Best kids events in London to book for 2018

Ovo: Cirque du Soleil, Royal Albert Hall

Don't miss the spectacular Cirque du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall. OVO, their bug-themed extravaganza, promises to deliver thrills and chills with jaw-dropping, gravity-defying aerial acts.

DC Exhibition: Dawn of Super Heroes, O2 Arena

Explore the art history behind your favourite DC superheroes with an exhaustive retrospective spanning from Arkham Asylum to Amazonian island, Themiscyra. Following a successful run in Paris, the DC Exhibition: Dawn of Super Heroes will open at The O2 in London this February.

Peter Rabbit-themed Easter Festival at Kew Gardens

Bunny burglar Peter Rabbit has set his sights on a brand new botanical heist – the notorious produce pilferer plans to infiltrate the illustrious Kew Gardens this spring for their Easter Festival.

Click here for a full list of Easter events

Nordic Design, V&A Museum of Childhood

Get hygge with it: explore the Nordic designs that changed childhoods with this new exhibition. The V&A Museum of Childhood has amassed a collection of everything from the Moomins to LEGO for Century of the Child: Nordic Design for Children 1900 to Today.

Mary and the Witch’s Flower, Studio Ponoc

Stemming from Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli, Studio Ponoc is set to release their first-ever feature film in April 2018. Based on a children's fantasy novel, Mary and the Witch's Flower tells the story story of a young girl who discovers a mysterious flower and, subsequently, magic powers. With an all-star cast (think Kate Winslet and Jim Broadbent), this is one film families won't want to miss.

Lambeth Palace Gardens

Archbishop Justin Welby allows public access to his private green space – the oldest continuously cultivated garden in London – starting in April. Don't believe us? Find out by touring their adjoining garden museum.

Click here to read our list of the best outdoor activities for kids in London

Films in Concert, Royal Albert Hall

Cultivate an appreciation for music through the medium of film, thanks to the Royal Albert Hall. There will be screenings of classics like Harry Potter and Star Trek, accompanied by a live orchestra performing the score – one of the best family experiences in London.

Singing Snails: Slow Pixel, Sonica 2018

Prepare to be amazed by an operatic escargatoire: a choir of 176 snails will serenade audience members in an art exhibition known as Slow Pixel. Grab a ticket to Sonica, a weekend festival of sound art, to see (and hear) the groovy gastropods before enjoying the rest of the audio installations.

Festival of Science: Space, Royal Albert Hall

Calling all aspiring astronauts and astrophysicists: you're invited to venture into deep space at the Royal Albert Hall for their first-ever science festival. Presented in collaboration with the UK Space Agency, the festival has planned some stellar events sure to delight stargazers of all ages, from film screenings to musical events.

Click here for our round-up of the best activities for May half term

Children's Art Week 2018

Every year, kids from all over London participate in a vast array of artistic workshops known as Children's Art Week. The festival will return from 9 – 17 June 2018. Although little is known about the lineup of events, we can guarantee Children's Art Week will inspire budding artists of all ages.

Small Wonders, Punchdrunk

Founded 20 years ago by ex-teacher Peter Higgin, theatre company Punchdrunk has pioneered immersive theatre as we know it. Small Wonders, their brand new show, has been designed specially for families. Venture inside Nanny Lacey's flat to explore the wonders of her world: her homemade collection of miniatures. Each touching, tiny tableau depicts a memory she shares with her daughter, Bella. The flat unfolds like a beautiful, 3-D photo album, curated around stories and treasured moments in time.

Click here to read our list of the best immersive experiences for kids in London

Kids Week: kids go free to London shows

Kids Week – actually a month – runs for the entirety of August, a period when under-16s go free to a host of London's best shows when accompanied by an adult paying full price. Families can also pick up two additional children's tickets for half price with every transaction during this phenomenal family event.

Videogames, V&A

The V&A has announced their plan to host Videogames, an upcoming exhibition that will celebrate digital art as a medium and explore politics surrounding the online experience.

Open House Junior: free kids events

Little ones are invited to go behind the scenes of London's most recognisable landmarks at Open House Junior. Open-city – the team behind the summer's architecturally inspired Archikids Festival – offers a jam-packed programme of events aimed at helping children explore the city and master their creative talents.

Have a spooky Halloween

Creep on: Halloween means costumes, candy, and scary stories. London is always full of suitably eerie events for the occasion, with everything from monster supplies to pumpkin carving to keep the kids occupied.

Click here for our full list of October half-term events
Click here for our full list of Halloween events for families

War Horse, National Theatre 2018 re-run

War Horse returns to where it began – the National's Lyttelton stage – for a limited run to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice. Whether or not you're familiar with the book or film version of Michael Morpurgo's story, War Horse is something else altogether on stage.

Ice Skating

Get the kids out and about with one of London's most popular (and Instagrammable) winter activities: ice skating. With fantastic rinks from Canary Wharf to Somerset House open well into January, there's no excuse to stay locked inside next holiday season.

Click here for our full list of winter events for families