101 things to do in London with kids: teenagers

Let your kids turn a passion into a potential profession with the Roundhouse creative sessions for ages 11 to 25. For free (in some cases a very small fee), the workshops and courses offer expert advice and hands-on experience for all abilities. Sessions include drop-in street-circus skills, learning how to DJ, radio and music producing workshops and more in-depth courses using the excellent studio facilities.

Free-£12.50

Ages 11-25

Artist Chris Bracey created incredible works for art projects and movie sets for nearly 40 years until his death late last year. His God’s Own Junk Yard space in Walthamstow is a studio where you can see his work – a combination of recycled urban debris and electric light in a gallery of wonderful colour. Still a working neon sign business, it’s open to the public Friday to Sunday, and its Rolling Scones Café is open all week.

Free

Ages 7+

Forget a sedate cruise down the river. Opt instead for the pacey pleasures of a high-speed trip down the Thames, bouncing over the water in a rigid inflatable boat (Rib). There are few other ways to go this fast in central London – and, fittingly, one of the special trip experiences on offer is the ‘Spy Charter’ – hire the whole boat and make like a special agent with a licence to thrill.

Prices vary

Minimum passenger weight 15k

The art of running at walls and jumping off things like you’re Spiderman isn’t limited to adults (and Spiderman), kids find honing these skills exhilarating too. A wonderful release after you’ve been in school, resisting leaning back on your chair all week. Parkour Generations runs classes on the fundamentals, in a safe environment.

£5, free to Westminster residents

Ages 7-19

Great for parents who remember ‘The Crystal Maze’ and kids who love online challenge games, ClueQuest is one of a growing number of experiences offering adventurers a similar challenge in real life. In teams of three to five players, you get locked in a room and have 60 minutes to solve a series of puzzles and mysteries in order to escape. Perfect for parties.

From £19.80 per person

Age 9+

This amazing watersports centre scores high for city thrills, not least because it’s an Olympic-standard resource built for London 2012 that was actually open to the public before the Games got started. Cool or what? Sessions include one-off rafting and kayaking courses, but a favourite for teenagers is the six-weeks of level two hour-long classes that prepare you to take on the centre’s most tricky challenges.

Prices vary

Age 12+

A change from the vast bowling alleys at out-of-town leisure complexes, Bloomsbury Bowling has a retro feel to it, plus it’s smaller than most alleys (there are just eight lanes) so it has a more intimate vibe. You can come for a game with the kids during daytime hours, or book a bowling and karaoke party here, from £12.50 per child. Note: there are no gutter bumpers and no children admitted after 8pm.

From £39 per hour

Age 6+

With the space to create graded mountain bike runs (the three trails are graded red, blue and black, like ski runs), this is one of the more easily accessible parts of the cycling experience available to the public, post-London 2012. It’s useful to sign up for free membership in advance, then you should be able to just turn up and pay for a session anytime, daily from 9am to sunset. Although booking ahead is recommended.

£5, £3 junior, £3 Super Thursdays

Ages 5+

No, karaoke isn’t just for office workers on a night out. Kids can express themselves with classic pop hits too. Each karaoke pod is private at Lucky Voice so you can let the little ones get as musically noisy as they like. There are three party packages you can book, including the Platinum service with non-alcoholic cocktails, pizza, cake and, of course, karaoke! Suitable for four to 12 children.

£15-£25 per person

Age 11+

This skate park under the Westway is a brilliant mix of street cool and great organisation (reassuring for parents who don’t want to spend hours in A&E). Friendly and encouraging, they offer regular beginner sessions but also plenty of challenging thrills for experienced skaters, BMX bikers and professional scooters at an excellent purpose-built skatescape. Perfect for kids who want to mix it with older riders who’ve acquired serious smarts.