Summer Holiday Survival Guide 2026
Six weeks. That is what you are staring down. It sounds terrifying but London in summer is genuinely brilliant with kids. Splash pads reopen, lidos warm up, parks are at their best, and there is so much to do that the challenge is choosing, not finding.
The golden rule: Do not try to fill every day. Kids need downtime too. Aim for 3-4 activity days per week and let the others be park days or home days. Burnout is real -- for everyone.
Week 1: Water Week
Start the holidays with a splash. London has more outdoor pools and splash pads than you think.
Granary Square Fountains
King's Cross · Free · Bring spare clothes
London Fields Lido
Hackney · Heated 25C year-round · From £5
Tumbling Bay Playground
Olympic Park · Free · Water features and sand
Hampton Pool
Hampton · Outdoor heated pool · From £5
Thames Barrier Park
Pontoon Dock · Free fountains · Bring change of clothes
Week 2: Nature Week
Get outside and explore London's wild side.
Richmond Park
Free · Deer spotting, Isabella Plantation
WWT London Wetland Centre
Barnes · Otters at 2pm · From £14
Walthamstow Wetlands
Free · Boardwalks, kingfishers
Hampstead Heath
Free · Paddling pool open in summer
Sydenham Hill Wood
Free · Wild woodland, den building
Week 3: Museum Week
Beat the heat on hot days. Museums are air-conditioned and free.
Natural History Museum
Free · Garden gallery for under-5s
Young V&A
Free · Reimagined for kids
The Postal Museum & Mail Rail
From £16 · Underground train ride
Horniman Museum & Gardens
Free · Music gallery, animal walk
London Transport Museum
Under-18s free · Vintage buses to climb on
Week 4: Adventure Week
Big days out for when you want to go all in.
London Zoo
Regent's Park · From £30 · Book online for savings
Go Ape Battersea Park
From £20 · Tree Top Junior from age 4
GoBoat London
Paddington · From £15 · Bring a picnic
Lee Valley White Water Centre
Family rafting from age 4 · From £30
Thames Clipper Boat Ride
Use Oyster · Much more fun than the Tube
Week 5: Farm Week
London's city farms are free and brilliant. Visit a different one each day.
Monday: Mudchute Park & Farm
Free · Llamas, views of Canary Wharf
Tuesday: Hackney City Farm
Free · Brunch at Frizzante afterwards
Wednesday: Kentish Town City Farm
Free · Pony rides on select days
Thursday: Vauxhall City Farm
Free · Gentle horses, friendly staff
Friday: Spitalfields City Farm
Free · Small, peaceful. Combine with Brick Lane
Week 6: Last Hurrah
The final week. Make it count.
Kew Gardens
From £18 · Treetop Walkway, multiple play areas
Hampton Court Palace
From £25 · The maze, Magic Garden playground
Science Museum Wonderlab
From £10 · Friction slides, water experiments
Brockwell Park & Lido
Lido from £5 · Miniature railway on summer weekends
Crystal Palace Park Dinosaurs
Free · Victorian dinosaurs and playground
Budget calculation: Following this guide, you could do the entire six weeks for under £200 in entry fees. Three of the six weeks are almost entirely free. The cost is travel and food -- bring packed lunches and you will save hundreds.