More than 50,000 participants enjoyed a wonderful Summer of Fun

Figures indicate that more than 50,000 residents and visitors flocked to parks, youth, and children’s centres, Idea Stores and libraries, sports venues and leisure centres, to enjoy hundreds of activities and events hosted by the council as part of this year's Summer of Fun programme.  

The programme of more than 800 free school summer holiday events gave visitors a chance to relax, take part in sport or a physical activity or enjoy new cultural experiences. It also gave residents of all ages and backgrounds a host of opportunities to make the most of the borough’s facilities as well as discover what there is to love about Tower Hamlets.  

Council departments including Arts, Parks & Events, Idea Stores, Local History Library and Archives, Be Well, Young Tower Hamlets, Sports Development and Family Hubs showed the impact of a partnership approach to delivering the programme and supporting children, young people and their families. 

Councillor Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor of Tower Hamlets and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth, and Lifelong Learning, said: “I am so proud of all our staff and partner organisations who put on hundreds of free events across the borough, to support families during the school summer break.  

“These activities have encouraged residents to explore their local environment, try something new and discover what there is to love about Tower Hamlets. Attendance figures have surpassed our estimations, and I am delighted about all the positive responses from participants of all ages.”  

Highlights of the Summer of Fun 2025 programme included:   

• The Summer of Fun Reading Challenge. Facilitated by Idea Stores, it gave participants an opportunity to read books, collect stamps at activities taking place across the borough and enter a prize draw.  

• Weekly Love Tower Hamlets community family fun days hosted by parks and Family Hubs teams every Wednesday for sports, play, arts and crafts, and more  

• Next Stop – 900 years of Public Transport in Tower Hamlets, an exhibition hosted by Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives. Visitors learnt about the history of red buses, trains, and so much more! And joined in some fun events all about transport.  

• A sport and healthy living day at Victoria Park.  

• Young Tower Hamlets, Tower Hamlets youth service hosted eight events in parks and open spaces with exciting inflatable activities, bungee runs and much more for residents and families. Young Tower Hamlets also hosted hundreds of free youth centre activities, workshops, trips and games for young people. 

Two thousand young people took part in the Summer of Fun Reading challenge and between them read 5,451 books. 

The Deputy Mayor and Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, welcomed prize winners and their parents to a celebratory event at the Town Hall, Whitechapel, where the youngsters were presented with prizes.  

Cllr Kamrul Hussain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, said: “Hearing from the young people, parents and others who took part in summer activities, there’s no doubt that this year’s Summer of Fun programme has helped enrich lives.”   

Seven-year-old Adhiti won a Gold Award in recognition of attending 24 events and reading six books. Her mother Vidya said: “We went to events at Bow and Whitechapel Idea Stores as well as loads of outdoor activities. The story tellers and comic workshops were excellent. We also enjoyed football and egg and spoon races, and our walls are now full of the artwork Adhiti created.”   

Five-year-old Muhammed was presented with a £40 voucher donated by Solo Café in Bethnal Green, and nine-year-old Alisha, won a £40 voucher courtesy of the Hub Café in Victoria Park.  

Muhammed’s mother Shara Ismail said: “Lego workshops at Watney Market and Whitechapel Idea Stores and fun days in Stepney Green were some of the events we enjoyed. Muhammed loves building Lego structures and at one of the climate change workshops, he created an urban forest model which he says will help stop pollution in Tower Hamlets.” 

Mohammed, age 10, read six books and completed the Summer of Fun Reading Challenge. He was presented with a £10 book voucher. Mohammed said: “Alex Rider novels are my favourite, and I will spend the voucher on more of the books.”