It is SCORCHING in London this weekend. And the temperatures are staying high for a while. I’m jealous of the big lad who’s off for a mini-break in Wales by the beach while I’m stuck in the big city. Never fear, my guide is here for 11 Things to Do with Kids in London in a Heatwave. Let’s make the most of it before we go back to grumbling about the cold and damp.
Need more ideas? Check out my guide for Spending the Summer Holidays in London.
11 Things to Do with Kids in London in a Heatwave
1. Grab some mates and have a Bottomless Brunch or Happy Hour picnic in the park, while the kids roam free. Victoria Park is hosting a StreetEat festival from this weekend (Aug 6-31), with food stalls and live entertainment.
2. Eat yummy gelato on our London Ice Cream Crawl.
3. Hang out at Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross for weekend market, terraced restaurants, picnic spots, play areas, people-watching and sunbathing by the canal — we like the new Lollipop Lounge.
4. Run through a splash fountain (don’t forget swimsuits)! Granary Square Fountains and Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms at Southbank Centre are closed this season, but the fountains are switched ON at Somerset House — plan your visit.
5. Book an outdoor table for a family meal and enjoy a 50% discount thanks to the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.
6. Dip into a local pool, lido or try Beckenham Park swimming lake — booking ahead essential.
7. Adrenaline junkie? Have a go at the water assault courses at Liquid Leisure Aqua Park in Windsor. Or get your fix on a speedboat ride with the Thames Rockets.
8. Go to a drive-in movie or watch some open-air theatre – you’ll find listings in my Summer 2020 Guide.
9. Cool off inside a museum: all Tate galleries are back and you can still catch the poignant Steve McQueen’s Year 3 exhibition at Tate Britain!
10. Escape the heat underwater — the London Aquarium reopened this week.
11. Stay indoors and watch ZooNation’s The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party for FREE (streaming via Royal Opera House until Aug 14). Or try one of the TV shows or movies on my Anti-Racist Watch List.
We also like
Make like it’s winter on an ice skating rink at Ally Pally (reopening pending) or Queen’s Skate and Bowl (reopening soon); tour the Thames with City Cruises; ride a pedalo boat across Finsbury Park boating lake (confirm reopening ahead of visit); get some shade at Kew Gardens or Barbican Conservatory; wander under tree canopies on a walk through Richmond Park, Highgate Wood or Epping Forest…
Staying at Home?
Chill out in the paddling pool with some frozen cocktails and pretend you’re in Ibiza, baby; challenge the whole family to a good old-fashioned water fight; put your sheets in the fridge to help you cool off at night; try out one of these neck fans (ordered mine, will let you know!); once the kids are in bed, get out the ice cubes and have some fun 9 1/2 weeks style.
Bringing Up Race: Countdown to Publication
Can you believe my book will be out in just under 4 weeks (pre-order on Amazon)? BritMums, the UK’s largest parent influencer network, interviewed me about Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World, which comes out Sep 3 (Yellow Kite).
You can read the feature here: Talking to Uju Asika, Author of Bringing Up Race
Whatever you do this weekend, make it safe, keep it cool and have a good one! x
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