The best things to do with kids during the school summer holidays in London

What is it? Dog Man: The Musical is, of course, an all-singing stage adpatation of Dav Pilkey’s beloved graphic novels about a police officer whose head is indeed replaced with that of a dog, making for a somwhat improbable crimefighter whose chief nemesis is Petey, a villainous cat. It’s not the most obvious subject for a musical, but this transferring off-Broadway adaptation of the first three books is by all accounts very nicely done indeed.

Where is it? Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre.

What is it? For 10 years now the London Transport Museum has been hosting tours into some of our city’s most impressive abandoned underground structures, including its End of the Line trips to Aldwych tube station. This summer the LTM is offering a new tour of the disused station specifically aimed at 10 to 14-year-olds. It’s the same deal as the 'adult’ tour but tweaked to make it more engaging and a bit more exciting, with the addition of riddles, challenges and other hands-on elements.

Where is it? Aldwych tube station in Surrey St (advance booking essential).

What is it? Now 100 and not out, you can still celebrate David Attenborough’s centenary year via this moving immersive film about the evolution and future of humanity. It’s not quite as spectacular as his fully fledged nature docs, but it’s powerful stuff, given added bite by the immersive staging, and the sense it’s meant to be Sir David’s message to humanity after he’s gone. It closes at the end of August.

Where is it? Natural History Museum.

What is it? Kew Gardens is a day out all in itself, but to really make your trip special, why not take in one of the three theatre shows the Australian Shakespeare Company is running there this summer? For younger audiences there are daytime performances of The Wind in the Willows and Jack and the Beanstalk, and the evening production of Twelfth Night isn’t a bad shout for teens. Tickets include admission to Kew and for the kids’ shows the price difference between a regular Kew ticket is negligible.

Where is it? Kew Gardens, Jul 18-Aug 30.

What is it? Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience is a new a 40-minute free-roaming VR experience that will take you into the deepest and most spectacular parts of the galaxy. We’re told you will ‘witness the birth and death of stars, explore distant galaxies, and come face-to-face with a black hole’. Like the Science Museum’s Wonderlab and IMAX you’ll have to pay to see it, but it does sound worth it. The age advice is 10-plus. See you in space!

Where is it? Science Museum.

What is it? Disney’s latest stage musical wasn’t a Lion King-grade triumph but it was a perfectly solid adaptation of the culty ’90s film. You’ve got one last summer to catch it before it leaves town.

Where is it? Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

What is it? Closed since the start of the year for a major refurb and overhaul, London’s dedicated Children’s Story Centre is a colourful gallery inspired by kids’ books, with special exhibitions and events linked to favourite authors and illustrators. We’re not quite sure what the new-look version will look like – we’re assuming pretty different – but it reopens at the end of June, in plenty of time for the holidays.

Where is it? Discover Children’s Story Centre, Stratford.

What is it? London’s newest gallery is the biggest cultural venue anywhere in the world solely dedicated to illustration. As you can imagine from the title, it’s the labour of love of Sir Quentin Blake, most famous for his original illustrations of Roald Dahl’s work. It’s a serious and diverse gallery for all ages, but naturally there’s loads of kids’ stuff, from Tove Jansson to, of course, absolutely loads of Blake’s iconic drawings.

Where is it? Farringdon.

What is it? Kids of all ages will enjoy this immersive, pointedly family-friendly exhibition dedicated to the headscarching life and works of the iconic Dutch printmaker and lover of paradoxes MC Escher. You’ll see the originals of ‘Waterfall’, where water appears to run upwards, ‘Ascending and Descending’, the looping staircase that goes up and down simultaneously, and ‘Belvedere’ depicting an impossible tower. And you’ll learn about the techniques and mathematics that make these illusions possible along the way. 

Where is it? Somerset House.

What is it? The National Theatre puppet-powered First World War-set blockbuster has lost none of its power in the two decades since it premiered – you have until the end of July to introduce it to a new generation.

Where is it? National Theatre, Olivier.