15 Summer Holiday Activities The Kids Will Love

SEE

Dragons & Mythical Beasts At Regent’s Park Open-Air Theatre

Calling all brave heroes! This thrilling show will be performed at Regent’s Park Open-Air Theatre from Friday 13th August to Sunday 5th September. From the creators of the West End show Dinosaur World Live, who bring spectacular puppets to life, Dragons & Mythical Beasts will see children come face to face with magnificent monsters and terrifying creatures. They’ll discover the colossal stone troll, the mysterious Indrik, the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you'd think), an adorable unicorn and a majestic griffin. Packed full of adventure, the show is suitable for children aged eight and above; tickets start from £17.

Visit OpenAirTheatre.com

Jungle Cruise

Disney’s new blockbuster will be released in cinemas and on Disney+ on Wednesday 28th July. Kids and parents can sit back and watch the action where Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) enlists the aid of wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) to take her down the Amazon in his ramshackle boat. Together, they search for an ancient tree that holds the power to heal – a discovery that will change the future of medicine. But with dangerous animals and jungle cats lurking in the dark, will they make it out in one piece?

Visit DisneyPlus.com

The Tiger Who Came To Tea At Theatre Royal Haymarket

Judith Kerr’s classic children’s book is brought to life in this charming adaptation which returns to Theatre Royal Haymarket for another year. One evening, Sophie and her mother are sitting down for some tea. But then, as they sip their drinks, the doorbell rings. They're not expecting any guests, so who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger! Filled with sing-alongs, magic, and a few surprises, this family favourite will run until Sunday 5th September. Tickets start from £18.

Visit Tickets.London

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain Part 5 At The Apollo Theatre

After last year’s show, Horrible Histories is finally back on stage this summer at the Apollo Theatre. Barmy Britain Part 5 is full of crazy new characters and rude new rulers from Britain’s past. Kids can learn about William the Conqueror and King Henry VIII, then watch the Georgians as they take over England. Queen Elizabeth II even makes an appearance, as do a few soldiers from World War Two. The show will run from Thursday 29th July to Saturday 28th August. Tickets start from £19.50.

Visit ApolloTheatreLondon.co.uk

The Wind In The Willows, Kew Gardens

From Saturday 24th July to Monday 30 August, Kew Gardens is showing outdoor performances of Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved children’s book, The Wind in the Willows. Set against the backdrop of Kew Gardens’ lake, the show is full of colourful characters, music, song and laughter. With fun for adults and children alike, Head Chief Rabbit will transform little ones into rabbits so they can join in the riverbank adventure. Expect to see Mr Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole, plus a few surprise characters along the way, too. Tickets start from £17.90.

Visit TheatreOnKew.co.uk

Zog At Warwick Castle

Head to Warwick Castle this summer for an adventure with Zog the dragon. Based on the best-selling book by Julia Donaldson (The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom), kids will love this new interactive 3D trail. Little ones can learn the skills they need to become a fully-fledged dragon and find out what it takes to become a knight at Sir Gadabout’s school in a series of games set around the castle. Older children can also try their hand at archery and explore the Horrible Histories maze to learn about the World Wars. Tickets start from £12.

Visit Warwick-Castle.com

MAKE

Little Cooks Co At Home Summer Cooking Camp 

Little Cooks Co, who make healthy baking kits for children, have created a summer cooking camp to keep little ones entertained and get them into the kitchen. The kit contains seven recipes to cook over the summer holidays, with all the organic dry ingredients you’ll need. It also contains a utensils starter kit, an apron, and the new Little Cooks Co cookbook for children, plus extras like organic basil seeds to grow for the pesto recipe. At the end of the school holidays the children will be sent a special certificate of completion to mark their achievement.

Visit LittleCooksCo.co.uk

Slime By Molly, Tooting Market

For a fun afternoon of arts and crafts, head to Slime by Molly in Tooting Market. Ideal for a party or group activity, kids can create a range of colourful slime to take home and play with. Led by ‘queen of green’, Molly, they’ll be shown how to create a ball of slime and decorate it with glow-in-the-dark colours, sequins, glitter, and beads. Simply message the team on Instagram to book your slot, or head to Molly’s Esty page to make your own at home.

Visit Instagram.com

Hobbycraft Colour-In Cardboard Castle Playhouse 

Hobbycraft have created a cool cardboard castle playhouse for little ones to colour in and decorate. Kids will have a big blank canvas that they can cover with their own creative works of art, then play in afterwards for a fun game of dragons and princesses. The cardboard castle features turrets, windows and brick details, as well as a flag, all ready to be coloured in with pencils, pens or paints. A lovely family activity, kids will get hours of enjoyment once built.

Visit Hobbycraft.co.uk

Herboo Garden Kits

Available exclusively at Selfridges, Herboo garden kits provide hours of fun for little ones. With seeds and more, children can grow their own vegetable patch, learn about gardening, and attract creepy crawlies with wildflowers. The Seasonal Box contains recipes, crafts activities, creative challenges, seeds and biodegradable plant pots, while the Nature Box has all the materials needed to grow two different types of plant. A great activity to inspire little green fingers.

Visit Selfridges.com

DO

Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder Of Nature Exhibition At The Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum has just opened a new exhibition celebrating beasts in all their forms, both real and mythical, including those created by J. K. Rowling through her stories and in the Fantastic Beasts film series. Both children and parents can look at creatures from the natural and mythical worlds, as well as the Wizarding World, with some objects on public display for the very first time. Visitors can learn about J. K. Rowling’s character Newt Scamander and discover the link between legendary beasts and the animal kingdom. From giant oarfish (the world’s longest bony fish) to mythical sea serpents, there’s plenty to marvel at. Tickets start from £13.25.

Visit NHM.ac.uk

WonderLab At The Science Museum 

Hours of fun can be spent at the Science Museum’s new interactive gallery, WonderLab. With live shows and daily demonstrations, kids will learn about the science and maths that shape our everyday lives. Spread across seven different zones, children can interact with real scientific phenomena, see lightning strike before their eyes, play with forces on giant slides, and travel through space under a canopy of stars. Be sure to visit the Matter Zone to see the cool ferrofluid exhibit. Day passes start from £9.

Visit ScienceMuseum.org.uk

Pop-up Bunny & Chick Petting Zoo At Hilton London Bankside

To celebrate the start of the summer holidays, Hilton London Bankside will be hosting a pop-up bunny and chick petting zoo on Sunday 25th July from 10am until 2pm in the lobby. Free to attend for hotel guests and those brunching at OXBO Bankside or the distillery bar, both children and adults will be able to meet and greet the animals under the watchful eye of two trained handlers from animal welfare company, Living Things. Afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to take pictures in the den, on a haystack.

Visit Hilton.com

Discover Children’s Story Centre Fairy Tale Exhibition

Discover Children's Story Centre in Stratford has a new magical fairy tale exhibition. Little ones can step into a fairy tale town and venture into the woods to discover a world of giants, palaces, gingerbread houses and treasure caves. They can tip-toe over a bridge, join in a palace disco and sit in a giant’s footprint. Kids can also visit the market to help Jack win some magic beans, search for treasures in the magical cave, and stop by grandma’s caravan. The experience lasts around 30 minutes and is suitable for children up to the age of eight. Tickets cost £2 in addition to a day pass.

Visit Discover.org.uk

Little VIP Club At The Lanesborough

The Lanesborough hotel has created a new series of family-friendly packages for a special summer staycation. Designed for children up to the age of 16, the Little VIP Club offers kids and teens perks and VIP treatment during their stay. Upon arrival, they’ll be presented with their very own business wallet, personalised with their name, which they can present at any of The Lanesborough’s outlets to receive complimentary soft drinks and ice-cream. Other activities include the ‘Little Butler Bootcamp’ (where kids can become a butler for the afternoon), mocktail lessons, horse riding in Hyde Park, treasure hunts and dedicated ‘splash hours’ in the pool. There’s also a special afternoon tea featuring a selection of playful pastries, cupcakes, scones, sandwiches and a very chocolate-y hot chocolate.

Visit OetkerCollection.com