Morning, London! Happy Thursday. Another heatwave. At this point we're running out of things to say about the weather, which is impressive considering it's a national hobby. 2026 has already had more 30-degree days than the entire summer of 1976. London's parks are still mostly Weetabix and the internal battle over whether it's finally time to buy an AC is getting heated. Sorry.

At least the moon tried to help yesterday. London got a pretty spectacular partial solar eclipse. Not quite enough to bring the temperature down, though.

It's A-level results day today too. Good luck to everyone opening an envelope, refreshing a website or pretending they're completely relaxed about the whole thing.

Anyway, we've done our bit and found you plenty of things to do this week.

Let's go.

🏃 London Wants the World Athletics Championships Back. London has officially submitted its bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, with London Stadium lined up as the main venue. We’ll find out in September if the bid has won. Because apparently 2012 still wasn’t enough. Full story

🦊 London’s Wild Side Gets Its Own Campaign. Foxes on the night shift, falcons living in skyscrapers and beavers quietly redeveloping the suburbs. A new London Wildlife Trust campaign is shining a light on some of the capital’s less obvious residents. Turns out London’s housing crisis hasn’t put everyone off. Full story

🎬 Secret Cinema Wants a Permanent Home. After years of popping up around London, Secret Cinema could finally be settling down. The immersive theatre company wants to build its first long-term venue on Greenwich Peninsula, with space for 1,500 people. Full story

📚 Tale Travellers @ Summer by the River
Date & Loc: Aug 13, London Bridge SE1
Step into the whimsical Book Nook for three interactive story adventures with the Tale Travellers, then get creative and craft a tale of your own.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🌍 Home for Everyone @ Horniman Museum
Date & Loc: Aug 13, Forest Hill SE23
Join the Migration Museum team for a free drop-in family craft session exploring how we can care for the planet, our neighbours and the communities around us.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

👑 Meet Anne Boleyn @ Tower of London
Date & Loc: Aug 13-14, Tower Hill EC3N
Meet one of England's most famous queens as Anne Boleyn returns to the Tower. Live performances, stories from Tudor court and plenty of chances to ask questions.
Age: All ages | Price: Included with admission | Info

🐰 Alice in Wonderland @ Soho Theatre Walthamstow
Date & Loc: Aug 13-16, Walthamstow E17
Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in this magical stage adaptation packed with stunning puppets, colourful costumes and all your favourite Wonderland characters.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £19.50 | Info

🏴‍☠️ Treasure Island @ Arches Lane Theatre
Date & Loc: Aug 13-16, Battersea SW11
Ahoy! Join Jim Hawkins on a swashbuckling adventure packed with pirates, buried treasure and plenty of laughs.
Age: 6+ | Price: From £20 | Info

🍜 Shōtengai Pan-Asian Market @ Coal Drops Yard
Date & Loc: Aug 13–16, King’s Cross N1C
Lower Stable Street turns into a Japanese-style street market.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🌍 Around the World in 80 Days @ St Paul’s Church
Date & Loc: Aug 11-30, 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

🐱 Kaspar: Prince of Cats @ St Paul’s Church
Date & Loc: Aug 13-29, 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

🌊 Blub @ Polka Theatre
Date & Loc: Aug 13-23, 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 13-23, Chelsea SW1
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's lovable dragon takes flight in this fun-filled musical adventure.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £19.50 | Info

☀️ Whatever the Weather @ Unicorn Theatre
Date & Loc: Aug 13-16, London Bridge SE1
Rain, snow and sunshine all under one roof, without having to check the forecast first.
Age: 0–7yo | Price: £7.50 | Info

🌿 Summer Holidays in the Discovery Garden @ Museum of the Home
Date & Loc: Aug 14 (Fri), Hoxton E2
Head outdoors for a morning of play and crafts in the museum’s Discovery Garden, with different activities using natural materials to get kids exploring, creating and generally getting their hands dirty.
Age: Families | Price: no cost | Info

🏛️ Roman London Family Quest @ London Mithraeum
Date & Loc: Aug 14–15, City of London EC4
Step back into Roman London with a family quest around the ancient Mithraeum. Follow clues, explore the archaeological site and discover what life was like beneath the streets of the City nearly 2,000 years ago.
Age: Families | Price: no cost | Info

🎪 Play Make Do 2026 @ Barbican
Date & Loc: Aug 14–16, Barbican EC2
Three days of family fun packed with storytelling, dance, music, crafts and performances. Kids can try everything from hip hop and salsa to circus skills, finger knitting and cyanotype printing, with a different theme each day.
Age: Families | Price: varies | Info

🎭 As You Like It @ Shakespeare’s Globe
Date & Loc: Aug 14-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 14 & 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

🧡 Be Like Blippi @ Arts at Marble Arch
Date & Loc: Aug 14–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

🎭 Carnival Make Space @ Barbican
Date & Loc: Aug 15 (Sat), Barbican EC2Y
Get into Carnival mode with a colourful hands-on workshop inspired by Caribbean masquerade traditions. Kids can make their own masks, crowns, headdresses and accessories.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎪 Circus Cabaret for Kids @ Woolwich Works
Date & Loc: Aug 15-16, Woolwich SE18
Acrobats, aerialists, clowns and plenty of circus mischief take over the outdoor courtyard for a family-friendly cabaret show.
Age: All ages | Price: from £11 | Info

🎈 Action Arena @ Chiswick House & Gardens
Date & Loc: Aug 15-16, Chiswick W4
Think giant inflatable obstacle courses, climbing, bouncing and racing. There's a mini course for younger children and an XXL version for bigger thrill-seekers.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £8.95 | Info

🕷️ Anansi the Spider @ Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Date & Loc: Aug 15–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

🎨 Sunday Funday @ Lauderdale House
Date & Loc: Aug 16 (Sun), Highgate N6
A relaxed drop-in family workshop exploring nearly 500 years of Lauderdale House history through crafts, tactile activities and a bit of hands-on discovery.
Age: 4–10 | Price: no cost | Info

🕺 ZooNation: Hip-Hop Showcase @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: Aug 16 (Sun), Southbank SE1
A free afternoon of hip-hop, house and dance, with performances, workshops and an intergenerational dance party to finish.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | 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

🎭 Dog Man: The Musical @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: until Aug 16, Southbank SE1
If your kids are obsessed with Dog Man, this one's a no-brainer. Dav Pilkey's crime-fighting hero leaps off the page in a funny, fast-paced musical packed with silly jokes, catchy songs and plenty of heart.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £31 | Info

📚 Maya & Marley Storytelling @ Horniman Museum
Date & Loc: Aug 17 (Mon), Forest Hill SE23
Join author Laura Henry-Allain for a special storytelling of Maya & Marley and the New Friend, followed by a Q&A and some crafty activities.
Age: 3-7 | Price: £10 | Info

🎷 Jazz & Soul @ Canada Water
Date & Loc: Weekends in Aug, 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 Enormous Crocodile @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: until Aug 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

🧚 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: until 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

🎶 Storytelling and Music Sessions @ Royal Albert Hall
Date & Loc: until 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

🌳 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

🎨 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

🎉 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

✏️ 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

🧱 Story Street x The LEGO Group @ Discover Children's Story Centre
Date & Loc: until Aug 31, Stratford E15
LEGO fans, this one's for you. Discover's outdoor play street is back for summer, packed with brick-building, crafts, dress-up, painting, yoga and loads of hands-on activities.
Age: All ages | Price: Incl. w adm. | 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. Julia Donaldson's much-loved story comes to the West End with brilliant puppetry, catchy songs and all your favourite woodland characters.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £10 | Info

🌱 The Magic Garden @ V&A
Date & Loc: Sep 12 & Oct 10, South Kensington SW7
Dig into the surprisingly busy world beneath our feet with this hands-on family workshop all about roots, mushrooms and soil. Kids can build sculptures from recycled materials and add them to a giant collaborative creation, with absolutely no gardening skills required.
Age: 5+ | Price: no cost | Info

🖖 Star Trek Warp Trail @ Science Museum
Date & Loc: until Sep 13, South Kensington SW7
Calling all future captains. Pick up a free trail map and hunt for iconic Star Trek props, costumes and hands-on discoveries as you explore the museum.
Age: All ages | Price: No cost | 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

🎵 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

🎭 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

🎨 Luna Loves London @ Discover Children's Story Centre
Date & Loc: Ongoing, Stratford E15
Climb aboard the big red bus and explore Luna's London, where little ones can crawl through a giant storybook, make art, dance under a disco ball and discover a city full of imagination.
Age: 0-8yo | Price: £5.50 | 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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