9 things for kids to do in London in school holidays

With the school summer holidays almost here, trying to keep the kids entertained can prove daunting for many parents. In a bid to keep boredom at bay, Suzanne Baum has compiled a list of suggestions on some of London’s top family-friendly attractions!

1. The Beach Brent Cross

It may not be beside the seaside but it will provide you with lots of fun, especially if you are not heading away this summer. For the beach at Brent Cross brings you everything you will need to recreate the seaside spirit; sand to play in, deckchairs galore, water to splash in and all the fun of the fair, including rides and traditional Punch and Judy shows! Pack a towel and leave your passport at home! Open 10 July to 2 September daily

 

2. Footgolf

Be a good sport and get your kids active with this new activity that has courses all over the UK. Footgolf played on a golf course, the object of the game is to place the ball into the hole using only your feet in the lowest number of shots possible. It was the first time I had kicked a football around with my kids (aged 14, 13 and 6) in years and it proved so much fun for us all, it had to make it into my list!

 

 

3. Bounce

This is one place where your kids can literally bounce off the walls without stressing you out! The first trampoline club in the UK is exactly that: a roomful of interconnected trampolines where you can jump, play dodgeball and basketball. One word of advice though is that it does get busy, so best arrive when the doors open as there are often long queues!

 

4. Warner Bros studio Tour London

If you are yet to embark on this, you’d be potty to overlook this attraction that takes you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the making of Harry Potter. Although I devoured the books but never saw the films, I thoroughly enjoyed our three-hour visit as much as my three kids. It is a brilliant attraction and may even encourage your kids to watch the box set of Harry Potter (that will help fill up a few extra days of the school holidays!)

5. Adventures in Wonderland

 

This is a must! Running throughout the summer, this ‘show’ offers children aged five and up the chance to fall down the rabbit hole in an underground adventure that recreates the story of Alice. It truly is one of the best pieces of kids theatre I have ever seen. Theatre-goers will experience Wonderland as a fully formed world that features 33 unique rooms, a tea table of gigantic proportions, an original soundtrack, a dizzying rabbit hole, a hazy Caterpillar lair, Cheshire cats and a terrifying Queen of Hearts! Dress cool, as underneath the vaults on a hot day it can become quite warm! My six-year-old son Jake was in awe throughout the whole experience. (The Vaults, Waterloo)

 

 

6. Cereal Cafe

Kids feeling a tad flaky?  Then a visit here is a must as the only things you’ll find flaking around are the cereals!  The cafe is more an eating experience rather than a dining out one and you’ll love it as much as your kids, although go prepared to spend more money than you do on an actual box of cereal! The Brick Lane café that boasts an impressive offering of the breakfast staple caused such a stir the owners have opened up a new one in Camden! Trust me its grrrr-eat!

7. The Wonderground festival

Situated on the Southbank, the Wonderground festival runs all the way through the school holidays, with plenty to entertain the kids, including:

Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids (31 August)

Shlomo is a world record-breaking beatboxer who makes all kinds of music using just his mouth and a mic. Your kids can join this sonic superhero and become one of his sidekicks in a world of funny sounds, brilliant noises and cool music! Having recently interviewed him, Shlomo is as great a person as the music he creates!

8. KidZania

Much excitement surrounded the opening of this exciting attraction at Westfield shopping centre and having been one of the lucky first to visit, I can see why! If your little one enjoys playing make-believe, this will be right up their street. KidZania involves more than 60 real-life role-play scenarios designed to teach children essential life skills, such as how to run a bakery, be a tourist guide, pilot or doctor! The attraction even has its own currency – kidZos – which children can earn, spend and save. My six-year-old son Jake loved being a surgeon, fireman and had the chance to be part of the BA cabin crew and even my two teenagers enjoyed themselves making Cadbury’s chocolate and working as “staff” in the KidZania hotel!

 

 

9. Shrek’s Adventure

This ogre of a thing can be found on the Southbank and has just opened in time for the summer. The fairytale-themed attraction provides a fun adventure in the Kingdom of Far Far Away and I was left feeling very impressed by it. The first simulator ride is mind-blowing, although my six-year-old was slightly anxious, but proceeded to love the rest of the adventure that involves you walking through different rooms that tell the story of Shrek! Expect rides, mazes, a swamp and a 4-d bus!