50 Ways to Keep Kids Cool in London This Summer
After years of running outdoor holiday camps, we've learnt a few things about surviving a London heatwave. We know where to find the coolest corners of the park, which splash parks are worth the trip, where to grab an ice cream afterwards, and what to do when it's simply too hot to be outside.
With more hot weather expected this summer, we thought we'd share some of our London heatwave recommendations. It's full of local favourites, simple at-home activities, hidden green spaces and family days out that make those extra-hot summer holiday afternoons a little easier and a lot more fun.
Beat the Heat at Home
Water balloons (Archie Favourite)
Our top heatwave activity at Archie’s is a water fight. You can’t beat a classic. Split into teams, build a fort in your back garden or local park and let the chaos begin. Bonus points for a dramatic slow-motion dodge or a surprise ambush.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
DIY sponge bombs
A brilliant eco-friendly swap for water balloons. Just soak, throw, repeat! They’re softer, reusable, and somehow end up turning into a full-blown Sponge Bomb Olympics every single time.
Cost: <£10
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Frozen treasure hunt
Freeze toy dinosaurs, LEGO figures or little treasures inside a tub of ice and let the rescue missing begin. Armed with spoons, warm water and lots of determination, kids will be busy for far longer than you’d expect.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Ice painting
Freeze coloured water into ice cubes with lolly sticks and let little artists paint patios, fences or paving slabs. The masterpieces won't last forever, but that's all part of the fun.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Homemade ice lollies
Raid the fruit bowl, blend whatever you've got and freeze into colourful ice lollies. They're surprisingly easy to make, taste even better because you've made them yourself and are perfect after a hot afternoon in the garden.
Cost: <£10
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Garden camping
Who says you have to leave home for an adventure? Pitch a tent, tell stories by torchlight, toast marshmallows (or just enjoy a late-night hot chocolate) and fall asleep under the stars, without being far from your own bed if plans change!
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Sprinkler obstacle course
Turn the garden into your very own Archie's challenge course. Think crawling under sprinklers, balancing with water balloons, sponge relay races and a slip-and-slide finish. Warning: parents may accidentally get roped into joining in too!
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
DIY car wash
Give the bikes, scooters and toy cars the VIP treatment! Fill a bucket with soapy water, hand over a sponge and let little helpers scrub away. It's messy, surprisingly satisfying and keeps everyone cool while ticking a few jobs off your list.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Best Splash Spots
Diana memorial fountain (Archie’s Favourite)
One of London's best free summer spots. Splash through the winding streams, paddle your way around the fountain and cool off before settling down for a picnic in Hyde Park.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Dukes meadows Splash Park
Water jets, splash pads and some very happy children! It's the perfect place to burn off some energy before grabbing an ice cream or heading over to the playground.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Granary Square Fountains
With over 1,000 fountains popping up from the ground, it's impossible to resist running straight through them. Pack a towel, you'll definitely need it!
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Southbank Fountains
A brilliant stop on a sunny day in the city. Cool off in the fountains, watch the street performers and wander along the river with an ice cream in hand.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
The Water Labyrinth, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Bring the swimming costume and let the fountains do the rest. With huge open spaces, playgrounds and plenty of room to picnic, it's an easy place to spend the whole day.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Clapham Common Children’s Water Park
A South London favourite for good reason. This free splash pool is ideal for younger children to paddle, play and cool off, while parents can relax nearby with a coffee and a well-earned sit down.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Wimbledon Park Splash Pad
A hidden gem for hot summer days. With splash jets, paddling areas and a fantastic playground right next door, it's the perfect spot to cool off before settling in for a picnic under the trees.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Outdoor Swimming
London fields
An East London favourite that's heated all year round! Stretch out on the sun deck, take a dip and pretend you're on holiday for a couple of hours.
Cost: £6.40 for adults, £3.50 for children
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Tooting Bec Lido
One of the UK's biggest open-air swimming pools and a true South London icon. Pack a picnic, enjoy a proper swim and make a whole day of it.
Cost: £10 for adults, £5.30 for children
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Hampton pool
A family favourite with heated pools, grassy picnic spots and plenty of space to relax between swims. It feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of London.
Cost: £10 for adults, £6-7 for children
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Parliament Hill Lido
Cool off with a swim while soaking up some of the best skyline views in London.
Cost: £5-9 for adults, £2.70 for children
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Brockwell Lido
A brilliant place to spend a sunny afternoon, whether you're swimming lengths or simply relaxing by the pool. Don't forget to reward yourself with something tasty from the much-loved Lido Café afterwards.
Cost: £10 for adults, £5-6 for children
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Ruislip Lido (Archie’s Favourite)
A little slice of the seaside without leaving London. With a sandy beach, woodland walks and even a miniature railway, it's a fantastic family day out when the temperatures climb.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Paddle, Row & Explore
Paddle boarding in Chiswick (Active 360)
Swap the playground for the Thames and see London from a completely different perspective. Active360 offers everything from family taster sessions to longer adventures, making it a brilliant option for older children who fancy trying something new.
Cost: Different packages
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Kayaking in Richmond (Back of Beyond Adventures)
A peaceful paddle through one of the prettiest stretches of the Thames. With expert guides leading the way, you'll glide past islands, wildlife and riverside pubs, it's the perfect choice if you're after something a little more adventurous than your average day out.
Cost: £42 for 2.5 hours with different packages
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Moo canoes (Archie’s Favourite)
Set off from Hackney Wick and explore the calmer canals and waterways around East London and the Olympic Park. The stable, beginner-friendly canoes fit two or three people, making this an affordable little adventure for families who want to see a completely different side of London.
Cost: £15pp
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Dulwich Park boating lake
Sometimes the simplest days out are the best. Hire a rowing boat or pedalo, enjoy a gentle trip around the lake and then make the most of the fantastic playground, café and open parkland nearby. It's affordable, relaxed and perfect for younger families.
Cost: £6 for adults, £4 for children
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Serpentine Pedaloes
London classic that's just as fun now as it was when your parents were children. Hire a pedalo on the Serpentine, wave at the swans and enjoy one of the best views of Hyde Park before rewarding yourselves with an ice cream afterwards.
Cost: £9.50 - £14 for adults, £5.50-£7 for children
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Ice Creams Worth the Detour
Oddonos
A West London institution for over 20 years, it's the sort of place local families return to every summer, and don't leave without trying the mint choc chip!
Cost: <£10
Coolness: 4/5 ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Gelateria Danieli
A Richmond favourite for over 30 years, best enjoyed with a cone in hand while watching the boats drift along the Thames just a few minutes away.
Cost: <£10
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Badiani
Home to the world-famous Buontalenti flavour, this is the place to visit if you're after a proper "holiday-style" gelato after exploring Chelsea or Battersea Park.
Cost: <£10
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Amorino
Every ice cream is hand-shaped into a flower at no extra cost, making it almost as exciting to look at as it is to eat.
Cost: <£10
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Dolce Crema
A lovely independent café in the heart of Barnes, ideal for combining with a riverside walk or a visit to the Wetland Centre.
Cost: <£10
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Nardulli’s (Archie’s Favourite)
Right opposite Clapham Common and just a short walk from the splash pool, it's the perfect pit stop after an afternoon of running, climbing and cooling off.
Cost: <£10
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
La Gelateria Della Luna
A tiny, family-run gelataria has opened this summer and is tucked away on the Fulham Road. It feels like a proper neighbourhood secret rather than somewhere people travel across London to visit.
Cost: <£10
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Anya Hindmarch Ice Cream Project
Only here until 16 August, this iconic summer pop-up serves wonderfully weird ice cream flavours including Oxo, Capri-Sun, Paxo Stuffing, Kikkoman Soy Sauce and even Euthymol Toothpaste.
Cost: <£10
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
London’s Coolest Green Spaces
Isabella Plantation
Tucked away inside Richmond Park, this hidden woodland garden feels noticeably cooler than the rest of London, with winding paths, streams and plenty of shady spots to explore.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Chiswick House and Gardens
With towering cedar trees, hidden pathways and wide-open lawns, it's the perfect place to escape the busiest parks on a hot day.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️
Kyoto Gardens
This peaceful Japanese garden is one of London's coolest hidden corners, where waterfalls, koi ponds and dense planting make it feel a world away from the city.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Battersea Park (Archie’s Favourite)
With tree-lined paths, a boating lake, adventure playground and plenty of cafés, it's easy to spend a whole summer afternoon here without feeling stuck in the heat.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
St James Park
Follow the lakeside paths, spot the famous pelicans and enjoy one of London's prettiest parks with plenty of shady benches along the way.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️
Kew Gardens
Home to one of the world's greatest collections of plants, Kew offers miles of leafy pathways, glasshouses and towering trees to keep you cool for hours.
Cost: £22 for adults, £2 for children
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Wimbledon Common
Ancient woodland, quiet trails and plenty of natural shade make Wimbledon Common feel several degrees cooler than the surrounding streets on a hot afternoon.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Bishop’s Park Fulham
Set right beside the Thames, this riverside park combines cooling breezes, a brilliant playground and a paddling pool that's always a hit with younger children.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Too Hot Outside? Our Favourite Indoor Adventures
Natural History Museum
If you haven't been for a while, the dinosaurs are just as magical as you remember, and it's completely free.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Science Museum
Perfect for those days when it's just too hot outside, with loads of interactive galleries that kids can actually get stuck into
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Young V&A
One of our favourites for younger children, with plenty to build, climb, play and create.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
London Transport Museum
If you've got a train, bus or Tube obsessed child, they'll happily spend hours here.
Cost: Free
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Clip n Climb
A brilliant option when they've still got energy to burn but you don't fancy standing in the sun all afternoon.
Cost: £18-25
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
KidZania Westfield
Kids can spend the day trying out grown-up jobs while you enjoy a well-earned coffee nearby.
Cost: Different Packages
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Sea Life
Cool, calm and packed with sharks, turtles and penguins, an easy win on a really hot day.
Cost: £35 for adults, £30 for children
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Polka Theatre Wimbledon (Archie’s Favourite)
A lovely mix of theatre and play, with shows designed especially for younger children and plenty to keep them entertained before and afterwards.
Cost: £16 per ticket
Coolness: ❄️❄️❄️❄️
