Summer Family Activities & Events 2024
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. Details of events can also be found in our What’s On guide.. For camps and workshops that children can enjoy on their own, please visit our ‘Summer Camps & Workshops′ guide.
We’ve also pulled together a selection of events that are going on further afield. It’s a slightly random selection, but 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.
Richmond Borough & Nearby
- No special summer holiday events but Chiswick House has lovely dog-friendly gardens to walk around, a great cafe, and an adventure playground for under 7s. There is Children’s Theatre on the 31st July & 21st August, and half-price entrance to the House for families on Fridays throughout July & August. Visiting information can be found here.
26th July – 1st September, 10.00am-5.00pm: Summer Of Play at Ham House.
- Are you ready to compete in the Ham Games? Get into this summer’s sporting spirit with fun play stations dotted around the spectacular gardens at Ham House. Take on friends and family or try and beat your own personal best in the four sport activity zones. Including throwing, ball sports, racing and gymnastics, each zone has a range of different games to test your skills! Pack a picnic to enjoy, or pop into the Orangery Café for lunch, snacks, hot and cold drinks – or an ice cream! Normal admission applies.
27th July – 31st August, various times: Unheard Voices at Hampton Court Palace.
- This summer Hampton Court is celebrating the lives of fascinating individuals from its 500-year history through a selection of dynamic live performances. A team of talented writers, directors, and actors have given voice to these remarkable stories, lending their own lived experiences to the people presented. The performances (15 mins each) take place throughout the day in various locations. The Magic Garden is also open, and no trip is complete without a visit to the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze in the palace gardens. Normal admission applies.
- No special events listed at time of writing, but Hounslow Urban Farm is always a treat to visit with the little ones. 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. They usually put on some special activities during school holidays too. You can buy tickets at the farm or online.
20th July – 1st September, 10.00am – 5.00pm: Horrible Science at Kew Gardens.
- Kew is making science fun for all this summer with awesome activities and fascinating facts, inspired by the Horrible Science series. Based on the bestselling books written by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony De Saulles, Horrible Science will be a chance for budding scientists to roll up their sleeves and discover the nastier side of nature. This will be a celebration of science like you’ve never known it before, with a focus on all things bizarelly brilliant and decidedly dreadful. Could you be a Marvellous Mushroom Mycologist or a Super Plant Scientist? Visit the wonderful world of Horrible Science at Kew this summer to find out. Who knows, you just might end up in the Hall of Fame! Normal admission applies.
- No special family events, but Kew Gardens always makes a great family day out, with the Children’s Garden, family kitchen & shop, log trail, treetop walkway, immense glasshouses, the Hive, and of course acres of gardens to run free in and explore. A new exhibition around the Gardens from leading contemporary artist Marc Quinn has also just started. Visiting information can be found here.
London Museum Of Water And Steam (Brentford)
20th July – 1st September, 10.00am-4.00pm: Summer Scavenger Hunt at the London Museum Of Water & Steam in Brentford.
- Head to the Museum for a puzzling summer scavenger hunt! Follow the clues to solve the mystery phrase and then claim your prize! Fun for all ages! £3.50 per scavenger hunt plus normal admission applies.
London Wetland Centre (Barnes)
27th July – 1st September, 10.00am-5.30pm: Summer Postcard Trail at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes.
- Nine postcards. One epic adventure. Oh no! Pelican Postie has dropped their postbag, scattering mail across the Wetland Centre. Can you find the lost postcards, discover who wrote them, and work out where the world’s animals are spending their summer holidays? Which creature’s been backpacking for 4,000 miles? And who’s got themselves a summer job with WWT? Deepen your connection with nature through a new postcard adventure trail this school summer holidays. Giant postcards, designed by children’s illustrator Ella Beech, share personal messages from nine animals who live in wetland habitats around the world. Normal admission applies.
20th July – 1st September, 10.00am-5.00pm: Summer Explorer Quest at Marble Hill Park in Twickenham
- Noble, Marble Hill’s trusty guard dog, has lost his shadow and needs the help of little adventurers to find it! Join Noble and his friends on a summer quest to search for his shadow throughout the grounds of Marble Hill during the summer holidays. Head over to the house to pick up your free quest booklet. Normal admission applies (free).
30th July – 31st August, 10.00am-4.00pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays): The Ministry Of Time Travel (Pickles Missions) at The National Archives in Kew.
- The Ministry of Time Travel needs your help! Step into the thrilling world of a secret organisation based at the heart of The National Archives, which decodes evidence from the past to safeguard time itself. Junior time agent Beatrix urgently needs your help solve a strange mystery from 1966 involving the football World Cup and a dog called Pickles! Using a combination of digital storytelling and interactive game-play, The Ministry of Time Travel is a unique and immersive world for family audiences to explore history. This summer’s mission is aimed at families and is particularly suited for children aged between 8-12 years. There are time slots available every hour. The Ministry of Time Travel is a series of adventures for young people and families developed by BAFTA award-winning theatre company Coney with The National Archives. Tickets are £5 and can be booked online.
26th July – 1st September, 10.00am-5.00pm: Summer Of Play at Osterley Park.
- Get down to Osterley this summer and discover many ways to play! Get active on the Front Lawn with football, table tennis or cycle hire (Wed-Sun). Or head into the Gardens to get active with throwing, catching and obstacles, or hone your skills with target practice. If you’re feeling creative you can make some music, or some wild art. All activities are self-led so you can play your way. Follow the prompts or create your own ways to play. Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank. Normal admission applies.
12th July – 31st August, all times: Be Wild in Richmond Town Centre.
- Be Richmond is excited to welcome the acclaimed Gillie and Marc ‘Chimps are Family’ art installation to Richmond town centre! This captivating display features striking bronze chimpanzee statues, crafted with Gillie and Marc’s renowned artistry, and will be on show in Richmond for the next 12 months. Over the summer, there will be a chimp footprint trail, discovering each statue and learning fascinating facts about chimpanzees and their habitats. This trail offers a fun and educational experience for all ages, highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation. Along the trail, you may encounter some small, cuddly Chimp friends in need of a new home! There are 290 chimps around Richmond for you to discover and take home. These represent the 290,000 chimps left in the wild. For every chimp found and posted on social media with #BeWildinRichmond, Be Richmond will donate £1 to WWF.
- No special events, but the garden is free to visit and a lovely space for family picnics and relaxing (Sundays-Thursdays). Plus the house is well worth a look around for its architecture and interiors (Sundays-Wednesdays). Visiting information can be found here.
31st July – 28th August (Wednesdays only), 11.00am & 1.00pm: Animalympics at Syon House & Gardens in Isleworth.
- ZooLab are back with their amazing animals! This year, they’re looking at the amazing feats of strength, speed and power in the animal kingdom –who are the winners of the Animal Olympics? Tickets are £13.25-£15.00 and include entry into Syon Gardens & Great Conservatory.
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 bee and pig keeper talks throughout the holidays (more details on their website). Tickets can be bought online or on the door.
20th July – 1st September, 10.00am-5.30pm: A Summer Of Fun at Bockett’s Farm, Fetcham.
- Lots going on at Bocketts Farm this summer. Complete the British wildlife stamp trail; join small animal encounter sessions; hop on board the tractor & trailer ride; enjoy a pony ride; boogie at the bubble disco; get creative in craft corner; play water wars and pan for gold; explore indoor and outdoor play; meet and feed the friendly animals. Booking essential to avoid disappointment.
- No special events 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.
20th July – 1st September, 10.00am-4.00pm: Summer Of Plat Claremont Landscape Garden, Esher.
- Enjoy fun-filled family days out at Claremont this summer – there’s something for all the family to enjoy! Get creative with games in the play glade and Thatched Cottage or enjoy skittles at Nine Pin Alley. They will also have row boats available to hire for £12 for 30 minutes, every weekend. On Thursdays from 8th – 29th August, there will also be ‘have-a-go archery’ available for £2 for 6 arrows. Normal admission applies.
- No special events but the Pick Your Own is open. From the end of July, fruit quantities are limited, but at time of writing there are still plenty of vegetables and sunflowers available to pick. Please check their website for updates and details.
- No special events but the Pick Your Own is open. There is plenty available to pick including, fruit, vegetables, sunflowers and other flowers. Please check their website for updates and details. There are also some children’s activities taking place in the garden centre.
25th July – 1st September, 10.00am-6.00pm: Poo At The Zoo at London Zoo in Regents Park.
- A family-friendly journey of discovery into the fascinating world of wildlife waste! Over the summer holidays, discover the science behind scat as you explore how droppings help us understand animal diets, habitats, and health. Perfect for curious minds of all ages, it promises to be a huge heap of fun! Enjoy a poo museum, poo-based games, ‘The Great Poo Mystery’ stage show and trail, and live storytelling. Normal admission applies.
29th July – 28th August (Mondays & Wednesdays), 10.00am-3.00pm: Summer Of Play at Morden Hall Park.
- A variety of activities designed to keep your kid’s brain stimulated and body moving. Most importantly, to play! Mondays are a Sports Extravaganza. Kick off the week with a burst of energy and enthusiasm, with the picnic area transformed into a vibrant arena with a variety of sporting activities including badminton, croquet and giant chess. Get in the competitive spirit, challenge friends and family, and see who will be the winner. On Wednesdays it’s Creativity Corner – creative play sessions for kids’ imaginations to run wild. Children will be free to invent, build and explore in an unstructured yet supportive environment. From building a den to a game of naughts of crosses, there’s plenty to get involved with. Entry is free and booking is not needed, and the Park also connects to Dean City Farm.
27th July – 1st September, 11.00am-4.30pm: Summer Family Activities at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington.
- Explore the Museum’s new gardens and take part in fun family activities during the summer holidays. Throughout the summer holidays there will be a whole bunch of family activities from pond dipping to nature-themed arts and crafts. There will be a ‘Beaky Finders’ drawing activity; Pond Explorers; Meet The Scientist; family nature talks; and ‘Nature Makes’ crafts (not all activities available on all days). Entrance to the Museum is free but should be booked beforehand to avoid disappointment.
25th May – 23rd June, 10.00am-4.00pm: Bugs & Butterflies Trail at Painshill Park, Cobham.
- 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.
31st July – 8th September, 10.00am-4.00pm: Summer Of Fun at Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham.
- This summer Polesden Lacy is creating a hub of play in Crab Apple Orchard, inspired by the fantastical world of Grizwald and Griffins, so there’s bound to be something fun available for the whole family. Visitors will start their journey by entering through a Fantasy Castle Archway, before they step into a large castle made out of straw. Inside the castle they can find a variety of play items suitable for creative, active, and performance activities. Following on from this, they can find a maze with a podium and additional play equipment. Normal admission applies.
20th July – 26th September, 10.00am-6.00pm: The Great Garden Adventure With Shaun The Sheep at Wisley Gardens, Woking.
- Join the fun and frolics with Shaun this summer as he learns top tips about how to grow scrumptious fresh food from the garden to keep him in great condition. Follow Shaun’s journey of discovery and learn some amazing things along the way. Create your very own clay Shaun the Sheep (£12 and pre-booking required), and lose yourself in the straw bale maze. Join hands-on nature workshops and plant some insect-friendly flowers. Find the Flock by hunting down the three decorated sculptures of Shaun in the garden and meet him ‘in the fleece’ to get a cheeky selfie. Most activities are free but normal admission applies.
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