London Guide for Families May Half-Term

Your free, action-packed guide to what’s hot over the May half-term for London families with young children.

Babes Choice: 10 Days of Fun

Fri: Penguin Beach at London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1
Waddle along to England’s largest penguin pool, brand new at the zoo. (opens May 27)

Sat: Welcome to Monsterville at Discover Story Centre, Stratford E16
New exhibition crawling with ghouls, beasties and fangtastic surprises. 10am-5pm (Mon-Fri), 11am-5pm (Sat-Sun). £4.50 adult/child, under 2s free (opens May 28 to Mar 2012)

Sun: Free Family Day: ‘A-pot-ments’ at Sutton House, Hackney E9
Taste homegrown fruit & veg and help design the new garden. 12.30-4pm, adult £3/child £1/family £6.09 (May 29)

Mon: National Family Week, nationwide
Thousands of events and activities for the UK’s biggest celebration of family life. Check the web site for local events. (May 30-Jun 5)

Tue: Lego Inventors at Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington SW7
TV? Mobile phone? Recreate your favourite invention using Lego bricks. 10.30am-12.30pm & 2-4pm. Free, drop-in. (May 31-Jun 2)

Wed: The Magician’s Daughter Stay & Play at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1
Watch the show, based on The Tempest, then make a puppet inspired by the play. Ages 3-6. 10.30am-1.30pm & 1.30-4.30pm. £40 adult & child/£30 additional child (show and workshop). NB: Regular performances Wed-Sat, baby-friendly shows Sun 11am. (Jun 1 workshop, show run May 28-Jul 10)

Thu: How to be a Pirate at the Museum of London Docklands, West India Quay, E14
Help a bumbling buccaneer become a true swashbuckler in this interactive show. 12.30-1pm & 2.30-3pm, Free. (Jun 2, also on May 28 & 30/Jun 1, 5 & 25)

Fri: Incredible Edible Gingerbread House at Brunswick Centre, Russell Sq Tube, WC1
Fairytale creation with meringue clouds, cupcake lawns, storytelling and more. 11am-5pm, £2 suggested donation. (Jun 3-5)

Sat: Singalonga Showtune at Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill N6
Belt out ditties from Mary Poppins, Beauty & the Beast and more with Sister Mary McArthur. 10am & 11.30am, £4.50 child. (Jun 4)

Sun: Kung Fu Panda 2 Funday at BFI Southbank, Belvedere Rd, SE1
Create your own Furious Five then catch the Kung Fu Panda sequel in stunning 3D. 11am (workshop), 1pm (film) (Jun 5)

What’s On Daily:

From Saturday
Animal Encounters at London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes SW13
Meet otters, hedgehogs, birds of prey and other stars of the wildlife reserve. From 10.30am daily, last admission 4pm. Adult £10.55/child £5.85/under 4s free (May 28-Jun 5)

Penguin Pandemonium at Sea Life London Aquarium, County Hall, SE1
Get up close with the new Gentoo penguins in their Ice Adventure. 10am-6pm (Mon-Thu), 10am-7pm (Fri-Sun). Book online adult £17.14/child £12.66/under 3 free (May 28-Jun 5)

The Great Exhibition at Kensington Palace
Explore the weird and wonderful inventions at the Great Exhibition of 1851. 11am-4pm, free with admission: adult £12.50/under 16 £6.25/under 5s free (May 28-Jun 5)

From Monday

The Tiger Who Came to Tea at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2
Storytelling, Tiger trail and crafts inspired by the Judith Kerr character. 10am-4pm. Free, drop-in (May 30-Jun 5)

Search & Rescue at Royal Airforce Museum, Grahame Park Way, Hendon NW9
Learn survival skills aboard an RAF life raft. 11am-1pm & 2-4pm. Free (May 30-Jun 3)

Treasure Map at National Maritime Museum, Romney Rd, Greenwich SE10
Hunt for treasure in the museum and map the loot. 11.30am-1.30pm & 2-4pm. Free (May 30, Jun 1 & 3)

Australia Adventure at British Museum, Russell Sq Tube, WC1
Escape Down Under with stories, crafts and a didgeridoo. 11am-4pm, Free (May 30-Jun 3)

From Tuesday

Japanese Homes at Geffrye Museum, Kingsland Rd, Dalston E2
Origami folding, noodle bowl decorating, scary monster masks and more in these family activity sessions. 10.30am-12.30pm & 2-4pm. Free (May 31-Jun 3)

Rainforest Animals at Grant Museum of Zoology, Rockefeller Building, University St WC1
Handle a howler monkey, stroke a snake and discover a dodo in hands-on activities. 1-5pm, Free (May 31-Jun 3)