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
Activities at Children’s Centres and Family Hubs
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
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
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. Read 6 books with your child over the summer holidays – comics and audiobooks also count. Children can earn stickers and will receive certificates. There are also a range of free themed activities taking place in libraries.
Find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge
Check what’s on in Camden libraries
Cycling training for children
Free cycling sessions, from beginners to building road skills. Courses usually consist of 2 sessions on consecutive days. Booking needed.
Learn to cycle
Dates: Tuesday 5 August to Friday 8 August. 11.15am to 12.15pm and 12.45 to 1.45pm
Location: Haverstock School, 24 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BQ
Building cycle confidence
Dates: Tuesday 5 August to Friday 8 August. 10 to 11am
Location: Haverstock School, 24 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2BQ
Under 16s swim for £1
Children under 8 need to be accompanied by an adult who is also swimming – you do not need to have a membership.
Dates: Before 10am during school holidays and weekends all year round
Location: Camden Better leisure centres
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
Creative Health Camden Youth Hub
A relaxing social space for young people aged 12 to 18 with board games, books, an art workshop and free refreshments.
Dates: Thursdays from 31 July to 28 August, 3 to 6pm
Location: Civic Action Lab, 2 Prince of Wales Road, NW5 3LQ
Dates: Fridays, 3 to 5.30pm
Location: Kentish Town Health Centre, 2 Bartholomew Road, NW5 3BX
Workshop themes:
Friday 1 August: Block printing bags
Friday 8 August: Tattoo artwork t-shirts
Friday 15 August: Lino printing
Friday 22 August: Small artworks – badges, prints, notebooks
Friday 29 August: Special FX make up
Coram’s Fields Play Day
Join in free, inclusive celebration of children’s right to play. Live music, inflatables, creative workshops, sensory zones, animal encounters and sports challenges.
Date: Wednesday 6 August, 12 noon to 4pm
Location: Coram’s Fields, 93 Guildford Street, WC1N 1DN
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
Family learning events at Camley Street Natural Park
Drop-in for free family nature activities at Camley Street Natural Park, or book on to an Urban Nature Club workshop – £3 per family – for activities from nature scrapbooking to bushcraft. Drop-in activities are suitable for children of all ages, while Urban Nature Club workshops are aimed at 6 to 12-year-olds (younger siblings welcomed).
Dates: Free drop-in activities every Monday from 28 July to 18 August, Sunday 10 August and Sunday 24 August. Urban Nature Club workshops are every Wednesday from 30 July to 27 August.
Location: Camley Street Natural Park, 12 Camley Street, N1C 4PW
Find out more about family learning events at Camley Street Natural Park
Summer Play Days
Free family play days in the churchyard of St Giles-in-the-Fields. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Dates: Wednesdays from 30 July to 20 August, 11am to 4pm (run by Make-Do Play) and Thursday 21 August and Friday 22 August, 11am to 4pm (run by Assemble Play)
Location: St Giles-in-the-Fields churchyard, 60 St Giles High Street, WC2H 8LG
Pro Touch SA Summer Holiday Camp
Summer holiday camp for children aged 6 to 14 with activities including sports, team-building exercises, nutrition workshops and more. Free for residents of Holborn and Covent Garden ward or £20 per day. Booking needed.
Dates: Monday 28 July to Thursday 21 August
Location: Bourne Estate, Allen Hall, Portpool Lane, EC1N 7UN
New Scout groups in Camden
Children and young people aged 4 to 16 can join two new Scout groups in Camden to meet new people, learn new skills and try new things, including hiking, camping and swimming, as well as adventures indoors. The Scout groups are also looking for volunteers to support the groups.
Castlehaven Community Association
Dates: Mondays from June, various times depending on age
Location: Castlehaven Community Association, 23 Castlehaven Road, NW1 8RU
Find out more about the new Scout group at Castlehaven Community Association
Steve Smith Hall
Dates: Wednesdays from September with open day event on Saturday 9 August, 11am to 2pm
Location: Steve Smith Hall, Redhill Street, NW1 4AX
Films for the family at The Garden Cinema
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
Find out more about films for the family at The Garden Cinema
Kids Summer Fun at Camden Market
Camden Market hosts weekly events for kids during the summer holiday, including music, theatre, crafting and more.
Dates: Wednesday 30 July, 6 August, 13 August, 20 August, 1pm to 4pm
Location: Market Place, Hawley Wharf, Camden Market, NW1 8QH
Story Explorers at the British Library
Take a trip through the British Library collection, including a fun activity trail, a book corner and more. Ages 2 to 9. Free, booking needed.
Dates: Daily
Location: British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB
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 (31 August)
Location: British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB
British Museum family activities
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
