Rain or shine, children need entertaining. Even more so when it’s the tail end of the summer holidays and every museum and playground in London has been visited. Twice. The key to a good children’s activity is one that holds their attention for more than 15 minutes, potentially more, and is not completely insufferable for the parent or guardian who has been dragged along. Here are 10 kid-friendly days out when the regular venues are no longer cutting it. Gen Z gamers and retro video game enthusiasts alike can enjoy the selection of arcades and entertainment at Babylon Park in Camden. Just an eight-minute walk from Camden Road station, the capital’s first underground theme park even has an indoor rollercoaster, as well as VR experiences and more modern tech, and £30 brings an hour of unlimited access. Another popular amusement park option includes the recently launched Fairgame in Canary Wharf, where classic fairground games have been given a London makeover. Tickets there start at £19 per person. For larger groups, Funland in Bloomsbury offers group tickets and packages to make every young gamer’s dreams come true. 8 Castlehaven Rd, London NW1 8QU, babylonpark.com Pottery building and ceramic classes are the new and improved pottery painting sessions of the past. Suitable for children from six upwards, Pottery Studio 1 London in Whitehall offers classes to foster creativity, imagination, and fine motor skills through the art of ceramics making. Kids can try their hand at the pottery wheel for £70 per person and will be left with a glazed and fired keepsake to take home. Other pottery options include Social Pottery, Crown Works Pottery, The Kiln Rooms, and Dalston Clay. Prices start at £70pp at pottery-london.co.uk Sheltered from the rain, Escape London hosts escape room experiences for children at its various locations across the capital. From a wizarding castle to a mysterious temple, children can choose the perfect setting for a puzzle-packed adventure. Sibling bickers and spats will be firmly parked at the door as this activity requires team building and collaboration to break free. This is one for children aged 10 and above but will provide entertainment that the whole family can get on board with – parents included. Tickets start from £39.50 at escape-london.co.uk, various locations including Whitechapel, Hammersmith and Shepherd’s Bush An afternoon tea is the quintessentially British way to hide from the summer showers and the capital offers plenty of picks for young Londoners, including a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed option at the One Aldwych hotel. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s iconic story, this afternoon tea is more of a feast, featuring treats straight out of Willy Wonka’s factory for £55 per child. The Royal Lancaster has also collaborated with the Natural History Museum for a floral-inspired children’s afternoon tea, with a more classic selection of finger sandwiches, scones, and fauna inspired goodies. Prices start at £30 per child. The Science Museum also offers an afternoon tea option, which is less glamorous but works well after a long walk around the exhibitions. Tickets start at £55 per child and are available at onealdwych.com, 1 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4BZ Swimming isn’t just for sunshine. London has plenty of indoor lidos to splash about in, rain or shine. Favourites include leisure centres in Swiss Cottage, Clissold, Greenwich, and Leyton. The Olympic Aquatics Centre is also highly regarded for being one of the best indoor swimming facilities around. The 50m pool was used during the London 2012 Olympics but is now open to all for both classes, 1-1 lessons, and family swim sessions. The Oasis Sports Centre in Camden is a more central location offering daily swimming sessions at its heated indoor pool. For a slightly more upmarket experience, not many Londoners will know about the Dilly Health Club located inside Piccadilly’s The Dilly Hotel. Here, you can pay around £22 per person for access to the health club’s gym, steam room and swimming pool. Family members club Jesse’s House has also become a popular choice for its Holiday Swim Crash Courses. Take advantage of the club’s indoor pool while boosting your child’s water skills. The club also has a café perfect for onlooking parents and a soft play zone to enjoy post-swim, though that part is members only and isn’t cheap. Membership starts at £235 a month at jesseshouse.co.uk, 8-10 Heathmans Road Parsons Green,London, SW6 4TJ Not a master chef yet? Who knows, maybe your child will become the next Gordon Ramsay. Created especially for children aged between eight and 12, leading cookery school Cordon Bleu has launched its children’s cookery courses in London. The school said its masterclasses will help your child (and you!) develop essential cookery techniques, though you will need to book onto the workshops in advance. From pasta to profiteroles, the dishes sound varied and useful. Prices start from £130 for three hours at cordonbleu.edu, 15 Bloomsbury Square London , WC1A2LS The museum’s summer workshops allow kids to create comic strips, manga, and more, and are reasonably priced at £15. They also happen to be the perfect way to buy yourself two hours of peace and quiet as parents aren’t permitted to stay. The workshops are designed to foster creativity and to take budding artists to the next level. Activity workers are fully trained. Workshops from £15 at cartoonmuseum.org, 63 Wells St, London, W1A 3AE If you can’t go outside, bring the outside in. At Crossrail Place Roof Garden, families are able to explore all that Canary Wharf has to offer, surrounded by greenery. This partly sheltered garden gives you access to exotic plants and flowers. The gardens are beautiful and are peaceful enough to have a gentle wander, but large enough to let kids have a good old-fashioned run-around, burning off what’s left of that summer holiday energy. Free at canarywharf.com, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AB The master of iced biscuits, Biscuiteers, has the perfect rainy day activity at its café in Notting Hill. From DIY icing to a mini afternoon tea, day sessions include a hand-illustrated gift box and a hot drink. Prices start at £30 for a an hour-long session. Prices start at £30 per person for workshop and £25 for children’s afternoon tea at biscuiteers.com, 194 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, W11 2ES Climbing has become somewhat of a trend du jour among Londoners, but children can get involved too. Balance, coordination, and agility are all the skills up for grabs at London Climbing Centre’s various locations. Sessions are available from £19 for an hour of games, exercises, and plenty of climbing. Prices start at £19 at londonclimbingcentres.co.uk, various locations