Things to do in London this weekend with kids
Looking for things to do in London with kids this weekend? We’ve rounded up the best family-friendly events happening across London on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026.
There are boats racing down the Thames, buildings opening their doors, food festivals, flowers, free outdoor cinema, design, wildlife photography and plenty more. Basically, London has decided September is actually quite exciting after all.
⭐ Our super quick top picks this weekend in London with kids - 12-13 September
🚣 Best free spectacle: Great River Race
✈️ Best for food + planes: Barnet Food Festival
🏠 Best for nosy parkers: Open House Festival
🌸 Best for something pretty: Strawberry Hill Flower Festival
🥒 Best for something completely bonkers: The Big Brine
😂 Best for animal lovers: Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
🎬 Best free family night out: Encanto at Royal Albert Wharf
More deets - and lots more options - below. Are you ready to get busy with another weekend of adventure in London town?
The Great River Race
Saturday 12 September | Along the River Thames | FREE to watch
Here's one you don't need a ticket for – and it's rather spectacular. The Great River Race sees around 300 boats and more than 2,500 competitors race 21.6 miles along the Thames, from Millwall all the way to Ham in Richmond, passing beneath all 28 of London's bridges. And these aren't just your bog-standard rowing boats. Expect all sorts of wonderfully random craft taking part, making this a brilliant free London spectacle for kids.
Find yourself a good riverside viewing spot, grab some snacks and watch the chaos float past.
Barnet Food Festival at the RAF Museum
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 September | RAF Museum London
Food + planes + a FREE kids' zone. We're struggling to find a reason not to like this one.
Barnet Food Festival takes over the RAF Museum this weekend, with more than 40 traders, street food from around the world, live entertainment and family activities – all surrounded by some rather impressive aircraft.
There's a FREE Kids Zone with face painting, circus games, biscuit decorating, juggling, plate-spinning and an inflatable obstacle course. Under-16s also go free with an adult festival ticket.
So while the grown-ups are deciding which of the many things on offer they're going to eat, the kids can go and generally make themselves dizzy. Everybody wins.
Open House Festival
Saturday 12 - Sunday 20 September | Various London locations | MANY EVENTS FREE
Ever walked past a building in London and wondered what's actually inside? Well, this is your chance to have a nose. Open House Festival returns this weekend, opening up hundreds of buildings and spaces across the capital that aren't normally accessible to the public.
There are loads of family-friendly options in the programme, from unusual buildings and architectural gems to trails, workshops and activities. You can pick an area, find something that looks interesting and make a day of exploring somewhere completely different.
And because lots of the events are free, this is a particularly good one if you're trying to keep the cost of your London weekend under control. City Hall is also opening its doors on Saturday and Sunday, with children's activities and free admission.
Strawberry Hill House Flower Festival
Thursday 10 - Sunday 13 September | Twickenham
Okay, so this one isn't necessarily going to be top of the list for every small person. But hear us out. Strawberry Hill House Flower Festival is transforming the rather fabulous Gothic Strawberry Hill House with immersive floral installations from more than 30 designers, using British-grown flowers and sustainable techniques. There are also free talks and live demonstrations included with admission, plus the chance to explore the house and gardens.
It's colourful, it's slightly bonkers and it's happening for just four days – so if you're looking for something a little different this weekend, this could be just the ticket.
The Big Brine
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 September | Hackney Bridge
Right. Pickles. The Big Brine is London's first festival dedicated to all things pickled, fermented, brined and cured, which frankly feels like a very niche way to spend a weekend until you discover there's food, workshops, chef demonstrations, DJs and live entertainment involved. There are more than 30 food and drink traders, fermentation demos, talks and plenty of things to taste.
It's definitely one for the more adventurous eaters – and anyone who has ever looked at a jar of pickles and thought I wonder what else they could pickle?
Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards at Frameless
From Saturday 12 September | Frameless, Marble Arch
Animal lovers, this one's for you. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards arrives at Frameless this weekend, bringing 91 hilarious wildlife photographs into an immersive experience across the venue.
Expect animals pulling ridiculous faces, getting themselves into very questionable situations and generally reminding us that wildlife is considerably funnier than we give it credit for.
It's a particularly good one for animal-loving kids and tweens – and let's face it, if you've ever needed proof that animals are basically little weirdos, this is it.
Free outdoor cinema: Encanto
Saturday 12 September | Royal Albert Wharf | FREE
Fancy a family film night with a difference? There's a free outdoor screening of Encanto at Royal Albert Wharf on Saturday, complete with headphones, popcorn and dockside views. Yes, you could watch Encanto on the sofa. But you could also watch it outdoors by the water with popcorn, which is obviously much more exciting.
Queen's Orchard Open Day
Saturday 12 September | Greenwich Park | FREE
Here's a lovely little one for families who'd rather swap central London crowds for something a bit greener. Queen's Orchard Open Day takes place in Greenwich Park on Saturday, with activities including a pollination game, dressing up the orchard's new scarecrows and a seed swap.
Bring seeds you've collected from your own garden, swap them for something from the orchard's seed library, or simply have a wander and chat to the volunteers about what's growing. It's free, outdoors and next to Greenwich Park Playground, so you could easily turn it into a bigger Greenwich day out.
London Design Festival
Saturday 12 - Sunday 20 September | Various locations
London is about to turn into one giant design playground.
London Design Festival starts this weekend, with installations, sculptures and creative projects popping up across the capital.
You don't need to be a design expert to enjoy it – some of the installations are simply fun, colourful and downright weird, which is usually enough to keep children interested.
It's also a good excuse to explore an area of London you might not normally visit and see what you stumble across.
Totally Thames
Throughout September | Various riverside locations
September is Totally Thames month, and the river is absolutely packed with things happening throughout the capital. There are boat trips, river races, art installations, walks, workshops, performances and plenty of opportunities to get closer to London's most famous stretch of water.
There are more than 80 events taking place throughout September, many of them free.
If your idea of a family day out involves a bit of fresh air, a riverside wander and seeing where the day takes you, this is definitely worth a look.
London really has pulled its socks up for this weekend, hasn't it? And if none of those float your boat, don't panic – our evergreen guide below is packed with all the usual London for Kidz favourites, from museums and attractions to parks, playgrounds, theatre and rainy-day ideas.
More things to do if you just want a good family day out
Not every weekend needs a huge event. Sometimes you just want to get into London, do something fun and come home without having organised your entire existence around a timetable. These are some of our favourite reliable family attractions that are still worth considering when it comes to things to do in London this weekend with kids.
Young V&A
A particularly good choice for younger children, with lots to explore, play with and interact with.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
A dependable rainy-day option — and particularly useful when the British weather decides September is actually February.
Shrek's Adventure! London
An interactive attraction aimed at younger families, right on the South Bank.
Madame Tussauds
A classic for families with children of different ages, with plenty of famous faces, superheroes and photo opportunities.
Chessington World of Adventures
For a full day out, Chessington combines rides and animals and works well for families with mixed ages.
LEGOLAND Windsor
If you’re prepared to venture just outside London, LEGOLAND is another easy option for a full family day.
London Dungeon
For a gouhlisly good immersive experience on the South Bank, you can't go wrong with this. Tried, tested and approved by the London for Kidz teens.
London Eye
Why not combine another South Bank experience with a bird's eye view of London? A great pick for all ages.
Psst: if you have an event that you would like featured in our weekly 'things to do in London this weekend with kids' guide then drop us an email at tracytristram@londonfordkidz.com to find out more.
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