Weekend Scoop for London Families (Apr 19-22, 2012)

This weekend, explore a pop-up English garden taking over Trafalgar Square (Sat) and free Shakespearean sonnets at the Globe Theatre (Sun). Here’s more of what we like for London families:

Until Sun: Drive at Westfield Stratford City, E15 (Stratford tube/overground)
Petrol heads go motor mad at this special event featuring the latest in Eco-Cars, Supercars and everything in between. There’s giant Scalextric racing, LEGO building, simulated riding, test driving and fantastic prizes to be won. All day (until closing), FREE (Apr 17-22)

Thu-Sat: Face Britain at Buckingham Palace, SW1
More than 200,000 self-portraits by UK kids will be projected onto Buckingham Palace, in a joint project between the Prince of Wales Foundation for Children & the Arts and Photobox. The portraits will make up a montage image of the Queen, screened nightly from 8.30-11.30pm on the palace front, and other backdrops across town, in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record for most artists working on 1 installation. 8.30-11.30pm, FREE (Apr 19-21)

Thu-Sun: London Children’s Ballet at Sadler’s Wells, Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, WC1 (Holborn tube)
The young cast of LCB (ages 9-15) perform one of their best-loved ballets, A Little Princess. The ballet’s adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s tale about the trials and misadventures of young Sara Crewe who arrives from India into an English boarding school. For ages 3+ (younger kids not admitted). Premiere 7pm (Thu), 7.30pm (Fri), 1.30pm & 5.30pm (Sat), 12.30pm & 4.30pm (Sun), from £14-£50 (Apr 19-22)

Sat: St George’s Day at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 (Bethnal Green tube)
There’s live music, storytelling, dancing, arts and crafts, traditional games and merriment a-plenty in this special celebration for St George’s Day. For all ages, drop-in. 11.30am-4pm, FREE (Apr 21)

Sat-Mon: St. George in Southwark Festival, St George the Martyr Church, Borough Market and surrounding areas (London Bridge tube)
A multicultural celebration of the patron saint claimed by many countries, this 3-day party includes the Great Southwark Dragon Quest (Sat-Mon), a Fun Day (Sat) with live Ethiopian and Somali music, a Catalonian celebration at Borough Market (Sun, 12-4pm), musical open-air theatre, mass, vigil and Morris Dancing (Mon). Varying times, FREE (Apr 21-23)

Sun: London Marathon, from Greenwich Park to the Mall
Ready to run the world? Start with London at the city’s biggest sporting event this side of the Olympics. It’s too late to sign up for the race, but join the throng cheering on those competing to win, for charity or just to beat their own personal best. From 9am-5pm, FREE. See TFL’s guide to getting around London marathon (Apr 22)

We also like
Free family festivities at Finsbury Arts Festival at St Luke’s Centre, EC1 (Sat), Alternative Fashion Week at Spitalfields Market (until Sat), Blog Eat Blog with Big Apple Hot Dogs on Brick Lane (Sun) and Alchemy Festival winding down at Southbank Centre (until Sun)

Check out what else is hot for parents and kids in London with our April Family Events Calendar