Summer holidays are here, so it’s the perfect time to plan some fun activities to keep those energetic kids occupied. From open-air theatre shows to exciting exhibitions, themed afternoon teas to karting adventures, we’ve found the best family-friendly options to ensure a summer full of unforgettable memories in the capital.
Expect the unexpected at the Paradox Museum
Cameras at the ready. The UK’s first Paradox Museum has opened its doors on Brompton Road. The 90-minute walking tour features over 50 interactive and Instagram-worthy backdrops and 25 rooms to explore.
Step into the illusory Paradox Tunnel, where walking in a straight line seems impossible. The Ames Room offers a chance to play with perspective, making visitors appear to grow or shrink; float weightlessly in the Zero Gravity Room. Combining science, art and psychology, this is an engaging and educational experience for children of all ages.
90 Bromptonweg, SW3 1JJ, paradoxmuseumlondon.com
Step into the CBeebies rainbow adventure
If you have a Bluey, Hey Duggee or Mr Tumble fan at home, head to CBeebies Rainbow Adventure. This 55-minute immersive experience, with music, role play and storytelling, puts you and your little one at the heart of the story.
The story? The CBeebies rainbow has lost all its colours and it’s up to you to bring it back to life by completing fun tasks, like playing a magical xylophone in Bluey’s bedroom. Perfect for kids aged zero to six, there’s even a photo opportunity with Bluey or Duggee at the end.
Until November, Westfield Shopping Centre, W12, cbeebiesrainbowadventure.com
Waving to Wing Fest in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The world’s biggest chicken wing festival lands in London on 26th, 27th and 28th July at the London Stadium. Choose from 45 different street food vendors, restaurants, BBQ teams and pop-ups from across the country. It’s perfect for older kids with an appetite. From spicy to sweet, fried to barbecued, you can feast on every type of wing imaginable, including Thunderbird, Black Bear Burger, Wingmans and Bone Daddies.
In addition to the abundance of wings, there’s an exciting lineup of entertainment: cheer on competitors in the deadly Lava Wing Challenge, which is not for the faint-hearted, and watch the “Flying Goose” wing-eating contest. There are also carnival rides, arcades, live music and axe throwing.
London Stadium, Stratford, E20 2ST, wingfest.co.uk
Howzat! Enjoy a fun afternoon of cricket at The Hundred
Sports stars of the future will enjoy the thrills and spills of cricket’s fastest format – The Hundred. The month-long tournament features some of the game’s biggest names, including England internationals Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Zak Crawley, plus icons of the women’s game such as Smriti Mandhana and Nat Scriver-Brunt. Watch the action between 23 July and 18 August at two iconic venues, The Oval in Kennington, home to the reigning men’s champions The Oval Invincibles, and Lord’s, home to London Spirit.
There’s always more to the Hundred competition than just the competition, with pyrotechnics, fireworks and live music to keep the kids entertained. Pop sensation Zara Larsson will be performing at Lord’s on 18 August.
Various cricket fields, dehonderd.com
Enjoy a Teddy Bear Picnic at the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane
Overlooking Hyde Park, the five-star Marriott Hotel Park Lane has really pulled out all the stops to keep kids entertained. Hotel guests can add the Teddy Bear Experience to their stay in partnership with Hamleys. Children can choose their own Hamleys bear from an in-room teddy bear menu, and their new cuddly friend will be personally delivered by a dedicated bear butler.
They can also enjoy an in-room picnic, complete with teddy bear cupcakes, gourmet sandwiches and other savoury snacks. Turndown service includes a glass of milk, cookies and classic bear-themed books to read before bed. For families exploring London, this is the perfect mix of luxury and fun after a day of sightseeing.
140 Park Lane, W1K 7AA, marriott.com
Table tennis fun at Bounce, Battersea
Bounce is a futuristic, family-friendly table tennis venue with locations across London. The brand’s newest venue, Battersea Power Station, has an atmospheric, industrial feel. Families can enjoy traditional games of ping pong, challenge the robot, try their hand at ping pong basketball and try out Shufl, a simple but fun game where two players slide weighted pucks across a table.
Hungry participants can easily refuel. The venue offers an extensive food and drink menu. Highlights include sourdough garlic strips, tempura fish bites and wild mushroom pizza.
Hall B, Battersea Power Station, Level 1, Turbine, SW11 8DD, bouncepingpong.com
Treat the kids to a quintessential afternoon tea at Dalloway Terrace
Is there a more delightfully English way to spend a summer’s day than enjoying an afternoon tea? Dalloway Terrace’s new kids’ club has been specially designed with a charming bumblebee and sustainability theme.
The Bloomsbury Hotel presents it on a traditional three-tiered stand and with Emma Bridgewater’s handmade, bumblebee-printed plates. The top tier offers sandwiches filled with mild cheddar, honey roast ham and cucumber; the middle tier offers fluffy vanilla and raisin scones served with honey; and the bottom tier offers sweet treats such as buttery beehive-themed shortbread and a chocolate lollipop. Adults can enjoy more grown-up treats such as roast beef and horseradish sandwiches, warm Irish cheddar scones with sun-dried tomato butter and a pistachio and vanilla Battenberg cake.
16-22 Grote Russellstraat, WC1B 3NN, dallowayterrace.com
Immerse yourself in Gravity MAX’s ‘Urban Theme Park’
The recently opened Gravity MAX in Stratford, spanning 67,000 square feet, offers a huge range of activities to keep children of all ages entertained. The entertainment venue is styled like an urban theme park, offering immersive experiences and arcade-style games, perfect for gaming enthusiasts.
Test your aim with digital darts, which use AR technology to put a futuristic spin on the classic pub game, while budding pop stars can belt out their favourite tunes with The Voice karaoke experience. There’s also an immersive games area for battling zombies and catapulting Angry Birds, and a multi-level e-kart track. Age and height restrictions apply.
Unit 1-7, Chestnut Plaza, Westfield Ave, Montfichet Road, E20 1GL, gravity-global.com
Enjoy an enchanting evening at the theatre at Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens has a great line-up of three family-friendly theatre productions from the Australian Shakespeare Company. Ideal for toddlers aged two and up, an interactive fairy-themed show features lots of singing and dancing, as well as a cameo from Tinkerbell.
Also on the programme is the classic tale The Wind in the Willows, which is ideal for children aged four and over. Older children can enjoy Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set beneath Kew’s monumental trees.
Until September 1, Ferry Lane, Richmond TW9 3AG, kew.org
Fun at Swingers West End
Crazy golfers can enjoy competitive match play on quirky holes as Swingers West End transforms into a family-friendly playground on Sundays. With three devilish nine-hole courses, players can test their putting skills against family members before fuelling up with street food from Patty & Bun, Breddos Tacos and Pizza Pilgrims. Frozen slushies and donuts from Crosstown are also available.
The Oxford Street venue is themed around the English Riviera in the 1920s, complete with a helter skelter and retro Ferris wheel. Children must be seven or over to play.
Multiple locations, swingers club
Lace up your skates for Starlight Express
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s revamped Starlight Express rolls into the Starlight Auditorium at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre this summer. The two-and-a-half-hour show will take audiences on a high-speed roller-skating adventure filled with songs, “dynamic choreography” and “captivating storytelling.”
With a flying set of 40 artists, you’ll enjoy musical theatre classics such as AC/DC, Make Up My Heart, Light at the End of the Tunnel and the iconic Starlight Express. A new addition this year is the Studio Five restaurant, with menus for adults and children. Those who come on Friday or Saturday will also get a live pop, soul or jazz performance.
Wembley Park Theatre, 3 Fulton Rd, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0SP, starlightexpresslondon.com
Get ready for a scientific spectacle at Brainiac Live!
The TV-familiar Brainiacs science group will be performing at the Marylebone Theatre this summer. The idea is for them to unravel the mysteries of science with daring experiments and demonstrations that will entertain and educate.
The 60-minute show is suitable for children aged five and up and features bangs, flashing lights and special effects, creating an immersive experience.
July 30 – August 24. 35 Park Road, NW1 6XT, marylebonetheatre.com
Get a taste of the action at Novikov with an afternoon of pizza making
Got a little chef or two at home? Bring them along to Novikov’s Italian Restaurant every Sunday from 12pm to 4pm for a fun and interactive pizza making masterclass. Kids will be tasked with creating their own delicious masterpiece, under the guidance of Novikov’s expert team in the restaurant’s private space.
Kids will learn how to knead and roll dough before personalizing their creations with toppings. Meanwhile, parents can enjoy a leisurely lunch while the kids are in the kitchen. Coloring books and cupcake decorating are also available to keep the little ones busy.
50A Berkeleystraat, W1J 8HA, novikovrestaurant.co.uk
Celebrate 65 years of Barbie at the Design Museum
Calling all Barbie fans! To celebrate 65 years of the iconic doll, the Design Museum in Kensington is hosting an exhibition that takes you on a journey through Barbie’s design evolution. Barbie®: The Exhibition features more than 250 dolls, including rare and one-of-a-kind items, to the latest designs from 1959 to the present.
You will see Christie, the first black Barbie, designed in 1968, the original Barbie Dreamhouse developed in 1962 and some outfits from the recent Barbie movie are also on display.
Until February 2025, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG, designmuseum.org