FREE Summer Holiday Activities 2023: Week 1

School’s out for summer - and now there’s the not-so-small matter of entertaining children for the next 45+ days!

The last few weeks i’ve focused on writing my summer holiday what’s on guide. Now finished, it features over 200+ family friendly events, both paid and unpaid, across the whole six weeks. If you’re a planner, head there now to find lots of things to do with kids. I guarantee you’ll find places you’ve never heard of before.

And if you’re not a planner and/or in need of a cheaper summer, every week I'll send out a guide to free events for the week ahead in these newsletters. There will be suggestions for each day, all still with spaces to book or drop in to.

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of residential trip, sports days, birthday parties, transition days and leavers play, disco and more.

Somehow we’ve managed to squeeze in a bit of culture amongst the chaos. I passed on a tradition from my eldest, Museum Oldest Offspring, to Museum Girl when she met her favourite author Jacqueline Wilson at the Hetty Feather Day at Foundling Museum.

Our memberships have been saving us money - and sanity! We used our CSSC membership to enjoy the fabulous Children’s Garden at Kew Gardens without the crowds. And we caught the train to National Trust’s Knole to check out their indoor and outdoor trails - find more of their special places to visit, and their summer family activities, below.

There’s two more episodes of The Exhibitionists Podcast on Spotify. Hear me and Catherine from Cultural Wednesday chat about our six favourite places to see outdoor sculpture and where to see photography in London.

I'd love to hear what you've been up to - hit reply, post in my Facebook group or DM me on Instagram.

If you’re enjoying these newsletters, please consider forwarding it to your friends.

18 National Trust places to play this summer [AD]

It's the Summer of Play at the National Trust! Over 170 places are taking part across the UK, putting on fun activities to help families experience the houses, gardens and outdoor spaces they look after in new and exciting ways.

Try outdoor games, arts and crafts, nature activities and much more. Each place has different activities included with entry - so they're free for National Trust members. No booking required, just turn up. Plus there’s lots of other fun family trails and activities running too.

Here’s 18 National Trust places in London and the South East region to join in with the Summer of Play, and other family-friendly activities:

1. Ham House and Garden in West London turns into a giant play zone with bowls, croquet, badminton and Jenga. 22 July-31 August 2023.

2. Football, table tennis, wild art, nature bingo and performance space at Osterley Park and House, West London. 22 July-3 September 2023.

3. Play inspired by the Royal Couple’s honeymoon visit in 1923 at Polesden Lacey, Surrey. 20 July-31 August 2023.

4. Obstacle course, tug of war and badminton at Nymans, Sussex. 22 July-3 September 2023.

5. Lawn games, badminton, balance beams and hurdles at Basildon Park, Berkshire. 21 July-4 September 2023.

6. New weekly outdoor activities at Hughenden, Bucks. 22 July-3 September 2023. 

7. Zoolab Adventure trail and garden games at Stowe, Bucks. 22 July-3 September 2023. 

8. Happy Families: Adventures with the Ahlbergs outdoor trail at Mottisfont, Hampshire. 22 July-3 September 2023.

9. Pin the tail on the donkey and other traditional outdoor games at The Vyne, Hampshire. 22 July-4 September 2023.

10. Play in the Canadian camp at Chartwell, Kent. 22 July-3 September 2023.

11. It’s the Summer of Tudors at Ightham Mote, Kent! With Tudor festival weekend, falconry, meet the Tudors and summer crafts. Events take place between 22 July-4 September 2023, check listings.

12. Paintings and Frames Summer Trail at Knole, Kent. 20 July-3 September 2023. Pre-book to guarantee entry.

13. Dino games at Scotney Castle, Kent. 22 July-3 September 2023. Book parking.

14. Garden games, outdoor amphitheatre and dressing up at Claremont Landscape Garden, Surrey. 22 July-3 September 2023. 

15. Welly wanging and more traditional outdoor sports at Hatchlands Park, Surrey. 22 July-3 September 2023.

16. Mini jousting challenge and sandcastle building at Medieval Fair at Bodiam Castle, Sussex. 22 July-3 September 2023.

17. Outdoor games and toys at Petworth House and Park, Sussex. 22 July-3 September 2023.

18. Find colourful animals in the Exotic Spots summer trail at Sheffield Park Garden, Sussex. 22 July-3 September 2023.

Tag me @museummum and National Trust South East @southeastnt in your Summer of Play photographs on Instagram - we’d love to see how you get on!

FREE Summer Holiday Activities: Week 1

Keep your kids entertained for less this summer - here's my pick of completely FREE family activities this week in London!

Monday 24 July 2023

• An oddly quiet day for free events - try one from the daily list.
  

Tuesday 25 July 2023

1. Make a camp to shelter your soldiers in Making Camp at National Army Museum, SW3. 25-28 July 2023. Drop in.

2. Explore oceans, waves and tides in Play Outdoors Tuesdays at National Maritime Museum, SE10. Drop in. Under 5s.

3. Festival of Archaeology at Paddington Children's Library, W2. Book.

4. Storytelling for families at Bank of England Museum: The Three Little Pigs (ages 4-7) or Gold Vault Break In (7-11 years), EC2. Book.

5. Weaving with nature at Stoneford Community Garden, RM10. Book.

Wednesday 26 July 2023

1. Family Day: Knights and Dragons at Westminster Abbey. Book. Also on 2 August 2023.

2. Mini movers and bopping babies at Museum of London Docklands Under 5s, E14. First come, first served.

3. Family activity: Marbling medieval manuscripts at Museum of the Order of St John, EC1. Drop in.

4. Wagon of Dreams family theatre show at Canning Town Library, E16. Book.

5. Aardman drop in model making workshops at Leadenhall Market, EC3.

Thursday 27 July 2023

1. Build the Lego skyline with Lego bricks at London Bridge City, SE1. Drop in.

2. Mimi's Rainbow Adventure Family Day at Institute of Physics, N1. Book.

3. State of Play: Full day design and gaming workshop by The Glass-House Community Led Design and Karakusevic Carson Architects, E2. Book. Ages 10-12, plus parents.

4. Discover Festival - Puppetry 101 at St Margaret’s House, E2. Ages 12+.

5. Comic book making workshop at October Gallery, WC1. Ages 12-16.

Friday 28 July 2023

1. There’s three family activities taking place at Chisenhale Gallery, E3: Painting with light with Anna Higgins; Making tactile maps with Rebecca Griffiths and Beginner’s Street Dance. Book.

2. Summer Family Fridays at Young V&A, E2. Drop in.

3. Assemble Play at Horniman Museum, SE23. Drop in.

4. Squish Space at Barbican, EC2. Book/drop in.

Daily, all drop in

1. Uniqlo Tate Play Rasheed Araeen Zero to Infinity at Tate Modern, SE1. 22 July-27 August.

2. Growing Curiosities: The Science of Gardens at the Garden Museum, SE1. Until 14 September.

3. Play Studio at Tate Britain, SW1. Daily throughout the school holidays.

4. Morph’s Epic Art Adventure Trail, across City and Central London. Until 20 August.

FREE weekend activities: 22-23 July 2023

Not sure what to get up to this weekend? Here’s a few more ideas, all of them free. Click the links for timings and any booking information.

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July 2023

1. In a Field by a Bridge is a new FREE weekend eco-friendly family festival in SE1. Join in with mass participatory clay workshop, paint a mural, make natural dyes and embroider a patch to mend clothes. Enjoy music and entertainment on a pedal-powered stage.

Saturday 22 July 2023

1. Storytelling Saturdays at Young V&A, E2.

2. Make a day-glo prayer flag in Families Create at Zabludowicz Collection, NW5.

3. Family Workshops: Stay and Play Sessions at Goldsmiths CCA.

4. Draw imaginative lucky-dip portraits in Family Takeover: Yes-No-Maybe at Camden Art Centre.

5. Bowie Banner Making at Kingston Museum. Ages 7+.

6. Turn your old footwear into something fantastic in Love Your Shoes, Love Your Planet in Art at the Docks.

7. River dipping, storytelling and slime watch at Creekside Open Day.

8. Make a bug hotel in Bees, Beetles and other Beautiful Bugs (for families) at Grosvenor Square.

9. Try-an-instrument workshops for kids in Fellowship Square, E17.

10. Graphic design workshops for ages 11-16 and children’s games with Sharky & George at The Islander Carnival at Goodluck Hope, E14.

Sunday 23 July 2023

1. Make shiny and metallic assembled sculptures in Open Sundays at Pitzhanger.

2. Science of Paper Marbling by Imperial College scientists at Forest Hill Library. Ages 7+.

Have a fantastic weekend and best of luck on week one of the school holidays!

Until next time,

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