When it comes to finding things to do in London this weekend, especially with the family, the options are endless. London is brimming with exciting activities, engaging exhibitions, and outdoor adventures that are perfect for all ages. Whether you’re a local or visiting, here’s a guide to the best things to do in London this weekend.
Top 10 Family-Friendly Activities: What to Do in London This Weekend
1. Explore London’s Best Parks and Gardens
London’s parks and gardens are a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors and bond with your family. These green spaces provide a respite from the city’s hustle and bustle, offering a variety of activities for everyone.
Hyde Park
- Activities: Boat rides, playgrounds, family picnics
- Highlights: Serpentine Lake, Diana Memorial Playground
- Description: Hyde Park is one of London’s most famous parks, perfect for a day out with the family. Rent a boat and paddle on the Serpentine Lake, or let the kids explore the Diana Memorial Playground, inspired by Peter Pan.
Kew Gardens
- Activities: Interactive exhibits, Treetop Walkway
- Highlights: Palm House, Children’s Garden
- Description: Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers a beautiful, expansive green space. The Children’s Garden is designed for kids aged 2-12, where they can learn about plants and nature through interactive play.
Richmond Park
- Activities: Cycling, wildlife spotting, picnicking
- Highlights: Deer park, Isabella Plantation
- Description: Richmond Park is the largest of London’s Royal Parks. It’s famous for its herds of red and fallow deer. Families can enjoy a picnic, hire bikes to explore, or take a walk through the beautiful Isabella Plantation.
Regent’s Park
- Activities: Boating, sports, playgrounds
- Highlights: Queen Mary’s Gardens, Open Air Theatre
- Description: Regent’s Park offers a mix of formal gardens and open spaces. It’s home to the Open Air Theatre and the famous Queen Mary’s Gardens, featuring over 12,000 roses. There’s also a boating lake and several playgrounds.
2. Exciting Exhibitions and Museums to Visit
London is renowned for its world-class museums and exhibitions, many of which offer interactive and educational experiences for children.
Natural History Museum
- Features: Dinosaur exhibits, hands-on activities
- Family-Friendly Areas: Investigate Centre, Earth Hall
- Description: The Natural History Museum is a favorite among families. Kids will be fascinated by the dinosaur skeletons, especially the iconic Dippy the Diplodocus. The Investigate Centre offers hands-on activities, and Earth Hall has an impressive display of the planet’s treasures.
Science Museum
- Features: Interactive displays, Wonderlab
- Family-Friendly Areas: Pattern Pod, Garden
- Description: The Science Museum is a treasure trove of interactive exhibits. The Wonderlab is a must-visit, with live science shows and engaging experiments. Younger children will enjoy the Pattern Pod and the Garden, designed specifically for hands-on play.
British Museum
- Features: Ancient artifacts, interactive displays
- Family-Friendly Areas: Samsung Digital Discovery Centre, Family trails
- Description: The British Museum houses a vast collection of artifacts from around the world. The Samsung Digital Discovery Centre offers interactive learning sessions, and there are family trails available to help navigate the museum’s highlights.
Victoria and Albert Museum
- Features: Art and design exhibits, hands-on activities
- Family-Friendly Areas: Imagination Station, Family backpacks
- Description: The V&A Museum is dedicated to art and design. The Imagination Station offers creative activities for children, and family backpacks provide tools to explore the museum in a fun and engaging way.
3. Family-Friendly Festivals Happening This Weekend
London hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year, and many of them are perfect for families. This weekend is no exception.
Great Exhibition Road Festival
- Dates: June 15-16, 2024
- Activities: Science and art activities for all ages
- Location: Exhibition Road, South Kensington
- Description: This festival brings science and art to life with interactive exhibits, workshops, and performances. It’s a great way to inspire curiosity and creativity in children, with activities suitable for all ages.
Southbank Centre’s Kids Festival
- Dates: June 15-16, 2024
- Activities: Workshops, performances, fun zones
- Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road
- Description: The Southbank Centre’s Kids Festival offers a variety of workshops, live performances, and interactive fun zones. From storytelling sessions to hands-on crafts, there’s something to keep every child entertained.
Greenwich+Docklands International Festival
- Dates: June 15-16, 2024
- Activities: Outdoor theatre, street arts, circus performances
- Location: Various locations in Greenwich and Docklands
- Description: This outdoor arts festival features a range of performances, including theatre, street arts, and circus acts. It’s a vibrant and engaging way to experience the arts as a family.
Camden Market Kids Festival
- Dates: June 15-16, 2024
- Activities: Workshops, live music, food stalls
- Location: Camden Market, Camden Town
- Description: Camden Market’s Kids Festival offers a mix of workshops, live music, and food stalls. It’s a lively environment where families can enjoy a variety of activities and delicious treats.
4. A Day at the Zoo: London’s Best Animal Attractions
Zoos and animal parks are always a hit with kids. London has some of the best places to meet and learn about animals.
London Zoo
- Features: Animal encounters, educational talks
- Highlights: Land of the Lions, Penguin Beach
- Description: London Zoo is one of the world’s oldest zoos and offers a wide range of animal exhibits. Highlights include the Land of the Lions, where you can see Asiatic lions up close, and Penguin Beach, home to a colony of Humboldt penguins. The zoo also offers daily talks and feeding sessions.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo
- Features: Interactive animal experiences, playgrounds
- Highlights: Lemur Lookout, Pygmy Goats
- Description: Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is a smaller, more intimate zoo that’s perfect for younger children. It features interactive animal experiences and a large adventure playground. Kids can meet animals like pygmy goats and lemurs, and there are plenty of hands-on activities.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
- Features: Marine life exhibits, interactive displays
- Highlights: Shark Walk, Ocean Tunnel
- Description: The SEA LIFE London Aquarium takes you on a journey through the world’s oceans. Walk across the Shark Walk, a glass floor with sharks swimming below, and explore the Ocean Tunnel, surrounded by sea creatures. The aquarium offers interactive displays and feeding sessions.
Vauxhall City Farm
- Features: Farm animals, educational programs
- Highlights: Alpacas, riding lessons
- Description: Vauxhall City Farm is a little piece of the countryside in the heart of London. It’s home to a variety of farm animals, including alpacas, sheep, and rabbits. The farm offers riding lessons and educational programs, making it a fun and informative day out for the family.
5. Enjoy Family-Friendly Theatre and Live Performances
London’s theatre scene is vibrant and diverse, offering plenty of family-friendly shows and performances.
West End Shows
- Top Picks: The Lion King, Matilda the Musical
- Family-Friendly Venues: Lyceum Theatre, Cambridge Theatre
- Description: London’s West End is renowned for its spectacular theatre productions. Shows like The Lion King and Matilda the Musical are perfect for families, offering captivating performances and stunning visuals. Many theatres also offer family-friendly facilities and seating options.
Puppet Shows at Little Angel Theatre
- Features: Engaging performances for young children
- Highlights: Classic tales, new productions
- Description: The Little Angel Theatre in Islington specializes in puppetry and offers a range of performances for young children. The shows are both engaging and educational, bringing classic tales and new stories to life with puppets.
Unicorn Theatre
- Features: Children’s theatre, interactive performances
- Highlights: Creative workshops, storytelling sessions
- Description: The Unicorn Theatre is dedicated to producing high-quality theatre for children. It offers a variety of shows suitable for different age groups, as well as creative workshops and storytelling sessions that encourage kids to use their imagination.
Polka Theatre
- Features: Children’s theatre, sensory performances
- Highlights: Play areas, family-friendly facilities
- Description: The Polka Theatre in Wimbledon is another great venue for children’s theatre. It offers sensory performances for younger children and has play areas and family-friendly facilities to make your visit comfortable and enjoyable.
6. Interactive Workshops for Kids
Workshops are a fantastic way for children to learn new skills and have fun. London offers a variety of workshops that cater to different interests and age groups.
V&A Museum of Childhood
- Workshops: Art and craft sessions
- Family-Friendly Areas: Sensory Backpacks, Storytelling Sessions
- Description: The V&A Museum of Childhood offers a range of workshops and activities designed to inspire creativity. Kids can participate in art and craft sessions, explore the museum with sensory backpacks, and enjoy storytelling sessions.
Pasta Evangelists’ Pasta Academy
- Classes: Cooking classes for children
- Highlights: Dough-making, pasta shaping
- Description: Pasta Evangelists’ Pasta Academy offers fun and interactive cooking classes for children. Kids can learn how to make pasta from scratch, including dough-making and pasta shaping techniques. It’s a great way to introduce them to the joys of cooking.
Royal Institution Family Workshops
- Workshops: Science and technology
- Highlights: Hands-on experiments, interactive demonstrations
- Description: The Royal Institution offers family workshops that focus on science and technology. These workshops include hands-on experiments and interactive demonstrations that make learning fun and engaging for children.
London Transport Museum Family Workshops
- Workshops: History and design
- Highlights: Model-making, storytelling
- Description: The London Transport Museum offers family workshops that explore the history and design of London’s transport system. Kids can participate in model-making activities, storytelling sessions, and interactive displays.
7. Discover London’s Iconic Historical Landmarks
London’s historical landmarks offer a glimpse into the city’s rich past and are fascinating places to visit with children.
Tower of London
- Activities: Guided tours, historical reenactments
- Family-Friendly Features: Beefeater Tours, Crown Jewels
- Description: The Tower of London is a must-visit for history buffs. Kids will be intrigued by the stories of kings, queens, and prisoners. The Beefeater tours are both informative and entertaining, and the Crown Jewels exhibit is sure to dazzle.
Hampton Court Palace
- Activities: Maze, Magic Garden
- Family-Friendly Features: Tudor Kitchens, Haunted Gallery
- Description: Hampton Court Palace offers a mix of history and fun. The maze is a popular attraction, and the Magic Garden is a fantastical play area for children. The palace also offers tours of the Tudor Kitchens and the Haunted Gallery, which are both educational and engaging.
Westminster Abbey
- Activities: Guided tours, interactive exhibits
- Family-Friendly Features: Family trails, kid-friendly guides
- Description: Westminster Abbey is another iconic landmark that offers guided tours and interactive exhibits. Family trails are available to help children explore the abbey, and kid-friendly guides make the history come alive.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Activities: Climbing the dome, exploring the crypt
- Family-Friendly Features: Multimedia guides, scavenger hunts
- Description: St. Paul’s Cathedral offers breathtaking views from the top of its dome. Families can also explore the crypt and learn about the cathedral’s history through multimedia guides and scavenger hunts designed for children.
8. Top Family-Friendly Restaurants to Dine at
Finding the right place to eat can be a challenge when you have kids. London has a variety of family-friendly restaurants that cater to all tastes and preferences.
The Rainforest Café
- Theme: Jungle-themed dining
- Website: rainforestcafe.com
- Family-Friendly Features: Animatronic animals, kids’ menu
- Description: The Rainforest Café offers a unique dining experience with its jungle-themed decor and animatronic animals. The kids’ menu has a variety of options, and the lively atmosphere is sure to entertain children.
Pizza Express
- Specials: Kid-friendly menus, dough-making classes
- Website: pizzaexpress.com
- Locations: Multiple locations across London
- Description: Pizza Express is a family favorite with its delicious pizzas and kid-friendly menus. Many locations offer dough-making classes for children, making it a fun and interactive dining experience.
Giraffe
- Theme: Global cuisine
- Website: giraffe.net
- Family-Friendly Features: Kids’ menu, activity packs
- Description: Giraffe offers a menu of global cuisine, with something to suit everyone’s taste. The kids’ menu includes healthy and tasty options, and activity packs are provided to keep children entertained while they wait.
Byron Burger
- Theme: Classic American burgers
- Website: byron.co.uk
- Family-Friendly Features: Kids’ menu, coloring sheets
- Description: Byron Burger is known for its classic American burgers. The kids’ menu offers smaller portions of their most popular dishes, and coloring sheets are available to keep young diners busy.
Honest Burgers
- Theme: British-inspired burgers
- Website: honestburgers.co.uk
- Family-Friendly Features: Kids’ menu, locally sourced ingredients
- Description: Honest Burgers offers British-inspired burgers made with locally sourced ingredients. The kids’ menu includes mini versions of their classic burgers, and the relaxed atmosphere is perfect for families.
9. Engage with Art and Culture
London is a cultural hub with a vibrant art scene. There are plenty of opportunities for families to engage with art and culture through exhibitions and performances.
Free Art Exhibitions in London
- Venues: Tate Modern, National Gallery
- Family-Friendly Features: Interactive installations, art trails
- Description: Many of London’s top art galleries offer free entry and have family-friendly features. The Tate Modern and National Gallery both have interactive installations and art trails that make exploring the exhibits fun for children.
Street Performances
- Locations: Covent Garden, South Bank
- Features: Live street acts, family-friendly entertainment
- Description: Street performances are a great way to experience live entertainment for free. Covent Garden and the South Bank are popular spots where you can find talented performers putting on shows that will captivate both adults and children.
Royal Academy of Arts Family Workshops
- Workshops: Art and craft sessions
- Features: Hands-on activities, creative play
- Description: The Royal Academy of Arts offers family workshops that encourage children to get creative. These workshops include hands-on activities and creative play, making art accessible and fun for all ages.
Shakespeare’s Globe Family Tours
- Tours: Guided tours of the theatre
- Features: Interactive storytelling, educational activities
- Description: Shakespeare’s Globe offers family tours that bring the world of Shakespeare to life. The guided tours include interactive storytelling and educational activities that make learning about the Bard fun and engaging for children.
10. Exciting Day Trips from London
If you’re looking to venture a little further afield, there are plenty of exciting day trips that are just a short journey from London.
Legoland Windsor
- Distance: 30 minutes by train
- Features: Rides, Lego-building activities
- Description: Legoland Windsor is a fantastic day out for families. The park is packed with rides and attractions themed around Lego, and there are plenty of opportunities for kids to build and create with Lego bricks.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
- Distance: 20 minutes by train
- Features: The making of Harry Potter, interactive exhibits
- Description: The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a must-visit for Harry Potter fans. The tour takes you behind the scenes of the films, with interactive exhibits and sets from the movies. It’s a magical experience for children and adults alike.
Chessington World of Adventures
- Distance: 30 minutes by train
- Features: Theme park rides, zoo
- Description: Chessington World of Adventures offers a combination of theme park rides and a zoo. It’s a great place for a family day out, with attractions that cater to all ages.
Whipsnade Zoo
- Distance: 40 minutes by train
- Features: Large animal enclosures, educational talks
- Description: Whipsnade Zoo is one of the UK’s largest zoos, with large enclosures that provide plenty of space for the animals. The zoo offers educational talks and feeding sessions, making it a fun and informative day out for the family.
Hampton Court Palace
- Distance: 20 minutes by train
- Features: Historical tours, maze
- Description: Hampton Court Palace is steeped in history and offers a fascinating day out. The maze is a popular attraction, and the palace itself offers guided tours and historical reenactments.
Family-Friendly Festivals in London This Weekend
| Festival Name | Location | Dates | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Exhibition Road Festival | South Kensington | June 15-16, 2024 | Science and art activities |
| Southbank Centre’s Kids Festival | Belvedere Road | June 15-16, 2024 | Workshops, performances, fun zones |
| Greenwich+Docklands International Festival | Greenwich and Docklands | June 15-16, 2024 | Outdoor theatre, street arts, circus |
| Camden Market Kids Festival | Camden Town | June 15-16, 2024 | Workshops, live music, food stalls |
Plan Your Perfect Family Weekend in London
With so many family-friendly activities and things to do in London this weekend, you’re sure to find something that everyone will enjoy. From outdoor adventures and interactive museums to live performances and delicious dining options, there’s no shortage of brilliant things to do in London on June 15-16, 2024.
Take the opportunity to explore the city’s parks, immerse yourself in its rich history, and enjoy the vibrant cultural scene. Whether you’re looking for educational experiences, thrilling adventures, or relaxing family time, London has it all.
Upcoming Events:
- Taste of London: June 19-23, 2024
- Euro 2024 Screening: Various locations throughout June
- London Festival of Architecture: Throughout June
FAQ
Q: What are some free family-friendly activities in London this weekend?
A: You can explore London’s parks like Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, visit free museums such as the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, or enjoy street performances at Covent Garden and South Bank.
Q: Are there any special events happening in London this weekend for families?
A: Yes, there are several festivals including the Great Exhibition Road Festival and the Southbank Centre’s Kids Festival, which offer a range of family-friendly activities, workshops, and performances.
Q: Can you recommend family-friendly restaurants in London?
A: Some great family-friendly restaurants include The Rainforest Café for a unique jungle-themed experience, and Pizza Express, which offers kid-friendly menus and dough-making classes.
Q: What are the best day trips from London for families?
A: Top day trips include Legoland Windsor for theme park fun and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour for an immersive Harry Potter experience. Both are short journeys from central London.
Q: Are there any interactive workshops for kids in London?
A: Yes, the V&A Museum of Childhood offers art and craft sessions, and Pasta Evangelists’ Pasta Academy provides cooking classes for children. The Royal Institution also hosts science and technology workshops for families.
Conclusion
Exploring London with the family offers endless possibilities for fun and adventure. From the lush parks and interactive museums to the vibrant festivals and iconic landmarks, there are countless things to do in London this weekend. Whether you’re a local or visiting, the city’s diverse attractions ensure that every family member will find something to enjoy. Make the most of June 15-16, 2024, by diving into these family-friendly activities and creating unforgettable memories in one of the world’s most exciting cities.
Internal Links:
- Taste the best of London
- Quirky and Unusual Unique Things to Do in London
- Ultimate Guide to Unlimited Sushi Delights
- Discovering London’s Best Breakfasts
