The spirit of celebration is in the air with untold street partying and revelry being planned for the Queen’s Jubilee and of course the London Olympics 2012 Games.

Here’s our calendar guide to where the party’s at for kids and families this summer, as we highlight child-friendly festivals in London and around the UK.

(by date order)

MAY

1. Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Norwich NR3 1HF (Norwich rail station, 30 mins from Liverpool St via Greater Anglia trains)
Kicking off the family-friendly festival circuit this weekend with 2 weeks of music, arts, circus cabaret and loads of action for kids. Top picks include Festival Feast, Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals rock and roll stage show, more party music from Dan Zanes and Friends, Dinosaur Petting Zoo and the Bo Nanafana Social Club! £5-£55, some events free. Ticket hotline 44 (0)1603 766400 (May 11-26)

2. Big Dance 2012, across the UK
Step up for the UK’s biggest celebration of dance, with thousands of local events including the touring Big Dance Bus and the Big Dance Pop-Up Cinema, all building up to Big Dance Week (Jul 7-15) including Big Street Dance and the grand finale in Trafalgar Square. (May 18-Jul 15)

JUNE

3. Southbank Festival of the World at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Waterloo tube)
There’s no better place to be in London this summer than on the banks of the Thames with the return of the Urban Beach, plus the UK’s largest poetry festival, street food, outdoor arts, shows and more. Keep an eye on the web site for updates. (Jun 1-Sep 9)

4. Jubilee Family Festival (pic) at Hyde Park, W1 (Hyde Park Corner tube)
Party like your middle name is Kate at this massive event with 40 bands, kids zone featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, Mike the Knight, Angelina Ballerina and others, Commonwealth Stage, village green fete, plus daily finale with Magic of Disney concert. 10.30am-7pm, adult £20/child under 16 £12.50/under 3s FREE (Jun 2-3)

5. Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, along River Thames to Battersea
Watch 1000 boats of all descriptions sail in tribute in one of the largest flotillas ever on the river. Check website from May 16 for updates on viewing areas/screens and transport/road and bridge closures. 2-6pm, FREE (Jun 3)

6. Diamond Jubilee Festival in Battersea Park (Clapham Junction, Fulham Broadway and Victoria tube)
Carters Steam Fair, the Alternative Village fete and pop-up pub the ‘Diamond Geezer’ lend a quirky, vintage feel to this traditional celebration, with live bandstand, main stage, deck chairs and big screen to watch all the riverboat action. 12-7pm, adult £5/under 12s FREE (Jun 3)

7. Apple Cart Festival in Victoria Park, Grove Rd, E3 (Mile End tube)
Escape the frenzied flag-waving at the boutique festival of comedy, music and cabaret with main stage acts Noah and the Whale, Adam Ant and more, plus House of Fairytales, magic tents, kids crafts, village fete and other shenanigans. 11am-10.30pm, adult £33/under 12s FREE (Jun 3)

8. Water Poet Diamond Jubilee Festival, at the Water Poet, 9-11 Folgate St, E1 (Liverpool St tube/Shoreditch High St overground)
Join a good old fashioned East End knees up on the cobbled streets of Spitalfields, with cocktails and street eats, live stage, Red Routemaster bus market, keepsake crowns and 7 screens showing the Jubilee Concerts. 12-6pm, FREE (Jun 4)

9. London Green Fair at Cumberland Green, Regent’s Park, NW1 (Regent’s Park tube)
The capital’s top eco-cool event lets it all hang out with live stage, good food, hundreds of boutique stalls and tons of baby-friendly action including activities and chill-out zone. 12pm onwards, FREE (Jun 9-10)

10. Festival London 2012, UK-wide
More than 12,000 events across the country including loads of free stuff for families. Highlights such as Hackney Weekend, World Shakespeare Festival and River of Music Festival (see July) keep the celebration of the Olympic Games popping through the Closing Ceremony and beyond. (Jun 21
-Sep 9)

11. Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, varying locations around SE10, Canary Wharf and Docklands
A 10-day carnival of live performance with explosive theatre including Prometheus Awakes and Handspring Puppet Company, free outdoor arts in family-friendly Greenwich Fair, music, words and more. Varying times, FREE (Jun 23-30)

JULY

12. Latitude Festival, Henham Park, Southwold, Sunrise Coast, Suffolk (National Express coaches from central London direct to festival)
Artsy fun for every age group with top acts ranging from Pet Shop Boys and Javier de Frutos’ The Most Incredible Thing to Jack Dee, Lucy Rose and DJ Norman Jay. Children’s Arena with Noisy Toys, Book Nook, theatre workshops, Heartstitch crafting and baby and toddler chill-out tent. From 2pm (Thu); day ticket £75, weekend £175/child 5-12 £5/under 5s FREE (booking fees apply) + camper van £40 (Jul 12-15)

13. Deer Shed, Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire (Grand Central trains direct from Kings Cross London to Thirsk rail station)
Deer Shed is run by parents and was nominated for Best Family Festival in 2011 (UK Festival Awards). Fun for young ‘uns includes Paintball Art, Cardboard City building, Exotic Animals show, drumming workshops. Saint Etienne, Villagers and Los Campesinos among the main stage bands. From 1pm (Fri), 8am-3am (Sat), 8am-7pm (Sun); adult £69 (Fri-Sun) or £59 (Sat-Sun)/child 6+ £20/under 5s FREE + weekend camper van pass £15 (Jul 20-22)

14. BT River of Music Festival (London 2012 Festival), various locations
It’s the weekend before the Opening Ceremony, what to do? How about 2 days of free music from around the world at landmarks along the River Thames. Locations include Battersea Park (Asia stage); Trafalgar Square (Europe stage); Somerset House (Europe stage); Tower of London (Americas stage); Greenwich Old Royal Naval College (Oceania stage) and London Pleasure Gardens (Africa stage). From 12pm, FREE (tickets required, £3 processing fee/under 2s no tickets). Tickets released from May 15, check web site (Jul 21-22)

15. Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle, Dorset (Big Green Coach from London Victoria station, direct to festival)
One of the most popular family festivals actually has its own guide to Camp Bestival for parents. Main stage features Hot Chip, Chic, Kool & the Gang, Happy Mondays and other unmissable acts. For the kids, there’s Shrek the Musical, Mr Tumble, the Bopps, Beauty & the Beast, Fantastic Mr Fox and the Silly Olympics. Weekend with camping tickets adult £175 or £185 (from Thu)/child 15-17 £110 or £115 (from Thu)/child 11-14 £95/under 11s FREE (Jul 26-29)

AUGUST

16. LolliBop Festival, Regent’s Park, NW1 (Regent’s Park tube)
London’s biggest bash for little people returns for its third outing, with line-up including The Gruffalo live, Waybuloo, Mister Maker, Little Angel Theatre, Science Museum plus tons of activities including 3ft and Under Tent, Disco Shed, Enchanted Forest and more. 10am-7pm, from £22-25 adv single ticket/babies under 1 FREE (Aug 17-19)

17. Just So Festival, Rode Hall Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 3QP
A journey of creativity and imagination awaits at this baby-friendly festival with live theatre, storytelling, boutique camping, Lazy Days fun area including trapeze lessons, Jitterbugs dance action and special under 3s area, Peekaboo. From 2pm (Fri, car park), from 9am (Sat & Sun day ticket), adult weekend with camping £85/child 3+ £35/under 3s FREE (Aug 17-19)

18. Carnaval del Pueblo, Burgess Park, Albany Rd, Camberwell, SE5 (Kennington tube)
Europe’s largest outdoor Latin American festival presents a riot of colour with more than 15 floats, 3 mile carnival procession, 4 live stages and 200 stall marquees. All day, FREE (Aug 19)

19. Notting Hill Carnival, Notting Hill and surrounding areas (Westbourne Park exit only, see TFL web site closer to date for transport advice)
The biggest street party in Europe happens in the heart of west London as colourful floats, sound systems, street food and millions of revellers take over for the August Bank Holiday. Sunday is Children’s Day, with kids on parade and a lighter atmosphere. Monday is mayhem! From 9am, FREE (Aug 26-27)

SEPTEMBER

20. Thames Festival, along South Bank, Tate Museum, Southwark Bridge and Tower Bridge
The massive annual end-of-summer party happens this year on the closing weekend of the Olympic Games and promises non-stop action. From big stages to local celebrations, family-friendly Blue River village, rounding off with the popular Night Carnival and spectacular Fireworks Finale. From around 11am daily until late, FREE (Sep 8-9)

+ 10 More Family Friendly Festivals

World Shakespeare Festival (Apr-Sep)
Bigging up the Bard, all about the UK, as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

Hay Fever at Hay Festival (May-Jun)
Hay Fever is the Hay Festival’s 10-day event for children and families with writers, storytelling, workshops and tons of activities to stoke the imagination.

Glastonbury (Jun)
The festival to begin and end all festivals. Cancelled for 2012, but watch the web site for 2013 updates.

Wychwood Festival (Jun)
100 acts and 3 days of music, cabaret and creativity, Wychwood is a nominee for Best Family Festival at the UK Festival Awards.

Cornbury Festival (Jun-Jul)
Great gigs for grown-ups, fun stuff for kids including dance workshops, circus skills and shows, against a beautiful Oxfordshire backdrop.

Ben & Jerry’s Sundae on the Common (Jul)
Sadly the Olympics schedule has wiped this year’s event from the calendar, but definitely one to watch, great vibe and free ice cream!

Larmer Tree Festival (Jul)
Friendly, intimate gathering in Dorset with loads on for kids and fun carnival procession to round things off.

Womad (Jul)
The global celebration of world music has always been a cool spot for families.

Big Chill (Aug)
Cancelled this year, but keep an eye on the web site for possible news of a smaller, indoor event for 2012 and a return to outdoors in 2013

Beautiful Days Festival (Aug)
Already sold out for 2012, this happy, hippy event by the Levellers won Best Family Festival in 2011.

Top image via Just So Festival web site

Bunnies, chicks and eggs are taking over the capital but there’s so much more to do with kids in London beyond Easter. Grab your Superhero cape, get out there and explore!

New & Now
Superheroes at Discover Children’s Centre, Stratford E15 (Apr 1-Nov 4)
Brer Rabbit visits Africa at Puppet Barge Theatre, Little Venice, W9 (Apr 2-29)
Damien Hirst at Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 (Apr 4-Sep 9)
The Fire of London on Horseback at Museum of London, EC2 (Apr 5-11)
Real Food Market (Easter Weekend) at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Apr 6-9)
E4 Udderbelly Festival at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Apr 6-Jul 8)
The Most Incredible Thing: Pet Shop Boys & Javier de Frutos at Sadler’s Wells, EC1 (until Apr 7)
The (Oxford and Cambridge University) Boat Race, from Putney Bridge along Thames (Apr 7)
The Goat Race at Spitalfields City Farm, Buxton St, E1 (Apr 7)
Peter & the Wolf Live at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Apr 8 & 9)
David Hockney at Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, W1 (until Apr 9)
Play Tuesdays at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich SE10 (Apr 10-24)
Peter Rabbit’s Birthday at Foyles, Westfield Stratford City, E15 (Apr 12)
Alchemy Festival at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Apr 12-22)
Beano Easter Tour at Wembley Stadium, Empire Way, HA9 (until Apr 13)
The Big Egg Hunt, across London (until Apr 13)
Dream Space Easter Storytelling for Families at Shakespeare’s Globe, Bankside, SE1 (until Apr 14)
Mayan Chocolate Adventure at Kew Gardens, TW9 (until Apr 15)
Funday Willy Wonka Workshop at BFI, Southbank, SE1 (Apr 15)
Virgin London Marathon, across town (Apr 22)
World Shakespeare Festival, various venues (Apr 23-Nov 2012)
Sundance London Film & Music Festival at O2 Centre, Greenwich, SE10 (Apr 26-29)
Roundhouse Circus Fest 2012 at the Roundhouse, Camden, NW1 (until Apr 29)
Brains: the Mind as Matter at Wellcome Collection, Euston Rd, WC1 (until Jun 17)
London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games Medals at British Museum, Great Russell St, WC2 (until Sep 9)
Titanic Remembered at National Maritime Museum Greenwich, SE10 (until Sep 30)

Ongoing
Kids Go Free at new Kensington Palace, High St Kensington tube (reopens Mar 26)
David Shrigley: Brain Activity at Southbank Centre, SE1 (until May 13)
Matilda the Musical, Cambridge Theatre, WC2 (until Oct 21)
The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tour at Warner Brothers Studios, Leavesden, WD25 7LR (Mar 31-Mar 6, 2013)

Calendar Cutie
Cute as a button Jensen is our cover boy for April. Proud mama Jess reports that her 20-week-old heartbreaker has mastered the fine art of guiding the dummy to his mouth. Suck it to ‘em, Jensen!

Send in your favourite photos of your babes (ages 5 and under) for a chance to be our next Calendar Cutie and be entered into a prize draw! Email photos and a short description to editor@babesabouttown.com

WATCH A FILM

1. Don’t miss special family matinees of Future Cinema’s Bugsy Malone at Troxy, 490 Commercial Rd, E1 (Limehouse DLR) with live boxing, dancing and custard pie shoot-outs! 12.30pm, adult £25/child £10 (Apr 6-22, varying dates)

2. Critics are loving The Pirates! Band of Misfits (U), an animated adventure from Aardman Films (Chicken Run) starring Hugh Grant & Salma Hayek, now in cinemas nationwide

3. Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is at Vue Kids AM (Apr 5), at Odeon Kids (until Apr 10) and also out on DVD.

4. The Hunger Games is the Parent & Baby screening at 12pm on Mon (Apr 9) at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Rd (Shoreditch High St overground). Visit our Parent & Baby Cinema guide for more screenings around town.

5. Barbican Family Film Club is screening Hop (Apr 7) and brand new hit The Muppets (Apr 14) at 11am, members £3/non-members £5. At Barbican Centre, Silk St, EC1 (Barbican tube)

CATCH A SHOW

6. The annual Passion in the Square brings 70 actors and thousands of spectators to witness the story of Easter brought dramatically to life in Trafalgar Square, WC2 (Charing Cross tube) at 12pm & 3.15pm, FREE (Apr 6)

7. Martha is a charmingly funny tale of trust, friendship and a goose from the award winning Catherine’s Wheel company, for ages 4+. At Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, SE1 (Waterloo tube). 1pm & 3pm (Apr 6), 11am & 2pm (Apr 7-9), adult £12/child £6 (Apr 6-9)

8. English National Ballet adapts Tchaikovsky’s score in a special performance for ages 3+ in My First Sleeping Beauty at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, WC1 (Holborn tube). 11am & 2pm (Tue-Fri), 11am, 2pm & 5pm (Sat-Sun), £10-£25 (Apr 3-13)

9. Enter a magical, musical world for the young and the young at heart with Monty and Mirabella at Waterloo East Theatre, Brad St, SE1 (Waterloo tube). Daily 2pm, £9/concs £7/family £30 (until Apr 14)

10. The spectacular Zippo’s Circus is at Shooter’s Hill Rd, Blackheath, SE3 (until Apr 10) and Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, SE24 (Apr 12-17). Varying times, adult £8-£16/child £6-£13

FUN & GAMES

11. Georgian Games at Benjamin Franklin House, 36 Craven St, WC2 (Charing Cross tube) gives kids 5-12 a chance to try 18th century games like quoit, marbles and cat’s cradle. 10am-5pm, child £5/adult FREE (Apr 3-10)

12. The Easter funfair’s on at Clapham Common (until Apr 15) and Finsbury Park (Apr 5-15)

13. Join master chef winner Mat Follas at the Happy Egg Company Family Fun Day of cooking and magic in aid of charity at Whiteleys Shopping Centre, Bayswater (Apr 6)

14. Get your skates on for the Easter Bunny Stroll in Hyde Park, W1 with costumed skating from 2pm onwards, FREE (Apr 8)

15. Enjoy an Easter Eggstravaganza with activities and egg trail at Bank of England Museum, Bartholomew Lane, EC2. 10am-4.30pm, FREE (Apr 2-5 and Apr 10-13)

NATURE & OUTDOORS

16. Meet a meerkat, a racoon, a skunk or a giant tortoise with Zoofari’s Easter Zoo at N1 Centre in Islington (Angel tube), FREE (until Apr 4)

17. Roll up for the Oxford vs Cambridge Goat Race at Spitalfields City Farm, Buxton Rd, E1 (Shoreditch High St overground) with live DJs, food stalls and bookies! 1-5.30pm, adult £5/kids 50p (Apr 7)

18. Unscramble the world of penguins, platypuses, butterflies and other Easter Egg-laying Animals at Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL, WC1 (Euston tube). 1-5pm, FREE (Apr 12-13)

19. Check out the Easter Eggstravaganza at London Wetland Centre in Barnes, SW13 as newly hatched ducklings take their very first swim. Daily 9.30-6pm, adult £10.99/child £6.50/under 4s FREE (until Apr 15)

20. Life’s a Penguin Beach at London Zoo, NW1 (Regent’s Park tube) where zookeepers have found the first penguin eggs of the year! Daily until 5.30pm, adult £20.50/child £16/under 3s FREE (ongoing)

ARTS & CRAFTS

21. Design your own bonnet, go on a jigsaw puzzle hunt and hear travelling tales in Easter Family Fun at London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, WC2. 11am-4pm, adult £13.50 (annual)/child FREE (Apr 2-11)

22. Captain Clean wants YOU to help conserve the museum’s collection in The Big Spring Clean at National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea (Sloane Square tube). 10am-5.30pm, FREE (Apr 4-9)

23. Come along for a weekend of Hop Along Fun at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E1 (Bethnal Green tube), with Bunny hunt, crafts and a chance to win a jar of jelly beans. 11am-4pm, FREE (Apr 6-9)

24. Global Eggs at Geffrye Museum on Kingsland Rd, Shoreditch (Hoxton overground) lets you decorate an egg and egg cup to represent a country of your choice. 10.30am-12.30pm & 2-4pm, FREE (Apr 7)

25. Storytelling, puppets, paper crowns and other craft activities are part of Victoriana – Easter Holidays at Kensington Palace (High St Kensington tube). 11am-4pm, adult £14.50/child FREE (until Apr 9)

Don’t miss our guide to Top 10 Easter Egg Hunts in London

Main pic: Bespoke 165ft Chipwrecked sand art drawing designed by professional artist on Blackpool beach with help from local schoolchildren (Mar 29, 2012)

Ezra learned to ride a bike yesterday. I can’t describe the feeling of pride, awe and joy that swelled up inside as I saw my little boy cycle off on his own.

I’d signed him up to one of Islington Council’s free cycle training courses that are run over the holidays.

The beginner’s course is a 2 day, 1.5 hour session led by 4 enthusiastic cycling instructors. Day 1 was all about the basics – learning to check your A (air), B (brakes), C (control) and Ds (dangly bits!) – before you set your pedal and give that first big push.

Ezra was wobbly at the start but within the hour, and after not that much instruction, he was actually riding. I couldn’t believe it!

Ezra was stoked to be an official ‘biker boy’ and spent a couple more hours in the park later practising his new-found moves.

Day 2 was about building confidence. Ezra was promoted to the ‘riders’ group in the session and they spent the day learning to turn around a mini obstacle course, improving their braking and picking up some signalling skills. Afterwards, Ezra was able to ride part of the way home (on the pavement only).

What a wonderful service provided by the council (check in your area for free cycling courses near you) and an amazing achievement to kick off our Easter holidays. They also run courses for adults and I’m thinking of signing up as it’s been years since I was on a bike and it would be fun to ride out as a family.

I’m super proud of Ezra and of course he looks ultra stylish in his cycling gear. His helmet even matches his spring jacket!

Style Check
Ammaco MX18 Bike – Park Royal bike shop
Helmet – Park Royal bike shop
Jacket – Marks & Spencer
Jeans – Gap
Shoes – Next

And below is a clip of Ezra in action!

Check out more Trendy Toddler fashion every Tuesday now at Very Busy Mama blog!

For our Valentine’s edition of Trendy Toddler Tuesday, I decided to share two photos (above and below) of my beloved boys, on a beautiful day out in the city that we love to call home.

We had enjoyed an amazing stay at a 5 star family hotel near the South Bank, one of our favourite parts of town.

It was a gorgeous afternoon in early September when we wandered down to St. James’ Park and even though it was heaving with tourists, the sunlight cast a serene glow over everything.

I love these shots because each of my models somehow managed to strike a pose looking almost exactly like the ducks in the background. Right down to the colour tones.

Tres ‘high fashion’, n’est ce pas?

St. James’ Park is known for its wildlife variety and on that single afternoon we spotted everything from black swans to pelicans – sadly too distant for my camera phone’s zoom.

London’s stunning parks are one of the many reasons we love this city – in the space of a few hours you can pretend you’re countrified and still keep it street!

Style File

Khaki cotton shirt (Jed) – Primark
Ice cream beard – model’s own

White cotton shirt (Ezra) – Levi’s
Jeans – Gap Kids
Playboy lean – model’s own

Don’t forget to check out Trendy Toddler Tuesday at Mummy’s Busy World every week!

AT THE MOVIES

1. The Muppets are back in town and it still ain’t easy being green! (from Feb 10)

2. Experience Big Miracle, an inspiring true tale of 3 whales stranded off the coast of Alaska (cinemas across UK)

3. Celebrate Disney at 50 at BFI South Bank, SE1 with Bolt (Feb 11), The Princess & the Frog (Feb 13 & 18) and Tangled (Feb 24 & 25)

4. Flashback with Bugsy Malone (Feb 11) and The Muppets Take Manhattan (Feb 18) at the Family Film Club, Barbican Centre, EC2

5. See Puss in Boots (Feb 10-16) and Happy Feet 2 (Feb 17-20), from £1.50 daily at Vue Kids AM

ON THE STAGE

6. The tale of The Ugly Duckling still tugs at the old ticker at Polka Theatre, SW19 (until Feb 18)

7. Watch Little Red Riding Hood with strings attached, at Little Angel Theatre, N1 (Feb 8-19)

8. Daredevil stunts wow the crowds at Zippo’s Circus in Brent Cross, NW4 (Feb 10-19)

9. Eat your words? It’s The Incredible Book Eating Boy at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Feb 11-19))

10. Go on a daring adventure with The Snail and the Whale at Arts Depot, N12 (Feb 16-19)

STORIES & RHYMES

11. Imagine Children’s Literature Festival brings 2 magical weeks of words and shows to Southbank Centre. Don’t miss a trick! (Feb 10-26)

12. Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole star in Tales from the Riverbank at Bank of England Museum, EC2 (Feb 13-17) – FREE

13. Discover Fairytale Friends with stories, treasure hunting and crafts at V&A Museum of Childhood, E2 (Feb 13-17) – FREE

14. Celebrate Edward Lear’s centenary with nonsense rhymes and crafts at Keats House, NW3 (Feb 15) – FREE

15. Spin words and beats with rappers and poets from Apples & Snakes at Half Moon Theatre, E1 (Feb 18)

MOVES & MUSIC

16. Clubland gets its ankles chewed as LolliBop Mini Disco hits Ministry of Sound, SE1 (Feb 12)

17. Doh-si-doh your partner at a Family Barn Dance in Cecil Sharp House, NW1 (Feb 12)

18. DJ Charlie Dark takes babes on an underwater hip hop voyage with Dr Octopus & his Wheels of Steel at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Feb 13-21) – FREE

19. Family Ignite: When I Grow Up is a fun and interactive concert at Royal Albert Hall, SW7 (Feb 14) – FREE

20. Meet the New York Philharmonic and their instruments in Come & Play: Kidzone Live at Barbican Centre, EC2 (Feb 18) – FREE

CULTURE & CRAFTS

21. Weave a giant web and other Family Art Fun at V&A Museum, SW7 (Feb 11-19) – FREE

22. Take a Tour with Mr Horniman himself at the popular museum and gardens in Forest Hill, SE23 (Feb 13) – FREE

23. Dive into the Whirlwind and Royal Wessex choppers for Helicopter Half-Term at RAF Museum, NW9 (Feb 13-17) – FREE

24. Make a playdough meal in Great Granny’s Kitchen and read The Very Hungry Caterpillar at Islington Museum, N1 (Feb 14) – FREE

25. Create cool container puppets in Boxes, Bowls, Pots & Domes at Geffrye Museum, E2 (Feb 14-17) – FREE

NATURE & OUTDOORS

26. Go nose to nose with 16 sharks in the Shark Reef Encounter, brand new to Sea Life London Aquarium, SE1 (from Feb 10)

27. Brave the elements for a whirl at the Clapham Common Fun Fair, all rides £1 only in SW4 (Feb 11-19)

28. Wild things settle in for Stories from the Zoo with Bloomsbury at London Zoo, NW1 (Feb 11-19)

29. Give it a Go 2012 kicks off with sports activities for all ages and abilities, nationwide (from Feb 13) – FREE

30. Book now for Scavenger Hunts and creepy crawly fun at Holland Park Ecology Centre, W8 (Feb 13-17)

Don’t forget to check out our February Family Calendar and our Weekend Scoop every Thursday

12 family-friendly ways to usher in 2012 in style…

HOT SPOT
1. Whether you plan to brave or escape the fireworks at midnight, the South Bank Centre’s Winter Festival offers kids’ shows (White, Slava’s Snowshow), outdoor market, Winter Garden Grotto, carousel and more to put all the family in a festive mood.

2. Get in the party spirit at Mojo, a riot of puppetry, music and dance for all the family, playing out at the Barbican Centre. 12pm & 7pm; adult £15/under 16s half price (until Dec 31)

3. Groove with the wee ones into the wee hours at a New Year’s Eve Funk Party for all ages with Funkification at The Forge, NW1. 7pm, adult £30 adv/£50 door; under 12s £11 (Dec 31)

4. Reminisce on your own Dazed & Confused era at the Somerset House retrospective on the iconic magazine. 10am-6pm, FREE (until Jan 29)

5. Last chance to see the clash of fashion, storytelling and light installations that transformed Kensington Palace into the Enchanted Palace. 10am-6pm, adult £12.50/under 16s £6.25/under 5s FREE (until Jan 3)

6. Hear the story of Babar the Elephant as told by the LMA Orchestra in the last of this year’s Mini Maestro concerts for under 5s at St Martin-in-the-Fields. 11.30am, £6.50/under 16s £4.50 (Dec 31)

7. Spend a Magical Night at the Royal Opera House for the closing performances of the spectacular Christmas ballet. 12.30pm & 4pm; £10.50-£23.50 (until Dec 31)

8. Toast to 2012 at a lavish Champagne Afternoon Tea at Bea’s of Bloomsbury, St. Paul’s, EC1. 12pm onwards, £22 per person (ongoing)

9. Explore High Arctic at National Maritime Museum – a dazzling, immersive exhibition using poetry, visuals, sound and light to recreate the Arctic – past, present and future. 10am-5pm, adult £6/child £4/under 6s free (until Jan 8)

10. Get Lost and Found at Discover Story Centre in a heartwarming tale by Oliver Jeffers about a boy who decides to take a misplaced Penguin back to the South Pole. For ages 3+. 11.30am & 2.30pm, £4.50/under 2s free (until Dec 31)

11. Enjoy high-tech fun and games at Namco Funscape in County Hall, SE1 where there’s pool tables, video arcades, bumper cars and bowling until the New Year strikes. 10am-midnight,
free entry (daily)

12. Check out the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at Natural History Museum, then skate until late on the magical ice rink outside. Museum 10am-6pm, FREE; ice rink open until 1am, adult £13.50/child £8.50 (ongoing)

More Ideas

31 Ideas for New Year’s Eve (with Kids)

Top Shows for Under 5s

Babes Christmas Guide for London Families

Top 10 Family Films at Christmas

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

New Year’s Weekend Scoop for London Families

We’ve had oodles of family fun around London this year but one of the most exciting things we did was riding a speedboat along the Thames.

It wasn’t just thrilling, it was thrillaxing.

We were invited on the Thames RIB Experience by travel company iExplore and my 5-year-old described it as the ‘funnest time ever’.

The speedboat takes you on a tour of the River Thames from the Embankment to Canary Wharf and back, giving you a unique vantage point of city attractions like the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Golden Hinde.

There’s a cheeky tour guide and mood music (Hawaii 5-0!) and while part of the 1-hour tour is quite leisurely, other parts are pure white-knuckle rush.

Thames RIB speedboats are the ultimate adrenaline experience for all ages. Here’s a clip I shot on our ride – excuse the wobbly camera, I was clinging on tightly to my 2-year-old with the other hand!

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Family Ticket on the Thames RIB Experience!

It’s Day 10 of our 12 Day giveaways and Thames Rib Experience has generously thrown in a Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children) on their Canary Wharf Experience worth £102 to our Christmas lucky dip. NB: Passengers must weigh at least 15kg.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.thamesribexperience.com

The circus comes to Greenwich, there’s a barn dance near Regent’s Park and Christmas puddings are on the run in Covent Garden. Another swinging weekend for London kids and families!

Fri-Sun: Greenwich Circus Festival, Hangar Arts Trust, unit 7a, Harrington Way, SE18 (Greenwich DLR)
Aircraft Circus present a three-day festival under the creative direction of Alex Frith (aerial choreographer for Lord of the Rings), packed with interactive circus fun for the kiddies by day and some jaw-dropping action for adults after dark. 12-6pm (family-friendly) & 7pm-12am (adults-only); adult £10-£20/under 16 £6/under 5s FREE (Dec 2-4)

Fri-Sun: East London Design Show, Shoreditch Town Hall, Old St, EC1 (Old St tube)
Browse more than 100 stalls by the finest indie designers of jewellery, fashion, interiors and accessories, plus children’s area with creative activities. 12-9pm (Fri), 10am-6pm (Sat-Sun); £5/£3 concs/under 15s FREE (Dec 2-4)

Sat: The Great Christmas Pudding Race, Covent Garden Piazza, WC2 (Covent Garden tube)
An annual tradition, this wacky race of seasonal fancy dress wearers carrying Xmas puds happens for the 31st time in aid of Cancer Research. 11am, FREE (Dec 3)

Sat: Christmas Fair at Hampstead Town Hall, 213 Haverstock Hill, NW3 (Hampstead tube)
Shop for gifts in one of the neighbourhood’s historic buildings. Food stalls, jewellery, crafts, skincare and more on offer. 10am-5pm, FREE (£1 donation) (Dec 3 & 17)

Sun: The Magic of Christmas Concert at Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1 (Sloane Square tube)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s festive programme features the Nutcracker Suite, Sleigh Ride and White Christmas, Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant and the world premiere adaptation of The Fib, introduced by Gary Lineker and narrated by author George Layton. In aid of Breast Cancer Campaign. 3.30pm; £12.50-£37.50 (Dec 4)

Sun: EFDSS Family Barn Dance at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Rd, NW1 (Regent’s Park tube)
End of season party with the English Folk Dance and Singing Society. Fling your self and family members about to lively dances from the British Isles, with a caller to guide your steps. 3pm; adult £5/child £3 (Dec 4)

Local Pick

Sat: A Cally Christmas, Tilloch St, off Caledonian Rd, N1 (Caledonian Rd tube)
The side street off Caledonian Road will be transformed into a winter wonderland with Santa’s grotto, trees decorated with lights, live music band-stand, table-top market and craft activities. 1-6pm, FREE (Dec 3)

Don’t miss Babes Christmas Guide for London Families

Images via event websites

If the season of jolly brings out the Scrooge in you, then consider this a warning: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is like Christmas cheer on steroids.

There are life-size Santas up to all sorts of tricks around the park and the only thing low-key is the voice of the animatronic Reindeer head near the entrance, belting out a Christmas song to passers-by.

Clearly, minimalism is not what has turned Winter Wonderland into a London institution and this year’s event is bigger and bolder than ever.

I remember being somewhat underwhelmed on our first visit to the Hyde Park extravaganza, years back when I was pregnant with my eldest.

But last Friday I was pretty much blown away by its scale and had that toasty feeling inside as we entered the charming Angels market.

The largest of its kind in London, it’s lined with artisanal chalets and food huts selling Bavarian beer and bratwurst.

Under the glow of the Giant Observation Wheel, the park’s centrepiece attraction, there’s a mind-boggling mix of stuff to see and do.

The babes were entranced by skaters gliding under sparkling lights on the open-air rink.

Sadly both Zippo’s Circus shows were closed on opening night (due to filming for Children in Need), but this left plenty of time to explore the rides.

The fairground attractions range from freaky fun houses and terrifying vertical drops to sweet and gentle rides for younger visitors.

The park looked magical lit up at night and being out so late meant we didn’t have to queue for any attractions.

Still, the whole experience could be sensory overload for little ones so it’s best to time your visit according to what you think your kids can cope with.

Oh and bring plenty of cash, as while entrance to the park and Santa’s Grotto are free, (and we were lucky enough to have press comps) everything else adds up.

So whether Wonderland gives you a Cheshire cat grin or a Queen-sized headache, do keep an eye on that shrinking wallet!

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland runs until Jan 3, 10am-10pm daily (closed Dec 25) at the park’s main entrance, opposite Hyde Park Circus tube station. Visit www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com