Father’s Day London Weekend Scoop (June 12-15, 2025)

The Father’s Day London Weekend Scoop is here, bursting with ideas for dads who love dancing, dads who love dinosaurs, dads who love exhibitions, dads who love gaming, dads who love nature, dads who love immersive experiences and dads who love musicals! London dads have so much to choose from but we won’t complain if all you want to do is slump on the sofa with a box set after another long week. Wishing all the fantastic fathers and our very own Babe Papa another truly Happy Father’s Day!

15 Father’s Day London Weekend Activities for the Whole Family

Thu-Sat: Fiddler on the Roof at Barbican Theatre, Barbican Centre, Silk Street EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
Jewish milkman Tevye is desperate to find a match for his daughters but his traditional methods clash with their individual hopes for their futures. This classic musical set in Anatevka 1905 is bursting with nostalgic songs. Best for ages 12+, under 4s not admitted. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Tue, Thu & Sat); from £25/concs available (until Jul 19)

Thu-Sat: Retrograde at Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EZ (Piccadilly Circus tube)
It’s your LAST CHANCE to catch this brilliant play by Ryan Calais-Cameron (For Black Boys) that reimagines a make or break moment in Sidney Poitier’s career. The young actor is offered a contract that could transform not just his life but American history. Will he sign on the dotted line? Amit Sharma’s production stars Ivanno Jeremiah, Stanley Townsend and Oliver Johnstone, and is backed by Oscar and BAFTA nominee Colman Domingo. Best for ages 14+ (content warnings: explicit language, racial slurs, racism, McCarthyism). 2.30pm & 7.30pm (Wed-Sat), 2pm & 7pm (Sun) or 2.30pm (Wed & Sat matinees). Tickets from £20 + booking fees, running time 90 minutes (no interval) (until Jun 14)

Thu-Sun: Little Simz Meltdown at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
It’s the 30th edition of the UK’s longest running artist-curated music festival and Little Simz has pulled together a banging line-up of British and international artists. Catch the likes of Mahalia, Tiwa Savage, James Blake, Jon Batiste, Ghetts and of course the award-winning Little Simz herself on stage. Also come for talks, dance battles, workshops, DJ takeovers and more all-day fun. Various ages, times, dates and prices – check individual events for details (Jun 12-22)

Thu-Sun: The Robot Zoo at Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
Learn the secrets of colour-changing chameleons, bat-style radar, leaping grasshoppers and more at this popular interactive exhibition. You’ll discover larger-than-life animals reanimated using machine parts and other gadgets. All ages. 10am-5.30pm; adult from £9.75/child from £6.50/family from £19.50/under 3s FREE (until Nov 2)

Thu-Sun: Jurassic World: The Experience at NEON at Battersea Power Station, 2 Circus Road East, SW11 8DQ (Battersea Power Station tube)
Ride a ferry to Isla Nublar and enter through the towering gates to meet creatures from back in time. This thrilling new experience showcases dinosaurs across 10 immersive zones. Say hi to Velociraptors, Gyrospheres, Brachiosauri, and the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex. All ages. 10am-8pm (Fri-Sat & half term/holidays), 10am-5pm (Mon-Thu), 10am-6pm (Sun); adult from £32.95/child £25.95/under 3s FREE (until Sep 30)

Thu-Sun: Minecraft Experience, Corner Corner, Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Canada Water, Maritime Street, SE16 7LL (Canada Water tube/overground)
Love minecraft? Don’t miss out on this immersive experience that combines AR with mining, battling and crafting. Ever player also gets a limited-edition half-zombie, half-villager cape! All ages, kids aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult 18+. 9am-6pm daily; from adult £24/child £20/premium Obsidian package £54/ages 0-2 FREE (until Sep 28)

Thu-Sun: Triwizard Tournament at WB Studio Tour, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7GS (Watford Junction rail)
Visit the Harry Potter studio tour and find out what brought the Triwizard Tournament to life on our screens. This exciting new display marks 20 years since Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Learn how they shot underwater and created the Hungarian Horntail Dragon! All ages welcome. Open daily: first bus 9.20am, first tour 9.30am/last tour begins 4pm, last bus/studio closes 8pm; adult from £56/child from £45/family £180/under 4s or carers FREE but require tickets. Pre-booking essential. (until Sep 8)

Thu-Sun: The Great Gatsby Musical at London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES (Covent Garden tube)
Go back to the Roaring ‘20s in this jazzy musical based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel. Meet enigmatic millionaire Jay Gatsby and his object of affection, Daisy Buchanan. Expect dazzling choreography, shimmering costumes and a toe-tapping score. Age guidance 10+ (under 5s not admitted). 7.30pm (Thu-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat), 3pm (Sun) & 7pm (Mon); from £20 (until Sep 7) 

Thu-Sun: Edvard Munch Portraits at National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin’s Pl, WC2H 0HE (Charing Cross tube/rail)
LAST CHANCE: Take a closer look at the artists behind The Scream in this personal showcase of rarely seen portraits. You’ll learn how Munch saw himself as well as lovers, friends and family members. From 10.30am time slots (until 5pm or 8pm Fri/Sat); from adult £21/child 25 and under £5 on Fri-Sun/members FREE (until Jun 15)

Fri: Zoo Nights at London Zoo, Regent’s Park NW1 4RY (Regent’s Park/Camden Town tube)
How about a Dates with Dads trip to the zoo for Father’s Day weekend? Explore London Zoo every Friday evening sans cubs at this popular annual event series. You can go on a Naughty Nature tour, enjoy delicious street food, hear live performances from The Lion King musical, or add a champagne experience at Penguin Beach. Ages 18+. 6pm-10pm (Fri); adult £21.50 (Jun 6-Jul 25)

Sat: Sharky & George Father’s Day Mini Disco, Sea Containers London, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank SE1 9PD (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
The kids’ entertainment duo return with another Mini Disco, this time celebrating Father’s Day weekend.  Sharky & George throw shapes with mini movers at the rooftop bar and terrace with views across the River Thames and the City of London. Grownups can enjoy beer or bubbly (complimentary welcome glasses) or hit the floor too. Best for ages 0-8, all ages welcome. 1pm-3pm; adult £17/child £12/family £50/babe-in-arms FREE but require ticket (Jun 14)

Sat-Sun: Independent Bookshop Week, multiple London locations
This week, we’re showing love to the network of independent booksellers who make reading a personalised adventure. Take a trip to your local (bookshop not pub!) and search for a new hardback or paperback to enjoy with the kids or alone. It’s a week-long celebration of books and bookshops across the country with in-store talks, readings, workshops and goodies. A great chance to pick up a gift for father’s day too!

Shout out to some of my favourite indie bookshops like Ink@84, Pages of Hackney, Book Bar, and Word on the Water on Regent’s Canal. Follow @booksaremybag across social media. And don’t forget to check out my bookshop on Bookshop.org for some book recommendations (proceeds from sales help support indie bookstores). Happy reading! (Jun 14-21)

Sat-Sun: Summer Screens: Family Gaming in Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf E14 5AB (Canary Wharf tube/DLR/rail)
Get the kids off the sofa and outdoors for a Family Gaming session as part of Summer Screens in Canary Wharf. You can try the brand-new Mario Kart World and Just Dance on the latest Nintendo Switch 2 on the big screens. NB: Limited spaces, first-come, first-served (gaming may be cancelled or postponed in wet weather). Ages 5+ and families. 1pm-4pm; FREE (Jun 14-15, Jul 19-20, Aug 9-10 & 16-17)

Sun: Big Fish Little Fish Hackney x Camp Bestival Father’s Day Family Rave at Number 90, 90 Wallis Road, E9 5LN (Hackney Wick overground) and  Fire & Lightbox, 39 Parry Street, SW8 1RT (Vauxhall tube/rail)
Bring your crew for a Father’s Day special in Hackney where the whole family can party together. This event is part of the BFLF x Camp Bestival warmup tour and one lucky raver can win a family ticket to the festival (worth over £1,000)! Resident DJs Baker & Beale spin the club classics and you can also make and play at Wheadon’s Wacky craft tables, enjoy a licensed bar, face painting (separate fee), bubbles, balloons, foam and parachute dance finale. Dad dancing highly encouraged! Best for ages 0-8 but all ages welcome. 2pm-4pm; adult from £12/child £9/pre-walkers FREE (Jun 15)

Sun: RA Family Studio: Cardboard Figures, at Royal Academy, Clore Learning Centre, 6 Burlington Gardens, W1S 3ET (Piccadilly Circus/Green Park tube)
Join the RA Family Studio workshop on Father’s Day for a making experience with your brood. Inspired by the practice of Lubaina Himid RA, you’ll be led by artist Amy Leung in crafting small and large-scale cardboard figures that tell a story about you. NB: RA Family Studios are first come, first served – if it’s too full at the start, try joining later. All ages welcome. 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm (drop-in); FREE (Jun 15)

We also like
Murder he wrote? The Capital Crime literary festival is at Leonardo Royal St Paul’s (Fri-Sat); Richmond Arts & Ideas Festival launches this weekend (from Friday until Jun 29); spectators line the streets for Trooping the Colour, the King’s Birthday Parade (Sat); see what’s turning at the Brixton Windmill Open Days (Sat-Sun); roll up for a FREE Silent Disco Skate Jam & Street Food Festival in Cygnet Square, SE2 (Sun); cheese loving dads head to the monthly Chiswick Cheese Market (Sun); celebrate Pride month at London Wetland Centre in Barnes with Story Time with Mama G (Sun); and James, Bananarama, Chaka Khan and Gary Barlow are among the headliners at Hampton Court Palace Festival (until Jun 21)

Booking Ahead 

• Kids Week: free child tickets for West End shows! (priority booking opens Jun 10, performances Jul 21-Aug 31)
• Summer Exhibition at Royal Academy, W1 (Jun 17-Aug 17)
• One Way Out at Brixton House, SW9 (Jun 18-Jul 5)
• AstroNights Sleepovers at Science Museum (Jun 20, Jul 11, Oct 17, Nov 15 & Dec 6)
• LSE Festival Family Day, WC2 (Jun 21)
• Windrush Day at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (Jun 21)
• Barnes Children’s Literature Festival, SW13 (Jun 21-22)
• The Boy With Wings at Polka Theatre, SW19 (Jun 21-Aug 16)
• Tiny Tales Takeover festival at Discover Children’s Story Centre, Stratford (Jun 23-27)
• Jacksons Lane 50th Birthday Party at Jacksons Lane, N6 (Jun 28)
• Everyman on the Canal at King’s Cross, N1C (Jun 30-Aug 17)
• London Children’s Ballet presents Ella’s Big Chance: a Jazz Age Cinderella at Peacock Theatre, Holborn WC2 (Jul 4-6)
• Pride in London parade, Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall Place (Jul 5)
• Big Fish Little Fish Midsummer Daydream Family Rave at Horniman Museum Gardens (Jul 5)
• Big Fish Little Fish Outdoor Summer Family Rave at Museum of the Home, Hackney (Jul 6)
• Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs at Lightroom King’s Cross, N1C (Jul 9-Nov 2)
• Helios at Osterley Park and House, TW7 (Jun 6-10 & Jul 11-14)
• Kaleidoscope Festival at Alexandra Palace (Jul 12)
• Fly-Kid Family Raves at Pop Brixton (Jul 13, Aug 10, Sep 14, Oct 11, Nov 2, Dec 31)
• Gianni Versace Retrospective at Arches London Bridge (opens Jul 16)
• Children’s Puppet Festival at Little Angel Theatre, N1 (Jul 28-Aug 31)
• The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at Sadler’s Wells, Angel (Aug 20-Sep 7)
• Public Night Voyage family sleepover on The Golden Hinde, SE1 (Aug 23)
• History of Hip Hop at Riverside Terrace, Southbank Centre SE1 (Aug 25)
• Big Fish Little Fish Ultimate Family Rave at Fabric (Sep 28)
• How Does It Feel To Be Loved Children’s Disco at The Phoenix, W1 (Sep 28)
• Little M: A Reimagining of The Little Mermaid at The Place, WC1 (Oct 24-25)
• Paddington the Musical at Savoy Theatre, WC2 (official previews from Nov 1)
• Punchdrunk Enrichment World Premiere: Fireside Tales, Wembley Park (Dec 6-Jan 4)
• Kids Do Soho: Mario the Maker Magician at Underbelly Boulevard (Jul 26-27)

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