The Paddington Bear Experience
Few fictional characters are as universally adored as Paddington Bear, and there has never been a better time to visit The Paddington Bear Experience, which recently celebrated its second birthday at County Hall on London’s South Bank.
This enchanting multi-room adventure begins at Paddington Station before whisking families to 32 Windsor Gardens and onwards to the Peruvian jungle, where visitors help Paddington and the Brown family prepare for the Marmalade Day Festival. Along the way there are puzzles to solve, games to enjoy and familiar faces to encounter before the experience culminates in a lively Calypso celebration, a photograph with Paddington himself and, naturally, a marmalade sandwich. Beautifully designed and brimming with warmth, it is every bit as charming as the much-loved stories that inspired it.
Matilda The Musical
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s West End production of Matilda The Musical is now in its fifteenth year in London, making it the tenth longest-running musical in West End history. Still playing to packed houses at the Cambridge Theatre, it has now been seen by 13 million people in more than 100 cities worldwide. The production is also currently on a major UK and Ireland tour, which opened at Leicester Curve in October 2025 and continues until January 2027.
An anarchic and uplifting celebration of a strong, determined heroine with a vivid imagination, Matilda The Musical remains a tonic for audiences of all ages. Written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and developed and directed by Matthew Warchus, the production has won 101 international awards, including 25 for Best Musical. Rob Howell’s distinctive designs, Peter Darling’s choreography and Paul Kieve’s special effects and illusions all contribute to a theatrical experience that feels every bit as inventive and exhilarating as when it first opened.
KEDI Studio Splatter Paint
For families looking for something refreshingly different, KEDI Studio’s Splatter Paint experience offers an irresistible invitation to embrace creativity without worrying about making a mess. Protective overalls replace pristine clothes before children and adults alike enter a vibrant studio where paint is splashed, flicked and sprayed across waiting canvases with joyful abandon.
There are no rules, no pressure and absolutely no expectation of perfection. Instead, the emphasis is firmly on imagination, self-expression and having enormous fun together. Best of all, every family leaves with a unique canvas to take home, ensuring the memories last long after the paint has dried.
Zog at Cadogan Hall
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s lovable dragon swoops into Cadogan Hall this summer in a delightful stage adaptation that is perfectly pitched for younger audiences. Following the adventures of the enthusiastic but accident-prone dragon as he learns the importance of perseverance, friendship and, above all, practice, Zog captures all the warmth, humour and heart that have made the bestselling picture book such an enduring favourite.
Packed with catchy songs, colourful characters and plenty of laughter, it provides a wonderful introduction to the magic of live theatre, making it an ideal first theatrical experience for younger children.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
Situated beneath County Hall on London’s South Bank, SEA LIFE London Aquarium continues to captivate visitors with its extraordinary underwater world. Home to thousands of marine creatures from across the globe, it offers close encounters with graceful rays, colourful tropical fish, sea turtles and magnificent sharks.
The spectacular Ocean Tunnel remains a particular highlight, allowing visitors to watch these remarkable creatures glide silently overhead. Equal parts educational and entertaining, it provides a welcome retreat on warmer afternoons or whenever the British weather has other ideas.
Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits!
Returning to London’s Apollo Theatre for a second summer season by popular demand, Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits! serves up the funniest, fiercest and most gloriously gruesome moments from Britain’s remarkable past.
Celebrating twenty-one years of Horrible Histories on stage and fifteen years in the West End, this fast-paced production introduces audiences to everyone from Guy Fawkes and King John to Burke and Hare, proving beyond doubt that learning can be every bit as entertaining as it is educational. Recommended for ages five to 105, it is guaranteed to leave families laughing all the way home.
Greenwich+Docklands International Festival
For families seeking world-class entertainment without spending a penny, the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival is one of London’s cultural highlights. Running from 21 August to 6 September, the internationally acclaimed festival transforms Greenwich, Newham and Thamesmead into one enormous outdoor stage, bringing together theatre, circus, dance and large-scale artistic installations from around the world.
A particular highlight for families is the ever-popular Greenwich Fair, where Greenwich Park becomes a joyful celebration of circus, street theatre, dance and outdoor performance against one of London’s most spectacular backdrops. Vibrant, imaginative and entirely free, GDIF offers a memorable celebration of London’s remarkable cultural landscape and provides a wonderful finale to the summer holidays.
From cheering Tudor knights and solving puzzles alongside Paddington Bear to discovering dragons, diving beneath the ocean and enjoying world-class theatre in the heart of the West End, London offers an extraordinary variety of family adventures throughout the summer holidays. Beautifully curated attractions, imaginative productions and inspiring cultural events combine to create a season that celebrates curiosity, creativity and shared experiences. However you choose to spend the holidays, these memorable days out are sure to delight children and adults alike.
