The summer holidays are just around the corner so it’s never been more important to get acquainted with all the kid-friendly activities in and around our little corner of West London.Â
New Balls Please
 
Starting with the very British passion for tennis! From 27th June to 1st July, Hurlingham plays host to the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic. This wonderful tournament celebrates timeless elegance and quintessential British traditions as the elite of the tennis world prepare for Wimbledon… which in turn begins on the 3rd July and last until the 16th July. Even if you haven’t managed to secure yourself some seats beforehand, Wimbledon is one of the very few major sporting events where you can buy premium tickets on the day of play. 500 tickets for Centre Courts, No.1 Court and No.2 Court will be sold for each day the courts are in play. You can also get yourself a grounds pass which enables you to access all courts including No,3 Court, Court 12 and Court 18, as well as The Hill, where they screen the action from Centre and No. 1 Courts.
Outdoor PursuitsÂ
If the weather continues to be beautiful throughout the whole of July, it’d be a crying shame not to enjoy all of the wonderful outdoor activities in London’s gardens and parks. In Gunnersbury Park they will be hosting a number of child-focused activities including an outdoor performance of The Wind in the Willows on the 19th July and of The Tale of Peter Rabbit on the 21st July. At Kew Gardens, they will be performing Alice in Wonderland from Wednesdays to Sundays, 22nd July to 28th August.Â
And if you’re interested in the horticultural, the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will be taking place from 4th-9th July whilst on 25th July at Chelsea Physic Garden, they are hosting Discover Ferns: Plant a Dinosaur Habitat, a workshop for children ages 5 and up where each participant will learn about the properties of ferns and design their own mini dinosaur habitat to take home.
Summer CultureÂ
Somerset House Summer Series returns in July 2023 with eleven nights of fabulous gigs within the House’s beautiful courtyard. The series presents a line-up of breakthrough music artists and established acts from across the globe. For something slightly more traditional, there is the always wonderful BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Running from 14th July all the way until 9th September, the programme showcases everything from Northern Soul to The Four Seasons. On 22nd July, the English National Opera Chorus and Orchestra will be showcasing the Horrible Histories’ ‘Orrible Opera at which children of all ages are welcome.
At Shakespeare’s Globe, they will be running A Midsummer Night’s Dream family workshops for those aged 5-8 and 9-12 for children aged 5 to 8. The Tate Modern is hosting UNIQLO Tate Play – the gallery’s new free programme of art, activities and play for families of all ages. Taking inspiration from the art on display at Tate Modern, their free activities and events offer families new ways to get creative and playfully explore art together. Meanwhile, the Museum of the Home is hosting a Summer Party on the 1st July, inspired by the class village fêtes of old.
The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition, which has run without interruption since 1769, runs from 13th June to 20th August. Among the 1,614 featured works you will find towering sculptures by the late Phyllida Barlow RA, Richard Malone’s dramatic mobile installation in the Wohl Central Hall, and a witty painting by comedian Joe Lycett. And at the V&A they will be hosting the DIVA Exhibition which will celebrate the power and creativity of iconic performers, exploring and redefining the role of ‘diva’ and how this has been subverted or embraced over time across opera, stage, popular music, and film.
You may also be interested in joining one of our events. Find out more about our upcoming events here.
