🍦 39 things to do in London this weekend with the kids (20–21 June)

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Hey DILFs!

Are you going to West End Live this weekend? I’ve driven myself mad with this question every summer for the past two decades, and never ended up going. 

It sounds amazing on so many levels: free performances from more than 50 of the West End’s top musicals; a feeling of community (I imagine) with fellow Londoners; loads of extra activities to enjoy in the square if a particular song isn’t doing it for you; and a chance to introduce your children to the magic of theatre. 

BUT: there are also insane crowds (although I guess they look like they’re having fun?); queues literally a mile long to get in; a “one in, one out” policy once the square is at capacity; one WATER fountain for about 55,000 people; standing room only; and absolutely no shade from the sun or shelter from the rain. 

One year, I’ll get over myself and do it with the kids in tow. That year won’t be this year, but I hope you’re less of a wuss than me and that you’ll give it a go: I think we’re missing out on an incredible experience (AGAIN), and I’m already kicking myself for it. 

If you attend, will you report back? Please? And if you don’t go, perhaps you’d like to try out some of the many, many, many other things on offer below. 

Enjoy! 

Jeff xx

1: Attempt to outsmart a fountain

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms
Wednesday–Sunday until 31 August, 10:00–21:00
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Free – just show up
Age guidance: suitable for all

It seems to be an annual tradition that the Appearing Rooms are installed right after a heatwave and just in time for countless weekends in a row of rain. On the plus side, the area won’t be too packed if it’s raining. On the downside, there’s a chance you’ll get cold and wet when you’re already cold and wet. On the other plus side, look: it’s not exactly winter, is it? You’ll be fine. It’ll still be fun. And children never feel the cold anyway.

Now that I've painted such an irresistible picture, here's what you need to know.

The Appearing Rooms are an annual staple of the Southbank Centre – returning every summer with considerably more consistency than the summer itself. The concept and execution are simple: walls of water rise to create a “room”, but then disappear randomly and rise again somewhere else to create another “room”. The challenge is to stay one step ahead of the water – or to do the exact opposite if you’re an adventurous family and you have a spare set of clothes.

It’s fabulously fun, but be aware that if you do happen to visit on a sunny day, there isn’t much shade.

Find out more: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/activity/jeppe-hein-appearing-rooms/ 

While you’re there… 

👍️ I have absolutely no idea how Luke Jerram finds the time. Any time you’ve paid to see a big spherical planetary thing dangling above your head recently, it’ll have been by Luke Jerram. But it's not like he's spent his entire career knocking out oversized celestial objects: you may also have seen his Glass Microbiology sculptures, his Lullaby performance, his Sky Orchestra show and enough other projects to make me question whether his hours have more minutes than my hours.

And now he's at the Southbank Centre with an installation that requires considerably less explanation than most of his work.

It's called Stepping Out, and it turns the Southbank Centre's steps into a giant musical instrument. Stand on the coloured circles and you'll trigger different notes, sounds and instruments. The more people joining in, the more complicated the music becomes. 

Easy to understand, easy to do, bloody difficult to drag them away from. 

2: Run your hands across the surface of the Moon

Mirror Moon
New permanent installation: no end date! (Open daily 10:00–19:00)
Royal Observatory, Blackheath Avenue, SE10 8XJ
Free with entry to the Royal Observatory (adults £24, 4–15s £12, under-4s free)
Age guidance: suitable for all 

See what I mean? Luke Jerram is EVERYWHERE. This time, we’re back in familiar Jerramesque territory: the Moon. He’s already created Museum of the Moon (an enormous illuminated Moon suspended from the ceiling), Tide (an acoustic installation that makes the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth physically audible) and Fallen Moon (a 10-metre, internally lit floating replica of the lunar surface). His latest lunar offering is Mirror Moon.

Mirror Moon is a giant, shiny steel ball shaped exactly like the Moon – and this one you can actually touch. Jerram used real NASA satellite data to carve every single mountain, valley and crater into its surface, meaning you’ll be able to feel with your hands what the Moon is actually like.

The polished, mirror-like surface is a bit different from what we’re used to with Jerram. Most of his giant celestial bodies (of which there are many) are essentially very sophisticated balloons, whereas this one is made from steel – apparently because it reflects the surrounding environment to remind us how the real Moon reflects light from the Sun. But given that this is the first one you're actively encouraged to touch, I suspect the durability didn't hurt.

It's called Mirror Moon because, according to Jerram, "the Moon is a cultural mirror to society. It reflects the ideas, dreams and beliefs that people bring to it." And because I’m a nasty cynic, my immediate reaction was, "Oh come on now – are you sure it wasn't the alliteration?"

But then I read an interview where he talked about how differently people responded to Museum of the Moon depending on where it was exhibited, and yeah OK fair enough: the guy has a point. In India, huge crowds turned up because of the Moon's significance in Hinduism. In the US, people connected it with the Apollo missions. In France, couples sat beneath it holding hands. It’s such an exceptionally interesting insight that I’m now officially on board with the name. 

Find out more: https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory/attractions/mirror-moon 

3: Find out whether Yorkshire pudding belongs in a cone with sprinkles

The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch
Daily until 16 August, 10:00–18:00 (Sundays 12:00–17:00)
The Ice Cream Project, 11 Pont Street, SW1X 9EH
Scoops £4.50 each

Last year the Ice Cream Project flavours included Ovaltine, Bisto, Irn Bru, Maldon Sea Salt, Twiglets, Quaker Porridge Oats, Bird’s Custard, and Filippo Berio Olive Oil. This year’s line-up includes OXO, Paxo stuffing, Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire puddings, Lurpak, Kikkoman Soy Sauce and Euthymol (bright pink antiseptic toothpaste, in case you weren’t aware).

Are you in the “Sounds vile; no way” camp? That’s fine – but don’t come crying to me when your TikTok fame never materialises because you refused to try toothpaste-flavoured ice cream for the benefit of the algorithm.

Or do you think it sounds intriguing and you’d love to try it out? For some reason, you’re not alone: thousands of people queue at Anya Hindmarch’s ice cream shop each year to try out her increasingly questionable flavours. So prepare for TWO HOURS worth of Would You Rather? and at least 120 renditions of “How much longerrrrrr?”

If you value your time more than you value your money, you could skip the line by booking yourself an Afternoon Tea with a twist: a blind tasting of 15 scoops with wafers and sprinkles, guessing the flavours as you go with your own tasting score card and “branded Ice Cream Project pencil” (oooh!). It’s £50 per person, which, fyi, is the same price as 79 Cornettos from Tesco.

If all this sounds like an elaborate excuse to sell expensive ice cream, it may help to know that Anya Hindmarch has spent years turning familiar brands into luxury products, with bags and accessories inspired by everything from Heinz and Kellogg’s to Cadbury and Corn Flakes. Whether that’s clever reinvention or simply borrowing somebody else’s brand recognition, I’ll leave up to you.

Find out more: https://www.anyahindmarch.com/pages/the-ice-cream-project 

While you’re there… 

👍️ After you’ve “enjoyed” your CapriSun ice cream, head to The Star Tavern in Belgravia – a quiet-looking pub that once served as HQ for the Great Train Robbery, the Profumo affair, and various other shenanigans. 

In the 50s and 60s it was run by Paddy Kennedy – a landlord known for swearing at patrons, hurling out the unwelcome, and somehow attracting people like Princess Margaret, Bing Crosby and Lucian Freud... as well as professional safe-blowers.

Upstairs, in what’s now the not-so-secret bar, a gang of thieves plotted how to hijack a Royal Mail train and make off with £2.6 million – still one of the biggest heists in British history.

The carpets are cleaner now and the Maharaja of Baroda is no longer buying rounds, but it’s still worth a visit.

4: Immerse yourself in Spain's most passionate art form

Gala Flamenca
Saturday 20 June, 15:00 and 19:00
Sadler’s Wells Angel, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN
£15–£90
Age guidance: 5+ (under-5s won’t be allowed in)

We recently went to Madrid and booked a 5pm flamenco performance – which is NOT a time of day when flamenco normally takes place. There were microphones and speakers – even though flamenco traditionally takes place in much smaller, more intimate venues. The venue offered paella for dinner (at 5pm) – even though paella is strictly a lunchtime meal in Spain, and NO ONE eats dinner before 9pm. And all the guests were drinking sangria – which is very much a “tourist trap” drink when ordered in bars.

Basically, we saw the most tourist-friendly version of flamenco imaginable. But it was still a fantastic introduction for the family – especially when a guy came up on stage afterwards to explain what makes flamenco special.

Thanks to him, I now know how much improvisation is involved in flamenco (answer: a lot). Rather than marching through a fixed routine, the dancers, singers and musicians are constantly reacting to one another using their voices, movements and stomping. The goal is to make you feel those emotions too – not just be impressed with the fancy footwork. 

You get all that at Gala Flamenca, even though it's a highly polished theatre show that tours around the world in big venues rather than small, dimly lit bars. Yes, there are microphones and yes, there are speakers. Yes, there’s a 3pm performance and a 7pm performance. On the plus side, there are no rice dishes on offer – nor did I spot any beverages that appeared to have had a fruit salad dropped into them.

Gala Flamenca is basically a showcase of flamenco talent, with dancers, singers and musicians taking turns in the spotlight. One performer is renowned for his lightning-fast footwork. Another combines twirling shawls with sasstastic poses. A third has been described as singing as though she's emptying out her entire soul in front of the audience. In other words, there's quite a lot going on.

It may not be the most “authentic” version of flamenco you’ll ever see, but if you’re new to it like I was, that won’t matter in the slightest. 

Find out more: https://www.sadlerswells.com/whats-on/gala-flamenca-2026/ 

5: Play "guess how much this costs" at London's biggest art show

Summer Exhibition 2026
Tuesday–Sunday until 23 August, 10:00–18:00 (Fridays until 21:00)
Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD
Adults £23, under-16s free

It’s back! The RA’s Summer Exhibition is one of the cultural highlights of my year – which is no doubt helped by the fact that it doesn’t feel like a traditional gallery viewing in the slightest. It’s very buzzy, very lighthearted and very full of chatter – and I’m pretty sure it’d be that way even without the wine bar in the middle of one of the galleries.

The exhibition is stuffed with contemporary paintings, sculptures, photography and prints, which have all been accepted for inclusion by a panel of professional artists. There’s such an assortment of art that you’re bound to appreciate some of it – even if others feel like a gigantic piss-take.

When you enter the exhibition, you’ll be given a tiny, ridiculously thick catalogue – one that you’ll struggle to read if your eyesight is anything less than 20/20. (On the plus side, some of the artwork definitely benefits from a bit of myopia.) The catalogue contains all the artworks and their prices, because – fun fact – everything is available for purchase. As you probably won’t be in the market for a scarily realistic model of a dead cat for £66,000, you can instead play a brilliant game of “Guess how much this costs” with your family. I promise this is so much more fun than the game we used to play there: “Could we afford this if we sold the flat?”

Sooner or later, you’ll spot something and think, “Hang on, I could have done that.” Conveniently, the Royal Academy agrees that this is at least theoretically possible, because anyone can submit work for the Summer Exhibition: all you need is £40 and an internet connection.

… And if you sell just one successful artwork, that £66,000 dead cat might suddenly become attainable. 

Find out more: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2026

While you’re there… 

👍️ Fortnum & Mason has a new Biscuitorium – and if you're surprised that a single biscuit there can cost £29.95, well, you should be. Admittedly the Whoppalossus is enormous, weighing 400g. But it's also not much different from a giant Wagon Wheel.

I've done the maths, and 400g of Wagon Wheels (approximately 11 biscuits) would set you back less than £3 – which means Fortnum's has found a way to charge more than 1,000% extra for the same quantity of a very similar biscuit.

Thankfully, there’s much more to the Biscuitorium than what must be the UK’s most expensive tea-dunking implement. There’s an interactive “Biscuit Library” – which is not where you borrow a biscuit, nibble a bit and return it. It’s where you’ll make choices from 12 flavour categories before receiving a tailored biscuit recommendation. There’s also a “Made in Piccadilly” counter, where in-house chefs make biscuits from the Made in Piccadilly range in front of you.

Then there are all the pre-packaged biscuits – more than 70 varieties – including new flavours like Vanilla & Smoked Sea Salt, Fig & Almond Cantucci, and White Chocolate Coated Apple Crumble. If you think these options must be considerably cheaper than the £30 Whoppalossus, you would be right – but not on a gram-for-gram basis. Oh.

There’s also a miniature biscuit replica of the entire Fortnum & Mason store. It’s beautiful. And it’s free (to look at).

Think of the Biscuitorium as a fairground for people who enjoy biscuits. There's no admission fee, but you'll pay over the odds for most of the attractions. Accept that upfront and you'll probably have a wonderful time.

Other listings

This section brings together both new events I don’t have room to expand on and selected older ones from past newsletters that are still running. If you see a “(see my write-up here)”, that’s your cue to click through and rediscover whatever Past Me felt strongly enough to write about.

King’s Cross Pétanque (see my write-up here)
Until Wednesday 30 September, 09:00–21:00
Pancras Square, King's Cross, N1C 4AG
FREE – just turn up
Age guidance: suitable for all

1996: 30 years on (see my write-up here)
Mondays–Saturdays until 19 September, 09:30–various closing times depending on the day
Barbican Music Library, Barbican Library, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
FREE – no booking required
Age guidance: suitable for all

Hopeful Monsters
Saturday 20 June, 11:00 and 14:00
Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND
£9 per person
Age guidance: 5+

A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Until 18 July, 12:30 and/or 19:45
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, The Regent's Park, Inner Circle, NW1 4NU
From £15 per person
Age guidance: 10+

Arthur
Until 9 August, various start times (see website)
Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, SW19 1SB
£10 per person
Age guidance: 6–12

Anish Kapoor
Until 18 October, Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00 (Saturdays until 20:00)
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Adults £22, 12–16s £8, under-12s free

Safety Last! + Live musical accompaniment
Saturday 20 June, 11:00
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Adults £5, under-18s £2.50
Age guidance: 6+

The Art of Mini Golf
Until 26 July, various timeslots (see website)
Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN
£15–£25 per person (depending on time/date)
Age guidance: “The Art of Mini Golf is not recommended for children under 9 years old. Entry is at parents’ discretion. Please note that one artwork contains drug references and imagery that young viewers may find disturbing.”

Folk Family Day
Sunday 21 June, 10:00–14:00
Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA
Free – ticket required
Age guidance: suitable for all

Summer Family Festival
Sunday 21 June, 10:00–16:00
Dulwich Picture Gallery, College Road, SE21 7AD
Free entry (with some paid sessions) – booking required for all
Age guidance: suitable for all

M.C. Escher. The Exhibition (full review coming soon!)
Tuesday–Sunday until 6 September, 10:00–19:00 (Sundays until 17:00)
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
Adults £24.50, 4–12s £17.50, under-4s free

The Lost Oasis (full review coming soon!)
Until 30 August, various multi-hour timeslots
St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ
£6–£11 per person

Pirate Pixie & The Mermaid
Various dates until 26 July, 10:45 and (usually) 14:15
Whippersnappers, College lodge, Old College Gate, College Road, Dulwich Park, SE21 7BQ
Adults £17.50, children £28.50
Age guidance: 3–7

Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait (see my write-up here)
Daily until 6 September, 10:30–18:00 (Friday and Saturday until 21:00)
National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE
Adults £27, under-26s £5, under-12s free

Serpentine Pavilion 2026 by LANZA atelier (see my write-up here)
Until 25 October 2026, check website for precise timings each day
Situated by Serpentine South, Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA
FREE

The Sun and The Moon: Art Inspired by the Celestial (full review coming soon!)
Until 8 September, 10:00–18:00
Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY
Adults £20, 6–16s £13, under-6s free

Winston Churchill: The Painter (see my write-up here)
Daily until 29 November, 10:00–17:00
The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN
Adults £18, 12–17s £6, under-12s free

Origo: Delcy Morelos (see my write-up here)
Daily until 31 July, check website for opening times
Sculpture Court, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
FREE

Holy Pop! (see my write-up here)
Daily until 9 August, various timeslots throughout each day
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
Pay what you can

Elizabeth I: Queen & Court
Until 10 July, weekdays 09:30–18:00
Philip Mould & Company, 18–19 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5LU
Free – no booking required

Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep
Until 3 January 2027, timeslots between 10:00 and 16:30
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD
Adults £17.50, 4–17s £8.75, under-4s free
Age guidance: 8+

Bubble Explorers
Until Friday 23 October, various timeslots each day
Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD
£4.50 per person (under-2s free)
Age guidance: 7 and under

The Rapping Princess
Until 21 June, various start times each day
Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, SW19 1SB
£11 per person
Age guidance: 3–6

The Flying Bath
Until 12 July, various start times each day
Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN
Adults £15.50, 1–17s £13.50
Age guidance: 2–5

Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape
Until 19 July, various start times each day
Little Angel Studios, Sebbon Street, N1 2EH
Adults £15.50, 1–17s £13.50
Age guidance: 5+

Zurbarán (see my write-up here)
Daily until 23 August, 10:00–18:00 (Fridays until 21:00)
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN
£20–£22 (off-peak/peak), under-18s free

David Bowie: You're Not Alone (see my write-up here)
Until 10 September (most days), 10:30–16:30 or 17:30 depending on the day
Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, N1C 4DY
Adults £29.50, 3–18s £19.50, under-3s free (family discounts available at certain times of day)
Age guidance: suitable for all

Mundo Pixar Experience (see my write-up here)
Until 28 June, 09:00/10:00–20:00 (earlier start time on weekends)
Fulton Road, Wembley, HA9 0TF
Adults £34–£36, 2–15s £22–£24, under-2s free
Age guidance: suitable for all

Cleopatra: The Experience (see my write-up here)
Daily until 12 July, timeslots from 10:00
Immerse LDN, Excel Waterfront, ExCel, E16 1XL
Adults £27, 4–15s £22, under-4s free
Age guidance: suitable for all

David Hockney: A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts about Painting (see my write-up here) (RIP David!)
Tuesday–Sunday until 23 August, 10:00–18:00
Serpentine North, West Carriage Drive, W2 2AR
FREE, but booking required

Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends (see my write-up here)
Daily until 15 November, 10:00–17:45
Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA
£11 per person (under-4s free)