10 Free Cultural Events and Open Days for Families in London

You’ll find amazing free cultural events across London’s top museums and parks that’ll keep your family entertained without breaking the bank. From Science Museum’s interactive workshops and Natural History Museum’s dinosaur trails to British Museum’s holiday craft sessions and Royal Parks’ nature discovery days, there’s something for every age. Don’t miss the Young V&A Summer Festival, Royal Society’s hands-on science exhibits, or late-night museum openings with special family programming that reveal even more exciting opportunities.

Science Museum’s Free Festivals and Hands-On Learning Zones

Where can your family plunge into hands-on science without spending a penny? The Science Museum’s Great Exhibition Road Festival transforms South Kensington into a free science playground every year. You’ll find interactive storytelling, live experiments, and creative workshops perfect for primary-age kids right on the streets and inside the museum.

During festivals, pop-up zones appear in galleries where children can try coding, engineering builds, and maker activities as drop-ins – no booking needed. Live science shows break down complex topics like climate and space into fun 20-40 minute sessions.

Year-round, explore Wonderlab’s 50+ hands-on exhibits and the free Technicians Gallery, where older kids can simulate real tech careers. Partner institutions like the Royal Albert Hall often join in, adding music and performance to your science adventure. Families can even try unique activities like insect yoga classes that blend mindfulness with natural science learning.

Natural History Museum’s Family Trails and Sensory-Friendly Sessions

Just around the corner from the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum opens its doors to free family adventures that cater to every age and sensory need.

You’ll find self-guided Family Favourites tours featuring Fern the Diplodocus and dinosaur exhibits that keep even 3-year-olds engaged. Download trails at home or grab them from QR codes at the Families Desk in Great Court.

For younger kids, try Colour and Shape trails (ages 3-5) or the free Space Family Trail exploring meteorites. The museum also offers themed backpacks that provide specialized adventures like African exploration and ancient Greece experiences.

The Dinosaurs gallery offers “stomp like a dinosaur” activities, while sensory-friendly sessions provide calm, interactive experiences.

Most trails take 30-40 minutes, letting you pace according to your family’s needs without overwhelming little ones.

British Museum’s Holiday Craft Sessions and Activity Backpacks

The British Museum transforms holiday breaks into hands-on learning adventures through their Young Friends programme, where kids can join museum sleepovers featuring gingerbread treasure box crafts, Roman activities, and Victorian holiday traditions.

You’ll discover midwinter storytelling sessions and Christmas through time programmes that bring history alive.

Between museum visits, you’ll receive bi-weekly activity backpacks via email containing trails, quizzes, and craft projects. These digital packs include videos for home learning and access to Remus magazine three times yearly.

Your membership provides pre-sale tickets for family sleepovers and special events.

Kids love exploring artefacts, learning hieroglyphs, and drawing amulets during these interactive sessions.

For adults seeking creative relaxation, the British Schools Museum hosts evening craft workshops where participants create seasonal ornaments and holiday decorations in a festive atmosphere with warm drinks.

The programme runs busiest from 27 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, making school holidays extra educational and entertaining.

Greenwich + Docklands International Festival Street Theatre and Workshops

How does watching parkour performers leap across Woolwich buildings or high-wire artists dance above Greenwich Park sound for your next family adventure? The Greenwich + Docklands International Festival delivers exactly that from 22 August to 6 September.

You’ll find everything completely free – no tickets needed for theatre, circus, dance, and dance performances across Greenwich, Thamesmead, Woolwich, and Stratford.

Don’t miss “Above and Beyond” featuring eight parkour performers on 22 August at 6:45pm, or “TRUTH!” in Greenwich Park on 24-25 August. The festival provides a Low Sensory Space with ear defenders and sensory toys for children who need a quieter environment.

Your kids can participate in the interactive performances, and the festival champions accessibility with British Sign Language interpretation and step-free access at many venues.

The Guardian calls it one of the UK’s best free festivals – you’ll discover why when you experience street arts transforming everyday spaces.

Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition Interactive STEM Experiences

From 1-6 July 2025, you’ll discover cutting-edge science through hands-on experiments at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition on Carlton House Terrace. This free week-long festival welcomes all ages with 13 interactive exhibits starting at 9:00 AM daily.

You’ll try nano-sensor surgical gloves that detect micro-pressure and control video games like Flappy Bird. Experience VR surgical training platforms where you’ll perform virtual procedures and play rhythm games. Test liquid-repellent coatings that make water dance off fabrics and keep surgical tools stain-free. These innovations showcase how nano-sensors cost less than $1 each while revolutionizing medical precision.

The Quantum Zone lets you engage with scientists about quantum technology. Two acoustics exhibits explore how elephants and spiders sense their environment through vibrations, plus ultrasound therapies.

You’ll interact directly with clinicians and engineers throughout your visit at 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG.

Open House Festival London’s Family-Friendly Building Tours

Building on London’s celebration of science and discovery, Open House Festival transforms the entire city into your family’s personal architecture playground from 13-21 September 2025.

You’ll explore over 800 free events across 33 boroughs, discovering extraordinary homes and historic buildings normally closed to the public.

Your kids can marvel at Station Lodge’s clever space-saving design or explore Six Columns’ Crystal Palace brutalist masterpiece.

Drop into Queensrollahouse’s converted Rolls Royce warehouse turned artist studios, or venture inside the Battle of Britain Bunker Generator House for rare WWII history access.

Take youth-led tours around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park or discover Chinatown’s hidden stories. The festival showcases homes with innovative façades like New Fauconberg Cottage’s radical wavy design that completely rejects conventional residential aesthetics.

With 370,541 visitors reporting enhanced wellbeing and strengthened belonging, you’re joining London’s largest architectural celebration that costs absolutely nothing.

Young V&A Summer Festival Performances and Creative Workshops

While architecture adventures wind down, your creative kids can plunge into the Young V&A Summer Festival on 5-6 July 2025, where free performances and hands-on workshops transform Cambridge Heath Road into a playground of imagination.

You’ll catch acrobatic theatre by Mimbre, hula-hoop magic from The Majorettes, and inclusive dance with Do Things Different. Between performances, kids can build giant tactile sculptures with Leap then Look, design bold costumes, or craft paper bead jewelry at drop-in stations throughout the museum.

Storyteller Roberta Livingston brings sensory poems perfect for younger children, while the dedicated SEND Festival on 6 July creates a calmer environment for kids with special needs. Throughout the summer holidays from 25 July to 15 August, free family activities continue every Friday with clay play, design challenges, and nature-inspired workshops.

With activities spanning ages 0-14, you can move freely between high-energy circus acts and quieter creative zones.

All Points East In the Neighbourhood Community Programme

The All Points East In the Neighbourhood programme transforms Victoria Park into four days of free family fun between the festival’s ticketed weekends, giving you access to live music, theatre, sports, and creative workshops without spending a penny.

You’ll find something for all, from Half Moon Theatre’s storytelling sessions to football with West Ham FC Foundation. Little ones can enjoy sensory play with bubbles and lights, while older kids try cricket, boxing, or hockey tasters.

The free cinema screens family favorites like Inside Out 2 and Mufasa. The event runs from Sunday 17 August to Wednesday 20 August, offering activities throughout the extended weekend.

Parents can join yoga classes or fitness sessions while kids explore arts and crafts. Local food traders offer tasty treats, though the funfair rides cost extra.

It’s perfect for discovering new activities during the school holidays.

Museum Late Night Openings With Special Family Programming

After most families head home for dinner, London’s major museums open their doors for special late-night sessions that transform your typical gallery visit into something magical. The British Museum’s Friday Lates offer free entry until 8:30pm, featuring storytelling and hands-on workshops perfect for curious kids.

Natural History Museum opens late on the last Friday of most months, letting you explore dinosaur galleries without daytime crowds while enjoying live science demos.

For transport-loving children, London Transport Museum’s Explorer Evenings create sensory-friendly experiences with historic buses and Tube carriages. The Science Museum’s themed evening events include interactive workshops and their famous silent disco where families can dance together while exploring galleries.

The Horniman Museum’s occasional Thursday Lates combine outdoor adventures with aquarium visits under evening skies.

Most venues offer free admission, making these after-hours discoveries budget-friendly alternatives to expensive entertainment while sparking children’s curiosity in quieter, more intimate settings.

Royal Parks Discovery Days and Nature Activities

Over 5,600 families discovered nature’s secrets for free during Royal Parks Discovery Days in 2025, and your family can join this amazing adventure during school holidays and half-terms.

You’ll find drop-in events at Hyde Park and Greenwich Park education centres, packed with hands-on activities perfect for ages 3-10.

Your kids can hunt for bugs, craft critters, explore invertebrate habitats, and enjoy storytelling sessions.

Special themed events include Hair Raising Halloween Discovery Days with activities starting at 11 AM, plus regular storytelling at 12, 1, and 2 PM.

The Nature Roadshows bring crafts, games, and wildlife connections throughout summer. For those interested in pursuing horticulture careers, The Royal Parks Guild also hosts Guild Discovery Day at ZSL London Zoo with free registration for apprentices, trainees, and students.

With over 10,000 visitors welcomed through guided walks and workshops, these free events are supported by partners like People’s Postcode Lottery, making nature education accessible for everyone.

The Sum Up

You’ve got amazing free adventures waiting across London! Pack snacks, bring your curiosity, and don’t forget comfortable shoes for all that exploring. Check websites before you visit since times and activities change seasonally. Many venues offer special programs during school holidays, so you’ll find extra fun when you need it most. These cultural gems prove you don’t need to spend loads to create brilliant family memories in our incredible city.