Things To Do
Guide
Things to do with the kids this summer
Make the most of the summer break with this go-to guide for things to do that are actually worth doing
School’s out and the summer is overflowing with activities for the whole family. Want to soar over London on a 135-metre observation wheel? Check. Go from zero to hero with a half-god, half-mortal? Check. Feast on live music paired with dishes from Michelin-starred chefs? Check. From world-famous musicals to immersive art experiences and thrill-packed theme parks, this is your one-stop destination for things to do with children of all ages, in the capital or the countryside.
So swap the screen for sunscreen and splash, sing along, learn and laugh your way through the UK’s coolest kid-friendly spots this summer. Even when the weather’s a bit uncertain, entertainment is guaranteed.
Journey to Ancient Greece with Disney’s Hercules
A mythical new musical has landed in the West End and it promises to take you all the way to the Underworld. Inspired by the 1997 Disney animated film, Hercules meets the strapping demigod on a mission to save the world from Hades, Zeus’ villainous brother and Underworld overlord, on an infectiously foot-tapping journey that could take him from zero to hero. Expect adrenaline-pumping highs and muscle-flexing galore. And if you want to take the myth and the mirth to the next level, VIP add-ons like the Hercules Experience and the Olympus Lounge come with champagne (don’t tell the kids).
Where is it? Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
Find tickets to Disney’s Hercules here
Step into 360-degree paintings at FRAMELESS
Experience the mastery of Monet, Rembrandt and Dalí like never before in an immersive journey at the crossroads of traditional painting and cutting-edge technology: 29 first-class artists, 42 masterpieces, one jaw-dropping event that everyone in the family can enjoy, no matter their age. Move seamlessly between galleries and enjoy surreal bursts of colour and timeless brushstrokes in exquisite detail that bring the viewers ever-closer to the captivating art. Whether the kids are too young to understand or too rebellious to bother with museums, this is one place that will bring everyone together.
Where is it? Marble Arch Place, London
Find tickets to FRAMELESS here
Experience the adventure of Disney’s The Lion King
It takes 50 cast members and 100 people backstage for each performance of Disney’s The Lion King; 232 puppets; 37000 hours for director Julie Taymor and her team to build the original puppets and masks. It’s no wonder this spectacular musical has already been experienced by 124 million people. So create a family experience to remember this summer with Simba’s breathtaking journey from a lion cub to the King of the Pridelands. It’s feast for the ears and eyes, big in numbers and even bigger in heart.
Where is it? Lyceum Theatre, London
Find tickets to Disney’s The Lion King here
Embark on an immersive quest at Phantom Peak
You can be the hero of your own real-life video game this summer. Just follow one of over 10 trails in Phantom Peak’s immersive open-world experience packing four hours of mysterious, mind-blowing thrills. Explore the Old Town at your own pace, get to know the townsfolk, find the clues, shape your destiny. A wide range of food options and carnival games like Platyhooks will supply you with enough fuel and fun times for an unbeatable adventure. And, before we forget… Dress to impress!
Where is it? Canada Water, London
Find tickets to Phantom Peak here
Revel in the magic of Wicked
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande may have taken the musical to Hollywood with a blockbuster 2024 adaptation, but Wicked the Musical has been enchanting West End audiences for nearly 20 years, and it remains one of the best things to do with the kids this summer. Take the family on a journey back to the fantastical Land of Oz and discover the startling backstory of Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West, with a sprinkling of spellbdinding choruses like Defying Gravity. If there was ever any doubt, this summer, green is the colour!
Where is it? Victoria Apollo Theatre, London
Find tickets to Wicked here
Treat preschoolers to CoComelon: Sing-A-Long Live
There’s no bigger summer treat for your toddler than to sing and dance along to CoComelon songs – with the show’s bouncy little heroes themselves. Join Ms. Appleberry, JJ, Cody, Nina, Cece and more at this delightfully fresh and fun new production that has London buzzing with excitement. Live music will be peppered with playful and educational surprises throughout to keep the little ones and their families in good spirits. If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
Where is it? St Martin’s Theatre, London
Find tickets to CoComelon Sing-A-Long Live here
Gear up for a roller coaster of thrills at Thorpe Park
The UK’s go-to destination for thrill-seekers, Thorpe Park packs over 25 exhilarating, gravity-defying rides, all in one place. Hyperia, the country’s tallest and fastest coaster is the jewel in the park’s crown, while this wet country’s wettest water rides serve up pulse-racing plunges of up to 85ft for the ultimate cool-off on a hot summer’s day. Plus immersive experiences, horror rides, shopping and mountains of tasty treats are all within easy reach. Few places offer such dizzying amounts of fun and a tsunami of excitement for the whole family – and mini thrill seekers under 1.2m get in for free.
Where is it? Chertsey, Surrey
Find tickets to Thorpe Park here
Hop on the Starlight Express
It’s a speedy world out there and Rusty the Stream Train has stiff competition. Discover the legend of the Starlight Express that inspires Rusty to enter the race for the fastest train in the world with fresh drive, in an 80s-geared musical that knows how to change with the times. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s electrifying tunes like the cosmic ‘AC/DC’ were born to thrill teens and adults alike – and it’s all performed on roller skates by a cast of 40 at London’s state-of-the-art Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre. It’s fast, it’s neon-coloured and blindingly dazzling.
Where is it? Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London
Find tickets to Starlight Express here
Find your spirit with My Neighbour Totoro
A Studio Ghibli animated masterpiece finds its way to the West End in a spectacular adaptation designed to warm the hearts of audiences of all ages: Hayao Miyazaki’s My Neighbour Totoro sees two sisters move to the countryside, where their new home becomes a gateway to a realm of ancient spirits and wonder. Totoro and his friend the Catbus provide a place of comfort and exploration at a difficult time for the girls. But is it reality, or is it all a dream? Let your imagination wander to the heart of this Japanese forest and you’ll find out.
Where is it? Gillian Lynne Theatre, London
Find tickets to My Neighbour Totoro here
Escape into fantasy with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Explore the enchanted kingdom of Narnia this summer as the hit West End show returns from a UK tour, bringing C.S. Lewis’s beloved fantasy novel closer to Sadler’s Wells. All you have to do is follow Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they step through the wardrobe of their old house in the English countryside to discover a distant land in endless winter ruled by the White Witch. Perfect for when the summer sun gets a bit much.
Where is it? Sadler’s Wells, London
Find tickets to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe here
Soar above the capital on The London Eye
Who can resist a magnificent, 360-degree London panorama that can extend up to 40 km on a sunny day? The snaking Thames, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace are all at your feet as you float 135 metres above ground on The London Eye. The largest cantilevered observation wheel in the world (meaning that it’s supported only on one side, allowing for unobstructed views) turned 25 this spring, and it still offers a rotation of unparalleled photo moments with each spin.
Where is it? County Hall, London
Find tickets to The London Eye here
Get naughty with Matilda The Musical
A true West End heroine at a just a bit over four feet tall, Matilda has kept audiences queueing in London’s Seven Dials for almost 15 years, with a timeless story by the great Road Dahl, an uplifting songbook by Tim Minchin and an army of wildly talented Revolting Children. Neglected by her parents and bullied by the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull, brilliant little Matilda has one more trick up her sleeve – her telekinetic powers. Watch what happens next in a heart-tugging musical that has picked up over a 100 international awards.
Where is it? Cambridge Theatre, London
Find tickets to Matilda The Musical here
Embark on a family adventure Gone Wild
This August promises adventure, if you know where to find it. And it come in waves: camp out at Norfolk’s Holkham Hall (7 – 10 August) or Devon’s Powderham Castle (21 – 24 August) for Gone Wild Festival’s two fun-packed weekends of music and activities, with Clean Bandit and Ministry of Sound Classical headlining both events, while Blue and Sophie Ellis-Bextor swap slots on the two events respectively. Pair with a commando crawl, axe throwing, astro navigation and grass sledging for maximum impact.
Where is it? Holkham Hall in Norfolk, and Powderham in Devon
Find tickets to both Gone Wild festivals here
Party at Rydell High with Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical
He’s Danny Zuko, the black-clad leader of the rebellious T-Birds. She’s Sandy Olsson, ‘too pure to be pink’ and join Rydell High’s other dominant gang, The Pink Ladies. They fall in love on their summer vacation but reality hits the lovebirds hard when Sydney-born Sandy transfers to Rydell High for her Senior Year. Step into Grease the Immersive Movie Musical in Battersea Park as this heart-racing tale of teen love comes alive, set by set, in Secret Cinema’s latest immersive experience, filled to the brim with iconic music and dance numbers with a side of American diner classics. Oh, those summer nights!
Where is it? Battersea Park, London
Find tickets to Grease: The Immersive Movie Musical here
Star in ‘The One in London’ at The FRIENDS Experience
You can stay at home and watch endless reruns. Or you can come down to ExCeL Waterfront and relive the good old days: play foosball at Joey and Chandler’s or chill out on their recliners; pose in front of the fountain; take a selfie in Central Perk’s orange couch, or just sing ‘Smelly Cat’ all day. With Netflix introducing the series to a whole new audience and the pre-digital age seeming more and more appealing to an over-connected Gen Z, could there be a more 90s thing to experience with the kids this summer?
Where is it? ExCel Waterfront, London
Find tickets to The FRIENDS Experience here
Show 101 Dalmatians some puppy love
What lengths would you go to for the perfect fur coat? Well, the ruthlessly fashionable Cruella de Vil has no qualms about exterminating Pongo and Perdi’s lovable litter of puppies in the hit musical 101 Dalmatians, unleashed at Eventim Apollo this summer, for six weeks only. Britain’s Got Talent’s talented Sydnie Christmas sings her heart out as the fur-loving, puppy-chasing villain amidst ear-snagging numbers, striking outfits, puppetry and… actual puppies. Let the tail-wagging begin.
Where is it? Eventim Apollo, London
Find tickets to 101 Dalmatians The Musical here
Say goodbye to summer at Big Feastival
It’s a festival of great music and a feast of fantastic cooking all rolled into one: set up camp on Alex James’ beautiful Cotswold farm for Big Feastival (22 – 24 August 2025), and watch headliners Nelly Furtado, Faithless and Travis with the world premiere of Britpop Classical on the main stage. True to its name, Feastival also boasts a steady supply of fantastic flavours ready to satisfy the hearts and stomachs of foodie parents and picky children alike: Michelin-starred chefs, top-notch street food, pop-ups and cookery classes for aspiring cooks of all ages await along with comedy, live podcasts and beyond designed for the most deliciously dreamy Bank Holiday of the year.
Where is it? Alex James’ farm, The Cotswolds
Find tickets to Big Feastival here
