Hope you and your little one are settled in school days by now. Feels like the summer has just finished, but it’s already half-term around the corner!
I’ve put together a fantastic list of family-friendly events happening at some of London’s finest museums and cultural spots.
Some of these events require advance booking! So, why not take a peek and discover the ones that attract your interest for a fun and educational day out with your little ones next month? Get ready for some family fun in the heart of London! 🌟🏛️👨👩👧👦
And for your convenience, it is listed by region!
[CENTRAL]
1. British Museum WC1B 3DG (FREE drop-in | 5+)
- 21 Oct 10am-4pm | Impossible images: Japan
- 26 Oct 10am-4pm | Masterpieces in Minecraft: Rome
- 28 Oct 10am-4pm | Making masks: Aztecs
2. Bank of England Museum EC2R 8AH (FREE drop-in)
Many people would not know Bank of England has a museum and that it is very child-friendly! They host family events every half-term and it is very educative and you will want to visit one of their sessions if you are thinking of teaching your children about money and saving!
- 23-27 Oct, 10am-5pm | Data Detectives: Solving a forgery crime as a little detective!
3. Postal Museum | WC1X 0DA (Free with entry ticket | 5-11 yo)
Crafts, making, and storytelling with a theme of Dressed to Deliver exhibition
4. National Gallery WC2N 5DN (FREE drop-in)
- 24 & 25 Oct 12:00-12:45pm, 2:00-2:45pm | Shared storytelling (all ages)
- 25 & 26 Oct 11:00am-12:15pm, 1:00-2:15pm | Drawn together (all ages)
5. London Transport Museum WC2E 7BB (Free with entry ticket)
- 21 -29 Oct All day | Perfect Posters: Designing a perfect transport poster, lively puppet theatre show, and a trail to find a secret artwork
6. Museum of the Order St John EC1M 4DA (FREE | 3-10 yo)
Family activities below take place in their Learning Centre (EC1V 4JJ), which is over the road from the museum. Both are recommended for 3-10 yo, but siblings & babies are welcome.
- 24 Oct 11am-3:30pm | Seacole Sessions Family Activity: Slimy Dragons (Booking essential)
- Includes Storytelling at 12pm and 1pm (30 min long)
- 25 Oct 11am-3:30pm | Secrets of Crypt (Drop in)
7. Westminster Abbey SW1P 3PA (Free with entry ticket, suitable for 3+ and younger children are welcome.)
- 21 Oct 10am-2pm | Family Day: Living Memory – Dress up
- 24 Oct 10am-2pm | Family Day: Monumental Memories: including dress up, family tour, and storytelling
[EAST]
1. Young V&A E2 9PA (FREE drop-in | all ages)
2. Museum of London Docklands E14 4AL (FREE, some require sign-up on arrival)
There are so many events prepared for children over the week of half-term (21-29 Oct ), so check out the specific dates on their websites if you like any from the list below!
- Cookery creations workshop (Sign-up required on arrival)
- Story of an East End champion boxer (Sign-up required on arrival)
- Ilana Banana toddler party
- Digital fashion design
- Button it! Stich it! Dress it!
- Decorate our succah
- Song and dance performances from Jewish schools
- Zingt: Yiddish family sing-along!
- Jewish schools art installation
- Jewish Museum object handling
- Migration stories
- Who Jew Think You Are?
- Object handling
- Cover your heads!
- Tots at the Docks – Little Fashion City
- Clay charity pot making
[SOUTHEAST]
1. Old Naval College SE10 9NN
- 24 Oct 11am, 1:30pm, 3pm (50 mins long), 25 Oct 11am, 1:30pm (50 mins long) | Mambo Jambo’s Spooktacular Halloween Session (£2, booking in advance, for 3-7 yo)
2. Royal Observatory SE10 8XJ
- 26 Oct 10:30am-12:00pm | Holiday to Space (£5, booking in advance, recommended for 3-6 yo)
[SOUTHWEST]
1. Natural History Museum SW7 5BD (Booking in advance)
- 24 Oct 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm (1.5h long) T. Rex Show with Teach Rex (£10, suitable for 3+ yo)
2. National Army Museum SW3 4HT (FREE drop-in, suitable for 5+ yo)
- 24-26 Oct 10:30am-12:30pm & 1:45pm-3:30pm | Army Animal Crafts
- 24-26 Oct 11am, 11:45am, 1:30pm, 2:15pm, 3pm (30 mins long) | Marching Orders: Amazing Animals
3. Mosaic Rooms SW5 0SW
4. Tate Britain SW1P 4RG
- 21 Oct 2pm | Read Alouds by Flavia Z. Drago in Story Space (Recommended for 5-12 yo, but all ages are welcome)
- Every day during school holidays (and every weekend and Thursdays during term-time) | Story Space
5. Polka Theatre SW19 1SB
- 27 Oct 10am, 1pm, 3:15pm (45 mins long) | Clowning Around Comedy Workshop (£12 Adult & child, £6 for each additional person, 3+, booking in advance)
- 25 Oct 10am-12pm & 2-4pm | Spooky Halloween Character Workshop (£25 child only, 4-7 yo, booking in advance)
- 26 Oct 10am-4pm | Halloween Hair and Make-Up Masterclass (£50 child, 8-12 yo, booking in advance)
6. Kew Garden TW9 3AB
- 21-20 Oct all day | We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (Free with entry ticket)
7. Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery W5 5EQ
27 Oct 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm | Mini Makers (£5, Booking in advance, 6 mths – 8 yo)
[NORTH]
1. Chickenshed Theatre N14 4PE
- 22 Oct 11am & 2pm (35 mins long) | OperaUpClose present Peace at Last (£5, 3-5 yo, FREE to under 12 months, booking in advance)
- 28 Oct 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm (1h long) | The Brick People (LEGO activity tables and self and monitored building activities) (£5, 3+ yo, booking in advance)
2. Little Angel Studios N1 2EH
- 21-22 Oct 10am, 1pm, 3pm* (1h long) | Family Workshops – Big Bad Me (£8.50, for 6-11 yo, *3pm session only on 21 Oct)
- 24-26 Oct 10am (6h long) | Puppet Playcation – Let’s Make Halloween Town! (£48 full price, £25 sibling, 5-9 yo, booking in advance, children supervised by staff throughout the day, need to bring a packed lunch)
- 28-29 Oct 10am, 1pm, 3pm (1h long) | Family Workshops – Create a Creepy Costume (£8.50, 5-9 yo, booking in advance)
Hope you guys have a lovely half-term and for more information on what to do with kids in London, please visit our Instagram account, instagram.com/londonful_kids!