Our first Weekend Scoop of the year is packed with fun family activities and things to do with kids in London, from children’s theatre to museum visits.
I’d take the babes along for the Ice Sculpting Festival but I’m not sure they’ve recovered from the Magical Ice Kingdom at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Beautiful but brrrrr…!
Have fun and stay warm, wherever you go.
Thu-Sat: The Elephantom (pic) in The Shed, at National Theatre, SE1 9PX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Enter the National Theatre’s mini pop-up auditorium to discover the world of a little girl haunted by a lovable but troublesome ghost-elephant. Puppetry, mischief and magic for ages 4+. 11.30am (Thu & Sat); 4.30pm (Thu, Fri & Sat); £12 (until Jan 11)
Thu-Sun: The Gruffalo at Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2 (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Head into the dark woods again with our friend Mouse and uncover a tale of music, mischief and mayhem. Tall Stories’ hugely popular adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s story is beastly fun for ages 3+! 11am (Tue-Fri), 10am & 12pm (Sat-Sun); from £14 (until Jan 12)
Thu-Sun: War Games at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9PA (Bethnal Green tube)
Delve into the secret history of toys as propaganda tools as well as playthings, in an exhibition that also explores gender differences and looks at popular games from Risk and GI Joe to toy soldiers. 10am-5pm, FREE (until Mar 14)
Thu-Sun: Dinosaur Zoo at Phoenix Theatre, 110 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0JP (Charing Cross Rd tube)
Watch out! There are Jurassic creatures stomping about in this baby-friendly production (a few scary moments for toddlers mind!), taking us back to the pre-historic area with comic narration and impressive puppets. 10.30am (Thu-Sat), 10.30am, 12.30pm & 2.30pm (Sun); £14-£21.50(until Jan 12)
Thu-Sun: London Boat Show at ExCel London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL (Custom House DLR)
Water babes descend on ExCel London for the annual showcase of boats and equipment from some of the industry’s top brands. Meet sailing celebs like Sir Ben Ainslie, check out models and fun for little ones include the Watersports Multi Activity Pool. 10am-6pm (Fri & Sun), 10am-7pm (Sat); adult £16 adv/£20 door/child under 15 FREE with paying adult (until Jan 12)
Fri-Sun: London Ice Sculpting Festival, Wood Wharf, Jubilee Place Shopping Malls, Canary Wharf, E14 5AX (Canary Wharf tube/DLR)
Wrap up warm for the annual spectacle of ice sculpting brilliance, with 3 competitions, 25 international sculptors and 10 competitions in freestyle, single and big block sculpting. Stock up at the Winter Food Market and Bar. 12-8pm (Fri), 10am-7pm (Sat) & 12-6pm (Sun); FREE entry (Jan 10-12)
Sat: Framed Family Film Club: Turbo (U) in Cinema 2, at Barbican Centre, Silk St, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
Dreamworks latest CGI animation hit presents a snail that gets a turbo boost and pits himself against race car drivers to become the world’s fastest mollusc. Voices by Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson. 11am, £2 (Jan 11)
Sun: Make it to the Moon Family Workshop, Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, South Bank, SE1 9PH (Blackfriars/Southwark tube)
Inspired by the Republic of the Moon exhibition, artist and ESERO-UK Space Ambassador Helen Schell leads drop-in workshops where kids ages 5-12 can pretend they are on a mission to the moon. Spend the afternoon making rocket manuals, moon flags, space diaries and mission badges. 2-5pm, FREE (Jan 12)
Sun: Family Barn Dance, Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 7AY (Chalk Farm or Camden Town tube/Camden Rd overground)
Take the whole family along for a fun afternoon of song calling and traditional folk and line dancing, to the sound of a live band. All ages welcome, from babies in slings and upwards. 3-5pm, adult £6/child £4/under 2s FREE – advanced booking recommended! (Jan 12)
LOCAL PICK (ISLINGTON)
Thu-Sun: Dogs Don’t Do Ballet at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 (Angel tube)
Settle in for this sweet and funny puppet show for ages 2-6 featuring a ballet-loving puppy, after the popular picture book. 10am, 11.30am & 1.30pm + 10am baby-friendly Sunday shows; adult £10/child £8 (until Jan 27)
We also like
Mary Poppins soars at Islington’s cosy Screen on the Green (Sat, 11am); make Rocking Bird Puppets at the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill (Sat, from 1.30pm); settle down for Magic Carpet Storytelling for under 5s at National Gallery, WC2 (Suns, 10.30am)
Photo: Elephantom via National Theatre, credit Charlotte Macmillan
Oh wow, love the National-that still looks amazing! Aw always miss London when I read your posts x
We have to hook up again when you next come up, and of course I’m aching to get to Leeds and sample some of Papa G’s cooking ;-) x