They say it takes a village to raise a child. But maybe it takes just a newsletter to entertain them. This week’s edition is packed with up to five free things you can do every day next week, plus some awesome events to check out for nowt this weekend.

How’s your summer going? It can be tricky to find activities to interest my might-as-well-be-a-teen. Anything deemed ‘too young’ is a no-no. So I’m relieved that the first full week of our summer holidays passed muster.

Museum Boy is desperate to start roller skating lessons after our fun afternoon at School’s Out! at Rollernation. The rescue animals in the kitten lounge at Java Whisker stole our hearts. Parliament Hill Lido was the perfect place to cool down in this scorching weather. And the week ended with a sure-fire winner - playing retro games in Power Up at Science Museum.

Let’s hope next week is as successful! I’m sharing photos of our days out over on my Instagram Stories.

Know someone who’d love some help finding fun activities? Forward this newsletter to a friend!

Free Summer Holiday Activities 2024: Week 2

Looking for some new activity ideas that won’t break the bank? I’ve got 5 free events a day lined up just for you.

I’ve let you know which other days they run, in case you can’t make the one I mention it on. Click the links for times and for tickets for those that need booking ahead.

Need more suggestions? Check out my ultimate Summer holiday guide with 160+ activities across London, complete with a map!

Daily drop-in:

1. UNIQLO Tate Play – Oscar Murillo, The Flooded Garden at Tate Modern, SE1. Until 26 August 2024.

2. Summer on the Square at Trafalgar Square, WC2. Until 1 September 2024.

3. Paint Room at Tate Britain, SW1. Until 1 September 2024.

4. Summer Holidays at National Maritime Museum, SE10. Different daily activities until 1 September 2024.

5. Taylor Swift Songbook Trail at V&A South Kensington, SW7. Until 8 September 2024.

Monday 5 August 2024

1. Summer Family Festival: Framing Faces at National Portrait Gallery, WC2: Hands-on activities inspired by colourful, patterned and textured portraits. Drop in, limited spaces on first come, first served basis. Runs 5-9 August 2024.

2. Storytelling with Paul Rubinstein at Summer on the Square, WC2: Take a journey through a Henri Rousseau painting. Drop in, places allocated on a first come, first served basis.

3. Flower Crafts with books at Victoria Library, SW1: Create flowers with recycled books. Book.

4. Storytelling with Peasoup: The Best Story Ever! at Costa Del Croydon, Centrale & Whitgift Shopping Centre, CR0: Help create the greatest story with Katie, Matthew and their trusty typewriter. Book/drop in.

5. Option 5 has sold out! So let me remind you of an event I featured last week that I had great feedback on. Summer of Play Sports Extravaganza at Morden Hall Park, SM4: Includes badminton, croquet and giant chess. Mondays (sports) and Wednesdays (crafts) until 28 August 2024. Drop in.

Tuesday 6 August 2024

1. Discovery Days: Meadow Madness at Hyde Park Learning Centre, W2: Mix seed balls, go meadow sweeping and make prints with plants and a mallet. Register interest. Runs 6-8 August 2024.

2. Kaleidoscope Family Day at Guildhall Museum and Art Gallery, EC2: Printmaking with handmade stamps, kaleidoscope-making, collage, and storytelling. Book.

3. Parachute Drop at National Army Museum, SW3: Create your own parachute and drop it behind enemy lines. Runs 6-9 August 2024.

4. Makendoo at Royal Docks Summer Splash, E16: Use paint, colouring and collage to make a pirate mask, a mermaid tiara or awesome underwater animals. Plus sandpit and lido. Runs 6-7 August 2024. Drop in.

5. Textile Flower Collage Workshop at Garden Museum, SE1: Inspired by their Ian Berry exhibition, repurpose scrap fabrics to make beautiful botanical collages. Drop in on first come, first served basis.

Wednesday 7 August 2024

1. National Playday at Young V&A, E2: Build playful structures and explore sound and space, play with artists in creative workshops, and fix old toys. Drop in.

2. Playday 2024 at Brunel Museum, SE16: Play meets STEAM with origami flowers, giant dominoes, bridge building, slime making, and more. Plus build a race car science show. Book.

3. Medieval Soap Making with Storytelling at Museum of the Order of St John, EC2: Using medicinal herbs from their garden, make your own medieval soap to take home! With storytelling. Book/drop in. Best ages 3-10.

4. Children’s Summer Fair at Fulham Palace, SW6: Recreate the iconic Strawberry Thief bird, make peg dolls and Victorian thaumatropes and more! Drop in.

5. Tots at the Docks - Sporty City at London Museum Docklands, E14: Tackle balance beams, take a tumble on soft play, or create your own Olympic torch. Drop in. Under 5s.

Thursday 8 August 2024

1. Our Street – The Curve Takeover at Barbican Centre, EC2: Today you can cut, paste, stick and play to create a brutalist-inspired paper playground. Or sing and play your way across Africa in an enchanting storytelling session. Different activities run 1-23 August 2024. Book/drop ins depending on capacity. Ages 5+.

2. Embroidery Wall Hangings with Tihara Smith at Somerset House, WC2: Create unique wall art inspired by Caribbean souvenirs, using fabric, drawing and sewing techniques. Older participants can try raffia embroidery. Drop in. Ages 5+.

3. Signs and Symbols Free Family Drop-In at Sir John Soane’s Museum, WC2: Inspired by Lina Iris Viktor's Mythic Time, create textured art with paint and gold crayons. Drop in.

4. Pond Explorers at Natural History Museum, SW7: Discover the different marvellous creatures living in their new pond. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until 1 September 2024. Drop in. Best ages 5+.

5. Nature Roadshow in Kensington Gardens, W2: Summery scavenger nature trail, mini-museum, story time, nature crafts and interactive games. Register/drop in. Also at Greenwich Park on 6-7 August 2024. Drop in.

Friday 9 August 2024

1. Digital and Design Workshops at V&A South Kensington, SW7: Today’s a good day to visit the V&A! Four family workshops are running: Super boots (runs every Friday until 6 September 2024); Cool Buildings! and Keeping Cool (runs 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 & 28-30 August 2024); and Map it! (runs 7-9 August 2024). Drop in.

2. Playtime at The Mosaic Rooms, SW5: Sensory play, curated objects, and activities designed with artist Sarah Marsh. Every Friday until 26 September 2024. Drop in. Under 5s, older children welcome.

3. Brew Your Own Tea at Chiswick House and Gardens, W4: Pick leaves and flowers from the Kitchen Garden and create your own, individually-blended herbal teabag. Drop in.

4. Wild Art Attack! in Railway Fields, N4: Blackberry painting, clay/mud art, and a hidden Andy Goldsworthy-style challenge in the woods. Book.

5. Happy Marlo Good Vibes Shake Awake! in Seething Lane Garden, EC3: A high-energy session with qigong self-massage, therapeutic shaking, and rhythmic boogies. Book. Ages 6-12 and their grown ups.

Had a great time at one of these events? Tag me in your posts on social media!

What’s free this weekend 3-4 August 2024

Finally, here’s more free events to see you through this weekend.

Click the links for more details, exact timings and any booking info before heading out.

1. The Big Weekender: Family Day at Tate Britain, SW1. 3 August 2024.

2. Immersive Arcade Street Party with Hunt & Darton at Our Street, Barbican Centre, EC2. 3 August 2024. Ages 10+.

3. Hip Hop Games at Stratford Waterfront, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, E20. 3 August 2024.

4. Street Food Saturdays at Greenford Quay, UB6. 3 August 2024.

5. Summer Celebration 2024 at Meridian One Community Garden, N18. 3 August 2024.

6. The Clocktower Festival at Caledonian Park, N7. 4 August 2024.

7. AFC Wimbledon Season Launch Event in Wimbledon Quarter, SW19. 4 August 2024.

I’ll be back next week with more free activities for week 3 of the holidays.

Until then, stay cool!

Bye for now,

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