July 2024: What's on London with kids

Sing louder for the families at the back: "Sun is in the sky, oh why, oh why, would I wanna be anywhere else?" 

This newsletter features 20 things to do in July, plus 10 more for Under 5s, events to book ahead, and weekend ideas for more immediate fun.

Our London highlights this month have been: the taste of the countryside in Brixton at Lambeth Country Show; raving like swarms in the silent disco at Great Exhibition Road Festival; and printing our own Walthamstow map with Angry Dan on the E17 Art Trail.

Outside London, our highlights are both thanks to CSSC: the kids rolled down hilly historic artillery stores at Tilbury Fort and my whirlwind sightseeing trip to Kent’s heritage highlights with Evan Evans felt like a mini-holiday.

I’m busy on something exciting I can’t tell you about quite yet. Less mysteriously, I’m also planning a New York break with a friend later this year - all tips welcome! But most days you’ll find me on Instagram Stories, sharing new events likely to sell out before the next newsletter. Now, on with the guide!

July 2024: What’s on London with kids

If you're already stressing about the summer holidays, don't miss my updated post featuring 50+ things to do with kids in London. I'm continually adding new activities, so keep checking back.

I’ll start sending out my weekly newsletters with 5 free things to do a day every single week of the summer soon. Meanwhile, here are July’s highlights to see you through to the holidays:

1. Enjoy iconic Michael Rosen stories in Storytime at the Museum at the Heath Robinson Museum, HA5 and see illustrations of his books in their latest exhibition. You can even meet the author at the opening! Every Sunday during the summer from 30 June 2024. Included with paid entry.

2. Explore the Dream Girl’s design with rare items from Mattel archives in Barbie^®: The Exhibition at the Design Museum, W8. 5 July 2024-23 February 2025. Paid, book. I’ll report back once it opens about the best ages.

3. Build your own kaledioscope, make complicated chain reactions, and investigate sound in Summer Science Exhibition 2024 at The Royal Society, SW1. Plus science talks and Luke Jerram’s Mirror Moon. Family activities run 6-7 July 2024. Free, register interest.

4. Did you know we might have 20 senses? Measure, test, and trick yours with STEM scientists in Family Fun Day: Taste, touch, feel at the Royal Institution, W1. 6 July 2024. Paid, book.

5. Explore the science of squishing, examine iPhone innards, try pottery wheels and meet the Mars Rover in Festival of Stuff at Institute of Making, E20. 6 July 2024. Free, drop in.

6. Love chess or want to learn? Head to ChessFest in Trafalgar Square for lessons or challenge a Master at speed chess. Plus living chess set, giant chess and 100s of table sets. 7 July 2024. Free, drop in.

7. The Tiger Who Came to Tea returns to London. 8 July 2024. Paid, book.

8. Celebrate the Young V&A’s First Birthday Festival, E2 with performances from local creatives, fashion accessory designing, political cartooning and puppet animation. 13 July 2024. Free, drop in.

9. Meet a medieval medicine man and musician, hear costumed storytelling, have a go at silk braiding, heraldry and more at Medieval Manor Farm, HA4. 13 July 20234. Free, drop in. Part of Festival of Archaeology. Book ahead for the Medieval Surgery demonstration.

10. Revel in the community with free crafting, art, music, dancing, and more run by newly arrived local people in Crossing Borders at Horniman Museum and Gardens, SE23. 13 July 2024. Free, drop in.

11. Watch top street artists create colourful murals from scissor lifts at Whitecross Street Party, EC1. Plus music and spoken word performances, food stalls and activities by local partners. 13-14 July 2024. Free, drop in.

12. Cannon fire, gun battles, and the famous push of pike bring the tumultuous Civil War to life in Hands on History: Cavaliers vs Roundheads at Valence House Museum, RM8. 13-14 July 2024. Free, drop in.

13. Get your kids to up their art game with an inspirational trip to the Young Artists Summer Show at the Royal Academy, W1. 16 July-11 August 2024. Free, drop in.

14. Admire a full-size bronze Diplodocus and follow the story of how life on Earth has changed over time in the new gardens at the Natural History Museum, SW7. From 18 July 2024. Free, drop in.

15. Journey through a fantastical circus tent into the woods to find a marvellous Monster Funfair at Discover Story Centre, E15. Solve the theft of all the candyfloss. By award-winning Nadia Shireen. Opens 20 July 2024. Paid, book. Best ages 0-8.

16. Become an immune cell avenger, interview a scientist, and try science screen printing in Discovery Day at the Francis Crick Institute, NW1. 20 July 2024. Free, drop in. Best ages 7-11.

17. Enjoy theatre shows and interactive storytelling, get creative with arts and crafts, or learn new moves with The Place’s dance artists in Family Dance Day at Coram’s Fields, WC1. 20 July 2024. Free, drop in. Ages 2-10 and their families.

18. Pick up a paintbrush for UNIQLO Tate Play: Oscar Murillo, The flooded garden at Tate Modern, SE1 - blending large-scale art and interactive play in the iconic Turbine Hall. 20 July-26 August 2024. Free, drop in.

19. Join Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad on an enchanting outdoor adventure in the beloved classic The Wind in the Willows at Kew Gardens, TW9. 20 July-1 September 2024. Paid, book.

20. Enjoy free boat trips on the M.V. Golden Salamander and river dipping with Thames Explorer in Party on the Pier 2024 at Chiswick Pier Trust, W4. Plus live music and face painting. 21 July 2024. Free, drop in.
    

21. I’m in two minds whether to include the Pavilion Family Day at Serpentine Gallery, W2. Just this week they stopped under 5s climbing on the Play Tower. But as we’ve really enjoyed their family days in the past, I’m adding it as a bonus listing with the caveat: best for over 5s. 21 July 2024. Free, drop in.

Love this guide? Send it to a friend - maybe they’ll accompany you on some outings!

Book Ahead!

For mams with a plan, here’s my pick of events to book ahead.

1. Enjoy family events in London’s oldest garden at Westminster Abbey, SW1 including Wild Westminster (2 & 4 August 2024); Commonwealth Celebration (10 August 2024); and Nature Tales (16 & 19 August 2024). Free, book. Booking available from 28 June 2024.

2. The OFFIE award-winning Children’s Puppet Festival 2024 returns to Little Angel Theatre, N1 with performances, workshops for families, community events and fun days for children. 2 August-1 September 2024. Paid, book.

3. One evening a year you can explore Kew Gardens on two wheels in Summer Cycle 2024. With live performances, including unicyclists and circus acts, face painting, food pop-ups, and more. 1 August 2024. Paid, book.

4. Step back into summer 1940 at Battle of Britain Air Show at IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire. With Spitfires, Hurricanes and more in flight, music and dance from the era, living history groups and activities for all ages. 14-15 September 2024. Paid, book.

5. Applications are now open for the autumn term of London Symphony Orchestra’s Shake, Rattle and Roll music workshops at LSO St Lukes, EC1. Mondays, 23 September-25 November 2024. Paid, book. Under 6s, under 4s, and under 19 months. The deadline to apply is 10:00 on 26 July 2024, and places are allocated on a lottery basis.

If you book, hit reply and let me know!

July 2024: What’s On for Under 5s

1. The Garden Museum’s, SE1 last scheduled Tuesday Tots storytelling sessions of the season are Jack and the Beanstalk (2 July 2024), and Green Storytelling (16 July 2024). Free, drop in. Under 5s.

2. Follow Oliver Jeffers’ beloved story about a boy's adventure to befriend a star in How to Catch a Star at Polka Theatre, SW19. 3 July-11 August 2024. Paid, book. Ages 3-5.

3. Please note: This month’s Little Feet: Become Artists at British Museum has been cancelled. It was scheduled for 5 July 2024.

4. Get photos of your little pumpkin next to Yayoi Kusama: Pumpkin at The Round Pond in Kensington Gardens, W2. It’s her tallest bronze kabocha sculpture to date. 9 July-3 November 2024. Free, drop in.

5. Explore RIBA London’s uncomfortable links with the British Empire in a baby-friendly curators’ tour at RIBA Baby - Raise the Roof: Building for Change, W1. 10 July 2024. Free, book. Best for babies.

6. Enjoy a jazzy musical celebration of the everyday acts of kindness and courage shown by life savers from around the world in BabyJazz Summer Special at Museum of the Order of St John, EC1. 10 July 2024. Free, book.

7. Spark your child’s imagination with fun sensory materials in Messy Play at The National Archives, TW9. 12 July 2024. Paid, book.

8. Theatre meets play, music and lots of surprises in CBeebies Rainbow Adventure at Westfield London, W12. Produced and created by an Olivier Award-winning and nominated team with 11 kids between them. Opens 22 July 2024. Paid, book.

9. Join Duggee, Bluey, the Octonauts and lots more CBeebies friends to celebrate the natural world in music and song at the spectacular CBeebies Prom - Wildlife Jamboree at Royal Albert Hall. 27 July 2024. Paid, book. Day Promming tickets available on 26 July 2024 at 10:30.

10. Go digging at the docks in this month’s archaeology-themed Tots at the Docks at Museum of London Docklands, E14. 31 July 2024. Free, drop in. Under 5s.

For even more ideas, check out my Under 5s cultural play sessions post. I updated it last week.

Weekend activities 22-23 June 2024

And finally, there’s so many super activities for the weekend. Check the links for timings and any booking details.

1. Stoke Newington Fire Station open day with London Fire Brigade Museum, N16. 22 June 2024. Free.

2. Nature's Touch: Handcrafted Pinch Pot Workshop Family Day at William Morris Gallery, E17. 22 June 2024. Free.

3. Waltham Forest Windrush Festival at Fellowship Square, E17. 22 June 2024. Free.

4. Windrush Day: Hummingbirds and Hibiscus at The Garden Museum, SE1. 22 June 2024. Free.

5. Fiumano Clase Family Saturday, SW1. 22 June 2024. Free.

6. Manor House Gardens Festival, SE13. 22 June 2024. Free.

7. Let’s Get Creative – fun and play outside with Assemble Play at Orleans House Gallery, TW1. 22-23 June 2024. Free.

8. Save 30% off WhipperSnappers’ Fairy and Pixie Land in Dulwich Park, SE21 with code LASTMINUTE22. 22-23 June 2024. Paid.

9. Build a LEGO Progress Flag at Lego Stores. 22-23 June 2024. Free.

10. Refugee Week: Collaborative Clayscape at V&A Museum, SW7. 23 June 2024. Free.

11. Hayes Canal Festival, UB3. 23 June 2024. Free.

Wishing you a fantastic month! I'd love to keep in touch, so please tag or DM me on Instagram @museummum with stories from your cultural adventures with the kids.

Stay tuned—I'll be back in a few weeks with the first edition of my free weekly Summer Guides, packed with exciting activities and places to explore.

Until then,

Please check listings before heading out. Events can change or be cancelled at short notice; and, despite my best efforts, sometimes I make mistakes.