Find free and low-cost activities for children and young people to do this summer, from holiday courses to drop-in sessions.
Drop-in activities for under 5s
Camden libraries offer a range of free rhyme time, story time and baby bounce sessions.
Camden Children’s Centres and Family Hubs run free stay and play sessions, including for children with developmental delays.
Dates: Various, every week
Location: Across Camden
Find out more about:
What’s on at libraries
Activity groups at Children’s Centres and Family Hubs
Plants and pots workshop
Craft your own pots using recycled materials.
Date: Thursday 10 July, 4 to 5pm
Location: Highgate Library, Chester Road, N19 5DH
Gardening workshop
Learn how to care for your own mini gardens, while hearing how nature inspires author Anne John-Ligali’s storytelling. Free, booking needed – book at library desk.
Dates: Saturday 19 July, 11.30am to 12.30pm
Location: Kentish Town Library, 262-266 Kentish Town Road, NW5 2AA
Sports and physical activity holiday programmes
Free and low-cost activities for children and young people aged up to 18 (up to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities), including multi-sports and gymnastics schemes, Girls Get Moving sessions and more.
Dates: Wednesday 23 July to Friday 29 August
Location: Across Camden
Find out more about sports and physical activity holiday programmes
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
For children and young people aged 5 to 16 in Camden who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. Free activities from arts and crafts to sports – meals included.
Dates: Wednesday 23 July to Friday 29 August
Location: Across Camden
South Asian Heritage Month: Virtual reality tour
Virtual reality tour of famous historic cities in South Asia including Cox’s Bazar, Goa and Lahore. Free, ages 6+, under 12s need parental supervision.
Date: Thursday 24 July, 3 to 4pm
Location: Highgate Library, Chester Road, N19 5DH
Camden Summer University
13- to 19-year-olds who live or go to school in Camden can choose from over 60 free courses in creative arts, media, fashion, sports, cookery, and work and life skills.
Dates: Thursday 24 July to Friday 22 August
Location: Across Camden
Cycling training for children
Free cycling sessions, from beginners to building road skills. Booking needed.
Learn to cycle
Dates: Wednesday 6 August, 11.30am to 12.30pm and 12.45 to 1.45pm, and Friday 8 August, 11.30am to 12.30pm and 12.45 to 1.45pm
Location: Haverstock School, 24 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BQ
Building cycle confidence
Dates: Tuesday 5 August, 10 to 11am, and Thursday 7 August, 10 to 11am
Location: Haverstock School, 24 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BQ
Play schemes
Low-cost holiday play schemes for children aged 4 to 12, offering a range of activities and trips.
Dates: Wednesday 23 July to Friday 29 August
Location: Across Camden
Youth programmes
Youth centres and voluntary sector youth projects run a range of free and low-cost activities for young people aged 13 to 19 (up to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities).
Activities for children and young people with SEND
There’s a range of activities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Camden.
Find out more about activities for children and young people with SEND
Summer Reading Challenge
Children aged 4 to 11 can take part in the Summer Reading Challenge by visiting a Camden library. This year’s theme is Story Garden: Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors. Set a reading goal with your child and read over the summer holidays – comics and audiobooks also count. Children can earn stickers, receive certificates and win prizes.
Under 16s swim for £1
Children need to be accompanied by an adult who has a Better pay and play membership (£6.65 per year).
Dates: Before 10am during school holidays and weekends all year round
Location: our Better leisure centres.
Lego at Camden libraries
Build, create and play with free Lego sessions. Free play and RoboTech sessions for different age groups. Some sessions require booking.
Dates: Various, some term-time only
Location: Camden libraries
Films for the family
Join The Garden Cinema for family films for all ages. Screenings are ‘pay what you can’ so you can pay as much or as little as you can afford. On Sundays, films followed by free activities for children.
Dates: Weekend mornings, additional weekdays in school holidays
Location: The Garden Cinema, 39-41 Parker Street, WC2B 5PQ
Family station at the British Library
Visitors aged 6 to 16 can explore the British Museum galleries with themed backpacks filled with activities to explore different cultures, with a dedicated backpack for under 5s and resources for children aged 3 to 11 with additional sensory needs. Free, £10 refundable cash deposit required.
Dates: Weekends and school holidays
Location: Pick up from the Families Desk, located in the Great Court. British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG
Family station at the British Library
Drop-in for free creative and sensory play activities, and a reading corner. For children of all ages.
Dates: Last Sunday of every month (27 July, 31 August)
Location: British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB
