1. Head to Chisenhale Artplace until the 6th of August for its inspiring Summer of Arts festival. Highlights will include Family Dance and Play days at Roman Road Adventure Playground from the 2nd-6th, and Summer of Art – Festival of Art for All! on the 6th. Free.
2. Luke Jerram’s touring Earth sculpture, Gaia, is back in London this summer. Catch it at St John the Baptist Church in Shepherd’s Bush from the 28th of July to the 6th of August or at All Saints’ Church in Notting Hill from the 9th-14th of August. Free.
3. There’s loads of free fun on at Museum of London Docklands this month. Take part in Mini Yoga Explorers for 2-5s or Yoga Explorers for ages 6+ from the 1st-8th, then become a Roman mosaicist using LEGO bricks in Big Brick Build: Mosaic Mayhem from the 9th-11th. Free.
4. This Bright Land is on at Somerset House from the 1st-29th. Expect family film screenings, story trails, a 35m observation wheel accompanied by an audio commission exploring ideas of family, and a global street food market curated by Black Eats LDN. Free.
5. Kids Summer Splash 2022 is on at Royal Docks from the 1st-22nd. Expect a lido, sandpits and free events including mermaid craft sessions, pom-pom crown making, beach yoga, hip-hop masterclasses, a Summer Fun Day & Picnic, and family theatre plus a drawing activity. Free.
6. William Morris Gallery is hosting craft and storytelling family days inspired by its current Althea McNish: Colour is Mine exhibition on the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th. Choose from 3D Plants & Flowers, Paper Fashion, Colourful Weaving and Paper collage. Free.
7. There’s loads of free fun taking place across the Royal Parks this month. Highlights include a Play Day Celebration Event in Greenwich Park and Discovery Day: Peter Pan in Hyde Park on the 3rd, and The Fast and Curious Play Session (featuring Go Karts) on the 24th. Free.
8. Museum of Architecture’s Nature’s Architects trail opens from the 3rd. The family-friendly trail invites you to find 20 micro-homes inspired by nature and biomimicry hidden around the doorsteps, railings, tree forks and planters of Chelsea. Free.
9. As part of its amazing Craft School: A Summer of Playful Making exhibition, Crafts Council will run a free weekly session every Wednesday in August, beginning on the 3rd, as well as hosting Family Workshop: Paper Playground with Amy Leung on the 10th. Free.
10. Sir John Soane’s Museum is hosting several drop-in workshops this month. Make temples from corks on the 4th, build a city out of LEGO on the 11th, enjoy a relaxed museum tour and create stained-glass windows on the 18th, and paint terracotta pots on the 25th. Free.
11. Young V&A has loads of off-site fun going on this month, from Story-Making workshops in Idea Stores across East London every Saturday (from the 6th) to a This is Me: Pop-up Photo Studio on the 8th and Create and Play sessions at All Points East on the 21st-22nd. Free.
12. Camden Arts Centre is hosting two artist-led family workshops this month. Gold Maria Akanbi will run a session focusing on breath on the 7th, then Sara Jackson will work with families to create cyanotype prints and build a collective ‘shelter’ on the 21st. Free.
13. Museum of the Home’s Dream Big: Holiday Family Activities festival takes place on the 7th and 21st. Join George Hoyle for an interactive storytelling of Peddlar of Swaffam, enjoy craft activities where you can imagine your biggest dreams, and lots more. Free/pay what you can.
14. The ever-brilliant Assemble Play will be popping up in green spaces across the capital throughout August. Catch some lovely (free) free play at Headstone Manor on the 9th, Kilburn Grange Park from the 19th-21st and Pitzhanger Manor from the 25th-28th. Free.
15. National Gallery’s Summer on the Square comes to Trafalgar Square from the 11th-29th, featuring drop-in sessions including experimental drawing, singing and movement, collage art, animal animation, zine making, collaborative poetry and 3D installation creation. Free.
16. Make-Do Play is offering two of its brilliant outdoor play sessions in the garden of St Mary’s Hornsey Rise on the 11th and 25th. Expect a combination of loose parts, water play, messy play, face painting, woodwork and absolutely no judgement. Free/donations welcome.
17. British Museum will host its annual Little Feet outdoor edition, Museum Beach, on the 12th. Splash in the paddling pools, count the ducks floating in the pond and fish for crabs in the mini sealife area, as well as taking part in a range of summer art activities. Free.
18. Pitzhanger Manor will run its Summer Holiday Club for 7-11s from the 15th-19th. Creative activities will include artmaking inspired by nature, building and model-making activities, kite making, sound art and card-game design. Paid/free for kids who have Free School Meals.
19. All Points East: In the Neighbourhood returns to Victoria Park from the 21st-24th. Full details are yet to be announced but Young V&A will be running drop-in Create and Play sessions and previous years’ lineups have included School of Noise and Half Moon Theatre. Free.
20. The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival runs from the 26th. Highlights include an audio artwork in a Thamesmead playground, “organic fireworks”, mountains of rainbow-coloured foam, and a sensory dreamscape combining light, sound and soft robotics. Free.

Roma explores Ottotto’s The Long and Winding Road in Harbour Quay Gardens, Canary Wharf – part of the Summer Lights trail.