June 2025: What's on London with kids

In need of some June joy? This month, you’ll find free festivals packed with slime shows, sheep shearing and secret puppet parades. Brave bizarre ice cream flavours, celebrate 50 years of activist circus, or soak in fairy stories in the sunshine. Whether you're chasing sunbeams or stampeding wildebeest puppets, here’s your bumper guide to the best of London with kids this June.

Firstly though, a big thank you to everyone who bought me a Ko-fi or sent a kind message after last month’s two-year anniversary newsletter. Truly, your support means so much. Every bit of feedback and small act of generosity helps power me and this creative endeavour.

I’m stepping away from Instagram for a while as part of a digital detox, making space to focus on health, family and work. The app is off my phone for June, so I won’t be able to see or reply to messages there. The newsletter will continue as usual, and if you’re enjoying it, I’d love if you shared it with a friend. Thank you for reading and for being here.

June 2025: What’s on London with kids

1. London Festival of Architecture: This month-long celebration of architecture and city-making includes family-friendly highlights Tracking the Heritage: Family Trail, NW1 (8 June 2025, book); Art Park Launch Party, HA1 (12 June 2025, drop in); Picnic and Play with Matt+Fiona, NW1 (21 June 2025, drop in); Brentford Canal Festival, TW8 (21 June 2025, drop in); and Sym-biotic Voices at East London Waterworks Park, E5 (21 June 2025, book). 1-30 June 2025. Free.

2. London Design Biennale at Somerset House, WC2: Explore global design and bold ideas at this international festival of creativity. Wander through imaginative pavilions from every corner of the world, from Japan’s floating Paper Clouds to Istanbul’s scent-filled Soul of Seven Horizons. 5-29 June 2025. Paid.

3. London Gallery Weekend: Explore 130+ galleries across the capital in this free celebration of contemporary art and creativity. Family events run at Hauser & Wirth (7 June 2025), Larkin Durey (8 June 2025) and ai. (8 June 2025). 6-8 June 2025. Free, book family workshops.

4. Family Fun: Fairy Festival at Leighton House, W14: Inspired by Victorian fairy fever, enjoy enchanting fun in the museum’s garden. Forage to build your own tiny house, join in with magical crafts, listen to live harp music and enjoy storytelling with real fairies! 7 June 2025. Paid, booking recommended. Best ages 5-10.

5. The Ice Cream Project IV, SW1: With unique flavours ranging from McVitie’s Chocolate Hobnobs and Irn-Bru to Bisto Gravy this cult summer pop-up serves up frozen ice-creams and sorbets that slide from nostalgic to the downright daring. Go classic or brave the Jacob’s Twiglet! 7 June-16 August 2025. Expect queues, arrive early.

6. Luke Jerram's Helios: Step into the glow of a seven-metre sun sculpture as Helios tours National Trust and partner sites. Blending art and science, it invites families to reflect on nature, wonder and our place on in the solar system. Find it at Osterley Park and House, TW7 (6-10 June & 11-14 July 2025) and Downham, BR1 (19-22 June 2025). Free, drop in. You can also catch Museum of the Moon at West Norwood Cemetery.

7. World Ocean Day at National Maritime Museum, SE10: Dance with Polynesian performers, make puffin puppets, play ocean games, and meet manta ray scientists. Celebrate the grand reopening of Ocean Court and catch splashy science shows, climate talks, and live Latin jazz. 7 June 2025. Free, drop in.

8. Great Exhibition Road Festival, SW7: Science meets creativity at this jam-packed weekend of hands-on fun. From making butterfly wings for parades to slime explosion shows, VR journeys to cello-inspired dance, explore 70+ family-friendly exhibits, shows, workshops and tours. 7-8 June 2025. Free.

9. Barnet Medieval Festival at Lewis of London Ice Cream Farm: Step into the 15th century with 500+ re-enactors hosting live battles, crafts, Knight School (ages 5–14), and the ever-popular Kiddie Battle. 7-8 June 2025. Paid.

10. Lambeth Country Show: Celebrate community, nature and culture with sheep shearing, birds of prey and farm animal shows, jousting tournaments, and hands-on science activities and eco fun. Plus live music, food stalls, and the famous vegetable sculpture competition. 7-8 June 2025. Free, drop in.

11. The Play Pavilion in Kensington Gardens, W2: Incorporating LEGO bricks into its build, Sir Peter Cook’s curious pavilion promised new opportunities for collective and spontaneous acts of play. Keep a close eye on their calendar to see what they have scheduled. 11 June-10 August 2025. Free. Check out Marina Tabassum’s Serpentine Pavilion whilst you’re there.

12. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at Royal Opera House, WC2: Fall down the rabbit hole in Christopher Wheeldon’s dazzling take on Lewis Carroll’s classic, packed with curious characters, bold ballet and theatrical magic. 13-28 June 2025. Paid, book.

13. Refugee Week 2025: The world’s biggest arts and culture festival celebrating the creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary. Family highlights include Family Day with Stories & Supper - A Dream Home at William Morris Gallery, E17 (21 June 2025) and Threads of Joy and Community at V&A South Kensington, SW7 (21 June 2025). All free, drop in. Refugee Week runs 16-22 June 2025.

14. Francis Crick Discovery Day, NW1: Mix stem cell potions, take the super signallers challenge and discover your immune cell superpower in this packed day of pop-up science fun. Plus brain games, science magic shows and more. 21 June 2025. Free. Ages 6-11.

15. Windrush Day at National Maritime Museum, SE10: Play traditional board games with the Caribbean Social Forum, make boats and share stories with the Migration Museum, meet character actor Pearl Morris, and enjoy delicious Caribbean food on the lawn. 21 June 2025. Free, drop in.

16. Barnes Children’s Lit Festival: The UK’s largest children’s literature festival returns with over bookish 100 events! Meet top authors like David Walliams, Cressida Cowell and Axel Scheffler, plus lots of free free fun including hip-hop gardening shows, party games with Sharky & George, live music and crafty storytelling. 21-22 June 2025. Paid/free, book/drop in.

17. The Boy with Wings at Polka Theatre, SW19: Wings, aliens and a galaxy to save! This action-packed adventure based on Sir Lenny Henry’s book is a funny, fast-paced tale of bravery, friendship and finding your true power. 21 June-16 August 2025. Paid, book. Ages 7-12.

18. THE HERDS: Life-sized animal puppets by the creators of Little Amal stampede through London on a 20,000km journey. Highlights include a dramatic West End chase to Somerset House with surprise pop-ups from Matilda The Musical and the Royal Opera. Spot them breakfasting with schoolchildren, hunt wildebeest in Camden, or get creative in puppet-making workshops at Sadler’s Wells East, E20. 27-29 June 2025. Free, check website for exact timings.

19. Jackson Lane’s 50th Birthday Party, N6: Mark five decades of circus and community magic with a joyful day of parades, puppetry, pop-up shows, crafts, taster workshops, storytelling and live music. 28 June 2025. Free, book/drop in.

20. Kite Display 2025 at Parliament Hill, NW5: Watch the skies fill with dancing kites of every colour and shape. Enjoy synchronised flying displays set to music, family kite-flying zones, and panoramic views. 29 June 2025. Free, drop in.

The following events are on my book ahead radar:

1. Children's Puppet Festival 2025 at Little Angel Theatre, N1: Award-winning summer puppet fest returns with five weeks of magical shows, playful workshops and crafty Playcations for ages 2–11. Highlights include Shoe Baby, The Tortoise and the Firefly, Aussie kid-comedy Make You LOL!, plus bug puppets, seaside safaris and silly storytelling galore. 28 July-31 August 2025. Paid, book.

2. Halloween at Kew, TW9: Ghostly ghouls, glowing pumpkins and creepy cobwebs take over Kew after dark in this spook-tacular illuminated trail with live actors. Explore haunted woods, Frankenstein’s lab and a forgotten fairground, with scare levels from mild to wild. We really enjoyed it last year! 17 October-2 November 2025. Paid, book.

3. Fireside Tales at Wembley Park, HA9: A magical new immersive show by Punchdrunk. Step into a flickering world of lost stories and ember-bright imagination as you help bring a fading tale back to life. 6 December-4 January 2025. Paid, book. Pay what you can performances available. Ages 7-11.

And if you’re looking for arts without the ankle biters, here’s my picks for culturally curious grown-ups this month and beyond:

1. Design and Disability at V&A South Kensington, SW7: A powerful and joyful exhibition celebrating the contributions of Disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent communities to design, from prosthetics to carnival costumes and drag couture. Includes bold activism, radical fashion and visionary design from the 1940s to today. From 7 June 2025. Paid, book. Free entry with Universal Credit, find out more in my guide.

2. Yoshitomo Nara at Hayward Gallery, SE1: Step into the rebellious, emotional world of Yoshitomo Nara in this major retrospective, featuring over 150 paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations. Expect wide-eyed characters, punk spirit and poignant reflections on freedom, home and protest. 10 June-31 August 2025. Paid. Includes written swear words and depictions of activities, such as smoking and holding guns and knives. Pay What You Can session on 10 July 2025.

3. UK AIDS Memorial Quilt at Tate Modern, SE1: See the full UK AIDS Memorial Quilt on display in the Turbine Hall, honouring lives lost and raising awareness of the ongoing AIDS crisis. Includes a documentary screening and live readings with poetry and choral music. 12-16 June 2025. Free, drop in.

4. Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting at the National Gallery, WC2: The largest UK exhibition of Jenny Saville’s work to date. See 45 powerful paintings and drawings from across her career, from early nudes to bold new portraits. A raw, layered study of the human body and the act of painting itself. 20 June – 7 September 2025. Paid, book. Pay What You Can on Saturdays from 17.30 to 20.00.

Booked anything from this list? Hit reply and let me know what you think of these recommendations!

June 2025: What’s On for Under 5s

Here’s June’s highlights aimed at under fives:

1. Shoe Baby at Lyric Hammersmith, W6: A baby in a shoe sets off on a sing-along puppet adventure by sea, air and zoo, based on Joyce and Polly Dunbar’s beloved book. Meet the puppets and giant shoe after the show! 7 June 2025. Paid, book.

2. AHOY! Children’s Gallery at National Maritime Museum, SE10: This brilliant gallery for under-7s reopens with free, walk-up-only entry all weekend (7-8 June 2025). Clamber, haul and play your way through maritime-themed fun. Free on term-time weekdays, paid entry applies at weekends and holidays.

3. Bring Your Own Baby at Royal Albert Hall, SW7: This cheeky daytime gig lets new parents get their giggle back. Comedians Esther Manito, Matt Stellingwerf and Carly Smallman deliver the laughs while babes snooze, snack or squawk. 9 June 2025. Paid, book. Under 15 months.

4. Rhyme Time - Straw, Sticks and Bricks at New Barnet Library, EN4: From London Bridge to the Three Little Pigs, enjoy noisy storytelling linked to the London Festival of Architecture. 10 June 2025. Free, drop in.

5. Spaces and Bubbles Free Play at Museum of the Order of St John, EC1: Rediscover the magic of free play in this gentle sensory session with bubbles and space to roam. 11 June 2025. Free, book. Under 5s.

6. Early Years Studio: Movement and Motion at the Royal Academy, W1: Celebrate International Day of Play with a creative session exploring how things fly, roll, float, wiggle and spin. Led by artist Amy Leung. 11 June 2025. Free, drop in. Under 5s.

7. Story Time With Mama G at London Wetland Centre, SW13: Join Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Mama G for joyful, inclusive storytelling with songs, dancing and picture books that celebrate being yourself. 15 June 2025. Paid.

8. Kids at Keats - Peg Dolls at Keats House, NW3: Make your own tiny John Keats or Fanny Brawne peg doll, dressed in Regency style and ready for poetic play. With toys, books and creative fun for little hands. 19 June 2025. Paid, book. Ages 18 months-5 years.

9. Foundling Libraries: Play with textures, colours and ideas in a relaxed, creative hour led by a real-life artist. Chose from Newham (20 June & 4 July 2025) and Camden (27 June & 11 July 2025). Free, drop in. Under 5s.

10. Little Feet - Exhibition Explorer at British Museum, WC1: Use multisensory activities to uncover vibrant traditions, amazing objects and exciting tales from ancient India. Spot elephants, play traditional games and make art to take home. 26 June 2025. Free, book museum entry. Under 5s.

Spotted a fab play session for curious toddlers? Send it my way and help grow my directory.

There’s so much packed into this month’s main listings that I’m skipping the usual weekend round-up.

I’ll be back at the end of the month with my July What’s On Guide PLUS a Universal Credit post update, so keep an eye on your inbox.

Until then, happy adventuring - and may the sun stay out long enough for ice cream (even if it’s not Twiglet flavoured!)

Please check listings before heading out. Events can change or be cancelled at short notice; and, despite my best efforts, sometimes I make mistakes.