What's On in London, West

Children's Alice in Wonderland Adventure Tour

Venue: Royal Opera House

Website: www.rbo.org.uk

On this 75-minute live and immersive experience at the Royal Opera House, children and their families will join a professional children’s workshop facilitator and actor as they dive into the magical...

The Jolly Postman

Venue: The Postal Museum

Website: www.postalmuseum.org

Step inside the story in an immersive exhibition celebrating 40 years of the much-loved children’s book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Meet the Jolly Postman – off on his rounds with letters for some...

Ramses and the Pharaoh’s Gold: The Exhibition

Venue: Battersea Power Station

Website: https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk

Marvel at colossal statues, intricately carved royal coffins, glittering gold, and rare artefacts seldom seen outside Egypt. Blending world-class archaeology with immersive environments, this once-in-a-lifetime...

Fairy Tales

Venue: British Library

Website: https://events.bl.uk/exhibitions/fairy-tales

Take your family on a magical adventure in a new interactive exhibition! Explore enchanted lands, magical creatures, iconic characters and timeless tales, brought to life through books, theatre costumes,...

Bluebells in Bloom

Venue: Osterley Park and House

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Celebrate spring at Osterley as the woodlands burst into colour beneath a carpet of bluebells. Enjoy a gentle seasonal stroll and enjoy the sights, scents and calm of one of spring’s most magical moments.

Tortoise and the Hare

Venue: Polka Theatre

Website: www.polkatheatre.com

Get ready for another toe-tapping, laugh-out-loud retelling of a children’s classic, Tortoise and the Hare.Full of puppetry, hare-larious highjinks, fantastic storytelling and original live music that’ll...

The LIFE in a Line!

Venue: Heath Robinson Museum

Website: www.heathrobinsonmuseum.org

Mr Doodle, whose vast hand-painted mural greets visitors at the entrance, covering walls and windows, with a further new series of works spilling across canvases and onto the gallery walls, playfully connecting...

HMS Pinafore

Venue: Tabard Theatre

Website: https://tabard.org.uk

After the critically acclaimed run of The Mikado at the Tabard Theatre, the same creative team return with H.M.S. Pinafore, Gilbert & Sullivan’s timeless comic opera about love, class, and life on the...

Chiswick Quieter Funfair

Venue: Turnham Green, Chiswick

Website: www.irvinleisure.co.uk

Turnham Green have created a Quieter Funfair which features all the fun but no music or amplified noise. Guests with autism, SEN, or sensory issues are always welcome they hope that this quieter version...

A Tour of the Eras: A Tribute to Taylor Swift

Venue: Harrow Arts Centre

Website: https://harrowarts.com

Experience the ultimate celebration of Taylor Swift’s music in The Tour of the Eras, a breath-taking tribute starring the incredible Hannah Jenkins. With stunning vocals, dazzling costumes, and all...

Dino Disco for Kids

Venue: Natural History Museum

Website: www.nhm.ac.uk

Grab the family and go to the new Dino Disco where you can don a set of headphones and dance the evening away. With tunes suitable for kids and adults alike and a choice of three different DJs to choose...

Oldilocks and the Three Bears

Venue: Little Lyric

Website: https://lyric.co.uk

One winter, Oldilocks finds a teddy bear in the park and remembers a delicious bowl of porridge she tasted years ago in the woods. Something else happened but she can’t quite remember what… so she...

The Rapping Princess

Venue: Polka Theatre

Website: www.polkatheatre.com

Join Shiloh as she adventures through all genres of music to discover a love for rapping, with a little help from some singing friends and puppets along the way. A funky fairytale for lovers of music,...

The Ugly Duckling

Venue: Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice

Website: www.puppetbarge.com

With the music of Antonio Vivaldi and Max Richter, shadow master Drew Colby explores the classic tale by Hans Christian Andersen using only the shadow of his body, light and a few simple props. A moving...

Country for Kids

Venue: Royal Albert Hall

Website: www.royalalberthall.com

This family-friendly event will be presented in a relaxed environment for children to express themselves, with no expectation to stay still or be quiet. Country for Kids is recommended for ages 4-11 but...

Relaxed Events

Venue: The Postal Museum

Website: www.postalmuseum.org

This relaxed event has been co-produced with Ambitious about Autism and a group of their autistic Youth Patrons. The event is designed to support autistic and neurodivergent people, including families...

Giffords Circus

Venue: Chiswick House and Gardens

Website: www.giffordscircus.com

Chosen by Red and Cecil, children of Giffords Circus founders, “Waterfield” is inspired by the English countryside and the creatures that inhabit it. It will be their most ambitious show yet, with...

Barham Park Wembley Funfair

Venue: Barham Park

Website: www.irvinleisure.co.uk

Online Token Discount – book your tokens online in advance to save money and 26-28 May ride tokens are half price. From adrenaline pumping rides to classic attractions, plus every Friday is FREE entry!

MCM Comic Con

Venue: ExCel London

Website: www.excel.london

Get ready to dive into the UK’s ultimate Pop Culture celebration at MCM Comic Con this May! From meeting iconic anime and gaming voice actors to catching up with TV and film stars, there’s something...

Crafts and Carriages

Venue: The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace

Website: www.rct.uk

During your visit to the Royal Mews, pop into the Livery Room to enjoy some make and take art and crafts activities, inspired by the history, horses, carriages and cars of the Mews. Arts and crafts activities...

Foodies Festival

Venue: Syon Park

Website: https://foodiesfestival.com

The UK’s biggest celebration of food and drink. Kids can try out cooking with specialist teachers who make learning fun! Free sessions will introduce the little ones to the kitchen in a safe and enjoyable...

Heimer

Venue: Little Lyric

Website: https://lyric.co.uk

Grandpa Heimer has been trapped in the fog of Dementia, with grandchild Charlie they use everyday objects to transform into a grand maritime adventure! HEIMER blends object theatre, puppetry and original...

May half-term: Caribbean connections

Venue: London Transport Museum

Website: www.ltmuseum.co.uk

Celebrate Caribbean history and culture at London Transport Museum. 2026 marks 70 years since London Transport began recruiting employees in the Caribbean. Join them for a week of family-friendly activities...

May Mews Discovery Trail

Venue: The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace

Website: www.rct.uk

Over the May Half Term, collect your May Mews Discovery Trail and discover fascinating facts and fun challenges about the history, horses, cars and carriages of the Mews. The trail is free with your standard...

The Cat in the Hat

Venue: Harrow Arts Centre

Website: https://harrowarts.com

From the moment his tall, red and white-striped hat appears, Sally and her brother know that the cat in the hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks and...

Weekend of Steam

Venue: Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway

Website: www.hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk

Book now for a great family day out. £2.50 children (under 3s free) and £4.50 adults. Kempton Steam Museum next door to the railway will also be open and in steam. (Separate entry ticket). Visit www.kemptonsteam.org

Wish You Were Here: A Jolly Postcard Adventure

Venue: The Postal Museum

Website: www.postalmuseum.org

Design your own postcard and write a message on the back. You could write all about your favourite holiday or an imagined adventure to Fairy Tale Land! When you’re finished, deliver your postcard up...

Alice in Wonderland

Venue: Leicester Square Theatre

Website: www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

Stunning dancing, much loved characters and super costumes bring the famous tale to life in this magical production. Don’t be late for this very important date! Join Alice as she enters the curiouser...

Tate Modern Family Tours

Venue: Tate Modern

Website: www.tate.org.uk

Each tour is different and unpacks 2-3 artworks through a multisensory experience. Guides often use hand gestures and activities to explain ideas and encourage children to ask questions and to be curious.Tours...

Family Classics

Venue: St Martin In The Fields

Website: www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org

Family classics concerts offer the chance for children and adults of all ages to come together in a one hour programme of popular classical music with a few favourites for you to join in with! Including...

Family Workshops at Japan House London

Venue: Japan House London

Website: www.japanhouselondon.uk/whats-on

Explore the cultures of Japan this half term with a series of free family workshops at Japan House London. During each workshop, participants can enjoy learning about Japan and unleashing their creativity...

Art Studio family workshop

Venue: The National Gallery

Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Explore the exquisite textiles, prints and patterns adorning Zurbarán’s characters with artist and educator Alex Bowie. Collect textures from found objects and surfaces to design your own ‘fabric...

Create and Grow May Half Term

Venue: Squires Garden Centre - Twickenham

Website: www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Let them get their hands dirty and plant a tasty veg pot with three vegetable plants. Decorate your pot with stickers, add a plant label and take it home to watch your veggies grow! £8. Advanced booking...

Design Camp for ages 7 to 10: Drawing and Storytelling

Venue: The Design Museum

Website: www.designmuseum.org

Combining observational drawing with zine-making, and inspired by film director Wes Anderson’s visual storytelling, children will learn how to capture details through live sketching and build a visual...

Discovery Days: Time Travellers

Venue: Hyde Park

Website: www.royalparks.org.uk

Visit Hyde Park and travel back in time through The Royal Parks' history. Take part in a variety of activities, including create a plant print using a mallet, design a park of the future, try your hand...

Enchanted Creatures and How to Become One

Venue: Royal Albert Hall

Address: Elgar Room

Website: www.royalalberthall.com

From Lotte Reiniger’s shadow-puppet magic, through the misty dream-world of Yuri Norstein’s Hedgehog in the Fog, to the wild rumpus of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, cinema becomes something...

Groove Onto the Moon

Venue: Little Lyric

Website: https://lyric.co.uk

In this fun sci-fi adventure, children aged 3 to 7 and their adventurous grown-ups will be transported into space, encountering alien creatures, embarking on daring missions, and facing challenges that...

Hardtack Biscuit Workshop

Venue: National Army Museum

Website: www.nam.ac.uk

Hardtack biscuits have been filling soldiers’ bellies for hundreds of years. But how did they make these not-so-tasty snacks? Have a go at making your own hardtack dough, then shape it into a biscuit...

May half-term - Art Studio family workshop

Venue: The National Gallery

Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Explore the exquisite textiles, prints and patterns adorning Zurbarán’s characters with artist and educator Alex Bowie.This workshop and all family activities this half-term are inspired by the exhibition...

May half-term - Creative Space

Venue: The National Gallery

Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Experiment with light and shade in the immersive environment of the Creative Space. Elevate the ordinary with dramatic and unexpected effects of light on surfaces – from still-life objects to portraits....

May half-term - Decoding pictures family tour

Venue: The National Gallery

Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk

How do we look at pictures, and what can a painting really tell us? What secrets do they hold? Explore the Gallery with the Gallery Educators who will share skills to guide you in asking questions and...

May half-term - Social Space family lunchroom

Venue: The National Gallery

Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Between Tuesday 26 and Thursday 28 May contemplate colour and shape while sketching still-life displays of everyday objects at the easel. A flexible lunch space – a place to be creative or eat your lunch....

Create an Epic Fable!

Venue: Polka Theatre

Website: www.polkatheatre.com

Inspired by Tortoise and the Hare, this fun-filled workshop invites children to explore storytelling through drama and music. After practising their storytelling and performance skills, the young storytellers...

Depot family tours

Venue: London Transport Museum

Website: www.ltmuseum.co.uk

From the tons of poo that came with the first horse buses to the mystery of why trains have ‘bogies’, you’ll hear tales that bring transport history to life. Perfect for the whole family, but best...

Design Camp for ages 7 to 10: Stop Motion with Clay

Venue: The Design Museum

Website: www.designmuseum.org

Inspired by the fascinating stop motion films of director Wes Anderson, children will create characters, shape clay models, and animate their own stories.Each child will take home their character sketches,...

Nature Roadshows

Venue: Kensington Gardens

Website: www.royalparks.org.uk

Join Kensington Gardens for free drop-in activities perfect for families, nature-lovers and budding environmentalists! Solve clues on the detective trail to get you in the mood for spring and take a closer...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Drama Masterclass

Venue: Polka Theatre

Website: www.polkatheatre.com

Enter the Midsummer madness of Shakespeare’s rough and tumble comedy with a day-long performance masterclass created especially for young people. In an exciting collaboration with Shakespeare’s Globe,...

Craft Cart

Venue: Osterley Park and House

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Organised by a dedicated National Trust volunteer team, join Osterley for popular arts and craft activities for families between 12 and 3pm during all Hounslow school holidays. This event is suitable for...

Design Camp for ages 7 to 10: Sustainable Prop Making

Venue: The Design Museum

Website: https://designmuseum.org

In this hands-on workshop, children will learn the basics of prop making with sustainable materials. Inspired by Wes Anderson’s use of stylised objects as key storytelling devices, participants will...

Family Day - Budding Builders

Venue: Westminster Abbey

Address: College Garden

Website: www.westminster-abbey.org

Take your budding builders to England’s oldest garden to get busy with all things bricks and buttresses. Explore the artistry in the architecture, the details in the design and the beauty in the buttresses...

Marching Orders: Scoff the Lot!

Venue: National Army Museum

Website: www.nam.ac.uk

Interactive family tour where you can travel through time to discover what soldiers have eaten throughout history. Discover how the Army has kept its soldiers fed, from past to present, on this family-friendly...

SEND Bugs from the Bin Family Workshop

Venue: Harrow Arts Centre

Website: https://harrowarts.com

Join Harrow Arts Centre this May half term for a fun, hands-on and sustainable craft session using recycled materials. With paper, cardboard, bottle tops and tape, what kind of bugs can you make? Let your...

Dantastic’s Superhero Adventure

Venue: The Questors Theatre

Website: www.questors.org.uk

Children (and grown-ups!) will join in the fun, help the heroes, and even discover their own superhero powers. With plenty of audience interaction and feel-good energy, you’ll be engaged from start to...

Eid on the Square 2026

Venue: Trafalgar Square

Website: www.london.gov.uk/events/eid-square-2026

The Mayor of London’s free, annual festival returns to Trafalgar Square to mark Eid al-Adha and bring Londoners together in celebration.Delivered in partnership with the Eid Community Advisory Group...

Family Fun Day: Remarkable reactions

Venue: The Royal Institution

Website: www.rigb.org

Throughout the day, you’ll be able to dive into a huge range of interactive activities designed to surprise, challenge, and inspire. Test your reaction speed, set off chain reactions, and marvel at amazing...

Gala Weekend

Venue: Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway

Website: www.hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk

Book early for your HKWR ticket entry slot at £4 for children (under 3s free) and £9 adults which gives unlimited rides on the 1903 steam locomotive ‘Darent’. There are fantastic model railway layouts...

Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show

Venue: Leicester Square Theatre

Website: www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

Designed for children and adults alike, Mark’s Spectacular Science Show explores the strange and magical properties of matter with exploding elephant’s toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even...

Questors Community Festival 2026

Venue: The Questors Theatre

Website: www.questors.org.uk

The Questors Theatre Community Festival opens up the doors of the theatre to the local community for a fun filled weekend. Enjoy a whole host of free activities for all ages including drama, music and...

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Venue: Harrow Arts Centre

Website: https://harrowarts.com

Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Don’t miss this stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem......

The Ultimate Bubble Show

Venue: The Questors Theatre

Website: www.questors.org.uk

International Bubbleologist and Guinness World Record Holder Ray Bubbles is on a mission to master the art of bubble-making and create the ultimate square bubble. Prepare to be amazed as Ray creates a...

Kumon Free Registration

Venue: Various venues

Website: www.kumon.co.uk

There’s never been a better time to get started. From 1st–30th June, the Kumon West London Study Centres are offering Free Registration to new and returning students. It’s a great opportunity to...

Mini Coral Reefs Family Workshop

Venue: Harrow Arts Centre

Website: https://harrowarts.com

Make your own ‘Mini Coral Reef’ using colourful recycled materials. Involves cutting, arranging and sticking to build a beautiful 3D artwork on a miniature scale. Fun for all the family this half term....

360 All Stars

Venue: Peacock Theatre

Website: www.sadlerswells.com

Expect BMX tricks, basketball magic, beatboxing brilliance and acrobatics that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and a high-energy live soundtrack with drumming that will rock you from the first...

Windrush Exhibition

Venue: Harrow Arts Centre

Website: https://harrowarts.com

Through a collection of images, this exhibition recaptures the momentous journey undertaken by the Windrush migrants and highlights their invaluable contributions to Britain. It also showcases some of...

Spaghetti Club Kids Workshop

Venue: Somerset House

Website: www.somersethouse.org.uk

As part of The Artists’ Fair, Spaghetti Club will host a group of up to 20 kids (aged 7–10) who will come together to explore DIY zine-making as a form of self-expression, collective storytelling,...

The Great Big Green Week

Venue: Nationwide

Website: www.greatbiggreenweek.com

Children and young people are our best advocates for climate and nature and there are plenty of ways to get your school involved. Visit the website for free resource packs available for primary and secondary...

The Great Exhibition Road Festival

Venue: Kensington Gardens

Website: www.royalparks.org.uk

To celebrate 175 years since the Great Exhibition, the Festival will feature on the East Albert Lawn in Kensington Gardens.Celebrating science and the arts visit 6-7 June for a weekend of free events for...

Wood Owl and the Box of Wonders

Venue: Little Lyric

Website: https://lyric.co.uk

Join Hoglets Theatre on a magical journey through fantasy worlds. Featuring beautiful handmade puppets, original music, and a timeless message: the love we show to others comes back to us in time.

EID at Osterley Park

Venue: Osterley Park

Website: www.irvinleisure.co.uk

This year, London’s vibrant cultural scene is hosting an unforgettable Eid celebration, bringing together people of all backgrounds to mark the end of Ramadan in a grand atmosphere. The event is a dazzling...

Teddy Bear Picnic

Venue: Fulham Palace and Gardens

Website: www.fulhampalace.org

You and your favourite teddy are invited to join Fulham Palace and Gardens for a teddy-tastic day of family fun in Fulham Palace’s beautiful walled garden. Little ones will be enchanted by an outdoor...

Bin Rat

Venue: Little Lyric

Website: https://lyric.co.uk

A rat-astic and realistic look into refuse and recycling. Rummage through the rubble with Bin Rat to discover where all the junk goes! Scrape scraps off the streets in this outdoor interactive puppetry...

Little green fingers (ages 8+)

Venue: Fulham Palace and Gardens

Website: www.fulhampalace.org

Explore the wonderful world of growing vegetables and flowers and dive into the process from start to finish. From planting seeds to harvesting your own veggies and blooms, visit the beautiful walled garden...

Nick Cope’s Family Show

Venue: Leicester Square Theatre

Website: www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

Nick has been writing and recording his beautiful and totally unique songs for children and their families for over 10 years, he performs with his guitar and stunning animations to sell-out crowds all...

Suitcase Circus

Venue: Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice

Website: www.puppetbarge.com

Welcome to the stage an incredibly entertaining group of objects who ooze attitude, sleaze, charm and an abundance of talent. Sometimes gritty, often mad, enter the wonderful and chaotic world of Suitcase...

EID at Byron Park

Venue: Byron Park

Website: www.irvinleisure.co.uk

This year, London’s vibrant cultural scene is hosting an unforgettable Eid celebration, bringing together people of all backgrounds to mark the end of Ramadan in a grand atmosphere. The event is a dazzling...

Kew The Movies presented by Adventure Cinema

Venue: Kew Gardens

Website: www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/kew-the-movies

Experience the magic of outdoor cinema at Kew Gardens this summer. Adventure Cinema is bringing the UK’s No.1 outdoor cinema experience to Kew, with an unforgettable lineup of classic films, musicals,...

Arthur

Venue: Polka Theatre

Website: www.polkatheatre.com

This Summer, join the adventure in a magical new play with original songs, based on Arthurian legend and the quest for a better world. This is a brand-new production and information on the show may change....

LSE Festival Family Day

Venue: London School of Economics

Website: www.lse.ac.uk/events/lse-festival/2026/lse-festival-family-day-2026

Join a morning of free activities for all the family at this year's LSE Festival 10am-1pm. Sessions will either be ticketed or drop-in and ticket lines will open by 12noon on Monday 18 May. To find out...

Outdoor theatre: The Jungle Book

Venue: Fulham Palace

Website: www.fulhampalace.org

Join Mowgli and friends for a fun-filled jungle adventure, packed with music, laughter and audience interaction. With original songs, plenty of audience participation and larger than life characters, this...

Rapunzel

Venue: Little Lyric

Website: https://lyric.co.uk

Golden-haired Rapunzel is trapped in her lofty tower by a wicked witch, who lops off the locks of her beautiful hair and sells them for a tidy profit. It’s time for Rapunzel to take charge of her own...

West End Live

Venue: Trafalgar Square

Website: www.westendlive.co.uk

Theatre's biggest stars will perform London's leading musicals and must-see new shows. Saturday 11am - 5pm and Sunday 12-4pm. The event is free and very popular. General entry is on a first come, first...

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Venue: Theatre Royal Haymarket

Website: www.tigerstealive.com

The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger! Packed with oodles of magic,...

The Sleeping Beauty

Venue: Royal Albert Hall

Website: www.royalalberthall.com

For wonder and enchantment, look no further than this classic fairytale ballet: experience all that is grand, gleaming and gorgeous with English National Ballet in this stunning version of one of the world’s...

Barnes Children’s Literature Festival

Venue: Various venues

Website: https://londonkidslitfest.org

The Barnes Children’s Literature Festival in southwest London is the UK’s largest dedicated children’s literature festival with over 100 author events, performances, workshops and free activities...

Anne of Green Gables

Venue: Peacock Theatre

Website: www.sadlerswells.com

Anne of Green Gables follows the adventures of a spirited, imaginative 11-year-old orphan. Adopted by an elderly brother and sister, Anne gets up to endless mischief but eventually wins over the community...

Pinocchio - Outdoor Theatre

Venue: Fulham Palace

Website: www.illyria.co.uk

A wooden puppet runs away, hoping to find fun and adventure, but instead finds demanding bosses, con-artists and peer-pressure. How can Pinocchio ever become a real boy when even lies told to cover up...

The Enormous Crocodile

Venue: Lyric Hammersmith

Website: https://lyric.co.uk

The Enormous Crocodile is weaving his way through the jungle in search of delicious little fingers and squidgy podgy knees… Only the other jungle creatures can foil his secret plans and clever tricks,...

Cinderella

Venue: Lyric Hammersmith

Website: https://lyric.co.uk

The clock is ticking on Early Bird tickets for Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre! Expect pumpkin-sized chaos, side-splitting comedy, chart-topping tunes and much more. Panto Early Bird Offer:...

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