With schools closed across the country for the summer holidays, keeping little (and big) ones occupied without breaking the bank can be a challenge! You could try Big City Saver or try out Kids Pass for £1 for 30 days to see what discounts you can get and have a look at places where children eat for free at Money Saving Central. But with all that in mind, we thought we’d share some amazing free activities you can do with children in London this summer! (and a couple that are a good value for money).
Some attractions might require booking in advance, even if entry is free.
Summer in the Square
21 – 31 July 2022
A fabulous, fun and totally free series of events is the perfect opportunity for you, family and friends to meet and enjoy some of the best that Mayfair has to offer. Mayfair’s Grosvenor Square will be transformed into one of the city’s culture hubs over the summer holidays, with three weeks of cultural entertainment and performances. Join for a bit of live jazz performances, interactive opera tutorials, ukelele workshops and dance classes.
Find out more.
Junior Wetland Ranger
23 July to 2 September 2022
Throughout the summer holidays, children can take part in the Junior Wetland Ranger program, a fun, interactive session at WWT Wetland Centre. Children will learn about different species of animals and how to care for them, amongst other things.
Find out more.
Yayoi Kusama’s Obliteration Room at Tate Modern
23 July to 29 August 2022
Everyone is invited to transform a completely white domestic apartment into a sea of colourful dots: UNIQLO Tate Play: The Obliteration Room is an interactive artwork for all ages. Visitors will be given a sheet of colourful ‘dot’ stickers to help bring the space to life.
Find out more.
Family Festival of Flight at RAF Museum
30 – 31 July 2022
Enjoy a variety of drop-in and timed activities which include challenging your coding skills; test flying a paper rocket; making and releasing your own parachute; discovering materials included in RAF clothing; feeling inspired in our storytelling sessions for the under-5s – all at our fantastic London Museum site.
Find out more.
Kids Summer Splash at the Royal Docks
1 – 21 August 2022
Dive into family fun this summer as Kids Summer Splash brings you delightful dock swimming, super sandpits, deckchair chilling, and much more. Grab your towels and take a swim in the lido which also includes a shallow end for younger children to make a splash and have a paddle.
Find out more.
This Bright Land at Somerset House
1 – 29 August 2022
Step inside the magical world of This Bright Land, transforming our magnificent courtyard into a wonderland open to all, with joyful day-and-night performances, music, dance, talks, workshops and more, platforming established creatives and grassroots communities.
Find out more.
Discovery Days at Hyde Park
2 – 4, 9 – 11, August 2022
Discovery Days take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the school holidays at The LookOut Discovery Centre in the heart of Hyde Park
.
An expert learning team run a range of free and exciting nature-inspired activities for families. You could be pond dipping, helping your children discover an underwater world, sweep netting in our meadow or bug hunting at our minibeast hotel.
Find out more.
Family Drop-in Workshops at Sir John Soane’s Museum
4, 11, 18 25 August 2022
Sir John Soane’s Museum in Holborn are running free family drop-in workshops during the summer holidays. Tickets are available to book in advance, but you can also drop-in on the day as part of your museum visit.
Find out more.
The Beach Club at JW3
The Beach is back. With golden(ish) sand, deck chairs, paddling pool and indoor café, all set against a gorgeous Tel Aviv backdrop, Hampstead Beach is open to visitors throughout July and August and is completely free. Yup, that’s right. Hours of fun right on your doorstep.
And if that wasn’t enough, our Families Programmer and Early Years expert Chloe will be running the Beach Club on Mondays and Wednesdays – a free, interactive, creative and sunny beach experience for parents with children aged 0-4. Includes crafts, singing and yoga.
Find out more.
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is back!
26 August – 11 September
Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF) is London’s leading festival of free outdoor theatre and performing arts and, in the words of The Guardian, makes an “unrivalled contribution to the happiness of the people of London”. GDIF is committed to breaking new ground in outdoor performance and raising the ambition, quality and diversity of outdoor work produced in the UK.
Find out more.
Talk with Peter Pan
You can find the Peter Pan statue to the west of the Long Water, in the same spot as Peter lands his bird-nest boat in the story, ‘The Little White Bird.’
Children can bring the Peter Pan statue magically to life with your smartphone, as part of Talking Statues. Simply swipe your phone on the nearby plaque and get a personal call-back from Peter Pan.
We think this way pretty cool and the face on the children’s faces were priceless when they realized Peter Pan just called.
Find out more.
Join a Free Walking tour
You can also join a free walking tour around London if you fancy being a tourist for a day! Here is a list of free walking tours in London:
Strawberry Tours
London Free Tours By Foot
The Secret Garden, Garden Museum*
6 July – 4 September
Celebrating Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic The Secret Garden, this immersive exhibition is packed with interactive games and trails to teach children all about the restorative power of plants. Running throughout the summer holidays, the exhibition is accompanied by a programme of craft, gardening and cooking activities to get children and families involved. Kids go free!
Find out more.
Outdoor Theatre: The Jungle Book at Osterley Park and House*
5 August 2022
DOT Productions present their own adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’ at the National Trust Osterley Park and House. Join Mowgli as Bagheera and Baloo help him on his journey through the jungle back to the man- village. Brought to the stage by a cast of five actors, watch as they encounter the monkeys, run from Shere Khan the tiger and get hypnotised by Kaa the snake. Tickets cost £9 per individual; £32 for a family of 4.
Find out more.
We hope whatever you choose to do, you’ll have an amazing time!
*Paid activities