Free activities to do with children this summer in London

The school summer holidays are approaching, which is good news for teachers and kids but for parents it’s six weeks of keeping children occupied. Luckily, there are many activities, from exciting museums and child-friendly art exhibitions to fun-filled parks and fascinating landmarks to do with kids on a family trip to London.

Canary Wharf activities

Festival 14
Canary Wharf will host over 50 live acts including music, theatre, dance, comedy and children’s activities.
The majority of events are free to attend, and there are activities for all age groups.
Dates:28 – 30 July, various times
Find out more:Festival14: Family Fun - Canary Wharf

Minigolf
It’s free to play and there is no need to book, simply turn up, and the event stewards will provide you with clubs and balls to play. The perfect activity for all ages and abilities to enjoy.
Dates:daily 12pm – 6pm
Find out more:Minigolf by Craig & Karl - Canary Wharf

Family film club
The Family Film Club is held on certain Saturdays at Canada Square Park. It is recommended to arrive early to secure a spot in front of the big outdoor screen and bring snacks.
Dates:Saturday mornings until 19 August
Find out more:Family Film Club - Canary Wharf

Ping Pong
Pop down to Montgomery Square or Union Square this summer for some competitive ping pong.
Dates:daily 12pm – 6pm
Find out more:Ping Pong - Canary Wharf

Morph art trail

Morph's Epic Art Adventure sees a brigade of Morphs positioned next to the capital's landmarks between now and 20 August. Each has been individually painted by an emerging artist. The resulting trail is mostly dotted throughout the City and South Bank, with one or two rogue statues in places like Notting Hill. It's been put together by Whizz-Kidz, the UK's leading charity for young wheelchair users.
Dates: 19 June-20 August
Find out more:Morph's Epic Art Adventure London

Tusk gorilla trail

In addition to the Morphs, a trail of 15 life-sized gorilla sculptures comes to Covent Garden just in time for the summer holidays.The likes of Ronnie Wood and Rankin designed pieces on the Tusk Gorilla Trail, which is free to follow
Dates:14 July - October 2023
Find out more:The Tusk Gorilla Trail at Covent Garden

Live music at St Martin-in-the-Fields

Celebrate the summer with some free live music, mix of jazz, soul, R&B, folk, country, and more, all performed by the most exciting emerging artists in St. Martin’s Courtyard.
Dates:every Thursday and Friday 5pm – 7pm and Saturdays 1pm – 7pm during July and August
Find out more:Summer Stage at St Martin's Courtyard

Nature Roadshow at the Royal Parks

London’s Royal Parks will be running free Nature Roadshows over the summer holidays.

• The Regent’s Park (25 July)– Broad Walk Café
• Richmond Park (26 July)– Roehampton Gate Gardens
• Richmond Park (27 July)– Isabella Plantation
• Bushy Park (1 and 2 August)– The Pheasantry Café
• Kensington Gardens (3 August)– Italian Gardens Café
• Greenwich Park (8 August)– Pavilion Café
• St James’s Park (9 August)– St James’s Café
• Brompton Cemetery (10 August)– North Lodge Café

Drop in from 11am to 2pm
Find out more:Royal Parks Nature Roadshow

Eco Adventures at Greenwich Park

Join the Field Study Council at their Greenwich Park centre for fun and educational discovery days on selected dates over the school holidays. The free sessions are based outdoors exploring the natural world, with a mix of games and activities.

• Butterflies (26 July)
• Minibeasts (2 August)
• Nature Walk (9 August)
• Earth and Space (16 August)

Sessions from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm
Find out more:Eco Adventures at Greenwich Park

Summer Gardening School

Children will learn about plant life-cycles, plant their own seeds, nurture them and watch them grow, build wildlife habitats, learn how nature can inspire their creative side and get stuck into a variety of other gardening tasks.
Dates: 28 July, 4, 11, 18 and 25 August 2pm – 4pm
Find out more: Summer Gardening School

Summer Family Festival at National Portrait Gallery

Join National Portrait Gallery this summer for a family friendly programme of events and activities inspired by their Collection. From photography and painting, to storytelling and crafts, there will be lots to make and do!
Dates: 31 July – 4 August and 7 – 11 August 2023
Find out more: Summer Family Festival - National Portrait Gallery

Kids Summer Splash at the Royal Docks

Join in the fun by jumping into the water, create a masterpiece in the super sandpits, relax in a deckchair and join in with free summer activities, all while immersing yourself in the fun and tranquillity at London’s historic Royal Docks.
Dates: 31 July – 20 August 2023
Find out more: Royal Docks Summer Splash 2023

Love Summer: Kids Mini Garden Making

Children will plan, design and build their own miniature garden using tools and living materials. Housed in a wicker basket, with a pebble tray underneath, the garden can be imagined in many ways using an exciting array of rocks, flowers, grasses and plants.
Date: 1 August
Find out more: Love Summer: Kids Mini Garden Making

Kids' Sandpit Play Days

Expect to find sandpit games and toys, and surprise giveaways and treats for children. Oh, and comfortable deckchair seating for parents to relax in the sunshine too!
Dates: 2, 9 and 30 August 11am – 3pm
Find out more: Kids' Sandpit Play Day

Urban Playground

The Playground is a modern twist on the traditional playground, inspired by wooden children’s toys which contain multiple elements which slot together.
Dates: 1 June – 31 August
Find out more: Urban Playground - London Festival of Architecture

Discovery Days at The LookOut Hyde Park

LookOut Hyde Park will be running their free Discovery Days over the summer holidays on selected dates in August.

Activities include:

• Wild About Water (1 – 3 August)
• Meadow Madness (8 – 10 August)
• Peter Pan (15 – 17 August)
• Life Underground (22 – 24 August)

Drop-in activities are open between 11am and 3pm.Find out more: Discovery Days at The LookOut Hyde Park

Lego RoboTechs - Winning Goal 

Lego RoboTechs activity is for children aged 6-11 who are interested in improving their STEM skills to create Lego models and learn basic robotics programming in a fun setting. Run by library staff.
Dates: 3 Aug 2023 11am – 12pm
Find out more: Lego RoboTechs - Winning Goal

Roman London Family Quest

Go back in time to Roman Londinium on this fun, interactive family day. Follow a fun bespoke map highlighting Roman points of interest as you walk between them. Each site will also have family activities and quests for visitors to complete on the day.
Dates: 25-26 August
Find out more: Events | London Mithraeum

The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival

The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival is returning at the end of the school break, offering two weeks of outdoor theatre and performing arts for free. While the festival is not exclusively aimed at children, there are typically many events suitable for families. This year's highlights include a regatta featuring 12 illuminated swans and an aerial performance at the summit of Greenwich Park.
Dates: 25 August-10 September
Find out more: Greenwich+Docklands International Festival

Museums

And let's not forget about plenty of London's museums with free entries all year round! Try the Science Museum for aeroplanes and space, Natural History Museum for animals, and Museum of London Docklands for the Mudlarks interactive gallery.