Looking for things to do during the summer holidays in London with kids? Find ideas for what to do in the school holidays and what’s on over summer 2024 in London for kids.
Table of Contents
What’s On Summer Holidays in London with Kids
This list is currently being updated for summer 2024. I will continue to add to the list as more family events and activities are announced over the coming weeks.
Return to Azkaban at WB Studio Tour London
1 May – 4 September 2024
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, with a brand new special feature.
The Divination classroom set will be on display at the Studio Tour, as seen when when Harry, Ron and Hermione attended their first lesson with Professor Trelawney. Discover the classroom details up close and look out for the original Grim teacup!
Related: Dark Arts at Harry Potter Studio Tour
During the Return to Azkaban feature, there will be a new section of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom to see, complete with the Boggart wardrobe and sinister Boggart jack-in-the-box.
Book tickets to visit WB Studio Tour London
The Moat in Bloom at Tower of London
23 May – 9 September 2024
Experience the Tower of London Moat from a fresh perspective this summer as this unique and historic space blooms into life once more.
Access to the moat will be included in your Tower of London ticket between May and September.
Book tickets to visit Tower of London
The Joust at Hampton Court Palace
13 – 14 and 20 – 21 July 2024
Be dazzled by a real Tudor joust at the home of Henry VII and experience the pomp, ceremony and splendour of what it took to be in a joust.
Between shows, spectacular falconry displays will offer visitors the chance to learn more about the birds and their hunting techniques.
The Joust is included in Hampton Court Palace admission (members go free). All performances are open-air and seated directly on grass.
Buy tickets to visit Hampton Court Palace
Medieval Season at Eltham Palace and Gardens
20 July – 1 September 2024
Eltham Palace will be running activities throughout the summer holidays for families to learn what life was like in medieval times.
From jester workshops, have-a-go archery, storytelling, squire training to lessons in courtly etiquette there will be a different activity each week for children to take part in. Check their Facebook page for the full list of activities running each week. Book online and save 15%.
Book your visit to Eltham Palace and Gardens
Eco Adventures at Greenwich Park
30 July and 8, 14, 20 August 2024
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.
On each day there is a morning session from 10am to 12pm and an afternoon session from 1pm to 3pm. Suitable for children of any age and children must be accompanied by an adult. Events are free to attend but please book your place in advance.
Butterflies (30 July) – Join the team to catch butterflies and other insects, learn to identify them and find out some fun facts. Be inspired by nature and create your own artwork.
Summer Nature Walk (8 August) – Join the Field Study Countil on a Nature Walk and explore the woods and grassland at Greenwich Park. You will use identification guides to name the creatures and plants you find, and learn more about them.
Archaeology (14 August) – Step back in time at Greenwich Park and explore the rich archaeology the park has to offer. Discovery how we find out about the past and learn about local historical events, people and places.
Pond Dipping (20 August) – Find out about the wonderful world of ponds on this session for all the family. Use nets to discover what is living under the surface and find out about the strange creatures that make the pond their home.
Book your place for Eco Adventures with Field Study Council
Family Theatre in London Summer Holidays 2024
Here’s a list of what’s on for kids at London Theatres and outdoor theatre venues during the summer 2024 holidays in London.
Theatre at Kew Gardens
19 July – 1 September 2024, selected dates
Over the 2024 summer holidays, the Theatre on Kew programme at Kew Gardens London includes The Dream Fairies – Adventure to Bubble Land and The Wind in the Willows.
Related: Summer in Kew Gardens London
The Dream Fairies – Adventure to Bubble Land (19 July – 1 September 2024, selected dates)
The Dream Fairies – Adventure to Bubble Land is a magical adventure for the whole family. Join the magical fairies as they go on an exciting musical adventure!
Performance times are 10:30am Tuesday to Sunday and 2pm on Friday to Saturday.
Book tickets for the Dream Fairies at Kew Gardens
The Wind in the Willows (20 July – 1 September 2024, selected dates)
This critically acclaimed, outdoor theatre production set against the magical backdrop of the stunning Lake, is packed with much-loved colourful characters, music, song and laughter.
A favourite of children everywhere, this is interactive theatre at its best. Come along and be part of the adventure this summer at Kew Gardens!
Performance times are 11am Tuesday to Sunday and 2:30pm on Thursday to Saturday.
Book tickets for The Wind in the Willows at Kew Gardens
Tickets include entry to Kew Gardens and cost £18.90 for adult members and £23.75 for adult non-members; £13.90 for child members and £17.90 for child non-members. Suitable for all ages.
Peter Pan at Morden Hall Park
28 and 30 July 2024
Filled with catchy music, heaps of audience interaction, and a laugh-a-minute script, this hilarious and exciting musical of the boy who never grew up promises to have every member of the family entertained throughout.
Bring a blanket and a picnic and join Peter Pan and his friends on their summer adventures in the picturesque Rose Garden at Morden Hall Park.
Running time: 100 minutes including interval. Performances are 1pm to 2:40pm (matinee) and 4pm to 5:40pm (evening). Tickets cost £15 for adults and £11 for children. Recommended for ages 4+
Book tickets for Peter Pan at Morden Hall Park
London Theatre Kids Week
1 – 31 August 2024
With the London Theatre Kids Week summer promotion, a child 17 and under goes free to selected West End shows when accompanied by an adult paying full price, plus an additional two children can attend for half price.
Kids Week tickets are typically on sale in June, with a wide variety of London musicals, plays, comedies and children’s shows to choose from. I will update this post when further details about 2024 tickets are released.
Check latest updates for London Theatre’s Kids Week
Beauty and the Beast at Greenwich Theatre
2 – 25 August 2024
The ‘tale as old as time’, Beauty and the Beast, gets a fresh makeover with an astonishing cast of actor-musicians in a magical, musical, laugh-out-loud new adaptation.
Running time: 2 hours. Recommended for ages 3+. Tickets from £28 for adults and £14.50 for children (under 16).
Book tickets for Beauty and the Beast at Greenwich Theatre
Summer in London Family Activities TBA
This list is currently being updated for summer 2024. I will continue to add to the list as more family events and activities are announced over the coming weeks.
Meet the Characters at Cutty Sark
Summer 2024 Dates TBA
Meet colourful characters from Cutty Sark’s past, and hear astonishing stories about life at sea in the age of sail.
Related: Visiting Cutty Sark London with Kids
Characters to look out for (at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm) include Captain Woodget, Cutty Sark‘s longest serving master, Nannie the figurehead and Jock Willis, the man who built Cutty Sark.
Find out more about the characters you could meet on the Cutty Sark website.
Book tickets to visit Cutty Sark
Summer of Play at the National Maritime Museum
Summer 2024 Dates TBA
The National Maritime Museum Greenwich will be running a full programme of maritime-themed, indoor and outdoor activities over the summer. Free drop-in sessions on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays will be in the Learning Space and are suitable for all ages and abilities.
Read the latest updates at National Maritime Museum
Big Summer of Fun at London Zoo
Summer 2024 Dates TBA
Prepare to take on London Zoo’s Really Wild Challenge this summer, with a host of family games with a wild twist.
Related: Day Out at London Zoo with kids
Themed around speed, survival, stealth and ZSL’s conservation work, games include Sleeping Tiger agility game, Buzz Wire challenge and Hook-a-duck.
Read more and book tickets to visit London Zoo
Nature Roadshow at the Royal Parks
Summer 2024 Dates TBA
London’s Royal Parks will be running free Nature Roadshows over the summer holidays. Drop-in activities will be on selected dates at Richmond Park, The Regent’s Park, Bushy Park, Kensington Gardens, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park and Brompton Cemetery.
Drop in from 11am to 2pm to discover facts about the wildlife that can be found in London’s Royal Parks. Family activities will include arts and crafts, interactive storytelling and handling bugs.
Register your interest and find latest details at The Royal Parks
Family Activities at Chelsea Physic Garden
Summer 2024 Dates TBA
Chelsea Physic Garden are running several family activity workshops during the summer holidays. Workshop tickets include entry to the Garden that day and most are designed for ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by at least one ticket-holding adult.
Discover Ferns: Plant a Dinosaur Habitat (25 July): Learn about the plants that lived when the dinosaurs roamed the planet and design your own mini dinosaur habitat to take home. Tickets cost £20 per adult and £15 per child. Workshop time: 11am to 12:30pm
Family Seed Excavation Adventure (27 July): Join in on a dinosaur-themed visit hunting for seedheads and excavating them from the plants. Participants will then grow their own mini dinosaur environment. Tickets cost £10 per adult and £5 per child. Workshop time: 2pm to 3:30pm
Discover Carnivorous Plants Family Workshop: Craft Your Own Plant (1 August): After learning about the special insect-eating carnivorous plants, there will be a creative session where each child can imagine their own carnivorous plant, their story and craft a mixed media masterpiece. Tickets are £15 per adult and £10 per child. Workshop time: 11am to 12:30pm
Discover Tropical Plants: Make a Hot House (8 August): This workshop will focus on Tropical Plants. Learn how some of our favourite food grows and make your own mini hot house to take home. Tickets are £20 per adult and £15 per child. Workshop time: 11am to 1pm
See the full family activity programme and book a workshop at Chelsea Physic Garden
Kids Summer Splash at the Royal Docks
Summer 2024 Dates TBA
Located at Royal Victoria Dock, Kids Summer Splash brings you delightful dock swimming, super sandpits, tasty food, cooling drinks, and more. Take a swim in the lido which also includes a shallow end for younger children. Kids Summer Splash is free and open to all ages.
Read latest details about Kids Summer Splash at the Royal Docks
Discovery Days at The LookOut Hyde Park
Summer 2024 Dates TBA
LookOut Hyde Park will be running their free Discovery Days over the summer holidays on selected dates in August. Drop-in activities are open between 11am and 3pm. All visitors are welcomed on a first come, first served basis.
Wild About Water (1 – 3 August): Take a closer look at the variety of life in Royal Parks’ water with pond dipping, creating your own water animal, learning how different water birds feed and storytelling sessions.
Meadow Madness (8 – 10 August): Explore the beautiful meadows at Hyde Park and take part in a variety of activities including meeting minibeasts, make your own seedballs to take home and experiment with different seed dispersal methods.
Peter Pan (15 – 17 August): Uncover the treasure in the centre of Hyde Park and get involved in fun Peter Pan themed activities, from a pirate orienteering challenge to building a home for elves and fairies.
Life Underground (22 – 24 August): Explore life underground in the Royal Parks with various activities that include a minibeast hunt, creating clay animals and building a fox or badger den.
Register your interest for the Discovery Days at The LookOut Hyde Park
Summer Holidays in London 2024 Map
I am pinning the top places in London for things to do during the school holidays in my “Summer Holidays in London 2024” Google Map Guide. For a direct link to the map to bookmark, click here. To explore the map, click on the door sign with an arrow just before the map title.
Read on for more things to do over the school holidays, from outdoor family theatre shows to inspiration for days trips outside of London.
More Summer in London Inspiration
Find more ideas for days out during the summer holidays in London with kids with our round-up posts and reviews.
Play Fountains and Padding Pools in London
The Best Play Fountains in London – find a spot to cool down at one of these public play fountains in central London
Read on for more ideas of where to cool down this summer in London at these free city playgrounds;
Dukes Meadows Chiswick Paddling Pool
Diana Memorial Playground Kensington
Water Play Areas at London Attractions
Discover more days out ideas with these reviews on top London attactions that have great water play areas and activities;
Family Day Out at London Wetland Centre Barnes
Children’s Garden at Kew Gardens
Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace
London Museum of Water and Steam with Kids
Museums in London for Kids
Top Museums in London for Kids – plan a visit to one of London’s top family-friendly museums
Read on for more family days out inspiration with our reviews on top museums in London for kids;
Family Day Out at the British Museum
Visiting the Horniman Museum and Gardens with Kids
Wonderlab at the Science Museum London
London Transport Museum with Kids
Day Out at the National Maritime Museum
Dino Snores for Kids at the Natural History Museum
Royal Air Force Museum London with Kids
Cutty Sark Activities for Kids
London Museum of Water and Steam with Kids
National Portrait Gallery London with Kids
Here is a list of family-friendly exhibitions that are running at the top London museums for kids during the 2024 summer holidays;
Dinosaur rEvolution at the Horniman Museum
10 February – 3 November 2024
Explore the relationship between dinosaurs and birds at the first UK showing of Dinosaur rEvolution at Horniman Museum and Gardens.
This fascinating, family-friendly exhibition will feature five large animatronic models, many accurate cast fossil skeletons and skulls – some touchable, detailed graphics by the acclaimed artist Luis V Rey, dress up, games, and more.
Exhibition tickets cost £9 for adults, £4.50 for children. Free for under 3s.
Book exhibition tickets at the Horniman Museum
Outdoor Attractions in London with Kids
Visiting Osterley Park National Trust with Kids
Gruffalo Adventure Trail at Horsenden Hill
Dinosaur Adventure Golf West London
Things to Do in St James’s Park London with Kids
Day Trips from London with Kids
Find more inspiration for the summer holidays with these round-up posts with ideas for day trips from London.
Pick Your Own Farms near London
This post was updated on 19 April 2024 with family events, activities and theatre shows coming up during the London Summer Holidays 2024.
Pin for later – Inspiration for Summer Holidays in London with Kids
