Kids

Coin Street Festival: Colombianamente
July 20 FREE
Musicians, actors, circus performers, dancers, marching bands and visual artists plus craft, food and drink stalls bring Colombia to the South Bank. There are also family creative workshops, and things wrap up with a carnival procession.
Colombianamente, Bernie Spain Gardens (next to Oxo Tower Wharf), South Bank, SE1 9PH (020 7401 2255/www.coinstreetfestival.org). Southwark tube/Waterloo tube/rail. Free. Feature continues

Watch This Space: Kamchatka © Santi Cogolludo

Watch This Space Festival
July 4-September 28 FREE
Free program of outdoor entertainment in the National Theatre’s front garden. This year features over 200 events including international street theatre, bands, club nights, dance, and cabaret as well as the chance to see some world premieres of specially commissioned new drama. See website for a full program of events.
Watch This Space Festival, National Theatre Square, South Bank, SE1 (020 7452 3400/www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/wts) Waterloo tube/rail.

Innocent Village Fete
August 2-3
'Better than staying home and watching Columbo' says the ubiquitous smoothie brand who take over Regent’s Park for the fifth year running with another two-day family-friendly mini-fest. James Taylor Quartet head up the live music 'action', there's a large farmers’ market (stalls from Borough Market) and plenty of activities for kids including funfair rides, welly wanging and an arts and crafts area.
Innocent Village Fete, Regent's Park, (www.innocentvillagefete.com) Great Portland Street or Baker Street tube. 11am-7pm; adults £7.50, kids £3.50.

Underage Festival
August 8
Second year in the authentic East End for this 14-under-19s, booze-free festival. Top draws this year are Foals, Gallows, The Horrors, Operator Please and a host of like-minded New Era-toting types.
Underage Festival, Victoria Park, E9 (www.underagefestivals.com) Mile End tube/Hackney Wick rail. Doors 11am; £23, 14-18s only (including 18-year-olds).

Free Time
August 15-18 FREE
Four days of circus-inspired events with performances, participatory activities, galleries and trails tailor-made for children and their families, in the splendid surroundings of Somerset House.
Free Time, Somerset House, Strand, WC2R (020 7845 4600/www.somersethouse.org.uk) Temple tube or Charing Cross tube/rail.

Notting Hill Carnival
August 24-25 FREE
Notting Hill Carnival is second only to Rio’s Mardi Gras in terms of sheer scale. Sunday is traditionally children’s day: the crowds are (a bit) smaller, the performers and parade more family-orientated. Masquerades, decorative floats, steel bands, stalls selling pretty much anything, and people. A lot of people.
Notting Hill Carnival, Notting Hill, W10, W11 (www.nottinghillcarnival.biz). Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill Gate & Westbourne Park tube.

Thames Festival