With the six week Summer break hastily drawing closer you may be looking for ways to keep the kids entertained in London. Fortunately there are plenty of things to do and see in the English capital with children, activities which needn’t cost the Earth!

If you are planning your school holiday itinerary then you may be interested in reading about some great things to do with children in London during the Summer holidays.

On yer bike!

With so many bike stands now dotted around London, experiencing the city by bike can be a fun and unusual day for all the family. Whilst older children can use their own bike, children bike seats can be hired, meaning all the family can explore the sights of London by bike – An inexpensive and memorable family day out!

Swimming in a London lido

You may think that swimming outdoors in open air pools is an enviable pastime confined to the likes of Spain and Italy and you’d be wrong. On the contrary, London is home to numerous lidos, such as London Fields and Hampton Pool, which are open through the summer.

Whilst most London lidos are great for older children to swim and have fun, some of the outdoor pools have a paddling pool erected next to the main swimming area, so younger kids can splash about and join in the fun!

Head to an ice-cream parlour

Ice-cream and kids go hand in hand, particularly in those hot and sticky summer months and fortunately London is home to a throng of top-quality ice-cream parlours.

From the Italian Cocorino’s just off Marylebone High Street, which boasts more than 20 different ice-cream flavours, to Dri Dri in Notting Hill and Chelsea, where liquorice ice-cream is a firm favourite, treating the kids to an afternoon in a London ice-cream parlour will definitely be appreciated!

Sailing at the Serpentine

Get away from the hustle and bustle of London life by taking the family to Hyde Park and hiring a boat on the stunning Serpentine Lake. Since it was created in 1730, this 28-acre lake has been helping Londoners and visitors alike relax from the strains of urban living in tranquil surroundings – Who needs the Lake District when Hyde Park and Serpentine Lake is on your doorstep!