Happy holidays! The weather’s fine, the babes are out of school and our London in Summer guide is live. I’ve found 31 COOLEST Things to do in London with kids, from urban beaches to splash festivals, to unforgettable experiences with your families. London in summer is a wonderful place to be — have an excellent time!
London in Summer 2016
PLAY
1. ICE CREAM CRAWL your way across the capital with our guide to London’s best gelato and sorbet spots. Take a lick at our London Ice Cream Crawl (ongoing)
2. POWER UP! at Science Museum brings 160 consoles and hundreds of retro and new video games for all ages. Pac Man, Mario, Halo, FIFA and more. Video game heaven, in a cultural setting! (Jul 22-Aug 7)
3. BEACH BABES love Beach East at Stratford Waterfront (in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park): the UK’s largest urban beach where you can play on 1000 tonnes of sand, with ping pong and sporting action, fairground rides, deck chairs, beach bars, 2 paddling pools — one Olympic size! (Jul 23-Sep 4) Also: pack your buckets and spades for Camden Beach at The Roundhouse, Southbank Centre Urban Beach on the Pier, Brent Cross beach, Brixton Beach Boulevard, Royal Victoria Docks urban beach and the Beach at JW3 in north London
4. RIO IN LONDON hits the Lee Valley White Water Centre Summer Games where they’re preparing for the Olympics and Paralympics with a beach and sports activities for all ages (Jul 25-Sep 4)
5. GET YOUR SKATES ON for the Skating Bootcamp family rollerskating workshops for kids and grown-ups, with Sk8 Life UK at Arts Centre, Crouch End N8 9BQ (Aug 8-19); find more rollerskating with the London Friday Night Skate & Sunday Stroll crew (ongoing)
6. FUNFAIR RIDES roll into multiple London locations; George Irving’s Funfair at Shepherd’s Bush (Jul 22-Aug 7), Burgess Park in Southwark (Aug 11-21), London Fields for the Bank Holiday weekend (Aug 24-29); also catch the Hampstead Heath Funfair over the August Bank Holiday (Aug 26-29).
We also like
Brilliant holiday workshops at National Portrait Gallery (Jul 25-Aug 21); book in for aerial workshops for kids ages 5-11 at Scarabeus Summer School (Aug 4-8 & Aug 11-15); join a family bounce session at Oxygen Freejumping in Acton, West London or Flip Out Trampoline Park in Earlsfield, south London (ongoing); say wheeee down the world’s longest slide ArcelorMittal Orbit giant slide at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (ongoing)
SPLASH
7. SLIP AND SLIDE on a giant water slide at Alexandra Palace Summer Festival, where you can also party with Big Fish Little Fish, Silent Disco, street food and drink stalls and more family friendly fun. (Jul 23)
8. SPLASH FEST, the brand new family friendly aqua obstacle festival promises a world of wavy, watery fun for ages 5+ (younger ones welcome) in Battersea Park (Aug 7)
9. DIVE IN at King’s Cross Pond Club, London’s first manmade bathing pond. You can also picnic around the pool or just outside in Lewis Cubitt gardens. There’s more outdoor swimming at London Fields Lido, the Serpentine Lido, Tooting Lido and Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds (ongoing)
10. DO A FOUNTAIN DASH at Granary Square Fountains at King’s Cross, gorgeously lit up after dark. Around the corner, there are shorter sprays at Lewis Cubitt Garden fountains. Find more fountain fun at: Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms fountains at Southbank Centre, the V&A museum fountains, Somerset House fountains, Victoria Park Splash Playground at the Hub, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park fountains (ongoing)
11. PADDLING POOLS keep the knee-high crowd cool at Clissold Park. More great paddling pools at Highbury Fields, Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (ongoing)
PARTY
12. TRY RICKSHAW RIDING at the V&A Museum of Childhood Summer Festivalin Bethnal Green, annual fete with live music, garden games, stalls and kids activities (Jul 24)
13. LATITUDE FESTIVAL at River Stage Weekends, the National Theatre’s summer programme (running Jul 29-Aug 29), bringing their eclectic mix of music, art and culture to the South Bank with Disco Shed, Scamp Theatre, Michael Rosen and more (Aug 5-7)
14. GO LOCO with Disco Loco in the Park, brilliant and FREE summer festival of live music, play and artsy fun from the East End family rave collective, in Hackney’s glorious Springfield Park. All ages (Aug 13)
15. DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT at Southbank Centre’s Urban Weekend where Doctor’s Orders block parties, street art and sports, live DJs and breakin’ crews and workshops keep it fresh all weekend. FREE, for all ages. (Aug 13-14)
16. SWORD FIGHTS, powdered wigs, Georgian dancing and more for families at the Kensington Palace Festival: Queen Caroline’s Garden Party (Aug 18-21)
We also like
Groove on up to Ally Pally Summer Festival (Jul 23); there’s Punch & Judy, funfairs and live music at the annual Great Day Out in Victoria Park (Aug 6); enjoy a carnival on the docks at Museum of London Dockland: Hello London, Hello Barbados family weekend, celebrating 150 years of Independence with calypso, crafts and fun (Aug 13-14); jump and whine at Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s biggest street bash (Aug 27-29); find more in our Family Festivals guide
WATCH
17. SPLOOSH GUNS are firing at hit musical Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith. Don’t miss the Family Fun Day (Jul 31) where you can raid Tallullah’s wardrobe, drive Fat Sam’s car, learn dance routines and more. Tickets from £65 (family discounts available) for activities, refreshments and performance. (Fun Day Jul 31/shows until Sep 4)
18. OUTDOOR CINEMAS are popping up all over London again: check out The Nomad wandering about town; Rooftop Film Club in various high spots; the Floating Cinema on the canals; Film 4 Summer Series at Somerset House; Kew the Movies at Kew Gardens; and The Scoop at More London (Jul thru Sep, various dates)
19. HORRIBLE HISTORIES hits the Apollo Theatre, West End with Barmy Britain, a hilarious romp through the nation’s craziness long before Brexit. Ages 5 to 105! (Aug 5-Sep 3)
20. FLYING UMBRELLAS, bonkers balloons, kites and a giant snow globe feature in Air Play at Southbank Centre, a comic spectacle for ages 5+ (Aug 9-14)
21. SCOOBY & THE GANG bring mystery and mayhem to Scooby Doo Live at the London Palladium, for 12 shows only! (Aug 18-21)
We also like
Kids Week, offers free kids tickets with every paying adult to top West End Shows every summer (Aug 1-31); classic picture book turned hit stage show The Tiger Who Came to Tea for ages 3+, comes to Cadogan Hall (Aug 6-Sep 4); catch brilliant Scamp Theatre’s latest adaptation The Scarecrow’s Wedding, ages 3+ at Leicester Square Theatre (until Sep 4); watch out, it’s The Gruffalo, ages 3+ at Lyric Theatre (until Jan 2017)
DISCOVER
22. LOVE IS THE ANSWER at Southbank Centre Festival of Love, ongoing throughout summer. Another beautiful season of family theatre, urban beach, pop-up shows, food market, Big Wedding Weekend and more. (until Aug 29)
23. OH THE PLACES YOU’LL GO, like the brand new Fantastic World of Dr Seuss at Discover, an immersive exhibition taking you inside his fantastical storyscapes, recommended for ages 0-7 (Jul 23-Aug 2017)
24. ACTION! Spend three days playing with and creating stories in Minecraft and then bringing your worlds to life at the Mini Engineers Minecraft Stop Motion Camp for ages 8-11. Available in Wimbledon, Chelsea and St John’s Wood (various dates, Jul 25-Aug 15)
25. BOTTOM’S UP at the Telling Tales Family Literary Festival at Shakespeare’s Globe, with pop-up performances, tee pee readings, puppet shows and more fun than you can shake an ass’ tail at! All ages (Jul 29-31)
26. FIRE FIRE! Explore the historic fire that ravaged the capital, on the 350th anniversary in Museum of London: The Great Fire Anniversary Weekend Family Festival, with Minecraft, storytelling and more for all ages (Sep 3-4)
We also like
Engage young hands and minds at the Curious Festival at King’s Cross (Jul 23); creepy crawlies and slithery beasts join Safari Pete at Islington Museum (Aug 8); celebrate Rio and beyond at the Horniman Museum Festival of Brazil, all summer long (until Sep 4)
EXPERIENCE
27. CAN YOU DIG IT? Kids of all ages get curious and crafty, all around the city at the Archikids Festival; LEGO building races, ping pong challenges, fortress engineering and loads more action (Jul 23-24)
28. BARE NECESSITIES in the park with The Jungle Book as Sixteenfeet productions bring the popular Rudyard Kipling tale vividly to some of London’s finest outdoor spaces, using promenade theatre to engage every sense, and explore every element of the beautiful settings for ages 3+. Pack a picnic! (Jul 23-Aug 21)
29. ROYAL BLUE is the colour at Buckingham Palace Summer Opening, a rare glimpse at the Crown Jewels and other behind-the-scenes treasures; this year you can celebrate Her Majesty’s 90th birthday too (Jul 23-Oct 2)
30. JUNGLE JUKEBOX toddler groove and more fun are on the horizon at the annual London Zoo: Little Creatures Family Festival. Partnering with National Geographic Kids, there’s tons on including animal talks, puppetry, arts and crafts and CBeebies Jess French. Regular zoo prices (Jul 29-31)
31. SECRET GROTTO, mythical beasts, towers and more make up The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace, an interactive play space providing another fun place to roam, beyond the palace, gardens and maze (ongoing)
We also like
Walk through the exhibition Sensational Butterflies at Natural History Museum (until Sep 11); discover the playful new Serpentine Pavilion installation, just around the corner from Diana Princess of Wales’ playground (until Oct 9); enjoy a triple bill of London attractions on the same stretch: Shrek’s Adventure (Dragon Training School this summer!), the London Eye and Sea Life London Aquarium (ongoing)
London Ice Cream Crawl
