Off the Beaten Track: 15 Unmissable Things to Do in London with Kids This Weekend
WHAT'S ONTRAVEL
Planning a weekend with the family across London often feels like navigating a sea of identical recommendations. While the major museums and famous landmarks always pull in the crowds, the capital’s quieter corners, quirky workshops, and hidden theatrical gems often deliver the most memorable days out.
Whether you are looking to spark a young imagination, let off some energy outdoors, or share a completely new experience together, here is a curated line-up of 15 brilliant events happening across the city this weekend.
1. Marvellous Maps at St Martin-in-the-Fields
Age suitability: Ages 5–13
When: Saturday 19th September, 11:00
Where: Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ
Price: Free (no booking required)
Step into the atmospheric crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields, where children can turn city planners for the day. Young participants examine historical maps from the church archives before using building blocks to design their own 3D vision of the parish. It is a fantastic, hands-on way to explore geography, history, and urban design in the heart of London.
2. The Devil, The Tsar & Three Dry Biscuits at Jacksons Lane
Age suitability: Ages 8+
When: Saturday 19th September, 14:00
Where: Archway Road, N6 5AA
Price: £10–£20 per person
Ditch the standard fairytale format for a dark, captivating Russian folk tale. Master storyteller Ben Haggarty brings a world of demons, gambling soldiers, and Death himself to life through physical theatre and mime. It is a thrilling single-actor performance designed to spark big imaginations and deliver a few delightful chills.
3. Water Lantern Festival at Clapham Common
Age suitability: All ages (best suited for ages 6+)
When: Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th September, from 18:00
Where: Long Pond, Clapham Common, SW4 9DE
Price: Adults £22.32, Under-8s free (Note: Free tickets do not include a lantern kit)
As dusk falls over Clapham Common, watch hundreds of glowing lanterns float across the water. The evening features live music, food stalls, and an open mic before everyone releases their decorated, eco-friendly rice-paper lanterns onto the pond.
4. Big Dreams Festival: MC Grammar at Polka Theatre
Age suitability: Ages 3–7
When: Saturday 19th September, 11:00 & 14:00
Where: Polka Theatre, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB
Price: £13
Part of Polka Theatre’s dedicated early-years festival, this high-energy session blends reading, rhyming, and hip-hop beats. MC Grammar gets young children dancing while engaging them directly with wordplay, storybooks, and infectious rhythm.
5. Big Dreams Festival: Nick Sharratt’s Drawalong
Age suitability: Ages 3–7
When: Sunday 20th September, 14:00
Where: Polka Theatre, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB
Price: £13
Bring a sketchbook and pencils to draw along live with the beloved illustrator behind You Choose and Shark in the Park. Nick Sharratt guides young artists step-by-step through creating their own quirky book characters in a gentle, creative environment.
6. The Tale of the Loneliest Whale
Age suitability: Ages 4–8
When: Saturday 19th September, 10:45
Where: Polka Theatre, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB
Price: £13
Dive into an underwater adventure featuring puppetry, atmospheric soundscapes, and gentle song. This ocean story follows a lonely whale searching the vast seas for a friend who can hear his unique song, making it a great intro to theatrical storytelling for primary-age kids.
7. Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards at Frameless
Age suitability: All ages
When: Saturday & Sunday, open all day
Where: Marble Arch, W1H 7AP
Price: Adults £31.50, Ages 3–15 £22, Under-3s free
While Frameless is famous for its massive floor-to-ceiling art projections, its newest gallery addition hosts 91 hilarious wildlife photographs from the past decade. Expect giant projections of dancing monkeys, awkward bears, and surprised seals projected across the space, highlighting nature conservation through humour.
8. Blood, Guts and Nasty Cuts at The Royal Institution
Age suitability: Ages 7–13
When: Saturday 19th September, 14:30–15:45
Where: Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS
Price: Adults £17.06, Under-17s £10.85
Ideal for kids fascinated by science and the human body, this interactive, slightly gruesome talk dives into the history of surgery and medicine. Expect fascinating facts, historical anecdotes, and a humorous look at how historical injuries were treated before modern science stepped in.
9. Trading Stories at Leadenhall Market
Age suitability: Ages 5–12
When: Saturday 19th September, 12:00–16:00
Where: Leadenhall Market, EC3V 1LT
Price: Free
Wander through one of London’s oldest covered markets and stumble into an immersive marketplace performance. Costumed actors and performers tell tales of historic merchants, trade routes, and ancient London life, turning a afternoon stroll into an interactive history lesson.
10. Open House: Royal Courts of Justice
Age suitability: Ages 7+
When: Saturday 19th September, 10:00–16:00
Where: Strand, WC2A 2LL
Price: Free
Part of the annual Open House Festival, this open day grants access to one of the UK’s most magnificent Victorian Gothic buildings. Families can explore working courtrooms, walk through grand vaulted halls, and learn about the legal system through special access points normally closed to the general public.
11. Pip and Posy Live on Stage
Age suitability: Ages 2–5
When: Saturday & Sunday, multiple showtimes
Where: Little Angel Theatre, Islington, N1 2DN
Price: Adults £16, Children (1–17) £14
Axel Scheffler’s popular book characters come to life on stage in an intimate puppet show tailored specifically for toddlers and young preschoolers. With gentle music, simple storylines, and a comfortable theatre layout, it serves as a stress-free introduction to live performance.
12. Straw-ctural Designers Workshop
Age suitability: Ages 6–12
When: Saturday 19th September, 10:00–17:00
Where: Open House Hub Location (Check Open City listings)
Price: Free
Budding architects can test their engineering skills in this drop-in construction challenge. Using simple paper straws and connectors, children are encouraged to build light, strong, and creative geometric structures, testing how high and sturdy their designs can go.
13. Family Creative Play at MOME
Age suitability: Ages 0–5
When: Sunday 20th September, 10:00–11:30
Where: Islington, N1
Price: Standard session pricing applies
This Islington play space offers sensory zones and structured play activities tailored to toddlers and early-years children. The dedicated Sunday morning sessions allow young children to explore texture, movement, and imaginative play in a calm, safe environment while parents relax nearby.
14. Hay! at Jacksons Lane
Age suitability: Ages 3+
When: Sunday 20th September, 11:00 & 14:00
Where: Archway Road, N6 5AA
Price: £10–£20 per person
A playful visual theatre show centered around rural life, nature, and countryside fun. Featuring physical comedy, music, and charming props, this gentle performance is designed to entertain younger audiences without feeling overwhelming.
15. The Pied Piper: A Rat's Tale
Age suitability: Ages 5+
When: Saturday & Sunday, various showtimes
Where: Little Angel Studios, Sebbon Street, N1 2EH
Price: Adults £16, Children £14
This fresh take on the classic fairytale uses imaginative puppetry to retell the story of the Pied Piper from the perspective of the rats. It is a humorous, energetic production ideal for early primary school children who enjoy inventive stagecraft and lively characters.
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