May Half-Term in London: Top 20 Family Activities

So much on, where do you begin? We’ve made it simpler by picking out our Top 20 May Half-Term Activities for London children and families, from babies to big kids (and the young at heart).

Highlights include the IncrEdibles at Kew Garden, a festival of edible gardening, the London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre featuring Dogs Don’t Do Ballet among other family-friendly shows, and a chance to make butter in Mrs Dickens’ Kitchen!

KIDS THEATRE & FAMILY SHOWS

Sat-Fri: Charlie & Lola’s Extremely New Play at Polka Theatre, 240 the Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 (Wimbledon tube)
The ever popular brother and sister duo are back with a brand new production, blending music, puppetry and laughs. Follow Charlie and best friend Marv, Lola and best friend Lotta and of course Sizzles the dog on a magical new adventure. For ages 4+, apart from special Watch with Baby shows for under 4s. Shows from 10.30am (times and dates vary); £15/concs. £11/£10 Saver Shows: 4 May 4 (12.30pm), May 29 (11am, Watch with Baby show), Jun 23 (3.30pm), Aug 1 (2.30pm, Watch with Baby show), Aug 13 (11am) (Apr 27-Aug 17)

Sat-Fri: Fowl Play at Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice, 35 Blomfield Rd, W9 (Warwick Avenue tube)
A foal is born causing much excitement and a rumour among the chickens that turns the farm upside down. Features carved farm marionettes with lighting and music. For ages 3+. 11am & 3pm (Sat 25) and 3pm daily, adult £10/child and concs. £8.50. (May 25-31)

Mon-Thu: Dogs Don’t Do Ballet at Southbank Centre (pic), SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Brought to life with puppetry from Little Angel Theatre, this funny and enjoyable blend of ballet music and comedy follows Biff the dog who thinks he’s a dancer. Part of the London Literature Festival, check web site for full programme of family-friendly events. 11am & 2pm, adult £8/child £4. NB: Sold Out, returns only! (May 27-30)

Tue-Sun: You’re Not My Friend Anymore at Unicorn Theatre, Tooley St, SE1 (London Bridge tube)
What happens when two best friends fall apart? Join Shoofly Theatre on this imaginative, funny and poignant look at the ups and downs of friendship, for ages 3+. 11.45am & 1.45pm, adult £16/child £10 (May 28-Jun 2)

MUSEUM ACTIVITIES

Sat-Sun: Family Art Fun at V&A Museum (pic), Cromwell Rd, SW7 (South Kensington)
Holiday activities at the museum range from rhythm and music making for early learners in the Mini Musicians sessions to the Imagination Station workshop to design your first album cover. There’s also a special Make-It: Music Icon workshop for ages 5+ with photographer and DJ Edward Otchere helping you get the pop star look with costume, make up and photography. All events inspired by the David Bowie Is exhibition. Mini Musicians at 11am, 1pm & 3pm, FREE (May 25 & Jun 1); Imagination Station 10.30am-5pm, FREE (May 25-Jun 2); Make-It 10.30am-12.30pm & 2.30-4.30pm, child £7.50 (May 27-31). (Date range May 25-Jun 2)

Also see May Half-Term: Spy Kids at V&A Museum of Childhood (May 27-Jun 2)

Sat-Sun: May Half-Term at Museum of London Docklands, West India Quay, Canary Wharf E14 (West India Quay DLR)
It’s all about the Thames Estuary this half-term, with a chance to look at and create digital images of the estuary, hear pirate tales, make your own mudlark and create a chilly winter scene inspired by the frost fairs held along the frozen river. Daily between 11am-4pm (times vary), FREE (May 25-Jun 2)

Also see May Half-Term at Museum of London (May 25-Jun 2)

Tue-Fri: Rocket Week at Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal, SE18 (Woolwich Arsenal rail/DLR)
Explosive fun at the museum this half-term as kids can launch rockets at a model of Fort McHenry, in a recreation of an 1812 battle. Take a tour to find out about military rockets, take part in rocket making and mad science propulsion using household objects, as well as camo zone, military drilling and face painting. 11am-4.30pm, adult £5.30, child £4 + museum entry £2.50/family £12.50 (May 28-31)

Tue-Fri: Half-Term Holiday Activities at Geffrye Museum, Kingsland Rd, E2 (Hoxton overground)
The theme of this week’s activities is High Rise Living, inspired by the new exhibition Stands Alone, gardens and period rooms with special gardening sessions to celebrate the Chelsea Fringe Festival. Workshops include: make decorative doors, craft cityscapes, create mini rooftop gardens or design an upside down herb garden for your home. 10.30am-12.30pm & 2-4pm, FREE (May 28-31)

BABY CINEMA & FAMILY FILMS

Fri-Fri: My Neighbour Totoro (U) at Lexi Cinema, 194b Chamberlayne Rd, Kensal Rise, NW10 (Kensal Rise overground)
Sweet and captivating film about young girls who befriend magical forest creatures and go on an enchanting adventure. Animated and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. 4pm (Fri), 4.30pm (Wed) & 3pm (Fri, 31); £5 (May 24, 29 & 31)

Sat-Wed: Odeon Kids Club: Wreck it Ralph (PG) at Odeon Cinemas Holloway, Muswell Hill and other branches
Disney Pixar’s big-hearted and hilarious video game-inspired movie follows Ralph, a wannabe goodie with a bad rep on his quest to turn his life around. 11am, £2.50 (May 25-29)

Mon-Fri: Michael Ocelot Films and Workshops at Phoenix Cinema, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 (East Finchley tube)
Come and see a trio of Michael Ocelot animated films (pic), a tale of two brothers Azur & Asmar (Mon), Kirikou and the Sorceress, inspired by West African folk legends (Thu) and Kirikou and the Men and Women (Fri), the latest installment in the boyish adventures. Free crafty workshops before the films. 10am workshop, 11am screening (all films are rated U); adult £6/child £5 (May 27, 30 & 31)

Thu: Star Trek Into Darkness Parent & Baby Screening (12A) at Everyman Hampstead, 5 Holly Bush Vale, Hampstead NW3 (Hampstead overground)
Settle back with your infant under the age of 1 at this special screening with lowered volume and slightly raised lighting. Catch the latest installment of the critically acclaimed reworking of the sci fi classic by JJ Abrams. 3pm, adult £13.50/baby FREE (May 30)

HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

Mon-Fri: Superdad Week at the Pottery Cafe locations in Fulham, Battersea and Richmond
Doing it for Dad is the theme at this week-long promotion where you can make gifts for papa using everything from your own sketches to baby’s footprints. 11am-6pm (Mon), 10am-6pm (Tue-Sat), 11am-5pm (Sun), pre-booking advised; £5.99 per person/per session (includes materials and multiple items, no time limit) (May 27-31)

Mon-Fri: May Half-Term Fun at Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill SE23 (Forest Hill overground)
Make your own butterfly or moth finger puppet or create an underwater scene in these workshops celebrating sea and air. For ages 3+. Sessions between 11am-3.30pm (45 mins each), FREE (May 27-31)

Thu: Mrs Dickens Kitchen at Charles Dickens Museum (pic), 48 Doughty St, WC1 (Russell Square tube)
Have a go at churning your own butter, Victorian style, at this special workshop using Mrs Dickens’ kitchen secrets and a chance to taste your handiwork. 10.15am, 11.15am, 1.15pm & 2.15pm; £3 per adult/child + museum entry adult £8/child £4/under 6s FREE (May 30)

Thu: Puppet Making at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 (Angel tube)
Watch a performance of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and then make a puppet to take home with you in this workshop for ages 2+. Same day workshop for ages 5+ at Islington Museum. 10.30am-1.30pm & 1.30pm-4.30pm; adult & child pair £40/concs £30/additional child £30 (May 30)

Thu: Fantastically Fashionable Creatures at Sir John Soane’s Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2 (Holborn tube)
Whole day workshop to print your own design onto t-shirts inspired by the fantastical creatures around the museum. For ages 7+. 10.30am-3pm, £20, bring packed lunch (May 30)

OUTDOOR & NATURE

Fri-Sun: IncrEdibles at Kew Gardens, Kew Rd, TW9 (Richmond overground)
Embark on a Tutti Frutti boating trip along a lake transformed into a fruit salad by food wizards Bompas & Parr (pic); see a range of edible plants growing out of beautiful goblets and jugs in the Rose Garden Tea Party; meet some obscure edibles in the Global Kitchen Garden and play on the Bouncy Carrot Patch created by Hide&Seek. Daily from 9.30am, adult £14.50/child under 12 FREE/charges for Tutti Frutti boat ride and pre-booking apply. (May 25-Sep 1)

Tue: Summer Fun at London Canal Museum, 12-13 New Wharf Rd, N1 (King’s Cross tube)
A special Activity Day for children at the museum with this week’s schedule including a fun museum trail and a short Boat Trip along the Regent’s Canal. Other planned activities (unconfirmed for this week) are model boat making, treasure hunt, art and plaque making and ice cream making! 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm, adult £4/child £2 entry + £4 activity day charge (May 28)

Tue-Thu: Half-Term Events at Isis Education Centre, the LookOut, Hyde Park, W1 (Hyde Park Corner tube)
Kids can go on a bug safari on the Big Bug Explorer Day (May 28, 10am-3pm, £30 for ages 7+), explore the gardens on Discovery Day (May 29, 11am-3pm drop-in, FREE for all ages) and join in a special family workshop to discover Bees and Butterflies (May 30, 10am-12pm, £6-£10). Book online for workshops. (May 28-30)

Also see Half Term Activities at Holland Park Ecology Centre (May 28-31)

Don’t forget to check out our Bank Holiday Weekend Scoop!

Photos via Southbank Centre, V&A Museum, Charles Dickens Museum, Phoenix Cinema and Kew Gardens