Morning, London! Happy Thursday. July already. Half the year gone. Puff. Some schools finish tomorrow, others next week. Either way the summer holidays are very real.

Wimbledon tennis in full swing. If you get the chance this weekend, head up to Wimbledon Village. The tennis, the atmosphere, the strawberries. All in style.

More importantly, England are through. Harry Kane waited until the last 15 minutes before deciding we'd all suffered enough. Cheers, Harry. France, Argentina and Brazil marching on too.

We'll still be here every Thursday throughout the summer. Holidays or not. Somebody has to keep finding things to do with the kids.

Bring it on!

🧵 Londoners Rush to See the Bayeux Tapestry. Bayeux Tapestry this September. It will be the first time the 70-metre masterpiece has ever been displayed in the UK. Turns out an 11th century embroidery is still quite the hot ticket.. Full story

🚬 Step Into Tommy Shelby’s London Underworld. A new Peaky Blinders live experience is opening near London Bridge this August, throwing visitors into the gang’s gritty world through live actors, games and immersive storytelling. By order of the Peaky Blinders… probably leave the flat cap at home. Full story

☀️ Summer Streets Are Coming Back to London. Fifteen locations across London will share nearly £500,000 to create more outdoor dining, markets, cultural events and even World Cup screenings as part of the 2026 Summer Streets scheme. Full story

One of our favourite family days of the summer is back! 🎉

The Place’s Family Dance Day returns to Coram’s Fields on Saturday 18 July, with a packed day of performances and dance workshops for under-12s and their families!

The lineup includes BUG, where performers dressed as giant insects come to life in funny, funky dances, Prisma, a magical dance show inspired by children’s books, and No Sugar No Milk, a high-energy mix of physical theatre, martial arts and circus stunts.

There will also be dance workshops to get involved in and interactive storytelling for the younger ones! The best bit? It’s completely free and you can just turn up on the day.

The best bit? It’s completely free and you can just turn up on the day.

📍 Coram’s Fields, WC1N 1DN
🗓️ Sat 18 Jul, 11am to 4pm
Find out more

We all know someone who's permanently saying, "I'm so busy." Toby recently launched TimeKind, a clever new website with a simple idea.

Instead of another candle or bottle of wine, you can gift time credits that can be redeemed for everyday jobs like cleaning, laundry or gardening, giving your loved ones a few extra hours to spend however they like.

We thought that was a rather nice idea.

👉 Check it out!

🎸 The Strings Club Holiday Camps @ various locations
Date & Loc: Summer 2026, across London
The team at Strings Club run some brilliant five-star rated holiday camps. Music, games, crafts and plenty of screen-free fun to keep the kids busy while school’s out. Use code LSCOOP10 for a little help.
Age: 4–11yo | Info

🧪 Summer Science Exhibition 2026 @ Royal Society
Date & Loc: Jul 2-5, St James's SW1Y
Meet real scientists, get hands-on with interactive exhibits and explore everything from lightning and microbes to robots and space.
Age: All ages | Price: No cost | Info

📚 Family Storytime @ Polka Theatre
Date & Loc: Jul 3 (Fri), Wimbledon SW19
A relaxed interactive storytime packed with captivating tales, songs and plenty of imagination.
Age: 0-5yo | Price: From £6 | Info

🛁 The Flying Bath @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: Jul 3-12, Islington N1
Julia Donaldson's story splashes onto the stage as a bath full of adventurous toys heads off on a series of magical missions. Songs, puppetry and plenty of imagination.
Age: 2–5yo | Price: From £13.50 | Info

🏛️ Hands-on History: World War II Objects @ Royal Hospital Chelsea
Date & Loc: Jul 4 (Sat), Chelsea SW3
Handle real Second World War objects and discover what wartime life was really like in this fascinating drop-in session led by military historian Paul Hunt.
Age: All ages | Price: No cost | Info

✨ LUMINISCENCE @ Westminster Cathedral
Date & Loc: Jul through Sep, Westminster SW1
A spectacular 360° projection concert transforms Westminster Cathedral into an immersive light and music experience.
Age: All ages | Price: From £27.50 (under 5 free) | Info

🧨 The Science of Fireworks @ The Royal Institution
Date & Loc: Jul 4 (Sat), Mayfair W1S
A brilliant family talk exploring the science, engineering and history behind one of the world's favourite spectacles.
Age: 7-13yo (all welcome) | Price: from £7.50 | Info

🎉 Community Festival @ Pimlico
Date & Loc: Jul 4 (Sat), Pimlico SW1
The South Westminster Community Festival returns after a year away with a free day of live performances, workshops, activities and family fun.
Age: All ages | Price: No cost | Info

🧙 A Witch Saves The Day @ Churchill Theatre
Date & Loc: Jul 4 (Sat), Bromley BR1
An extraordinary school for witches and wizards is thrown into chaos when a new group of students arrives.
Age: 3+ | Price: From £10.50 | Info

🎭 Teddy Bear’s Picnic @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: Jul 4 (Sat), Hammersmith W6
Bring your favourite teddy along for a singalong adventure packed with puppets, dancing and plenty of audience participation.
Age: 2-6yo | Price: from £12 | Info

🎉 The Big Day Out @ Whittington Park
Date & Loc: Jul 4 (Sat), Islington N19
A proper community summer fête packed with arts and crafts, a bouncy castle, food stalls, live music, a dog show and even Arsenal football activities.
Age: Everyone | Price: No cost | Info

🎭 A Midsummer Night's Dream @ Greenwich Park
Date & Loc: Jul 4-5 (Sat-Sun), Greenwich SE10
The East London Shakespeare Festival brings its lively outdoor take on A Midsummer Night's Dream to the Royal Observatory Gardens. Slapstick comedy, audience participation and plenty of energy in this family-friendly version of Shakespeare's magical tale.
Age: 3+ | Price: £3.50 | Info

🤠 Country on the Common @ Tooting Common
Date & Loc: Jul 4-5 (Sat-Sun), Tooting SW17
Dust off your cowboy boots for a weekend of country music, line dancing and family-friendly fun on Tooting Common.
Age: All ages | Price: from £15 | Info

🎭 Outdoor Theatre: Pinocchio @ Fulham Palace
Date & Loc: Jul 5 (Sun), Fulham SW6
The much-loved tale of Pinocchio heads outdoors in the beautiful walled garden at Fulham Palace.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £14 | Info

📮 Home Ed Day: The Jolly Postman Show @ The Postal Museum
Date & Loc: Jul 8 (Wed), Clerkenwell EC1A
The beloved children's book comes to life with storytelling, songs and hands-on activities inspired by The Jolly Postman.
Age: 4-8yo | Price: £10 | Info

🐯 There's a Tiger in the Garden @ Polka Theatre
Date & Loc: Jul 8-Aug 9, Wimbledon SW19
A magical stage adaptation of the award-winning picture book by Lizzy Stewart.
Age: 3-7yo | Price: From £15 | Info

⚔️ Henry VIII's Joust @ Hampton Court Palace
Date & Loc: Jul 11-12 & 18-19, Hampton Court KT8
Knights on horseback, thrilling jousts, falconry displays and plenty of Tudor drama. Pick your favourite team, cheer them on and enjoy one of Hampton Court's biggest summer spectacles.
Age: All ages | Price: Included with palace admission (under 5s free) | Info

🫧 Bubble Explorers @ Science Museum
Date & Loc: until Jul 12, South Kensington SW7
A live bubble show for younger kids at the Science Museum, featuring experiments and giant bubbles.
Age: 7 and under | Price: £4.50 | Info

🌼 Neighbours Day 2026 @ Garden Museum
Date & Loc: Jul 12 (Sun), Lambeth SE1
The Garden Museum throws open its doors for a free community day packed with family activities, plus free entry to its Pollen & Paint exhibition.
Age: All ages | Price: No cost | Info

♟️ ChessFest @ Trafalgar Square
Date & Loc: Jul 12 (Sun), Trafalgar Square WC2
Whether you're a complete beginner or a future grandmaster, the UK's biggest free chess festival has something for everyone.
Age: All ages | Price: No cost | Info

🎭 Petit Pierre from Paris @ Well Walk Theatre
Date & Loc: until Jul 12 (Sat-Sun), Hampstead NW3
A charming French-style puppet show following Petit Pierre's adventures between London and Paris. Performed in the tradition of classic French hand puppetry.
Age: 3+ | Price: £15.90 | Info

💃 Family Dance Day @ Coram's Fields
Date & Loc: Jul 18 (Sat), Bloomsbury WC1N
One of our favourite family days of the summer is back. Catch giant dancing insects in BUG, a magical book-inspired performance in Prisma, and circus-meets-martial-arts mayhem in No Sugar No Milk. There are workshops and interactive activities throughout the day too!
Age: Under 12s & families | Price: No cost | Info

⛵ Ready Steady Sail! @ National Maritime Museum
Date & Loc: Jul 18-19, Greenwich SE10
Set sail on a creative family adventure where children can build their own ship before joining an interactive walkabout performance across a giant ocean map.
Age: 3+ | Price: £6 | Info

🐞 Professor Slug's Bugs @ London Wetland Centre
Date & Loc: Jul 18-19, Barnes SW13
Join Professor Slug for interactive storytelling packed with fascinating creepy-crawlies as part of the Dragonfly Festival.
Age: 3+ | Price: No cost (with admission) | Info

🏴‍☠️ Pirates Love Underpants @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: Jul 22-26, Hammersmith W6
Ahoy, me hearties! Based on the bestselling picture book, this adventure follows a crew of pirates on the hunt for the legendary Pants of Gold.
Age: 1-7yo | Price: from £15 | Info

🎶 Storytelling and Music Sessions @ Royal Albert Hall
Date & Loc: Jul 22-Aug 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

🐞 Cricket & The Freebugs: Bugs At Work @ Jacksons Lane
Date & Loc: Jul 24 (Fri), Highgate N6
A quirky musical comedy set in a world of talking insects, where five bug-musicians chase their dreams of stardom. Packed with funk, soul, live music and plenty of insect-sized silliness.
Age: 5+ | Price: £12 | Info

🧪 BBC Proms: Horrible Science - The Big Bang Proms Experiment @ Royal Albert Hall
Date & Loc: Jul 25 (Sat), South Kensington SW7
Horrible Science meets the BBC Proms in this madcap musical adventure packed with experiments, comedy and a live orchestra. Join Albert Einstein, Marie Curie and a cast of larger-than-life characters as they blast through everything from The Planets to Star Wars.
Age: All ages | Price: From £14 | Info

🎬 Summer Screens: Film Club @ Canada Square Park
Date & Loc: Selected dates in Jun-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

🐱 Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: until Jul 19, Islington N1
Based on Dermot O’Leary’s bestselling books, this fast-paced adventure follows ninja cat Toto as she sets out to stop a deadly king cobra loose on the streets of London.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £13.50 | Info

📦 Not-A-Box: 0–5s Storytelling @ Discover Children’s Story Centre
Date & Loc: until Jul 27, Stratford E15
Inspired by the beloved Not a Box book, this gentle storytelling show invites little ones to turn an ordinary box into rocket ships, mountains and magical adventures. A good first theatre-style experience for younger children.
Age: 0–5yo | Price: £3.50 | Info

🧪 Family Magical Potion Making Workshop @ Chelsea Physic Garden
Date & Loc: Jul 27, Chelsea SW3
Mix up a magical bubbling potion before heading off on a family adventure through Chelsea Physic Garden.
Age: 5+ | Price: From £15 | Info

🏴‍☠️ Treasure Island @ St Paul's Church
Date & Loc: Jul 29, Covent Garden WC2
Quantum Theatre brings Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure to life with pirates, treasure maps and high-seas excitement.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £14 | Info

🐕 Dog Man: The Musical @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: Jul 30–Aug 16, Southbank SE1
Based on Dav Pilkey's bestselling books, hilarious and heartfelt in equal measure, with a dog for a hero. Tickets on sale now for the summer holidays.
Age: 5+ | Price: £27 | Info

⚔️ Arthur @ Polka Theatre
Date & Loc: until Aug 9, Wimbledon SW19
A brand-new musical adventure inspired by the legend of King Arthur.
Age: 6–12yo | Price: From £10 | 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

🎨 Allen Jones: Taking Shape @ Camden Arts Projects
Date & Loc: until Aug 30, Camden NW1
Six decades of work by one of Britain's most influential Pop Artists come together in this free exhibition of paintings, sculptures and a major new piece created especially for the show.
Age: Older kids & teens | Price: No cost | 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

🎵 Luke Jerram: Stepping Out @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: until Sep 30, South Bank SE1
Turn a walk into a musical adventure at this interactive artwork where your footsteps trigger changing sounds and melodies.
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

🌱 The Magic Garden @ V&A South Kensington
Date & Loc: Until Oct 10, South Kensington SW7
Dig into the hidden world beneath our feet at this hands-on family workshop inspired by roots, fungi and soil. Using recycled materials, children can create sculptures that grow into a giant collaborative artwork throughout the day.
Age: 5+ | Price: No cost | 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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