Run out of ideas? Here are our top ten London fun family holiday activities before school starts

As the school holidays draw to a close,  Flora Hughes-Onslow  rounds up the top ten fun family activities in London to see out the summer with a bang...


1. This morning I woke up from the most amazing dream... (The Tate)
Given that Brian Sewell rather simplistically compared The Matisse Cut-Outs to his own childhood arts and crafts creations, it seems rather fitting that the Tate has opened a family gallery alongside the blockbuster exhibition to allow visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in Matisse's colourful world. An immersive experience featuring new media, light and sound, this playful space will explore shadows, textiles, nature and more in a vivid and imaginative fashion characteristic of the master of colour himself.

2. The Scoop free open air cinema at More London
As part of the summer long open air festival More London , The Scoop amphitheatre screen backing onto Tower Bridge is offering Londoners the chance to catch free films in their scenic setting throughout September. And the programme for the next few weeks is particularly child-friendly, featuring Raiders of the Lost Ark , Life of Pi , The Truman Show and The Croods .

3. Little Creatures Family Festival at London Zoo
This programme of events created to honour the centenary of the arrival at London Zoo of A.A.Milne' s beloved Winnie the Pooh will ensure the school holidays end on a high note. A whole weekend of hands-on activities and fun themed around Pooh's own adventures –  woodland walks , games , and a Teddy Bear's Picnic  – are the order of the day. Oh and of course the chance to meet the zoo's spectacular animals including the majestic Sumatran tiger Jae Jae .


4. Kidsfest, Hampstead and Highgate Literary Festival
A special segment of this year's Hampstead & Highgate Literary Festival specially dedicated to the little ones, Kidsfest aims to entertain and engage through interesting and creative literary activities. Workshops will be run teaching your children how to draw cartoons, perform poetry and compose their own short stories, revolving around a range of subjects, from science fiction to fashion design .


5. After-school Art Workshops at Creative Arts Club
With a ratio of one teacher to five children, expert tuition , and inspired lesson subject choices, The Creative Arts Club's after-school workshops are the perfect place for your child's artistic potential to blossom. Learning a variety of new techniques and experimenting with canvas painting , large scale drawings and intricate sketches, plus getting a grounding in art history , budding artists will go far.


6. Overnight experience on the Golden Hinde
Not only a thrilling and action-packed experience, but also impressively authentic and historically fascinating, spending a night on the Golden Hinde , docked in Pickfords Wharf on Southbank , will certainly be a night to remember. With the chance to live and eat as seamen would have done in Sir Francis Drake 's era, sleeping in fairly crowded hammock-filled quarters (though the option is open to sleep on deck under the stars), this will be fantastic experience for all the family.


7. Children's pottery classes at Hackney City Farm
More creative inspiration for the little ones comes in the form of Hackney City Farm's drop-in pottery classes. Since it's not every day one can get one's hands on a kiln or a potter's wheel, these laid back and fun sessions are the perfect introduction to this ancient artisanry. And if all that pottery makes you hungry, you can head to the Farm's cafe, which serves fresh, seasonal fare in a remarkably tranquil environment for Central London.


8. Bekonscot model village day trip
Who doesn't love a miniature? Only an hour from London, Bekonscot in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire (about an hour's drive from London) is the oldest original model village in the world and will surely blow any child's mind with its incredible scale and attention to detail.

9. Finsbury Park fun fair
An all-time family favourite, the fun fair will never get old, and the Finsbury Park August extravaganza  in particular is a great way to see out the summer with a bang. Entry is £1, with a reasonable ten rides for a tenner once you're inside. 

10. Ritzy Saturday Kids' Club
Every week, the quirky and lovable Ritzy cinema hosts a special matinée event just for children, screening a carefully-curated selection of films, from recent blockbusters to all-time family classics , plus fun activities, all in a friendly and relaxed environment. Though childcare isn't provided, parents can leave children over eight in the staff's safe and capable hands (customers over 18 are also not permitted to attend unless they are accompanying a child).

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