\n1. Inside Aardman at Young V&A<\/strong><\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t made it to the Young V&A since its big sparkly revamp two years ago, consider this your sign to get down there, pronto. Its third temporary exhibition is a dive into the wonderful world of Aardman, the stop motion animation studio that created lovable rubber-faced duo Wallace & Gromit. And because this is very much a kids’ museum, there\u2019ll be lots of stuff for little hands to do, with interactive exhibits and the chance for young visitors to create their very own stop motion animation. As Wallace would say, cracking!<\/p>\n
Young V&A, E2 9PA. Feb 12-Nov 15 2026. \u00a311. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. Fairy Tales at the British Library<\/strong><\/p>\n If your little ones are obsessed with picturebooks (or if they\u2019re nostalgic for the days before their books stopped having pictures in) they\u2019ll be enthralled by this story-centric exhibition. The British Library\u2019s archives are teeming with gorgeously illustrated kids\u2019 books. Here, they\u2019ll unearth some treasures from the UK\u2019s best loved authors and illustrators, and bring them to life in entertainingly interactive style. Kids can sit down at the table with the three bears, sniff a witch\u2019s magic potion, tell a genie their heart\u2019s desires, and try on costumes so they shall go to the ball. Meanwhile, displays of much-loved childhood faves from decades gone by will tug at the heartstrings of the adults in tow.<\/p>\n British Library,\u00a0NW1 2DB. Mar 27-Aug 23. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3. Mundo Pixar<\/strong><\/p>\n When the experts deliver lectures about reducing screentime, they\u2019re probably not talking about a trip to a Pixar film. The studio behind Monsters Inc, Inside Out and Finding Nemo has perfected the art of making narratively complex, emotionally rich stories that still have enough colour and adventure to thoroughly delight young audiences. Now, a new travelling immersive exhibition lets kids step into the many wonderful worlds of Pixar, with each of its 14 rooms dedicated to a different movie. Pretend you\u2019re the size of a doll in Toy Story, step onto the scare floor in Monsters Inc, or explore the land of the dead in Coco. There are even specially crafted scents to complete the illusion. Still, however enriching the films might be, it\u2019s worth bearing in mind that this exhibition is more of a fun and frivolous photo opportunity, rather than a deep dive into the craft and artistry of animation.<\/p>\n Wembley Park, HA9 0RJ. Feb 13-Jun 28.\u00a0\u00a329 for adults, \u00a320 for kids age 3-15. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 4. Voyage to the Deep \u2013 Underwater Adventures at Horniman Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n The Horniman Museum is already a bit of a destination for the small-but-mighty aquarium in the basement, complete with trailing tentacled jellyfish and luminous coral reef dwellers. Now, it\u2019s getting a whole temporary exhibition devoted to life under the sea. This travelling show hails from Australia and is inspired by the adventurous novels of Jules Verne. Kids get to take an imaginative trip under the sea in submarine Nautilus, discovering the lost world of Atlantis and meeting magical undersea inhabitants. The exhibition includes six aquarium tanks to gawp at, as well as creature reports from CBeebies favourites the Octonauts.<\/p>\n Horniman Museum, SE23 3PQ. Feb 13-Nov 1. \u00a39.80, \u00a37 child. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 5. Holy Pop! at Somerset House<\/strong><\/p>\n Okay, this one isn\u2019t officially aimed at kids. But if you know a teen or tween who\u2019s covered their bedroom with pics of their pop idols, they might well get some fresh ideas at this kitschy celebration of fandom at Somerset House. It\u2019ll showcase the wild creativity of superfans all over the world, with exhibits of fan art, fan letters, memorabilia, and installations exploring what it\u2019s like to be head-over-heels in love with a star you may never meet.<\/p>\n Somerset House,\u00a0WC2R 1LA. May 21-Aug 9. Pay what you can. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 6. REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground at Southbank Centre<\/strong><\/p>\n Southbank Centre\u2019s REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground is part art installation, part exhibition, part very fun place indeed. It was wildly popular with families last year, and now it\u2019s back for 2026 for under 12s to have an hour-long dose of interactive, freeform creative fun. Herd Theatre has crafted a colourful wonderland for toddlers and big kids to create and play in, full of with recycled materials ready for repurposing and making. The experience is accompanied by a score made of recycled sounds, as well as prompts to encourage little ones and adults to play side by side.<\/p>\n Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX. Jan 14-Apr 12. \u00a35.63-\u00a37.50. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 7. The Museum of Edible Earth at Somerset House<\/strong><\/p>\n Kids seem to be irresistibly drawn to dirt and muck. So why not capitalise on that interest with a trip to Somerset House\u2019s free exhibition about the brown stuff? This small immersive installation will mix a chance to touch, sniff and even taste different soils with some powerful ideas about recycling and ecology. The exhibition repurposes coffee grounds and packaging from Somerset House\u2019s own onsite cafes, which should be inspiration for any kids who want to get into cultivating soil out in the garden when spring rolls round.\u00a0<\/p>\n Somerset House,\u00a0WC2R 1LA. Mar 18-Apr 26. Free. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Looking for something a bit more grown-up?\u00a0Here are 12 London art exhibitions we can’t wait to see in 2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n And this once-in-a-lifetime London exhibition will be the best thing to see in the UK in 2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke \u2013 from news and reviews to events and trends. Just\u00a0<\/strong>follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Inside](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768382471_201_image.webp.webp\")
\nPhoto: David Parry
<\/p>\n![\"Voyage](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768382474_271_image.webp.webp\")
\nPhoto: Flying Fish
<\/p>\n![\"Replay](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768382476_133_image.webp.webp\")
\nPhotograph: Pete Woodhead
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