Don’t miss our Father’s Day Weekend Guide with going out ideas for Dads including:
Streatham Common Kite Day, a National Army Museum building workshop, a Backyard Cinema festival in London Fields and much more!
Check out Father’s Day In London: Top 10 Cool Things to Do
And read on for some more great ideas of fun things to do with kids in London this weekend…
Thu-Sun: Summer Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House and 6 Burlington Gardens, W1 (Piccadilly Circus tube)
One of the most anticipated events of the contemporary arts scene, this year’s show features more than 1,000 works in all styles and media. Events for families include Imagination Animation (Sun, 11am & 2pm, FREE), a workshop to create and animate your own story using a variety of tools from flipbooks to iPads. 10am-6pm (Sat-Thu), 10am-10pm (Fri, except early closing 5pm on Fri Jun 14); adult £10/child 12-15 £6/under 12s FREE (Jun 10-Aug 18)
Thu-Sun: In the Night Garden Live at the O2, Greenwich, SE10 (North Greenwich tube)
Tickets are already selling out for this wonderfully enchanting show based on the popular CBeebies characters. You can watch either the Pinky Ponk or the Ninky Nonk performances and catch up with your faves Iggle Piggle, Tinky Winky, Upsy Daisy and the teeny tiny Pontipines live on stage! 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm (Tue-Sun, ongoing). £17.50-£29.50. Babes-in-arms (6 months and under) are half price (Jun 6-22)
Read our In the Night Garden Live Review
Fri: West London Tots Summer Fair at The Albert, Queens Park, NW6 (Queens Park tube)
It’s a big summer outing for the popular mum’s club, in association with The Special Yoga Centre. Come along for aerial yoga, balloon modelling, bouncy castle, specialty food stalls massage and pamper sessions and more than 40 artisan stalls to browse. 9.30am-5pm, adult £5/child FREE (Jun 14)
Sat: The Fair in the Square at Pond Square, Highgate, N6 (Highgate/Archway tube)
There’s a carnival feel in Highgate as the Hornsey Girls School Steel Band join a host of live musicians on stage at this annual fair. Plus sheep shearing demos, circus skills, Punch & Judy, bungee jump, and more than 120 local stalls to wander through. 12.30-5.30pm, FREE (Jun 15)
Sat-Sun: Grand Medieval Joust at Eltham Palace, Courtyard, Eltham, Greenwich SE9 (Eltham and Mottingham rail)
This sounds like a must-do for Dads, if you aren’t too busy with ideas in our Father’s Day guide. Step back in time to the middle ages with medieval, falconry displays, knight school training for kids, jesters and jaw-dropping action against the stunning backdrop of the palace. 10am-5pm, adult £12/child 5-15 £7.20/family £31.50 under 5s FREE (Jun 15-16)
Sun: Family Open Day at Polka Theatre, 240 the Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 (Wimbledon tube)
Go behind the scenes at south west London’s enchanting children’s theatre, with storytelling sessions, backstage tours, a chance to dress up in costumes or even buy your own to add to your dress-up box. And you can meet the stars of current production Charlie & Lola’s Extremely New Play. 11am-4pm, drop-in, FREE (Jun 16)
Sun: Pants on Fire’s Storytelling Morning at The Conservatoire, 19-21 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 (Blackheath rail)
Settle in at the esteemed music school for a morning of musical storytelling, interactive adventures and puppetry magic. Sam from the Conservatoire and her folk accompaniment will bring tales to life, with instruments — some played by the audience! Refreshments available. 10.45am-1pm, adult £12/child £10/babies under 1 year old FREE (Jun 16)
LOCAL PICK
Fri: Gigs for Kids at The Church on the Corner (former King Edward VII pub), 64 Barnsbury St, N1 (Angel tube)
We’re so excited about this launch happening right here in Islington! Gigs for Kids is a brand new daytime concert series bringing fantastic live music to mini movers and groovers. You can hear gypsy swing jazz from top jazz/folk players Zac Gvi (clarinet and sax) and Francesc Marco (accordion), enjoy tea and coffee and let the little ones bop along, play with toys or just toddle about. Doors open 10.45am, event 11-11.45am, adult £6 (or pay what you can afford)/child FREE (Jun 15)
We also like
For older siblings (ages 10+), check out Visions of the Universe Late with Camp Bestival at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich SE10 (Thu); BP Big Screens: Royal Opera House Live, various venues including Trafalgar Square (Thu); Little Bo Peep at Arts Depot (Sun); Streatham Common Kite Day, SW16 (Sun); the Bedford Park Festival is still going strong in Chiswick (until Jun 23); Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, directed by Sam Mendes at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Catherine St, WC2 (ongoing); We’re Going on a Bear Hunt with puppets at Little Angel Theatre, Angel (until Jul 21)
