Summer holidays 2018 activities: Kid-friendly guide to London museums

The school holidays are upon us once again. That means parents everywhere are desperately searching for ways to keep the kids occupied for six weeks.

London’s museums are not only interesting for weary adults, but they're the perfect place for entertaining young explorers, artists and scientists.

These are London's best family-friendly museums, all of which are jam-packed with activities for the kids - and a big bonus is they're all free.

Science Museum

If you think you could be in charge of an Einstein in the making, the Science Museum has the rocket fuel they need to get that brainpower going. Interactive gallery The Wonderlab is home to a Chemistry Bar, Friction Slides, a Colour Room and more, as well as daily shows that promise explosions and fire tornadoes. Get immersed in a new world with the IMAX cinema’s 3D shows, or take control of a jet in the Fly 360 flight simulators.Budding astronauts can also sleep over at the museum on a fun-filled Astronight.

Exhibition Road, Kensington, SW7 2DD. Admission free (with charged ticketed exhibitions); sciencemuseum.org.uk

From dinosaurs to dodos, get to know the natural world at the Natural History Museum. At the Science Centre, kids can tackle creatures hands on with interactive handling sessions, while adventurous sorts can take on the Earthquake Simulator, or discover more about their prehistoric pals in the animatronically Dinosaur Encounter. Little ones can find Andy’s Clock from the CBeebies show Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures and 7-11 year olds who can’t bear to leave can join one of the museum’s Dino-Snores sleepovers. This summer, kids can also enjoy the Life In The Dark and Sensational Butterflies exhibitions.

Cromwell Road, Kensington, SW7 5BD. Admission free (with charged ticketed exhibitions); nhm.ac.uk

V&A

It’s all about shaking up the making at the V&A, and giving your kids some cracking creative inspo. Drop-In Design sessions will release their inner Christian Dior with hat-making workshops and more, while Pop-Up Performances will keep them entertained with magical journeys inspired by objects from around the world. If you want to get your hands really dirty, head to one of the family workshops, in which parents and children will be lead by a real artist or designer in creating their own masterpiece.

Cromwell Road, Kensington, SW7 2RL. Admission free (with charged ticketed exhibitions); vam.ac.uk

British Museum

Little explorers can turn back the clock at London’s most famous museum, with a few tricks to help them along their way. The British Museum runs family events every weekend ranging from sleepovers to manga comic workshops, shadow puppet workshops to discovering more about the famous Egyptian mummies. On weekends and school holidays, kids can pick up an activity-packed backpack, with colouring utensils available all year round. Young ones can also follow a virtual guide in the form of Baron Ferdinand, who can guide them round the museum’s newest galleries.

Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3DG. Admission free (with charged ticketed exhibitions); britishmuseum.org

Tate Modern

Running up and down the Turbine Hall seems to provide endless entertainment already, but Tate Modern has even more to offer to young artists. At the Tate Modern’s Start display, the gallery will introduce the kids (and you) to the big questions that will get your arty brain ticking, and the Family Map will show you where to find interactive artworks. If they want to get stuck in, head to The 8-14s Studio, a free monthly workshop which invites families to meet an artist who creates group activities inspired by how they work.

Bankside, SE1 9TG. Admission free (with charged ticketed exhibitions); vam.ac.uk

V&A Museum of Childhood

Yes, this museum is pretty much built for entertaining your little one – there are, after all, an awful lot of toys. As well as exhibitions displaying childhood playthings throughout the ages, children can get involved with daily activities that range from storytelling sessions to arts and crafts afternoons. Kids can also explore the ultimate doll’s heaven with a permanent display by Turner Prize winning artist Rachel Whiteread, featuring a hilltop town made up of 150 individual doll’s houses.

Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA. Admission free, including for ticketed exhibitions; vam.ac.uk/moc

Museum of London

A specially designed exhibition in the Museum of London's World City gallery will teach kids about the toys and entertainment enjoyed by generations past, while immersive galleries will transport kids into Victorian streets and Saxon homes. Alternatively, get goosebumps with more gruesome exhibits, including explorations of London’s sewer system and turbulent periods defined by war, plague and fire.

150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN. Admission free, including for ticketed exhibitions; museumoflondon.org.uk