Bank Holiday Weekend Scoop for London Kids and Families (May 23-27, 2013)

Another cracking weekend of London family activities and things to do with kids around town over the second May Bank Holiday!

London Hoop Fest, UEFA Champions Festival, Cerys Matthews FREE Family Singalong, Toddle in the City, David & Carrie Grant Book Launch, Foodies Festival, Dalston Children’s Festival, Star of Bethnal Green Street Party….

We’ll be spinning, kicking, singing, dancing, watching and munching all across town throughout the weekend. Say hi if you spot us!

Thu-Sat: Lullaby (a show for babies at Polka Theatre, 240 the Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 (Wimbledon tube)
Enter the ultimate baby chill-out zone with this magical interactive performance that uses music, light, sound and shadow to stimulate and engage the tiniest senses. The intimate show, with a maximum of 12 babies and carers admitted per session, draws on the ancient power of lullabies to aid baby sensory development. Additional adults can observe on a big screen for £4. Shows at 10.35am, 12.05pm, 12.35pm, 2.05pm & 3.35pm (dates and times vary); adult + baby £15/£12 concs. (until May 25)

Thu-Sun: London Hoop Fest at Mile End Art Pavilion, Clinton Rd, E3 (Mile End tube)
It’s a whole weekender of hoopla with loads of spinning fun to be had for all ages and abilities. Join hoop stars Anna the Hulagan, Gems Goddard, Nick Broyd and more for kids and adult workshops, tasters and demos. There’ll be beginners classes, hula fit sessions, circus and burlesque hooping, kids hoop disco, hoop yoga, hoop decorating, the world’s first hoop-along cinema and even fire hooping for the fearless! From 9.30am daily until late, tickets range from FREE open sessions and £6 drop-in classes up to £80 weekend tickets (until May 26)

Thu-Sun: UEFA Champions Festival at the International Quarter, close to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford City E20 (Stratford tube/overground)
Stratford gets fever pitch in the run-up to the UEFA Champions League Women’s Finals (Thu) and Men’s Finals at Wembley (Sat). This family-friendly festival offers visitors a chance to test their football skills, pose with trophies, watch world-renowned players compete in the Ultimate Champions match (Sat, 12.30pm) and win prizes. 12-9pm (Thu-Fri); 9am-6pm (Sat), 12-6pm (Sun), FREE (May 23-26)

Sat: Munch Street Food Festival at More London at The Scoop, Queen’s Walk, SE1 (London Bridge/Tower Bridge tubes)
Head down to Bankside for this pop-up street food festival featuring yummy nose from the likes of Big Apple Hot Dogs, Bhangra Burger, Mama’s Jerk Station, Sweet Tooth Factory, The Frenchie and more. Enjoy alfresco dining while watching Brazilian dancers, stocking up at the bar or listening to soulful and upbeat sounds from live bands throughout the day. 10am-10pm, FREE entry (May 25)

Sat: Hook, Line and Singer: A Family Singalong with Cerys Matthews at Clore Ballroom, Southbank Centre, SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The former lead singer of Catatonia leads this all ages singalong that encourages everyone to stop being shy and find their voices, to promote her new book of traditional family songs from around the world. 3pm, FREE (May 25)

Sat: Toddle in the City: DIY Toddle at National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Rd, Chelsea SW3 (Sloane Square tube)
Urban Beings, the team behind Toddle in the City that arms youngsters with photographs on treasure hunts around town, has set up this special DIY Toddle at the museum. Grab your lens and search for clues dotted around, then explore the exhibits and have fun in the interactive Kids’ Zone play area for kids 0-8. Drop-in between 10am-4pm, FREE (pre-booking for Kids’ Zone recommended, £2.50 per child, FREE for babies under 6 months) (May 25)

Sat: David and Carrie Grant at Discover Children’s Story Centre, 383-387 High St, Stratford, E15 (Stratford overground/tube)
The husband and wife team of CBeebies Pop Shop fame (along with The Voice and Fame Academy) host this fun-filled session to launch their brand new range of 6 picture books, with singalong CDs and lesson plans included. For ages 4-7. 2.30pm, adult & child £5/family £18/under 2s FREE (May 25)

Sat-Mon: Dalston Children’s Festival, venues around Dalston, E8 (Dalston Junction/Dalston Kingsland overground)
Head east for the inaugural Dalston Children’s Festival, set to run all through the summer and kicking off this weekend with a packed roster of events. On Launch Day (Sat), there’s Big & Small family workshops, a flower show for children, herb bag making at Geffrye Museum, climbing wall, parade and character mask making, film workshop and a late screening of Bugsy Malone in Dalston Square. The fun continues with Kids Capoeira (Mon) and loads on through half-term. 12am-midnight, FREE (May 25-Aug 31)

Sat-Mon: London Transport Museum Heritage Rides, between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham rail stations
Celebrating 150 years of the Tube, the LTM is inviting travellers to experience a real steam train ride on the newly restored Metropolitan Steam Locomotive No.1 along with a GWR Pannier Locomotive & GWR Prairie Locomotive. There’s also an exhibition at Amersham Museum and Sunday is family day with dress-up and make and take activities. Full timetable for journeys available. £15-£45 (May 25-27)

Sat-Mon: Foodies Festival and The Big Picnic at Hampton Court Palace Green, East Molesey, Sussex KT8 9AU
Swing by the annual Foodies Festival for Michelin chef demos, tastings, Cake and Chocolate theatres, street food and more. Then pop over to the picnic in the palace grounds, for family activities including old school sports day fun, Canterbury Tales performances, live music and a chance to wander in the maze. Plus Kids Go Free this weekend! Foodies Festival adult £15-£48/under 12s FREE; Big Picnic adult £17.60/child FREE (May 25-27)

Sun: Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dancehall in London Wonderground at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
As part of the Festival of Neighbourhood and the London Wonderground, internationally-renowned DJ Monski Mouse rocks the Spiegeltent with her afternoon dance club for kids under 5 and their parents. Spinning every other Sunday through September, DJ Monski and her crew will have young and old raving to pop faves, retro classics and nursery rhymes remixed. 3pm, £8 (until Sep 15)

Mon: Star of Bethnal Green Street Party, 359 Bethnal Green Rd, E2 (Bethnal Green tube)
Hot on the heels of their massive Jubilee bash last year, we predict a roadblock for this community street party. There’s fun for kids including face painting and bouncy castle, plus live performances, graffiti artists, DJs and good food from Mario’s Pizza and Big Apple Hot Dogs. The adults party on indoors from 8pm onwards! 2-8pm, FREE (May 27)

LOCAL PICK

Fri-Sat: Spill: A Playground of Dance at Highbury Fields, Highbury Place, N5 (Highbury & Islington tube)
Don’t miss this vibrant outdoor performance that blends gymnastics, quirky choreography and street dance. The performers use the swings, slides, roundabouts and other playground structures to create a fun and cheeky celebration of the child within. Plus there’s an Electro-Pop workshop before the 2nd performance. Shows 1pm & 3.30pm, workshop 2.45pm, FREE (May 24-25)

Thu-Sun: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 (Angel tube)
Michael Rosen’s brilliantly lyrical tale gets a puppet makeover in this lively adaptation directed by LAT’s Peter Glanville and music from renowned singer-composer Barb Jungr. For ages 2+. Baby-friendly performances 11am (Suns) & on Thu May 30. 10am & 1pm (Wed-Thu), 1pm & 5pm (Fri); 11am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm (Sat-Sun); £12/£10 children & concs/half-price previews May 11 & 12/£5 for Fridays 5pm (May 11-Jul 21)

We also like
See Chelsea in Bloom, around SW3 (until Sun); The Gruffalo’s Child is playing at at Arts Depot, N12 (Fri-Sun); bite-sized kids’ cinema from 11am at Framed Pick ‘n’ Mix Flicks, Rio Cinema, Dalston (Sat); Street Feast is throwing a BBQ & Keg Party from noon in Haggerston (Sat); there’s SuperTrash makeovers and Caramel Baby new dress range at Bank Holiday in the Kids Department at Selfridges (Sat); family classic Mary Poppins is showing at the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill (Sat); English National Ballet presents My First Cinderella at Richmond Theatre (Sat-Sun); roll up for The Great British Fair from 12pm at Old Queens Head on Essex Rd, N1 (Sun); it’s Sheep and Wool Day on Bank Holiday Monday at Freightliner’s Farm N1.

DON’T MISS OUR MAY HALF-TERM GUIDE COMING OUT BY THIS WEEKEND!