Morning, London! Happy Friday. Yes, Friday. If the kids don't have a routine for the next six weeks, neither does The Scoop. Just kidding. Might've been the travel logistics so keeping it light.

Anyway, whether you're staying in London or already off on your summer adventures, I hope July's treating you well. Can't say the weather hasn't been doing its bit either.

July's a funny month in London. Everyone wants to be outside, so the parks are buzzing while some of the usual family attractions get a little quieter. The good news? There's still plenty happening. So if you do fancy venturing beyond the picnic blanket, we've found some fun things to do with the kids below.

Have a great weekend!

Apparently the intern is sunburnt and still can’t type.

Looking for something to do tomorrow? Our friends at the Horniman Museum and Gardens are hosting an afternoon celebrating South-West Asian and North African culture, packed with family-friendly activities throughout the day.

Little ones can hear the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh brought to life by storyteller Rowan Salim, get their hands hennaed, have their faces painted, and bounce it all out on the bouncy castle. There's also dabke dancing, backgammon, calligraphy and plenty of drop-in activities running throughout the afternoon.

Come hungry too: Baytna4Refugees, Ola Pinch of Yemen and LiL Watan will be serving food all day.

🗓️ Sat 25 Jul, 1pm to 5.30pm
📍 Horniman Museum Gardens, SE23 3PQ
Find out more

💃 Summer Dance Programme @ The Place
Date & Loc: Jul 27-31, King's Cross WC1H
A week-long dance club where children can try a different dance style each day, from hip hop to contemporary. Led by guest artists, the sessions focus on creativity, confidence and having fun!
Age: 7-18yo | 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

🐭 The Gruffalo @ Lyric Theatre
Date & Loc: Jul 24-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

🏴‍☠️ Pirates Love Underpants @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: Jul 24-26, 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

🎉 Haflah at the Horniman @ Horniman Museum
Date & Loc: Jul 25 (Sat), Forest Hill SE23
A vibrant summer celebration of South-West Asian and North African culture with live music, storytelling, dance, craft workshops, a bustling souq and delicious street food. Come hungry, curious and ready to join the party.
Age: All ages | Price: £8 | Info

🎨 Family Space with Tihara Smith @ South London Gallery
Date & Loc: Jul 25 (Sat), Camberwell SE5
Drop in for a relaxed family workshop exploring textiles, colour and Caribbean-inspired creativity with artist Tihara Smith. Pop in whenever suits you and make something together at your own pace.
Age: 5-12yo | Price: No cost | Info

🎭 Twelfth Night @ Kew Gardens
Date & Loc: Jul 25 onwards, 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

🧪 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

🎨 Family Festival: Make @ V&A South Kensington
Date & Loc: Jul 25-26, South Kensington SW7
Two days of free family fun filled with workshops, storytelling, music, dance, crafts and hands-on making.
Age: 5-12yo | Price: No cost | Info

🎨 Luna Loves London @ Discover Children's Story Centre
Date & Loc: Jul 25 onwards, 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

🐱 Cats @ Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Date & Loc: Jul 25-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

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

📦 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

🎶 Storytelling and Music Sessions @ Royal Albert Hall
Date & Loc: Jul 28-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

🏴‍☠️ 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

🐊 The Enormous Crocodile @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: Jul 29-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

🎸 The Big Bad Wolf @ St Paul's Church
Date & Loc: Jul 30-31, Covent Garden WC2
Forget the fairy tale you know. This brand-new rock 'n' roll musical puts the Big Bad Wolf centre stage as he plots, schemes and sings his way through a hilarious adventure.
Age: Everyone | 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

🌊 Puppet Festival: At Sea @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: Jul 31-Aug 2, Islington N1
A beautifully crafted, non-verbal puppet adventure following a sailor on a magical underwater quest to recover their stolen heart compass. Stunning puppetry.
Age: 6-11yo | Price: from £13.50 | Info

🐰 Alice in Wonderland @ Riverside Studios
Date & Loc: until Aug 2, Hammersmith W6
Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in this immersive retelling of the classic adventure. Curious characters, magical moments and plenty of audience interaction.
Age: 5+ | Price: From £25 | Info

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