What's On in London, East

Guess How Much I Love You - A Garden Adventure

Venue: RHS Garden Hyde Hall

Website: www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall

The Guess How Much I Love You Garden Adventure is a trail inspired by the book of the same name. The trail contains a series of activities that encourage children to learn through play, using the senses...

Andy Singleton, Natural connections

Venue: SPACE Ilford

Website: www.spacestudios.org.uk/family-activities

Discover the deep connections between our human bodies and the natural world through the awe-inspiring paper sculptures of artist Andy Singleton. Renowned for his breath-taking creations for Burberry,...

Horrible Histories Terrible Thames

Venue: Tower Bridge Quay, London

Website: www.birminghamstage.com/shows

There are incredible stories, glorious views, exciting sea shanties and even the chance to sing yourself. Whether you love Horrible Histories or just want a sightseeing tour of the Thames, this is the...

Kidz World

Venue: Valentines Park

Address: Melbourne Road Entrance

Website: www.parnhamfunfairs.co.uk

Family wristband fair. Open School holidays, weekends and bank holidays. Pay once and ride for free! £13.99 per person.

Hairy Maclary and Friends

Venue: Discover Children's Story Centre

Website: www.discover.org.uk

An interactive trail and café exhibition, celebrating the beloved rhyming classic Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy.Visit the doghouse in the Story World, where furry friends are waiting to help...

Ray McSharry, Landmarks

Venue: SPACE Ilford

Website: www.spacestudios.org.uk

An exhibition of watercolour paintings by Redbridge artist Ray McSharry, capturing the borough’s parks, streets and buildings through the changing seasons, revealing the beauty of our local landmarks....

Summer by the River 2025

Venue: London Bridge City

Website: www.londonbridgecity.co.uk

From Thursday 29th May the banks of the iconic River Thames will undergo a mesmerising transformation into a riverside refuge, filled with sunshine, entertainment, and unforgettable experiences for all...

Film Club

Venue: Canada Square Park

Address: Canary Wharf

Website: www.canarywharf.com/whats-on/film-club

Visit Canada Square Park for their summer Film Club running throughout June, July, and August. The popular family films will also be back on Saturday mornings, offering the perfect start to a weekend with...

Mile End Park Funfair

Venue: Mile End Park

Website: www.irvinleisure.co.uk

Online Token Discount – book your tokens online in advance to save money and get 25 ride tokens for just £20! Ride tokens are on sale at the funfair entrance and online at £10 for 10 tokens.Contactless...

The Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge

Venue: Nationwide

Website: https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk

Throughout the summer, children joining ‘Story Garden’ can discover new books, participate in free activities at their local library, and explore the link between reading and the great outdoors, where...

Much Ado About Nothing

Venue: Eden Dock, Canary Wharf

Website: www.handlebards.com

Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally...

Outdoor Family Rave with Big Fish Little Fish

Venue: Museum of the Home

Website: www.museumofthehome.org.uk

An independent, grassroots music and events crew of seasoned ravers and parents that put on family raves with all the freedom and excitement of a mini-festival, right in the heart of cities across the...

Six

Venue: Brookside Theatre

Website: brooksidetheatre.ticketsolve.com

From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, they take to the mic, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a musical celebration of 21st century girl power.Join Aragon, Boleyn, Seymour, Cleves,...

Hackney Downs Park Family Funfair

Venue: Hackney Downs Park

Website: www.irvinleisure.co.uk

Online Token Discount – book your tokens online in advance to save money and get 25 ride tokens for just £20! Ride tokens are on sale at the funfair entrance and online at £10 for 10 tokens.Contactless...

Summerfest 25

Venue: Harrow Lodge Park

Website: www.haveringmind.org.uk

Think live shows, including the Dinomania dinosaur show, kids' entertainers, Disney sing-alongs, superhero meet-and-greets and loads more attractions included in the ticket price! Get 10% off by using...

Give and Take Day

Venue: St Giles' Cripplegate

Website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/events/give-and-take-day-12-july

Do you have items in a reusable condition you no longer need? Looking for something new-to-you? This is your chance to declutter sustainably while helping to reduce waste and support your local community....

The Wind in the Willows

Venue: Eden Dock, Canary Wharf

Website: https://canarywharf.com/whats-on/alfresco-arts-family

In this theatrical rendition of Kenneth Grahame’s much-beloved children’s classic, the entire first chapter of the book is performed live and unabridged, offering all members of the family a perfectly...

KS1 Science Home Education Session (5 - 7 years)

Venue: RHS Garden Hyde Hall

Website: www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall

Take your home-educated children to RHS Garden Hyde Hall for a morning of discovery and garden exploration led by the Education Officers. The educational workshops are curriculum-adjacent and designed...

The Smeds and The Smoos

Venue: Lyric Theatre

Website: https://tallstories.org.uk/dates-and-tickets/the-smeds-and-the-smoos

Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – nominated for an Olivier Award 2024 in the Best Family Show category. Music, laughs and...

Al-Noor Family Festival

Venue: Valentines Park

Website: www.al-noor.co.uk/family-festival

Get ready for a weekend of family fun on the 19 and 20 of July, starting at 11am, for a fantastic funfair filled with exciting rides, delicious food, and plenty of entertainment for all ages. Featuring...

Ready Steady Sail

Venue: National Maritime Museum

Website: www.rmg.co.uk

This workshop will feature a creative art adventure inviting families to design and customise their own cut-out cardboard boats. Once wearing the newly painted ships, participants will engage in an interactive...

SENsory Sailors

Venue: National Maritime Museum

Website: www.rmg.co.uk

Families with children with special educational needs and disabilities are invited to a monthly session at the National Maritime Museum. Explore the collection, enjoy the opportunity to be creative together,...

Summer Screens: Family Gaming

Venue: Canada Square Park

Website: www.canarywharf.com

Free family gaming sessions where you can play Mario Kart or Just Dance on big screens. All gaming events are free to take part in, simply go along and the friendly stewards can explain the rules. Player...

Pride and Prejudice

Venue: Wanstead Park- The Temple Enclosure

Website: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/wanstead/

Following seven sell-out seasons of this sparkling adaptation, award-winning Illyria returns to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in style. Bring a picnic and enjoy her at her vibrant, forthright,...

Nicky Trix: Magic and Mayhem

Venue: Queen's Theatre

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Join Nicky and his cheeky sidekick, Nambu the elephant, as they bring you laughter, ventriloquism and moments of pure magic. This action-packed show also features exciting games and competitions where...

Ocean: Above and Below

Venue: National Maritime Museum

Website: www.rmg.co.uk

Storytelling, workshops and interactive fun for families every day at the National Maritime Museum during the Summer Holidays. Learn about the wonders of the ocean, what goes on below the surface and journeys...

Spanish Holiday Camp

Venue: New Windmill Hall, St Mary’s Lane

Website: www.speaktheworld.co.uk

Fun Spanish lessons of different levels and abilities for primary age children. Your children will learn the language and also learn about Spanish and South American culture, traditions and get to know...

Summer Bible School 2025

Venue: East London Christian Fellowship Centre

Website: www.elcfc.co.uk

Join the yearly event for three fun-filled afternoons of singing, stories, crafts and games. Suitable for 5-11 year olds. Free to attend. Newbury Park, Ilford. Email info@elcfc.co.uk or call 07774 449020.

Summer holidays: Rail Adventures

Venue: London Transport Museum

Website: www.ltmuseum.co.uk

From the first underground railway to the opening of the Elizabeth Line, the Museum will be celebrating key milestones in London’s railway’s history and the stories of people who made them possible....

Milkshake Live On Holiday

Venue: Queen's Theatre

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Join your favourite Milkshake! friends on Holiday with Smurfette, Dora, Pip and Posy, Blue from Blues Clues and You!, Milo, Milkshake! Monkey plus two of your Milkshake! presenters for an all-new adventure....

The 3 Musketeers

Venue: Greenwich Theatre

Website: www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

This fantastic swashbuckling adventure features an unforgettable cast of characters including the evil Cardinal Richelieu and of course the musketeers themselves! Written by multi-award nominee and Greenwich...

As You Like It – East London Shakespeare festival

Venue: Valentines Mansion and Gardens

Website: www.visionrcl.org.uk/event/asyoulikeit

This joyful, family-friendly outdoor production blends contemporary London culture with the Bard’s wit, romance, and secret identities.With ELSF’s signature high-energy numbers, slapstick comedy, and...

West Ham Park Funfair

Venue: West Ham Park

Website: https://irvinleisure.co.uk/upcoming-funfairs/west-ham-park-summer-funfair-2

The number of tokens per ride varies.Tokens are on sale at the fair and online with contactless payment available on all rides.Online Token Discount – book your tokens online in advance to save money.

Campfire Adventures

Venue: Discover Children's Story Centre

Website: www.discover.org.uk

This brand-new, evening event gives a super-special chance to experience Discover after-dark for 5-11 year olds. Includes supper, crafts, scavenger hunts, a visit to a Monster Funfair and hot chocolate...

Puss in Boots with Let’s All Dance

Venue: Jubilee Park

Website: www.canarywharf.com

Based on the classic tale by Charles Perrault, Let’s All Dance Ballet Company presents a magical new version of Puss in Boots, a heart-warming story of friendship, courage, and self-belief. this performance...

Safe Harbour

Venue: National Maritime Museum

Website: www.rmg.co.uk

Safe Harbour is a series of free workshops created to provide a safe space for foster and adoptive families. The sessions are an opportunity for families to have fun together in a friendly and welcoming...

Redbridge Holiday Mega Mix

Venue: Various locations

Website: www.visionrcl.org.uk/holidaymix/megamix

Vision Redbridge are offering a variety of affordable taster sessions and workshops for children 5-16 years with some of the activities costing only £1. They’ve got something for every child from sports...

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Venue: Greenwich Theatre

Website: www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

From the creative team behind 2024's 'Beauty and the Beast' – this retelling of a classic fairy-tale is a magical adventure brimming with laughter, filled with catchy original tunes and packed with mischief!...

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck

Venue: Thames Chase

Website: www.quantumtheatre.co.uk/jemimapuddleduck

Start off the school summer holidays with this delightful theatre event, set in the surroundings of this 17th century barn and community woodland. This outdoor theatre event is one for all of the family!...

Ingrebourne Build your own Robin nest box

Venue: Ingrebourne Valley Nature Discovery Centre

Website: www.essexwt.org.uk

This DIY kit offers a fun way to engage while learning about nature. Encourage creativity by decorating these boxes with black paint deco pens, and stick-on shaped bark, adding a personal touch to each...

The Baddies

Venue: Cadogan Hall

Website: www.cadoganhall.com/whats-on/the-baddies-2025

The Baddies love being bad. They roar, spook and cast spells to try and scare a little girl… but will they succeed? With songs by Joe Stilgoe, The Baddies is a wickedly hilarious adaptation by Freckle...

Summer School – Play in a Week 2025

Venue: Queen's Theatre Hornchurch

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Looking for something to keep your kids busy during the summer holidays? Join Queen's Theatre Hornchurch for a fun week of drama, games and acting where you will create your own ‘Play in a Week’ to...

Depot family tours

Venue: Museum Depot, 2 Museum Way, 118-120 Gunnersbury Ln

Website: www.ltmuseum.co.uk

From the tons of poo that accompanied the first horse buses, to why trains have bogies, take a highlights tour of the Bus and Train Sheds. You will be taken around part of the Depot by one of the Learning...

HMS Pinafore

Venue: Wanstead Park- The Temple Enclosure

Website: www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/wanstead/

Full to the gunwales with sharp dialogue and catchy tunes, this timeless comic opera is performed outdoors by a cast of 6 outstanding performers on a spectacular nautical set, using Sullivan’s full score.Suitable...

Alphabet Soup with A Line Art

Venue: Eden Dock, Canary Wharf

Website: www.canarywharf.com

A big, bold, and delectable surprise awaits children and their families in this brilliant, interactive installation celebrating the language of food. Drop-in and take part in a playful workshop where you’ll...

Ilford in Colour

Venue: Various venues

Website: www.inilford.com/events/ilford-incolour

Alongside live mural painting, visitors can enjoy Face Painting and Interactive Art, Fair Rides and Family Attractions, Music and DJ Performances, Crazy Golf Experience, Market Stalls, Local Vendors and...

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck

Venue: Langdon Nature Discovery Park

Website: www.quantumtheatre.co.uk

Michael Whitmore's delightful new adaptation is packed full of songs, action and drama, with a score by Gideon Escott, and is guaranteed to to delight and enthrall all ages. Take something to sit on and...

Vintage Transport and Traction Engine Weekend

Venue: Epping Ongar Railway

Website: www.eorailway.co.uk

Join Epping Ongar Railway for a weekend of vintage transport and traction engines. Includes a wonderful collection of steam traction engines big and small on display and moving around North Weald station...

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Venue: Sadler's Wells Theatre

Website: www.sadlerswells.com

Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they meet new friends, face dangerous foes and learn the lessons of courage, sacrifice, and the power of love. This larger-than-life production blends the artistry...

TaylorMania

Venue: Indigo at the o2

Website: www.theo2.co.uk

An award-winning extravaganza that plays tribute to one of the leading contemporary recording artists of our time. Katy Ellis a self-Confessed ‘Swiftie’ with an incredible live band and dancers promises...

Fun DMC 10th Birthday

Venue: Southbank Riverside Terrace

Website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Celebrate the end of summer and a landmark occasion for FUN DMC, as they bring their family friendly block party vibes to the Riverside Terrace. Resident DJ Spin Doctor spins everything from disco and...

The Singing Mermaid

Venue: Queen's Theatre

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Through beautiful puppetry and performance, and with music by Barb Jungr (We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, The Pixie and the Pudding, The Smartest Giant in Town, There May be a Castle), Julia Donaldson and...

Ministry of Science Live – Science Saved The World

Venue: Greenwich Theatre

Website: www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Join the presenters as they dive deep into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world we live in with a few loud bangs along the way!100% Educational. 200% Entertaining. 300%...

Tom Gates Live on Stage

Venue: Greenwich Theatre

Website: www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Based on the bestselling books by Liz Pichon, Tom Gates EPIC Stage Show brings alive the illustrations and music that makes Tom Gates hugely popular around the world! With catchy tunes and hilarious performances,...

Haven House Mud Run

Venue: Nuclear Races, Brentwood

Website: www.havenhouse.org.uk/Event/mudrun25

Whether you're a group of friends, a family unit, an office crew, or an individual, the Mud Family race is all about teamwork and having a blast together. You can run, jog or walk the distance making this...

Fantastic fractals creative workshop with artist Mary Pullen Deacon

Venue: SPACE Ilford

Website: www.spacestudios.org.uk/family-activities

Explore mathematical and natural science combined with art-making in this fun and engaging creative workshop. Go and experiment with drawing, 2D paper cut and tear, and 3D paper engineering techniques...

The Wizard of Oz

Venue: Brookside Theatre

Website: www.brooksidetheatre.ticketsolve.com

The whole family will be captivated as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow in this lavish production, featuring...

Glow for Havens

Venue: Little Havens Hospice, Daws Heath Road

Website: www.havenshospices.org.uk

Light up the night and support Havens Hospices! Put on your brightest outfits, load up on glow sticks, and sparkle your way around the exciting 5k or 10k route in the Little Havens woodlands and Hadleigh...

Magic and Marvels

Venue: Greenwich Theatre

Website: www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Get ready to embark on a thrilling journey into the realm of wonder and enchantment as Michael showcases his incredible talents in magic and circus arts. “Magic & Marvels” promises to be an unforgettable...

Surinderella

Venue: Queen's Theatre

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Welcome to Bolly Woods, where the naach is non-stop, the drama is bigger than your aunties’, and the romance is straight out of a filmy blockbuster! Get ready for an evening of laughter, romance, and...

ABBA for Kids

Venue: Cadogan Hall

Website: www.cadoganhall.com

Featuring all your favourite ABBA hits including ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Waterloo’, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’, ‘Thank You For The Music’, ‘Super Trooper’, ‘Money, Money, Money’, ‘Dancing...

Steve Backshall's Deadly Live!

Venue: The O2 Arena

Website: www.theo2.co.uk

Join Steve as he embarks on heart-pounding adventures, tackling daring stunts, mind-blowing experiments, and cutting-edge science. Brace yourself as he tracks down some of the world’s most formidable...

Ministry of Science Live!

Venue: Queen's Theatre

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Join the presenters as they dive deep into the world of science and look at how science shapes the modern world we live in with a few loud bangs along the way!100% Educational. 200% Entertaining. 300%...

Stick Man

Venue: Queen's Theatre

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Touching, funny and utterly original, Freckle Productions’ delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Stick Man is back in town! This award-winning production, features a trio of...

Top Secret – The Magic of Science

Venue: Greenwich Theatre

Website: www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Fusing the mystery of magic with wondrous and miraculous feats of science. Hang on to your seats and experience a non-stop action packed interactive magical science show with experiments and magic that...

Jack and the Beanstalk

Venue: Queen's Theatre

Website: www.queens-theatre.co.uk

Join Queen's Theatre for a GIANT adventure packed with gags galore, an original score, and sensational silliness. Expect toe-tapping tunes, live music, dazzling costumes, magic beans, oodles of audience...

Peter Pan: A Pantomime Adventure

Venue: Greenwich Theatre

Website: www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Fly away to Neverland and Hook your tickets now for this years swashbuckling, family adventure - ‘Peter Pan: A Pantomime Adventure! Brought to you by the team behind last years award winning Panto -...

Minecraft Experience

Venue: Maritime Street

Address: Corner Corner, Canada Water

Website: www.minecraftexperience.com/london

Don’t miss Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, the ultimate real-life immersive adventure coming to London. Battle mobs and collect resources in a daring quest to save the villagers. Experience Minecraft...