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The Best Things to Do With Kids in London During the Summer Holidays

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School’s out for summer and here’s how you can keep your kids entertained

Six whole weeks free of early mornings, uniforms and lunchboxes – great for the children, daunting for the parents. But it doesn’t have to be, not with a bunch of family-friendly activities happening in London all summer long. Grace Cullen, aka @thelondonlifewithtwokids, has rounded up some of the best things to do with kids in London during the summer holidays, from arty activities for your little ones to immersive experiences perfect for bigger kids.

1. Paint at The Flooded Garden at Tate Modern

Taking inspo from Monet’s water lilies, UNIQLO and Oscar Murillo have installed canvases inside the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, which kids of all ages can come by and paint on – and it’s completely FREE.

2. Go on an Immersive Monster Funtime Adventure

Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford has a new immersive exhibition running – a monster-themed funfair featuring a dinosaur laser maze, bumblebear bumper cars and characters from Nadia Shireen’s books.

3. Head to the Festival of Fairytales at the Garden Museum

This family festival, suitable for kids aged 4 – 10, is a celebration of growing and creativity, and includes lots of different performances, crafting sessions, portrait drawing, mask making, a mini circus and more.

4. Explore a World of Illusions at Paradox Museum

The Paradox Museum has 25 immersive rooms, including a zero-gravity room, a camouflage room where you can disappear into the background, and a reverse room with an upside-down tube station, filled to the brim with mind-bending illusions to explore.

5. Make Art at the National Portrait Gallery’s Summer Family Festival

Running across 5th – 9th August, this free family festival is the perfect chance for your little ones to unleash their creativity. From block print portraits to collage characters, there’s of different sessions they can get involved in.

6. Get Messy at Make Do Play

These outdoor play sessions at Tollyrise Happiness Gardens in Hornsey are the perfect opportunity for your kids to get as messy as they want, whether that’s with paint, bubbles, mud or chalk. Dress them in old clothes and let run around and play as they choose.

7. Step Inside the Worlds of Formula 1 and Friends

Immerse LDN, a brand-new entertainment district is opening at the ExCeL this August with two blockbuster immersive experiences – a Formula 1 exhibition featuring cars, artefacts and a racing simulator, and a Friends Experience complete with sets and props from the show. Perfect for older kids.

8. Take Part in National Playday at Young V&A

Dive into a day of creative play at the Young V&A. Explore sounds and space with artists Yuri Suzuki and Shepherd Manyika, meet students from Kingston School of Arts and bring in your old toys to get fixed.

9. Meet Iconic CBeebies Characters at This Rainbow Adventure

The CBeebies Rainbow Adventure at Westfield London features Bluey, Hey Duggee, JoJo & GranGran and Mr Tumble-themed rooms, and there are character photo ops at the end of the journey too.

10. Soak Up Free Culture at Greenwich + Docklands International Festival

Running from 23rd August – 8th September, Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is the city’s leading festival of free outdoor theatre and performance art. There are a number of events on the programme, including a pram party street theatre experience.

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