Are you looking for things to do in London this June? Our round-up of family friendly days out for this month include outdoor adventures, best of June family-friendly festivals, art, kid-friendly London theatre shows, dance, and cinema.
Kids Week offers free theatre tickets for young Londoners when accompanied by an adult paying full price. This year, this theatrical event takes place between 20July and 31August. Tickets go on sale on 9June.
This month, London Open Gardens on 6-7 June invites us all to discover London’s most secret gardens. The King’s birthday and Trooping of the Colour is on 13th of June and there are plenty of sport, music and art festivals alongside great outdoor entertainment to amuse and delight Londoners and visitors alike. Keep up to date with London’s events by following us on Instagram.
London is also a great destination for foodies of all ages. From the delicious Mr Fogg’s Topsy Turvy Tea to London chocolate tasting tours and an all you can eat doughnut making class, there is a food outlet or a food market in London to satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.
Open gardens and the great London outdoors
Famous gardens of royal residences like Hampton Court Palace are open to visitors at certain times of the year, there are many free gardens to explore this June like the Fulham Palace (the home of oldest wisteria in the UK), Chiswich House and Gardens (with a kitchen garden that is home of many family friendly activities throughout the year), or the award winning Jurassic Garden at the Natural History museum. Discover how city gardens have changed through time at the Museum of the Home.
- Brigit’s Bakery invites you to hop aboard the MONOPOLY London Tea Tour, a sightseeing tour of London reimagined as a live MONOPOLY game.
Every year in June, London reveals its hidden, greener side. For one weekend only, on 6 and 7 June 120 gardens across the capital open their gates, inviting visitors to explore spaces that are usually closed to the public. London Open Gardens 2026 offers a rare opportunity to experience the city through its most unexpected, hidden nooks and corners.
Chelsea Physic Garden will be celebrating the solstice day on 21 June with Live on the Lawn: Midsummer Folk , a relaxing evening of song from the emerging folk musicians.
Enjoy free entry to Kew Gardens during Community Open Week 2026 between 24 – 28 June for registered community groups. Explore nature, join hands-on workshops, meet Kew scientists, and take part in interactive activities for all ages and abilities.
FREE Minigolf by Craig and Karl is back at Canary Wharf’s Montgomery Square until 27 September.
Great Exhibition Road Festival on 6 and 7 June is the free annual celebration of science and the arts in South Kensington. Workshops, fascinating talks, performances and installations from iconic museums, food from all over the world and performances from the Royal College of Music and Royal Albert Hall.
If you or your young one love the beautiful design of a classic car, then London Concours is the event that brings together the world’s most beautiful motors. Come to see them all at the Honourable Artillery Company in the City between 9-11 June.
Head to Hurlingham Park on 5, 6 and 7 June for Family Day at Chestertons Polo in the Park—London’s biggest kids’ party! Enjoy world-class polo, live entertainment, and all-day family fun, from games and music to food and hospitality. With free entry for kids under 18 months and activities for all ages, it’s the perfect summer day out in the heart of London.
Teddy bear picnic at Fulham Palace on 7June is for you, your favourite teddy and your family. Bring your own tasty picnic or buy delicious treats from the on site café. Packed with teddy-themed activities creative workshops and bear-themed stories. Suitable for ages 3 to 7. Tickets £12.
Fairy and Pixie Land 2025 at Dulwich Park from Whippersnappers is back and runs weekends from 13 June to July’s end. Kids aged 3-7 can enjoy fairy wings, crafts, storytelling, and an immersive Welsh folklore theatre adventure. Tickets from £17.50
Kew Midsummer Fete: another fun and free event on 20 June, raising money for local charities has a lot on offer: a fairground, a dog show, plenty of food and drink stalls and live music.
Trooping the Colour: The King’s Birthday Parade is the free traditional ceremony taking place on 13 June at the Horse Guards Parade.
Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC): foreshore walk at Fulham Palace on 6 June is an adventure along the Thames exploring history clues and unravelling history in the area between Fulham Palace and Putney Bridge.
Midsummer Folk at Chelsea Physic Gardens on 21 June is a relaxed summer evening of live folk music on the garden’s lawn.
Outdoor cinema and theatre shows in June
Everyman on the Canal outdoors cinema returns to King’s Cross from 29 June to 16 August with a full programme, including Some Like It Hot, Grease, Dune: Part One, Paddington and The Devil Wears Prada, alongside cult classics, family favourites, Wimbledon and more.
Catch live sport, family films, and gaming fun at the Summer Screens, 4 June – 1 Sept in Canada Square Park. From Wimbledon to F1 and Ascot to movie nights, enjoy free summer entertainment in the heart of London.
Rooftop Cinema Club brings movie screenings to rooftops in Peckham (Bussey Building) and Stratford (Roof East).
Adventure Cinema brings the magic of outdoor film watching to Kew gardens on 18 to 21 June.
Vauxhall Summer Screens lights up every Tuesday in July when Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens becomes an open-air cinema where Londoners can settle in for a relaxed evening of film, food and good company.
Lower Marsh Lates on 25 June is one of the three free street parties bringing the 90’s nostalgia under the open sky.
Summer by the River at London Bridge City becomes alive in the summer with action-packed programme of music entertainment and open-air cinema.
BST Hyde Park Open House transforms the site into London’s ultimate midweek hangout. Catch a cult classic at the daily outdoor cinema screenings or come to watch the live Wimbledon broadcasts whilst soaking up that premium festival atmosphere without the premium price tag.
Arts, Crafts, Song and Dance
Horniman Museum celebrates its 125 years anniversary with a FREE birthday party on 27 June. The museum will transform into a festival for a day with music, crafts, performances and family-friendly entertainment spread throughout the museum and gardens. You are required to book your free ticket.
The Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition is free and full of curious talks and interactive exhibits. This year you can hear about the mysteries of lightning, super computers, and the secrets of the universe. 30 June-5 July.
Shakespeare in the Squares is back for its 11th edition. Come to see the best of Shakespeare performed in some of the city’s greenest garden squares and parks. Runs from 3 June – 12 July.
Summer Time at Southbank Centre continues to celebrate the Centre’s 125 anniversary with shows, art and music. Delicious street food, free music and drinks on the roof garden and terrace are also on offer.
Family Freestyle at Sadler’s Wells East is a series of free dance workshops for children aged 2-4 and their parents led by professional dance artists. Runs until 16 July. Booking is required.
The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial opens on 5 June at Saatchi Gallery and will run throughout the summer season. This beautiful show explores how the two most powerful phenomena in our sky have ignited human creativity, curiosity, and belief. By examining these cosmic forces, the exhibition offers a profound look at how the mysteries of the universe continue to inspire our collective imagination and spiritual wonder.
Bring Your Own Baby Comedy Club on 8 June is at Royal Albert Hall. Enjoy top stand-up acts from known comedians while your little one chills out (or heckles the comics—no worries!).
Making It Festival at Guildhall School showcases the work of students from music, drama, production and design. With most events free, the programme includes concerts, new writing, installations and workshops presented at Silk Street and Milton Court. 8-26 June 2026
Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy opens on 16 June. This best-loved art show returns this summer with the usual contemporary works from established artists and emerging talent. The free Young Artists’ Summer Show opens on 14 July.
Films and screenings this June
Family film club at the Barbican is a relaxed environment perfect for families to start their cinematic journey. There are activity sheets, books, toys and games for the little ones to enjoy before and after screenings.
Star Trek at 60 – The Science Museum marks the spectacular 60th-anniversary of Star Trek with a season of essential film screenings and an immersive discovery trail. Fans can journey through a curated selection of iconic objects spanning the entire history of the TV series and films, offering a rare, up-close look at the franchise’s legendary legacy.
The Sheep Detectives – Every night a shepherd reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand. When he is found dead, the sheep realize at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it. Now in cinemas.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 – Andy Sachs reunites with Miranda Priestly as they navigate their careers amid the decline of traditional magazine publishing. Now in cinemas.
Toy Story 5 – Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they’re introduced to electronics, a new threat to playtime. Watch in cinemas starting June 19th!
OLLIE – a celebration of classic skate cinema, featuring a rare screening of Jonah Hill’s directorial debut. Join us for the film followed by a live Q&A with director Antoine Besse. Catch it at BFI Southbank on 19 June!
Skate Kitchen – Crystal Moselle’s coming-of-age drama follows a group of young women navigating friendship, identity, and independence through skateboarding on the streets of New York. Catch it at BFI Southbank on 20 June!
What’s on at London museums and art galleries this June
Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration opens its doors on Friday, June 5. Housed in a historic, former industrial building at New River Head—just a short walk from Angel tube station—the £12.5 million project features galleries, a cafe, a shop, gardens, a creative studio, and a library. Come to explore three inaugural exhibitions, including a rare look at over 100 of Quentin Blake’s original drawings, a retrospective on the history of British queer comic-making, and a vibrant, kaleidoscopic showcase by the artist MURUGIAH.
Marching Soldier Make ‘N’ Take at the National Army Museum on 6 June in a free family friendly day celebrating the D-Day landing. Make your own Second World War soldier puppet to march around the museum with you!
KYOTOGRAPHIE at Japan House is a joint free exhibition of work by two exciting Japanese photographers, Kawada Kikuji and Iwane Ai. From 3 June
Visions of Nature at the Natural History Museum is a mixed reality experience transports you a century into the future that imagines what could lie ahead for the natural world on planet Earth.
Moco Museum: Perfect destination for contemporary art. From Yayoi Kusama and Andy Warhol to Banksy, this friendly museum is the perfect place to explore art and creativity.
Frida Kahlo new exhibition at Tate Modern opens on 25 June. This major event explores how she became one of the most influential artist of our time.
Marilyn Monroe: A portrait – Celebrating the Hollywood icon’s centenary, this exhibition, in association with the Marilyn Monroe estate, explores her life, career, and legacy. The collection features portraits created by some of the most renowned photographers and artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Starts from 4 June.
NIGO: From Japan with Love – Explore the vision and legacy of Japanese designer and creative director NIGO at the Design Museum. From street style to music and beyond, in the first UK exhibition showcasing his multifaceted creative work, alongside vintage objects and traditional crafts from his personal collection. Running until October.
Cleopatra: The Immersive Exhibition – Step into the world of ancient Egypt with Cleopatra: The Immersive Experience. Journey through 3,000 years of history with hologram technology, large-scale video mapping, and a VR metaverse walk-through designed to captivate curious minds of all ages.Until 12 July.
Branding Britain at Museum of Brands explores how Britain’s identity has been created and exported throughout the world. Opens on 4 June.
Harry Styles’ Meltdown – Harry Styles brings his iconic self-expression and creative curiosity to Southbank Centre. From 11 – 21 Jun 2026.
Tracey Emin at Tate Modern is an exciting landmark exhibition that celebrates 40 years of Emin’s innovative practice, featuring career-defining masterpieces alongside a stunning array of works that have never been shown before. Until 31 August.
Women in Print 150 Years of Liberty Textiles – Exploring the evolving influence and status of women in textiles over the past 150 years. Until 21 June. Free admission.
London Gallery Weekend: This free for all three-day event on 6-7 June is an opportunity to discover and explore London’s world-class gallery scene and creative communities. Look-out for talks, exciting family activities and special events.
Burgh House Young Curators’ Club – is an after-school group run in partnership with Parliament Hill School. It provides opportunities for young people to work with museum professionals to develop their skills and understanding of museum curation. Free entry.
London family friendly theatre shows this June 2025
The Flying Bath – Based on the original book The Flying Bath is a playful and adventurous story splashes into life in this adaptation featuring catchy songs, quirky bath toys and everyday heroes. From 31 May–12 Jul.
My Neighbour Totoro at Gillian Lynne Theatre – The magical Ghibli adaptation runs until Jan 2027.
360 ALLSTARS brings a high‑energy urban circus to Sadler’s Wells featuring BMX tricks, basketball trickery, acrobatics, beatboxing and a live drumming soundtrack, accompanied by large video projections. 2-6 June.
The Planet Omar – Step into the fantastically imaginative and chaotic world, following the adventures of an 8-year-old with a wild imagination, a big heart, and a knack for getting into trouble. At Unicorn Theatre until 7 Jun.
West End Live is a one weekend free West End extravaganza on Trafalgar Square stage. Arrive early as it can get crowded! 20-21 June.
ABBA Voyage Experience the spectacle of one of pop music’s most iconic bands in a fully immersive concert in the custom-built ABBA Arena.
The Rapping Princess – Join Shiloh as she adventures through all genres of music to discover a love for rapping, with a little help from some singing friends and puppets along the way. At Polka Theatre until 21 June.
For further recommendations for theatre and shows to see in London for young theatre goers please visit our Theatre & Dance page.
For the latest reviews, updates and recommendations follow @younglondonist on Instagram. For more ideas of things to do with the kids in London, visit our events and activities area which provides details of free events and special offers in London’s finest venues.
