🦊 London’s Longest Day!

Morning, London! Happy Thursday. Beautiful sunny skies while reading the Scoop, doesn’t get better than this. Mid-June, we’re in that glorious pre-summer limbo where adults slowly start ignoring work emails, kids demand ice cream for breakfast, summer camps fight for our attention, the Tube feels like a sauna, and those European hotels gleefully cash our non refundable January deposits. Also, the summer solstice lands this Saturday, so brace for London’s longest day of the year. Good luck getting the kids to bed when it’s still brighter than their iPad screens.

One of my favourite sporting events is coming up… Wimbledon. Look, I’m not saying strawberries and cream should cost £12 a pop, but it’s a great day out if you’ve managed to bag tickets, or if you’ve got a younger sibling you can send to queue at 4am. Btw the little ones can sneak in gratis.

And since we’re on sports, for the mums out there wondering why football is suddenly everywhere again, the FIFA Club World Cup has kicked off in the US.

Ohh and BST Hyde Park concerts begin next week! If you fancy a free-ish live session from Sabrina Carpenter Stevie Wonder, grab a blanket and park yourself anywhere in Hyde Park, the wind will handle the acoustics. I love you London.

. LONDON SNIPPETS .
Bits that caught our eye

🏖️ Sand. Sun. Sort of. Sure, it’s not Mallorca or the Algarve (though Mallorca-on-Thames has a nice ring to it). But if you can trick your brain into thinking Zone 2 is the Med, who are we to judge? London’s pop-up beaches are back. Here’s where to find them. Full story

🚶‍♀️Oxford Street, Hold the Traffic. The Mayor’s speeding up plans to ban cars from Oxford Street. Soon it’ll be just you, 10,000 other pedestrians, and a saxophonist playing Careless Whisper on repeat. Full story

🎭 Westfield Gets a New Act. Westfield’s swapping retail therapy for actual drama. A old Debenhams is becoming a 600-seat theatre; finally some drama at Westfield that doesn’t involve a Zara return queue. Full story

. CASUAL EINSTEIN .
2 for 1: Wow your kid, and outsmart the other parents

Fun Fact: Your tongue print is as unique as your fingerprint. Which means if you ever lose all ten fingers and your face, you could still unlock your phone. In theory. Just… maybe wipe the screen after. 👅

London Fact: The Thames flows backwards twice a day. Because of the tides, the river reverses direction as seawater from the North Sea pushes in. So yes, it’s basically a very large, muddy yo-yo. Next time someone says “go with the flow,” maybe ask which way it’s flowing. Sorry that wasn’t funny. 🌊

. SCOOP BOARD .
The Wall is Yours

Want to spread the good word about your business, a project you’re working on, a hire, or simply say hi to thousands of Londoners?

Butter & Crust - Fresh sourdough delivered by bike, before you’ve even wrestled the kids into their uniforms. Butter & Crust delivers handmade bread, pastries, and other breakfast heroes from London’s top bakeries — all by bike, while you snooze.

SnapSocial - The mirrored cabin that makes your event pop. From birthdays to company bashes, anniversaries to any excuse-for-a-party. SnapSocial brings the ultimate photo-ready backdrop. Delivered, set up, and impossible to forget.

. EVENTS SCOOP .
What’s on this week?

🌍 Our Story with David Attenborough @ Natural History Museum
Date & Loc: Jun 19 onwards, South Kensington
Get ready to immerse yourself in the epic tale of people and planet in this new 360° experience, presented by Sir David Attenborough.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £20 | Info

🚗 Ready Steady Go! @ Unicorn Theatre
Date & Loc: Jun 19-22, London Bridge
Build your own cardboard car, zoom through roadworks, stop at a bubbly car wash, and learn road safety while having a blast.
Age: 3-8yo | Price: £12.50 | Info

🎶 The Play Pavilion @ Hyde Park
Date & Loc: Ongoing until August, Hyde Park
An immersive LEGO powered world where kids (and grown-ups) can build, explore and let imaginations run wild. Part art, part playground.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🧚 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland @ Royal Opera & Ballet
Date & Loc: Jun 19-28, Covent Garden
Journey through Wonderland with Alice and encounter a host of curious characters in Christopher Wheeldon’s unique theatrical interpretation.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £34 | Info

🎭 The Wiz @ Questors Theatre
Date & Loc: Jun 19-28, Ealing
The Wiz is a soulful, re-imagined version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, blending African American culture, pop music, and urban storytelling.
Age: 7+ | Price: £14 | Info

🎬 Kew The Movies @ Kew Gardens
Date & Loc: Jun 20-22, Kew
The UK’s top outdoor cinema lands at Kew, screening classics, musicals, blockbusters and family favourites, all under the stars in a magical setting. Blankets and popcorn ready?
Age: Everyone | Price: £15.5 | Info

🎞️ Family Film Club: Moomins and the Midsummer Madness @ Barbican
Date & Loc: Jun 21, Barbican
Delightful animation that follows the Moomins as they escape a volcano, take refuge from floods and Moominpapa begins to write a play.
Age: 4+ | Price: £5 | Info

🎨 Clay, Craft & Culture @ Horniman Museum
Date & Loc: Jun 21, Lewisham
Get creative with Abundance Arts through hands-on clay modelling and family crafting, celebrating the cultural richness and excitement of the Benin Display.
Age: 3+ | Price: no cost | Info

🍴 Taste of London @ Regent’s Park
Date & Loc: Jun 19-22, Regent’s Park
Line-up of 120+ delicious dishes, next level chef demos and unmissable things to do – from BBQ stoking to cocktail shaking, and dancing ’til dark in front of live DJs.
Age: Everyone | Price: £24 | Info

🌊 Windrush Day @ National Maritime Museum
Date & Loc: Jun 21, Greenwich
A day of creative workshops, informative talks and discussion to explore the significance of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush and the legacies of the Windrush generation.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎉 Summer by the River: The Great Get Together @ The Scoop
Date & Loc: Jun 21, London Bridge
A feel-good community event hosted by Living Bankside, celebrating unity and inspired by Jo Cox’s message of togetherness. Expect live music, performances, and a chance to mingle with neighbours old and new.
Age: 6-11yo | Price: no cost | Info

🧪 Discovery Day @ Francis Crick Institute
Date & Loc: Jun 21, King’s Cross
Hands-on experiments, live science magic, and the chance to quiz real scientists. A jam-packed day of discovery for curious kids and their grown-ups.
Age: 6-11yo | Price: no cost | Info

🔧 Festival of Stuff @ Institute of Making
Date & Loc: Jun 21, Bloomsbury
A playful celebration of materials, making, and curiosity. Expect live demos, hands-on workshops, quirky food stalls, and even some tune, all dedicated to the pure joy of stuff.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🩰 Chance to Dance @ Royal Opera & Ballet
Date & Loc: Jun 21, Covent Garden
The Royal Ballet’s flagship youth programme takes the stage at the Linbury Theatre, with talented young dancers from across the UK performing works inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £3 | Info

✏️ Children’s Literature Festival @ Barnes
Date & Loc: Jun 21-22, Barnes
London’s biggest kids’ book party returns with author talks, live shows, storytelling, and hands-on fun for young readers of all ages.
Age: Everyone | Price: £10 | Info

🎭 West End Live @ Trafalgar Square
Date & Loc: Jun 21-22, Trafalgar Square
Theatre takes over the Square for a full weekend of free live performances celebrating 20 years of West End LIVE, with big stars, blockbuster musicals and sneak peeks at new hits.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

📖 Storytelling: Romeo and Juliet @ OSO Arts Centre
Date & Loc: Jun 22, Barnes
A punchy retelling of Shakespeare’s classic, perfect for young ears.
Age: 6+ | Price: £11 | Info

🎵 Groove onto the Moon @ Arts Depot
Date & Loc: Jun 22, North Finchley
Strap in and prepare to blast off on a cosmic adventure like no other as you venture into the thrilling music experience of Groove Onto the Moon!
Age: 3-7 | Price: £12.50 | Info

🏙️ Build London in 3D @ Embassy of the Czech Republic
Date & Loc: Jun 22, Kensington Palace Gardens
Got a mini-architect at home? Pick a London landmark, craft your own 3D paper model, and help build a giant cityscape. Led by illustrator-architect Lukáš Novotný.
Age: 7+ | Price: £10 | Info

🎶 Lambeth Mustrax Festival @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: Jun 24 & Jul 1, Southbank
Prepare to be astounded by the energy, enthusiasm and joy of over 400 children as they join to form a giant Musitrax wind band.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎶 The Magic Flute @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: Jun 26, Southbank
.. and the Bird that would be free. Spread your wings with this high-spirited family show about birds and breaking free, based on Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Age: 5+ | Price: £15 | Info

🌳 Outdoor Theatre: The Wind in the Willows @ Fulham Palace
Date & Loc: Jun 29, Fulham
Join Ratty, Mole, Badger and the unstoppable Toad for an unforgettable outdoor adventure!
Age: 4+ | Price: £14 | Info

🎶 Summer Festival @ Young V&A
Date & Loc: Jul 5, Bethnal Green
Creative celebrations for families to move, play and make together. Two sessions (0-2 2-5 yo)
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

📖 Story Explorers Festival @ British Library
Date & Loc: Jul 5-6, King’s Cross
We posted this a while back as we anticipated this going crazy! Sold out now but they do come back on every now and then. A magical day of storytelling, theatre, music, planting and messy fun. From rainforest soundtracks to moon myths and zine-making, it’s a full adventure for curious minds.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost (book req) | Info

🦖 Jurassic World: The Experience @ Battersea
Date & Loc: Ongoing, Battersea
Step through the iconic gates and explore 10 immersive zones from the blockbuster dino franchise.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £25 | Info

🎭 The Paper Dolls @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: Ongoing, Islington
When a little girl cuts out a string of paper dolls she takes them by the hand and together they go on a fantastical adventure whirling through their home and garden.
Age: 3-8yo | Price: from £13 | Info

🎭 Krafty the Urban Fox @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: Ongoing, Islington
Follow a curious fox on a magical night-time city adventure.
Age: 2-5yo | Price: from £13 | Info

📚 Story Explorers: Imaginary Worlds @ British Library
Date & Loc: Ongoing, King’s Cross
Sold out for May, but June has slots. Expect books, sounds, odd creatures, and a furry octopus.
Age: 2-9yo | Price: no cost (book req) | Info

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