What’s cool out of school this half-term in London.
FAMILY FUN (SPECIAL EVENTS)
1. Kids take over at Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre (Waterloo/Embankment tube) with a feast of theatre, workshops and family fun, including the Great Enormo Theme Park and the Big Sleepover. Daily from around 9.30am, times and prices vary, many activities FREE (until Feb 24)
2. It’s a free day of sleuthing and snooping with Lauren Child signing books at Secret Agents Launch: Top Secret Saturday, Discover Children’s Story Centre, E15 4QZ (Stratford tube/overground). 11am-4pm, FREE (Feb 15)
3. London Children’s Book Swap brings kids from all over the capital together to exchange books, stories and activities at venues across London including Southbank Centre, Arts Depot, Barbican Centre, Polka Theatre, Rich Mix. Keep up on their Facebook page. Times vary, FREE (Feb 15)
4. Our favourite multicultural family club Mwalimu Express at Rich Mix, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground) brings grooves from Family Atlantica Quartet, yummy African food, toddler dance, stalls and short film Shoe Shine. 2-6pm, FREE (Feb 16)
5. Little ones can explore, move and make in the interactive installation A-Maze-In at Stratford Circus, E15 1BX (Stratford tube/overground), 10am, 12pm, 3pm & 5pm, adult £2/child £8 (Feb 20-22)
FAMILY FILMS
6. The first full-length LEGO animated feature the LEGO Movie (voiced by Will Ferrell, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Morgan Freeman) is winning over the critics and comes out just in time for half-term. Book ahead! (from Feb 14)
7. Bunny hop with Roger, Jessica Rabbit and the cast of Toon Town in live immersive screening Future Cinema presents Who Framed Roger Rabbit at The Troxy, E1 0HX (Limehouse DLR). 12.30pm, adult £43.50/child £15 (Feb 15 & 22)
8. Head to BFI Southbank Centre, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube) for Little Dudes Messy Time Animation stop-motion workshops for ages 0-7, 11am- 3pm, £5 (Feb 17)
9. Go behind the scenes of Hogwarts and meet Hedwig, Fang and other Harry Potter Animal Actors at Warner Bros Studios Tour, WD25 7LS (Euston to Watford Junction rail), daily from 9am (Feb 14-24)
10. Tales from Page to Screen sees free screenings of kids flicks Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Feb 18), White Fang (Feb 19) and Time Bandits (Feb 20) each followed by author readings and bring your own picnic to Dalston Library. From 10am daily, FREE at Rio Cinema,E8 2PB (Dalston Kingsland overground)
FAMILY THEATRE
11. Love, live music and dance create an enchanting experience for ages 3+ in The Tin Soldier at Jacksons Lane, N6 5AA (Highgate tube). 12pm & 2.30pm, £9 (Feb 18-22)
12. The explosive Blaze is back at Peacock Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube) featuring street dance, high production values and hot pop soundtrack. For ages 5+. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Sat), 2pm & 6pm (Sun); £12-£38/under 16s half-price (Feb 18-Mar 8)
13. Watch the dreamlike Sleeping Beauty in the Woods with puppetry and projections, followed by puppet-making (for ages 5+) at Little Angel Theatre Fun Day, N1 2DN (Angel tube). 10.30am-4pm, £45/£25 concs. Book ahead! (Feb 19)
14. Daredevil stunt performers swoop down on Brent Cross, NW4 3FP with Zippo’s Circus. 12pm, 3pm & 7pm, £5-£25 (Feb 19-Mar 2)
15. Stuff & Nonsense return to Lyric Hammersmith, W6 0QL (Hammersmith tube) for puppetry, music and mayhem in The Little Red Hen, for ages 2-7. 11am, 1pm & 3pm, £8 (Feb 20-22)
MUSEUMS & WORKSHOPS
16. Celebrate Chinese New Year at National Maritime Museum, SE10 9NF (Greenwich tube) with storytelling, workshops and traditional lion dance. 10.30am-4pm, FREE (Feb 15)
17. Climb aboard the HMS Belfast, SE1 2JH (London Bridge tube) and decipher secret messages in their Cracking Codes family workshop. 11am-12.30pm, 2-4pm, FREE with museum entry (Feb 15-22)
18. Half-term workshop Ganesha and Other Elephants lets kids follow the Trunk Road elephant trail and make something to take home. At British Museum, WC1B 3DG (Russell Square tube), 11am-4pm, drop-in, FREE (Feb 17-21)
19. Join in a week of craft, play, paint and clay activities, inspired by the Amazing Animals at Geffrye Museum, E2 8EA (Hoxton overground). 10.30am-12.30pm, 2-4pm, FREE (Feb 18-22)
20. Drop in to Tate Britain Big and Small Family Day, SW1P 4RG (Pimlico tube) to explore performance, sculpture and spaces. For all ages, 10am-3pm, FREE (Feb 21)
KIDS CONCERTS & FAMILY RAVES
21. Enjoy 30 minute immersive orchestral theatre in the round at King’s Place, N1 9AG (King’s Cross tube) with the Aurora Early Years Family Concerts for ages 0-6 and 6+. 10.15am, 11am, 11.45am, 1.30pm; adult £6.50/child £4.50 (Feb 15)
22. Fling your partner around to traditional folk and English music at the Fun with Folk Dance course at Cecil Sharp House, NW1 7AY (Camden Town tube). For ages 6-9. 10am-12.30pm, £15/£12 concs for 2-day course (Feb 17-18)
23. Every Saturday, kids ages 5+ can have a wheelie good boogie at the Roller Disco Family Jam in Vauxhall Renaissance Rooms, SW8 1RZ. Get your skates on! 11am-5pm, £10 with skate hire/£7.50 own skates or spectator (Feb 15 & 22)
24. Party hard with your teeny ravers at the fabulous Big Fish Little Fish in Crouch End at Earl Haig Hall, N8 9TH where top DJs, craft room, baby chill zone and licensed bar keep young and old happy. 2-5pm, £8/non-walkers FREE (Feb 22)
25. Hear the soundtrack from your favourite animated movies including Finding Nemo, Toy Story and The Incredibles with Pixar in Concert at Royal Albert Hall, featuring live orchestra and screen clips. 2pm & 7pm, from £17 (Feb 22)
NATURE & OUTDOORS
26. Visit the zoo and discover all about the illegal wildlife trade in all-day activities at ZSL London Zoo: Nothing to Declare, NW1 4RY(Regent’s Park tube). 10am-5pm, adult from £20/child from £15.50/under 3s FREE (Feb 15-22)
27. Learn how creatures survive in extreme conditions in the exciting, interactive exhibition Extremes at Horniman Museum, SE23 SPQ (Forest Hill overground). Opens from 12.30pm (Sat Feb 15), adult £6.60/child £3.30/family £16.50 (Feb 15-Nov 2)
28. The B-movie monsters of the marine world take centre stage in Clawws at London Aquarium, SE1 7PB (Waterloo tube). Daily 10am-7pm, tickets from adult £22.68/child £17.55/under 3s FREE (from Feb 15)
29. Visit the fabulous Isis Education Centre at Hyde Park, W2 2UH (Hyde Park Corner tube) for their free family Discovery Days, learning about birds and making bird feeders. 11am, FREE (Feb 19-20)
30. Get up close with skins, skulls and skeletons at the Killer Carnivores at Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL, WC1E 6DE (Euston tube). Daily 1-4pm, FREE (Feb 17-22)
