Summer in London with babies and toddler is really special – brilliant park days, splash pads, theatre shows, sensory activities and family-friendly festivals. The capital is really alive! If you’re looking for things to do in London with babies and toddlers over the summer holidays (July / August) then you’ve come to the right place.
I’m London mum of two boys (aged 6 and 3) who loves finding fun things to do with kids, days out and activities. My USP is that I only give recommendations that I think parents with truly enjoy as well as babies and toddlers.
Read this post for the best interactive museums, immersive experiences, shows, festivals, free days out plus hidden gems. This guide brings together the very best things to do with babies and toddlers in London for summer.
1. Visit a a water play spot or splash pad – There’s loads of brilliant waterplay spots in London when the weather gets hot.
- Brockwell Lido a fifty metre outdoor pool
- The Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms at the Southbank are is a huge summer favourite. By shooting jets of water into the air, the fountain creates rooms that disappear as quickly as they emerge.
- Tooting Bec Lido – UK’s largest fresh water outdoor pool
- Causton Street Playground – a favourite of ours in Pimlico
- London Wetland Centre – has a new splash pad
- Wimbledon Park has a free splash pad with six paddling pools.
- Hyde Park – Check out the Diana memorial fountain and later this summer the Diana Princess if Wales memorial playground reopen with a Mermaid Fountain
- Clapham Common – with forty multi-function water jets.
- Granary Square – Toddlers will love the fountains
- Hampton Court Magic Garden has a splash pad.
- John Madejski Garden Fountains at the V & A Museum
2. Visit a Playground.
- The Children’s Garden at The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew – Noah and I loved this garden when we visited! It’s huge and actually the size of 40 tennis courts. It’s the perfect place for children to learn about plant life, mini beasts and the natural elements. Also at Kew Gardens, an outdoor production of Wind in the Willows. Set against the backdrop of the lake, this performance is filled with colourful characters, music, song and laughter.
- The Cove at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich – One of the best playgrounds in London, this sea themed playground allows children to learn more about maritime life through play. They can climb a Kraken, explore a ship’s deck, explore the ‘Cutty Shark’s’ jaws and spin on a compass themed roundabout. Toddlers will love the bright colours and the multi-sensory elements of this playground.
- The Magic Garden, Hampton Court Palace – The perfect way for kids to learn about history at Henry VIII’s palace through play.
- St James’s Park – London’s oldest park. You can see Buckingham Palace from the bridge and spot real pelicans who call the park their home. Or spot ducks, geese and swans in the pond.
- WWT London Wetland Centre – A serene nature reserve in Barnes where families can discover restored wetland habitats of birds, butterflies, otters etc. Little ones with love the multi-sensory playground, playing the mud kitchen and sound garden. Also Join Professor Slug’s Bugs this summer for two joyful interactive storytelling shows
Date: 18th – 19th July - Horniman Museum and Gardens – The Horniman Museum is a lovely and wholesome experience which can be a whole day out with toddlers. There’s 16 acres of garden including a sunken garden with perennial flower displays, a sound garden with musical instruments, a meadow field where dogs can roam, a prehistoric garden with a monkey puzzle tree, a bee garden (currently getting a makeover),a wildlife garden and nature trail. There’s also a animal walk with goats, sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and alpacas.
- Greenwich Park – Greenwich Park has a record-making history as the place where east meets west at Longitude 0° on the Meridian Line, part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. It is also the site of London’s longest herbaceous border, and over 3,000 trees.
- Battersea Park – Is one of my favourite parks – it’s huge and much less busy than Royal Parks. There’s several playgrounds dotted around the park with a few dedicated toddler playgrounds with classic play equipment, sand pits and imaginative play.
3. Go to a Show – there’s loads on for toddlers this summer.
Theatre Royal Haymarket
The Tiger The Came to Tea – The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be?
Date: 22 Jun – 5 Sep
Age: 3 +
Price: from £13
St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden
The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny – A new adaptation of two of Beatrix Potter’s best-loved Tales, The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny.
Date: 29 Jul
Age: All ages
Price: £22
Greenwood Theatre
In the Night Garden Live – Igglepiggle searches for his friends in this gentle, music-filled adventure.
Date: 16th – 19th July
Age: 0 +
Price: from £24
The Unicorn Theatre
Whatever the Weather – an immersive playscape experience inviting children and their grown-ups to play creatively together.
Date: Fri 3 Jul – Sun 16 Aug
Age: 0 – 7
Price: From £5.50
Little Angel Theatre
The Flying Bath – Julia Donaldson and David Roberts’ playful story comes to life in this adaptation featuring catchy songs, fun bath toys and everyday heroes.
Date: 2nd May – 12th July
Age: 2 – 5
Price: £15.50 Adult £13.50 Child (age 1-17)
Cbeebies House Party Live – Join the superstars of CBeebies – Evie, Joanna, George, Mister Maker, Duggee and Mr Tumble – as they throw an epic party just for YOU!
Date: 25th August
Age: 0 – 6
Price : £20
4. Check out a Concert or Festival
Battersea Park in Concert – A weekend of open-air picnic concerts in London’s Battersea Park. Interactive activities for kids at Tipiland
Date: 28th – 31st August
Price: Adult £118.25
Summer Time at the Southbank – Summer is always fun at the South Bank! With fountains, a Roof Garden, street food and shows and art for everyone.
Riverside Sessions – A packed lineup of weekend parties, performances and gigs on the Riverside Stage.
Date: 16th July – 21st September
Price: Free
Big Penny Social Beach Club – E17’s favourite beach, formerly known as Walthamstow On Sea, has had a revamp for 2026 with a new retro aesthetic. For all ages with pop-up volleyball, a Lifeguard hut with DJs and special events across the summer.
Date: until 30th August
Price: £5 entry
Serpentine Family Days – A series of Family Days celebrating Serpentine’s 2026 programme. Enjoy hands-on workshops, creative activities and performances for all ages.
Date: June – August 2026
Price: Free
JW3 Family Beach Party – Kick off the summer holidays with Richie Rich Parties and an hour of non-stop seaside fun at JW3 Beach.
Date: 26th July
Age: Under 8
Price: £7 child, £5 adult
Family Disco on the Beach – Led by JW3 fan favourite Ilana Banana, the Lanaland Family Disco creates a happy space where everyone’s welcome on the dance floor
Date: 9th August
Age: All ages but geared towards under 7s.
Price: £7 child, £5 adult
5. Visit a museum or gallery – lots of London’s iconic museums have special events running including for babies and toddlers.
British Library – Fairy Tales, an interactive exhibition which explores enchanted lands, magical creatures, iconic characters and timeless tales, through books, costumes, puppets, pop-ups, artwork and illustrations from some of the UK’s most beloved writers.
Date: Until 23rd August
Age: 3 +
Price: £13.50 (peak) and £11.50 (off-peak)
The Library also hosts the Happily Ever After Festival on the 4th July which is free of charge but booking is recommended.
Discover Children’s Story Centre – Has just reopened with a new baby sensory space and cafe. An exciting immersive experience opens inviting families to join Luna and friends for a very special trip to a very big city.
Date: Opens 25th July
Age: All ages
Price: £5.50
Also featured are the “Not a Box’ Storytelling.
Young V & A – One of London best museums for children is currently running a brilliant exhibition.‘ Inside Aardman: Wallace and Gromit and Friends‘ goes behind the scenes of the famous stop motion show casing how the classic characters are bought to life. There’s a dedicated play area for under 2s.
The 4th July sees the summer a programme of free, family-friendly performances and creative activities and a celebration of 3 years since Young V&A opened.
Science Museum – Bubble Explorers Join the Science Museum’s Explainers for brand-new show Bubble Explorers, an interactive live show designed especially for young children and their families. Watch bubbles drift, stretch and shimmer as little ones learn how they form, move and change.
Date:Daily, various times
Age: Recommended for ages 7 and under
Price: £4.50, ages 2 and under go free.
Postal Museum – Jolly Postman exhibition – interactive exhibition celebrating 40 years of Janet and Allan Ahlberg famous children’s book.Date: Until Jan 2027
Price: Included in museum ticket.
London Museum of Docklands – Various activities. Tots at the Docks is a monthly on going play session. We love Mudlarks softplay.
RAF Museum – Little Swifts fun and lively sessions for pre-school children (aged 2-5 years) including arts and crafts, games, stories and songs all linked to the museums collection.
Date: Second Tuesday and last Thursday of each month.
Price: Free
London Transport Museum – Summer holidays, Electric pioneers. Family activities exploring the electrical innovations that have powered London’s public transport for more than one hundred years. Toddlers will love the soft play.
Date: Check website for dates
Age: All ages
Price: Included in museum ticket.
Natural History Museum – Adventure babies, various dates next one is 28th July. A host of activities designed specifically to engage babies and encourage their development.
Age: 0 – 4
Price: £20
Dulwich Picture Gallery – Mini masterpieces. Sessions for under 5s with each session beginning in the Art Play Pavilion and then on to the Gallery to discover the different people, places and animals in the paintings including.
Age: Under 5s
Price: £16
August Family Festival – hands-on art adventures and imaginative workshops to nature-led discoveries and playful moments. 30th August, Free.
Tate Modern – UNIQLO Tate PlayMake Studio: Memory. Explore memories through playing, chatting and creating.
Date: Wednesdays and weekends until 22 July 2026
Age: All ages (Wednesdays are for under 5s)
Price: Free
6. Immersive Experiences – London is becoming well known for its’ immersive experiences and many are suitable for babies and toddlers.
Whippersnappers Fairy and Pixie Land 2026 – Every year Whippersnappers’ Victorian Park Keepers Lodge in Dulwich Park is transformed into a magical land of Fairies, Pixies and Mythical Creatures.
Location: At College lodge, Old College gate, College Rd, Dulwich Park, SE21 7BQ
Price: Child – £28.50 / Adult – £17.50
Paddington Bear Experience – Step into Paddington’s world with an adventure through London and Peru! Explore interactive sets with live performances, and themed activities inspired by everyone’s favourite bear.
Location: County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB, nearest tube Waterloo
Opening: Open daily from 10am
Duration : 70 mins
Age: All ages, under 2s are free
Cost: Adult £34, children £24.
Bubble Planet Experience – an immersive, multi-sensory experience where visitors walk through 11 glowing, colourful rooms filled with bubbles, lights, and playful installations. It’s both magical and surreal and great for families, photos, and interactive fun! The best bit is the huge ball pit!
Book using my the discount code BubbleLon15.
Location: Near Wembley Park tube 22 Fulton Rd, Wembley
Duration: 60 – 90 mins
Age: All ages, under 4s are free
Cost: £13.90 for children and £17.90 for adults
SeaLIFE – London’s Biggest Aquarium is always a great choice for little ones if weather doesn’t go as planned!
Age: all ages
Price: From £36 per adult
7. Go to the Zoo London Zoo Disney’s Lion King is coming to London Zoo with a showcase of masks, puppets and costumes in a special exhibition. Step inside the world of The Lion King with a chance to see items up close and learn about the artistry behind the show’s designs.
Date: 6 June – 31 August
Age: All ages
Price: Included with admission
Battersea Children’s Zoo is also great for babies and toddlers during summer they have Wild Wednesday 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th August. Go WILD this Summer at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo! Every Wednesday in August, they have for play, stories, crafts and games (and of course, a zoo full of animals!)
8. The London Eye – One of London’s most iconic attractions! The world’s largest observation wheel at 135 metres high. It takes about thirty minutes and you can book various other experiences to enjoy including afternoon tea. Skip the queue by buying fast track tickets. Parents will love the amazing views, babies and toddlers will enjoy the gentle motion of the eye.
Location: The Southbank
Price: Starting from £29
9. Get musical Mini Mozart is launching a new programme of Summer Sessions for families across London and Hertfordshire, running every day of the school summer holidays from Monday 20th July to Sunday 30th August 2026.
Sessions will take place across a range of family-friendly locations, including farms, parks, a museum, historic buildings and outdoor venues, with themes including Pirate Parties, Teddy Bears’ Picnics, Royal Garden Parties and other story-led musical events. Here’s the link to the full list of sessions.
Bach to Baby are running a series of summer concerts for baby and family.
10. Visit London’s Greatest Toy Shop – There’s always brilliant events going on at Hamleys. For example Peter Rabbit appearances, magical storytime sessions, and plenty more surprises inspired by everyone’s favourite bunny Date: Saturday 18th – Sunday 19th July.
Join Paddington for a special adventure at Hamleys! Meet everyone’s favourite bear, write a postcard to Aunt Lucy, and follow the exciting Suitcase Trail as you explore the store.
Date: Thursday 20th – Friday 21st August
Join Mr Monkey for a fun-filled puppet show packed with laughter, imagination and plenty of unexpected surprises along the way!
Timings: Every Saturday & Sunday at 4:30pm
We also really enjoyed the Hamleys London bus tour.
See the following blog posts for London’s best ongoing Activities:
Best Things to Do in London with Babies and Toddlers
Best Museums and Attractions in London With Play Areas / Soft Play
Best child-friendly afternoon teas
Best child-friendly restaurants
Best child-friendly hotels in London
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