London in Summer: 40+ Coolest Things to Do with Kids

School’s out! If you’re in London in summer this year, I’ve got a bevy of babe-friendly ideas for the whole family. From the return of Notting Hill Carnival to museum events where you can cool off, there’s so much happening. Dancing in parks, cinema under the stars, outdoor theatre, open-air swimming, arts and crafts, city attractions, pop-ups and more. Have an absolute blast.

London in Summer: 40+ Coolest Things to Do with Kids

Meet Author Uju Asika @ Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave!

Big Fish Little Fish Flower Power Family Rave at Horniman Museum Gardens, 100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
After their last sold-out Horniman rave, the award-winning family ravers are back in the gorgeous gardens for an afternoon of top club DJs and festival vibes. I’m so excited to announce that I’ll be reading from and signing my books Bringing Up Race and A World for Me and You at the event. Come and say hello, and also enjoy Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz, storytelling with Tea Dance for Little People, Nitty Natty crafts, food, bars, face painting, parachute dance and more. 2pm-6pm; adult £15/child £12.50/pre-walkers FREE (Jul 24)

BABES CHOICE

UNIQLO Tate Play: Yayoi Kusama’s Obliteration Room at Tate Modern (Turbine Hall), Bankside, SE1 9TG
This summer, you’re invited to transform a white domestic apartment into the dottiest space in London, in the style of Yayoi Kusama. Pick up a sheet of colourful dot stickers and let your imagination loose. Families can also create works of original art to add to the Turbine Hall’s ever-growing garden. 10am-6pm (last entry 5.30pm); FREE (Jul 23-Aug 29)

Midsummer Mechanicals at Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT (Blackfriars/Southwark tube)
The Globe’s first full-scale production for families. A hilarious new play, inspired by a Midsummer Night’s Dream, packed with silly props, sillier costumes and an eye-popping finale. Ages 5+. Also on: As You Like It with CBeebies (Aug 9-10); Storytelling – As You Like It (Aug 22-23); and Storytelling – Romeo & Juliet (Aug 24-26). Midsummer Mechanicals shows at 11am, 1.30pm & 3pm; £15-£25/£5 standing (Jul 28-Aug 21)

This Bright Land at Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA (Charing Cross tube/rail, Temple tube)
A summer celebration of community and culture with music, dance, workshops, street parties, open-air Vogue Balls, outdoor games, Wonder Garden, site-wide treasure hunt, splash fountains and a 35m observation wheel. All ages (some restrictions apply). Daytime and weekday evenings: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, FREE; Mon-Thu from 6pm & Sat until 6pm, Pay What You Can £0-£5. Friday night parties/Saturday Vogue Balls & street parties: FREE for NHS workers and job seekers, £5 children & comps; standard £10-£16.50, backer tickets £15-22.50 (Aug 1-29)

Notting Hill Carnival, Notting Hill and surrounding areas (Westbourne Park tube exit only, see TFL web site closer to date for transport advice)
Europe’s biggest street party is back! Get ready for a West London takeover with floats, costumes, sound systems, street food, and a joyful atmosphere. Sunday is Children’s Day, a bit calmer and less crowded for the little ones. Wheel up and come. All ages. From around 9.30am daily, FREE (Aug 27-29)

Tower of London Superbloom, at Tower of London, EC3N 4AB (Tower Hill tube)
Wander through a field of blooms at Tower of London. Slide down into the famous moat, frolic among bees and butterflies to a specially commissioned soundscape. If you buy a special ticket, you can explore inside the tower before or after. 9am-5pm; adult from £12/child under 16 from £6/family from £21 – additional charges for Tower of London entry (until Sep 18)

LONDON PARTIES & FESTIVALS

Kaleidoscope Festival at Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY (Wood Green tube)
It’s all happening at Ally Pally: David Rodigan, Crazy P Soundsystem, Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon, Craig Charles’ Funk & Soul Show, Dom Joly, The Cuban Brothers and more. Plus fire truck raves, mini land rover adventure, interactive arts, games and magic for families. All ages (under 16s must be accompanied by adults). 1pm-10.30pm; adult £65.30/child 5-15 £33.40/child under 5 £7/family £174.20 (Jul 24)

Fun DMC x Jazzie B + Bank Holiday Special at Colours, Hoxton Square, N1 6NU (Old St tube)
Jazzie B’s back on the decks for the daytime family block party. Thumping bass and beats for all ages. August Bank Holiday weekend sees more banging tunes selected for R&B, D&B, disco and hip hop heads. Also serving: food, licensed bar, graffiti train, photo booth, hip hop colouring in, soft play, dance competitions and more. 12pm-3pm; adult £8.50/child £6.50/family £25.50 (Jul 24 & Aug 28)

Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall at The Spiegeltent, Underbelly Festival, Cavendish Square, W1G 0PR (Oxford Circus tube)
London-based Australian DJ, producer and mum-of-two Monski has been tearing up dance floors all over the world for tiny tots and their groovy grown-ups. Dance, party and play to disco classics and thumping nursery rhymes. Ages 0-5 and carers. 2pm; from £14/no tickets required for babies under 6 months (Jul 30)

All Points East Festival, Victoria Park (Crown Gate), Grove Road, Bow, E3 5TB (Mile End/Bethnal Green tube)
See a fantastic mix of live acts + headliners: Gorillaz (Aug 19), All Points East presents Field Day (Aug 20), Tame Impala (Aug 25), The National (Aug 26), Disclosure (Aug 27), Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (Aug 28). There’s also free family fun at All Points East In the NBHD (details tbc). All ages, restrictions for some shows (check ahead), under 16s must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 12pm-late (last entry 8.30pm) (Aug 19-20 & Aug 25-28)

Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, multiple locations
London’s leading festival of free outdoor theatre and performing arts. Two fantastic weeks of theatre, art, dance and circus: Discover Ukraine: Bits Destroyed, On Your Doorstep, Dancing City and a weekend of family fun at Greenwich Fair. All ages unless otherwise stated (check ahead). Various times and performances, FREE (Aug 26-Sep 11)

We also like

• Afro-futuristic arts, voguing, performance and DJs at In the Black Fantastic Weekender at Southbank (Jul 15-17)
• National Theatre’s River Stage returns for 4 weeks of open-air theatre, music and family shows (Jul 15-Aug 14) 
• music stages, farm animals, and welly wanging at Brockwell Park’s annual Lambeth Country Show (Jul 16-17)
• live music, family arts, street food and baby raving at brand new Festival 14 in Canary Wharf (Jul 21-24)
• the UK’s biggest J-culture festival with food, live music, anime and more at Hyper Japan 2022 (Jul 22-24)
• summer fête with games, DJs and ballet at Islander Festival on London City Island (Jul 23)

SPECIAL EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS

Something Magical in Covent Garden, Covent Garden Piazza, WC2H 7AR (Covent Garden tube)
Disney on Stage partners with Covent Garden to create a summer of enchantment in the Piazza. Perch on a romantic Beauty and the Beast swing seat, snap interactive photos with The Lion King backdrops, see a Leading Ladies of Disney on Stage costume showcase, or walk through Frozen’s Infinity Chamber. The pop-up installations are free and run alongside other family fun activities e.g. the Good Food Festival (Jul 15-31), the Ice Cream Festival (Aug 19-Sep 4) and the Harry Potter Photography Exhibition and Butterbeer Bar (ongoing). All ages welcome. Daily; FREE (Jul 14-Sep 4)

Buckingham Palace Summer Opening, Westminster, SW1A 1AA (Victoria/Hyde Park/Green Park/St James Park/Charing Cross tube; Victoria/Charing Cross rail)
See a special exhibition of Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Accession. Wander through the 19 royal rooms at the world famous palace. Get a sneak peek at the Throne Room and the Crown Jewels. Your trip might leave you sparkling with pride, questioning the legacy of Empire, or somewhere in between. Just don’t anticipate bumping into any of the palace’s most famous residents. All ages welcome. 9.30am-7.30pm (Jul-Aug, last admission 5.15pm) & 9.30am-6.30pm (Sep-Oct, last admission 4.15pm); adult from £30/child from £16.50/under 5s FREE (Jul 22-Oct 2)

Everyman Presents: Screen on the Canal at Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
IEveryman Cinema presents free outdoor movies for all ages (check film ratings). Screenings include: Dune, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Free Guy, West Side Story, Belfast, King Richard, Matilda, and Encanto Sing-a-Long, Tour de France and occasional live music. There’s also food options and splash fountains. At 12pm, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7.30pm. Daily, FREE – just turn up, arrive early to avoid disappointment! (Jun 27-Aug 7)

 The Luna Cinema, multiple locations
See major hits, classic film and family flicks under the skies. London venues include: Chiswick House, Clapham Common, Danson House, Dulwich Park, Kensington Palace, Kenwood House, Lincoln’s Inn (brand new for 2022), Marble Hill, Old Royal Naval College, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Westminster Abbey and Wimbledon Park. Snuggle up on a VIP sofa (£125) or Date Night Double Deckchair (£65). All ages welcome – check individual films for age guidance. Various show times; adult tickets from £16/child from £11 (until Oct 2)

Camden Market Hawley Wharf Summer Series, Camden Market Hawley Wharf, 1 Dockray Place, NW1 8QH (Camden Rd overground/Camden Town tube)
Pop to Camden for a family-friendly summer of deck chairs by the canal, bubbleologists, balloon artists, face painting, puppet shows, circus performers, princess meet-and-greets, live music, tasty street food, pop-up screens and of course, shopping. 11am-5pm; FREE (until Aug 22) 

Bring Your Baby Guided Walks, various London locations
From Lucy Madison, the award-winning ‘mummy brains’ behind the popular Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz, these fascinating walks around the capital give new parents a chance to get out of the house and mingle with like-minded folk. Upcoming walks this summer: Ancient Alleyways & Coffeehouses of the City of London (Jul 20), Americans in the West End (Jul 22), Call the Midwife locations (Aug 5), Women from Hackney’s History (Aug 11), Life Death & Beyond in East Bloomsbury (Sep 1).  Includes stops for lunch and baby changing. Child-free guests welcome too! 11am-2pm (times may vary, confirm); adult £20/child FREE (ongoing)

FUN & GAMES

Summer of Fun at KidZania London, Westfield London, Ariel Way, W12 7GQ (Shepherd’s Bush/Wood Lane tube)
Head to the indoor city built for kids for a summer of play activities e.g. cooking, summer trails, dance, theatre and face painting. Hear up and coming artists perform on the balcony for International Busking Day (Jul 16), learn about aviation and animal welfare, watch parades and more. Best for ages 4-14. 10am-7pm; adult from £16/child from £25/ages 1-3 require Early Years ticket, only admits to special activities (Jul 1-Aug 31)

Summer of Play in Greenwich at National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich rail)
Nautical play kits, games from around the world, everyday crafting, family trails… Enjoy drop-in activities indoors and out. On select dates 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm; FREE (Jul 24-Aug 31)

Tropical Slime Workshops at Slime Planet, 494 Rathgar Road, Brixton, (Loughborough Junction rail)
Sun’s Out, Gunk’s Out! Make your own Tropical Slime at a 5-star rated workshop using colours, decorations and fruity scents from pineapple to watermelon, kiwi to man-goo. Ages 3-16 years, all abilities welcome. Parent supervision for under 4s. 10.30am, 12.30pm & 3pm; £15 per child (Jul 23-Aug 31)

Monopoly Lifesized, The Courtyard, 213-215 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7PS (Goodge St tube)
Compete on a 15m x 15m lifesized Monopoly board in a challenge to buy properties. Stage a heist in Mayfair, build iconic London buildings, solve a murder mystery, beat the clock, own it all. For ages 9+, younger ones can try the Junior Board. 10am-11pm (Tue-Thu) 10am-midnight (Fri-Sat), 10am-10.30pm (Sun); from £49 (ongoing)

Draughts: London Board Game Cafe, two locations (London Waterloo and Hackney)
Two London venues crammed to the rafters with 1000+ board games. Food, craft beer and beer garden. Open daily 10am-late (no under 18s without an adult past 9pm); book ahead/£10 deposit for bookings of 2 or more (ongoing)

FAMILY THEATRE

101 Dalmatians at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, at Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube) 
There are puppies galore at London’s famous Open Air Theatre in summer, but watch out for that Cruella de Ville. You’d be barking mad to miss this spot-tacular musical. Suitable for junior school kids, under 4s not admitted. 7.45pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.15pm (Thu & Sat), relaxed show Aug 14 at 2.15pm; £25-£65 (Jul 12-Aug 28)

South Pacific at Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN (Angel tube)
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical set during WW2 comes thrillingly to life, with a full orchestra and hit songs Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair and Bali Ha’i. Ages 5+. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat), 4pm (Sun); from 15 (Jul 27-Aug 28)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Gillian Lynne Theatre, 166 Drury Lane, WC2B 5PW (Covent Garden tube)
Step through the magic wardrobe and enter the kingdom of Narnia, where Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter escape wartime Britain for unforgettable adventures. Featuring a talking Faun, White Witch (Samantha Womack) and Aslan, it’s the nation’s favourite novel brought to life. Best for ages 6+. Until Jul 30: shows at 7pm (Mon-Sat), 2pm & 7pm (Thu & Sat). From Aug: 7pm (Wed-Sat), 2pm & 7pm (Thu), 1pm & 5.30pm (Sun) (Jul 18-Jan 8)

The Pirate, the Princess and the Platypus at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
A brand new comic fairytale about choosing your destiny, owning your identity and making friends. Meet the pirate who wants to be a princess, the princess who wants to be a pirate and the platypus who just wants to be themselves. Fun from the silly crew behind global hits Potted Potter and Potted Panto. Ages 5-12. 11am & 2pm (some timings vary); from £10 (until Aug 20)

Mumbai Masala, 1 Mark Lane (Opposite Fenchurch St Station), EC3R 7AH (Tower Hill tube, Fenchurch St rail)
From the award-winning writer and director of Taj Express and Merchants of Bollywood, this immersive theatrical spectacular brings the tastes, sounds and sights of Bollywood to Proud City. A family friendly delight for the senses. Book from show only seats to premium with dining and bottomless Prosecco! Ages 14+ (18+ for evening shows). 11.30am & 6.30pm; from £45-£105 (ongoing)

We also like

• Explore fairytales through sensory play and puppets for ages 0-3, with Little Angel Theatre at Islington Square (Jul 15, 22 & 29)
• It’s a jam-packed day of dance for all ages in Family Dance Day at The Place, WC1 (Jul 23)
• Watch Pirates, an immersive family circus & dining experience at Arts Depot, North Finchley (Jul 23-24)
• See Peppa, George & Friends in Peppa Pig My First Concert: Mozart to Muddy Puddles at London Coliseum (from Jul 24)
• Catch Little Women the opera, Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore and more outdoor shows at Opera Holland Park (various dates Jul-Aug)
• TV and internet sensation Blippi visits the Apollo Theatre in Blippi The Musical for ages 2-7 (Aug 16-Sep 4)

NATURE & OUTDOORS

Hobbledown Heath, Hobbledown Heath, Staines Road, Hounslow, TW14 0HH (Hounslow Central rail)
An ‘extraordinary family day out’ that sees its grand opening from July 15. This family friendly space boasts one of the largest indoor play arenas in London. It’s also got 4 themed villages, acres of woodland and meadow, towers to climb, tunnels to crawl through, exotic and traditional farm animals and more. Best for ages 2-13. 9am-6pm; from £18 (from Jul 15)

Summer of Colour at London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY (Camden Town/Regent’s Park tube)
Explore a kaleidoscopic world of animal colour, from golden lions to blue throated macaws. See how camouflage keeps some hidden, learn how animals see and communicate with colour, discover the zoo’s new Secret Garden, make clay models, draw with Rob Biddulph (Jul 23), enjoy a puppet story and more. 10am-5pm entry (closes 6pm); adult £26.50-£35.50/child £17.25-£23.10/under 3s FREE (Jul 23-Aug 31)

The Jungle Book at Kew Gardens, Tulip Tree Avenue, Kew Gardens, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE (Kew Gardens tube/Kew Bridge rail, overground)
Based on Rudyard Kipling’s classic series, this tale brings songs, adventure and original music to warm your heart. Follow Mowgli on her adventure as she mets wise Bagheera, cheerful Baloo, noble Akela, sneaky Kaa and terrible Shere Khan. Tickets include free entry to the amazing gardens. 11am & 2pm (Tue-Sun); adult £19.90/non-member £22.90, child £12.90/non-member child £15.90/under 2s go FREE (July 23-Aug 21)

Heritage Rides on the Epping Ongar Railway, from Ongar station CM5 9AB or North Weald station CM16 6BT (via Epping tube)
Ride a heritage steam or diesel train. Hop off for a picnic or a ramble in Epping Forest. Special guests this summer: Peppa Pig and George (Jul 24), Paw Patrol (Aug 7), Dinosaurs (Aug 14) and Hey Dugee (Aug 28-29). A really fun day out that will thrill your mini tank engine fans. Trains depart at various times Fris/Sats/Suns and Bank Holidays in August from 9.30am; adult standard £16, special event £18/child standard £8, special event £10 (until Aug 29/ongoing)

Family Swim at London Fields Lido, London Fields West Side, Hackney E8 3EU (London Fields rail/Hackney Central overground)
Cool off at one of London’s buzziest outdoor pools. Book ahead for year-round heated swims, sun deck and sunbathing area, cafe on site. All ages welcome. 6.30am-9pm; adult £5/child £2.95, discounts for members (ongoing)

We also like

• More outdoor swimming: head south to Tooting Bec Lido; south west to Hampton Pool in Bushy Park or scope this list of London lidos.
• Take your chicks to a city farm: try Freightliners Farm in N1, Spitalfields City Farm, Kentish Town City Farm, Vauxhall City Farm or Mudchute Farm in E14
• Explore the wilds of Walthamstow Wetlands or WWT London Wetlands in Barnes

MUSEUMS & WORKSHOPS

Dear Zoo at Postal Museum, 15-20 Phoenix Place, WC1X 0DA (Farringdon, Russell Square, Chancery Lane tube; King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Meet popular picture book Dear Zoo’s author Rod Campbell (Aug 11) and take part in storytelling, family trail and crafting. Kids ages 8 and under can try out the Sorted! play room and all ages will enjoy a ride on the underground Mail Rail. Various dates and times, limited capacity for some activities. Open 10am-5pm; adult from £16/child ages 3-15 from £9/child museum entry with Sorted! from £11/Sorted! entry £4/under 3s FREE (Jul 22-Aug 31)

Family Fun Weekend at Cutty Sark, Cutty Sark, King William Walk, London SE10 9HT (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
Climb the legendary tea clipper for another weekend of fun inspired by Cutty Sark’s histories. Hear sea shanty singers, play games, try crafts, and meet characters in costume. All ages and abilities welcome. 10am-5pm; adult £15-£16/child £7.50-£8)/under 4s FREE (Aug 6-7) 

Pirate Takeover at The Golden Hinde, St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street, Borough SE1 9DE (London Bridge tube/rail)
Learn about pirates on a 16th century replica ship. Kids can design their own flags and even take part in pirate training! Aaaargh. 10am-6pm; adult/child £6, family £18; pirate training adult/child £12, family £40 (Aug 20-27)

The Secret Garden at the Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7LB (Vauxhall/Lambeth North/Westminster tube)
An immersive exhibition celebrating the classic children’s book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Discover the garden that inspired Burnett’s tale, learn about plant-powered healing, see artist illustrations, play interactive games and embark on family trails, plus young visitors can try their hands at gardening. 10am-5pm daily; adult £14/child under 18 FREE (until Sep 4)

Africa Fashion at V&A Museum (Gallery 40), Cromwell Rd, SW7 2RL (South Kensington tube)
The dynamism of the African style scene is brought vividly to life through photos, textiles, visual arts and icons. A bold new exhibition reflecting the global influence from Adire (Yoruba tie dye) to Afrobeats. Kids will love the accompanying music, design and crafting workshops (various dates) and playing in V&A’s splash fountains. 10am-5.45pm (Sat-Thu), 10am-10pm (Fri); £16/concs for under 25s (until Apr 16, 2023)

We also like

• Grownups and kids of all ages create and build together in Tate Britain’s free Play Studio (Jul 23-Aug 27)
• It’s all kicking off at Football: Designing the Beautiful Game at Design Museum (until Aug 29)
• Find out what’s hidden beneath our feet at London Museum of Water and Steam (Jul 23-Aug 29)
• See jousting and jesters in Medieval Season at Eltham Palace in Greenwich (Jul 23-Aug 12 & Aug 15-Sep 4)
• Gaze at Lubaina Himid’s stunning figurative portraits of Black life at Tate Modern (until Oct 2)
• Get Starstruck at the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s live planetarium show for ages 7+ (ongoing)

Want More?!

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Get 11 ideas for London when it’s blazing hot
Read my son’s guide to what to do for London teenagers
Check out the Big Issue’s listings of where Kids Eat Free this summer

**NB: Please note that all event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue before making a trip!**