From swinging to treetop to treetop to going deep under London, here are some of the best family things to do with the kids in London this May half term. 

1 Frameless, Marble Arch

This large immersive art gallery is actually four galleries in one, with each space dedicated to a different theme be it abstract art or surrealism. Bringing together technology and art, displays are multi-sensory and use the latest interactive projection tech to create educational creative experiences for all ages. Displays include Beyond Reality, Colour in Motion, The World Around Us and The Art of Abstraction. Kids can also move brushstrokes to paint a Van Gogh or study some of the art world’s most creative minds.

Tickets: From £25/£15

Address: 6 Marble Arch  W1H 7AP 

Website: frameless.com

2 Lift 109, Battersea Power Station

Battersea Power Station's chimney lift offers a unique ascent to the top of one of its iconic chimneys in a glass lift. At the top, the viewing platform stands 109 metres above ground, and boasts an 360-degree view of the London skyline. Kids can also learn about the station’s history through interactive multimedia displays before shooting off in the lift.

Tickets: From £15.90/ £11.50 adult./child

Address: Battersea Power Station SW8 5BN

Website: lift109.co.uk

3 Go Ape, Various locations

With the spring weather around, head outside for an adventure that could take you zipping from tree to tree top, navigating ziplines and rope courses or race off on a segway. With several locations scattered about London, such as Alexandra Palace and Battersea, you’ll find a Go Ape near you, or make a day of it and head out to a countryside location.

Tickets: Prices start from £19

Website: goape.co.uk

4 Wicked, The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Victoria

One of West End’s longest running musicals of all time, family favourite WICKED tells the tale of two witches, one being Glinda, and the other the misunderstood Elphaba , modelled on Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West. The award-winning show touches on bullying, friendship and swimming against the tide as it tells the origin story of the Witches of Oz.

Tickets: From £22.50

Address: The Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Road,SW1V 1LG

Website: wickedthemusical.co.uk

5 BBC Earth Experience, Earl's Court

Featuring Sir David Attenborough and footage – included extended scenes – from the magnificent Seven Worlds, One Planet series, this immersive experience sees the footage projected across multiple multi angle screens so visitors immerse themselves in the natural world. Breakout areas offer deep dives into specific pockets of the natural world, including getting up close to (digital) creepy crawlies.

Tickets: From £28.50

Address: The Daikin Centre Earl's Court SW6 1TR

Website: bbcearthexperience.com

6 London Transport Museum’s Festival of Curiosity, West End

The London Transport Museum’s school holiday festival is filled with creative problem-solving challenges for young minds as it outlines all the creative problem solvers who put their imagination and inventiveness to the test when building London’s underground railway.  There’s a STEAM-inspired family trail, hands-on workshops on experimentation and failure, storytelling sessions and the opportunity to meet real-life engineers too.  

Tickets: Free

Address: Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 7BB

Website: ltmuseum.co.uk

7 Royal Museums Greenwich

Always as good family day out, the Royal Museums Greenwich put on a feast of activities for families come half term. There's the Cutty Sark Rig Climb, planetarium shows, colourful characters to take you around the National Maritime Museum and arts clubs. It the sun it out, the grounds are a great place for a lounge, picnic or runaround lso, it's LGBTQ+ History Month at National Maritime Museum so look out for the storytelling sessions, workshops and film screenings that celebrate queer maritime history. Events and activities start from free.  

Address: Romney Road, SE10 9NF

Website: rmg.co.uk

8 Family Activities at Chelsea Physic Garden

With workshops on mindfulness, chocolate and soap making, the physic garden’s family activities over the school holidays will see you child learn about botanics and nature in a fun, hands on way.  There’s also quiet painting sessions, and the opportunity to make your own carnivorous plant, which sounds pretty cool.

Date & Time: Various points throughout the holidays

Tickets: Varies

Address: 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea SW3 4HS

Website: chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

9 Half term DIY Icing, Biscuiteers, Notting Hill and Belgravia

After a quick, five-minute tutorial, children are let loose to style their biscuits to their creative desires with the help of their parent. These informal sessions take place every day throughout the holidays, and you can book or walk-in. For something a little more structured and supervised, buddy bakers can decorate a selection of biscuits at the Little School of Biscuiteers, while you have a coffee and take a load off. 

Dates: DIY Icing, daily

Price: £22pp

Address: 194 Kensington Park Road Notting Hill, W11 2ES; 14-15 Eccleston Yards, 21 Eccleston Place SW1W 9AZ

Website: biscuiteers.com