Summer Family Activities & Events 2025
Hooray, it’s the holidays again! For some inspiration over the long school holidays, we’ve pulled together a listing of the goings on in the area that families can enjoy together. We’re adding more and more as and when things are announced, so do keep checking back.
We’ve also pulled together a selection of events that are going on further afield, based on recommendations from other local mums and dads – so if you know of a little gem outside the area, then please do let us know about it and we can add it in.
Details of all the Richmond Borough events can also be found in our What’s On guide.
Richmond Borough & Nearby
- No special half-term events but Chiswick House has lovely dog-friendly gardens to walk around, a great cafe, and an adventure playground for under 7s. Visiting information can be found here.
23rd July – 31st August: Summer Of Play at Ham House.
- Enjoy playful family days out with Summer of Play. There’s lots of family fun to be had, with outdoor activities and games. Pack a picnic to enjoy, or pop into the Orangery Café for lunch, snacks, hot and cold drinks – or an ice cream. Sponsored by Starling Bank. Free but normal admission applies.
Until 7th September: The Peter Rabbit Adventure at Hampton Court Palace.
- Hop, skip and jump into an adventurous garden trail, where Peter Rabbit™ and friends are waiting to be discovered! Follow Peter through the some of the beautiful palace gardens, solving puzzles, discovering beloved Beatrix Potter characters and uncovering the wonders of nature. Help Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle with her washing, solve Squirrel Nutkin’s riddles and mend the Tailor of Gloucester’s coat. Watch out – Peter has sneaked into the Kitchen Garden again! Do you think Mr. McGregor will notice? With interactive activities and a chance to meet Peter Rabbit™ himself, this is a summer adventure perfect for the whole family. Your ticket also includes entry to Henry VIII’s famous palace, including the legendary Maze and the popular Magic Garden playground. Normal admission applies.
Summer Fun Zone at Hounslow Urban Farm.
- Hounslow Urban Farm is always a treat to visit with the little ones, and this summer children will also enjoy giant paddling pool madness and creative play days (selected dates – see website for details). Plus stroll around the pens with goats, pigs, donkeys, llamas, peacocks and owls, and you can even feed some of the animals. There are also animal encounters throughout the day, where you can meet and handle small mammals, reptiles and more. Normal admission applies plus crafts are £2.00-£5.00).
26th July – 31st August: Oaklore at Kew Gardens.
- A family adventure awaits among the trees this summer. Discover the magic of the mighty oak tree in this interactive and playful experience. A playful and anarchic group of forest guardians, the Oak-Keepers, are on a mission: to protect the oak trees and the many creatures that call them home. But they need your help! At Oaklore, kids and adults alike will become Oaktivists, vital protectors of the oak, through a fun, hands-on journey that blends storytelling, adventure, creativity, and environmental action. Join Oaklore by Wild Rumpus for a summer of family fun, imagination, discovery, and collective wonder. Normal admission applies.
London Museum Of Water And Steam (Brentford)
- No special events listed at time of writing, but the Museum is always a great place to visit with little ones. They’ll enjoy displays of huge steam pumping engines and interactive displays. There’s also an outdoors Splash fun zone in the courtyard. On the 16th August the steam locomotive will be running, and on the 30th August there is a steam up where you can see the pumping engines in action. Visiting information can be found here
London Wetland Centre (Barnes)
- No special events listed at time of writing, but The Wetlands Centres is a lovely place for a day out, with different areas to walk in and different birds to see. There’s also a fantastic children’s adventure playground, including a new wet play area. Visiting information can be found here
Until 31st August: Gorgeous Georgians Trail at Osterley Park.
- Inspired by the Horrible Histories books, dive into the world of the Georgians with an interactive family-friendly trail around the house, garden and parkland. Uncover the quirks and scandals of Georgian history while exploring a real Georgian manor house. This 10-stop, interactive trail is designed to entertain children of all ages with a combination of games, activities and historical facts. In the Temple of Pan, find the Marvellous Make Up Gallery. Spin the Wheel of Woe to find out which job you might have had as one of the cheerless children living in Georgian times. On the Long Walk, look out for Horrible Highwaymen hiding in the trees, including Dick Turpin, known to frequent the local area. Learn about the foul foods popular during Georgian Times and even try Osterley’s posh potty, with flatulent fart noises! Normal admission applies.
- No special events, but the garden is free to visit and a lovely space for family picnics and relaxing; plus the house is well worth a look around for its architecture and interiors (both open Saturdays-Wednesdays). Visiting information can be found here.
- No special half-term events listed at time of writing, but a lovely place for a walk around the lake and a visit to the Great Conservatory (open Wednesdays-Sundays), with the beautiful house open Sundays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. Visiting information can be found here.
Further Afield
- No special summer events listed at time of writing, but this is always a great day out with the little ones, with lots of animals to see and a fun adventure playground. There are also extra children’s activities taking place on Wednesdays throughout August, and keeper talks throughout the holidays (more details on their website). Tickets can be bought online or on the door.
19th July – 2nd September: Summer Fun at Bockett’s Farm.
- Enjoy a fun filled family day out on the farm this summer! Daily activities include Tractor Rides (£1.50/person), Pony Rides (£3/child), Pig Racing, Small Animal Encounters and the British Wildlife Stamp Trail. Children can also enjoy crafts, discos, panning for gold, water wars and more… Booking advised to avoid disappointment.
- No special events listed at time of writing, but this is a great day out with the little ones, with animals to see (including meet & greet sessions) and indoor and outdoor play including a sky trail, bouncy pillows, secret sandpit, biplane racing, and a donut slide. Tickets can be bought online.
Claremont Landscape Garden (Esher)
26th July – 31st August: Moomins at Claremont Landscape Garden.
- Claremont invites you to take a magical wander inspired by Moominvalley this spring, with a family trail around the garden, meeting characters from the Moomin stories. Delve into discovering the Moomin family and their friends, living an adventurous life in the idyllic and peaceful Moominvalley in harmony with nature. The event is presented by the award-winning creator of interactive theatrical events, Bakehouse Factory.. Normal admission applies.
Crockford Bridge Farm (Addlestone)
- No special events but the Pick Your Own is open. Please check their website for updates and details, and booking is essential to manage crop availability.
- No special events but the Pick Your Own is open. Please check their website for updates and details, and booking is essential. There is also a Maize Maze (£4/person), and some children’s activities are taking place in the garden centre.
23rd July – 1st September: Join The Zoo Crew! at London Zoo.
- This summer, all young explorers are invited to become part of the Zoo Crew! There will be fun roleplay and costume dress-up activities, so junior animal-lovers can explore what it’s like to work at London Zoo, from feeding the animals to caring for their health and even helping protect them in the wild. With basic and more advanced challenges in each activity station, kids of all ages will find something to enjoy. Step into the role of Zookeeper, Field Conservationist and Scientist to learn all about the weird and wonderful things you can do when you work at a zoo. Complete them all to graduate as one of the Zoo Crew! Normal admission applies.
28th July – 27th August: Summer Of Play at Morden Hall Park.
- Bust the summer holiday boredom and visit every Monday and Wednesday for fun FREE games and activities. Mondays: Kick off the week with a burst of energy and enthusiasm at the Sports Extravaganza. The picnic area will be transformed into an area packed with fun sporting activities to try from badminton to croquet to giant chess. Get in the competitive spirit, challenge friends and family, and see who will be the winner. Wednesdays: Join mid-week Creativity Corner sessions where you can let your kid’s imagination run wild. All the resources will be supplied, all you need to do is take your children and let them be free to invent, build and explore in an unstructured yet supportive environment. From den building to a game of noughts of crosses, there’s plenty to get involved with. Normal admission applies (free entry), and the Park also connects to Dean City Farm.
Natural History Museum (South Kensington)
26th September – 31st August: Summer Family Activities at the Natural History Museum.
- Join family-friendly events and activities throughout the summer holidays. There will be indoor and outdoor fun, regardless of the weather! Mondays & Fridays: Pollinators: Find out more about our pollinator pals and the important role they play in our ecosystem. You can even take part in our very own pollinator count! Tuesdays – Thursdays: Pond Explorers: Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of the water? Discover some of the different creatures that live in the pond. Plus Meet The Scientist at selected times (see website for details). Entrance to the Museum is free but should be booked beforehand to avoid disappointment.
- No special events aimed at families, but a lovely family daytrip in beautiful gardens with lots of follies and a gorgeous lake. Normal admission applies and booking in advance is advisable for non-members.
Polesden Lacey (Great Bookham)
8th August – 18th September: Summer Of Play at Polesden Lacey.
- This summer, Polesden Lacey is creating an exciting hub of play in Crab Apple Orchard. Grizwald the Griffin wants to find out what his friends in the outdoor teams do and how they look after Polesden Lacey. Spend long summer days playing games and enjoying activities inspired by the work carried out by the fantastic rangers and gardeners who look after Polesden Lacey’s outside spaces. Booking is not required and the games are free. Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank. Normal admission applies.
Science Museum (South Kensington)
Summer Of Space at the Science Museum.
- Discover inspiring stories of humankind’s efforts to explore the universe with on-site activities, trails and more at the Science Museum. Take the Mission Checklist Challenge; enjoy a free family spectacular packed with out-of-this-world science demonstrations; embark on an out-of-this-world trail to find game-changing space objects (in collaboration with Disney Pixar’s new film Elio). Normal admission applies. Plus of course you can fuel your imagination and immerse yourself in a world of wonder at the Museum’s Wonderlab (separate ticket required; booking essential).
19th July – 31st August: The Great Woodland Adventure at Wisley Gardens.
- Head into the woods for a summer full of adventure and forest fun at Wisley’s woodland basecamp with woodland crafts and bushcraft skills, and explore the world of trees on a family trail. Have a go at tree climbing and construct something extraordinary in the Big Den Build. More details on their website. There is also a Tremendous Tree Trail where you can explore the world of mighty trees! Discover which tree lives the longest, grows the tallest, or has the most fascinating story. Normal admission applies, plus some activities incur an additional charge.
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