The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan yesterday invited families from across London and UK to spend their school holidays experiencing all that the capital’s attractions have to offer this summer.
Announcing the latest phase of his #LetsDoLondon campaign, the biggest domestic tourism the capital has ever seen, the ‘Family Fun’ season will see London burst back to life with an unprecedented range of family-friendly events and activities.
New City Hall figures show that while weekend visitor numbers to central London are improving, now at around 75 per cent compared to 2019, weekday visitors are still at around 54 per cent compared to before the pandemic. The Mayor today is inviting families from around London and further afield to visit the capital declaring ‘there has never been a better time for children and families avoid the queues at our wonderful attractions.’
Unveiling a whole range of exciting activities for children of all ages today, Sadiq is encouraging families across the capital and nationwide to plan a day trip, mini break or a longer staycation to what he is calling ‘Britain’s biggest playground’ this summer.
The Family Fun Programme will include everything from ‘Formula Fun’ go-karting on the streets of London, to new fairground rides, and events with top class musicians, poets, street artists and dancers. There will be new outdoor art trails, as well as exclusive events to celebrate the return of West End theatre as part of Kids Week. New outdoor learning and play experiences will also connect families with London’s nature and heritage through hands-on fun and inspiring activities led by Royal Parks. Further events and activities are being organised by leading cultural institutions such as the National Gallery, Sadler’s Wells, and Somerset House. This includes the Tate Modern inviting visitors of all ages to transform the floor of the Turbine Hall into a giant work of art.
Here are some of the great ‘Family Fun’ theatrical activities coming to London this summer:
- Kids Week Summer Outdoor Experiences, 23 August to 27 August. Free outdoor theatre activities for families in Leicester Square Gardens featuring theatrical storytelling, singalongs, dance, demos, puppet workshops and more as part of much-loved summer initiative Kids Week offering free children’s tickets to top London shows.
- Sadler’s Wells, Breakin Convention presents, August – September. The King and Queen of the Cobblestones, featuring the best breakers in the UK battling it out Bonnie and Clyde style in the Covent Garden Piazza. Also, live street art featuring the NEWNION JACK with a variety of immersive performances to entertain and energise central London. Including freestyle dance sessions, spoken word open mic, and a “hip hop chip shop” rap battle! Lots of opportunities to participate in the festivities so bring your skills!
Yesterday, The Mayor visited the London Transport Museum, which has a line-up of school-holiday activities that will get families thinking about how transport shapes life in the Capital and imagining what a greener future for the city could look like.
With children having been deprived of play and many other important experiences during the pandemic, the Mayor is inviting young Londoners to apply for a summer job like no other. He is today starting his public search to fill an exciting new vacancy – the opportunity to become London’s first ‘Mayors of Play’.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It’s been such an incredibly difficult 16 months for young people and their families, so I’m delighted that we can offer such a huge range of exciting events and activities that young people can enjoy.
“I want to turn London into Britain’s biggest playground this summer – whether with our plans for go-karting, new fairground rides, or opportunities to get involved in dance, poetry, art, or preserving nature in our wonderful royal parks. And in launching my search for London’s first ever ‘Mayors of Play’, I want to hear directly from our young people about what we need to focus on most to make the capital even better for children.
“With restrictions on international travel still in place, there has never been a better time for children and families from London and across the UK to avoid the queues and safely visit our wonderful attractions this summer.
“And with London’s streets still quieter than before the pandemic, by visiting the capital this summer, you’ll be giving our wonderful visitor attractions the support they need now more than ever to guarantee their survival.”
Emma De Souza, Kids Week founder and Head of Marketing and Communications at the Society of London Theatre, said: “We’re delighted to be heralding the return of theatre and working with the Mayor’s office to bring families back into the heart of the West End. Our week of free, outdoor creative activities in Leicester Square Gardens forms part of long-running initiative Kids Week, offering free children’s theatre tickets throughout August.
“It has been fantastic to launch Kids Week this year after being forced to cancel in 2020 – and the response has been overwhelming, with nearly 80,000 theatre tickets sold already to over 30 top London shows. Families are hungry to return to live theatre, and we’re looking forward to a summer of magical cultural experiences with Let’s Do London.”
To find out what other brilliant activities are on offer this summer, click here.