With the summer holidays fast approaching, you’ll no doubt be planning fun activities to do with the kids but wait… where is the sun? The British weather obviously has different plans.
While you are visioning being locked in at home by the heavy downpours and the latest films on repeat, there’s no need to panic.
London has a host of options to have up your sleeve for a rainy day. Here’s our top picks.
Ride the bus
Kid’s love buses. Especially London’s red buses. However, you don’t have to part with lots of cash for an open-top tourist ride. Simply pick one route number and hop on from start to finish. Route 24 is great for those who want to partake in a bit of sightseeing. It passes Westminster Abbey, Whitehall and Downing Street before reaching Trafalgar Square.
There’s so much to take in and learn about while staying dry!
Laser tag
Keeping the children active during the holidays or at the weekend can be hard work and pricey. At Star Command: The Outpost, kids (and big kids) can enjoy all the retro elements of laser tag with modern high tech equipment. The special arena is only a few minutes’ walk from Stratford’s Westfield Shopping Mall and with a great array of transport links nearby it’s super easy to get to. There’s a unique offer on during the school holidays with a huge 50% discount available too.
Along with this mini-arena, kids can also experience the latest VR technology on site before enjoying a great meal at one of the many family-friendly restaurants nearby in London's trendy East Village.
To book click here.
Clip 'n' Climb
When you need something that will suit a vast age range, Clip ’n Climb centres situated across London are definitely worth a visit.
It’s sort of climbing centre meets theme park and geared towards ensuring ‘everyone can’. Kids, big kids and toddlers can all have a go at climbing with helpful, knowledgable staff. Getting kids to exercise in a fun way is sometimes tricky so allowing them to have active fun in a safe environment is a big tick! Most Clip ’n Climb centres have challenges such as the drop-slide to try, soft play areas for the littlies and a place to eat, drink and re-fuel too.
Click here to find out more.
The Idol
Designed by Turner-nominate Marvin Gaye Chetwynd and inspired by sci-fi this is no ordinary soft play. Situated at Abbey Leisure Centre in Barking, The Idol features black-and-white printed walls and floors which envelop children in a chaotic, fantastical world of images. At the centre is a two-storey-high climbing frame that takes the form of a towering, cage-like robotic figure with labyrinthine chambers, ramps and levels.
For bookings, see the leisure centre website.
National Maritime Museum
For those looking for a hands-on educational trip, you can explore fourteen different galleries for free at the National Maritime Museum. Get close up to the actual uniform Admiral Nelson was wearing when he was fatally wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar and view an array of unique memorabilia.
The kids will be enthused with historic ocean life, they can steer mini ships around an interactive area, experience a ship’s bridge simulator and enjoy an action packed adventure play.
To find out more, click here.