Our Favourite Family Activities to do in London this Summer

Now that school’s out, there’s extra time with your LittleHumans. Whether you’re enjoying the summertime weather or staying inside on those hotter, or occasionally rainy days, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite family activities to do with your LittleHumans in London this summer to help you make the most of this precious time. And to make things even better, they are all free!

Picnic in the Park

With sunnier days and warmer nights, summertime calls for making the most of the sunshine. One of our favourite activities has to be a picnic in the park. Whether you’re grabbing some snacks from your local Sainsbury or M&S, or getting takeout from your favourite restaurant, there’s nothing like a picnic in the park to enjoy the weather and scenery of London.

One park that we personally recommend is, of course, Battersea Park — located right next to our shop in Battersea Power Station. With lots of luscious green and a view of the Thames, we think Battersea Park is pretty hard to beat.

Of course, we do have some other favourites. We recommend also checking out London Fields, Primrose Hill, St. James Park, and Regents Park for plenty of open space for a family picnic.

Pack all of your picnic essentials in Petit Pli’s Reversible Tote Bag — built to be rainproof and rip-resistant!

📍 Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ

Summer Splash

On those warmer days or during those occasional London heat waves, there’s nothing like cooling off in the water. London is home to a number of play fountains and splash parks for your LittleHumans to run and splash around. Whether it’s at the Granary Square Fountains at King’s Cross, the Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms at Southbank Centre, or the Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, there are plenty of places for your LittleHumans to play.

For little to no packing, dress your LittleHumans in Petit Pli’s Waterproof Bottoms to make your job a little easier. The Waterproof Bottoms are built to be splash-proof, comfortable, moveable, and durable so that your little ones are ready to take on any adventure!

📍 Granary Square Fountains, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AB

Day at the Museum

Looking for a day, or as some might like, a night at the museum?

London is home to a countless array of museums to spark imagination, curiosity, and wonder! We have to say that our favourite museum here at Petit Pli is the Young V&A. With over 2,000 objects for kids to play with and explore, the museum is a hub for LittleHumans looking to spark some imagination.

Some other honorable mentions we love are: the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the National Maritime Museum, and Tate Modern. With free entry to the public, there are countless opportunities in London to learn more about history and explore our creativity.

📍 Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Rd, Bathnal Green, London E2 9PA

Imaginative Immersive Experiences

In case you prefer a day inside, just like museums, there are many indoor activities for families to enjoy in London. One of our favourite indoor activities is going to an Immservie Experience.

Outernet is an art and culture district in the West End that is home to a number of different Immersive Experiences. From, “The Butterfly Trail” to “The Summer Palace,” we tend to be pretty enthralled by the imaginative and illuminating displays of light, colors, and shapes.

📍 Outernet London, Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 8LH

Outdoor Movie Night

In terms of summer movie nights, it’s pretty hard to beat an outdoor movie. Let alone, one right along the Thames. From 4 June - 23 July, London Bridge City is hosting “Summer by the River” movie nights. With movies like The Lego Movie, Back to the Future, and Encanto, we think this might be one of the best family summer activities listed so far. And, did we mention…? It’s free!

Even better — looking for somewhere to watch Wimbledon and the upcoming 2024 summer Olympics? London Bridge City is also streaming these exciting events throughout July and August. With the London Bridge in the background, we have to say that this is quite a cool place to watch.

Given also that the night time can get a bit colder, we suggest maybe bringing Petit Pli’s Merino Wool Jumper along for these movie nights at the river for some extra warmth on those chillier nights.

📍 London Bridge City, 2A More London Pl, London SE1 2DB

Family Fun at the Farm

Last, but not least, for our animal-lover LittleHumans, Crystal Palace Park is the place to be.

Looking to break away from the city? This park is sure to offer an escape to the country and some fun for the whole family! With a children’s farm, maze, playground, and more, there are plenty of options to choose from. On Sundays, there is also a market with street vendors — offering another great place to take your family for a picnic!

📍 Crystal Palace Park, Thicket Rd, London SE19 2GA

Time to Explore!

With a list of options now to choose from, we hope that you have a lovely time with your LittleHumans this summer exploring all that London has to offer. And who knows, you might even see one of us from Petit Pli when you’re off exploring — these are some of our favourite activities after all!