Looking for things to do in London in the summer holidays? We've got you covered, from family days out in the capital to free, family-friendly activities if you're on a budget — and even some day drips out of London that the kids will love.
Family days out in London
SWIMMING: A kiddie favourite, London has plenty of options for swimming, whatever the weather. From an Olympic venue to local leisure centres, these are some of London's best indoor pools. We also have our pick of London's outdoor pools and lidos for summer 2024, depending on how the weather's looking.
ICE SKATING: London also has year-round ice rinks, including one slap bang in the middle of the Central line — so no need to wait for the festive season to get your fill of twirls and whirls.
BOATING: Few things excite kids more than boats, especially if you tell them they can have a go at rowing/pedalling themselves. With that in mind, pick one of our favourite boating lakes in London, chock full of swans, dragons and other fantastical vessels waiting to be hired out. Not up for doing the work yourselves? Kick back on one of London's best boat trips and simply watch the scenery roll by.
BEACHES: Craving the sand between your toes? Head to one of London's urban beaches, which pop up across the capital complete with sand, water features, deckchairs, and all manner of entertainment. They're not all family-friendly, but there are options if you've got little ones to entertain.
OUTDOOR CINEMA: Kids still singing about Bruno? Take them to a family-friendly screening at one of London's outdoor cinemas (some of which are free!) and replace their Encanto obsession with something new.
CRAZY GOLF: Tee off among dinosaurs, whales, dragons and jungle creatures at London's many family-friendly places to play crazy golf.
TEENAGERS: Older kids and teenagers can be trickier to entertain, but have a read of our things to do in London with teenagers, covering everything from museums and exhibitions to shopping trips, a little-known neon art gallery, street art, and more adventurous days out.
AUTISTIC KIDS: Looking for things to do in the school holidays with autistic children? Check out our new guide, which includes museums, theatres, sensory rooms and more.
Summer holiday events in London
VISIT BUCKINGHAM PALACE: Got kids who are interested in all things Royal? Take them inside Buckingham Palace at the annual opening of the State Rooms. It's open to all ages, though definitely has more of interest for older kids and teenagers. 11 July-29 September
MESSY MONSTER: The Postal Museum's summer holiday activities involve children's character Messy Monster, star of animated TV series Messy Goes to OKIDO. Aimed at 5-11 year olds and their families, events include a family trail, with Messy and his friends hidden in 10 locations around the museum, and family arts and craft sessions on selected days. 23 July-1 September
UNDERBELLY FESTIVAL: Making a surprise return for summer 2024, Underbelly Festival returns to Cavendish Square. While large swathes of its programme are highly unsuitable for children, use the 'Family' filter on the website to find kids' events including Mr Sleepybum comedy show, and Baby Loves Disco family parties. July-September
PADDINGTON BEAR EXPERIENCE: The Paddington Bear Experience is still on at County Hall (near the London Eye), consisting of a multi-room, immersive experience where you can experience the Marmalade Day Festival, visit Paddington station (including a train carriage), and explore the Brown family's home at 32 Windsor Gardens. Adult tickets weigh in at a pricey £39, and child admission £29 — just something to, ahem, bear in mind before you make any promises to little ones. Ongoing
Family-friendly exhibitions in the summer holidays
JAPAN: MYTHS TO MANGA: It feels like forever ago that the Young V&A reopened, but its first major exhibition is still open — just about. Japan: Myths to Manga is a whistlestop tour through the country's cultural history, from Hokusai's famous print of the Great Wave to the fantastical films made by Studio Ghibli. As is the ethos of the museum, it's all child-friendly. Until September. There are also free drop-in workshops themed on the exhibition on occasional Fridays.
DINOSAURS: Forest Hill's Horniman Museum's current exhibition is Dinosaur rEvolution. It features five large animatronic dinosaurs, and highlights discoveries from recent decades which have changed the way we picture dinosaurs — with an array of colours, feathers, quills and spikes, instead of as scaly green reptiles. Until November
BIRDS: BRILLIANT AND BIZARRE: Natural History Museum gives us a closer look at the only surviving dinosaurs. Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre delves into the world of birds, looking at how different species have evolved to survive, and how the way we live is affecting them. The museum describes it as 'a hoot for all the family'. 24 May-5 January
BARBIE: One of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year opens at the Design Museum. Museum curators have worked in partnership with Mattel Inc, and were given special access to the Barbie archives in California to put together Barbie: The Exhibition. 180 dolls feature, including a rare first edition Barbie from 1959, and the first Black, Hispanic and Asian dolls to bear the Barbie name, as well as the first Barbie with Down syndrome, and the first to use a wheelchair. 5 July-February 2024
PARADOX MUSEUM: Here's one you won't have taken the kids to before: The Paradox Museum opens in Knightsbridge, with 50 interactive exhibits across 25 rooms, including reverse rooms, a giant kaleidoscope and a mirror maze. Worth bookmarking for a rainy day, we reckon. From 17 July.
Family-friendly London theatre shows in the summer holidays
MUSICALS: A few of London's long-running musicals are great for family theatre trips, including The Lion King, Frozen (last chance — this one closes 8 September) and Matilda. Older kids and teenagers might enjoy Mamma Mia!, Wicked, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
ROUGH MAGIC: Rough Magic is a family-friendly show set in the world of Shakespeare's characters, specifically Macbeth's Weird Sisters. Audience members are invited to dress as their favourite mythical creature (think fairies, witches, ghosts, monsters) for the show at Shakespeare's Globe. Recommended for age 5+. 20 July-24 August
BRAINIAC LIVE: For four weeks in the summer holidays, Brainiac Live is at the Marylebone Theatre, with science experiments and demonstrations performed live on stage. Expect loud bangs, flashing lights, smoke and haze effects. Recommended for age 5+. 30 July-24 August
Free things to do in London in the summer holidays
PLAYGROUNDS: If the weather's playing nice, few things bring a smile to children's faces like a playground — and they're usually free! Check out our map of playgrounds in central London: there are more than you might think, and many are located handily near tourist attractions so you can burn off some excess energy on a day out.
ART TRAIL: 30 five-foot-tall owl sculptures will be dotted around the Haringey area for the Big Fun Art Adventure, a free art trail. The owls are all unique, decorated individually by local artists, and hidden in plain sight. Come October, they'll be auctioned off to raise money for North London Hospice. FREE, 17 August-13 October
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL: On first glance, the crowds and noise of Notting Hill Carnival don't seem all that kid-friendly. But don't forget that the Sunday is normally family day, with a children's carnival and parade, before things really ramp up on bank holiday Monday. Though it's the calmer day of Carnival, it can still be a fairly intense experience, with crowds, lots of noise, and often queues for toilets, food and drink, so may not be suitable for all kiddies, particularly younger ones. FREE, 25 August
GDIF: Greenwich+Docklands International Festival is back towards the end of the school holidays, with two weeks of free outdoor theatre and performing arts. Though the programme isn't specifically designed for kids, there are usually plenty of family-friendly events to enjoy. FREE, 23 August-8 September
MUSEUMS: Plenty of London's museums are free entry all year round, and while you may have to pay for temporary exhibitions, there's generally plenty to entertain all ages in the permanent collections. Try the Science Museum for aeroplanes and space, Natural History Museum for animals, and Museum of London Docklands for the Mudlarks interactive gallery. Check booking requirements before you go, and be aware that you may have to queue during school holidays.
FREE MAZE: Ever been to the Brent Lodge Park Millennium Maze? The labyrinth is constructed of 2,000 yew trees, has been around for more than two decades, and is free to visit. It's a 10-minute walk from Hanwell station on the Elizabeth line, and there's a free playground and Hanwell Zoo (small entry fee) right next door.
Family-friendly day trips from London
Fancy getting out of London for a day or two? Take a look at our Beyond London section for inspiration. Particularly family-friendly ideas include:.
- SEASIDE: A classic day trip for all ages, find yourself a classic seaside resort or beach near London to visit in either Kent, Sussex or Essex.
- WINNIE THE POOH: A visit to the real-life Hundred Acre Wood, in East Sussex as featured in AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh books.
- SLIDES, GOATS, AND A MINI RAILWAY: Find them all at Wellington Country Park, an excellent bet for energetic kids, located near Reading.
- CASTLES: We've got them by the countyful, in Kent, Sussex and Essex. Hever Castle is a particular favourite with families.
- PYO FRUIT: Somehow, it always tastes so much better when you pick it yourself. Strawberry season tails off by the time the summer holidays come around, but have a look at our guide to PYO farms near London to see what else is ready for picking, and when.
- SUNFLOWER FARMS: Alternatively, take the whole family for a day of sunflower bothering at one of these dazzling sunflower farms near London.
