There is so much to see and do for families in London you will never get bored. But if you’ve already visited the major attractions like Buckingham Palace, the Natural History Museum, or the Greenwich Observatory, you might be looking for a different way to keep yourselves amused.
Thankfully, across the capital, from Hatton’s Cross to Cockfosters and Mill Hill to Clapham Common, there are plenty of activities you can enjoy that will also push the bounds of your creativity – while combining fun with learning and exploration.
So, if you are looking for something new to do in London, here are seven creative day-out ideas your family should consider.
1. Join a Family Art Workshop
London is home to some of the best art galleries in the world, including the National Gallery, Tate Britain, and National Portrait Gallery. All of these are places you should make a point of visiting.
If you and your family want to explore your creative side, you can arrange for them to attend a Paint and Sip session with Pinot and Picasso.
Despite its name, you can arrange for a private session just with you, your partner, and the kids (as well as even grandma and grandad).
The onus here is on having fun and being creative, and you can even pick up some new techniques and styles as you create your masterpieces.
2. Join a Musical Jam Session
Love music? Well, why not take the opportunity to create your own?
Music studios, such as WeJam, provide families with an excellent opportunity to get creative on instruments like lead, rhythm, and bass guitars, keyboards, and drums.
You can play them in the studio and even record the tunes that you make to listen back to when you are at home.
Overall, it’s a lot of fun and a great way to introduce or capitalise on your love of music. You never know; you may even get discovered as the new Jonas Brothers, Sheppard, Pointer Sisters, or The Corrs while you are doing it!
If your children are more in the toddler-aged range, Monkey Music might be a more appropriate option.
3. Enjoy an Immersive Theatre Experience
Do you or your children fancy yourself as the next Emma Watson or Ryan Reynolds?
If the answer is yes, then a great way to introduce them to the world of acting is to take them to an immersive theatre experience.
Avora is an innovative adventure when families can enter a world of mystery and intrigue, personified by incredible theatrical sets, captivating sensory experiences, and a talented cast of convincing actors.
As you are part of the story, you get to act it out in a way that will pique their interest in the performing arts.
4. Take a Family Cooking Class
Nothing brings families together quite like food, so why not tap into this shared love by signing up for a family cookery class?
Throughout London, there are several cooking schools you can join, including the Jamie Oliver Cookery School, Le Petit Corden Bleu, and Made in Hackney. There are also many individual classes based on specific genres of cuisine, including Thai, Indian, Chinese, and Italian, as well as sweet or savoury classes.
These experiences can be a great way for families to bond together while learning new skills. They also provide you with the additional bonus of being able to try your creations once you have made them.
5. Experiment at a Science Museum Workshop
The Science Museum has some fantastic exhibits across themes like The Energy Hall, Exploring Space, and Making the Modern World. However, it is also home to the fabulous Wonderlab gallery, which offers a range of hands-on workshops for budding inventors and engineers.
The lab is ideal for children aged 5 to 12 and enables them to conduct interactive experiments as well as discover coding and robotics. It is both fun and educational and will no doubt spark their curiosity in science and technology.
6. Get Building at a Lego Café
If you have fans of Lego in your family, then take a trip to Brickies Club in Wokenham. While this will involve travelling an hour out of London, this fabulous Lego café provides you with all the bricks you could ever need to create towering structures or intricate designs.
The great thing about this cafe is that it has a relaxed atmosphere and serves lovely coffee, which parents can enjoy while the kids get creative.
If you don’t fancy leaving London, the Lego store in Leicester Square has a Minifigure Factory, which allows you to design and build your own Minifigure.
7. Solve Mysteries in a Family Escape Room
If the weather is bad, then a great indoor option in London is to visit an Escape Room.
This craze has really taken off in the last few years, and there are now several operating around London. Many of them offer specific sessions for families that present many different themes, including everything from pirate treasure hunts and enchanted forest adventures to million-dollar bank robberies and the world of witchery.
These activities encourage children to think and test their problem-solving skills and, best of all, to do it in a way that they can relate to and find enjoyable.
