We’ve included, family festivals, theatre, arty installations, fun in museums, outdoor adventures and lots more..so grab the kids, explore London and enjoy! Follow us on Instagram for more daily recommendations.
The Get Together
The Great Get Together will be smaller than previous years but there’s still plenty of fun to be had. You can expect local performances from Sadler’s Wells, dance lessons for the whole family, cape making with London College of Fashion students, Olympic and Paralympic games celebrations, storytelling and loads more.
When: Sunday 8th August from 12pm
Where: Timber Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
How much: free no booking required more info here.
Carnival of Play by Natalie Zervou – Kerruish
Artist Natalie Zervou-Kerruish has designed six movable structures which families are invited to transform into their own unique carnival floats. Use bells, balls, sticks, paper, foil, ribbon and tape to build and decorate your float in a way that symbolises your family or community. The session will end in a procession, with families leading their floats through the studio and out into the Orozco Garden!
When: Every Sunday in August
Where: South London Gallery
How much: free but booking required here.
The Whale – Plastic Ocean by Circo Rum Ba Ba
Plastic Ocean by Circo Rum Ba Ba offers bold explorers who squeeze into the belly of an enormous inflatable Sperm Whale where they find themselves in the depths of the bubbling, kelp-swirling ocean. They encounter an acrobatic diver who leads them swimmingly through the age old journey of the life of an ancient Leatherback Turtle. With the use of exquisite puppets, comedy and music, Circo Rum Ba Ba explore the tale of sea creatures and their battle to survive in an ocean full of rubbish. The audience help to save the turtle and the Whale from a deluge of plastic and travel from the Indian ocean to a coral reef, leaving feeling empowered that everyone can make a difference.
When: 8 August 12pm, 2pm, 4pm
Where: Avondale Park
How much: free more info here
Baby Broadway Concerts
A fun interactive family concert of songs from hit musicals and films featuring West End singers performing songs from Mary Poppins, Grease, Beauty & the Beast, Dr Doolittle, Frozen and many more.
The whole family can sing and dance along whilst enjoying bubbles, puppets, actions and dance moves in a joyful 45 minute performance suitable for all ages!
When: Various dates throughout August 2021
Where: Various locations including Highgate, Chickenshed and Covent Garden
How much: Adults from £11.75 and kids go free. More info and booking here.
Sorted! The Postal Playspace
The Postal Museum’s children’s playspace is reopening to the public. Young Londoners can discover a miniature mail-themed world with streets, buildings, trolleys, pulleys, slides and chutes and take on the job of postal workers to collect, sort, and deliver letters and parcels. That’s your summer plans sorted!
When: ongoing
Where: Postal Museum
How much: £4 per child more info and booking here.
Chosen Families with Glamrou
Through cooking, music and spoken word, embrace the company and sounds of your chosen family as the writer and performer’s curated weekend comes to a close.
When: 8th August 2021 1pm
Where: Southbank Centre
How much: free more info here.
The Tusk Lion Trail
Celebrate lions and the people who live alongside them through an art trail launching on World Lion Day, 10th August 2021. Life-sized lion sculptures, designed and made by some of the planet’s foremost artists, musicians and sportspeople, will roam the streets to highlight the threats currently faced by ‘the King of Beasts’, and to raise vital funds to support community conservation and livelihoods impacted by Covid-19 across Africa. Follow the latest news with #TuskLionTrail #TheLionsAreComing
Jurassic Encounter
Grovelands Park in London is turning into a prehistoric playground, featuring more than 50 animatronic dinosaur scenes, including a fearsome, 18m tall T-Rex that breathes and sways its tail as it hunts for prey; an Iguanodon’s furious battle against a Deinonychus; Pterosaurs that screech as they soar through the trees; a 15m tall Brachiosaurus, guarding her eggs and a 16m long Diplodocus, who cries out to passers by. We compiled a full feature for this event here.
When: ongoing until 10 August 2021
Where: Grovelands Park
How much: Ticket prices start at £11.50. More info and ticket booking here.
Edible Painting Workshop
Have fun learning about tempering, drizzling and decorating with chocolate and sprinkles – and taking home a self-made chocolate painting to put on your wall or enjoy with your family!
When: 11 August 2021
Where: The Chocolate Museum
How much: £25 for two people more info and booking here.
Maanika and the Wolf
This summer, while Polka Theatre’s building gradually starts to re-open its doors after an £8.5m redevelopment, the team are setting up shop in Centre Court Shopping Centre with a new pop-
up theatre space. Maanika and The Wolf, created and directed by Polka’s own Artistic Director Peter Glanville, is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and is perfect for 3-6 year olds.
When: on until 29th of August 2021
Where: Centre Court Shopping Centre, Wimbledon
How much: £14 more info and booking here.
Kids Week 2021
Kids Week allows families to enjoy half-price tickets to many London theatre performances throughout August. From iconic West End shows and movie-turned musicals to classic books brought to life on stage, there is something for everyone to enjoy. This popular event is a great opportunity to treat your teens to a day trip to London or introduce your little ones to the wonders of live entertainment.
When: throughout August 2021
Where: Various theatres throughout London
How much: Prices, full list of shows and to book tickets please visit Kids Week 2021 website.
Museum of the Moon
An incredible lunar installation will be unveiled as part of the Kensington + Chelsea Festival this month. Museum of the Moon is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon’s surface
When: 12 – 15 August 2021 outdoors followed by 17 – 30th August indoors
Where: Kensington Town Square
How much: free
Art in the Garden
Join Artist Cash Aspeek for these engaging workshops and get stuck into family creative activities exploring the senses, imagination and the natural world around you. Let your children lead the way as you all get inspired by the current Unearthed: Photography’s Roots exhibition, new art-making ideas, materials and possibilities. These activities are aimed at 7–12-year-olds and their families, but siblings and families of all ages are welcome.
When: 13 August 2021
Where: Dulwich Picture Gallery
How much: free but tickets must be booked in advance here.
TATE Play: Mega Please Draw Freely Picnic
Described as an indoor picnic come festival you can expect a variety of playful activities at the Tate Modern. You can draw on the Turbine Hall floor and on banners among the theatrical pine forest of UNIQLO Tate Play: Mega Please Draw Freely, by Ei Arakawa. Take part in interactive performances led by Arakawa. Children and young people will take the lead, guiding the artist and participants in a dance to create a collective circle drawing across the Turbine Hall floor.
When: 15 & 16 August from 12 – 6pm
Where: Tate Turbine Hall
How much: Free.
Festival of Fairytales
The Festival of Fairytales is a new event for children aged 4 – 10, set against the backdrop of the Garden Museum’s home of a medieval church. For one day only, children could dress as a Woodland Creature and spend a day exploring and discovering pop-up performers, craft workshops, storytelling, music and circus performances. Full list of performances and activities on offer is available on the event website.
When: 15 August 2021
Where: Garden Museum
How much: £15 per person.
Family Art Days
Join in with a family workshop in the garden on the 10th of August and learn about the practice of Shodo, the ancient art of Japanese calligraphy and build mark-making tools to create your own large scale painting in our garden. Or check out Stormy Marbling on the 16th of August where you can experiment with ink and water to create expressive marbled prints inspired by the swirling patterns of rivers, storms and cyclones and how they make us feel.
When: 10th and 16th August 2021
Where: Estorick Collection
How much: free booking required for 10th August here and 16th here.
Rosie Gibbens Installation Performance
Family workshop with bouncy castle on the 15th of August and you can join artist Rosie Gibbens as she brings her exhibition, Soft Girls, to life through this durational performance. In her signature style of ‘deadpan burlesque’, she enlists her sculptures in repeated routines, enacting euphemistic gestures, and implicating the viewer in her exploration of gender performativity and sexual politics.
When: 15 July for a family workshop and 17 July 3-6pm for the performance
Where: Zabludowic Collection
How much: Free, more info here.
Atypical Reader Storytelling Experience
We’ll be celebrating the wonderful imagination of children and taking inspiration from the book Omar, The Bees and Me. Join in for a day of beekeeping, crafting, honey tasting and immersive story telling. Recommended for children 3 and above
When: 19 – 29 August 2021
Where: Hackney City Farm
How much: £13.50 for an adult £8.50 for a child. More info and bookings here.
Zog
Based on the bestselling book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler, the smash-hit stage adaptation from Freckle Productions is flying into Cadogan Hall this August and you can enjoy the adventures alongside a live orchestra. The cast of actor-puppeteers bring the world of Zog to life with handcrafted puppets designed and created by Little Angel Theatre co-founder Lyndie Wright.
When: 18 – 29 August 2021
Where: Cadogan Hall
How much: From £19.50 more info and bookings here.
Bee Bootcamp
Learn all about bees and how they help to grow our food and flowers whilst creating your very own Bee Hotel! You will then be able to decorate and take home your Bee Hotel along with your Bee Bootcamp certificate!
When: 19 August – 21 August 2021
Where: Fao Swartz, Selfridges
How much: £5 more info and bookings here.
Yoko Ono: MEND PIECE for London
Take the kids to this hands-on interactive installation by world famous artist, activist and musician Yoko Ono. Broken fragments of pottery are presented on two plain white tables, along with simple materials for repair – glue, twine, scissors and tape. On entering the space participants are prompted by a set of simple instructions provided by the artist: ‘Mend carefully. / Think of mending the world at the same time.’ Once finished, the ‘mended’ objects are displayed on adjacent shelves.
When: 25 August – 2 January 22
Where: Whitechapel Art Gallery
How much: free more information here.
Kusama Afternoon Tea
Executive Pastry Chef Mark Perkins will combine unique Japanese flavours with traditional French pastry and patisserie, to express Yayoi Kusama’s contemporary works. The adult version is quite spenny but the children’s afternoon tea is quite affordable.
When: ongoing
Where: Rosewood Hotel
How much: £35 for kids more info and bookings here.
Jousting
Bring a blanket and plenty of snacks and enjoy the Knights of Royal England as they will be entertaining visitors with exhilarating displays of action, stunts, falls and fights in an authentic arena complete with a Royal Box. This summer the Jousting tournament will be documented by professional photographers busy snapping away and if you’d like to purchase any photos taken of you just head to their website.
When: various dates throughout August
Where: Hever Castle & Gardens
How much: Entrance to the Jousting Tournament is included in a Gardens Only or Castle & Gardens admission ticket. More details on the website.
Berlin Beat
Explore the Berlin Military Tattoo and construct your own instrument inspired by the drums in the museum collection.
When: 25 – 27 August 2021
Where: National Army Museum
How much: free but booking required here.
Chila Burman Installation
Chila Burman brightened our winter when she took over Tate Britain this winter and now she is taking over the South Hall in Covent Garden.The new display will feature “do you see words in rainbows?” in neon lettering as well as hearts, lips, peacocks and more. This is defo going to be another one for the ‘gram.
When: 26 August 2021 – end of October 2021
Where: Covent Garden
How much: free
Borealis – Greenwich & Docklands Festival
This spectacular immersive installation, inspired by the Northern Lights, will light up the skies over the Royal Borough of Greenwich during this year’s Festival. Time seems to slow down as eyes look up with Dan Acher’s second incredible installation at GDIF 2021. Borealis offers a mesmerising must-see moment of awe and wonder in two extraordinary locations.
When: 27 August
Where: Old Royal Naval College
How much: free but booking required here.
Raver Tots Summer Boat Party
Raver Tots are so excited to celebrate the summer with a RAVER TOTS BOAT PARTY on the River Thames.
This promises to be a journey like no other, where you can hear with best in House, Garage & Drum and Bass, to the backdrop of biggest landmarks of the best city in the world, that you can only see from the River Thames, all on the ultimate self contained secure party boat. Full details here.
When: 28 August 2021
Where: River Thames (Boarding at FESTIVAL PIER. London SE1 8XZ)
How much: £18 (kids) £20 \9adults) plus booking fees
Hampton Court Palace Food Festival
Your opportunity to have a perfect foodie day out over the August bank holiday weekend at the magnificent Hampton Court Palace, home of Henry VIII. Feast on delicious street food, sip on cocktails and pick up tasty treats from a hand-picked selection of artisan producers. Plus, explore the gardens and maze, enjoy live music, kids’ entertainment and more.
When: 28 – 30 August 2021
Where: Hampton Court Palace
How much: Adult £25.30, Children 5 – 15 years £ 12.60 (under 5s go free). There is a 50% reduction for off-peak arrival. More info and ticket booking here.
Mr Men Little Miss
Museum of Brands invites us all to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mr. Men series by Roger Hargreaves this summer. Until the end of the school summer holidays children of all ages can spot the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters the museum displays and admire original sketches by Adam Hargreaves. You and your little ones can have a go at making your very own Mr. Bump paper hat to take home and colour your favourite Mr. Men and Little Miss characters. And there is plenty more you can take home from the wide range of exclusive Mr. Men products available in the museum shop. Visit the museum website to learn more and to book tickets.
When: Until 15 September 2021
Where: Museum of Brands
How much: £5 (child 7-16 year olds), £9 (adults)
Summer holidays at London Transport Museum
Follow the summer trails around our Museum galleries and join in for interactive storytelling to learn more about London’s urban landscapes and wildlife hot spots. This is a great opportunity to learn about how London’s transport system has shaped the city’s environment, for the good and the bad. Be on the lookout for city wildlife hiding in the Museum galleries. There’s 10 to spot – can you find them all? Join Kayla, the kestrel to hear about animals that make London their home.
When: Various dates throughout the summer holiday.
Where: London Transport Museum
How much: Free timed tickets must be booked via the museum’s website.
Tower Bridge Interractive Tours
Mini culture seekers step into Tower Bridge this summer, with a new interactive tour designed to bring the iconic structure and history of London’s defining landmark to life for young explorers. Hosted throughout the summer holidays, the tours will take families through the blue Towers to discover the thrill of the high-level Walkways and Glass Floor 42m above the River Thames, alongside the Victorian Engine Room that houses the engines once used to power the mighty Bridge lift. From an astonishing 31 million bricks used to build the Bridge, to the dark brown colour it was originally painted – rather than the vibrant blue, white and red we know today; children will learn why the Bridge was built and how the crossing works, discovering some surprising facts about the world-famous river crossing along the way – all delivered by an expert guide.
When: various dates until 27 August 2021
Where: Tower Bridge
How much: £20 for children (5-15 years), £25 for adults (16 years+) and includes entry to Tower Bridge. More info and booking here.
The Big Feastival
Proudly presented by M&S Food, this family friendly favourite returns to the Cotswolds for its 10th anniversary this summer with an incredible line-up of music, food and family entertainment. Expect big names on the stages such as Zara Larsson, Rag and Bone Man and DJ Sigala. The Big Feastival will also host an incredible line up of Britain’s most acclaimed culinary stars such as renowned, two-Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw, hailed as one of Britain’s finest fish cooks, Ching He Huang, who was awarded an MBE for her services to the Culinary Arts in 2020 and Jack Stein. Yum.
When: 27- 29 August 2021
Where: Cotswolds Oxfordshire
How much: final release adult tickets for Friday are available at £82 more info and booking here.
More London Fountains
Cool down and have a splash with an iconic backdrop of Tower Bridge at Moore Fountains. The riverside between London Bridge and Tower Bridge are home to al-fresco drinking and eating pop-ups and there is a jam-packed programme of free entertainment, screenings and activities. More info on Summer by the River can be found here.
When: daily
Where: More London on the Southbank
How much: free more info here.
Summer Funfair
George Irvin’s Ultimate funfair brings a whole month of fun to Queen Elizabeth Olympic park. From dodgems, rollercoasters or a carousel there is something for everyone to enjoy as well as delicious street food and treats. –
When: 31 July – 30 August 2021 (1pm – 10pm on Friday – Monday only)
Where: North of the Park, next to Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
How much: £1 entrance per person plus tokens purchased for individual rides. All tokens are half price on Mondays. Full information available on the website.
In The Neighbourhood
The family friendly rendition of All Points East Festival, In The NBHD is back for 2021 with three days of free activities in Victoria Park, including live music, theatre, children’s entertainment, film screenings and much more. You can expect free Children’s Theatre from Half Moon Theatre, free aerial circus performances from Upswing and puppet shows from Bus King Theatre.
When: Tuesday 31 August – Thursday 2 September
Where: Victoria Park
How much: All events are free more info here.
Bubble and Bop Children’s Festival
This is a fabulous day out. There’s animals to feed and play with, mini golf, inflatable bouncy castles, a swimming pool, foam machines, socially distanced discos, ride on tractors, a not so easter egg hunt a massive sandpit and two great play spaces for children of all ages (a heads up that one at the back is the better and newer of the two).
When: Until 3 September 2021
Where: Marsh Farm, Essex
How much: £16.99 for over 2 year olds (members and under 2 year olds go free). More info and booking here.
Theatre on Kew: The Wind in the Willows
A rollicking yet gentle adventure with best friends Ratty, Mole, Badger, Otter and, of course, the arrogant, vain and hilarious Toad. This critically acclaimed, outdoor theatre production set against the magical backdrop of our stunning Lake, is packed with much-loved colourful characters, music, song and laughter.
When: Wednesdays to Sundays until 5th September 2021 at 10:30am or 2pm
Where: Kew Gardens (Victoria Gate)
How much: Adult £22.90 and children £17.90 and it includes entry to the garden more info and booking here.