Cool Things To Do This Summer in Clapham Junction

This summer is turning out to be a scorcher, and if you’re planning a staycation, you may be wondering how to make the most of the holidays while staying cool.

Fortunately, Clapham Junction has plenty of ways to beat the heat! Here are just a few ideas to keep you and the family entertained when things get a little hot…

TAKE IN SOME ART

Take a break from the heat and pop into Northcote Road Antiques – an indoor marketplace for real vintage collectables, which will have you captivated by a heady mix of amazing creations. You’ll easily lose hours discovering hidden treasure, browsing through everything from ‘classic nineteenth and early twentieth-century items through to art movement era, French painted, country pine, retro vintage and retro.’

Or visit Clarendon Fine Art on Northcote Road to view a selection of contemporary paintings and sculptures from talented emerging artists and influential names in the world of art. You may just find that centrepiece that’s been missing from your home.

GET CREATIVE

A paintbrush, a palette and some shade! Along Northcote Road at Pottery Café, turn a piece of hand-crafted clay into your own work of art with studio painting sessions available for adults and children. Assistants are on hand to offer guidance, and you’ll also be able to sample expertly made coffee, tea, cakes and cookies! Booking a table is recommended...

Over at Northcote Art School, they're running Summer Camps for 6- to 13-year-olds, a great way to keep kids occupied and engaged throughout the day. Every day is different with a mixture of arts, crafts, sculpture and printing. Book your place here…

Adults, you get to play too! Check out their Paint & Pour evenings and adult lessons and workshops.

JOIN A CLUB

Did you know your local libraries (and your local bookstore) offer free clubs, a great way to keep you and your little ones busy this summer? And that’s not all; click below to check out their daily schedules for all activities on offer…

Battersea Library (Lavender Hill): Chess Club | Singing and Story Time | Coffee Mornings

Northcote Library (Northcote Road): Lego Club | Story Time | Baby Rhyme Time | Stay & Play | Mindfulness 

Waterstones (St John’s Road): Clapham Junction Book Club | Story Time for children

To keep minds active over the holidays, how about a Summer Maths Programme at Mathnasium? Designed to give your child the confidence to excel in maths while making learning fun, their flexible 6-week programme can be completed over 8 weeks, giving families extra room to fit sessions around summer plans and busy schedules. NB: Limited spaces are available, get in touch here…

VISIT AN EXHIBITION

Mini golf was born of rebellion, invented by 19th-century Scottish women banned from playing on traditional golf courses. 

The Art of Mini Golf: A playable exhibition by RISING Melbourne at Battersea Arts Centre invites you to play your way through nine adventurous mini-golf holes, each designed by a leading female artist, as you explore the game’s subversive history! Book here...

GO TO THE OPERA

This August, Battersea Arts Centre will host the opera The Rake’s Progress.

Stravinsky’s dark comic opera paints a world where ‘living life to the full’ comes at a cost. Experience it brought to life by British Youth Opera – a unique programme that puts a full-scale production into the hands of some of the UK’s brightest and most exciting young creatives and performers. Book your tickets here…

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Finally, enjoy a cool evening with friends and get those cogs turning at one of many local pubs which regularly host quiz nights, the perfect way to end a summer's evening. Check these out…