So little time, so much fun for London kids and families. It’s all happening in East London with ping pong tournaments, African music festival, and a massive party to launch the amazing London Pleasure Gardens. Enjoy!
From Fri: Ping! London, across London
London’s hottest tables are now outdoors with ping pong spots springing up all over the capital. There’s free play as well as tournaments, special events and a launch party this weekend. Launch party 12-2pm (Fri) at Finsbury Avenue Square, Broadgate Estates, EC2. All events FREE (Jun 29-Jul 29)
Fri-Sun: Back to Black Festival at Old Billinsgate Market, 16 Lower Thames St, EC2 (Monument tube)
An unprecedented celebration of the African roots in music and culture with a mind-blowing mix of performance, talks, food, market and music from top acts Gilberto Gil, Macy Gray, Roots Manuva, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Hugh Masekela, Amadou and Mariam, Femi Kuti and many more. 6pm-2am (Fri), 1pm-2am (Sat), 1pm-12am (Sun); day tickets £35-£45/under 16s £20/weekend £120/under 16s £70 (Jun 29-Jul 1)
Sat: Dancing City at Cabot Square to Canary Riverside, Canary Wharf, E14 (Canary Wharf DLR)
Leading UK and international choreographers perform amazing feats in this exhibition of street dancing. Anticipate runaway trolleys, a fairytale forest and large scale choreography with Tomorrow’s Men, all part of Greenwich + Docklands International Festival. 11am-onwards (times and places vary), FREE (Jun 30)
Sat: Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Street Party, 15 Westland Place, N1 (Old St tube)
Jamie Oliver joins forces with street food collective Eat.St for a family-friendly outdoor bash to celebrate 10 years of his flagship Fifteen restaurant. Top al fresco nosh from the likes of Big Apple Hot Dogs, The Ribman, Jamon Jamon and more to fill your bellies, while live music, arts and crafts satisfy the other senses. 11am-5pm, FREE (Jun 30)
Sat-Sun: Paradise Garden Festival at London Pleasure Gardens, Royal Victoria Docks, E16 (Pontoon Dock DLR)
Don’t miss this free family festival to mark the opening of the London Pleasure Gardens. Expect spectacular pyrotechnics, live stages with acts including Alabama 3, Ska Cubano, Musical Youth and more, food stalls, comedy from Ida Barr, vintage fairground, silly Olympics and more shenanigans. 1-11pm (Sat) & 1-10pm (Sun), FREE (Jun 30-Jul 1)
Sat-Sun: Pop-Up Festival of Stories, Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C (King’s Cross tube)
Two fabulous days of story-telling and creative activities for families. Highlights include Herve Tullet’s Play Sculptures, the Pop Up Picture Pavilion, Comics Big Top of Awesome, Dahl’s Dazzling Dreams, Dear Zoo’s 30th Birthday Celebration, Curzon Cinekids Pop-Up Cinema and a Pop Up Filipino style Fiesta on Saturday to get the party started. 11.30am-6pm (Sat) & 12-6pm (Sun), FREE (Jun 30-Jul 1)
We also like
Edvard Munch opens at Tate Modern (Thu), watch Wimbledon free on a Big Screen at Hammersmith Summer Festival in Lyric Square (Fri-Sun), Ice Age 4: Continental Drift hits cinemas, gawp at gorgeous Ballgowns at V&A Museum, pick up a Penguin at the Charing Cross Road festival (Sat), party on with the East London Mela in Barking Park (Sun) and there’s an American Independence Day Picnic in Portman Square (Sun)
Have a great weekend!
