Summer is here, and that means festival season is kicking off across London. From live music and theatre to food stalls and family activities, there’s a packed schedule of events to enjoy—rain or shine.
Below we’ve scoured the city for the top London festivals for families this summer—think puppet shows, garden trails, comic cons, and enough music and mischief to keep the whole crew buzzing.
Whether you’re nipping out for the day or plotting a full-on weekend adventure, there’s a festival here with your name on it.
Joe Wicks Festival at Kew
A full day of movement, mindfulness and feel-good vibes led by Joe Wicks himself. Expect high-energy workouts, healthy food stalls and plenty of space for kids to run around, stretch or just roll about in the grass.
Date: Sun 6 July
Time: 9.30am – 6.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Kew Gardens
Prices: from £42.00 per adult
Kaleidoscope Festival
Held up at Ally Pally, this one-day festival mixes music, comedy, street food and arts. There’s a designated family area too, so kids can join in without the full festival overwhelm (and the views are hard to beat).
Date: Sat 12 July
Time: from 1.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Alexandra Palace
Prices: from £70.40 per person
Uptown Festival
With a big-name line-up (Boy George is headlining) and a strong family-friendly atmosphere, Uptown Festival mixes music with food trucks, fairground rides and activities to keep kids happy while you dance.
Date: Sun 27 July
Time: 2.00pm – 10.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Blackheath, London
Prices: from £52.50 per adult
Silent Disco SkateJam & Street Food Festival in the Park
It’s a silent disco—on skates. Plug in your headphones, pick a playlist and roll around to your own beat (without annoying the neighbours). Just one hour long, but there’s street food waiting when you’re done.
Date: Sun 15 June
Time: 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Cygnet Square
Prices: free
See more
Kew Fete 2025
Bunting, brass bands and a tombola or two—Kew Fete is proper old-school summer fun. There’s plenty for children to do, loads of local food and a well-stocked beer tent for grown-ups in need of a sit down.
Date: Sat 21 June
Time: 11.00am – 6.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Kew Green
Prices: free
Summer Festival in Hyde Park
Hyde Park opens up with a ten-day stretch of free events during British Summer Time. There are family zones, creative workshops, pop-up performances and food stalls. And if nothing else, it’s a great excuse to hang out in the park.
Date: Mon 30 June – Thu 10 July
Time: 10.00am – 7.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Hyde Park
Prices: free
Dragonfly Festival
Set in the London Wetland Centre, this summer-long festival is full of nature-themed activities. There are pond dips, dragonfly trails, storytelling sessions and craft workshops—all with a good chance of spotting the real thing buzzing past.
Date: Sat 21 June – Mon 22 Sept
Time: 10.00am – 5.30pm
Ages: all ages
Where: WWT London Wetland Centre
Prices: from £16.29 per adult
RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
Yes, it’s a garden show—but there’s more here for kids than you might expect. Bug hunts, outdoor play spaces and gardening activities are dotted among the flower displays, and children under 16 go free with an adult ticket.
Date: Tue 1 – Sun 6 July
Time: 10.00am – 6.30pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Hampton Court Palace
Prices: from £38.85 per adult (under 16s free)
Young V&A Summer Festival
A full weekend of design, play, and creativity at the newly reopened Young V&A. With drop-in workshops, performances and plenty of colour, this one’s especially good for primary-aged kids with busy imaginations.
Date: Sat 5 – Sun 6 July
Time: 11.00am – 5.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Young V&A
Prices: free
Family Festival: Summer in the Park
Set in Greenwich Park, this two-day event offers live performances, craft stations, storytelling tents and family games. It’s completely free and a good pick if you’re after something relaxed but lively.
Date: Sat 12 & Sun 13 July
Time: 10.00am – 8.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Greenwich Park
Prices: Free
In The Neighbourhood
This four-day event in Victoria Park includes hands-on activities for children, from climbing onto tractors to getting involved in crafts and face painting. There’s also live music, street performances, and a range of food stalls, making it an easy option for a family day out.
Date: Mon 9 – Thurs 12 June
Time: 11.00am – 7.30pm
Ages: All ages
Where: Victoria Park
Prices: Free
BFI Film on Film Festival
If your kids are curious about how films used to look before everything went digital, this one’s worth a visit. There are screenings, hands-on workshops, and plenty of ways to get kids (and grown-ups) thinking differently about cinema.
Date: Thu 12 – Sun 15 June
Time: 11.30am – 3.30pm
Ages: 5 yrs+
Where: BFI Southbank
Prices: free – £4.00
Children’s Puppet Festival 2025
Hosted at the Little Angel Theatre, this summer-long puppet celebration features performances, workshops and plenty of imaginative storytelling. Best suited to younger children—but enchanting enough for grown-ups too.
Date: Mon 28 July – Sun 31 Aug
Time: various times
Ages: 2–11 yrs
Where: Little Angel Theatre
Prices: from £9.50 per person
London Film & Comic Con 2025
Superheroes, sci-fi and serious cosplay energy take over Olympia for the weekend. There are stalls, photo ops and panels with actors and artists—ideal for kids (and adults) who know their Marvel from their Manga.
Date: Sat 5 – Sun 6 July
Time: 9.00am – 7.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Olympia London
Prices: from £29.00 per adult
See more
Festival of Archaeology
History-lovers, this one’s for you. From mud and mosaics to Roman roads and Viking tales, this UK-wide festival includes plenty of family-focused events across London—many of them outdoors and hands-on.
Date: Sat 19 July – Sun 3 Aug
Time: various times
Ages: all ages
Where: UK-wide
Prices: free
London Youth Games Community Sport Festival
Think mini Olympics, but for everyone. Held at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, this free event gives kids the chance to try out new sports, meet local clubs, and burn off energy in a seriously fun setting.
Date: Sun 6 July
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Prices: free
As You Like It: East London Shakespeare Festival
Shakespeare, but make it a picnic. This outdoor performance of As You Like It brings live theatre to the park with music, dancing, and a relaxed vibe that’s genuinely family-friendly. Ideal for kids who can sit still (mostly).
Date: Sat 28 June
Time: 2.00pm – 9.45pm
Ages: 3 yrs+
Where: Alexandra Park
Prices: from £16.50 per adult
Little Simz’ Meltdown
Curated by artist and rapper Little Simz, this 10-day takeover at the Southbank Centre is packed with live music, talks and art. It’s a great pick for teens who want to hear something new—and for parents who want to pretend they’re still cool.
Date: Thu 12 – Sun 22 June
Ages: 14 yrs+
Where: Southbank Centre
Prices: from £22.00
See more
Camberwell Arts Festival
Art pops up all over Camberwell for this friendly local festival. Expect colourful street art, open studios, markets and family workshops—ideal for a weekend wander with a bit of creativity thrown in.
Date: Sat 14 – Sun 22 June
Ages: 10 yrs+
Where: Camberwell
Prices: Free
Classic Boat Festival 2025
Over 40 vintage boats gather in St Katharine Docks for a weekend of maritime charm. It’s low-key, lovely, and gives children the rare chance to clamber aboard historic vessels—plus there’s food, music and dockside views.
Date: Fri 5 – Sun 7 Sept
Time: Fri 3.00pm – 5.00pm | Sat 11.00am – 5.00pm | Sun 11.00am – 4.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: St Katharine’s Dock
Prices: free
Open House Festival 2025
Ever wanted to peek inside one of London’s historic buildings or unusual private homes? This is your chance. Open House gives families access to hundreds of buildings not usually open to the public—and it’s completely free.
Date: Sat 13 – Sun 21 Sept
Time: TBC
Ages: all ages
Where: London-wide
Prices: free
Pet Show Live
A full-scale pet show featuring everything from dogs and cats to reptiles, ponies and parrots. There are live demos, meet-and-greets, and plenty of chances to ask questions (especially useful if your child is campaigning for a new pet).
Date: Sat 20 & Sun 21 Sept
Time: Sat 9.30am – 5.30pm | Sun 9.30am – 4.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Olympia Kensington
Prices: from £24.00 per adult
Big Festival
Held on Alex James’ farm in the Cotswolds, this weekend combines live music, Michelin-star food and a proper kids’ field with games, workshops and plenty to climb on. It’s one of the best family festivals outside London.
Date: Fri 22 – Sun 24 Aug
Time: all day
Ages: all ages
Where: Alex James’ Farm, The Cotswolds
Prices: from £93.50 per adult
Elderflower Fields Family Festival
This woodland festival in Ashdown Forest is all about getting outdoors. Expect tree climbing, forest school, sports, music and late-night marshmallows. It’s aimed squarely at families and sells out fast.
Date: Fri 22 – Mon 25 May 2026
Time: all day
Ages: all ages
Where: Ashdown Forest, Sussex
Prices: from £164.90 per adult
CarFest including KidsFest
A huge family-friendly festival that blends cars, music, comedy and kids’ entertainment. It’s got a designated KidsFest zone, plus live shows, circus acts and endless ways to burn off energy.
Date: Fri 22 – Sun 24 Aug
Time: all day
Ages: all ages
Where: Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire
Prices: from £234.00 per adult
Barnes Children’s Literature Festival
This well-loved literary weekend features author talks, storytelling, workshops and bookish fun across Barnes. A dream day out for curious young readers—and their grown-ups too.
Date: Sat 21 & Sun 22 June
Time: 10.00am – 5.30pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Barnes
Prices: from £10.10 per person
Raver Tots Outdoor Festival Barnet 2025
Part rave, part family day out—this high-energy event includes glowsticks, confetti, foam cannons and kid-friendly dance floors. Events run at multiple locations throughout the summer.
Date: 15 June, 20 July, 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 25 Aug, 31 Aug
Time: from 1.00pm
Ages: all ages
Where: Multiple locations including Reading & Richmond
Prices: from £35.00 per adult
Which summer festivals are best for your family?
With so much on offer, it can be hard to know which to pick. So here’s a quick cheat sheet:
- For toddlers and pre-schoolers: Try the Children’s Puppet Festival, Young V&A Summer Festival, or Raver Tots—all colourful, energetic, and designed with short attention spans in mind.
- For curious kids (5–10 years): The Dragonfly Festival, Festival of Archaeology and London Youth Games tick the box for hands-on learning and outdoor fun.
- For tweens and teens: Head to Little Simz’ Meltdown, London Film & Comic Con, or Kaleidoscope for music, creativity, and a bit more independence (without losing them completely).
- For the whole family: You can’t go wrong with In The Neighbourhood, Kew Fete, or Big Festival—plenty to do, see, eat and enjoy together.
Whatever you feel like – picnics, puppets or pounding basslines – there’s a London festival this summer to match it. Just don’t forget your suncream… and maybe a raincoat, just in case.