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, Garden Museum, the world-famous London Eye or the London Dungeon 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!
London is one of the best places in the UK 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.
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.
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. During the summer holidays visitors can also join the new interactive and educational Rainforest Adventure trail.
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. During the summer holidays the dastardly Prince Charming makes a special meet and greet appearance and you’ll of course get the opportunity to meet Shrek himself and and pose for a family picture.
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. New shows that have launched at the dungeons this summer include the terrifying Rotten Royals encounter with Charles I executioner!
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+.
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.
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.
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 and are switched on daily from 10am (depending on the weather).
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.
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.
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.
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,
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! Gaming admission (for three hours) costs from £7 per adult, £3.50 for kids aged 13–17, kids under 12 play for free.
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.
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 (from £2.50 for kids under 12, £5 for adults) 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!
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 nachos and burritos or you can order burgers from the riverside grill spot Jimmy's.
Home to world-famous theatres, concert halls and art galleries, South Bank is one of London's leading cultural districts! Immerse the kids in some arts and culture this summer with a visit to an exhibition, book tickets to go and see a top show or settle in for an afternoon of big screen entertainment in the cinema. Throughout the summer there are also some brilliant family-focused events coming to South Bank. Here's a look at what's on!
A magical festival of music and storytelling
Aimed at children aged 4–10, this annual summer festival at the Garden Museum invites families to come and explore this charming museum while enjoying a host of interactive craft workshops, storytelling, music activities and theatrical performances throughout the day. The Garden Museum is open daily for visitors and free activity sheets for kids are available at the entrance. The Festival of Fairytales takes place on 11 August.
A great museum experience for history-loving kids
Visit the Florence Nightingale Museum to celebrate the life of this trailblazing woman. Discover all about her affluent childhood, how she fought against her parents’ wishes to become a nurse, her work during the Crimean War and how she campaigned for better healthcare for ordinary people. For kids there's various supplementary material to make your visit even more interactive including a Family Trail and STEM trail activity sheets plus creative 'make and take activities'. Every Friday in August look out for the Meet Miss Nightingale experience, a live storytelling experience where families will get to meet the Lady with the Lamp and hear her story first hand.
Book to join a family-friendly backstage tour on Mondays and Wednesdays
These summer holidays take a special guided tour of the iconic National Theatre. Designed especially for families (recommended for children aged 7 to 11), there are plenty of interactive opportunities for the kids along the way. Head behind the scenes to explore props of all shapes and sizes, see the sets and stages coming to life in the workshops and of course be dazzled by all the fabulous costumes in the wardrobe department. Tours take place at 11am on Mon and Wed 12-31 August. Booking is essential as space is limited!
Free parties and family-friendly concerts at Southbank Centre
As part of Southbank Centre's summer festival You Belong Here, there's a brilliant variety of exciting free events and parties coming up during the holidays, including many with a focus on youth. Carnival comes to South Bank with the Just Vibez Friday Fete (Fri 19 July 4pm), young jazz musicians from Tomorrow’s Warriors’ perform a free gig in the Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer (Sun 11 Aug 5:30pm) and 150 young people from south London bring the carnival spirit with Kinetika Bloco Summer Showcase (Fri 23 Aug 7pm).
Get free kids tickets at BFI Southbank's stop motion season!
From 1 August to 9 October the BFI presents this epic season devoted to the very best in stop motion animation filmmaking. Supported by Headline Partner LAIKA, this landmark season at includes a broad range of stop motion animation film screenings including all five of LAIKA’s critically acclaimed creations, Aardman favourites like The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! and Chicken Run and other celebrated stop-motion films such as Fantastic Mr Fox and Isle of Dogs. Tickets for under 16s are free - available by phone booking or in-person booking only.
Be amazed with a 3D IMAX experience at Britain's biggest screen
Enjoy the epic scale of Britain’s biggest cinema screen, the BFI IMAX, at one of their IMAX and IMAX 3D short documentary film screenings. This summer holidays the BFI IMAX is screening two impressive 40-minute IMAX documentaries in 3D: the inspirational Blue Whales: Return of the Giants (Aug 4-13) and the epic Arctic: Our Frozen Planet (2-14 Aug). Advanced booking is recommended!
You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great day out sightseeing in South Bank.
