the Cutty Sark.
Other ship shape activities are also scheduled for the summer holidays in London including storytelling, sea shanty singers, ship-themed craft sessions and more. See more details here.
Don’t forget that the Climb the Rig experience is also taking place all summer long.
Life at Sea: Morse Mice on board HMS Belfast
Some mischievous mice and crafty cats are trying to steal the sailors’ jobs on board the HMS Belfast. This summer the HMS Belfast crew need you to help find all 10 mice when you explore the Main Deck of the famous warship and to complete the naval badge for each job they’ve got their eyes on.
Morse Mice takes place on weekends from 1 June to 19 October.
Also taking place over the summer holidays in London is the ship’s popular We Were There: Family Day events when IWM’s veterans and eyewitnesses of conflict share their unique insight into the impact of war on people’s lives. Join them for the chance to hear fascinating and important true stories.
We Were There takes place between 11am and 3pm on August 1, 8, 15 and 22.
Top tip! Combine a trip to HMS Belfast with lunch at nearby Borough Market.
8-14s Summer Club at the Tate Modern
Imagine, perform, create and destroy this summer at the Tate Modern as part of the 8-14’s Summer Club.
This unique summer camp is led by multi-art performer, producer and musician Joseph O’Farrell and invites kids to get creative making props, film, sound and lighting to build their own large-scale theatrical installation. Friends and family are invited on the final day to experience what the Summer Club has created.
Aimed at young people aged 8 – 14, the Summer Club takes place from 28 July – 1 August.
Summer Holiday Activities at the Imperial War Museum
The IWM is holding a number of free events for kids to enjoy during the summer holidays in London.
The popular Story Seekers events return daily during the holidays and a great way for families to learn more about the museum galleries following a Story Seekers trail. From survival at sea to astonishing acts of bravery, these family-friendly trails provide the perfect opportunity to learn about the people behind the objects.
Also taking place is Shaping Stories, themed around the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Kids are invited to make paper doves and cranes that will be put on display at the museum.
Taking place daily in the main galleries is Crack the Code, a trail sheet themed around Second World War veteran Bernard who is trying to make his way home after the end of the Second World War War. As you help him find his way home, you’ll hear stories and learn about objects covering historical moments, from VE Day, VJ Day, and rationing, which continued to be part of life well after wartime.
Wonderlab at the Science Museum
One of the best places to go for a day out that is both engaging and educational is Wonderlab at the Science Museum. Here, kids can get hands on with science experiments, play interactive games, watch lively presentations about fire, electricity, rockets and more.
Summer Fun at the Discover Children’s Story Centre
Visit the Monster Funfair, an immersive family adventure for children aged 0 – 8, explore the celebration of Hairy Maclary and Friends (including a doghouse with furry friends and dog bones to uncover in the garden), and listen to tales of everyone’s favourite potato, Supertato. These activities are all in addition to the usual two floors of magical story fun. Find more details here.
Pirates at The National Maritime Museum
Although this exhibition is geared slightly towards older kids, it’s still a fun one for families to discover. The show traces the history of pirates and explores behind the swash-buckling curtain that we see depicted in books and on screen.
Pirates runs until 4 January 2026. Paid.
The Robot Zoo at the Horniman Museum
Larger-than-life animals have taken over the Horniman Museum for the museum’s new exhibition, The Robot Zoo.
Learn why grasshoppers leap so high, how bats see at night and how chameleons change colour in this fun-filled exhibit for kids. Don’t miss the specially commissioned interactive murals and the interactive experience that allows you to shoot a chameleon’s ‘tongue-gun’.
The Robot Zoo exhibition runs until 2 November.
Jurassic World at Neon at Battersea Power Station
Meet dinosaurs at Battersea Power Station this summer in London during this immersive journey with life-size dinosaurs including a velociraptors, a brachiosaurus, the terrifying Tyrannosaurus rex and some cute-looking baby dinosaurs too.
Events and Activities
Enjoy the following events and activities during the summer holidays in London.
Meet Peppa Pig at Lift 109
Peppa Pig is spending part of her summer holidays in London and you can meet her at Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station!
On selected dates, families will enjoy a special Peppa Pig meet, greet and story time sessions, before soaring up 109 metres to the top of the iconic Power Station’s northwest chimney to take in breathtaking panoramic views of the capital. Younger visitors can spot famous landmarks and tick them off on a themed activity sheet.
Peppa Pig Meet & Greet Sessions at Lift 109 take place on:
- Monday 28th, Tuesday 29th & Wednesday 30th July
- Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th & Wednesday 6th August
- 10:30am & 11:15am
Make sure to book tickets in advance here
Summer on the Square
Taking place during the month of August is Summer on the Square, a free festival of art in Trafalgar Square, in the heart of central London.
Inspired by the National Gallery Collection, this event promises a number of fun drop-in sessions open to all ages and abilities. Free activities include an immersive purpose-built arts studio, walk-in art and sound installations and plenty of opportunities to sketch, make, move and explore The National Gallery’s collection.
Summer on the Square takes place from 11 to 29 August.
School Holiday Karaoke Fun
Get ready to sing your heart out during the summer holidays in London at Lucky Voice Karaoke.
With five venues across London (Soho, Holborn, Islington, Liverpool Street and Waterloo) and rooms that can accommodate up to 30 people, karaoke is a fun way to spend a rainy day in London – or to escape the heat on a summer’s day! We’ve did this recently for a family birthday and everyone loved it.
Additional family-friendly slots are available over the school holidays from Sunday to Wednesday (selected venues).
Summer Splash At the Docks
London has not shortage of splash parks and lidos but one of the best opens only during the summer holidays. Summer Splash returns from Sunday 27 July to Sunday 17 August, a free lido on the Dock complete with lifeguards, sandpits, deckchairs, kids’ lessons and Djs when the sun goes down.
This is a really fun way to cool down during the summer holidays in London but it’s not open fo every long so make sure you don’t miss it!
The Terrible Thames Tour
If you want to combine a river cruise sightseeing trip with a brilliant performance then hop onboard the Terrible Thames tour. Back again for the summer holidays this laugh-out-loud tour of London’s most famous river is produced by the team behind the Horrible Histories franchise and charts the history of the Thames, minus all the boring bits.
Departing from Tower Bridge Quay, near St Katherine’s Dock, trips last 45 minutes and are brilliant fun for all ages. Book tickets here.
Take a Ride on Rocket Rebel
Thames Rockets run tours along the River Thames all year round but summer really is the perfect time to hop on board one of their tomato red speedboats for a tour of London’s most iconic landmarks.
The multi-award winning company recently introduced their latest boat to the fleet, the Rocket Rebel, a revolutionary lightweight aluminium craft in bright red that can seat 26 and is London’s fastest ever sightseeing speedboat.
The tours depart from beneath the London Eye and, during the first stretch of the river when the speed is limited to 12 knots, a guide shares fascinating facts, fun anecdotes and the occasional piece of hearsay (does a music mogul really own a luxury riverside penthouse complete with a snow room?!).
But it’s the second part of the tour that really is the most fun. Once the boats reach the ‘no speed limit zone’ near Canary Wharf then the skipper can let loose, pushing the boats to their top speed accompanied by a high-energy medley of music. It’s fun for the whole family and a great way to spend a summer’s afternoon on the river.
Family Activities at the Chelsea Physic Garden
There are a number of family activities taking place at the Chelsea Physic Garden over the summer holidays in London including a chocolate making workshop, insect exploration with Connor the Bug Expert, family pondlife exploration and more.
Check the website for dates and to book.
The Minecraft Experience
Channel your inner hero at the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, an immersive exhibition that has been extended to 31 August owing to popular demand.
See if you have the skills needed to collect the resources for the potion that will save Minecraft villagers who have been turned into zombies as you make your way through seven different rooms and eventually build your escape route out of the portal.
Get your tickets here. Paid
Squid Game
Arriving at Excel the tail end of half term (but running until 29 September) is Squid Game: The Experience. See you have what it takes to take part in Squid Game as you play five of the show’s most merciless games including Red Light Green Light, Memory Steps and Marbles.
Get your tickets here. Paid
Family Workshops at The Globe Theatre
Have family fun with two Macbeth-themed family workshops this summer at the Globe Theatre. The two workshops (one aimed at children aged 9-11 and the other at kids aged 5-8) explore this famous Shakespeare story in a gloriously spooky and fun way. The workshops take place from 23 July on various dates, check the website for details.
Also taking place during the summer holidays is Rough Magic, the Oliver-nominated show based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Watch as the wonderfully wayward Weird Sisters cook up a supernaturally silly adventure.
Rough Magic will be performed from 22 July to 23 August in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Head to an Outdoor Cinema
London is a great place to be during the summer months for so many reasons, not least the numerous pop up cinemas that appear. Not all outdoor cinemas in London have family-friendly films on show, however, so we’ve picked our favourites here. Book a ticket and keep your fingers crossed for good weather.
Everyman on the Canal
Everyman Cinema is showing a free film festival on the banks of Regent’s Canal in Granary Square, Kings Cross. Films run throughout the day and every evening. Seats are on the grassy steps and are staggered to ensure everyone can see the screen.
Everyman on the Canal is a non-ticketed event so make sure you arrive early!
Rooftop Film Club London 2025: Peckham and Stratford
Screening everything from Mama Mia! and Moana to Scream and The Beach, the Rooftop Film Club delivers a clever mix of cult classics, new releases and family favourites. Both venues offer an LED screen, so films can be shown during the day which is great if you have young kids in tow.
Summer by the River 2025
Annual open-air festival Summer By The River returns to London Bridge City (near Tower Bridge) with occasional free film screenings and most of them are family-friendly.
Among the films being screened this year are Mufasa: The Lion King, Paddington in Peru, Despicable Me 4, Wicked Singalong, Moana 2, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and If have been announced so far. Entry is free and on a first-come, first-served basis.
King’s Cross Dinosaur Trail
Dinosaurs have been spotted in King’s Cross this summer – grab a free map from Lightroom and follow the clues to see if you can discover where the prehistoric creatures are hiding.
The Dinosaur Trail is available until 30 September 2025.
Discovery Days at Hyde Park
This summer families are welcome to join the team at the Hyde Park Learning Centre for three weeks of themed outdoor activities taking place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
During Meadow Madness, kids can learn to make seedballs, experiment with different seed dispersal methods, meet the minibeasts that live in the park’s meadow and more.
In the Peter Pan-themed week, kids are invited to take part in a pirate orienteering challenge and to build a home for elves and fairies. And, during the Wild About Water, discovery days, kids will learn about pond habitats and making pond skaters, create frog and toad origami and much more.
Activities are free and take place between 11am and 3pm.
- Meadow Madness Discovery Days: 5 – 7 August
- Peter Pan Discovery Days: 12 – 14 August
- Wild About Water Discovery Days: 19 – 21 August
Check the website for dates and to register.
Festivals & Days Out
Kaleidoscope Festival at Ally Pally
There are lots of music festivals taking place this summer but one of our favourites for families is the Kaleidoscope Festival. Taking place on Saturday 12 July in Alexandra Palace, North London, the all-day festival promises bands including Faithless, Goldie and East Everything), DJs, Comedy and more.
Young V&A Summer Festival
Head to the Young V&A on Saturday 5 July for a programme of free, family-friendly creative activities and craft workshops that include jewellery making inspired by paper beading techniques and costume and accessory design. Watch as record breaking hula hopping troupe The Majorettes perform as well as acrobatic group, Mimbre.
Sunday 6 July offers a reduced and relaxed programme that welcomes SEND audiences and their families.
Dragonfly Festival at the London Wetland Centre
London Wetland Centre is running its first ever Dragonfly Festival this summer starting on 21 June and running until 22 September. The summer-long festival will feature plenty of dragonfly-themed activities to enjoy, from a dragonfly foot safari and macro photography exhibition, to chalk art and mini beast hunting and more.
- Activities taking place daily throughout the festival are: Dragonfly foot safari and Macro photography exhibition.
- Activities taking place on weekends throughout the festival: Pond dipping, Chalk Art, Mini beast hunting
- Activities taking place during the school holidays: Storytelling sessions, Dragonfly-themed creative workshops, Dragonfly mobile making
- Activities taking place over the August bank holiday weekend: Dragonfly stilt walkers, ‘The Insect Circus’ string theatre performances, Face painting
Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF)
London’s leading festival of free outdoor theatre and performing arts is back with a bang bringing colour, lights, entertainment and pure fun to the Docklands. More than 35 events will take place over the 17 day festival, the theme of which is “Above and Beyond”.
Highlights this year include an all-female high-wire walk framed by London’s best views, a physical theatre act performed on water with an urgent climate message, a fusion of engineering and circus and much more.
The festival takes place across various venues and runs this year from 22 August to 6 September. See more details here.
Notting Hill Carnival
Dust off your sequins and feathers, Notting Hill Carnival is back. The carnival takes over west London for two days in August with plenty of fun and festivities. If you’re planning to visit the festival with kids then bookmark Sunday 24 August, which is when the Children’s Carnival takes place with a children’s parade.
Notting Hill Carnival 2025 takes place on Sunday 24 and Monday 25 August.
Summer at Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is the place to be this summer in London with lots of fun activities taking place.
Open Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 10pm, ArcadeX is a fun place to grab a bite to eat with global street food specials popping up on the riverfront.
Taking place every Sunday until the end of August is the River Walk Market with independent traders selling lots of yummy produce and baked goods.
There’s also the Curated Makers market taking place across three weekends in August with a rotating lineup of talented independent artists and makers showcasing their gifts, homewares, art, jewellery and more.
Wild Westminster Family Day
Step inside the walled garden of Westminster Abbey, an amazing hidden garden in the heart of central London, and discover the plants and creatures living here.
Taking place on Tuesday 26 August and Thursday 28 August, the family day out includes creative activities, storytelling sessions and even a Chinese lion dance, all themed around the incredible walled garden where wildlife has flourished for over 900 years.
The event is free but you do need to book a ticket in order to attend.
Children’s Puppet Festival at Little Angel Theatre
Returning for a third year is the award-winning Children’s Puppet Festival at the Little Angel Theatre. Eight inventive companies from across the UK and Australia will be performing throughout the month of August. Family workshops and Playcations are also taking place. See the website for details.
Shows & Plays
Family-friendly theatre taking place in London during the summer holidays.
Theatre on Kew: Alice in Wonderland
Kew Gardens is the perfect place to spend long summer days and now there’s one more – curious – reason to visit. Taking place this summer in the Berberis Dell is an outdoor production of the magical tale of Alice in Wonderland.
Join Alice as she falls down the rabbit hole, meets the disappearing Cheshire Cat, has tea with the Mad Hatter and confronts the bad-tempered Queen of Hearts.
Alice in Wonderland is performed on selected dates from 19 July to 31 August 2025; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 11am and 2.30pm (the show runs for 70 minutes with no interval).
Theatre on Kew: The Dream Fairies – Adventure through Bubble Land
Also taking place as part of the Theatre on Kew program this summer is this enchanting tale of magical fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream who go on a magical musical quest with Tinkerbell to Bubble Land. Audiences are invited to dress up so don’t forget your costume! Perfect for younger children.
The Dream Fairies – Adventure through Bubble Land takes place on selected dates from 18 July to 31 August; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 10.30am and 2pm.
Barmy Britain – The Best Bits! at the Apollo Theatre
Embark on a riotous romp through Britain’s barmy history this summer courtesy with a day at the London theatre watching Barmy Britain.
Based on the bestselling Horrible Histories books by Terry Deary this brand new show celebrates the 20th anniversary of Horrible Histories Live on Stage with all the best bits of Britain’s history, from Boudicca’s battles to the notorious Nightsoil Men.
Barmy Britain runs from 31 July to 31 August at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s west end.
The Wizard of Oz at the Chelsea Physic Garden
Follow the yellow brick road to the Chelsea Physic Garden this summer where a family-friendly – and interactive – performance of The Wizard of Oz. Join Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin-Man and Lion as they skip, hop, and leap through the gardens on an unforgettable quest to meet the great Wizard!
Wednesday 13 August, Friday 15 August and Sunday 17 August. Performances: 10am, 11am, 11.20am, 11.40am.
The Enormous Crocodile at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park
Everyone’s favourite greedy, grumptious and beastly crocodile is taking to the stage this summer at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in a mischevious musical.
Based on Roald Dahl’s snappy book, this funny musical adventure features a menageries of puppets and toe-tapping tunes.
Aimed at children aged 3+, The Enormous Crocodile opens on 15 August and runs until 7 September. Book tickets here.
Performances at the Polka Theatre
Perfect for children ged 3 – 8 is this fun performance of I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. Watch as Bear, Little Fish and the Turtles are brought to live on stage. The 40-minute shows run from Wednesday 9 July to Sunday 10 August. Tickets start from £16.
Also taking place at the Polka Theatre is a performance of The Boy With Wings, an uplifting, high-energy stage adaptation of Lenny Henry’s bestselling book about a football-mad boy who discovers his true potential after growing wings. The Boy With Wings takes place from 10 June to 16 August. Tickets from £10.
Active Summer Adventures
Keep the kids busy this summer with one of these fun active adventures.
Minigolf by Craig & Karl at Canary Wharf
Head down to Canary Wharf during the summer holidays for a round of 9-hole minigolf on the most colourful course in London. Designed by artists Craig Redman and Karl Maier, this free course has been designed for all ages and skill levels and is open daily from 12pm to 6pm.
Summer Cycle at Kew Gardens
It’s not often that Kew Gardens is open to cyclists but during the annual Summer Cycle event you can explore the beautiful gardens on two wheels.
Taking place on the same day are a handful of tours and – more fun for kids – a scavenger hunt with different levels to keep everyone happy.
Summer Cycle takes place on 7 August from 5pm to 9pm.
Pétanque at King’s Cross
Grab your boules and play a game of pétanque this summer at King’s Cross. Until 14 September, two 15-metre pétanque courts will be located in Pancras Square and are free to use.
London Splash Parks
Keep the kids cool and busy during the hot summer holidays in London at one of London’s many splash parks. There are lots to choose from but some of our favourites include Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms on the Riverside Terrace outside Royal Festival Hall and the Granary Square Fountains at King’s Cross.
Wild Swing Mini Golf at Greenwich Peninsula
Lodged in the Canteen Courtyard next to the NOW Gallery in Greenwich Peninsula is this colourful mini golf course inspired by the native blooms of the Greenwich marshes.
The golf course is open from 10 July to 31 August from 11am to 9pm daily. Tickets are £3 per person.
