Phew, it’s baking outside. I’m not sure why we’ve gone from cardigans weather to ‘hotter than Ibiza’ but enjoy the heatwave while it lasts. If you’re looking for what’s hot for families in London this weekend, I’ve found everything from a baby-friendly concert/show in North London (Groove Baby) to a triple bill ballet in Regent’s Park. Indoors or out, make it a good one.
What’s Hot for Families in London this Weekend
Thu-Sat: Hercules the Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF (Covent Garden/Holborn tube)
Disney’s hero of all heroes, Hercules, muscles his way into London’s West End with this brand new musical. Luke Brady plays half-god, half-man in an exciting tale inspired by the Greek legends. Book by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Robert Horn, music and lyrics by Alan Menken. Best for ages 6+ (under 4s not admitted). 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Thu & Sat); from £25/family tickets available (until Mar 2026)
Thu-Sat: Independent Bookshop Week, multiple London locations
The independent bookseller festival wraps up this weekend. There’s still time to pop by your favourite bookshop for in-store talks, readings, workshops and adding to your library. Follow @booksaremybag across social media and visit my bookshop on Bookshop.org for book recommendations (proceeds from sales help support indie bookstores). (until Jun 21)
Thu-Sun: V&A East Storehouse, Parkes Street (inside the Here East building), Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20 3AX (Hackney Wick overground)
This working museum store is fully open to the public and it’s a veritable treasure trove of cultural artefacts. See the Glastonbury Festival archive amongst a quarter of a million things to discover across 4 multi-use areas. Also stay tuned for the David Bowie Centre opening here in September. 10am-6pm daily (10pm Thu & Sat); FREE (ongoing)
Thu-Sun: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill at Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park, Queen Mary’s Garden within Regent’s Park, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
Enjoy a dance triple bill in the open air, accompanied by the Sinfonia Smith Square’s 26-piece orchestra. See Rodgers & Hammerstein’s dream ballets reimagined by three of the UK’s top musical theatre choreographers: Allegro by Julia Cheng (Fiddler on the Roof), Oklahoma! by Shelley Maxwell (Get Up Stand Up!) and Carousel by Kate Prince (Message In A Bottle, Zoo Nation), with extended musical arrangements by Tony Award winner Simon Hale. Ages 5+. 7.30pm (Thu-Sat), 6pm (Sun) & 2pm (Sat-Sun); adult from £15-£55/child from £17.50-£22.50 (Jun 19-22)
Thu-Sun: Little Simz Meltdown at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
It’s the final weekend for the artist-curated festival with live music, talks, workshops, DJ takeovers and more. Little Simz has a stellar roster for 2025 and this weekend sees the likes of Nubya Garcia, James Blake, Jon Batiste and Little Simz & Chineke! Orchestra. Various ages, times, dates and prices – check individual events for details (until Jun 22)
Thu-Sun: Giffords Circus: Laguna Bay at Chiswick House and Gardens, Chiswick, W4 2QN (Turnham Green tube/Chiswick rail)
LAST CHANCE: New acts and familiar faces take them helm at the popular circus production’s 25th anniversary bonanza. Clowning, acrobatics, music, poetry and comedy for all ages. Various shows and times incl. 5pm & 7.30pm (Thu-Fri & Mon), 11am, 2.30pm, 5pm & 7.30pm (Sat-Sun); from adult £35-£42.50/child 3-14 £25-£32.50/under 3s FREE (Jun 5-22)
Thu-Sun: One Way Out at Brixton House, 385 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton SW9 8GL (Brixton tube)
Devonte, Paul, Tunde, and Salim are fresh out of college and on a collision course with their futures, each facing difficult choices about who to be and where they belong. This coming of age debut by Montel Douglas touches on identity, gentrification, cross-cultural friendships and the Windrush legacy. Ages 12+ with parent/guardian (content warnings: references to UK racist infrastructures, parental illness, alcoholism, violence, removal/deportation). 7.45pm (Tue-Sat) + extra show on Windrush Day Sun Jun 22; from £16 (Jun 18-Jul 5)
Thu-Sun: Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy, Burlington House, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
It’s that time of year again for the annual showcase of emerging and established artists. Highlights for 2025 include new Tracey Emin paintings, a large-scale installation of inflatable balls by Ryan Gander in the courtyard, and sculptural installations hanging from the gallery’s ceiling. 10am-6pm (Tue-Sun) & 10am-9pm (Fri); from £23.50-£25.50/free for Friends of RA (Jun 17-Aug 17)
Fri: Overheard in a Tower Block at Little Angel Studios, Sebbon St, N1 2EH (Angel tube, Highbury & Islington tube/overground)
This coming of age tale is inspired by the book by former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho and illustrator Kate Milner. Using thought-provoking poetry and playful puppetry, it’s a story of self-discovery, city living and following the rhythms of your heart. Ages 7+. NB: Tickets this weekend are mostly sold out but there might be a few left for Friday 4.45pm. Various times including 1pm (Wed-Fri), 1pm & 4.45pm (Fri), 3.45pm (Sun); adult £15/child £13/all Friday 4.45pm shows £10 (Jun 18-Jul 27)
Sat: Windrush Day 2025 at Queen’s House and National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich rail)
Another year, another day to mark the Windrush legacy and reflect on their immense contribution to British society. Come for Games without Wires with the Caribbean Social Forum, in conversation with Shani Akilah, crafting with Migration Museum, shadow puppets, screenings, music, talks, family histories and food. All ages. 11am-4pm; FREE (Jun 21)
Sat-Sun: The Boy With Wings at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Wings? Check. Impossible mission? Check. Hero mode activated? You bet. Adapted by Arvind Ethan David from Sir Lenny Henry’s hilarious book, this action-packed show features Tunde and his rag-tag bunch of mates out to save the galaxy. A celebration of friendship and inclusion for ages 7-12 and families. Various shows at 11am & 2.30pm (Wed-Sun); from £10 + £2.50 booking fee (Jun 21-Aug 16)
Sat-Sun: Barnes Children’s Literature Festival, multiple locations in Barnes SW13 (Barnes rail)
The Enchanted Cinema: My Neighbour Totoro, Dragons Love Underpants, Aardman Animations Model Making, Lydia Monks, Axel Scheffler, Pamela Butchart, Nadia Shireen, Cressida Cowell, Xavier Leopold, The Week Junior kids’ workshops, Manga workshops, Shakespeare’s Globe and more. That’s just a taster of this year’s incredible lineup at the popular kid lit festival. Book in person or online (recommended) for individual events. Various ages and timings; price range £9-£13.50 (Jun 21-22)
Sun: Groove Baby presents Groove Onto the Moon at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Fly away to space on this groovy adventure where kids can discover the first lunar footprint and navigate the galaxy through jazz, rock and funk music. Groove Baby shows are part kids’ show, part concert, taking musical theatre to a whole new height! Ages 3-7. 11am & 2pm; from £12.75 (Jun 22)
We also like
Taste of London is back in Regent’s Park with 150+ restaurant offerings to munch through (Thu-Sun); Kew the Movies hosts outdoor screenings at Kew Gardens (Fri-Sun); there might still be a few spaces for the kids’ digital futures bazaar at LSE Festival Family Day, WC2 (Sat); Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting opens at National Portrait Gallery (from Sat); West End Live takes over Trafalgar Square with FREE acts from shows like Clueless, The Lion King, Back to the Future, Wicket and more (Sat-Sun); and don’t miss the new live action How To Train Your Dragon in cinemas now (ongoing)
Booking Ahead
- 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)
- AstroNights Sleepovers at Science Museum (Jun 20, Jul 11, Oct 17, Nov 15 & Dec 6)
- 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)
- Kids Week: free child tickets for West End shows! (Jul 21-Aug 31)
- 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!**
Weekend Projects That Can Make a Big Difference to Your Home
