7 unmissable activities for children in London this summer

With the summer holidays underway, there are plenty of brilliant things to do with kids across London. Whether you are after outdoor exploration, creative play, or something educational and hands on, there is lots to choose from. From the much loved UNIQLO Tate Play at Tate Modern, this year created by Monster Chetwynd, to a new Carbon Garden at Kew Gardens, Peppa Pig meet and greet sessions high above the city at Battersea Power Station’s Lift 109, and a brand new interactive exhibition at the Science Museum, here is our guide to seven great activities to do with kids in London this summer.

UNIQLO Tate Play: Monster Chetwynd, Thunder, Crackle and Magic

Installation View UNIQLO Tate Play Monster Chetwynd. © Tate Photography Lucy Dawkins.

#FLODown: This summer, Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall hosts Thunder, Crackle and Magic, a colourful, interactive installation by artist Monster Chetwynd. Part of the free UNIQLO Tate Play series and inspired by The Magic Flute, the experience invites visitors into three imaginative sets filled with puppets, costumes, and handcrafted props. With immersive storytelling, playful performances, and cosy spaces to relax, the installation encourages creativity, collaboration, and exploration for all ages.

Date: 19 July - 25 August 2025. Opening hours: Daily, 10:30am - 6pm (last entry 45 minutes before closing). Location: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. Price: Free tate.org.uk

Play Pavilion at Serpentine by Sir Peter Cook

The Play Pavilion, designed by Peter Cook (Peter Cook Studio Crablab), in collaboration with Serpentine and the LEGO Group. © Peter Cook (Peter Cook Studio Crablab). Courtesy Serpentine, picture by Andy Stagg

#FLODown: A huge LEGO® installation is now open in Kensington Gardens: the Play Pavilion, a vibrant collaboration between the Serpentine and the LEGO Group. Designed by renowned architect Sir Peter Cook, the Pavilion offers a season-long programme of free, hands-on activities for all ages. Families can enjoy drop-in play sessions, workshops, communal builds, and creative challenges covering everything from brick-building and music to art and design. While free play requires no booking, workshops are popular, so pre-booking and early arrival are recommended. It’s a fun, free celebration of creativity and learning through play.

Date: 11 June - 10 August 2025. Location: Kensington Gardens. Price: Free. serpentinegalleries.org

Carbon Garden at Kew Gardens

Carbon Garden design, Kew Gardens © Mizzi Studio

#FLODown: The Carbon Garden at Kew Gardens is open this summer, offering a unique space that reveals the role of carbon in ecosystems and its impact on the climate. Featuring displays such as an exposed coal seam, drought-resistant plants, and a pavilion inspired by fungi, the garden provides an educational experience about nature’s role in addressing climate change. It’s a great place for children to learn, with hands-on features and opportunities to explore soil, plants, and trees, making it an engaging and informative visit for families.

Location: Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE. Price: from £22/ £8. Adult/ child. Book now

Future of Food

First beef steak grown outside a cow © Science Museum Group.

#FLODown: Future of Food is a free exhibition opening at the Science Museum that explores how science and innovation are transforming what we eat and how it reaches our plates in a rapidly changing world. Featuring over 100 objects from a 3500-year-old loaf of bread to the first Quorn burger McNuggets cricket-based snacks and lab-grown steak it examines the role of biotechnology agroecology and global food traditions in shaping a more sustainable food system. Visitors can explore climate-resilient crops microbial dairy alternatives and cutting-edge food technologies alongside stories from farming communities across the world from the Amazon rainforest to urban rooftops in Singapore. Designed for ages seven and up the exhibition includes interactive digital displays and a multiplayer game that helps visitors understand the environmental and social impact of their everyday food choices.

Date: 24 July 2025 - 4 January 2026. Location: Science Museum Exhibition Road South Kensington London SW7 2DD. Price: Free, booking required. Book now

Summer at the Horniman Museum and Gardens

© Horniman Museum and Gardens.

#FLODown: The Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill is offering a packed and exciting programme for children and families this summer. Alongside its free permanent galleries, including the World Gallery, Music Gallery, and Natural History Pop-up, the museum hosts a variety of creative, hands-on events throughout the school holidays. Highlights include Llama Library (30 July), a fun-filled storytelling and craft session for ages 4–8; Animal Robotics workshops (6 & 11 August) where kids can build their own robotic creatures; Hear it Live! (14 August) with vibrant steel pan performances; and the lively Caribbean-themed Music Jerk ’n Tings family festival (16 August). There’s also Sustainable Loose Parts Free-Play (20 August), Ant Life crafts (28 August), and regular Family Craft Saturdays, celebrating culture and creativity through hands-on activities. Little ones can enjoy the charming nine-hole Mini Golf by UrbanCrazy, while music lovers can drop into Hey Jukebox! and themed gallery talks. With beautiful gardens, a popular aquarium, butterfly house, and the interactive Robot Zoo exhibition, the Horniman offers a brilliant day out for all ages this summer.

Date: July and August 2025.Opening Hours: Daily, 10am–5.30pm. Location: Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ. Click here to discover the full progamme of events at Horniman Museum and Gardens this summer.

Peppa Pig at Battersea Power Station’s Lift 109

Peppa Pig at Battersea Power Station’s Lift 109 this summer.

#FLODown: Families this summer can enjoy a special chance to meet Peppa Pig at Battersea Power Station’s Lift 109 chimney lift experience. Alongside a fun story reading from the popular book Peppa Goes to London, children will explore an interactive exhibition about the Power Station’s electric history before ascending 109 metres in a unique glass lift to enjoy panoramic views of London.

Date: Monday 28th, Tuesday 29th & Wednesday 30th July; Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th & Wednesday 6th August 2025. Times: 10.30am & 11.15am. Location: Battersea Power Station, London, SW11 8BJ. Price: Adults £16, Children £12, Family Saver £48. Book now

DreamState by Ministry of Stories

DreamState, a free multi-sensory experience running from 28 July to 2 August 2025.

#FLODown: Ministry of Stories, the east London charity co-founded by author Nick Hornby, presents DreamState, a free, immersive experience running from 28 July to 2 August 2025 at The Ditch, Shoreditch Town Hall. Created in partnership with architecture studio make:good, the installation brings to life the imaginative writing of 112 Hackney children aged 6 to 15, who attend the charity’s weekly community writing labs. The experience features eight interactive dream-themed rooms, including a nostalgic locker room, a glitter-filled celebration space, a spooky zone, and a surreal ‘dream dream’ room. Celebrating imagination, confidence, and joy, DreamState offers a 45-minute journey into the creative minds of young East Londoners.

Date: 28 July – 2 August 2025. Location: Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT. Price: DreamState will be open to the public for free for one week between 28 July - 2 August 2025. shoreditchtownhall.com