The summer holidays are in full swing, and as most parents know, while it’s a great time to make treasured family memories, it can also be a bit of a struggle making sure that little ones stay entertained for the whole six-week stretch. Not every day can be ice-creams and sandcastles, after all…
Fortunately, Art of London – which showcases a creative city brimming with inspiration – is lending a hand this summer. Until August 30, families (including kids small and big) can enjoy an art trail like no other, which leads visitors through some of the capital’s most iconic locations.
Mr Doodle’s Doodle Discovery Art Trail from Art of London spans Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and St James’s Market, where you’ll find weird and wonderful two-metre sculptures – from colourful doodles to monochromatic black-and-white designs – each celebrating a different aspect of the area where it’s found. The theatre-inspired version on Piccadilly Circus might just be a personal fave, though.
There are countless reasons to join the arty fun on the trail this summer – but here are our five favourites…
We know parents are always looking for free – and fun! – things to do with their little ones. Luckily, the Doodle Discovery Art Trail in the West End is open to anyone, free of charge, at all times – your family can enjoy spotting all five sculptures and Mr Doodle’s West End Wall, without breaking the bank.
Screens can be a blessing and a curse – and over the summer, a healthy mix of screen time and other activities can only be a welcome thing. According to recent research from Arts Council England, 75% of parents say visits to museums and galleries are important for family bonding and recreation, so what better way to do it than getting out into London's West End? The Doodle Discovery trail is the perfect chance to see art like no other, and leave the tablets at home, in favour of some excellent hands-on fun – with a bit of sightseeing thrown in to boot.
London is one of the world’s greatest art cities, full of galleries from the Royal Academy of Arts to the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, all of which are free to enter. The Doodle Discovery trail is a fun, accessible way to get little ones interested – maybe it’ll even inspire them to get creative once they’re at home? If they’re more into theatre, then Kids Week from Official London Theatre, where children go free when accompanied by an adult, is the perfect time to stoke their interest.
Over the summer holidays, West End restaurants like Jamie’s Italian, Farzi London, Prezzo, Chipotle and Masala Zone are all offering Kids Eat Free offers, while the likes of San Carlo and Hard Rock Cafe have special summer menus just for little ones, so treating everyone to lunch after a big day of art should be as easy as pie. Or hamburgers, or pasta or whatever you fancy, really.
Throughout the trail, each sculpture features a QR code linking to a digital map, there is also the chance to enter a giveaway. Visitors who scan every code and complete the trail can enter a competition to win a day out in the West End with different activities up for grabs. You’ve got to be in it to win it, as they say.