Events
Enjoy May half term in the Royal Docks
May half term is almost here! We’ve got plenty of fun ideas to keep kids and teens entertained around the Royal Docks. Check out our guide for the best activities, events, and places to visit:
Free activities
Newham Local Offer Live x Gr8 Day 2 Play
This family event brings together Local Offer Live and Gr8 Day 2 Play for an afternoon packed with activities for SEND children and their families. General entry tickets cover most sessions, with booking only required for swimming and soft play time slots. Enjoy Pilates, boxing, badminton, yoga and early years play area, a full day of fun for all ages. Booking required.
Saturday 23 May, 12 – 5pm
Newham Leisure Centre, 281 Prince Regent Lane, E13 8SD
Make Music Together – SEND Sessions
Experience all ability music-making sessions for SEND children and young people aged 7 – 25, along with their parents, carers and siblings. Participants create music with professional musicians, exploring traditional and non-traditional instruments and experimenting with music technology.
Sessions run on alternate Saturdays – 23 May; 6 & 20 June; 4 July 2026 – with ages 7 – 12 from 2.15 – 3.15pm and ages 13 – 25 from 3.30 – 4.45pm.
Booking required
Shipman Youth Zone, 340 Prince Regent Lane, Custom House, E16 3JH
Get active with Better
The Better Newham Active Communities team is offering a wide range of free sessions
led by specialist sports coaches. Children can enjoy high‑quality coaching focused on each sport, mixed with fun games and activities in a safe, friendly environment. Thanks to Better’s partnership with Newham Council, all community sessions at Newham Leisure Centre are completely free, with booking required.
Multi-sports sessions run for ages 5 17 from 9am – 1pm, Tuesday 26 May - Friday 29 May
Newham Leisure Centre, 281 Prince Regent Lane, E13 8SD
Botanical Pressed Flower Card‑Making Workshop
Join Ana from Langis Essentials for a calm, creative session where you’ll design your own unique greetings card using real pressed botanicals. All materials are provided, and the workshop is suitable for all experience levels.
29 May, 11:00am – 12:30pm
Custom Made, 25 Freemasons Road, Custom House, E16 3AR
Explore City Hall
Did you know that City Hall is open to the public? Located in Royal Victoria Dock, City Hall is the headquarters of the Mayor of London, the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority. Look inside the cutting-edge architecture, see a 2012 Olympic torch, or enjoy a delicious lunch in London’s Kitchen Café. Read our guide to making the most of your visit.
Opening hours - Mondays to Thursdays, 8.30am to 6pm, and on Fridays, 8.30am to 5.30pm
City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, Royal Victoria, E16 1ZE
Get creative at free art classes for kids
Art in the Docks runs a free Saturday Kids Club, offering a new creative theme each week. Children can explore ideas, try out different materials and enjoy handson activities led by a professional artist. The sessions are open to all ages, with all materials provided. No booking needed, just drop in, join the fun and get making.
Every Saturday from 10.30am – 12.30pm, free and open to all
Art in the Docks, 25 Shackleton Way, London, E16 2XJ
Hang Out & Try Something New at Newham’s Youth Zones
Beckton Youth Zone offers a great place for young people to relax and have fun, with a pool table, table tennis, music and a multipurpose sports hall. Follow them on Instagram to stay updated on their timetable of free activities.
Beckton Globe Youth Zone, Kingsford Way, Beckton, E6 5JQ
Shipman Youth Zone gives young people the chance to try something new, with a sports hall, fitness suite, music and multimedia studios, dance studio, IT suite, arts and crafts rooms and even a garden for growing and cooking food. Open six days a week, with updates shared on Instagram.
Shipman Youth Zone, 340 Prince Regent Lane, E16 3JH
Visit your local library
Pop into Beckton Globe, Custom House or North Woolwich Libraries and enjoy a welcoming space filled with a great mix of books and free activities that spark creativity and curiosity.
From biscuit decorating and arts and crafts to Lego Coding and Chess Club, there’s always something for families to get involved in.
Beckton Globe Library, 1 Kingsford Way, London, E6 5JQ
Custom House Library, Prince Regent Lane, Custom House, London, E16 3JJ
North Woolwich Library, 5 Pier Parade, North Woolwich, London, E16 2LJ
Explore Nature in the Royal Docks
Get lost in the hedge maze at the award‑winning Thames Barrier Park and grab a babyccino at With Milk while enjoying views of the iconic Thames Barrier.
Play tennis at Royal Victoria Gardens or Lyle Park, then wander through Beckton Meadows with its wildflowers, wooden sculptures and butterfly garden.
Spot birds, terrapins and even parakeets at Itchycoo Pond. And visit the Floating Garden at Royal Victoria, a pocket‑sized wetland supporting thousands of aquatic plants, birds, fish and pollinators.
Lyle Park, Bradfield Road, London, E16 2AU
Thames Barrier Park, North Woolwich Rd, London, E16 2HP
Royal Victoria Gardens, Albert Rd, London E16 2NL
Beckton Meadows, London, E6 5QN
Itchycoo Pond, Beckton Park, Hadleigh Walk, London, E6 5SA
Floating Garden - located opposite 17 Western Gateway, London, E16 1AQ
Paid activities/fees apply
Visit MCM Comic Con London
MCM London returns to Excel London 22 – 24 May 2026 for the UK’s biggest pop culture celebration. Meet anime and gaming voice actors, along with stars from TV and film. Explore art, comics and literature from independent creators, and enjoy a vibrant space that celebrates self-expression. It’s a three day event packed with fandom, community and unforgettable moments.
Book tickets
Kick Off May Half Term with the Hammers!
Looking for an exciting way to keep your child active this May half term? The West Ham United Foundation’s Holiday Hammers programme returns to The Foundry for four action-packed days of football, fun, and development.
Designed for children aged 5 – 14 years old, the camp offers a welcoming environment for all abilities, whether your child is new to the game or already loves football. Sessions are delivered by experienced coaches and focus on improving skills, building confidence, and enjoying the game.
Booking required
26 – 29 May, 9am – 3pm, £28 per day
The Foundry, 60A Albatross Close, Beckton, E6 5NX
Join Ballet Club at English National Ballet
Calling all aspiring dancers aged 9 – 12 years from Newham or Tower Hamlets. This half term, create new moves with professional artists at English National Ballet’s state of the art studios in Canning Town. Enjoy daily ballet class, explore different dance styles and put your creative skills to the test in choreographic workshops exploring the magical ballet, Nutcracker.
Tue 26 – Fri 29 May 2026, 9:30am 3:30pm. Four‑day programme: £30. A limited number of free places are available for children receiving pupil premium or for families on universal credit.
Booking required
English National Ballet, Mulryan Centre for Dance, 41 Hopewell Square, E14 0SY
Ancient Egypt Comes Alive This Half‑Term
Step into ancient Egypt with Cleopatra: The Immersive Experience, featuring holograms, large‑scale video mapping and a VR metaverse walk‑through. A brilliant, immersive way for families to explore Ancient Egypt together.
Free family activities included with your ticket (25 – 29 May, 10am – 4pm) include face painting, writing your name in hieroglyphs and crown decorating.
Immerse LDN, Excel Waterfront, E16 1XL
Soar across the River Thames on the London Cable Car
If you live in Newham or Greenwich, bring proof of address to enjoy a local resident discount. Take a trip on the London Cable Car for breath taking aerial views of the Thames and London landmarks including the Thames Barrier, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Gherkin, Maritime Greenwich and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. For an unforgettable ride, book the Glass Floor cabins with a transparent floor!
IFS Cloud Royal Docks Terminal, 27 Western Gateway, E16 1FA
IFS Greenwich Peninsula Terminal, Edmund Halley Way,SE10 0FR
Try Junior Padel at Rocket Padel Beckton
Book a junior padel session at Rocket Padel Beckton, with coached sessions available for ages 3 – 11. Each session costs £8 and advance booking is required through the Padel Mates app. A fun, active way for young players to learn new skills and get moving.
Rocket Padel Beckton, 1 Triumph Road, Beckton, E6 5LW
Keep up to date
Want to be the first to know about Royal Docks events, news and opportunities? Sign up to our newsletter.
