The monthly round up is in! 20 exciting things to do in East London with kids. Find your fun this August
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1 Screen on the Canal
Enjoy a family film on the canalside steps of Granary Square – a great combo with the fountains. With more than 150 films to choose from including blockbuster bangers, family favourites and cult classics there will be something for everyone. A lovely way to relax into a summer’s evening. No need to book. I recommend getting one of those sofas that you fill with wind that looks like squishy lips. So comfy! Don’t forget the popcorn and bottle of rose!
1st July- 18th August 2024
Granary Square
FREE
2 Ricochets
Ricochets, a new immersive exhibition, celebrates the universality and creativity of play. For two decades, artist Alÿs has travelled the world filming the series Children’s Games, capturing scenes from ‘musical chairs’ in Mexico to ‘leapfrog’ in Iraq, ‘jump rope’ in Hong Kong, and ‘wolf and lamb’ in Afghanistan. Ricochets transforms the Barbican gallery into a cinematic playground with multi-screen film installations. Visitors will experience children’s games globally and view new animated films showcasing traditional and lesser-known hand games played by both children and adults.
Thursday 27th June to Sunday 1st September 2024 various times
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
Over 14s £13 – Under 14s FREE
3 Children’s Puppet Festival
Little Angel Theatre’s Offie award winning puppet festival is back! Offering families the chance to see so many charming and creative performances. The vibrant programme will showcase a broad range of puppetry by the most exciting UK and international companies currently making theatre for young audiences. Families get 10% off for 2 event bookings and 20% off for 3 event bookings. There are shows for children from 6 months to 11 years and some really cool creative puppet making camps and family workshops too.
2nd August – 1st September 2024, check their programme for times and dates
Little Angel Theatre,14 Dagmar Passage, London N1 2DN
Shows are £14 for adults, £12 for kids with discounts for multiple bookings, Workshops from £9.50
4 Our Street, The Curve Takeover
Play takes over a London neighbourhood as The Curve becomes Our Street, an imaginative space filled with fun games. Enjoy hopscotch, hula-hooping, board games, and crafting—perfect for making new friends and rediscovering classic games. Designed by West Port Architects with local children and artists, this creative pop-up will ignite your imagination. Throughout the month, enjoy a variety of events including creative workshops, and street parties, in collaboration with vibrant community partners. 5+ for general entry.
1st – 23rd August 2024, Everyday
The Curve is located on Level G, Silk Street entrance ramp, opposite the Barbican Shop
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
FREE but advised to book in advance
5 Terrible Thames Tour
Not for the faint-hearted, this gruesome cruisesome of the Thames from the Horrible Histories team will have the kids in stitches. You’ll probably learn a few things too!London’s most awesome tour departs from Tower Bridge Quay on a fantasticjourney incorporatingimmersive theatre with theincredible history of the nation’s capital.
Daily sailings
Tower Bridge
£15- 25 On-peak and off-peak prices £60-70 family ticket
6 Trailblazers : Women at the Tower of London
This Summer, travel back and time and learn more abou the “her”story of the Tower of London. Discover five female trailblazers who have left an indelible mark on the Tower’s history, even though their names are seldom found in history books. Join Poet Phillis Wheatley on a guided tour outside the Raven Cages and learn about some remarkable women on a fun, entertaining quest to ensure their stories are recognized in the guidebooks before the Tower closes for the day. Keep an eye out for change makers like Tudor servant Catalina of Motril, Suffragette Leonora Cohen, and delve into their inspiring stories as you explore the Tower.
Until the 1st of September, 20 minutes long at 11:30 and 14:30, an additional peformance at 1pm on weekends
Tower of London
£34.80 adults, £17.40 children. Under 4s free. Entry to the attraction is £1 for Tower Hamlets residents with a library card or Adult £13.40, Child £6.70
7 Play Day at the Brunel Museum
Enjoy a day of STEAM activities for families, including origami flowers, giant dominoes, bridge building, slime making, and more. In collaboration with Bizzie Bodies CIC, this event offers innovative and interactive experiences for children aged 5 and up. Science presenter Fran Scott will captivate audiences with a dynamic show based on her book ‘How to Build a Racing Car,’ exploring racing engineering. The show runs from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM; booking is required for the show but the rest of the event is free. Bring a picnic to enjoy at the Museum Piazza and Garden.
Wednesday 7th Augut 2024, 10 am – 2 pm
The Brunel Museum
Free
8 National Playday at Young V&A
Join a day of creative play at Young V&A with artists Yuri Suzuki and Shepherd Manyika in their workshops, revive your toys at our toy surgery with Play it Again, and meet young designers from Kingston School of Art. Enjoy outdoor play with community partner Well One and a DJ set by Yuri Suzuki using a sound system by Very Very Far Away. Build playful structures, explore sound and space, and contribute to a live Young V&A playlist. Engage in active play, fix old toys, and join design workshops. Open to all ages.
Wednesday 7th August 12:00 to 3:30 PM
Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9PA
FREE
9 Craig & Karl Minigolf
Craig and Karl mini golf is back in Montgomery Square. A unique and vibrant mini-golf course, perfect for a free day out with the kids. Visit the stewards for clubs and balls for all ages and abilities with SEN sessions on some Saturday afternoons. Pair with a tour of Paws on the Wharf and see how many dog sculptures you can find. Our pups loved it!
Every day until 29th September 2024, 12 pm – 6 pm
Montgomery Square, Canary Wharf, London
FREE
10 The Centre of the Cell
This incredible East London institution is only open during the school holidays and well worth a visit if you haven’t been yet. From Mummy for Melissa (5th August), a story telling session all about DNA for ages 4-7 to the Be a Scientist & Stem Pod Experience for ages 8-14, this is a day to ignite the enquiring mind and encourage curiosity about our bodies and science. This summer there will also be the opportunity to Meet a Scientist (16th August) for young people ages 14+.
Be a Scientist & Stem Pod Experience 7th – 14th August Various days and times – other event timings listed above.
Signature Brewery, Unit 15 Uplands Business Park Blackhorse Lane London E17 5QJ
Adults £10 (TH residents £7 with ID), Children £7
11 Alfresco Arts: Family series
Canary Wharf’s Alfresco Arts: Family series continues with family theatre, and workshops to keep kids in East London entertained this summer. Dive into an Olympic themed Fun for Fingers and Finger Sports (Sat 3rd), an interactive workshop where children and families can wriggle, skip, and twirl their fingers in hilarious games and create their own finger puppets to take home. Experience a seaside adventure with our vivacious Victorian paddlers in The Big Dippers (18th), a 30-minute slapstick show filled with summertime fun, swimwear antics, and shark-avoiding hi-jinks. Most events are free, but some are ticketed; check individual listings for details.
There is also Family Gaming, Film Club and Olympics on the Summer Screens and Kids Table will join lots of Canary Wharf restaurants so you can enjoy more continuous conversations.
Saturday 3rd and Sunday 18th, various times
Jubilee Park
FREE
12 Monster Funfair
Discover’s new immersive family adventure will take visitors through a fantastical circus tent and into the woods. In amongst the trees, you’ll find an amazing, marvellous, EXTRAORDINARY… Monster Funfair! Created with the award-winning Nadia Shireen, this magical world also has a fairground mystery to solve – just who has stolen ALL the candyfloss?
From the 20th July 2024
Discover Children’s Story Centre, 383-387 High Street, Stratford, London E15 4QZ
Tickets £5 and up
13 Royal Docks Summer Splash
If you’re looking for a place to cool down this summer, head to the Royal Docks lido. Expect deck chairs, a giant sand pit, food and drink, as well as plenty of entertainment and iconic city views. Their lido features a shallow end for children. And older kids and adults can enjoy open water swimming and a raft of other water-based activities for the more adventurous. Visit Tuesday – Thursday for performances, arts and crafts, storytelling and more. Children 8 years and under must be accompanied by an adults.
Saturday 27th July until 18th August
Royal Victoria Dock (next to City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1ZE)
Free
14 Kinetica Bloco
The culmination of a 10 day summer school, 150 young and talented people invite you to experience the concept of Ubuntu – that I am because we are. With music, dance and costume influenced by the vibrant culture of Cape Town and its surrounding areas, families can expect a brilliant celebration of the healing power of music. If the weather is fine, have a splash in the Joseph Heinnes Disappearing Rooms
Friday 23rd August 2024 7 pm
Royal Festival Hall
FREE
15 Walthamstow-On-Sea
Feel the sand between your toes and enjoy a classic beach holiday day without leaving East London. Who wants to swim in the English Channel these days anyways! Walthamstow-on-Sea brings seaside fun to Blackhorse Road for the summer. Enjoy a classic British beach vibe with beach huts, deckchairs, and vintage styles. The Big Penny Social beach bar offers draft beer, frozen co*cktails, soft serve ice cream, pizza, fish and chips, penny sweets, and postcards to send home. For added luxury, rent a beach hut for four for just £5 extra at checkout.
Friday – Sunday all summer long
Big Penny Social, 1 Priestley Way, London, E17 6AL
£4 per person
16 Summer by the River
London Bridge City annual Summer event returns with a lineup of major sports screenings, Live Music and family-friendly films. It’s free to attend and there’s co*cktails and street food so you can relax and be entertained in a stunning setting by the Thames. August highlights include a Bob Marley revival tribute band, Remix dance Children’s Community Dance Show, an Elemental screening, a FIYA House Hip Hop weekender Family day including dance crews and DJs perfect for tweens and teens and London’s Got Talent. Sports fans will love the Wimbledon and Olympics screenings and every drink you buy at the popup bars includes a donation toBankside Open Spaces Trust.
All summer 2024 various times and dates
The Scoop at More, London SE1 2AA
FREE
17 The Paddington Bear™ Experience
Join Paddington and the Brown Family in preparing for the Marmalade Day Festival. Start your adventure at Paddington Station, hop aboard a full-sized train carriage, and explore London’s sights and sounds. Venture to No. 32 Windsor Gardens to explore multiple rooms and journey to Peru’s magical jungle. Celebrate at the Marmalade Day Festival with vibrant music, fairground games, and delicious treats, including Paddington’s favorite Marmalade sandwich! Capture memories with photos alongside Paddington. The Paddington Bear™ Experience and Marmalade Day Festival promise family fun for all ages.
Opened 31st May 2024
Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB
Adults £29, Children ages 2+ £19
18 Turning Tides Festival
See some of your favourite artists for free at Turning Tides Music Festival. From Big Fish Little Fish – a chance to share the excitement of a rave with grandparents, parents and children alike – to the electronic afro-funk stylings of Ibibio Sound Machine, there’s something for everyone at Turning Tides Festival in Greenwich. Check out the minigolf while you are there!
Saturday 10th August 2024 BFLF from 1:30 pm
Greenwich Peninsula
Free
19 Greenwich and Docklands International Festival
The GDIF returns this August to wow and entertain us with FREEoutdoor theatre, dance, circus and installations.! Always full of the most awe inspiring jaw dropping acts and spectacular spectacles, get stuck into their programme and start making plans as soon as possible. Be warned, although it is free, anything ticketed tends to go very quickly. The good news is that there are plenty of events that aren’t ticketed.
Friday 23rd August – 8th September 2024 various times
Various locations
Free
20 Family Fun Day
As Tower Hamlets Council rolls out their Family Hubs, Summer fun is springing up all over the borough. Expect good clean community fun with bouncy castles, go karts, mechanical bulls and information about resources available for families in the borough. Meath Gardens, Victoria Park, Whitehorse Open Space , and Bartlett Park
Wednesdays 31st July until 14th August 2024, various times
Free
Looking for places to cool down near East London? Check out our round up of places to swim near East London
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Whats on this week!
Kidwise Summer Camp
Centre of the Cell Summer holiday events
Tower Kids After School Club
Pregnancy Yoga, Bethnal Green
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