Morning, London! Happy Thursday. We're at that stage of August where summer is still very much happening, but the shops have decided otherwise. School shoes are back. Uniforms are everywhere. Somewhere, presumably, a Christmas display is being assembled.

Absolutely not. We've still got a Bank Holiday, Carnival and plenty of summer left before anyone needs to start behaving responsibly again.

Also, if you've been meaning to take the kids to the theatre, this is probably the right moment. Kids Week (kids go free) is still going and London Theatre Week has just kicked off, so there are cheaper tickets flying around all over the West End. Two completely different promotions with almost identical names running at the same time. Very helpful.

Let's go.

🚇 The Night Tube Turns 10. London’s Night Tube is celebrating a decade of getting us home after one drink turned into six. More than 67 million journeys have been made since it launched, with around 81,000 trips now made each night it runs. Possibly responsible for millions in saved Uber fares. Full story

🎭 London Theatre Week Is Back. London Theatre Week has returned with discounted tickets to more than 90 West End and Off-West End shows, including Wicked, The Lion King, Les Misérables and Hercules. The deals run until Sep 13. A rare opportunity to take the whole family to the theatre without considering a small personal loan.. Full story

🌿 The Barbican Is Giving Away Thousands of Plants. Before the Barbican Conservatory closes for a major renovation, more than 2,000 plant cuttings from its collection are being given away to Londoners. The Conservatory itself won’t reopen until 2029. Basically, the Barbican is having a house move and we get the plants. Full story

Last week we asked whether this summer had finally broken you.

42% have already bought an AC. Another 39% are dangerously close. Just 18% are still holding the line.

So basically, one more heatwave and 80% of London Scoop households will have air conditioning. The temperature has now dropped, obviously.

Remember to check Kids Week and London Theatre week!

🌍 Around the World in 80 Days @ St Paul’s Church
Date & Loc: Aug 20-30, Covent Garden WC2E
Jules Verne’s globe-trotting adventure comes to life outdoors, with a troupe of actor-musicians racing across continents in a fun, fast-paced family show.
Age: 10+ | Price: from £19 | Info

🎭 Jeeves and Wooster in ‘Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves’ @ Theatre in the Garden
Date & Loc: Aug 20-Sep 4, Richmond TW10
P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster head outdoors for an evening of ridiculous mishaps, eccentric characters and live jazz. Very civilised chaos.
Age: 7+ | Price: from £19 | Info

🐻 Imagining Animals @ Tower of London
Date & Loc: Aug 20-31, Tower Hill EC3
The Tower gets a little wild, with giant puppets roaming the grounds, including bears, butterflies and serpents, inspired by the animals once kept in the Royal Menagerie.
Age: All ages | Price: incl. with adm. under 5s no cost | Info

🐊 The Enormous Crocodile @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: Aug 20-22, Hammersmith W6
Roald Dahl's greediest reptile is back, snapping his way through the jungle in search of a tasty snack.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £15 | Info

🐱 Kaspar: Prince of Cats @ St Paul’s Church
Date & Loc: Aug 20-29, Covent Garden WC2E
Michael Morpurgo’s much-loved story comes to life in the garden of the Actors’ Church, with puppetry, original music and plenty of adventure.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £16 | Info

🍕 Youth Cooking Class @ Made in Hackney
Date & Loc: Aug 20 (Thu), Hackney E5
A hands-on cooking class for teens, taking their taste buds around the world while teaching proper kitchen skills. They’ll cook from scratch, try new flavours and, crucially, eat the results.
Age: 12-17 | Price: no cost | Info

🧸 Drop-in Design: Toy Lab @ V&A
Date & Loc: Aug 20-21 & 25-28, South Kensington SW7
Calling all tiny inventors. Dream up your own toy, then use simple materials to actually build it, with plenty of wiggling, giggling and creative problem-solving along the way.
Age: 5+ | Price: no cost | Info

🎨 Voices from the Canvas @ National Army Museum
Date & Loc: Aug 20-22, Chelsea SW3
Take a family storytelling tour through the museum’s latest exhibition, uncovering surprising tales and exploring how artists have captured the realities and myths of war.
Age: families | Price: no cost | Info

🌊 Blub @ Polka Theatre
Date & Loc: Aug 20-23, Wimbledon SW19
A gorgeous first theatre trip for the tiniest audience members. This gentle show takes babies on an underwater adventure through music, movement, light and sensory play.
Age: 6-18 months | Price: £26 (baby + adult) | Info

🐉 Zog: Live on Stage @ Cadogan Hall
Date & Loc: Aug 20-23, Chelsea SW1X
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's lovable dragon takes flight in this fun-filled musical adventure.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £19.50 | Info

🧡 Be Like Blippi @ Arts at Marble Arch
Date & Loc: Aug 20–Sep 6, Marble Arch W1
Blippi and Meekah are back on stage with a new interactive adventure designed to get little fans moving, playing and exploring along with them.
Age: 2+ | Price: £23 | Info

🕵️ The Comedy About Spies @ Adelphi Theatre
Date & Loc: Aug 20-Sep 26, Strand WC2
Mischief’s 1960s spy caper returns to the West End, packed with rogue agents, double agents and the sort of escalating chaos you’d expect from The Play That Goes Wrong team.
Age: 10+ | Price: from £15 | Info

🎭 As You Like It @ Shakespeare’s Globe
Date & Loc: Aug 20-Oct 25, Bankside SE1
Shakespeare’s love-struck comedy heads to the Globe, where court life gives way to the Forest of Arden and romance, mistaken identities and general romantic chaos take over.
Age: 8+ | Price: from £5 standing | Info

🎨 SideWays Play @ Young V&A
Date & Loc: Aug 21, Bethnal Green E2
A lovely free sensory play session designed especially for under-5s. Little ones can explore colours, textures, sounds and interactive play spaces at their own pace, while parents are invited to help shape this brand new experience.
Age: Under 5s | Price: No cost | Info

🌴 Family Festival of Caribbean Culture @ London Museum Docklands
Date & Loc: Aug 21-22, Canary Wharf E14
A two-day celebration of Caribbean culture with dance workshops, storytelling, crafts, live performances and plenty of music. A little pre-Carnival warm-up for the whole family.
Age: all ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎩 The Cat in the Hat @ Soho Theatre Walthamstow
Date & Loc: Aug 21-23, Walthamstow E17
Dr Seuss’s mischievous Cat brings his tricks, chaos and enormous striped hat to the stage in this lively 45-minute show. You can even meet him afterwards.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £16 | Info

🕷️ Anansi the Spider @ Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Date & Loc: Aug 21–Sep 6, Regent’s Park NW1
Anansi, the legendary trickster spider, takes over the theatre lawn in this lively retelling of classic West African and Caribbean folk tales. Bring a blanket, settle on the grass and see if the cleverest animal in the kingdom is perhaps a little too clever for his own good.
Age: 4+ | Price: £15 | Info

🎬 Summer Screens: Film Club @ Canada Square Park
Date & Loc: Selected dates in Aug, Canary Wharf E14
Bring a picnic blanket and settle in for free outdoor movie nights under the stars. From family favourites on Saturday mornings to recent blockbusters, sing-alongs and cult classics, there's something for everyone across the summer.
Age: All ages | Price: No cost | Info

🎶 Music Jerk ‘n Tings @ Horniman Museum
Date & Loc: Aug 22 (Sat), Forest Hill SE23
A Caribbean celebration with live reggae, dancehall and soca, plus jerk food, family games and an arts and crafts market. Come hungry.
Age: All ages | Price: from £8 | Info

🐶 Woolwich Woofs Dog Show @ Woolwich Works
Date & Loc: Aug 22 (Sat), Woolwich SE18
Dogs take centre stage for an afternoon of four-legged fun, with plenty of silly categories, judging and very proud owners. Bring your own pup to compete or just come along for the chaos.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost (£5 to enter a dog) | Info

🌳 Summer Fair @ Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
Date & Loc: Aug 22 (Sat), Mile End E3
A good old-fashioned community summer fair in one of East London’s loveliest green spaces, with craft stalls, handmade goodies and plenty more happening throughout the afternoon.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎨 Craftisan Kids @ Chelsea Library
Date & Loc: Aug 22 (Sat), Chelsea SW3
A free arts and crafts session where kids can play fashion designer, decorating templates with crayons, felt pens, gems and plenty of glitter.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost, booking req | Info

🐻 Paddington in Peru @ Fortune Green
Date & Loc: Aug 22 (Sat), West Hampstead NW6
Pack a blanket and settle in for a free outdoor screening of Paddington in Peru under the stars.
Age: all ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎷 Jazz & Soul @ Canada Water
Date & Loc: Aug 22-23, Canada Water SE16
Live jazz and soul take over the floating stage every weekend, with Sofar Sounds warming things up and a changing line-up of artists.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🪄 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: Aug 22-30, Islington N1
Goethe’s classic tale gets the Little Angel treatment, with handcrafted marionettes, runaway spells and a young apprentice discovering that magic comes with consequences.
Age: 6+ | Price: from £13.50 | Info

🪆 Marionettes @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: Aug 22-Sep 6, Islington N1
Little Angel celebrates its 65th birthday with a free exhibition of beautiful string puppets, bringing together historic marionettes and brand-new creations from British makers.
Age: all ages | Price: no cost | Info

🧚 Fairy Tales @ British Library
Date & Loc: until Aug 23, King's Cross N1C
The British Library opens a fairy tales exhibition with books, original illustrations, theatre costumes, puppets and pop-ups.
Age: 3-10yo | Price: £11.50 | Info

🌿 Church Street Goes Wild @ Church Street
Date & Loc: Aug 23, Marylebone NW8
A family-friendly street festival celebrating nature, with wildlife activities, crafts, performances and plenty of hands-on fun.
Age: All ages | Price: No cost | Info

🐝 Bee Buddies @ Horniman Museum
Date & Loc: Aug 23 (Sun), Forest Hill SE23
Meet the Horniman’s Bee Buddies in the gardens and go hunting for interesting plants, insects and other pollinators.
Age: all ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎺 Summer Pop Up Proms @ Waterlow Park
Date & Loc: Aug 23 & 30, Highgate N6
Pack a picnic and settle in for free live music in the park, with blues, ska and reggae this Sunday, followed by a trombone quartet next week.
Age: all ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎶 Storytelling and Music Sessions @ Royal Albert Hall
Date & Loc: Aug 25-27, South Kensington SW7
A gentle 30-minute session designed especially for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups. Stories, songs, instruments and plenty of opportunities to sing, move and join in together in one of London's most iconic venues.
Age: 0-5yo | Price: £7 | Info

🧦 The Sock Show @ Grand Junction
Date & Loc: Aug 26 (Wed), Paddington W2
Circus meets sock-based comedy, with flips, balancing and a surprisingly dramatic role for your odd-sock drawer. Part of Grand Junction’s free family festival.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost, booking req | Info

🌳 Summer in the Park @ Brent Cross Town
Date & Loc: Until Aug 30, Brent Cross NW2
A whole summer of free family fun, from skateboarding, football and parkour to arts, crafts and outdoor games. Drop in for as much or as little as you like, with activities for all ages.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎉 Notting Hill Carnival Children's Parade
Date & Loc: Aug 30 (Sun), Notting Hill W11
The more family-friendly side of Notting Hill Carnival, with colourful costumes, steel bands, dancing and plenty of Carnival atmosphere. If you've always wanted to experience it with the kids, Sunday is the day.
Age: Best for 5+ | Price: No cost | Info

🎭 Twelfth Night @ Kew Gardens
Date & Loc: until Aug 30, Kew TW9
Pack a picnic and settle in under the stars as Shakespeare's Twelfth Night comes to Kew Gardens.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £12 | Info

🐰 Miffy Afternoon Tea @ Cutter & Squidge
Date & Loc: Until Aug 31, Soho W1
Miffy has taken over afternoon tea, with themed sandwiches, cakes and scones, plus a limited-edition notebook to take home. Almost too cute to eat. Almost.
Age: All ages | Price: from £25 | Info

✏️ Tom Gates EPIC Adventure @ Kew Gardens
Date & Loc: until Aug 31, Kew TW9
Fans of Tom Gates can doodle, crack codes, enjoy live music and tackle creative activities inspired by Liz Pichon's bestselling books.
Age: Everyone | Price: Included w/ adm. | Info

👑 Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain @ Apollo Theatre
Date & Loc: until Aug 31, West End W1D
Britain’s gloriously gruesome past gets the Horrible Histories treatment, from Boudica and the plague to Guy Fawkes and some particularly unpleasant Victorians. Basically, a history lesson where the nasty bits are very much the point.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £19.50 | Info

🦁 Disney’s The Lion King Exhibition @ London Zoo
Date & Loc: until Aug 31, Regent’s Park NW1
The masks, puppets and costumes from Disney’s The Lion King have taken over London Zoo for the summer. Get a close-up look at the craftsmanship behind the West End hit and spot iconic characters.
Age: All | Price: incl. w. adm. | Info

☀️ Electric Summer @ Battersea Power Station
Date & Loc: Until Aug 31, Battersea SW11
Summer has properly landed at Battersea, with a packed programme of outdoor entertainment, games, activities and plenty of reasons to hang around by the river.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎨 Serendipity Island @ Tate Modern
Date & Loc: until Aug 31, Bankside SE1
A free, interactive art experience that turns the Turbine Hall into a giant maze of play, music and movement.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎬 Floating Cinema Club @ Canada Water Dock
Date & Loc: until Aug 31, Canada Water SE16
Watch free films on a floating outdoor screen with the dock as your backdrop. Bring a blanket and catch family favourites like Elemental and Wonka, alongside feel-good classics throughout August.
Age: All ages (family films vary) | Price: no cost | Info

🏖️ Costa Del Croydon @ Centrale Shopping Centre
Date & Loc: until Aug 31, Croydon CR0
A rooftop urban beach complete with sand, splash zones, games, street food and daily family activities.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🦖 Dinosaur World Live @ Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Date & Loc: Until Sep 6, Wembley HA9
Dinosaurs stomp, roar and come face-to-face with the audience in this action-packed live show.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £10 | Info

🐭 The Gruffalo @ Lyric Theatre
Date & Loc: until Sep 6, Shaftesbury Avenue W1D
If you've read The Gruffalo approximately 4,732 times, here's your chance to see it live instead.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £10 | Info

🐱 Cats @ Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Date & Loc: until Sep 19, Regent's Park NW1
One of the world's most famous musicals returns to the magical setting of Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. If you've never seen Cats, this is probably the place to do it. Big songs, incredible dancing and a summer evening under the stars.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £15 | Info

🙏 If this makes your week a bit easier, pls think of two parents who'd love it, or drop it in a WhatsApp group. Takes 20 seconds. Please don’t ignore me 😂.
Appreciated, kind Londoner!

Got any comments or suggestions? Feel free to reply; I’d love to hear from you.

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