Six. Weeks. Or thereabouts. The school summer holidays are the greatest test of any parent’s logistical mettle, seeing as they’re longer than virtually anyone in the entire country’s entire quota of annual leave. And this isn’t America where you can just send your children off to a camp all summer and forget about them. We have to keep our kids entertained.
So good luck with that! And I mean it: my name’s Andrzej, and I’m Time Out’s theatre and kids editor, and as a parent of two I have to deal with this nonsense every year myself. So to help you organise and plan, here are my picks of the best new and temporary London family events this summer, from theatre shows to dinosaurs, exhibitions to more dinosaurs (there are a lot of dinosaurs around this year).
When are the school summer holidays 2025
Officially the 2025 London school summer holidays run Wednesday July 23 to Friday August 29. But many schools will break on Monday 21 July, and virtually all of them will add a teacher training day or two on at the start of September.
What to do in London in the school summer holidays 2025
See below for a list of new and temporary kids’ summer holiday activities.
For evergreen ideas for things to do with children in the capital, see our 50 Things To Do With Kids In London.
For general London summer ideas see our summer in London guide.
Check out our full round up of kids’ summer theatre.