The warmer weather’s making a comeback for the weekend we’re told, so we’ve found lots of outdoor play as well as indoor fun things to do with children in London.
Superhero Run with Charlie dark (pictured), Family Disco at Stratford Circus, Canalival Floating Carnival on Regent’s Canal, 1940s Weekend at Epping-Ongar Heritage Railway, Honeypot Children’s Festival, Family Fun Weekend at Cutty Sark…
Have a good one!
Thu-Sun: Get Sheep-tastic at Lee Valley Farms, Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 2EF (Cheshunt rail)
Wool you believe it? You can hug a real live husky (apart from Thu May 30) along with feeding the lambs, cheering them on as they race, playing with bunnies and guinea pigs, getting crafty in Dobbies Tack Room, riding on Tex the Tractor to see cows being milked, watch sheep shearing demos and more farmyard fun. 10am-5pm, adult £8.50/child £7/under 2s FREE (May 30-Jun 2)
Thu-Sun: Pirate Week at Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 (Wood Green tube)
Swashbuckling fun takes over the Ally Pally Ice Rink with mini buccaneers invited to join in treasure hunting, bungee racing, pirate bouncy castle, tattoos and face painting, pirate battling and flag design and decorating. 10am-5.30pm (Thu-Fri) and 10am-4.30pm (Sat-Sun); ice skating adult £9/junior £8 + £2-£4 per activity (no ice skating required to take part) (May 30-Jun 2)
Sat: Superhero Run with Charlie Dark at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Grab your cape, flex your muscles and don’t forget your running shoes for this daring escapade around the Southbank Centre with DJ Charlie Dark and the Run Dem Crew. There will be pop-up performances along the way too. Prizes for best costumes and you can meet earlier in the Clore Ballroom to make your own mask. 10.45am, FREE but tickets required (June 1)
Sat: Family Disco at Stratford Circus, Theatre Square, Stratford E15 (Stratford overground/tube)
As spring moves into summer (allegedly), Circlets presents a Family Disco in association with Tea Dance for Little People. Join Pixie on the dance floor to groove to the DJ’s tunes, meet the Timekeeper and hear chart faves, plus some barn dancing if you fancy it! 2-5pm, £6-£8 (Jun 1)
Sat: Canalival: London’s First Floating Carnival, starts at Gainsborough Studios, 1 Poole St, N1 (Angel tube) heading to Broadway Market (Hackney Central overground)
Following on from last year’s Queen’s Jubillegal, the crowd-funded canal party is inviting all-comers to bring their boats, dinghies, rafts, floats, rubber ducks, paddling pools and other vessels to Regent’s Canal for a day-long shebang. Live music and DJs, inflatables, noise and nonsense are the order of the day and it’s open to all, but please use parental discretion for little ones! 12pm-late, FREE (Jun 1)
Sat: Stories from Around the World at National Geographic Store, 102 Brompton Rd, SW3 (Knightsbridge tube)
Storyteller Vanessa Woolf will lead little explorers on a journey across the planet weaving familiar and new tales from all around the globe. Email event@oscaragency.co.uk to ensure your child’s place on the storytelling carpet. 12pm, 1.30pm & 2.30pm, FREE (Jun 1)
Sat-Sun: 1940s Weekend at Epping Ongar Railway, Epping/North Weald and Ongar (Epping tube, zone 6 to North Weald rail)
Step back in time to 1944 at London’s award winning heritage railway as they celebrate the role played by the area in the defence of our capital. Ride a heritage bus from Epping tube to North Weald and discover reenactments of soldiers and WWII nurses in vintage vehicles, both military and civilian. There will be veterans telling their stories, memorabilia stands, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flying over both period railway stations and A2 Jive (as seen on TV) swinging throughout the day. Kids are invited to collect their period tag and ID card to prepare for evacuation by steam train! The Kings Head in North Weald is throwing a lavish afternoon spread plus jiving and fancy dress contests. From around 9.25am-6pm (see web site for timetable); all day travel and entry adult £13/child £7/family £34 (discounts available online) (Jun 1-2)
Sat-Sun: Honeypot Children’s Street Party at Box Park Shoreditch, 2-4 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 (Shoreditch High St overground)
Honeypot Children’s Charity is hosting an alternative street festival with pop-up boutique in trendy Box Park. You can climb aboard the play bus, or scope kid’s fashion from only £5 in the temporary shop. There’s also street art and dance, beat boxing and fashion workshops and music throughout the day. And if you’re there on Sunday, why not pop across the road to Brick Lane market for lunch? Honeypot raises money for vulnerable kids and young carers and receives no government support. Come out and party for a great cause! 11am-5pm, FREE entry (Jun 1-2)
Sat-Sun: Family Fun Weekend at Cutty Sark, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 (Cutty Sark DLR)
Climb onto the historical ship to celebrate Portugal Day and the Cutty Sark’s past identity as the Portuguese ship Ferreira. Make your own spectacular hat in the colours of the Portuguese flag and enjoy a chance to explore the ship. 11.30am-1.30pm and 2-4pm; adult entry £12/child entry £6.50/under 5s FREE (Jun 1-2)
Sun: Soho Flea Market, Dean St, W1 (Oxford Circus tube)
Pop along to Dean St for 8 hours of shopping at a series of creatively curated artisan stalls. You’ll find fashion, accessories, interiors, jewellery and even filmmakers flocking their wares, along with entertainment and food to fuel your trawling. In association with charity Kids Company. 12-8pm, FREE entry (Jun 2)
LOCAL PICK
Thu-Sat: Soul in the City: Bemerton Weekend at Bingfield Park, Bingfield St, N1 (Caledonian Rd/King’s Cross tube)
Local churches are joining forces to organise this 3-day community celebration that’s free for all the family. There’s football, youth bus, tea dance for over 50s and craft stalls and cafe, plus a Fun Day (Sat) with BBQ, kids activities, bouncy castle, live music and community gardening. 2-4.30pm (Thu-Fri) and 1-4.30pm (Sat), FREE
We also like
Hear Sailor Tales aboard the HMS Belfast (Thu-Sun); help build a giant LEGO landscape at Westfield Stratford (Fri-Sun); catch the Circus Maximus finals at Southbank Centre (Sat); discover origami and puppetry with Liang and the Magic Paintbrush at Tara Arts (Sat); munch at the Toast Festival of Food in Shoreditch (Sat-Sun); explore the Avant Garden and nab free Crabtree and Evelyn goodies in Covent Garden (daily until Jun 9)
Photo: Charlie Dark Superhero Run via Southbank Centre
