20 awesome things to do with kids in London: August 2023

National Portrait Gallery’s Summer Family Festival runs from the 31st of July to the 4th of August, then the 7th-11th. Highlights will include styling and creating your own Tudor portrait, pin-badge and clay-mask making, and stop-motion animation. Free.
National Gallery’s Summer on the Square runs from the 1st-28th. This outdoor festival of art, held in Trafalgar Square, will feature a series of workshops throughout its run, including a chance to interact with Leap then Look’s Mile of String installation. Free.
MATT+FIONA: Build & Play Summer Residency will run at Museum of the Home every Tuesday In August, beginning on the 1st. Dive into a world of design and construction to extend and build your own pieces of a collaborative play structure. Free.
Summer in the Courtyard is at Somerset House from the 1st-28th. Expect food and drink pop-ups and a chance to see Chila Burman’s ice cream van installation and play in the fountains, which will be switched on on select dates (see link for details). Free.
There’s loads going on at Young V&A this month, from a National Play Day celebration on the 2nd to a drop-in Toy Hack workshop on the 22nd, plus recurring Meet the Designer in the Shed, Storytelling Saturdays and Summer Family Fridays workshops. Free.
Coram’s Fields is hosting its ever-popular annual Play Day on the 2nd. Celebrating a child’s right to play and have fun, the event will include sports activities, stalls, a giant inflatable obstacle course, and lots more. Free.
Charles Dickens Museum is running Myths and Mermaids sessions for ages 5+ from the 2nd-4th. Make mini aquariums, collage a mermaid tale, write ghost stories and explore the art of puppet theatre before taking on challenges around the museum. Paid.
There’s plenty of free fun to be had at the V&A in August, including three artist-led Drop-in Design: Summer of Sculpture workshops on the 2nd-4th, 9th-11th and 23rd-25th, plus a related Family Festival: The Shape of Us! event on the 19th. Free.
Sir John Soane’s Museum will host two Summer Family Drop-In Workshops this month. On the 3rd, join artist Caroline Dorset and make your own architect’s house, then on the 10th build your own dream house using Lego with artist Sally Crowley. Free.
Head to the Southbank Centre this month and join a Bird Rave on the 6th, float through an underwater paradise of dynamic projections in Red Rope on the 12th-13th, and witness Stans Cafe’s installation, Of All the People in All the World from the 28th. Free.
Flute Theatre’s Pericles for Autistic Individuals comes to Riverside Studios from the 7th-11th. This workshop invites participants to experience Shakespeare’s story through sensory games of fishermen, pirates and storms that everyone plays together. Paid.
Make-Do Play is running three play sessions in Tollyrise Happiness Garden this month, on the 10th, 17th and 31st. These unstructured, child-led outdoor session are rooted in the Playwork Principles, and include loose parts, messy play, crafts and woodwork. Free.
Polka Theatre’s free Summer Fun Day takes place on the 12th. Expect eco-themed fun activities for the whole family, including eco-glitter tattoos, facepainting, pebble painting, storytelling, dress up, eco crafts, colouring and lots more. Free.
The Garden Museum’s Festival of Fairytales takes place on the 13th. Dress up as your favourite insect friends and enjoy pop-up performers, cooking and craft workshops, storytelling, live music, circus performances, gardening and lots more. Paid.
The Two Temple Place Family Day takes place on the 18th. Follow the interactive trail or paper trail to learn more about the building, completing tasks as you go, then join artist Cecily Loveys Jervoise for a clay workshop inspired by the building’s gargoyles. Free.
The British Museum is hosting its annual Little Feet session on the front lawn on the 21st. Grab your under-5s and get ready to discover wet waves, feel soft sand and play with friendly fish, with creative elements, multi-sensory stations and relaxing areas. Free.
All Points East: In the Neighbourhood returns to Victoria Park from the 20th-23rd. Expect a host of free events and workshops from organisations including Rich Mix, Half Moon, Queen of Sheba, West End Kids, Tamarind Theatre and lots more. Free.
The brilliant Assemble Play will be back in the garden of Pitzhanger Manor from the 24th-27th. Find giant blocks, boxes, colourful fabric and many other treasures and make exciting play landscapes together at these child-led, playworker-supported sessions. Free.
Greenwich & Docklands International Festival runs from the 25th of August to the 10th of September, with highlights including an interactive dance party, free performances, interactive installations and more. Check the website for programme updates. Free.
Join London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, the Museum of London and London’s Roman Amphitheatre for the Roman London Family Quest on the 25th-26th. Use a special map to follow a trail around different Roman sites and complete quests to win a prize. Free.