The school holidays have arrived — which means restless kids at home looking for things to do. Fortunately, the capital offers plenty of family-friendly days out over the summer. From roller discos and roaring dinosaurs to immersive gaming and quirky ice cream, the below should keep everyone entertained, from toddlers to tweens and hard-to-impress teens.
Minecraft comes to life at Canada Water
If you have a Minecraft-mad youngster at home, this engaging 45-minute adventure will lure them away from the screen and give them a real-life experience to remember. Open daily until September 28, Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue gives kids a chance to step into the famous, blocky world, as players are dropped into seven themed “biomes” and tasked with saving pixelated villagers using handheld orbs. There’s plenty of dodging and interactive puzzle-solving, all inspired by the game.
Retro roller-skating at Brent Cross
Looking for an active experience that’s both fun and nostalgic? RollerLand is popping up at Brent Cross from July 25 to August 17. The open-air rink is suitable for ages three and up, with skate hire available and plenty of help on hand for beginners. There are daily quiet hours for anyone who prefers a calmer atmosphere. Whether it’s a rainy-day back-up plan or the main event, this one’s ideal for letting little ones burn off energy — but grown-ups might want to get in on the fun too.
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue
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Become a detective for the day at The Landmark
Elementary, Sherlock? Not quite — this detective-themed stay is anything but ordinary. Marylebone hotel, The Landmark London, has put together an experience that would delight even the great detective himself. Available throughout summer, the Investigator Package includes an overnight stay in the hotel’s elegant executive family rooms. Budding sleuths can embark on a Sherlock-style treasure hunt throughout the hotel before cuddling up with their own plush detective teddy. The package also features an in-room family movie night (Sherlock Gnomes, naturally), fancy-dress accessories, plus books and board games. Tickets to the nearby Sherlock Holmes Museum and a Sherlock-inspired cocktail for grown-ups is also part of the package. No cheap, but very, very special.
Ice cream with a twist, courtesy of Anya Hindmarch
If your child’s palate leans, shall we say, “adventurous” or you’re curious what Bisto Gravy tastes like frozen, this is the ice cream parlour to visit. Running until August 17, Anya Hindmarch’s cult Ice Cream Project returns to her Belgravia café, scooping playful flavours such as Bird’s Custard, Ovaltine, Hobnobs, Twiglets and Rowse Honey. All handmade in Devon, all (well, most) are surprisingly delicious. If you want to skip the queues book the Blind Tasting Tea (until September 7), where you can sample all 15 flavours and jot down guesses on your very own scorecard.
Jurassic World: The Experience
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Cheer to the cricket at The Hundred
Cricket’s most electrifying and family-friendly format is back, and London’s two iconic grounds — Lord’s and The Oval — are hosting some of the summer’s biggest clashes. It all kicks off on August 5 at Lord’s with a blockbuster London derby: London Spirit vs Oval Invincibles. This year’s squads are packed with star power. London Spirit features the likes of David Warner, Jamie Overton, Heather Knight and Sarah Glenn, while the Oval Invincibles boast stars such as Sam Curran, Rashid Khan, Marizanne Kapp and Alice Capsey. Flames, fireworks, and plenty of music are all par for the course.
Roars and raptors in Battersea
Step into the land of dinosaurs with Jurassic World: The Experience, where until August 31 the blockbuster franchise comes roaring to life in spectacular style. Located in Neon at Battersea Power Station, this immersive, 60-minute experience blends cinematic magic with educational elements. Walk through iconic scenes, explore interactive stations, meet baby dinos and come face-to-face with the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex. Ideal for kids aged six and up, the exhibition also features a toddler-friendly area for young explorers.
London’s theatre scene has plenty of family-friendly shows this summer. To mark the book’s 75th anniversary, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (August 20 – September 7, sadlerswells.com) transforms Sadler’s Wells into a wintry world of adventure. For younger theatregoers (ages 3+), The Smeds and the Smoos (July 18 – September 7, thelyrictheatre.co.uk) brings Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s joyful tale of forbidden friendship to the Lyric Theatre. 101 Dalmatians The Musical (July 18 – August 30, 101dalmatians.co.uk) lands at the Hammersmith Apollo with toe-tapping songs, cleverly choreographed pups and plenty of drama from Cruella de Vil.
The Smeds and the Smoos
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Savour a spellbinding summer afternoon tea
The Taj at 51 Buckingham Gate is serving up a magical afternoon tea inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Set in the hotel’s storybook courtyard, where Shakespearean figures peer from the frieze, this whimsical five act experience features thyme-roasted chicken and apricot sandwiches, berry tarts, heart-shaped chocolates and a fruity “Elixir of Enchantment” tea. Expect fairy-tale tableware, enchanted forest vibes and theatrical elements. Vegan and veggie options available.
Mastermind a family-friendly escape room
Don’t let a rainy day ruin your plans. Instead, head to ClueQuest in King’s Cross, an escape room adventure that should prove both fun and challenging for families who love teamwork and a bit of friendly competition. Try Operation Blacksheep, a 60-minute action packed challenge that’s perfect for ages nine and up. Teams of up to six can infiltrate the enemy’s command centre, hack the system and destroy a satellite before it goes online. Get set to crack clever puzzles and work as a team before time runs out.
The Bard meets Beyoncand at the Bridge Theatre
This lively, hilarious interpretation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Bridge Theatre has trapeze artists, a soundtrack mixing Dizzee Rascal’s grime beats with Beyonce’s catchy anthems, and a standing audience that moves with the action across the floor. Kids will love the fresh, high-energy blend of Renaissance drama and contemporary music — it’s a joyful, creative introduction to the Bard that doesn’t feel remotely like homework. Suitable for ages five and up, under 11s will need a seated ticket and can’t join the standing areas. Until August 20.
Van Gogh at Frameless
Masterpieces come to life at Frameless
Young art aficionados should seek out Marble Arch’s Frameless, where more than forty masterpieces by the likes of Monet and Dalí come to life across four multisensory galleries. With floor-to-ceiling projections, a cinematic score and spaces where children can move freely as the art unfolds around them, it’s truly an immersive experience. Running throughout the summer holidays, the free Art of Expression workshops (Fridays from July 25) invite 10 to 14-year-olds to connect with visual art through poetry, while the Chilled Sessions offer a quieter experience for neurodivergent visitors. A brilliant cultural day out for families, and very photogenic to boot.
Hop aboard the Paw Patrol adventure bus
Mayor Goodway and her chicken Chickaletta have gone missing and Paw Patrol needs your help. That’s the starting point for little ones to hop on the classic red Routemaster for the Paw Patrol London bus tour by Brigit’s Bakery. Kids become junior patrollers, solving puzzles on screens while spotting London’s famous sights like Big Ben and the River Thames. An entertainer leads sing-alongs and games, while the family tucks into a tasty afternoon tea featuring pup-pup-pizza margherita and the Choco-letta brownies. Each child gets a Paw Patrol activity book and a special travel cup to take home.