Summer Activities for Children in London
With the long summer holidays looming LPM have put together a list of their favourite “things to do” in London this summer with children.
Museums and exhibitions
Natural History Museum
Here you can not only visit the dinosaurs but also sleep with them (!) and see the beautiful butterfly exhibition
Sensational Butterflies
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/sensational-butterflies.html
Dinosnores for kids
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/events/dino-snores-for-kids.html
Science Museum
Wonderlab
https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/wonderlab-statoil-gallery
Horniman Museum
We love this museum and this summer they are running a fabulous rainbow exhibition
Colour: The Rainbow revealed
https://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/colour-the-rainbow-revealed#image-0
Postal Museum
A relatively new museum but one children love. You can ride the Mail Rail, play in “Sorted” and take part in arts and crafts activities
National Army Museum
An old favourite! Battle the assault course, take command, takeover a tank and receive army style training
https://www.nam.ac.uk/families/ten-family-favourites
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Dinosaurs in the wild
https://dinosaursinthewild.com/
Galleries
Many galleries now run art workshops and have fabulous story time sessions for younger children. Our top galleries are:
Royal Academy of Arts
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/families
National Gallery
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/families
Dulwich Picture Gallery
https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/family-events/2018/august/summer-holidays/
Parks
With London being one of the greenest cities in the world, a park is never far away and it’s a great way to spend a sunny day in town. The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington gardens is a must this summer and if you are after child-friendly outdoor theatre, do check-out what is playing at Morden Hall Park.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden-hall-park/features/summer-at-morden-hall-park
Lidos
If the summer sunshine gets too much, head to one of London’s many lidos; we like Tooting, Serpentine and Brockwell lidos. Our advice is to get there early.
https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/lidos-and-outdoor-swimming-pools-in-london
Gardens
At Kew Gardens you can hunt for dragon sculptures
https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/here-be-dragons
Chelsea Physic Garden is running some fabulous days this Summer; Wiggly Wild Safari, Passion for Plants, Lotions and Potions the list goes on…
https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/Pages/Events/Category/family-activities
Palaces
London’s palaces are always a fabulous day out and many run children activities.
Kensington Palace run Storytastic Sundays
https://www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/
At Hampton Court you can visit the magic garden, the maze, Henry VII’s kitchens, the food festival and lots more…
https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/
Buckingham Palace open their state rooms during the summer months
https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/the-state-rooms-buckingham-palace
Theatres
Children go free to many shows in London during August so do take advantage of this amazing offer.
