Happy Valentine’s Day! Is love in the air for you or are you barely keeping your head above the water? I’ve rounded up lots of places to escape the wet weather this weekend, with indoor fun at Southbank Centre, Museum of Childhood and more.
Check it out and look out for a jam-packed Half-Term guide later today!
Thu-Sun: Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Another incredible 10 days of rich family entertainment with highlights including a pop-up city farm alongside the Real Food Market, the Big Sleepover, the Great Enormo theme park, Groove Baby swinging jazz for babies and toddlers, Children’s Clothes Swap, author appearances, live theatre, workshops and more. Daily from around 9am, times and prices vary, many events are FREE (Feb 10-22)
Fri: Friday Night Cinema Club at My Creche, 143 Crouch Hill, London N8 9QH (Finsbury Park tube/Crouch Hill overground)
Fancy an evening out with your other half? Book your little ones into the fab-sounding Friday Night Cinema Club at north London’s first drop-in crèche. Kids play for 20 minutes, then watch a flick, while you escape for a couple of hours! Popcorn and juice provided. For ages 2-8 (surcharge for younger ones). 6-8pm, or 7-9pm, £12/£9 siblings/non-members £18 (£18 under 2s) (every Friday)
Fri-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)
Fri-Sun: Emil and the Detectives at the National Theatre, SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Exciting live retelling of the classic story by Erich Kastner about a boy’s adventures in 1920s Berlin. Recommended for ages 7+. £12-£50/half-price tickets over £24 for under 18s (until Feb 20)
Sat: Future Cinema presents Who Framed Roger Rabbit at The Troxy, 490 Commercial Rd, E1 0HX (Limehouse DLR)
The team behind live immersive cinema events Secret Cinema bring another stunning recreation of a classic film to the Troxy. Mixing film noir, live action and animation, Future Cinema presents Who Framed Roger Rabbit gives Roger, Jessica Rabbit and the cast of Toon Town a super slick revamp. Matinees for kids, evening shows adults only. 12.30pm, adult £43.50/concs. £32.50/child £15 (Feb 14-23)
Sat: Chinese New Year at National Maritime Museum, Romney Rd, SE10 9NF (Greenwich tube)
The Year of the Horse is already trotting along but it’s not too late to celebrate at this fun family day out. Kids can explore maps, hear Chinese legends, learn ribbon dance moves, see a traditional lion dance and discover the story of London’s first Chinatown in Limehouse. 10.30am-4pm, FREE (Feb 15)
Sat: Kite Making Workshop at Heal’s, 196 Tottenham Court Rd, W1T 7LQ (Tottenham Court Rd tube)
Be inspired by the Japanese fishing village communities and learn how to construct simple, geometric shapes out of natural materials. Workshop for ages 7+, younger siblings welcome. 10-11am, £5pp (Feb 15)
Sat-Sun: Orchids at Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB (Kew Gardens overground/tube)
Brighten up your mood with a trip to Kew Garden for the spectacular annual orchid festival. Wander the steamy tropical conservatory filled with exotic flowers then let the kids roam and climb in Kew’s children’s zone. From 9.30am daily, adult £16/under 16s FREE (until Mar 9)
We also like
There’s an LSO Discovery Family Concert at Barbican Centre for bigger kids, ages 7+ (Sat); take your babies along for Magic Carpet Storytelling for under 5s at National Gallery, WC2 (Suns, 10.30am); Last chance for skating at Canary Wharf Ice Rink (until Sun); and half-term’s a great time to check out the exhibition Horrible Histories: Spies at Imperial War Museum, SE1 (until Jan 4, 2015)
