A Parent's Guide to Summer Clubs in London

For families relocating to the UK, one of the biggest surprises can be the length of the summer holidays. With most schools breaking up in July and not returning until early September, parents often ask us what children typically do during this time and how they can stay occupied while settling into a new home and school.

The good news is that summer clubs are hugely popular across London and can be a wonderful way for children to make friends, build confidence and become familiar with their new local area before the start of term. Whether your child loves sport, drama, science, art, coding or simply being outdoors, there is likely to be a summer club nearby that suits their interests.

Many families find that attending a holiday club helps ease the transition into life in the UK. Children have the opportunity to meet other local children, learn new skills and establish routines, while parents can focus on practical aspects of the move, from unpacking boxes to organising school uniforms and settling into a new neighbourhood.

If your child has already secured a school place for September, it’s well worth getting in touch with the school. Even if they haven’t started yet, admissions teams are often very happy to help and can usually point families in the right direction. Many private schools, and some state schools, run their own summer programmes or can recommend trusted local clubs, camps and activity providers. It can be a great way for children to settle in, make new friends and start feeling at home before the new school term begins.

If you're still waiting on school places, there are several excellent websites that allow you to search for summer clubs by location, age group and activity.

Useful Websites for Finding Summer Clubs

• Club Hub UK A useful directory of children's clubs, classes and holiday camps:
https://clubhubuk.co.uk

• Super Camps Super Camps is an Ofsted-registered provider of Half-Term, Easter and Summer camps in the UK for children aged 4- 14 years. Running at over 35 locations across the UK and London, our camps are an excellent choice for school holiday childcare across England. Kid's Summer Holiday Camps & School Holiday Activity Clubs

• Camp Beaumont One of the UK's largest providers of holiday camps, with locations across London:
https://www.campbeaumont.co.uk

• Ultimate Activity Camps Popular multi-activity camps hosted at leading independent schools:
https://www.ultimateactivity.co.uk

• Barracudas Activity Day Camps Offering sports, creative activities and adventure programmes for children aged 4½–14:
https://www.barracudas.co.uk

For children who already have a strong interest in a particular activity, it can be worth searching specifically for specialist camps. London has excellent performing arts programmes, football camps, tennis academies, coding workshops and forest school experiences. These can be a fantastic way for children to pursue existing hobbies while making friends who share similar interests.

When choosing a summer club, it is worth considering practical factors such as travel time, opening hours and whether lunch is provided. London can be much larger than many families expect, and a camp that looks close on a map may involve a longer journey than anticipated. Many providers offer extended hours, which can be particularly helpful for parents balancing relocation arrangements or work commitments.

We would also encourage families to book early where possible. The most popular clubs can fill quickly, particularly in areas such as Kensington, Chelsea, Richmond, Wimbledon, Hampstead and Fulham, where demand is often high during the summer months.

Above all, summer clubs can be an excellent introduction to life in the UK. We've worked with many families whose children arrived knowing nobody and started school in September already having made friends, discovered favourite activities and gained confidence in their new surroundings.

At Educatus, we know that relocating is about much more than choosing a school. Helping children feel settled, happy and connected to their new community is just as important. Summer clubs can play a valuable role in making that transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible.