Fun things to do with the kids in the summer holidays

Keep the kids engaged and entertained during the summer holidays with a variety of fun activities around London. From kid-friendly museums and galleries, immersive experiences, and special events, there's plenty to explore. We've curated a list of our top family-friendly spots for you to visit.

Interactive Aardman ‘Bug Hunt’ at new insect garden at Stratford Cross

An interactive Lloyd of the Flies augmented reality trail is set to captivate families, children, and insect enthusiasts at the Royal Entomological Society Insect Garden in Stratford Cross. Visitors will join Lloyd, the first-ever non-human Royal Entomological Society Ambassador, in his quest to find his friends and guide them back to the garden's 'luxury bug hotel.'

This engaging experience offers a fun and educational way to discover fascinating facts about the tiny creatures that sustain all life on Earth.

For further information visit https://www.royensoc.co.uk/the-res-garden

Frameless

Immerse yourself in the world of some of history's greatest artists as Frameless, the UK’s largest immersive art experience, unveils a revamped version of one of its four main galleries, ‘The World Around Us.’ Marking the most significant update since its 2022 debut.

Frameless introduces reimagined masterpieces that blend art, music, animation, and cutting-edge technology. Visitors will find themselves in a vibrant, imaginative playground where storytelling comes to life like never before. The experience features five new immersive artworks from some of the world’s most revered artists, including Hokusai and Van Gogh, alongside seven existing masterpieces which have been reimagined in collaboration with BAFTA award-winning VFX studio and Frameless’ Official Production Partner Cinesite.

For more information and to book tickets visit https://frameless.com/

The Giant’s Garden at Westfield London

Get ready for a magical summer adventure at Westfield’s ‘The Giant’s Garden’ event! From 16th August to 1st September, Westfield Stratford City’s indoor event spaces will be transformed into enchanting gardens where everything is larger than life.

You can try walking on water in the Zorb pool, rolling around in giant inflatable balls—a thrilling activity for kids aged five +. There will also be classic garden games, a giant swing ball setup perfect for some friendly competition with foam racquets and much more.

Every day at 12pm and 3pm, there will be storytime sessions featuring popular books, plus garden-themed arts and crafts activities where kids can create their own masterpieces to take home.

All free of charge, open daily from 12pm to 8pm*.

For more information visit https://www.westfield.com/united-kingdom/stratfordcity/events-detail/the-giant_t_s-garden

Theatre at Kew Gardens

The Australian Shakespeare Company is back for its sixth season at Kew Gardens, bringing back the Dream Fairies production. This interactive story follows four fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream who get lost and cross paths with Tinkerbell on their journey.

Dream Fairies is a charming mix of song, dance, and fairytale magic, perfect for younger audiences.

With plenty of interactive adventures, it’s a magical experience designed to keep the little ones engaged.

Book tickets at: https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/theatre-on-kew-24

ECLIPSO

This summer, both kids and adults can journey through 3.5 billion years of Earth's history, from the evolution of cells to modern day, all thanks to Eclipso Entertainment's latest creation, Life Chronicles. Using cutting-edge VR technology, you can experience the incredible story of our planet firsthand, fully immersed in a wireless VR environment that lets you move around and interact with others.

Located at Westfield Stratford, the Eclipso Entertainment venue welcomes everyone aged 6 and up, making it a perfect adventure for the whole family.

For more information visit https://lifechronicles-experience.com/london/

Jumeirah Carlton Tower x The Roald Dahl Story Company

Jumeirah Carlton Tower has teamed up with The Roald Dahl Story Company to create an awesome experience for kids aged 2 to 12. It is exclusive for families staying in any of the hotel’s 186 rooms.

The rooms are transformed into a book lover’s paradise, with all sorts of fun goodies waiting for the little ones. When families arrive, they’ll find a room filled with soft toys, games, and movies to enjoy during their stay. There’s even a Roald Dahl-themed Monopoly game where kids can race Matilda to outsmart Trunchbull in a fun twist on the classic board game. And when it’s time for bed, the kids can get cozy in exclusive Roald Dahl dressing gowns and slippers, or snuggle up with a special Enormous Crocodile blanket and pillows as they fall asleep to a Roald Dahl audiobook.

For more information visit https://www.jumeirah.com