May 2025: What's on London with kids

London is bursting with the brilliant and the bizarre this May. Meet Mr Punch, clamber aboard bunting-decked barges, and go bug-hunting in a Magnificent Seven cemetery. Snap celery, shake gloves, and create wild sound effects at a DIY punk playground. Grab a hammer and help build a giant Moominhouse. There are steam engines to drive, magical trees to wake up, and even a canine circus to enjoy. Scroll on for this month’s quirkiest family fun - plus a few cultural treats for grown-ups too.

There’s no April round-up this time. Time got away from me, plus I haven’t heard anyone say they are missing it. If you want to know what the museum family gets up to, follow my Instagram stories or reply to tell me and I will share more next time.

London’s best family-friendly museum days, theatre shows, and cultural outings – curated for busy parents. If you love this newsletter, so will your friends. Hit forward.

This newsletter is two-riffic!

Two years ago this April, with sweaty palms and my heart thumping, I pressed ‘send’ on the very first Museum Mum newsletter. Since then, I’ve shared 47 editions, spotlighted nearly 1,800 events across 280+ brilliant venues - and 70% of those events were completely free!

A heartfelt thank you for trusting me to guide your adventures, and for all your kind messages. Big love too to Beano and National Trust London for backing this wild and wonderful ride by sponsoring a newsletter this year.

Here’s an awkward truth: every month it takes me around 10 hours of work and $75 in hosting fees just to keep this newsletter going. I’d love to cover my costs, and even earn something back. But I still want to keep it free, so here’s how you can help:

• Share the newsletter with friends, school groups, parenting circles or anyone looking for London adventures.

• Tag @museummum on Instagram - your posts help me grow and find more lovely readers.

• Buy me a Ko-Fi, if you can - decaf oat latte, please and thank you!

• Work for an organisation that loves families? Let’s talk sponsorship - just hit reply.

Thank you for being part of this growing community, and here’s to another year of discovering London’s family gems together!

May 2025: What’s on London with kids

If the next half term already feels like it’s racing towards you, don’t worry - I’m busy updating my May half term post with the latest family events, and I’ll send a special half term newsletter closer to the time.

In the meantime, here are brilliant family activities across the month:

1. The Genesis Exhibition - Do Ho Suh - Walk the House at Tate Modern, SE1: Wander through dreamlike fabric hallways and life-sized homes. Do Ho Suh’s bold installations, videos and drawings explore memory, identity and what home really means. 1 May–19 October 2025. Paid, book. £5 Universal Credit tickets available.

2. IWA Canal Cavalcade: Boats, bands and bunting sail into Little Venice! London’s waterway comes to life with a colourful boat parade, live music, a kids’ fun zone, tasty food and more. 3–5 May 2025. Free, drop in.

3. 2025 Steam Gala at Ruislip Lido Railway, HA4: Ride behind visiting engines Victoria and Christopher, hop in display locos, and drive one yourself for a fiver! 3–5 May 2025. Paid, book.

4. Of the Oak at Kew Gardens, TW9: Stand before a six-metre digital oak by Marshmallow Laser Feast and interact with its rhythms, revealing the hidden life of trees. Combine with The Power of Trees exhibition and a play in the Children’s Garden to make a day out of it. 3 May–28 September 2025. Included with paid entry. £1 Universal Credit tickets available.

5. VE Day 80: Party like it’s 1945 at VE Day at the Headstone Manor with maypole, crafts, fairground rides and more (5 May 2025, paid). There’s more family fun at Imperial War Museum (5 May 2025, free), Battle of Britain Bunker (5 May 2025, paid), Ravenscourt Park (10 May 2025, free), RAF Museum (10 May 2025, free), and The Guards Museum (10 May 2025, paid).

6. Birthday Weekend at Tate Modern, SE1: Celebrate Tate Modern’s 25th birthday! Sunday 11 May is the best day for families, with DJ sets by House of Dad and touchable exhibits at the Mini Museum. Across the weekend, there’s also art-making at UNIQLO Tate Play, Family Tours, Art Chit Chats, and height-marking in the Turbine Hall. 9–12 May 2025. Free, drop in/book.

7. Dulwich Festival returns! Its free family-friendly events include Kingswood Arts Family Fun Day (10 May 2025), Giant Teddy Bears’ Picnic (11 May 2025), Dulwich Picture Gallery Open Days (11 & 18 May 2025), and Goose Green Fair (18 May 2025). Festival runs 9–18 May 2025.

8. Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival at St Paul’s Church, WC2: Join the brass band parade and see Punch & Judy shows from world-famous puppeteers. Plus a special church service by Mr Punch, more puppet shows and maypole dancing. 11 May 2025. Free, drop in.

9. The Green Meet at Fulham Palace, SW6: Celebrate nature with eco-friendly fun including wormery storytelling, mini beasts hunts, birdwatching walks, and gong baths. Shop the green market, play garden games, and try zorbing in the walled garden. 11 May 2025. Paid, mix book/drop in.

10. Story Explorers: A journey through imaginary worlds at the British Library, NW1: Explore space, jungle and ocean worlds in this hands-on adventure with strange library treasures like alien zines, ancient objects and a giant furry octopus. 16 May 2025–18 January 2026. Free, book. Ages 2-9.

11. Popcorn! at Whitechapel Gallery, E1: Step into Jenny Pengilly’s DIY punk playground of sound. Inspired by Foley artists, kids can snap celery, shake gloves, and record wild effects in Static Studios. 15 May–21 September 2025. Free, drop in.

12. Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? at Natural History Museum, SW7: Touch Mars, hold the Moon, design your own space mission, and see what scientists believe could be out there. 16 May 2025–22 February 2026. Paid, book. Best ages 8+.

13. FONC Open Day at Nunhead Cemetery, SE15: Go bug hunting with expert Bugman Jones, make your own badge, meet animals from Surrey Docks Farm, and watch a Victorian hearse parade. Plus face painting, live choirs, Morris dancing and secret crypt tours. 17 May 2025. Free, drop in.

14. Urban Village Fete at Greenwich Peninsula, SE10: A joyful mash-up of Gilles Peterson DJ sets, soul choirs and charity shop DJs alongside giant walking slinkies, hat-making, canine circus, street food, and more. Play wheelchair basketball, mix herbal teas, swap books and print your own souvenirs. 18 May 2025. Free, drop in. Some paid/book activities.

15. Chelsea in Bloom: London’s largest free-to-attend festival of flowers has a ‘Flowers in Fashion’ theme. 19–25 May 2025. Free, drop in. For more floral artwork without the crowds, head to Belgravia in Bloom, 19–26 May 2025.

16. Family Takeover Day at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, NW1: Alfresco fun with Comedy Club 4 Kids, Bach to Baby flute concert, hip hop party Fly-Kid, giant origami city, and recycled construction with Play Build Play. 25 May 2025. Paid, book.

17. Moomin 80: Play, Make, Dream at Southbank Centre, SE1: Help Woodland Tribe build and decorate a giant Moominhouse with hammers, paint and imagination. 28 May–1 June 2025. Free, book. Tickets released 20 May 2025. Part of the Moomin 80th anniversary celebrations, including artists-led workshops and a one-day festival on 1 June 2025.

18. Leonardo Drew: Ubiquity II at South London Gallery, SE5: Splintered wood erupts in Drew’s first London solo show. Expect a raw, immersive installation evoking storms, ruin and renewal. 30 May–7 September 2025. Free, drop in. Combine with one of their monthly Family Sundays.

19. V&A Families Festival at V&A Museum, SW7: Make, create, boogie, and imagine at this joyful, storytelling-packed family festival. Full line-up coming soon. 31 May 2025. Free, drop in.

20. The Enchanted Cinema: Ghibli’s Forest at the Royal Albert Hall, SW7: Become part of a magical orchestra. Bang turtle drums and strum lyre harps as you create live sound effects for favourite scenes from Studio Ghibli films The Red Turtle and My Neighbour Totoro. 27 May 2025. Paid, book. Ages 4+

The following events are on my book ahead radar:

1. I Want My Hat Back Trilogy at Polka Theatre, SW19: Jon Klassen’s beloved books come to life with cardboard sets, hilarious storytelling and favourite characters including Bear, Little Fish and the Turtles. 9 July–10 August 2025. Paid, book. Ages 3-8.

2. Family Friendly Concert at Royal College of Music, SW7: Time travel from medieval chants to Kurt Cobain with storytelling, live music and object handling. 15 August 2025. Paid, book. Tickets available from 10:00 on 30 April 2025. Ages 5+.

3. Public Night Voyage on The Golden Hinde, SE1: Join the crew for a night of sword skills, fire drills and secret missions before bedding down on deck. 23 August 2025. Paid, book. Enter code EARLYBIRD2025 for a 25% discount if booked before 1 May 2025. Ages 5-10, adults must accompany.

4. Paddington the Musical at Savoy Theatre, WC2: Follow Paddington’s journey from Peru to London in the world premiere of this family musical, with songs by Tom Fletcher. Opens 1 November 2025. Paid, book. Priority booking from 13 May.

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. The Tower Remembers 2025 at the Tower of London, EC3: 30,000 ceramic poppies return to spill across the Tower’s lawns, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War with a moving tribute to sacrifice and resilience. 6 May–11 November 2025. Paid.

2. CC Land - the Wonder of Art at the National Gallery, WC2: This landmark rehang takes a reimagined journey through 1,000 of the Gallery’s treasures, from medieval masterpieces to the brilliance of Monet, Rembrandt and Van Gogh. From 10 May 2025. Free.

3. Heiress - Sargent’s American Portraits at Kenwood House, NW3: The secrets, ambition and glamour of the Gilded Age is revealed through Sargent’s dazzling paintings of American heiresses who traded fortunes for British titles. 16 May–5 October 2025. Paid, book.

4. Unsilenced: Sexual violence in conflict at Imperial War Museum, SE1: Powerful stories, harrowing testimonies and artworks shine a light on sexual violence in war, aiming to empower survivors, inform visitors and inspire meaningful change. 23 May–2 November 2025. Free. Ages 16+.

5. Kurt Cobain Unplugged at Royal College of Music London, SW7: See Cobain’s battered Martin guitar and green cardigan together at last after that MTV Unplugged set, and explore Nirvana’s lasting impact on music. 3 June–18 November 2025. Paid, book. Booking opens 30 April 2025.

Been there, done that? I want to hear all about it - hit reply or tag me on Instagram! I use your feedback to help me decide what to feature in future newsletters.

May 2025: What’s On for Under 5s

Here’s what May has in store, just for mini movers and curious minds under 5:

1. Design Baby: Sculpt and Play at V&A Museum, SW7: Play with trollies, push soft pom-poms through holes, build shapes and bend twisty tubes and more  in this child-led creative session exploring sculptures. 7 May 2025. Free, book. Ages 0-3. Tickets available from 10.00 on Wednesday, 30 April 2025.

2. Storytelling and Music Sessions at the Royal Albert Hall, SW7: Interact with your little one with songs, movements, musical instruments and tales led by seasoned storytellers Paul Rubinstein and Becky Dixon. 7, 8, 20, 22 & 27–29 May 2025. Paid, book. £1 tickets available. Ages 0–4.

3. Baby Knees Up - VE Day Special at Woolwich Works, SE18: Wave your flags, march to the music and sing along to family favourites and wartime classics at this jolly knees-up, led by Cockney showman Tom Carradine. Expect bubbles, banter and plenty of interactive fun. 9 May 2025. Paid, book.

4. Bring Your Baby Pub Quiz at Big Penny Social, E17: A relaxed daytime quiz with prizes for the grown-ups! Start with the picture round, then ease into five more rounds with breaks for naps, feeds and chats. There is no rush if you arrive late as questions are repeated. 9 May 2025. Paid, book.

5. Let’s Build! at Polka Theatre, SW19: A playful, hands-on show where two curious builders explore textures, objects and materials, transforming them into wonderful creations that come to life. 10 May–29 June 2025. Paid, book. Ages 2-5.

6. Storytelling and Music with Paul Rubinstein at Museum of the Order of St John, EC1: A fun-filled, interactive journey accompanied by live music, movement and singing at this super-friendly hidden gem. 14 May 2025. Free, book. Under 5s.

7. Early Years Studio: Paper at Royal Academy of Arts, W1: Scrunch, pulp, shred or make paper from scratch in this artist-designed but child-led play session. 21 May 2025. Free, drop in. Arrive early - spaces fill fast! Under 5s.

8. Commons: Mini Movers and their Grown up Groovers at Stanley Arts, SE25: Dance, wiggle and move together in this joyful family workshop using props and drawing. 25 May 2025. Paid, book. Ages 12 months–4 years.

9. Second Hand Dance: The sticky dance at Sadler’s Wells East, E20: Shimmy, weave and play in a colourful world of sticky tape and dance in this interactive mix of performance and play. 29-30 May 2025. Paid, book. Ages 3–5.

10. The Elmer Adventure at Rose Theatre, KT1: Join three friends on a joyful jungle adventure in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the much-loved Elmer books by David McKee. With toe-tapping tunes, playful puppetry and happy humour. 28 May–1 June 2025. Paid, book.

Here’s my comprehensive directory of cultural Under 5s play sessions.

Weekend events 26-27 April 2025

Still stuck for this weekend? These last-minute ideas have you covered - check the links for all the info!

1. Family Day - Make a Morris at William Morris Gallery, E17. 26 April 2025.

2. Family Event: Badge Cafe at the Grant Museum of Zoology, WC1. 26 April 2025.

3. Art Party at Grand Junction, W2. 26 April 2025.

4. The Regent’s Park Nature Day, NW1. 26 April 2025.

5. Books in the Park at Beckenham Place Park, BR3. 26 April 2025.

6. Classic Car Boot Sale in Granary Square, N1. 26–27 April 2025.

7. Earth Day for Families at the Garden Museum, SE1. 27 April 2025.

8. City Nature Challenge at Chelsea Physic Garden, SW3. 27 April 2025.

9. Wifi Wars at Stanley Arts, SE25. 27 April 2025.

I hope to be back with a May half term guide in a couple of weeks.

Until then, have a great month!

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