Summer holiday fun for families in South Bank

Jump into summer with a jam-packed programme of events and attractions in South Bank these school holidays!

From family-friendly shows and interactive activities to exploring attractions such as SEA LIFE London Aquarium, The Paddington Bear Experience at County Hall, there's plenty to keep the kids busy.

Read our guide to great family-friendly activities coming up in South Bank this summer and make it a summer holiday to remember....

*KIDS EAT FOR FREE
During English school holidays, many restaurants offer free meals for kids. Free lunch offers are usually based on one free child's meal for every accompanying adult who orders a sit-down meal. Restaurants running kids eat free offers during the summer holidays include: BrewDog Waterloo (from 28 July to 5 Sep), Mamuska!, Comptoir Libanais and Las Iguanas. See our family-friendly dining guide for more.

Family-friendly events this summer

REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground

Until 24 August, Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre

Part installation, part adventure playground, REPLAY is a space built entirely out of waste materials, repurposed for fun by The Herd Theatre. Children and their grown-ups are invited to play side by side in this space full of things you can move, change, combine, wear and reimagine. Suitable for ages 0-11 years, note that both kids and their grown-ups need tickets. On Wednesday and Friday mornings there are Early Years sessions for the under 5s. Booking is essential! > Find out more.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

30 June–27 July, SEA LIFE London Aquarium

The renowned life simulation game, developed by Nintendo, offers an immersive experience into a world where you can create your own paradise on a deserted island and interact with its residents. For this special Animal Crossing activation at the aquarium, a tour guide will lead you on an exploration of the 'Sea Life Islands', where you can meet Tom Nook and residents like Aurora and Octavian, and discover diverse sea creatures. > Find out more here.

Performers on stage wearing gold and a letter on their outfit smiling and singing into microphones, the letters spell 'love

Ura Matsuri's Daylight Ninjas

Sat 19 July from 1pm, Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre.

Ura Matsuri takes over the Riverside Terrace for a Japanese afternoon of music and making. The afternoon begins with traditional and original Japanese shamisen music and origami workshops from Toshiko Kurata who will be teaching how to fold the Ninja’s infamous ‘shuriken’ (spinning mini-spear), before Frank Chickens, the legendary punk pop performance group teach the crowd a simple dance routine for their indie hit ‘We Are Ninja’. Suitable for kids aged 5+. Entrance is FREE.

Ásrún Magnúsdóttir: Listening Party

Sat 2 Aug & Sun 3 Aug, Purcell Room at Southbank Centre

Get ready to be moved as London teenagers dance to their favourite songs in this word-of-mouth hit by one of Iceland’s leading theatre makers. The stage is theirs, the words are theirs and they have the power – even though it’s just for the show. It’s their party and they do what they want to. And you’re invited. Performance lasts 50minutes, suitable for tweens and teens aged 10+. Tickets from £14. > Find out more and book.

Skate Up Space

Sat 9 Aug from 2pm, Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre

Rollerskaters assemble on the Riverside Terrace for a day of workshops, live music and DJs. From freeskate sessions to guided workshops, this is a fun, music-powered event for any young skaters looking to get out on a roller dancefloor. Suitable for all ages -bring your own skates! Entrance is free.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

24 July–7 Aug, BFI IMAX

If your kids are big Marvel fans, then they'll be excited to meet the franchise's latest heroes - The Fantastic Four, in this retro vision cosmic action adventure film of the summer. Showing at the BFI IMAX, the UK's largest cinema screen, there are screenings in 2D and 3D.

Lilo & Stitch

6–28 Aug, BFI Southbank

The BFI Southbank presents perfect family entertainment this August with screenings of the new live-action remake of Disney's Lilo & Stitch. Matinee screenings on Wed 6 Aug, Thu 7 Aug, Mon 18 Aug, Fri 22 Aug and Thu 28 Aug. Also look out for a special 'Funday' screening on Sun 17 Aug with a free Lilo & Stitch themed crafting workshop in the lobby beforehand (from 10:45am).

School’s Out arts & crafts at BrewDog

Every Wed at 10am, 11am and 12pm, BrewDog Waterloo at The Sidings at Waterloo Station

Every Wednesday during the Summer holidays, BrewDog Waterloo will be hosting three ‘Arts Crafts Chaos’ crafting sessions — at 10am, 11am, and 12pm — where crafty kids can make their own sparkly slimes and friendship bracelets or join a wacky ‘Paint Party’ that would make Picasso proud. Each week has a different themed activity. On Thu 14 Aug and Thu 28 Aug at 10am also look out for a crafting workshop in partnership with LUSH where kids will get to make their own bathbombs. Tickets cost £6 per child. Book tickets here.

Kids Music Bingo – Turn It Up, Tiny Legends!

Tue 5 Aug & Tue 26 Aug, BrewDog Waterloo at The Sidings at Waterloo Station

In August, BrewDog hosts a poptastic bingo morning for the kids with plenty of prizes to be won! A high-energy, sing-along, dance-in-your-seat kind of morning for your little music lovers, there are two themed sessions: 10am is Disney Hits and 11:15am is Pop Party. Tickets cost £6 per child. Book tickets here.

Mini Ravers at BrewDog

Tue 19 Aug, From 3pm-5pm,BrewDog Waterloo at The Sidings at Waterloo Station

An afternoon mini-rave for your little party people. This is a super fun dance party for little kids with giant inflatable balloons, confetti cannons, UV lights and glow sticks plus a tuck shop, ice cream van and even meet-and-greets from some special guests. Booking is essential. Tickets cost £10 per child. Book tickets here.

Immersive experiences & adventures

London is one of the best places to enjoy world-class immersive experiences and interactive adventures, and some of the city's most famous attractions are located right here in South Bank. To avoid disappointment it is highly recommended that you book your tickets for these experiences online in advance.

The Paddington Bear Experience

Join Paddington Bear and the Brown family for a very special day out!

Step into Paddington’s world at this official immersive theatrical experience at County Hall. The journey begins with the hustle and bustle of Paddington Station from where you'll be whisked away on a marmalade-themed adventure. The experience promises numerous themed rooms to explore, interactive games, abundant character interactions, and lots of surprises along the way.

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

Wonders of the marine world at one of the UK's best aquariums

Dive in and explore an underwater world of glittering scales, waddling feet and razor-sharp teeth at SEA LIFE London Aquarium. There's everything from a face-to-face encounter with sharks to meeting Gentoo Penguins, making this a super exciting day out for any youngsters with an interest in marine life.

Shrek's Adventure! London

A fun immersive adventure for fairytale fans

Shrek’s Adventure! London is one of London's biggest child-orientated immersive experiences. See, hear, touch and smell the action by exploring 12 fairytale-themed live shows, collecting the special ingredients you need in order to make it home safely from this fairytale world of the Far Far Away.

The London Dungeon

Gruesome storytelling and thrilling underground rides

See, hear, feel and smell the chillingly amusing characters of ye olde London as they come to life through 19 interactive shows and two underground rides at this wildly entertaining walk-through experience. This one's a fun day out for teenagers with a stomach for gruesome tales and stomach-churning rides, all themed around the darker moments of London's colourful history.

The London Dungeon Escape Room

Break out of prison in this Guy Fawkes-themed escape room

The exciting new Escape Room at The London Dungeon sees visitors locked in the Tower of London and left with just 60 minutes to escape the cell and avoid the hangman’s noose… It's the ultimate escape room adventure with fiendish clues and puzzles and some tricky physical elements. Taking things up another level, this is also the UK’s only escape room that includes a ride! The experience is recommended for players aged 12+.

Thames Rockets

Set sail on a full-throttle speedboat tour of the Thames

Jet off down the river and London's most adrenaline-thumping tour with the Thames Rocket speedboat. The 50 minute Ultimate London Adventure experience heads out from the London Eye pier for a spin down the river passing all the biggest sights. Once at Tower Bridge the speedboat kicks up a gear for a full-speed 35mph surge down to the river bends to London's Docklands. There are no age restrictions although an adult must accompany children under 14.

The Great Outdoors

Parks, playgrounds, fountains and beaches - there are plenty of places to let the kids run off some steam. Pack a picnic, pick up a takeaway at one of the many chains such as LEON, Pret, Gail's or M&S or grab a bite from one of this summer's many street food trucks along the Queen's Walk.

Jeppe Hein's Appearing Rooms

Cool down this summer at Southbank Centre's dancing fountain installation.

This always popular summer installation sees different fountains switched on and off at unpredictable intervals, creating watery ‘rooms’ that kids will love to explore. Your kids will inevitably get completely drenched running in and out of the fountain, so be sure to bring some dry clothes and a towel. The Appearing Rooms pop up on the Riverside Terrace in front of the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The fountains are switched on Wed-Sun from 10am from 28 May until 25 Aug (depending on the weather).

Jubilee Gardens Adventure Playground

The ideal place to let the kids run off some steam

Take a pit stop at the Jubilee Gardens adventure playground at the foot of the London Eye. Refurbished in 2022 with large-scale new installations designed to let young imaginations run wild, there's also lots of sensory play and fun games that reference local London icons. The adventure playground caters for all children from toddlers to age 11 and also has accessible areas that allow children with disabilities to also join in the fun.

A street acrobat performs in front of Jubilee Gardens

Queen's Walk

Buskers, carousels and beach walks along London's famous riverside promenade

Where else in Central London can you confidently let the kids run around without fear of busy roads? The wide pedestrianised Queen’s Walk stretches from Lambeth Bridge to Blackfriars and beyond, serving up brilliant views all along the way. Stop for a selfie with Big Ben by Westminster Bridge, let the kids enjoy a ride on the old-fashioned merry-go-round, and when the tides are out step down onto Ernie's Beach for a spot of mudlarking.

Archbishops Park

A lesser-known South Bank park with a great kids playground

South Bank’s largest but perhaps least known park is tucked away between the St Thomas' Hospital and the Lambeth Palace, less than 10 minutes walk from the London Eye. In addition to a small community garden and whimsical public art pieces the park boasts an excellent children's playground, as well as ping pong tables (don't forget to bring your own bats and balls). There are also tennis courts available for hire if you fancy a match.

Fun and games

There's more to family days out in the city than sightseeing! From bowling and board games to boules and karaoke, here are some ideas for making memories this summer holidays that are ideal for families tweens and teens who enjoy getting competitive.

Draughts on Leake Street

Keep the kids busy on a rainy day at this quirky board games bar

London’s original board games bar Draughts, located inside the famous Leake Street graffiti tunnel, is the ideal spot to wile away a rainy afternoon in South Bank. There are more than 1,000 different board games to choose from, covering every possible interest, meaning even the fussiest kids will never be bored, plus dedicated kids food menus.

Lucky Voice

Treat the kids to a karaoke party at The Sidings

London’s favourite karaoke bar brand Lucky Voice has a branch at The Sidings next to Waterloo Station. If you have teens and tweens (the experience is recommended for kids 11+) who are big pop music fans, then booking a karaoke room for the family can be a super fun way to pass an afternoon - especially if London's famously fickle weather is playing up! Available Sun-Fri from opening to 6pm - and on Mon-Wed afternoons throughout the school holidays - you can book a room for two hours of singing, shouting and letting that inner popstar run free.

Duckpin bowling at BrewDog

Fun and games for all the family at London's biggest bar

London’s biggest bar, the epic BrewDog Waterloo at The Sidings at Waterloo Station is a great stop for families with duckpin bowling lanes and an awesome slide that takes you down from the bar’s upper level to the ground floor. There's a great value kid’s menu and kids eat for free with every adult meal during the summer school holidays. For dessert the indoor ice-cream fan is irresistible!

Boulebar

Book a lane for a family game of boules

Boulebar is South Bank's home of all things petanque. The dedicated open-air boules club is located behind the National Theatre next to Waterloo Bridge. Kids are welcome on the courts up until 6pm and booking costs £10 per player for 90 minutes on the court. For snacks after your game there's also a food truck serving nacho, burritos and burgers.

Pagination

Next Guide

Top Free Things to do in South Bank

You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great day out sightseeing in South Bank.

Summer holiday fun for families in South Bank

Family-friendly events this summer

Immersive experiences & adventures

The Great Outdoors

Fun and games

Pagination

Top Free Things to do in South Bank

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The London Eye

Southbank Centre

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The London Dungeon

Leake Street

Shrek's Adventure! London

London Eye River Cruise

Replay: A Limitless Recycled Playground

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London Dungeon Escape Room

BFI Southbank

BFI IMAX

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Lucky Voice Waterloo

Jubilee Gardens

Boulebar

Mr Gruber's Shop

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