Best Summer Holiday Camps in London 2026

Summer holidays are brilliant in theory and absolutely exhausting in practice. Six weeks is a long time, and London's school holiday camps are genuinely one of the best ways to keep children stimulated, social and out of the house -- while you get a few hours back.

Here is a guide to the best summer holiday camps in London for 2026, covering sports, arts, drama, coding and multi-activity options across the city.

Multi-Activity Holiday Camps

If your child likes variety, multi-activity camps are the easiest option. They typically run Monday to Friday, full day or half day, and cover a mix of sports, crafts and games.

Camp Beaumont runs at several London day schools and covers over 40 activities including swimming, archery, fencing and performing arts. Ages 3 to 17. Full and half day options available.

SuperCamps operates at schools across London including in Richmond, Barnet and Bromley. A solid all-rounder with good staff ratios and a structured daily programme.

King Alfred Summer School in Hampstead offers a more relaxed, child-led approach with outdoor activities, swimming and creative workshops. Popular with North London families.

Sports Camps

Chelsea FC Foundation runs football camps across London for ages 5 to 14. Good coaching, well organised and the Chelsea badge carries some serious playground currency.

David Lloyd Junior Tennis Camps are available at their London clubs including in Raynes Park, Finchley and Kidbrooke. Open to non-members during the holidays.

Better Leisure Centre Camps run by the Better charity operate out of council-run leisure centres across London and are significantly cheaper than private alternatives. Worth checking your local Better centre for what is on offer.

Arts and Drama Camps

Stagecoach Holiday Workshops run across London venues and cover singing, dancing and acting. Well structured with a short performance at the end of the week -- children love it and parents get a reason to film something other than a sports day.

Perform offers drama and confidence-building workshops for ages 4 to 12 across multiple London locations. Particularly good for children who are naturally shy or need a confidence boost.

Young Blood Theatre Company in East London runs intensive summer workshops for older children and teenagers interested in serious drama. Past participants have gone on to perform at the Barbican.

Coding and STEM Camps

Code Ninjas has several London locations and runs summer camps focused on game design, coding and robotics for ages 5 to 14. Good for children who are already screen-obsessed -- might as well make it educational.

iD Tech runs residential and day camps at London university campuses covering everything from Minecraft modding to Python and AI. Pricier than most but the facilities are impressive.

What to Look For When Booking

Check the staff-to-child ratio before booking anything. For children under 8, you want no more than 1:8. Ask whether camp staff are DBS checked -- any reputable provider will confirm this immediately.

Also check the drop-off and pick-up window. Some camps have a strict 9am start and a 3pm finish with no flexibility, which does not always suit working parents. Extended hours are worth paying extra for if you need them.

Free and Low-Cost Options

Not every family wants to spend several hundred pounds on holiday camps. Many London boroughs run free or subsidised holiday activities through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, funded by the government. These are available to children on free school meals but some boroughs open them up more broadly.

Check your local council website under Holiday Activities and Food 2026 to see what is available in your area.

For more ideas on keeping children active and entertained in London, have a look at the best parks for families in London and our guide to things to do during the school holidays.