London Kids Weekend Scoop (September 10-13, 2026)

Welcome to the first official Weekend Scoop of the new school year. I’ve rounded up 13 thrilling London weekend family fun activities to keep you entertained over the next few days. From ghost stories on stage to outdoor dancing, watching classic boats or making your own cork flotilla! Have a go.

13 Thrilling London Weekend Family Fun Activities

Thu-Sat: The Turn of the Screw at Arcola Theatre, 4 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL (Dalston Kingsland/Dalston Junction overground)
Do you dare turn up for this spine-tingling tale, set in a remote English country home. A young governess is hired to look after two children, but something sinister is lurking… Olivier Award-winning playwright Morgan Lloyd Malcolm adapts the psychological masterpiece by Henry James, also the inspiration for Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black. Ages 12+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 3pm (Sat), select 2.30pm (Thu); £12-£39 (Sep 11-Oct 10)

Thu-Sat: Thelma and Louise at the Young Vic, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ (Waterloo tube/rail)
Louise (Rachel Tucker) and best mate Thelma (Amy Lennox) go on a life-changing road trip in this funny, wild and emotional ride of a musical, based on the multi-award winning movie.  Script by Callie Khouri, directed by Trip Cullman, with music and lyrics by Grammy-nominated artist Neko Case. Ages 12+ (parental guidance advised). 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Wed & Sat); from £22 (Sep 3-Oct 24)

Thu-Sat: Death Note: The Musical at Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
LAST CHANCE: Student Light Yagami chances upon a notebook that gives him the power of life and death. But can he outwit enigmatic detective L? Musical based on the massively popular manga and anime. Ages 12+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Thu & Sat); from £29 (until Sep 12)

Fri: Great River Race Cork Flotilla! at Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Road, SE1 2UP (Tower Hill/London Bridge tube/rail, Tower Gateway DLR) Coming out to watch The Great River Race? Drop in a day early for this monthly family activity held at the historic Tower Bridge. Kids and their grownups can make and test a river-worthy cork boat. All ages welcome, best for ages 6-10 + accompanying adult. 10am-4pm (last entry 3.45pm); free with regular admission: adult from £18/child 6-18 from £9/under 5s FREE (Sep 11)

Fri & Sun: Lost at Play: 500 Years of Fun and Games at Sutton House and Breaker’s Yard, 2 and 4 Homerton High Street, E9 6JQ (Hackney Central overground)
Discover the toys and games that were found beneath the floorboard of Sutton House in the 1990s. These items tell the story of those who lived, worked, and went to school at the historic house. Look out for everything from a playing card and a chess piece to gaming tokens made from animal bone! All ages. 11am-4pm (Fri & Sun); free with regular admission: adult £7.50/child £3.75/family of 5 £11.25 (max 1 adult) or £18.75 (max 2 adults) (Sep 11-Dec 20)

Fri-Sun: celebrASIA at Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd W, Nine Elms SW8 5BN (Battersea Power Station tube, Battersea Park rail/overground)
The vast and diverse cultures of South East Asia take centre stage in this 3 day celebration of food, film and heritage. Explore community, identity, delicious flavours, and family friendly workshops with lantern making, batik painting, shadow puppet creation, sand art, and  storytelling. All ages. Various times and prices, some activities are FREE (Sep 11-13)

Sat: Emerge East at Barking Riverside Station Square and Project Rd, Barking IG11 0DS (Barking Riverside overground)
Popular street music pop-up act, DJ AG, is the headliner at this east London festival. You’ll also find food, riverside sauna, live music stage, and an East London sounds odyssey, curated by the One Room collective. All ages welcome. 11am-9pm; FREE but registration recommended (Sep 12)

Sat: On Your Bike Baffo at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St, W6 0QL (Hammersmith tube)
There are laughs-aplenty promised in this big, cycle-themed clown show. Bumbling Baffo teaches all kinds of stunts, from blowing up a tyre to actually riding a bike… or kinda. A riotous family show for ages 3-8, younger ones welcome. 11am & 1pm; from £12/babies under 18 months FREE (Sep 12)

Sat-Sun: The Music Is Black Festival: Black to the Future,  live stages at Sadler’s Wells East and Stratford Waterfront, E20 (Stratford tube/rail/overground/DLR)
The festival series closing party, Black to the Future, brings together music, storytelling, science fiction and imagination. Curated by FLOHIO and The Blues Project, it offers live music sets with special guests, a hi-fi listening experience at V&A East museum,  family raving with Fly Kid (Sat 12pm-3pm), and more at the Waterfront Stage and at Sadler’s Wells East. All ages. Various times from 12pm-late; FREE entry (Sep 12-13)

Sat-Sun: Open House Festival, multiple locations around London Back for its 35th edition, this city-wide event allows behind the scenes access to some of the capital’s most intriguing buildings. Book to have a snoop around private spaces, churches, mosques, museums, top attractions and little known wonders. There are more than 100 venues across 33 boroughs to discover, along with workshops and kid-friendly tours. All ages. From around 10am daily, FREE but booking recommended (Sep 12-20)

Sat-Sun: The Big Woof at Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross, N1C (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Woof woof! The festival for dog lovers returns to Coal Drops Yard. Bring your furry friends along for dog shows, puppy masterclasses, photo popups, sketching, and live music! All ages welcome. 10am-5pm daily; FREE but book online to secure your spot (Sep 12-13)

Sat-Sun: St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival at 50 St Katharine’s Way, E1W 1LA (Tower Hill tube)
Sail up for the 17th edition of this annual spectacle. You ca see 50+ beautifully preserved, vintage vessels assemble in a weekend packed with live entertainment, street food, family fun and nautical antique stalls. 10.30am-5pm (Sat-Sun); FREE entry (Sep 12-13)

Sat-Sun: Virtual Orchestra: Play Along at Royal Festival Hall (Blue Side Foyer, Level 4), Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
You don’t need any musical or VR experience to have a go at this interactive event. Virtual Orchestra invites you to grab a headset, choose your instrument, and perform with some of the world’s best players. You’ll try out challenges and tutorials led by Philharmonia musicians, then join a live concert on the Royal Festival Hall stage for the exhilarating finale of Rossini’s William Tell Overture. 12pm-7.30pm approx; FREE (Sep 12-13)

We also like
It’s your LAST CHANCE to watch To Kill a Mockingbird on stage (Thu-Sat) or to see Star Trek at 60 at Science Museum (Thu-Sun); Come along for a Gruffalo Granny exclusive story time at Battersea Park Zoo (Fri); line the bridges and banks of the Thames to watch The Great River Race, London’s annual river marathon (Sat); drop in for gardening, food growing, and dressing up scarecrows at the Greenwich Park Orchard Open Day (Sat); watch The Odyssey in a luxurious setting at The Soho Hotel (Sun); celebrate the iconic singer Amy Winehouse with a free exhibition on benches around Granary Square, King’s Cross (ongoing until Oct 15)

Booking Ahead

• Fleurs de Villes DIANA at Somerset House, WC2 (Sep 16-Oct 6)
• Mini Folk Gigs: Live Folk and Crafts for Families at Kings Place, N1 (Sep 19)
• LGBTQ+ Family Network at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, SE10 (Sep 19, Nov 21)
• Preschool Pics at Barbican Cinema, Barbican Centre, EC2 (Sep 23, Dec 9, Feb 10, Mar 17)
• Mid-Autumn Festival at Museum of the Home (Sep 25-27)
• Classic Car Boot Sale at King’s Cross, NC1 (Sep 26-27)
• How Does It Feel to Be Loved Children’s Disco at The Phoenix, W1 (Sep 27, Oct 26, Nov 29)
• Bloomsbury Festival, WC2 (Oct 1-31)
• Korea at British Museum (Oct 1-Jan 31)
• Black Eats Festival at Hackney Bridge, E15 (Oct 3-4)
• Black Panther in Concert with Chineke! Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall, SW7 (Oct 9)
• Black Culture Market at Assembly Hall, Lambeth (Oct 10-11)
• High School Musical at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre (Oct 12-Jan 3)
• 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair at Somerset House, WC2 (Oct 15-18)
• Aurora Orchestra: Meet the Instruments at Kings Place, N1 (Oct 17)
• Black British Folk Takeover at Cecil Sharp House, Chalk Farm (Oct 17)
• The World As We See It at Hackney Empire, E8 (Oct 20)
• Bayeaux Tapestry at British Museum (next ticket release from Oct 21)
• Black Book Festival and Education Expo at Goldsmiths, SE14 (Oct 24)
• October Half-Term and Halloween at Eltham Palace, SE9 (Oct 24-31)
• Family Film Club: Kiki’s Delivery Service (Dubbed) at Barbican Centre, EC2 (Oct 27)
• Half-Term Pumpkin Carving at Morden Hall Park, SM4 (Oct 29-30)
• Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery at British Library, NW1 (Oct 30-Jun 20)
• Halloween Piano Party at Kings Place, N1 (Oct 31)
• British Museum Sleepover: Explore Korea at British Museum (Oct 31-Nov 1)
• Hamlet Hail to the Thief (ages 14+) at Barbican Theatre, Barbican Centre, EC2 (Oct 31-Jan 23)
• Lost Worlds by Luxmuralis at Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10 (Nov 6-8 & 11-15)
• Diwali at Osterley Park and House, TW7 (Nov 7-29)
• Skate at Somerset House, WC2 (Nov 11-Jan 10)
• Univers (ages 0-2) at The Pit, Barbican Centre, EC2 (Dec 2-12)

The Autumn Hot List 2026 is live on the blog!

Enjoyed this guide? Subscribe to Babes About Town and get the London Kids Weekend Scoop straight to your inbox weekly! 

**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!**