The 2016 Archikids Festival begins in London this weekend with a host of free activities planned to engage children with architecture, engineering and design.

Children aged 5-11 and their families are invited to tour some of the capital's iconic buildings, including the Gherkin by Norman Foster, and take part in a series of architecture challenges between 10am-5pm BST on both days.

Tasks include experimenting with different materials and shapes to create a city building protected from the elements; designing an inhabitable contemporary river crossing inspired by the Garden Bridge debate; creating replicas of iconic London buildings; finding eco-friendly ways to conduct energy; and racing to build the biggest and best LEGO structure.

Stanton Williams Architects will run the latter event, and a number of other local studios will participate in the festival.

ArchiKids is organised by Open-City, an architecture education charity that aims to create “the opportunity for everyone to enjoy and celebrate the buildings and places where we live, work and play.”