This guide reveals the best things to do with kids in London in summer 2026. Loopla reviewed over 200 activities to find the best family outings, free events and experiences for kids of all ages.
Updated 22 July 2026
July might be Britain’s joint-favourite month. (1) But for things to do with kids in London over summer 2026, we might just prefer August.
While researching our newsletter for London parents, we found over 150 family-friendly events and activities.
We’ll be sharing details for all of these with our subscribers each week throughout the summer. They’ll also hear about flash discounts and family-friendly pop-ups offering free treats.
But for our 30+ favourite kids’ activities in London this summer, stay on this page. We’ve broken things down into categories to suit all ages and budgets. So if you’ve got an idea of the sort of family event you’re after, click below to jump ahead:
- What fun things can I do with kids in London for free?
- Where to take little kids in London this summer
- Where to take older kids in London this summer
What fun things can I do with kids in London for free?
This section reveals the best free things to do with kids in London this summer, from big play days to outdoor family festivals. Many of these events are drop-in only, but for some you need to book.
| Best for? | Loopla’s pick | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Babies | In the Neighbourhood | The free Victoria Park festival will have Hackney Baby Sensory classes. |
| Toddlers | National Playday at Young V&A | Coram’s Fields Playday 2026 looks great. But Young V&A’s National Playday is built around the sort of sensory play toddlers love. |
| Older kids | Notting Hill Carnival Children’s Day Parade | It’s one of London’s biggest events and turns 60 this year. Children’s Day is more kid-friendly, but may still be too crowded and noisy for under-5s. |
| The whole family | Greenwich + Docklands International Festival 2026 | From puppets to dance acts atop ladders, it has the widest range of free, mesmerising events of any London festival this summer. |
| Budding scientists | Careers Live at the Science Museum | Kids meet real Environment Agency experts and try hands-on STEM activities for free. |
| Creative kids | National Portrait Gallery Summer Family Festival | Five days of artist-led workshops cover everything from self-portraits to photography. |
| Mini history buffs | Roman London Family Quest | A free trail linking three real Roman sites, with clues to solve and prizes to win. |
Canary Wharf Alfresco Arts Family Events
Canary Wharf’s Alfresco Arts is a series of free creative activities for kids. It takes place on selected weekends from June to August, mostly in the Crossrail Place Roof Garden.
For many, Canary Wharf brings to mind suits and skyscrapers. But it’s actually a much better family day out than you might think in summer. Jubilee Park is a pleasant green space to explore. You can also catch outdoor cinema in Canada Square Park.
Event details
Dates: Selected weekends until Saturday 15 August 2026
Where: Crossrail Place Roof Garden and Jubilee Park, E14
Ages: All ages
Price: Free
Splash around in Southbank’s Appearing Rooms
Jeppe Hein’s water-wall fountain is back at the Southbank Centre, having returned nearly every summer since 2007.
Jets shoot up to form square rooms made of water, then vanish and re-form elsewhere as kids dart in and out. When the sun is out, it’s a free, refreshing thing to do with kids following more cultural activities on the South Bank.
Event details
Dates: From Wednesday 17 June, all summer
Where: Southbank Centre, SE1
Ages: All ages
Price: Free
Royal Docks Summer Splash 2026
Royal Docks Summer Splash is London’s free open-water lido at Royal Victoria Dock. It has lifeguards to supervise swimming, sandpits, deckchairs, sun-safe areas and free family activities.
This might be as close as you can get to a trip to the beach without leaving the city. Where else in London can kids build sandcastles and splash around in one afternoon?
Event details
Dates: Friday 24 July to Sunday 16 August 2026
Where: Royal Victoria Dock, E16
Ages: All ages
Price: Free
National Portrait Gallery Summer Family Festival
The National Portrait Gallery’s Summer Family Festival might be our favourite summer event for mini artists. It’s five days of fun, artist-led family workshops throughout the Gallery and Learning Centre.
We advise clearing some space on the fridge before going. Kids get to make everything from colourful glasses and Tudor ruffs to mini self-portraits. You could even capture your next family photo in their ‘Pictured together’ workshop.
You don’t need to book, but spaces are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Event details
Dates: Monday 3 to Friday 7 August 2026
Ages: 3 years and up
Where: National Portrait Gallery, WC2H
Price: Free
Careers Live with the Environment Agency
Few events are actually life-changing, but Careers Live at the Science Museum might just be. It’s a free event where kids get to meet professionals who protect the environment through science and engineering.
These Environment Agency experts will explain their jobs and lead hands-on activities in the museum’s Technicians gallery. Kids can discover how STEM skills help solve real problems for people and nature, and perhaps also what they’d like to do when they grow up.
The drop-in sessions are recommended for ages 3 to 17. They run from 4 to 7 August and again from 11 to 14 August.
Event details
Dates: Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 August and Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 August 2026
Ages: 3 to 17 years
Where: Science Museum, SW7
Price: Free
Coram’s Fields Playday 2026
Coram’s Fields’ yearly Playday is one of London’s biggest family events, with thousands of kids and grown-ups usually attending. This year will be extra special, though, as they’ll be celebrating their 90th birthday.
Coram’s Fields will be filled with live performances, games, sports tasters, face painting and lots more.
Playday runs from 12pm to 4pm. You don’t need to book, just show up.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 5 August 2026 (12pm to 4pm)
Ages: All ages
Where: Coram’s Fields, WC1N
Price: Free
National Playday at Young V&A
Young V&A’s National Playday is our top free pick for toddlers in August 2026. Its child-led activities are built around the sort of sensory play little ones love.
Families can build giant inflatable art, try circus skills and explore a play space filled with costumes, textures and loose parts. There will also be animations made by young filmmakers.
Most of the activities are drop-ins. Kids with additional needs can book a quieter sensory play session with theatre company Oily Cart.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 5 August 2026
Ages: All ages
Where: Young V&A, Bethnal Green, E2
Price: Free
Fitzrovia Fete 2026
Fitzrovia Fete is a free street party just north of Oxford Street. As ever, you can expect live performances, outdoor games, crafts and workshops. But this year’s ‘Try Something New’ theme makes it a particularly great way to sneak a useful lesson into a day of family fun. The event celebrates how stepping outside your comfort zone can build confidence and boost wellbeing.
The fete runs from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday 9 August. You don’t need to book.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 9 August 2026 (1pm to 5pm)
Ages: All ages
Where: Fitzrovia, W1
Price: Free
Roman London Family Quest
The City of London area is home to an underground Roman amphitheatre as well as a temple. So what better place for a history trail?
Roman London Family Quest returns in mid-August with more clues to solve and prizes to win. You may even bump into a roaming centurion on your travels.
This family activity is open to all ages, but it’s best for ages 5 to 11 as it involves walking between sites.
Event details
Dates: Friday 14 to Saturday 15 August 2026
Ages: 5 to 11 years
Where: London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, EC4
Price: Free
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival has been called “London’s most spectacular free festival”. Across two weeks, outdoor spaces across East London become venues for street theatre, with many performances involving jaw-dropping circus skills and dance.
For families, the highlights include Greenwich Fair 2026 and the puppet show Caspian’s Storm. There’s also Do Birds Dream Of Flying?, a dance act performed atop a rotating ladder.
Nearly all the events are free and there’s no need to book. But check the programme before setting off, as dates and locations vary.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 23 August to Friday 4 September 2026
Ages: All ages
Where: Various East London locations
Price: Free (most events)
In the Neighbourhood
In the Neighbourhood is a free midweek festival between the main weekends of Victoria Park’s All Points East.
Families can join a dance workshop or catch a performance from the wonderful Half Moon Theatre. For a more active afternoon, the West Ham United Foundation will run football sessions for all ages and abilities. There’s also a sports day especially for girls and young women.
In the Neighbourhood is also one of the few free family events we found in London this summer with something especially for babies. On certain days, Hackney Baby Sensory classes will take place in its shaded marquee.
Entry is free and you don’t need a ticket. The programme changes each day, so check what’s on before visiting, as some activities only run once.
Event details
Dates: Monday 24 to Thursday 27 August 2026
Ages: All ages
Where: Victoria Park, E9
Price: Free
Notting Hill Carnival Children’s Day
Notting Hill Carnival is one of London’s biggest events and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Children’s Day is the most family-friendly bit, but the crowds and noise may still be too much for some under-5s.
Kids take over the streets in bright costumes for the children’s parade. There will also be music, dancing and family activities throughout the day.
For a calmer Carnival experience, try Play in the Park in Kensington Gardens on Tuesday 25 August. The Royal Parks’ free drop-in Carnival-themed activities run from 12pm to 4pm.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 30 August 2026
Ages: All ages
Where: Notting Hill, W11
Price: Free
Where to take little kids in London this summer
This section reveals the best places to take little kids in London this summer. It covers toddler theatre, sensory play and immersive experiences for young kids.
For more options, see our guides to the best things to do with toddlers in London and the best toddler theatre.
| Best for? | Loopla’s pick | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Babies | Blub | The only big new show for babies we found opening in London this summer. |
| 2 year olds and up | Whatever the Weather | Full of sensory fun, this unique experience is like a soft play designed by artists. |
| Dancing + music | CBeebies House Party Live | Six CBeebies favourites lead a full-on party with singing, dancing, bubbles and streamers. |
| Kids in their dino phase | Dinosaur World Live! | Meet five remarkably lifelike dinosaurs, including a T. rex, then see one up close after the show. |
| Fun at a major attraction | Enchanted Storybook Gardens | Enjoy interactive story time while looking out at the gardens of Buckingham Palace. |
| Julia Donaldson fans | Zog the Musical | Our top Julia Donaldson show for little kids, with songs by Joe Stilgoe and puppets by Little Angel Theatre. |
Whatever the Weather
Whatever the Weather is an immersive play experience for young children to learn about weather. It was created by award-nominated theatre designers and local families. In 45-minute sessions, kids can wear a cloud, dance in a snowstorm, build an ice castle or bask in the sun.
To us, this sounds like a great first visit to a theatre for toddlers or younger kids. Rather than sitting still for a whole show, they get to follow their natural curiosity through hands-on play. The Unicorn is also one of our favourite venues to see shows with younger kids. It’s just across the river from the Tower of London if you’re planning a day of family fun in the city.
Event details
Dates: Friday 3 July to Sunday 16 August 2026
Ages: 0 to 7 years
Where: Unicorn Theatre, SE1
Price: Tickets from £5.50
Theatre on Kew: The Wind in the Willows
Theatre on Kew’s The Wind in the Willows is an outdoor family show by Kew’s lake. It’s interactive, so kids can sing along and join in with the panto-style comedy.
Could there be a better setting to join Ratty, Mole and Toad’s riverbank adventure? Your ticket also includes entry to Kew Gardens. With certain time slots for adults, this alone costs more than the cheapest The Wind in the Willows tickets.
Event details
Dates: Selected dates from Saturday 18 July to Sunday 23 August 2026
Where: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, TW9
Ages: All ages
Price: Tickets from £20.90 (includes Kew Gardens entry)
Luna Loves London
Luna Loves London is an immersive play experience based on the Luna Loves books by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers. It lasts 50 minutes, during which you’ll explore the more kid-friendly London of the Luna books. For example, there is a library with a huge story book to climb inside and a gallery where you can touch all the art.
The Discover Children’s Story Centre has just reopened after a four-month makeover. Kids’ activities like Luna Loves London remind us why we missed it so much.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 25 July to Sunday 6 September 2026
Ages: 0 to 8 years
Where: Discover Children’s Story Centre, E15
Price: £5.50 (plus entry, from £11.00)
Dinosaur World Live!
Dinosaur World Live! is an Olivier Award-winning, interactive family show with lifelike dinosaur puppets. Over 50 minutes, kids get to see Triceratops, a Tyrannosaurus rex and more. There’s also a 15-minute meet-and-greet after the show where kids can make friends.
For parents with kids in their dinosaur phase, this show is an easy win.
Event details
Dates: Tuesday 28 July to Sunday 6 September 2026
Ages: 3 to 10 years
Where: Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, HA9
Price: Tickets from £12
The Enormous Crocodile
The Enormous Crocodile is a family musical based on Roald Dahl’s book. The 55-minute show follows a greedy crocodile as he creeps through the jungle looking for children to eat. It features puppets, songs and plenty of animal characters that younger kids will be drawn to.
The crocodile itself is a bumbling, pantomime-style villain whose plan is played for silliness rather than scares. Time Out in fact saw the show’s lack of “dark streak” as a flaw. But if you’re looking for a softer-edged introduction to Dahl, this is probably what you want. The puppets were widely praised, though, as the villainous croc assembles and disassembles to take on new dastardly disguises.
Event details
Dates: Tuesday 28 July to Saturday 22 August 2026
Ages: 3 to 12 years
Where: Lyric Hammersmith, W6
Price: Tickets from £10 (with limited time offer)
Little Angel Theatre Children’s Puppet Festival 2026
Little Angel Theatre Children’s Puppet Festival 2026 is a month-long festival of puppet shows and family workshops. It’s part of Little Angel Theatre’s 65th birthday celebrations. The line-up includes the world premiere of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a new marionette show created by the award-winning Olivier Hymans.
Little Angel Theatre is a magical place to introduce little ones to theatre. If you’re anywhere near the Islington area, we recommend you visit. As Time Out said, the place is an “icon of North London childhood.”
Event details
Dates: Tuesday 28 July to Sunday 30 August 2026
Ages: Varies by show
Where: Little Angel Theatre and Little Angel Studios, N1
Price: Adults £15.50, kids £13.50
Zog the Musical
For any Julia Donaldson fans planning to see just one show in London this summer, Zog the Musical is our best recommendation.
It will be showing at Chelsea’s historic Cadogan Hall, where the accident-prone Zog will try to earn his golden star. The one-hour musical features songs by Joe Stilgoe and puppets from Little Angel Theatre.
There will be a relaxed performance on Sunday 9 August and a post-show activity on Thursday 13 August.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 2 to Sunday 23 August 2026
Ages: 3 years and up
Where: Cadogan Hall, SW1X
Price: Tickets from £25.37
The Jolly Postman Family Storytelling
The Postal Museum is celebrating 40 years of The Jolly Postman with a summer of storytelling. Families get to hear the classic tale of a postman delivering letters to famous fairy-tale characters. There will also be craft and hands-on activities inspired by the book.
Running every Thursday from 6 to 27 August, the 45-minute sessions are best for ages 3 and up. Entry comes with museum admission.
Until 29 August, there will be special family activities at the Mail Rail Depot every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, too. These take the form of a different themed experience each week, all inspired by characters from The Jolly Postman.
Event details
Dates: Thursdays, 6 to 27 August 2026
Ages: 3 years and up
Where: The Postal Museum, WC1X
Price: Free with museum admission
BubbleArt Show
BubbleArt Show might be our favourite show this summer for toddlers. The one-day event will turn Greenwood Theatre into a glowing world of bubbles, with added lasers, music and swirling colours.
It’s set to feature giant bubbles and cascading clouds. But to us, the highlight looks like the huge bubble tube that traps lucky young volunteers inside.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 8 August 2026
Ages: All ages
Where: Greenwood Theatre, SE1
Price: Tickets from £24
Blub
Blub is the best new activity for babies we found in London this summer. It’s a sensory theatre experience where you get to explore a whole underwater world.
The voyage takes you from the coast to the ocean floor, meeting sea creatures made from recycled materials. The most impressive feature, though, is the coral reef knitted and crocheted from 500,000 metres of wool.
The experience lasts 50 minutes. One ticket covers a baby and their grown-up.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 13 to Sunday 23 August 2026
Ages: 6 to 18 months
Where: Polka Theatre, SW19
Price: Tickets from £28.50 for one adult and one child
Royal Garden Party at Fulham Palace
Founded by former BBC presenter Clare-Louise Shaw, Mini Mozart runs live classical music sessions for little ones across London. This summer, they are heading to one of their grandest settings yet: the walled garden at Fulham Palace.
The Royal Garden Party will have live music, bubbles and storybook fun. Tots can sing and dance on the lawn before taking a tour of the plants, history and hidden corners of the Palace garden.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 20 August 2026
Ages: Babies and toddlers
Where: Fulham Palace, SW6
Price: Tickets from £25
Raver Tots Wembley
The award-winning Raver Tots are throwing their family party at BOXPARK Wembley this summer. The huge show features DJs playing old-school club classics, plus lights, lasers and special effects.
The music is played at a suitable volume for kids, who also get to enjoy performers, face painting and glow sticks.
Raver Tots welcomes all ages. It’s mainly aimed at younger families, but older kids who enjoy dancing and energetic music should have fun too.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 23 August 2026
Ages: All ages
Where: BOXPARK Wembley, HA9
Price: Tickets from £16
CBeebies House Party Live
Having been dubbed ‘Glastonbury for kids’, CBeebies House Party Live could be the closest your toddler gets to a music festival this summer.
TV stars like Mr Tumble and Duggee will lead the party from the stage. Little ones get to dance along amid the sort of fun you can’t enjoy through a screen: streamers, giant jellies and bubbles.
The show is best for ages 0 to 6, but everyone is welcome.
Event details
Dates: Tuesday 25 August 2026
Ages: Under 6 years
Where: Southbank Centre, SE1
Price: Tickets from £24
Enchanted Storybook Gardens
Enchanted Storybook Gardens gives families another reason to visit Buckingham Palace in August. Time Will Tell Theatre will explore magical gardens from your favourite stories in the Family Pavilion, which looks out over the palace grounds.
It’s interactive, though kids don’t have to join in. Afterwards, little ones can also stay in the Family Pavilion for a Book Nook, crafts and a play palace inspired by Queen Victoria’s Buckingham Palace.
The 45-minute show is included with standard palace admission, but you need to add it when booking.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August 2026
Ages: All ages
Where: Buckingham Palace, SW1A
Price: Free with standard admission to the Buckingham Palace Summer Opening
Free kids’ activities in London for 0 to 6 years
| What? | When? | Where? |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Docks Summer Splash | 24 July to 16 August | Royal Victoria Dock, E16 |
| National Playday at Young V&A | 5 August | Young V&A, Bethnal Green, E2 |
| In the Neighbourhood | 24 to 27 August | Victoria Park, E9 |
| Canary Wharf Alfresco Arts | Selected weekends to 15 August | Crossrail Place Roof Garden, E14 |
| Southbank Appearing Rooms | From 17 June, all summer | Southbank Centre, SE1 |
Where to take older kids in London this summer
In London this summer, older kids can explore an archaeology site, a disused Tube station and some Horrible Science. Most activities below suit 5 year olds and above.
| Best for? | Loopla’s pick | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Budding scientists | Brainiac Live! | The Olivier Award winner brings explosive experiments you could never try at home to the West End. |
| Mini history buffs | Horrible Histories Tour Live at the Museum | Ramses himself guides kids around 180 real Egyptian treasures before a live Mummy Rap. |
| Burning off energy | Action Arena at Chiswick House | You get one hour of unlimited runs around the UK’s biggest touring inflatable assault course. |
| A theatre trip | Dog Man: The Musical | The bestselling comic-book hero makes his London stage debut in this high-energy musical. |
| Harry Potter fans | DroneArt Show: Harry Potter | In this evening show, 1,200 drones recreate famous film moments to the soundtrack. |
| A unique experience | Aldwych: The End of the Line Family Tour | The first Hidden London tour designed for families unlocks a Tube station closed since 1994. |
East London Shakespeare Festival: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
East London Shakespeare Festival’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a family-friendly version of Shakespeare’s comedy. For 2026, it will tour parks and open spaces across London and Kent.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most magical and funniest plays. This adaptation will have slapstick, songs and plenty of audience participation, so kids don’t get bored. We recommend bringing chairs or a blanket, as seats aren’t provided.
Event details
Dates: 5 June to 23 August 2026
Where: Various London parks
Price: Varies by venue
House of Dreamers
House of Dreamers is an immersive exhibition at Immerse LDN. The walk-through takes families through sixteen separate dream worlds. In less than a couple of hours, kids can see an enchanted forest, cloudscapes and a hall of magic mirrors.
Event details
Dates: Opens Wednesday 1 July 2026
Where: Immerse LDN, E16
Price: Kids’ tickets from £23.90
Luminiscence: Immersive Concert
Luminiscence is a 50-minute immersive concert that floods Westminster Cathedral with a musical light show. The 360° video projection means the light and colour cover the windows, walls, pillars and ceiling of the cathedral. The show itself tells the story of London and is voiced by actor Hugh Bonneville. Younger audiences and families may recognise his voice from Paddington.
We recommend this for older kids, especially those into history. Westminster Cathedral by itself is an awe-inspiring venue. It’s also perhaps a bit overlooked in our opinion, thanks to major attractions nearby like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 2 July to Saturday 26 September 2026
Where: Westminster Cathedral, SW1P
Price: Tickets from £32.50
Horrible Science at London Zoo
Horrible Science at London Zoo is an interactive trail with an outdoor comedy show. Kids will meet time-travelling scientists and make hands-on discoveries while exploring the zoo.
The Horrible Science comedy show takes place on the Main Lawns, where scientists from the past try to bring extinct animals back to life. London Zoo often puts on trails like this. For grown-ups, the beauty of them is you won’t spend your whole visit staring at a map. Just let your little explorer lead the way.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 18 July to Wednesday 2 September 2026
Where: London Zoo, NW1
Price: Included with zoo entry (from £22.20)
The Big Dig
The Big Dig turns kids into archaeologists for an hour. After donning a hard hat and high-vis vest, they’ll get to dig into a trench based on a real London site.
Kids use trowels and brushes to uncover genuine objects from London’s past, from Tudor ruins to even more ancient finds.
The activity is best for 5 year olds and above. Book ahead for the lowest ticket price.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 22 July to Monday 31 August 2026
Ages: 5 years and up
Where: London Museum Docklands, E14
Price: Tickets from £6.50
Explore a Disused Tube Station
The first Hidden London tour for families takes place this summer. It takes kids behind the locked doors of Aldwych, a Tube station that closed to passengers in 1994.
You’ll explore its old ticket hall, lifts, tunnels and abandoned platforms. Throughout ‘Aldwych: The end of the line’, riddles and puzzles reveal how the station became a wartime shelter and a filming location.
The tour is designed for 10 to 14 year olds and their families. For safety reasons, everyone attending must be aged 10 or above and you’ll have to show proof of age.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 22 July to Sunday 30 August 2026
Ages: 10 years and up (all attendees must be 10+)
Where: Aldwych Underground station, WC2R
Price: £40.69 standard; £38.06 concessions and children
Brainiac Live!
Brainiac Live! is an Olivier Award-winning family science show based on the TV series. It brings big experiments to the stage. The young audience gets to see things like liquid nitrogen clouds, vortex smoke rings and exploding hydrogen balloons.
In other words, it’s one of the most fun science lessons you can treat your kid to in London. You won’t have to clean up any of the mess they make over the one-hour show, either.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 26 July to Sunday 30 August 2026
Ages: 5 to 14 years
Where: Garrick Theatre, WC2H
Price: Tickets from £25.37
Horrible Histories Tour Live at the Museum
Horrible Histories is taking over a big Ancient Egypt exhibition for the school holidays. Ramses the Great himself will take kids on a tour of 180 genuine treasures that are over 3,000 years old.
Along the way, you’ll hear gruesome stories about mummies, death and the Egyptian afterlife. The tour ends with a live performance of the infamous Mummy Rap.
It’s recommended for mini history buffs aged 5 and up.
Event details
Dates: Monday 27 July to Monday 31 August 2026
Ages: 5 years and up
Where: Battersea Power Station, SW11
Price: Tickets from £19.50
Dog Man: The Musical
Dog Man: The Musical is a family show based on Dav Pilkey’s bestselling books. It follows George and Harold as they try to make a musical about a part-dog, part-man police officer who loves fighting crime and chewing furniture. Beyond songs, the musical will have slapstick comedy and plenty of comic-book chaos.
For kids who already love the books, this show is exciting news. It was created in 2019 but this is the first time it’s come to Europe. The Southbank Centre is also a great family day out. Nearby you have plenty of riverside food spots and major attractions like the London Eye and Big Ben.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 29 July to Sunday 16 August 2026
Ages: 5 to 12 years
Where: Southbank Centre, SE1
Price: Tickets from £32.50
DroneArt Show: Harry Potter
DroneArt: Harry Potter is an outdoor night-time drone show inspired by the films. More than 1,200 drones will fly above the audience, creating scenes from the films in the sky. The show also uses music from the original soundtracks, with key moments performed by a live electric violinist.
For Harry Potter fans, this show is a good reason to let the kids stay up late this summer. That said, the late start and out-of-town racecourse venues may rule it out for some families.
Event details
Dates: Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August 2026 (Kempton Park); Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August 2026 (Sandown Park)
Where: Kempton Park Racecourse, TW16 and Sandown Park Racecourse, KT10
Price: Tickets from £27.40
Action Arena at Chiswick House
Action Arena is said to be the UK’s biggest inflatable assault course, and this August kids can tackle it at the 350-year-old Chiswick House.
Older kids and grown-ups can spend their one-hour sessions racing through the XXL course, packed with giant slides, climbing walls, tunnels and obstacles.
For those under 1.2 metres, there’s also a smaller course for kids aged 2 to 7.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 August 2026
Ages: 2 years and up
Where: Chiswick House, W4
Price: Tickets from £8.95
Free kids’ activities in London for 7 years and over
| What? | When? | Where? |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Docks Summer Splash | 24 July to 16 August | Royal Victoria Dock, E16 |
| Roman London Family Quest | 14 to 15 August | City of London, EC3 |
| Careers Live at the Science Museum | 4 to 7 and 11 to 14 August | Science Museum, SW7 |
| Canary Wharf Alfresco Arts | Selected weekends to 15 August | Crossrail Place Roof Garden, E14 |
| Southbank Appearing Rooms | From 17 June, all summer | Southbank Centre, SE1 |
Common questions about things to do with kids in London
Which part of London is best for kids?
One of the best parts of London for kids is Greenwich. It has Greenwich Park, the Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum all close together.
The South Bank is the best part of London for kids if you want lots of major attractions in one area. Within a short riverside walk you have the London Eye, Big Ben and the Southbank Centre.
The Tower of London was the most visited paid attraction in the UK in 2025. (2) You can pair a family trip there with a show at the Unicorn Theatre, just across the bridge.
What are some free museums in London?
One of the best free London museums for kids is the Young V&A in Bethnal Green. It won the Council of Europe Museum Prize 2026. (3) This summer, the Young V&A also hosts a free National Playday of sensory play, circus skills and inflatable art.
The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and British Museum are also free to enter, though some special exhibitions are ticketed.
What can I do with a 4 year old in London?
In London this summer, a 4 year old can enjoy Whatever the Weather, a play experience at the Unicorn Theatre where they “wear” clouds and build ice castles. At the Story Centre in Stratford, Luna Loves London turns a story book into a whole city to explore. In terms of shows, Dinosaur World Live! brings lifelike dinosaur puppets to the stage. Many of the shows at Little Angel Theatre’s puppet festival are suitable for 4 year olds, too.
What’s the best free family event in London this summer?
One of the best free family events in London this summer is Royal Docks Summer Splash, the city’s free open-water lido at Royal Victoria Dock. Kids can swim under lifeguard supervision, build sandcastles and join free family activities. Other strong free options include Coram’s Fields Playday and the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival.
How do I find more kids’ activities in London?
To find more kids’ activities in London search Loopla by date, age and location. New classes, shows and events are added all the time. You can also sign up to our weekly newsletter for parents, where we round up what’s on, plus flash discounts and free family pop-ups.
References
- YouGov, Favourite Day, Month & Season (survey of 1,624 GB adults, 28–29 November 2016). View source
- ALVA (Association of Leading Visitor Attractions), 2025 Visitor Figures. View source
- Museums Association, “Young V&A wins European museum prize”, 3 December 2025. View source
How to save time and money, without missing out on magical family experiences
Summer is a great time to make wonderful family memories, but it can also be a lot of work.
Sorting through what is worth your time and money is half the battle. Loopla’s weekly newsletter for London parents does the legwork for you.
Every week, our 30,000 subscribers get:
- Family-friendly deals and discounts
- Details for around 10 free family events
- A heads-up on popular events we think might sell out fast