Long days, warm evenings and a packed cultural calendar make the week of Monday 22 to Sunday 28 June 2026 a brilliant one for families in London. A much-loved picture-book show returns to the West End, two new children's productions open in Islington, a museum throws a free birthday party, and Covent Garden turns into an open-air dance venue the whole family can enjoy. Below are the standouts for this week, date-checked against the venues, alongside the bookable favourites with the live prices we verified on Monday morning.
At a glance: kids in London this week
- Show of the week: The Tiger Who Came to Tea returns to the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 22 June, from £12, ages 3 and up.
- New for little ones: The Flying Bath (ages 2 to 5) opens at Little Angel Theatre on 24 June.
- Free family day: the Horniman Museum's 125th Birthday Party, Forest Hill, Saturday 27 June.
- Free and fun: the Royal Ballet School takeover of Covent Garden Piazza, with participation classes on 27 June.
- Best value attraction: SEA LIFE London Aquarium, verified at from £24.50 this week.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea is back
The family theatre highlight of the week is the return of The Tiger Who Came to Tea to the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 22 June. The Olivier-nominated stage version of Judith Kerr's classic picture book is aimed at ages three and up, runs a manageable fifty-five minutes with no interval, and was on sale from a very accessible £12 when we checked. It is one of the gentlest, most reliable introductions to live theatre for younger children. For older kids and teenagers choosing a first big musical, our age-by-age guide to the best West End shows for kids is the place to start.
Two new children's shows open in Islington
Over at the Little Angel Theatre in Islington, two new puppetry productions open this week. The Flying Bath, for ages two to five, opens on 24 June at the main venue and runs to 12 July, a splashy forty-five minutes of bath-time adventure. For slightly older children, Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape, based on Dermot O'Leary's book and recommended for over-fives, opens at Little Angel Studios on 25 June (with a relaxed performance on 27 June for families who need a calmer environment). Tickets for both were in the region of £15.50 for adults and £13.50 for children. The Little Angel is a treasure, and these intimate shows tend to sell out their short runs.
A free birthday party and an open-air dance venue
Saturday 27 June brings a genuine family treat: the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill celebrates its 125th birthday with a free party from midday to 5pm, featuring three music stages, craft workshops, an augmented-reality animal trail and the Smallympics games. Entry is free but needs a complimentary ticket, and demand is high, so book before you travel. The same week, the Royal Ballet School turns Covent Garden Piazza into a free open-air venue from 22 to 27 June, with dance films, live performances and, on 27 June, three free thirty-minute classes where children (and brave grown-ups) can learn a few steps. Both feature in our wider best free things to do in London this week guide.
The bookable favourites, with this week's prices
For a full day out, the city's family attractions are all open and good value this week. Prices below were checked on our own catalogue on Monday 22 June:
- London Zoo, from £35, rated 4.5. A proper full-day adventure in Regent's Park.
- SEA LIFE London Aquarium, from £24.50, rated 4.5. Right by the London Eye, perfect for a half day.
- Kew Gardens, from £25, rated 4.7. Acres of space to run around, with the Treetop Walkway a guaranteed hit.
- London Transport Museum, from £27, rated 4.4. Climb aboard old buses and Tube trains in Covent Garden; tickets give a year of unlimited returns.
- The London Eye, from £29, rated 4.5, and the Tower of London, from £37, rated 4.7, for the big-ticket icons.
- Frameless, from £29.51, rated 4.7. An immersive art experience near Marble Arch that keeps all ages absorbed.
Family musicals for a bigger night
If your children are ready for the full West End experience, three crowd-pleasers are sitting at friendly prices this week. Matilda The Musical is from £25 and rated 4.6, a perfect first musical for primary-age children. The Lion King, from £43.75 and rated 4.8, remains the most spectacular family show in town. And Wicked, from £12 and rated 4.6, is a wonderful choice for older children and teenagers. For help matching a show to your child's age, our best London shows for families with kids guide and our round-up of the best West End shows to take a teenager to are both worth a look before you book.
If you are planning several outings, tickadoo+ membership can make the bigger days more accessible; see tickadoo.com/membership.
A free and easy family day in the open air
With the longest days of the year and term still in full swing, this is a lovely week to keep things simple and outdoors. The Royal Parks are at their best: Hyde Park has the Diana Memorial Playground with its giant pirate ship, St James's Park has the pelicans and the best views of Buckingham Palace, and Greenwich Park combines a huge grassy hill with the free National Maritime Museum at the bottom. Pack a picnic, let everyone run, and you have a full day out for the cost of the travel. The free spectacle of the Changing of the Guard is always a hit with younger children, and a ride on the top deck of a red double-decker bus is a genuine attraction in its own right. For more no-cost ideas this week, including the Horniman party and the Covent Garden dance takeover, see our best free things to do in London this week guide.
A quick word on planning with children in tow. The new children's shows at the Little Angel are short and intimate, which suits younger attention spans, and the relaxed performance of Toto the Ninja Cat on 27 June is designed for families who would prefer a calmer, more flexible environment. For the bigger attractions, midweek tends to be quieter than the weekend, and booking a timed slot ahead of arrival saves a lot of queue-side negotiation with tired little legs. If you are matching a West End show to your child, our age guide to every West End show is the quickest way to find something suitable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best show for young children in London this week?
The Tiger Who Came to Tea, back at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 22 June, is ideal for ages three and up: just fifty-five minutes long and from £12. For ages two to five, The Flying Bath opens at Little Angel Theatre on 24 June.
Is there anything free for families this week?
Yes. The Horniman Museum's 125th Birthday Party on 27 June is free (with a complimentary ticket), and the Royal Ballet School's Covent Garden takeover runs free from 22 to 27 June with free participation classes on 27 June.
What is the best value family attraction right now?
On our Monday price check, SEA LIFE London Aquarium was from £24.50 and Kew Gardens from £25, both excellent value for a half or full day. The London Transport Museum, from £27, includes a year of unlimited return visits.
What is a good rainy-day option with kids?
SEA LIFE London Aquarium, the London Transport Museum and Frameless are all largely indoors and keep a range of ages happy. London's big free museums, including the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, are also superb wet-weather choices.
Which West End musical is best for a first visit with children?
Matilda The Musical, from £25 this week, is a perfect primary-age first musical. The Lion King is the most spectacular family choice, and Wicked suits older children and teenagers well.
Where can I book family tickets?
You can book all of these on tickadoo, which is built by the founders of London Theatre Direct. Families who plan several outings a year may want to look at tickadoo+ membership for ongoing savings.
That is the family week sorted. For everything else on across the city, see our what's on in London this week guide and the West End Insider, and browse the full family line-up at the London hub on tickadoo.
Built by the founders of London Theatre Direct, with 25 years of expertise in theatre ticketing. The tickadoo editorial team covers West End and Broadway shows, attractions, tours and experiences across 700+ cities.
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