top of page
  • Writer's pictureTracy Tristram

Things to do in London this weekend with kids

Things to do in London this weekend with kids

When it comes to things to do in London this weekend with kids, we've got a whole lotta fun lined up for the whole family.


Celebrate Hopefield Animal Sanctuary's 40th birthday


things to do in London this weekend with kids

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, just out of town in the Essex countryside, is celebrating its 40th anniversary (pictured top) with a special Bank Holiday weekend family fun event, packed with inflatables, a beer tent, BBQ, bubble dome, arts and crafts, live entertainment and lots more.

When: 27-29 May, 10am until 4pm.

Where: Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood CM15 9BZ www.hopefield.org.uk/events/40th-fun-weekend/

Take a guided tour of Shakespeare's Globe

things to do in london this weekend with kids

Join a Family Globe Theatre Guided Tour, ideal for those with children aged 7-11 years old. This fab tour introduces younger visitors to Shakespeare’s London and to the theatrical world he created.

Who went to the theatre in Shakespeare’s England? What was a penny groundling? What was the smell like at the Globe? Step into the Globe Theatre here at Shakespeare’s Globe and learn about Elizabethan theatre and stage practices. From blood and gore to poetry and prose, this adventure is sure to be a hit with the while family. When: From now until Autumn 2023 Where: 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT Cost: Family tickets from £46 www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/family-globe-theatre-guided-tour/

Go on a most Shrekcellent adventure

things to do in London this weekend with kids
Photography: London for Kidz

We checked out Shrek's Adventure! London recently and had a blast. Check out our review here and then book tix for your own rib tickling activity winner.

When: Open daily, 10am to 5pm

Where: Shrek's Adventure! London, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 7PB.

Cost: Adults from £30 (online discount), and children from £24 (age 3 to 15 years). Children age 2 and below are free. www.shreksadventure.com


Get your craft on: for free

Things to do in London this weekend with kids

Head along to the Kids Craft club for a fun, free event at Wood Street Library. When: Every Saturday, 3pm-4pm

Where: Wood Street Library, 1 Troubridge Square, Walthamstow, London E17 3GN

Cost: Free www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wood-street-library


Ditch the kids and go on a date


For a night full of laughs sail on over to The Boat Show Comedy Club aboard The Tattershall Castle, which you'll find on Victoria Embankment. You deserve this, parents.

When:,Every Friday and Saturday, 7pm

Where: The Tattershall Castle, Victoria Embankment

Cost: From £18 per person.

www.boatshowcomedy.co.uk


Fling yourself off of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

things to do in London this weekend with kids
Photgraphy: London for Kidz

Now here's a fun-packed adventure the kids are sure to love: the Dare Skywalk over at Tottenham Hospur FC! You'll need a head for heights when climbing to the top of the stadium before standing at more than 46 metres high above the famous pitch below. And if you're over 12, then you can also fling yourself off the side: abseil style! Which is exactly what Mum was about to do in that pic above.


The Dare Skywalk is open to children from the age of 8, and for younger fam-members there's the rather excellent stadium tour for families: check out our review of that right here.

When: Various times Where: Lilywhite House 782 High Road London N17 0BX Cost: From £44 for adults and £33.50 for kids. Member discount available.

www.experience.tottenhamhotspur.com/the-dare-skywalk/


Blast down the Thames

Things to do in London this weekend with kids
Photography: London for Kidz

Now here's a high speed activity that's guaranteed to thrill! Revved up and raring to fly, the Thames Rockets team will take you on a sightseeing tour like no other and one packed not just with high speeds, but with lots of humour and banter too. The perfect combo! There are all kinds of tour options happening, so take a look at our review here, pick the adventure you fancy the most (you can't go wrong with any of them) use the link below to book. When: Daily, various times

Where: Boarding Gate One, The, London Eye Millennium Pier, London SE1 7PB Cost: From £39.95 for kids and £44.95 per adult (before discount code)

www.thamesrockets.com/ultimate-london-adventure/?offer=londonforkidz


Hop aboard a floating museum

things to do in London this weekend with kids
Photography: London for Kidz

For an interactive gem of a day out it doesn't get much better for families than hopping aboard HMS Belfast. We recently checked it out and it was a huge success with the kids: even the teenager! All the wins and a surprisingly cool adventure. Read our full review here. When: Open daily 10:00am - 5:00pm

Where: The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2JH

Cost: Adults from £23.60. Members and under-fives free.

www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast


Take a terribly good Thames Tour

things to do in London this weekend with kids
Photography: London for Kidz

Sticking with a Thames theme, Horrible Histories Terrible Thames Tour has relaunched for another season and makes for a history lesson with a difference. Walk the plank over to our review here before booking your tickets.

When: Daily sailings. Please book in advance. Where: Tower Bridge Quay, London

Cost: Adults £25 (15+). Child £15 (4-14). Infants Free (0-3). Family & group tickets also available.

www.terriblethames.com


Flex your paleontologist skills: VR Style

things to do in London this weekend with kids
Photography: London for Kidz

New adventure kid on the block DIVR Labs has brought a prehistoric world to Westfield London and we had a blast checking it out. With its state of the art VR system and a huge arena to explore, this is a roarsome activity the whole gang will love. Suitable for kiddos age around 7 and up, this Virtual Reality experience will take you on a mission around prehistoric terrain that features not just mindbogglingly real swamps, volcanoes and landscapes, but also a life-sized T-rex amongst other dinos. A huge hit here for Team London for Kidz and, if you're game, we happen to have a 15% saving for you. Just pop the code TRACY15 in at checkout and voila: a lovely saving.

When: Daily, various times

Where: Westfield London Shopping Centre Ariel Way, London W12 7GF Cost: From £27.45 per person (before discount) www.divrlabs.com/global


Shop at a Farmer's Market


Shady tree lined Phillimore Walk is the perfect place for a farmer's market and that's what you'll find there this Sunday: rain or shine. We're talking fresh food in the fresh air including from freshly caught fish and shellfish, seasonal fruit, vegetables, pies, bread, seasonal game, free range and organic eggs plus poultry, meat, preserves, flowers and much more. Happy browsing!

When: Every Sunday, 10am-2pm

Where: Phillimore Walk, High Street Kensington W8 7RX

Cost: Free admission

www.lfm.org.uk/markets/high-street-kensington/


Have an awesome time at Lego Club


It's free and it's awesome: yep, it's the weekly Lego Club held at Blackfen Community Library every Saturday. Unleash your inner Master Builder and have a fun, family time whipping up creations galore. If the whole team are on board then make sure to book a family table to play and create together on.

When: Every Saturday, 10-11am

Where: Blackfen Community Library and Rooted Coffee House, Blackfen Road, Blackfen DA15 9LU

Cost: Free but make sure to register.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saturday-lego-club-for-kids


Discover a love of art at Tate Modern

things to do in London this weekend with kids

Entry to the gallery remains free for everyone, with a charge for some exhibitions, and we love that Tate Modern has a whole programme for families. Booking is needed for exhibitions, but tickets are available on the door, and we think Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Rooms will definitely score big with the family. You don’t need to be an expert to look at or talk about art and Tate encourages this for kids with plenty of activity ideas designed with them in mind. It's ok to talk at Tate and noise is encouraged! Check out its website before you go for the family fun that includes workshops, tactile activities and plenty more.

When: open daily, 10am - 6pm

Where: 53 Bankside, Bankside SE1 9TG

Cost: Free admission

www.tate.org.uk


Check out a quirky, free museum


An aquarium, a butterfly house (closed for refurb right now) and the vast collections of well-travelled Victorian tea trader and philanthropist Frederick John Horniman, this wonderful gem of a museum is a treasure trove packed with anthropology, natural history and a stack load of curiosities. It's free to get into the museum and gardens but do book your spot ahead of time.

When: Open daily except Wednesdays

Where: 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ

Cost: Free (small charge for the aquarium, butterfly house and some exhibitions). Donations welcome.

www.horniman.ac.uk


Keep the kids busy with messy play

things to do in london this weekend with kids

We love, love, love everything about Art Play nestled in the Shoreditch part of the city, and can highly recommend its cool weekend classes. These child-led sessions provide your little ones with the freedom to explore and create through sensory activities (and you don't have to do the clearing up!). All the wins.

When: Every Saturday, various times

Where: Art Play, 56 Middlesex Street, London E1 7EZ

Cost: Various depending on class.

www.artplaylondon.com


Get down to a city farm


We've got not 1, not 2, not even 3 but 10 udderly fabulous farms and animal sanctuaries for you to check out in and around London this weekend and beyond.

www.londonforkidz.com/post/10-city-farms-in-london-plus-animal-sanctuaries


Take a flight with the Red Arrows!

Things to do in London this weekend with kids

How cool is this happening over at the Science Museum? Fly Kids is a pay-as-you-go flight simulator that lets your child experience the sights and sounds of flying with the Red Arrows during one of their aerobatic displays, and is suitable for little ones age 2 to 5 years. For the bigger kids there is the equally as cool Red Arrows 3D. When: Open daily, 10.20–17.00. Last ride at 17.00

Where: Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD

Cost: It's free admission into the museum, but Fly Kids is £2 per child and Red Arrows is £5 per child.

www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/fly-kids


Discover London's dark history

Things to do in London this weekend with kids
Photography: London for Kidz

If it's a day out with a difference you're after when it comes to things to do in London with kids, then Clink Prison Museum is exactly the kinda gruesomely good adventure you're after. Read our review on one of the best museums in London when it comes to hands-on, historic family fun and then get yourselves over there this weekend. When: 10am-6pm daily Where: 1 Clink Street, London SE1 9DG (nearest station: London Bridge)

Cost: From £6.50 per person

www.clink.co.uk


Check out the oldest natural history collection in the UK

Things to do in London this weekend with kids

Pickled brains, bones aplenty and over 68,000 zoological specimens: For an unusual day out in London with kids it doesn't get much quirkier than this! Head over to The Grant Museum of Zoology for a fascinating journey around the animal kingdom through a heap of family activities: all for free!

When: Every Saturday 11am-5pm

Where: Grant Museum of Zoology, Rockefeller Building, University College London, 21 University Street, WC1E 6DE

Cost: Free, and no booking currently required

www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/grant-museum-zoology


Go on a free walking tour


Things to do in London this weekend with kids

The City of London has been plagued by disaster for Centuries and this free walking tour will take you to some of the historical sites you might not otherwise know about. From Pudding Lane (where the Great Fire of London started) to Roman ruins, mass plague graveyards to execution sites from the middle ages, this is a fascinating, guided tour not to be missed. When: Every Saturday, 2.30pm sharp

Where: Monument Station: look out for your guide carrying a green umbrella

Cost: Free

www.freelondonwalkingtours.com/tour/fire-pestilence-and-plague-tour


Take your Monopoly skills to the next level


Located in the heart of London, Monopoly Lifesized is an immersive, on-your-feet version of the world’s favourite family game brand played on a 15m x 15m lifesized Monopoly board! Try the Junior Monopoly Board to find out who is going to be Monopoly Champ on this race against the clock to solve a mystery, crack some codes and, of course, buy some of London's most iconic buildings. Bagsy Mayfair.

When: Check website for game times.

Where: 213-215 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7PS

Cost: From £32.50 per person www.monopolylifesized.com



Need more inspo when it comes to things to do in London this weekend with kids? Then how about:


Family guide to the Tower of London

Hobble on down to Hobbledown Adventure Farm

Nice buns, hun: best burgers in London

Get down to a London farm

Best museums in London for families

Head over to Wands & Wizard Exploratorium


Don't forget to also follow us for more adventures and things to do in London with kids over on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.



11,116 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page