This guide reveals the best things to do with kids in London in September 2026. Loopla reviewed over 100 activities to find the best family outings, free events and experiences for children of all ages.
Updated 26 August 2026
September is a tricky month. This is mostly because the new school year begins, which 63% of parents called the most stressful day of the year in one recent poll. (1)
But on the other hand, you’ve made it through the summer holidays (and all the pressure of keeping little ones entertained).
Now it’s just weekends and evenings to think about, and to help you fill them we’ve picked out 25 fun things to do with kids in London.
This also includes a whole section for toddlers yet to start school. Click below to jump ahead to events for your little one’s age group:
- Fun things to do in London with kids aged under 5 this month
- Where to take kids aged 5-8 in London this September
- Where should I take kids aged 9 years+ in London this month?
- Common questions about things to do with kids in London
We hand-picked the below from over 100 kids’ activities we found while researching our newsletter for London parents.
We’ll be sharing details for all of these with our subscribers each week throughout the month. They’ll also hear about flash discounts and family-friendly pop-ups offering free treats.
You can sign up here to join them.
But for our 25 favourite kids’ activities in London this month, stay on this page.
Fun things to do in London with kids aged under 5 this month
The best things to do in London with kids aged 0 to 4 this September include Polka Theatre’s Big Dreams Festival and a new Pip + Posy show. This section covers baby theatre, sensory play and toddler-friendly music sessions across the city.
For more ideas, see our guides to the best things to do with toddlers in London and the best toddler theatre.
| Best for? | Loopla’s pick | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Under-5s overall | Polka Theatre Big Dreams Festival | Two days of interactive shows, a family rave and a baby afterparty at London’s top toddler theatre. |
| Babies | A Tale of Us | A multi-sensory play made for babies and new parents, with a Stay and Play session afterwards. |
| 2 year olds | Pip + Posy Live on Stage | The first chance to see the picture-book duo live, in a show described as lively but gentle. |
| 3 year olds | HAY! | A scarecrow story told through music, clowning and dance, from a CBeebies star’s theatre company. |
| Free fun | National Portrait Gallery Little Explorers | A free 30-minute session of songs and activities inside the world’s largest collection of famous faces. |
Polka Theatre Big Dreams Theatre Festival
Polka Theatre is London’s top theatre for toddlers this summer, which they’re set to end on a high note. Big Dreams Festival is their big summer event. It will feature a bunch of interactive shows with the likes of MC Grammar and mesmeric puppets. On top of those, Polka will host a family rave, ‘Dancing with Colours’ and a multi-sensory afterparty for babies.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 September 2026
Where: Polka Theatre, SW19
Ages: 0 to 8 years
Price: Tickets £13
National Portrait Gallery Little Explorers
The National Portrait Gallery is the world’s largest collection of famous faces. Through songs and fun activities, their 30-minute Little Explorers sessions for kids explore the stories behind them.
Because it’s a free event at such an amazing venue, tickets for Little Explorers usually sell out fast. But if you miss out, just set a reminder for ticket releases on future sessions. These happen 3 weeks before each event, which usually take place on mid-month Wednesdays.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 16 September 2026
Where: National Portrait Gallery, WC2H
Ages: 2 years and up
Price: Free
Pip + Posy Live on Stage
This brand-new show is the perfect treat for fans of Pip and Posy. It will be your first chance to see the duo live on stage. Other favourites like Mo and Jamila will come along for the ride, which will take the gang through jungles, swamps and up into the sky on a big red balloon. We’re excited to see how they bring all of this to life through puppets and sets.
The 50-minute show is described as lively but gentle. You can expect enough toe-tapping songs and interactive play to keep a young audience engaged.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 19 September to Sunday 22 November 2026
Where: Little Angel Theatre, N1
Ages: 2 to 5 years
Price: Kids’ tickets from £14
A Tale of Us
A Tale of Us is the best baby-focused show we found playing in London this September. It’s a multi-sensory play made for both babies and their fledgling parents. The story follows Ivy and her little one over their first year of life together.
Performances of A Tale of Us last an hour. They are followed by a guided Stay and Play session, which also makes this event a great way to make friends with fellow new parents.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 16 September 2026
Where: Grand Junction, W2
Ages: 0 to 18 months
Price: Pay what you can (£7 recommended)
HAY!
HAY! is a 50-minute show aimed at slightly older tots that uses just a single word: “Hay!”. Mostly told through music, clowning and dance, the story is about a scarecrow who sees the natural world for the first time and longs to fly. HAY! was created by CBeebies star Patrick Lynch, whose Lyngo Theatre company has been making toddler shows for over two decades.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 27 September 2026
Where: artsdepot, N12
Ages: 3 to 5 years
Price: Tickets from £13.75
More great September activities for kids aged under 5
Boppin’ Bunnies Interactive Music
Dates: Saturday 26 September 2026
Where: Tranquil Hall, SE3
Ages: 0 to 5 years
Price: Tickets from £6
Mini Marvels: Early Years Sensory Play
Dates: Every Wednesday until 24 November 2026
Where: Estorick Collection, N1
Ages: 0 to 4 years
Price: £9.50 per workshop
Frameless’ Multi-Sensory Tots Class
Dates: Friday 11 September 2026
Where: Frameless, W1H
Ages: 1 to 4 years
Price: £14.50 for an adult and toddler ticket
Where to take kids aged 5-8 in London this September
The best things to do in London with kids aged 5 to 8 this September include free Open House crafts and an MC Grammar show. This section covers hands-on making, storytelling in grand settings and free outdoor festivals.
| Best for? | Loopla’s pick | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Free fun | Open House Festival | Hundreds of buildings open for free, including craft sessions in an underground Roman temple. |
| 5 to 8s overall | MC Grammar: The MIC DROP Tour | An hour of rapping and dancing from the award-winning kids’ entertainer, in the West End. |
| 7 year olds | Greek Myths + Legends | Storytelling in Buckingham Palace’s Marble Hall, surrounded by statues of the characters. |
| The whole family | celebrASIA | Three days of performances, street food, craft workshops and an 11-country explorer trail. |
MC Grammar: The MIC DROP Tour
MC Grammar is one of the most beloved kids’ entertainers around right now. In February, he won the Ruth Rendell Award, given to the person to have the most positive impact on literacy in the UK the previous year. The next month he set a new Guinness World Record for the biggest rap lesson.
Your next chance to see MC Grammar live on stage is at Leicester Square Theatre in mid-September. His new 1-hour MIC DROP show promises ‘uncontrollable laughing, unexpected dancing and partying parents.’
Event details
Dates: Saturday 12 September 2026
Where: Leicester Square Theatre, WC2H
Ages: 4 years and up
Price: From £20
Open House Festival 2026
Open House London is the largest festival of its kind in the world. Once a year, hundreds of locations across the city open to the public. Some of these are private, others are public spaces that put on free events. One example of the latter is Soho Square Gardens’ West End Festival, a day of music and dance.
One of the most kid-friendly Open House events we’ve seen takes place in the London Mithraeum. As an underground Roman temple, few places deserve the label ‘hidden gem’ more than this museum. On Saturday 12 September, they will be running a special day of family crafts where kids can make their own sculptures.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 September 2026
Where: London-wide
Ages: Varies by event
Price: Free
Greek Myths + Legends
For kids too young for The Odyssey, Buckingham Palace’s Greek Myths and Legends event might be the next best thing. In special storytelling performances, they’ll hear the tales of figures like Penelope and Narcissus. Perhaps the best thing about this event is its truly immersive setting, though. It takes place in the Palace’s grand Marble Hall, where you’ll be surrounded by statues of the very characters mentioned above.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 September 2026
Where: Buckingham Palace, SW1A
Ages: Best for 7 years and up
Price: Free with Palace entry (from £16.50 for kids)
celebrASIA
celebrASIA is a three-day celebration of South East Asian culture at Battersea Power Station involving live performances, tasty street food and kids’ activities. The paid workshops will show little ones how to do things like paint fans, weave wall art and concoct ‘Tiger Slime’. Young explorers can also follow The Grand Tour trail around the Power Station, discovering facts about 11 South East Asian countries. As a reward, those who complete it get a special explorer sticker and stamp.
Event details
Dates: Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026
Where: Battersea Power Station, SW11
Ages: All ages (workshops vary)
Price: Mix of free and ticketed activities
Make sculptures in a Magic Garden
This month, V&A South Kensington is inviting kids to make their own sculptures with recycled and reused materials in its Magic Garden. The free drop-in sessions are led by a resident artist, who will show little creators how to take inspiration from nature.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 12 September 2026
Where: V&A South Kensington, SW7
Ages: 5 years and up
Price: Free
More great September activities for kids aged 5 to 8
Black On The Square 2026
Dates: Saturday 5 September 2026
Where: Trafalgar Square, WC2N
Ages: All ages
Price: Free
Surrey Docks Farm Harvest Festival
Dates: Saturday 12 September 2026
Where: Surrey Docks Farm, SE16
Ages: All ages
Price: Free
The Dreamings of Captain Cat
Dates: Saturday 19 September 2026
Where: Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, W6
Ages: 4 years and up
Price: From £12
Where should I take kids aged 9 years+ in London this month?
The best things to do in London with kids aged 9 and over this September include a month-long river festival and a fun run through London Zoo. This section covers immersive exhibitions, live music and events older kids can take part in themselves.
| Best for? | Loopla’s pick | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| 9+ overall | Totally Thames Festival 2026 | A month of workshops, performances and river events across 20 London boroughs. |
| 9 and 10 year olds | Run Wild at London Zoo | The 1-mile route (entirely within the zoo) makes this a great first fun run for this age group. |
| 11 year olds and up | Luminiscence: Immersive Concert | A 360° light show across the walls and ceiling of Westminster Cathedral, narrated by Hugh Bonneville. |
| The whole family | Water Lantern Festival | Everyone gets a lantern to decorate and float, so nobody is too young or too old to join in. |
Totally Thames Festival 2026
Totally Thames Festival is a month-long celebration of London’s famous river. Workshops, live performances and all sorts of events will take place in 20 different boroughs. You can see a Shakespeare play performed above the Golden Hinde ship on the south bank. Other highlights include Kids Choir 2026 on the steps of St Paul’s and Creekside wildlife activities in Deptford.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 27 August to Tuesday 6 October 2026
Where: London-wide
Ages: 9 years and up
Price: Varies by event
Water Lantern Festival
The Water Lantern Festival has been making lakes and ponds glow all over the world all year. Next, it’s London’s turn. On entry, you get a lantern to decorate with doodles and special messages. As you wait to float them on the water, there will be plenty of food, entertainment and even a treasure trail to enjoy.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 September 2026
Where: Clapham Common, SW4
Ages: All ages
Price: From £27.90
Run Wild at London Zoo
Run Wild is a fundraising event where families get to race around London Zoo. Every pound raised goes toward protecting endangered animals like tigers. You can choose between a 1-mile route or stretch to 5km. The latter loops through Regent’s Park and back into the zoo. They recommend that one for kids aged 11 and up.
A special medal awaits you at the Run Wild finish line, plus a cuddly tiger toy if you raise £80 or more. You then have the rest of the day to tour the Zoo, exploring some of the wildlife you helped support.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 20 September 2026
Where: London Zoo, NW1
Ages: 9 years and up
Price: £35 to register
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: Until Saturday 31 October 2026
Where: Immerse LDN, E16
Ages: All ages
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: Until Saturday 26 September 2026
Where: Westminster Cathedral, SW1P
Ages: 11 years and up
Price: Tickets from £32.50
More great September activities for kids aged 9 years and over
Rose-A-Thon 2026
Dates: Saturday 19 September 2026
Where: The Rose Playhouse, SE1
Ages: 9 years and up
Price: £5 to watch, £10 to take part
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone In Concert
Dates: Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September 2026
Where: Royal Albert Hall, SW7
Ages: 9 years and up
Price: Tickets from £20 (standing)
World Premiere: Fleurs de Villes DIANA
Dates: Wednesday 16 September to Tuesday 6 October 2026
Where: Somerset House, WC2R
Ages: 9 years and up
Price: Kids’ tickets from £20.25
Titanic: Echoes from the Past
Dates: Until Saturday 31 October 2026
Where: Eclipso, NW1
Ages: 9 years and up
Price: Kids’ tickets from £19.50
Common questions about things to do with kids in London
What free things can I do with kids in London in September 2026?
Free things to do with kids in London in September 2026 include Little Explorers at the National Portrait Gallery, family crafts at the London Mithraeum and sculpture-making in the V&A’s Magic Garden.
Surrey Docks Farm’s Harvest Festival is free too, as is Black On The Square in Trafalgar Square on 5 September. The Mithraeum crafts are part of Open House London, which opens hundreds of buildings to the public for free each September.
What can I do with a 4 year old in London in September?
In London this September, a 4 year old can see HAY!, a near-wordless show about a scarecrow who longs to fly. Polka Theatre’s Big Dreams Festival also runs interactive shows, a family rave and puppet performances over one weekend.
Pip + Posy Live on Stage suits 4 year olds as well, and runs into November. For something free, try Little Explorers at the National Portrait Gallery.
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)
The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and British Museum are also free to enter, though some special exhibitions are ticketed. V&A South Kensington is free too, and hosts free drop-in sculpture sessions this September.
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
- Pod, New research from Pod finds ‘back to school’ the most stressful time of year for UK parents (survey of 2,000 UK parents with school-age children, 2 September 2025). 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 magical family experiences
When it comes to planning family fun, sorting through what’s 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