The summer holidays are here, so it’s the perfect time to plan some fun-filled activities to keep those energetic kids entertained. From alfresco theatre shows to exciting exhibitions, themed afternoon tea to karting adventures, we've found the best family-friendly options to guarantee a summer 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 walk through experience features more than 50 interactive and Instagrammable backdrops and 25 rooms to explore.
Step into the illusional Paradox Tunnel, where walking straight will seem 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 a captivating and educational experience for children of all ages.
90 Brompton Road, SW3 1JJ, paradoxmuseumlondon.com
Refresh yourself with a freebie
Fancy a freebie, and something good to drink for the kids? As part of a partnership with Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2, Cawston Press, the juice people, are handing out free Frozen Fruit Waters from the Termperance Fountain on Clapham Common. The flavours available will be apple and pear, apple and summer berries, apple and mango (they’re keen on apple, can you tell?), and sunshine orange. There’ll also be parasols and deck chairs about, for parents in need of a rest. The van will be there from 10am, handing out juices until stocks run out.
July 27, Clapham Common Temperance Fountain, SW4 0JA, eventbrite.co.uk
Step inside the CBeebies rainbow adventure
If you’ve got a fan of Bluey, Hey Duggee or Mr Tumble at home, head over to the CBeebies rainbow adventure. This 55-minute immersive experience, featuring music, roleplay and storytelling, places you and your little one at the heart of the tale.
The story? The CBeebies rainbow has lost all of its colours, and it’s up to you to bring it back to life by completing fun tasks, such as playing a magic xylophone in Bluey’s bedroom. Perfect for ages zero to six, there’s also a photo op with Bluey or Duggee at the end.
Until November, Westfield Shopping Centre, W12 7GF, cbeebiesrainbowadventure.com
Flap your way over to Wing Fest at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The world’s biggest chicken wing festival is landing in London on July 26, 27, and 28 at the London Stadium. Pick from 45 different street food traders, restaurants, BBQ teams and pop-ups from across the country. It's perfect for older kids with an appetite. From spicy to sweet, deep-fried to barbecued, you can munch on every type of wing imaginable from the likes of Thunderbird, Black Bear Burger, Wingmans and Bone Daddies.
Aside from a plethora of wings, there’s an exciting line-up of entertainment — cheer on contestants at the deadly Lava Wing Challenge, which is not for the faint hearted, and catch the “Flying Goose” wing eating competition. There are also fairground rides, arcades, live music and axe throwing.
London Stadium, Stratford, E20 2ST, wingfest.co.uk
Howzat! Catch 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. Catch the action between July 23 and August 18 at two iconic venues, The Oval in Kennington, home of the current Men’s champions The Oval Invincibles, and Lord’s, where London Spirit play.
The Hundred matches always feature more than just the game, with pyro, fireworks and live music to keep kids enthralled. Pop sensation Zara Larsson is to perform at Lord’s on August 18.
Various cricket grounds, thehundred.com
Enjoy a teddy bear picnic at 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 in partnership with Hamleys to their stay. Youngsters will be able to pick their own Hamleys bear from an in-room teddy bear menu and their new cuddly friend will be hand-delivered by a dedicated bear butler.
They also get to 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 at bedtime. For families exploring London, this is the perfect blend 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 all over London. Battersea Power Station, the brand’s newest site, has an atmospheric and industrial vibe. Families can enjoy traditional games of ping pong, try their hand at challenging the robot, try ping pong basketball, and give shufl a go, a simple but fun game where two players slide weighted pucks along a table.
Hungry competitors will be able to refuel easily. The venue includes an extensive food and drinks 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 pleasantly English way to spend a summer’s day than indulging in a spot of afternoon tea? Dalloway Terrace’s new children’s one has been specially designed with a charming bumble bee 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 features finger sandwiches filled with mild cheddar, honey roast ham and cucumber; the middle tier offers fluffy vanilla and sultana scones served with honey; and on the bottom, sweet treats like buttery beehive-themed shortbread and a chocolate lollipop. Adults can enjoy more grown-up treats including roast beef and horseradish sandwiches, warm Irish cheddar scones with sundried tomato butter, and a pistachio and vanilla Battenberg cake.
16-22 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3NN, dallowayterrace.com
Immerse yourselves in the ‘Urban Theme Park’ of Gravity MAX
Sprawled over 67,000 square feet, the recently opened Gravity MAX in Stratford offers a huge array of activities to delight kids of all ages. Styled as an urban theme park, the entertainment venue features immersive experiences and arcade-style games, perfect for gaming enthusiasts.
Test your aim with digital darts, which uses AR technology to bring a futuristic twist to the classic pub game, while budding pop stars will be able to belt out their favourite tunes with The Voice karaoke experience. There is also an immersive gaming space to battle zombies and catapult Angry Birds, and a multi-level e-karting track. Age and height restrictions apply.
Unit 1-7, Chestnut Plaza, E20 1GL, gravity-global.com
Enjoy an enchanted evening of theatre at Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens has a stellar line-up of three family-friendly theatrical productions by the Australian Shakespeare Company. Ideal for tots aged two and over, a fairy themed interactive show features plenty of song and dance, as well as a cameo from Tinkerbell.
Also lined up is a classic tale of The Wind in the Willows, which is ideal for those aged four and over, while older children might enjoy Shakespeare’s best-loved comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set beneath Kew’s heritage trees.
Until September 1, Ferry Lane, TW9 3AG, kew.org
Tee-time fun at Swingers West End
Crazy golf aficionados can enjoy some competitive match play on quirky holes as Swingers West End becomes a family-friendly playground on Sundays. With three fiendish nine hole courses available, players can test their putting skills against family members before refuelling with street food from Patty & Bun, Breddos Tacos, and Pizza Pilgrims. Frozen slushies and doughnuts from Crosstown are available too.
The Oxford Street venue is themed around the 1920s English Riviera complete with a helter skelter and retro big wheel. Children must be aged seven and over to play.
Across London, swingers.club
Get your skates on for Starlight Express
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s revamped Starlight Express rolls into the Starlight Auditorium at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre this summer. The two-and-a-half-hour show will sweep audiences into a high-speed roller skating adventure filled with songs, “dynamic choreography” and “captivating storytelling”.
With a set of 40 performers whizzing around, you’ll enjoy musical theatre classics like AC/DC, Make Up My Heart, Light at the End of the Tunnel, and the iconic Starlight Express. A new addition this year is Studio Five restaurant, with menus for adults and children. Those visiting on a Friday or Saturday will be treated to a live pop, soul or jazz performance too.
Wembley Park Theatre, 3 Fulton Rd, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0SP, starlightexpresslondon.com
Prepare for a science spectacle at Brainiac Live!
The Brainiacs science group, of TV fame, will be performing at the Marylebone Theatre this summer. The idea is that they uncover the mysteries of science with daring experiments and demonstrations that both entertain and educate.
Suitable for ages five and up, the 60-minute show features bangs, flashing lights and special effects, creating an immersive experience.
July 30 - August 24. 35 Park Road, NW1 6XT, marylebonetheatre.com
Get a slice of the action at Novikov with an afternoon of pizza making
Got a little chef or two at home? Get them along to Novikov’s Italian restaurant every Sunday from 12-4pm for a fun and interactive pizza-making masterclass. Kids are tasked with crafting their own delicious masterpiece, guided by Novikov’s expert team in the restaurant’s private area.
Children will learn how to knead and roll dough before customising their creations with toppings. Meanwhile, parents can indulge in a relaxing lunch while the kids are in the kitchen. Colouring books and cupcake decorating are also on offer to keep youngsters busy.
50A Berkeley Street, W1J 8HA, novikovrestaurant.co.uk
Celebrate 65 Years of Barbie at The Design Museum
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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 unique items to the latest designs spanning from 1959 to present day.
You’ll get to 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.
