School’s out, sun’s out — it’s time for the summer holidays.
Children up and down the nation are celebrating six weeks of homework-free bliss, but for parents it can be rather more challenging.
To help out, we’ve put together this list of things to do with the kids in London, meaning you shouldn’t be short of ideas until the school gates reopen in September.
Some of our suggestions are entirely free and available whenever, while others cost and must be booked in advance — so be sure to plan ahead when drawing up your itinerary.
Visit the animals at a city farm
You don’t have to trek it out to the countryside to visit your farmyard friends this summer — in fact, you barely even have to leave Zone 1. There are a number of city farms dotted around the capital, offering up all the sights — and, sometimes regrettably, smells — of the countryside, with ponies, pigs, chickens, alapacs and all the rest. Vauxhall, Hackney, Spitalfields, Kentish Town and Mudchute are just a few of the places to find them.
Catch a flick at an outdoor cinema
We all love a trip to the cinema, but doesn’t it seem a shame to hide away in a dark room when the weather outside is so delightful? Avoid the quandary by taking the kids to an outdoor screening. There are plenty of great ones in London — from the high-rise Rooftop Film Club to the incredible surroundings of Somerset House — and while not all of the films they show are appropriate for young’uns, there are always screenings that attract a younger crowd. Check out our guide for the best outdoor cinemas in London.
Cut some shapes at a family-friendly rave
For many parents, the idea of taking toddlers to a rave would be their idea of hell. But it’s certainly not the case with Big Fish Little Fish, which throws club events aimed at young kids and their parents. BFLF — which made history last summer by becoming the first ever family rave to take place at Fabric — books top DJs to play tunes at lower volume, while taking a load of other safety precautions to make sure things go off without a hitch.
Various dates and locations, bigfishlittlefishevents.co.uk
Take a dip in a lido
Not got a swimming pool in the back garden? Us neither, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still take a dip when the mercury rises. There are a fair few lidos dotted around London, and most are family-friendly: the ones in Tooting Bec, Crouch End, Parliament Hill, the Serpentine and London Fields all have paddling pools for young kids. Many are flanked by ample space for a spot of sunbathing, and more often than not they’re not too far from a cafe.
Cycle through a traffic-free London
Cycling through central London, without a single beeping car or bus to worry about? It sounds like a dream, but for one day this summer it will become a reality, thanks to the Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle event. On August 3, a network of roads within the heart of the city will be closed off to motorists, allowing those on two wheels freedom to roam. The route takes in landmarks from Buckingham Palace to St Paul’s and is suitable for all ages and abilities. Remember to register in advance if you fancy it.
August 3, prudentialridelondon.co.uk
Take flight above London on a zip wire
Hurtling down 225m of zip line at speeds of more than 30mph — if that sounds like your idea of fun, then head down to Archbishop’s Park in Lambeth. It’s home to Zip Now, which claims to be the fastest city-centre zip wire anywhere in the world, providing adrenaline junkies with the perfect summer activity. The city views from the top are superb, too. Kids must be older than eight and taller than 1.2m to ride, while anyone under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Until September 15, Archbishop’s Park, SE1 7LE, london.zip-now.co
Enjoy the sand and sun at an urban beach
If you do like to be beside the seaside, but don’t fancy travelling to be beside the sea, then head to one of London’s urban beaches for the next best thing. There are a few sandy spots in London, with some of the best ones found at JW3 in Hampstead, the Thames-side Fulham Beach Club, Brent Cross shopping centre and along the South Bank at London City Beach. Better yet, Ruislip Lido in Hillingdon has a naturally occurring beach.
Watch a play in one of London’s best theatres
London has one of the best theatre scenes in the world, but it’s not just adults who can get in on the fun. This summer there are a number of excellent plays aimed at kids, sure to keep them entertained. Myleene Klass narrates Theatre Royal Haymarket’s production of Where is Peter Rabbit? from July 20 to September 1, and kids go free for the entire run. Elsewhere The Worst Witch, based on the Jill Murphy books, comes to the Vaudeville Theatre from July 25 until September 8. The National Theatre is also running a brand new musical for kids — Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear — which is running from July 25 until August 31.
Broaden their horizons at a museum
A trip to a London museum is a tried-and-tested summer holiday favourite — and this year things are no different. Budding astronauts will be fascinated by the Science Museum’s Summer of Space festival, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. It’s a similarly lunar affair over at the Natural History Museum, which is displaying a six-metre replica of the moon alongside a full programme of events. Elsewhere, the V&A, British Museum, Tate Modern and Museum of London are always popular among little ones.
See their favourite characters on stage
Entertainment company Underbelly have put on an exciting schedule of shows for children this summer. Fans of Shark in the Park can enjoy all three of Nick Sharratt’s books live on stage. The family musical follows Timothy Pope (and his telescope) on three exciting adventures.
Also showing is Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, which is ideal for toddlers. The show features loveable puppets telling the tale of an elephant that stands out both with his patchwork coloured skin and his sense of humour – its subtle message is that it is always best to be yourself. Twirlywoos watchers can expect mischief, music and plenty of surprises at this live, 55-minute show featuring Toodloo, Great BigHoo, Chickedy, Chick and Peekaboo from the hit TV programme.
Be one of the first audiences at two new London theatres
There are two brand new theatres arriving in London this summer: the Troubadour Wembley Park and Troubadour White City. Both theatres have a jam-packed schedule of kid friendly shows.
The 2000-seat capacity theatre in Wembley has opened with the interactive Dinosaur World Live – a thrilling show featuring a host of lifelike prehistoric creatures - recommended for ages three and over (until Sept 1). Martial Arts fans will love the Soul of Shaolin - an action-packed Chinese theatrical experience playing in London for the first time (September 26 – October 6).
Located in White City’s former BBC media village, Troubadour’s slightly smaller theatre, will be hosting a performance of Peter Pan (July 20 – Oct 20), previously staged at the National Theatre. Toddlers will enjoy Troubadour’s first Kids’ Festival (July 23 onwards), with shows such as the sing-along play Little Baby Bum Live, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Live and Aliens Love Underpants.
Learn about London on a city tour
Hop on board an open top bus for a fun-filled, educational tour of our great city. Children can learn all about the history of London with fascinating stories, past and present. The 45-minute guided tour is designed for kids aged six to 12. The tour takes passengers on a ride past well-known landmarks such as Big Ben, Downing Street and the Coca-Cola London Eye to learn about their history in an entertaining way. The tour is scheduled to run on several dates until August 29.
Keep them watching cricket
If the kids are missing the Cricket World Cup after England's glory, then a spot of Twenty20 cricket at the KIA Oval is just the ticket. The Vitality Blast returns to the south London venue this summer. The ground has a dedicated family zone, designed to offer the best match day experience for families who enjoy taking in this thrilling version of the game. Watch England’s World Cup winners Jason Roy and Liam Plunkett in action for Surrey, while Australia’s big hitting captain Aaron Finch also rejoins the squad this year. Take advantage of the ‘Kids for a quid’ initiative ensuring that all under 16s tickets cost just £1. Young Surrey fans can also enjoy player autograph signings, games and cricket coaching.
Enjoy an enchanted evening in a secret garden
Just 20-minutes from central London, five star country hotel The Grove has an array of activities for families. Book a dinner at their newly refurbished Glasshouse restaurant – a local favourite, with eight epic food stations where chefs prepare fresh, tasty dishes that will delight even the fussiest of eaters. Once the feast is over, head over to the secluded Walled Garden to enjoy their pop-up outdoor cinema. The hotel have partnered with Everyman cinema to offer a roster of family friendly films that will appeal to all ages. Grab your headphones, snuggle up on a beanbag and watch classic films and new releases such as Moana, The Greatest Showman, ET and Matilda on the large screen. Snacks and beverages are also available throughout, including a pop up Tanqueray Bar, a Ciroc Shack serving vodka slushies as well as a selection of popcorn, ice cream and old-fashioned sweet. From August 1 - 31.
Have an arty afternoon tea
Rosewood London will present a playful take on the hotel’s award-winning Art Afternoon Tea, designed by executive pastry chef Mark Perkins. Served in the magnificent Mirror Room, junior artists will be presented with an inventive menu that includes lemon meringue and jam filled tubes. Freshly baked scones are served with clotted cream, along with palette knives for artistically spreading the sweet toppings. Refreshing fruit smoothies are poured into classic Mason jars and can be sipped through straws that look like paintbrushes. Colourful pastries and classic finger sandwiches filled with ingredients to please junior palates are also on offer.
Teach them to make sweets
Spitalfields-based confectionery makers Spun Candy’s Children’s Masterclass will be sure to delight sweet-toothed kids. Youngsters are invited into the Candy Kitchen for a 60-minute workshop where they will learn to mix colours and flavours before creating rainbow-coloured lollypops with master candy makers. Not only will kids leave with a new skill, but they can also take home their mouth-watering creations. Sweet!
See an outdoor show
Nothing quite beats a balmy evening at an outdoor theatre. In the majestic setting of Cliveden’s Grade One listed formal gardens, families are invited to bring a picnic and enjoy a show. Choose from a packed programme including a re-telling of Kenneth Graeme’s classic tale The Wind in the Willows (July 30-31) to David Walliams’s modern comedy, Gangsta Granny (August 13). Older children may enjoy Shakespeare’s Tempest (August 10) – a comedy about betrayal, revenge and magic.
