Summer holidays 2023: Five free things to do with kids in London

The school summer holidays are approaching, which is good news for teachers and kids but for parents it’s six weeks of keeping children occupied.

This year the school holidays in London fall from July 21 to September 3 2023.

Luckily there are plenty of free things to do in the capital to keep little ones and teenagers alike entertained.

From exhibitions to festivals we’ve rounded up five free activities for kids in London this summer.

Visit the Young V&A

Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA Open seven days a week (10am to 5.45pm) Free

Formerly known as the V&A Museum of Childhood, the Young V&A has reopened in Bethnal Green following a £13m redevelopment.

Co-designed with children and young people, the Young V&A offers a number of hands-on experiences for children including sensory playscapes, a finger skateboard park, an ‘Imagination Playground’ construction zone, a performance and story-telling stage, and an open design studio.

The free museum also features over 2,000 objects dating from 2300 BC to today across three new galleries - Play, Imagine and Design. A perfect way to spend a rainy day over the holidays.

Sculpture in the City 2023

Citywide Till Spring 2024 Free

This annual open air sculpture exhibition aims to use the urban environment as a gallery space like no other. Sponsored by local businesses and situated in locations dotted around the City of London, the initiative spotlights up and coming artists as well as the more internationally-acclaimed.

This year’s installations include works by Vanessa da Silva, Isamu Noguchi, Emma Louise Moore, Ugo Rondinone, Pedro Pires, Mika Rottenberg, Jocelyn McGregor and more.

The free outdoor exhibition also includes a  programme of free events and educational activities and you can download the free Bloomberg Connects art app to explore the sculptures in more detail.

Notting Hill Carnival 2023

August 27 to August 28 2023 Free

Notting Hill Carnival is an annual celebration of Caribbean culture and diversity in London.

The festival started in 1966 on the streets of the Notting Hill area of Kensington and has taken place every August bank holiday weekend ever since.

It’s set to return again this August Bank holiday with crowds of over two million people expected.

Despite the crowds Notting Hill Carnival is a family friendly event with street performances, food stalls and is the largest street festival in Europe.

Meet life-size dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park

Crystal Palace Park, Thicket Rd, SE19 2GA

Crystal Palace Park is home to some full-size dinosaurs – models built by the Victorians which lurk between the trees, perfect for a dinosaur hunt.

You can find out more about the exhibition and dinosaurs at the Crystal Palace museum in the park.

Crystal Palace Park is also home to the national sports centre, a children’s farm, a playground, a maze, an outdoor concert stage and plenty of green space to run about in.

Pick a sunny day and bring along a picnic and voila a lovely family day out.

Horniman Museum and Gardens

100 London Rd, Forest Hill Free all year round

The Horniman Museum in Forest Hill is a free museum with extensive collections of anthropology, natural history and musical instruments.

Kids will love the gigantic overstuffed walrus, the new aquarium and beautiful gardens.

The museum also has a butterfly house, which is sure to excite little ones, and a special Monkey Business exhibition.

Youngsters can also enjoy the Animal Walk, which is home to goats, sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens and an alpaca.