10 Wild, Wonderful, and Whimsical Things to Do With Kids In London This Weekend

Planning a weekend in the capital can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when trying to find activities that capture the imagination of everyone from toddlers to teenagers. London offers an incredible mix of eccentric traditions, historic venues, and interactive modern exhibitions. To help narrow down the choices, here is a detailed, curated selection of ten fantastic things to do across various age ranges.

For Toddlers and Little Ones (Ages 2 to 5)

• Catch Pip and Posy Live on Stage: Younger children can delight in seeing beloved characters come to life in this charming theatrical production running at the Little Angel Theatre. Based on the much-loved books, it is an ideal introduction to live theatre for toddlers, featuring engaging stories, friendly characters, and plenty of visual magic to keep small attention spans hooked.

• Explore The Pied Piper: A Rat's Tale: Head over to the Little Angel Studios for a brilliant puppet-led retelling of a classic story tailored specifically for younger audiences. This inventive production puts a fresh spin on the traditional tale, using delightful puppetry, soundscapes, and gentle humour to captivate children aged five and above.

For Children (Ages 5 to 10)

• Get Creative at Dr Johnson's House: Drop into the historic townhouse near Fleet Street for a family-friendly craft session where kids can make collage greeting cards using vintage papers and dried flowers. While the venue is famous as the place where Samuel Johnson compiled his monumental English dictionary, this relaxed drop-in afternoon lets children get hands-on with glue and collage materials in the historic rooms.

• Discover Transport Heritage at the Museum Depot: Spend a day exploring Acton's massive TfL warehouse, where children can check out early bus prototypes like the Routemaster RM1 and RM2, try out vintage ticket machines, match famous moquette patterns, and even operate a mock Victoria line train cab. It is a dream come true for anyone fascinated by how London moves.

• Laugh Along with Wallace and Gromit: Visit the Barbican Centre for a classic animated screening pairing The Wrong Trousers with A Close Shave on the big screen. It is a brilliant opportunity to introduce younger family members to Nick Park's iconic claymation duo, complete with cracking cheese and mechanical trousers.

• Join the Fun at Little People, Big Dreams: Experience an engaging live game show event at Shakespeare's Globe that brings inspiring historical figures down to a child-friendly level. Designed specifically for ages five to eight, it combines interactive fun with fascinating true stories about remarkable people who changed the world.

For Older Kids and Tweens (Ages 7 to 12)

• Take Charge at the Pocket Money Interactive Show: Head to the Unicorn Theatre, where children aged 7 to 12 use electronic voting systems to influence an economic performance about spending, saving, and financial choices. Developed with real financial experts and children, this high-energy show features a live DJ, a mischievous clown, and staging that lets kids call the shots on stage.

• Unravel Stories with Live Performers: Participate in interactive storytelling sessions featuring Kaz Penny and Sammy Elgie, hosted at Shakespeare's Globe for children wanting a deeper dive into narrative adventures. It is a wonderful way to spark a love for storytelling and performance in a world-famous theatrical setting.

For Teens and Families (Ages 8 Plus to All Ages)

• Watch the Annual Woolmen Sheep Drive: Head to Southwark Bridge to watch flocks of sheep herded across the Thames in a revival of an ancient City tradition. Alongside the main event, visitors can explore the free public Livery Fair at the north end of the bridge, featuring craft stalls, rare-breed sheep displays, and traditional blade shearing demonstrations.

• Browse Contemporary Art at the British Art Fair: Take older children and teenagers through three floors of the Saatchi Gallery to view modern masterpieces by names like David Hockney and L.S. Lowry. For a futuristic twist, visitors can head upstairs to the "Digitalism" section to experience cutting-edge art using AI, augmented reality, and virtual reality.

Ollēdi © 2026

Reframe your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss a story.

We care about your data in our privacy policy.