Children attending summer clubs often make new friends and develop a strong sense of self. While some children may miss their screen time, they will have an experience they will never forget. Moreover, they will get the opportunity to explore different things that they wouldn’t normally do at home or in school.
Apart from the fun activities, kids at summer camps often learn the importance of healthy living. Most of these camps promote healthy living through sporting endeavours and outdoor activities. Healthy eating is also an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, children will learn new skills and develop their self-esteem and social skills while interacting with new people from all walks of life.
Here are 22 summer clubs for children in London updated for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
1. Active Camps Holiday Club
If you’re looking for multi-activity summer clubs for children aged 4-14 years during the half-term, Easter, and summer vacations, you’ve come to the right spot. Active Camps are managed by highly-skilled, friendly staff who supply a safe and happy environment for your children.
An abundance of exciting activities that never stop will ensure that your kids enjoy the most enjoyable summer holidays or half-term break. When they can try something new each day, they will experience a greater variety and thrilling experiences than they typically experience at a swimming school or an athletic camp.
Locations across South West London:
- Barn Elms Sports Trust, Queen Elizabeth Walk, SW13 9SA, 16th August – 3rd September
- Emanuel School Battersea Rise SW11 1HS 12th July to 20th August
- Graveney School, Welham Road, SW17 9BU: 26th July – 27th August
- La Retraite School, Atkins Road, SW12 0AB: 26th July from 27th August to 26th July
- St Paul’s School, Lonsdale Road, SW13 9JT: 12th July until 13th August
- Wimbledon College, Edge Hill, SW19 4NS: 2nd August from 2nd to 27th August.
Contact: 07896 546 067
2. Barracudas
Children will enjoy themselves this summer with unbeatable activities to satisfy any interest at Barracuda’s summer clubs in London. With 42 locations across the Southeast, you can pick the most convenient one.
The variety of activities your child can select from has been carefully planned, ensuring there’s something to suit every child. With more than 80 activities available and various activities to choose from, your child is bound to find activities they truly love. So, whether they’re budding artists or scientists or enjoy sports, your kids will have fun in Barracudas’ activity day camp.
Location: Airfield Industrial Estate Unit 9 Warboys Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE28 2SH
Contact: 01480 467 567
3. Camp Bonas Summer Club
Camp Bonas has developed an outdoor, non-screen-free, activity-based week for your child to explore their minds by taking part in creative workshops and team-based outdoor activities with the first UK Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty backdrop.
The camp is located in Camp Bonas; the children will reside in log cabins tucked away on the hillside, with organic pastures and forests. The cosy wooden bunks will ensure that every camper gets enough rest for a good time during the entire week of outdoor adventures.
Location: Bonas MacFarlane Education Ltd, Victoria House, 1a Gertrude Street, London, SW10 0JN
Contact: +44 (0) 207 223 2794
4. Camp Horizons
A school holiday program registered with Ofsted is specifically designed to supply low-cost summer childcare for parents. Camp Horizons offers 5-14-year-old campers a range of outdoor and indoor activities. This means they can enjoy their hobbies of choice and discover new ones in a safe and fun atmosphere.
They supply a wide range of activities like sports, arts and crafts, dancing, drama, arts and crafts, and many other camp favourites like Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, and inter-camp competition days. Every week, there’s a themed day that kids can delight in.
Locations across East London:
- UEL Sports Dock (Beckton)
- Bobby Moore Academy (Olympic Park)
- Buxton School (Leytonstone)
- Mossbourne Community Academy (Hackney)
Contact: 07858333200
5. Camps XUK
XUK supplies the opportunity to attend a summer club that offers a range of activities for kids between 8 and 17.
In beautiful surroundings, your child can enjoy an array of exciting, fun, imaginative, and exciting activities and an off-site day trip to Oxford, Worcester, or Stratford Upon Avon as part of their summer club for children. “Optional extras” enable each family to customize their summer club experience by choosing their activities!
Location: 48 Fitzalan Rd, London, N3 3PE
Contact: +44 (0) 20 8922 9739
6. Dulwich College Sports Club
HDO is a holiday camp for sports led by coaches with diverse backgrounds in sports who aid in developing sports techniques or teaching children about activities they’re yet to master.
Children’s activities for children ages 5-14 throughout the holiday break.
Location: Dulwich College Sports Club, Pond Cottages, London SE21 7LE
Contact: 020 8299 9292
7. The Hive
The Hive offers immersive experiences and projects for kids and teens to discover, design, experiment, and work together in the great outdoors.
The Hive’s summer clubs are fun, exciting, and demanding by combining nature-based techniques and gaming principles using real tools and technologies! The facilitators could be makers, artists and bushcraft experts, filmmakers, Forest School leaders, or scientists. They all love to help children understand nature in a fresh and engaging method.
Location: Roehampton University Roehampton Lane, London, SW15 5PU
Contact: 020 3435 6848
8. JAGS Sports Club
There is a Holiday Kids Club program for 4-11-year-olds to keep young children entertained during the school holidays. Weekend classes will enthral active kids with Baby Ballet, Baby Booters soccer, and the Toddler Trampoline. Birthday parties are extremely loved in the JAGS Sports Club, with many options that will suit your tastes and budget.
- Archery
- Climbing
- Diving
- Mini and multi-sports
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Trampoline
- Tri-sports
Drop-offs are available early, as well as late pickups.
Location: Red Post Hill Dulwich, London SE24 9JN
Contact: 020 8613 6500
9. Kaleidoscope Summer Clubs
The London summer clubs of Kaleidoscope are for kids from 6 to 12. Kaleidoscope offers outlets where kids can play and create, inquire about, play, and have fun during the holidays and even after school.
Kaleidoscope aims to foster and inspire an appreciation for the arts in youngsters, reconnect them with nature, and provide kids with the necessary tools and guidance to express, create, and discover.
Locations:
- St Luke’s Hall, St Luke’s Street SW3 3RP
- The Hall of Remembrance, Flood Street SW3 5SY
- The Hut, Alpha Place, SW3 5SY
- Christ Church Kensington, Victoria Road W8 5RQ
Contact: 0203 651 7870
10. Koosa Kids
KOOSA Kids has run Ofsted-approved summer clubs found in Berkshire, Hampshire, Richmond, and Surrey for over 15 years.
They supply high-quality, low-cost holiday club childcare while ensuring your kids have the most fun possible during the school holiday season. The holiday clubs are available all school holidays between 8.15 am, and 6.00 pm and they also offer the choice of booking an earlier standard day between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm.
Locations:
- Orleans Park School Holiday Club – Twickenham
- Sheene Sports Centre Holiday Club East Sheen
- St Mary’s Hampton Primary School Holiday Club Hampton, Virginia Hampton
- Teddington Sports Centre Teddington Sports Centre Club Teddington Sports Centre Holiday Club Teddington
- The Vineyard School Holiday Club – Richmond
- Whitton Sports Centre Holiday Club Whitton Sports Centre Holiday Club Whitton
Contact: 01276 21884
11. Little House of Science
Ideal summer clubs for children from 3-12 years old to study, experiment, play, and play.
- Smaller class sizes to ensure social distancing. The venue has been thoroughly scrutinized to follow the government’s rules.
- The holiday camps run weekly and daily between 9.30-3.30 (free early drop-off at 8.30 am)
- Holiday camps are entirely interactive and focused on projects throughout the day.
- Children will be taught in groups and separated by age/ability. They will be guided through every experiment.
- Teachers undergo periodic PCR testing, and they are immunized.
- A very high ratio of teachers to the child throughout the camp day (6:1)
- Each workshop is risk-tested
Location: Holiday Hotel Kensington Forum First Floor Academy, Palette Suite, Courtfield Road Entrance, London, SW7 4DN
Contact: 0800 092 1062
12. London South Bank University Sports Camp
Every half-term, LSBU Active brings a jam-packed program with multi-Sports so all children will find a part of the camp they are fans of. Mini tennis, dancing, and football to new activities and games, and the day can end with a choice of free games.
Make the half terms and holidays a cause for excitement at the LSBU Sports Camp, catering to children between 5 and 11 years. Dance, netball, and martial arts are just a few of the activities on the plan, and a special ‘Olympics’ event is held at the end of the week for the kids to show off their new sporty skills.
- Social Skills
- Respect
- Listening
- Teamwork
- Confidence
From £29 per day.
Location: 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA
13. Maggie and Rose Summer Clubs
Maggie or Rose summer clubs are perfect for children aged 4 to 8. They are designed to spark and stimulate the imagination through craft and art, cooking, science, and music; children are sure to enjoy an array of exciting activities.
There’s everything from huge scientific experiments to performing musical shows using homemade instruments made by the kids or creating a huge cityscape out of cardboard boxes. The camp directors are passionate about stimulating independent, ‘what-if thinking. They will help children develop connections, develop how to interact, practice collaboration and problem-solving, And, most importantly, enjoy themselves! Lunch, drinks, and snacks are served.
Locations:
- Kensington club 58-60 Pembroke Rd, London W8 6NX
- Chiswick Club 1. Essex Pl Square, Chiswick, London W4 5UJ
- Islington Square 116 Upper St, London N1 1AB
Contact: 020 7078 9000
14. Mother Nature Science
The Mother Nature summer clubs represent a perfect holiday blend of fun, education, and outdoor and indoor science activities and experiments. The Mother Nature Science Camp inspires thousands of young scientists from ages 5 to 12 over the Easter, summer, and Christmas school holidays. It also includes the half-term breaks in premium Partner school venues.
- Indoor and outdoor activities
- The four classrooms offer hands-on sessions in science every day, including wow-factor demonstrations and homework experiments across the disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics.
- Three ‘Playground-Activity-Breaks’ per day
Location: Address 22 Westmoreland Road. London, NW9 9BW, UK
Contact: +44 (0)20 8863 8832
15. Playing Space
The Playing Space has a regular schedule of fun holiday summer clubs. In addition, they offer a loved drama and arts camp for all ages when the summer vacations are long.
Drama games, activities, and exercises promote cooperation and teamwork. The children in their holiday groups are often from different backgrounds, and schools quickly form bonds of friendship.
Location: Southgate, North London
Contact: 07743 987556
16. The Play Shelter
Play Shelter holiday summer clubs are designed for children between 4 to 12 years old. It runs from Monday through Friday between February and October half-term holidays, Easter holidays, and summer and Christmas holiday breaks (excluding Bank holidays) to supply services to parents who study, work or have a low income.
Their holiday play plans concentrate on learning and play opportunities that range from dancing and drama, arts and crafts, and cooking to music and off-site excursions and sports. Expert childcare professionals work with your children, encouraging their passions and helping them develop their development in their chosen activities.
Locations:
- Snowfields Primary School Kirby Grove, Bermondsey SE1 3TD
- Brunswick Park Primary School, Picton Street, Camberwell, SE5 7QH
- Malorees Infant & Junior Schools, Christchurch Avenue, Kilburn NW6 7PB
- Tower Bridge Primary School, Fair Street, Bermondsey SE1 2AE
- Michael Faraday Primary School, Portland Street, Walworth SE17 2HR
Location: Club Des Sports, Acton, Latymer, Hammersmith
Contact: 07506 585 956
17. Role Models
Role Models is an impact-driven education service. They concentrate on life lessons that foster emotional and social well-being and innovative thinking. As a result, Role Models help children excel in life, at home, and in the future work environment.
They supplement traditional academic learning by offering online and offline classes for children ranging from 3 to 15 years old to help them enhance young people’s abilities in leadership with confidence and self-confidence and creative problem solving, and the ability to collaborate and grow.
Locations:
- Chelsea Academy, SW London, SW10 0AB
- Wimbledon High School. SW London, SW19 4AB
- Dulwich College, SE London SE21 7LD
- The Village Prep School, NW London, NW3 2YN
- St. Andrew’s Church, Surbiton, KT6 4DS
- Norman Court, Wiltshire, SP5 1NH
Contact: +44 20 3637 7107
18. Rock and Roll Recruits
Since 2013 Rock and Roll Recruits has been offering four-day music holiday summer clubs.
The classes supply a real experience of being part of an ensemble while also promoting the speed of learning, boosting confidence and encouraging youngsters to be musicians at all levels of ability, and catering to every instrument.
As the week progresses, they prepare for the public concert. This is the perfect conclusion to the week’s work families, and friends will be entertained by the performances just as they will appreciate showing off the fruits of their labour!
While at Rock and roll Recruits, students will learn to collaborate with the other members of the context of a group. The songs will help them build their confidence as well as technical skills.
Location: The Ark Putney Academy, Hayward Gardens, Putney, SW15 3DG
Contact: 07545 543 357
19. Sharky & George
In terms of the best summer clubs available for children, Sharky & George have come up with several wonderful options that will contribute to keeping your kids entertained during the holiday season.
Their amazing team will guide children through fun activities like chocolate making, crazy science, trails in nature, fashion shows, spy mysteries, graffiti workshops, and many more.
The camp is open between 9 am and 4 pm every day. Drop off is at 8:45 am. Children must be between 5 and 11 years old.
Sharky & George are also capable of offering Private Adventure Clubs in a location that you prefer.
Location: The Parsons Green Club 31 Broomhouse Lane London SW6 3DP
Contact: 020 7924 4381
20. Shooting Starz
Shooting Starz offers a range of half-day, normal, and extended-day options on every site. The company believes that kids learn the best with exploration and guided play and that classes are designed to promote learning through games.
They design challenging activities to help them progress in their sport. They recognize that every child is unique. They aim to help each person reach their full potential as an athlete.
Shooting Starz aims to be an enjoyable and safe environment where kids can enjoy the benefits of teamwork and sport and make a few friends along the way!
21. TARKA London
The TARKA holiday summer clubs are highly sought-after choices for children’s education during the school holiday.
TARKA is a development exercise company specializing in getting children to be enthusiastic about exercise from an early age. Instead of just allowing children to play and exercise, they encourage youngsters to think as they work in teams and start to understand the meaning of being emotionally intelligent. TARKA supplies classes for children ranging from 18 months to 8. In addition to their classes during term time, they also provide holiday classes throughout the holiday season, with their main emphasis on getting kids moving and active!
Three locations throughout London to pick from.
Location:
- St Francis of Assisi Church, Pottery Lane W11 4NQ
- Fulham Boys School, 532 Fulham Road, SW6 5BD
- St Columba’s Church, Point Street SW1X 0BD
Contact: 020 7164 6281
Contact: 0207 407 6744
22. Yellow Birds
Yellow Birds Play Academy is a private limited company founded in 2008, offering excellent summer clubs to school children during term time and the school holidays.
Their play programs are created according to the weekly themes set by the Early Years Foundation Stage Coordinator of the school they attend (or the school that many children go to).
They also reflect the kids’ current interests in social and religious activities. The plan is reviewed every day to check and assess the activities to ensure they support learning and growth through play.
Location: Mornington Hall Green, Chingford, E4 7EN.
Contact: 020 8509 0006
What are the benefits of summer clubs for children?
There are many benefits to summer clubs for children. In addition to fun activities, camps foster socialization, and friendship and provide learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Holiday clubs usually focus on healthy living with lots of sports activities and activities outdoors which is a great way for kids to get a break from their screens.
Music & arts summer clubs
Arts camps encourage kids to explore performance arts on and off stage. For example, children who love drama or singing may develop a talent for acting. Many arts camps conclude with full-scale production performed before family and friends. Rock and Roll Recruits from our list above is a great example of summer camps within this category.
Summer clubs for children with special needs
Summer clubs for children with special needs address many of these core issues. They supply an environment where children of similar abilities can engage in activities and build friendships. In addition, they help them learn social cues, start situations, and respond appropriately to others. There are many benefits to these camps. They are an excellent choice for parents of children with disabilities and their families. A summer club for children with special needs can improve your child’s life and help you be the best parent for your child.
Academic summer clubs
While summer clubs for children may be fun, academic summer clubs are a great way to prevent the summer from affecting their academic abilities. An academic summer club prevents learning loss and gives a head start for the next school year. There are many benefits to an academic summer club, so it’s worth exploring your options. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the positive impact it can have on your child. So, what are you waiting for? Take the time to learn more about all the great summer clubs in London.
Start early to look for a summer camp
A summer club for children is an excellent experience for kids. They’ll make new friends and have memorable experiences. However, finding one can be a bit difficult. That’s why parents need to take the time to plan ahead. We recommend starting looking for a summer club for children as early as possible. However, finding a summer club isn’t as simple as it may sound. Therefore, parents should ensure they have the time and resources to find the perfect program.
Some research has suggested that summer is ideal for improving children’s social and emotional development. For example, research from afterschool programs and elementary schools has shown that summer activities can be a great way to boost academic and social skills and reduce crime. Further, summer programs can improve the family’s quality of life and reduce social problems. However, these programs need to target specific age groups and be long enough to address your child’s developmental needs.