Summer Holiday Family Activities

Activity: Wednesday 22 July to Sunday 23 August 2026
Display: Tuesday 25 August to Monday 31 August
10am to 4pm 
Clore Learning Centre, Level 1 

A home should feel safe and secure, but during war, home can be found in unexpected places. So what truly makes a place a home when it no longer feels familiar?

Join us this summer as we explore the meaning of home and shelter through a variety of free, creative activities. Build and colour paper houses, take them home or display them in IWM's Family Home. 

Join us in the last week of our summer activity hub as we showcase the amazing work produced by our visiting families over the holidays. As you explore the immersive display, reflect on what home means to you. Creative activities and the opportunity to contribute to the display are still available during this time. 

Part of the Childhood in War exhibition season at IWM London.  

Wednesday 22 July to Monday 31 August 2026
Drop in, 10am to 4pm
Atrium

From spotting enemy ships to travelling far from home, learn about the young people behind the objects and the extraordinary circumstances they found themselves in.

Explore our permanent galleries with this special edition Story Seekers trail. Part of the Childhood in War exhibition season.

Daily, 31 July 2026 to 28 February 2027
10am to 5pm

Childhood in War is a free, interactive exhibition exploring how children have experienced conflict from 1914 to the present day.
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The exhibition features a literary trail of much-loved children’s books – collect a stamp at 6 different points, where children can engage with the stories of fictional characters.
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Learn more about the Childhood in War exhibition season at IWM London.

Tuesday 4, 11, 18, 25 August 2026  
11am to 3pm

Meet real-life veterans and eyewitnesses to war. All our eyewitnesses and veterans are volunteers who give their time to share these important stories.

Daily until 1 November 2026
10am to 5pm

Beauty and Destruction: Wartime London in Art is a free exhibition that tells the story of the city's changes during the Second World War through the eyes of artists. Families can enjoy a child-friendly ‘stamper’ trail and activity sheet, encouraging children to spot details, ask questions and engage with the artworks.

Learn more about the Beauty and Destruction exhibition at IWM London.

Daily
10am to 6pm
Level 0 and Level 1

Join the hunt to search for the hidden Amazing Aircraft across the museum with our free trail.

Suitable for children aged 5 to 12. Collect your trail from the Information Desk, located on level 0.