🚂 39 things to do in London this weekend with the kids (4–5 July)

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Hey DILFs!

Congratulations on surviving last week's heat insanity! If your kids were off school too, congratulations even more. And if your boss was demanding that you show up at work in a shirt, jacket and trousers, please let me know so I can add him to my personal enemies list.

Now that it's a bit cooler and you can venture outside again, perhaps you'd like to head to the NOW Building at Outernet (by Tottenham Court Road station)? It has four-storey wraparound screens that display giant digital artworks and immersive installations – and even when a brand is footing the bill (which is fairly often), the show is still pretty good somehow.

The big attraction there at the moment is Goal Rush – sponsored by Skechers. The press release described it as "the UK's most visited cultural attraction" before it had even opened – and it’s this kind of confidence gap that explains why one person is the CEO of Skechers while another is writing about it in a free newsletter for dads.

Goal Rush transforms the NOW Building's giant screens into a live football game. To take part, you'll need to download an app, then follow the instructions on the screens to turn your phone into a motion controller – shooting, tackling and competing against everyone else who's playing at the same time.

As with all NOW Building installations, it's all completely free to visit and take part in. Any sudden urge to buy trainers is, I assume, entirely coincidental.

But if you're footballed out already, never fear: that's what the rest of this newsletter is for! Enjoy,

Jeff

1: Finally visit Quentin Blake's long-awaited new centre

Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration: brand new public arts space and gallery
Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00
1 Myddelton Passage, EC1R 1AG
FREE entry to library, shop and cafe; exhibitions: adults £16.50, 5–17s £6.60, under-5s free (scroll down the tickets page if you wish to see prices that exclude donations)

Quentin Blake is one of the very few illustrators whose work seems to have survived completely unchanged across generations.

When I was eight, I read The Twits, Matilda and The BFG. Now my eight-year-old reads The Twits, Matilda and The BFG. While the books (and their author) have been through their fair share of criticisms, cancellations and rewrites, Quentin Blake's marvellously scratchy illustrations have escaped controversy and continued to make kids laugh like they always did.

So when I heard that Blake would be founding his very own centre for illustration, I was MEGA excited. I told you all about it back in April, bought tickets the moment they went on sale, and spent the whole of May looking forward to the opening. And now I've finally been. And it's beautiful.

The Quentin Blake Centre occupies a former waterworks at New River Head in Clerkenwell – a collection of old industrial buildings that once helped pump fresh water into London. Rather than knocking everything down and starting again, the architects have kept much of the original character, which means you get a distinctive collection of brick structures plus a peaceful garden, mini-playground and outdoor seating area. It's airy, calm, unique and delightful – with a shop, community spaces, a cafe and galleries.

There's also a library that I'm pretty sure will become the main attraction. It's the UK's first public library dedicated entirely to illustration, and it's packed with more than a thousand picture books, graphic novels and illustrated works. Alongside Quentin Blake you'll find everyone from Maurice Sendak to Tove Jansson, plus contemporary illustrators from around the world. There are comfy places to sit, areas for kids to try out their own artistic skills, and the hugest range of sensory toys I've ever seen. (No: they can't take them home. And yes: you may have to get a staffer to tell them when they refuse to believe you.)

The paid galleries are split across three exhibition spaces. One is permanently dedicated to different aspects of Quentin Blake's work, while the others feature contemporary illustrators and exhibitions exploring the wider world of illustration.

Which brings me to my one big disappointment.

Given that the place literally has Quentin Blake's name above the door, I was expecting a smidge more Quentin Blake. But the Quentin Blake gallery is blink-and-you'll-miss-it tiny, tucked away at the top of the building. There are some original sketches, a handful of books and a small selection of material about Blake's work and process, and that's basically it.

I did love the MURUGIAH exhibition (downstairs from Quentin, on a floor with considerably more square footage). His art is colourful and bonkers, filled with pop culture references as well as shout-outs to his Sri Lankan heritage and Welsh upbringing. It's all very BAMinyourface – in a great way. When I visited, all the kids seemed to be having a great time spotting familiar faces from films, games and cartoons hidden throughout the artwork.

The largest exhibition, Queer as Comics, was a tougher sell. I'm no prude, but we spent a lot of time wandering around while I tried to work out which bits to explain, which bits not to explain, and whether I really wanted to discuss some of it with an eight-year-old and a toddler. While the material was interesting, it felt a bit too "adult" for a gallery that most visitors will associate with the author of beloved children's books. Mostly, though, it just reinforced the feeling that there wasn't actually much Quentin Blake to see.

There are two bits of good news. Firstly, you could easily make the trip for the library alone – especially as it’s free, along with the cafe, gardens and public gardens (which are also lovely). And secondly, all the exhibitions are temporary. If you too were hoping for a bit more Quentin (or Quentin-inspired art) in the inaugural line-up, perhaps future exhibitions will give us what we want.

Find out more: https://qbcentre.org.uk

2: Explore the museum that's too big for the museum

Depot open days: Powering London
3–5 July, 10:00–17:00
Museum Depot, 2 Museum Way, 118–120 Gunnersbury Lane, Acton, W3 9BQ
Adults £16.63, 4–17s £8.75, under-3s free (not sure what you do if your child is 3 years old…)
Age guidance: suitable for all

Do you have a favourite tube line? Strong opinions on Routemasters? Are you someone who notices train station architecture and considers Harry Beck to be one of the cleverest humans to have ever existed? Firstly, you and I should be friends. Secondly, let’s hope your children are into all this stuff as much as you are, because they’re coming to this open day whether they like it or not.

The Acton Depot is essentially a massive warehouse containing all the vehicles, artwork and brand designs that won’t fit inside the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. And it’s not just the sloppy seconds. You’ll get to see unique buses like the Routemaster RM1 and RM2 – early prototypes of the iconic design, including the open rear platform that lets you hop on and off. And you can also take a peek at iconic trains like the 1927 stock (one of the first electric Tube trains with automatic sliding doors) and 1938 stock (widely considered the gold standard of Underground design, and used for decades).

Whenever the depot opens up to the public, there are family activities (such as building your dream Lego city and designing your very own Underground tiles), interactive demos, vintage posters to buy, old tube trains to sit in, and a miniature railway to ride. (Everyone who works there is really proud of the miniature railway, fyi, in a way that is mostly sweet and only a little bit odd.)

There’s also a theme for the open day; this one is “Powering London”, and it involves exploring how electricity has powered the city for over 125 years – from the first electric trams onwards. It’s basically Comic Con for transport nerds. And if you’re the type of person who can tell Johnston from Gill Sans a mile off, you’ll have the best time ever.

Find out more: https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/depot-open-days/powering-london

While you’re there…

👍️ Admittedly it’s about a mile away from the depot (an easy ride on the District line or #70 bus if you don’t fancy the walk), but there’s a house in Chiswick that’s covered, front and back, in intricate mosaics. It’s the work of mosaic artist Carrie Reichardt, created over 20 years with help from other artists around the world, with designs that touch on everything from politics to the prison system.

Across the walls you’ll find everything from quotes by Martin Luther King Jr. to pieces highlighting the realities of death row and other social injustices. Around the back, things get a bit more surreal thanks to a huge white octopus sprawling across the wall, while along the top edge a series of small pyramid shapes track the phases of the moon.

3: Visit the world's strangest house share

Handel Hendrix House: Hendrix in London
Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00–17:00
Handel Hendrix House, 25 Brook Street, W1K 4HB
Adults £14.50, 13–17s £5, under-13s free

Did you know that royal court composer George Frideric Handel and psychedelic rock dude Jimi Hendrix lived in adjoining buildings on Brook Street? Handel was at #25, Hendrix in a flat at #23 – and if you immediately wondered “At the same time???”, I’m so glad I’m not the only one with a shaky grip on history. The buildings were combined in 2016 to form Handel Hendrix House – and I’m convinced the alliteration helped seal the deal.

The Handel section has been restored to look as it did in the 18th century, with rooms including his rehearsal space (complete with a playable harpsichord), the bedroom where he died, and the kitchen and dining room. There are also original manuscripts, personal items, and early editions of his work throughout.

The most impressive part of the Handel section is the composition room, where he wrote Messiah. At designated times each hour, you’ll hear footsteps pacing – like Handel has just walked in. Then music begins, and it sounds like he’s playing Messiah in the next room. It’s very eerie and very cool.

Hendrix’s flat has also been recreated to match how it looked during his time there (1968–69) – and according to his former girlfriend, it’s spot on. Alongside his giant record collection and some great audio and video clips, there’s also an excellent exhibition on Hendrix’s place in the music and culture of 1960s London.

If you're wondering why I'm sharing all this information about a permanent exhibition that's been around for ages, I promise there’s a good reason! The Hendrix part of the house has just acquired more than 500 new items from the archive of Patricia "Trixie" Sullivan, who was the personal assistant to Hendrix's manager. It's a thrillingly nosy peek behind the curtain, with contracts, handwritten letters, rent bills, dry-cleaning receipts and phone records for you to inspect.

And yup: even though he was one of the planet’s biggest rock stars, he still couldn’t escape admin.

Find out more: https://handelhendrix.org/events/hendrix-in-london

While you’re there…

👍️ You’re a few minutes’ walk from one of my favourite streets in London: Mount Street. Wikipedia has just told me that Winston Churchill lived there, but that’s not why I like it (and it would be a very weird reason if it were).

It's one of the poshest streets in London, but doesn’t make a song and dance about it – and it's wonderfully quiet. There are immaculate red-brick buildings, independent boutiques, lovely-looking cafes and enough window shopping (emphasis on "window", unless you’re swimming in cash) to keep you occupied for a good hour or so.

4: Add some Lion King to your zoo visit

Disney’s The Lion King Exhibition
Daily until 31 August, 10:00–18:00
London Zoo, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY
Free with zoo admission (adults £34.50, 3–15s £24.10, under-3s free)

Please tell me you've seen that viral video of the guy translating The Lion King's opening chant into English? It has me in giggles every time I watch it, which is a shame because it’s no longer ok to do so: the comedian in the clip is being sued by the composer of the chant, and everything’s gone a bit nasty. If you have anything that's equally grin-inducing but less problematic, please let me know: there's a hole on my homescreen (and perhaps in my heart, too) that needs filling.

Thankfully, there's some other Lion King news that's considerably less litigious: London Zoo has a new Lion King exhibition! Which means that, if your family is into Mufasa, Simba, Nala et al., the zoo's extortionate entry fee might sting ever so slightly less.

Inside, you'll get up close to the masks, puppets, costumes and props from the West End production – close enough to notice details you'd never spot from the audience. The stitching and beadwork are impressively intricate for costumes you'll only ever see from afar, and the wildebeest masks are far bigger than they look on stage. There are also displays explaining the craftsmanship and African artistic traditions behind the designs, so it feels like a genuine behind-the-scenes exhibition rather than a glorified merch stand.

You'll almost certainly leave with The Lion King's opening chant lodged firmly in your brain again. Hopefully that's where it'll stay.

Find out more: https://www.londonzoo.org/plan-your-visit/events/disneys-lion-king-exhibition

While you’re there…

👍️ Follow the Zoo's new blue plaque trail, which celebrates famous residents and visitors from the past 200 years. You'll discover where Harry Potter first spoke Parseltongue, the real-life bear that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, the penguin pool from Harry Styles' As It Was video, and the spot where The Beatles were famously refused permission to shoot their first album cover.

5: Visit the festival that forgot to advertise itself

SouthWestFest
Saturday 4 July, 12:00–17:00 (post-festival banquet 17:00–19:00
St George’s Square, SW1V 3QN
FREE (except for the bouncy castle, but no word yet on how much that costs)
Age guidance: suitable for all

I visited the SouthWestFest website every day for a week, hoping for an update so that I could tell you about the darn thing. But at the time of writing (a few days out from SouthWestFest), the website still says, “We’ve got loads of exciting things planned, including a very special event at the new Pimlico Hub. We’ll be updating the website soon with more information.”

Thankfully, it seems their social media person is more on the ball – so after finally realising they had a Facebook presence, I worked my way through their multiple posts to compile a list of all the day's events. (Does "two posts" count as multiple? Then let's stick with multiple.)

And after all that effort, I'm cautiously optimistic. For a start, SouthWest refers to South Westminster (rather than South West London) – which is a surprisingly central place for a festival. So central, in fact, that you might spot a bunch of tourists accidentally wandering in after leaving Buckingham Palace. There'll also be live music, workshops and creative activities such as costume-making, a BOUNCY CASTLE(!!!), and then a FREE community banquet from 17:00 – once the festival has finished.

I looked at the programme from SouthWestFest 2024, and there was tons: everything from Hymns & Pimm's and birdhouse-building workshops to Disney show tunes performed by a full orchestra, plus dozens of talks, walks, exhibitions and family activities. SouthWestFest then took 2025 off to rethink the festival. Judging by the 2024 programme, I sincerely hope they didn't rethink it too much.

If SWF2026 is anything like the 2024 festival, you're in for a treat. If it isn't, perhaps the website was managing expectations all along.

Find out more: https://southwestfest.org.uk

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.

Discover Children’s Story Centre: reopened!
Daily 10:00–17:00
Discover Children’s Story Centre, 383–387 High Street, E15 4QZ
Adults and children aged 1+ £11, children aged 0–1 free

The Magic Garden
Daily until Saturday 10 October, 10:00–16:00
V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
FREE
Age guidance: 5+

In Other Worlds: Liam Young (see my write-up here)
Tuesday–Sunday until Sunday 6 September, 10:00–17:45 (until 19:45 on Fridays and Saturdays)
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Adults £19, 5–15s £6, under-5s free

House of Dreamers (see my write-up here)
Daily until 30 September, timeslots throughout the day
Immerse LDN, Excel Waterfront, ExCel, E16 1XL
Adults £28.90, 3–12s £23.90, under-3s free
Age guidance: suitable for all

Immersive Gamebox London (see my write-up here)
Open daily, with various timeslots throughout each day
Various locations: Southbank, Shoreditch, Westfield Stratford City, Wandsworth and more
Prices vary depending on the type of game you play and how many games, but they start at £21 for a 30-minute game (£18 for 3–11s)
Age guidance: most games are most suitable for 8+, but there are some games suitable for 5+ and 3+; the website has more information

Everyman on the Canal (see my write-up here)
Daily until 16 August, films at 12:00, 14:30, 17:00 and 19:30
Regent's Canal Towpath, N1C 4PQ
FREE
Age guidance: depends on the movie!

Julio Le Parc: Light. Colour. Action. (see my write-up here)
Daily until 3 May 2027, 10:00–18:00 (until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays)
Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
Adults £15, 12–18s £5, under-12s free

Frida: The Making of an Icon (full review coming soon!)
Daily until 25 June, 10:00–18:00 (until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays)
Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
Adults £25, 12–18s £5, under-12s free

Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica
Tuesday–Sunday until 6 September, 10:00–17:00 (until 19:00 on Thursdays and Fridays)
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Adults £19, under-16s free

Petit Pierre from Paris
Saturday and Sundays until 12 July, 11:00 and 15:00
The Well Walk Theatre, 49 Willow Road, NW3 1TS
£15.90 per person (last few tickets remaining)
Age guidance: 3+

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026
Until 7 October, 10:30–18:00 (Fridays and Saturdays until 21:00)
National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE
FREE

Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience
Daily until 30 August, various timeslots throughout the day
Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD
Adults £22.90, 10–17s £20.35
Age guidance: must be 10+

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

The Ice Cream Project by Anya Hindmarch (see my write-up here)
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

Summer Exhibition 2026 (see my write-up here)
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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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

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

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)

Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits
Most days until 31 August, various start times depending on the day
Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EZ
£21.25–£45 per person
Age guidance: 5+

The Science of Fireworks!
Saturday 4 July, 14:30–15:45
The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS
Adults £17.06, under-17s £10.85
Age guidance: 7–13