Summer 2025

No-one does summer like Islington does summer. We’ve got thousands of hours of free activities and courses for children, families and young people – many including a free lunch – helping to keep our young people healthy, happy and safe.

Discover the huge amount of things to do and places to go, including:

• 12 adventure playgrounds
• 10 libraries
• 127 parks and green spaces
• 3 nature reserves
• 4 swimming pools and 7 leisure centres
• 63 community centres
• one urban farm
• dozens of youth hubs and clubs. 

Go out and get active

As well as our wonderful parks and green spaces, our streets have been transformed into greener, healthier spaces to explore on foot or by wheel.

Closer to home, and also free, you could apply to close your own street to traffic for a few hours to hold a summer celebration with your neighbours and give children the freedom to have fun and play safely on their doorstep.

We're also offering more than 1,000 hours of free cycle training and walking maps to explore Islington to help make the most of your summer.

You can also help your children stay healthy by checking in on their mental wellbeing and getting them immunised against serious diseases.

Culture, arts and events

Explore and connect with Islington’s united communities, vibrant high streets and buzzing cultural hubs all bursting with free or affordable events and festivals. Your creative summer could take in theatre, music and dance, arts, crafts and food.

Our magazine for residents, Islington Life, has a list of cultural highlights for June to August – you can also follow for more summer inspiration on Twitter / X, Facebook and Instagram.

Remember our libraries because they offer free access to books, events and much more – drop-in, check the directory of events or follow Islington Libraries on Facebook and Twitter / X.

Safety

Standing Together summer events take place again through July and August, with xx workshops on how to keep your children safe. For young people, the two-week festival aims to empower them to make positive choices, take decisive action to stay safe and lead change in their communities.

A new 'youth van' will also be touring the borough’s estates this summer, offering young people free Wi-Fi, a kitchen to fix up some great food and a friendly face or two to show them all the great opportunities available as well as guide them to any support they might need.

If you’re unable to make it along to any events, you can find support and advice on our targeted youth support pages or by emailing TYS@islington.gov.uk.

Holiday activities with food

Our dedicated summer holiday programmes include free activities with food for eligible school-aged children and young people, who can make new friends and enjoy a free lunch while trying all sorts of experiences like:

• archery
• art
• cooking
• football
• kayaking
• music-making
• theatre.

Thousands of free places are available for Islington’s young people who receive benefits-related free school meals, but they must be booked in advance. Find out if your child is eligible, register and book activities.

There are also many other free activities on offer in Islington this summer to check out.

Summerversity - free courses and activities for teenagers and young adults

Summerversity has more than 90 free courses and activities across the school holiday for those aged 13 and over.

With opportunities to learn new skills, develop interests and talents, make new friends and have fun, there’s new something for everyone to discover. Most are suitable for beginners, and a free meal is available with many of the activities. 

Highlights include: 

• sports leadership at Finsbury Park 
• kayaking at Islington Boat Club 
• animal care at Freightliners Farm 
• backstage skills at London Screen Academy and the National Youth Theatre 
• a wide variety of music-making and production courses at Rose Bowl, SoapBox, Lift Youth Hub and Copenhagen Youth Project.

Register first so you can book ahead.

Skills, training and employment

Summerversity also puts on courses for those aged 16 and over to help them prepare for work, careers and further education, providing insight into different sectors including hospitality, leisure, creative industries and construction.

Register for an account and book onto a course or two – many offer accreditation leading to nationally-recognised qualifications, great for CVs. 

Our Youth Employment Hubs offer a dedicated space for Islington young people aged 16-25 to gain guidance and support with progression into employment, education or training. 

The hubs offer one-to-one and small group advice and guidance sessions, and access to a range of ‘world of work’ activities, training opportunities and careers events. They can help you to find a job or apprenticeship, learn a new skill, get education and careers guidance, explore routes into employment, and take part in careers activities. Make an appointment, or just drop in. 

You can sign up for the weekly Islington Working youth bulletin that contains a range of opportunities including job vacancies, apprenticeships, training courses and programmes.

Post-exam support

A Level exam results will be announced on 14 August, with GCSE results a week later on 21 August.

You can email or call our team of advisors on both days and after, all the way into autumn. We will help make sure you get the advice and guidance you need to help you continue your journey and make the most of your potential.

• Email: progress@islington.gov.uk
• Phone: 020 7527 7031

We understand this can be a stressful time and if you are worried about results day, there is free, safe and anonymous advice on Kooth.

Find more mental health support for young people.

For the under-5s

There’s all sorts going on for the under-5s in our free Bright Start activities programme, including indoor and outdoor stay-and-play sessions and activities in parks and community venues.

Family Hubs

Whatever you need support with, our three welcoming Family Hubs are your 'front door’ to dedicated support and information, with everything in one place for families with children aged 0 to 19, or up to 25 for special educational needs and disabilities.

Childcare this summer holiday

Islington Family Information Service (FIS) can help you find suitable holiday childcare.

Get in contact by 

• phone on 020 7527 5959
• email at FIS@islington.gov.uk.