Happy Thursday! It’s looking like another gorgeous spring weekend ahead with a beautifully sunny Sunday on the cards and loads of fun things to do with kids in London in our Scoop as always.
Take a look!
COMING SOON
Sat Mar 23: Play Holi with Dishoom at Hawker House, 38-50 Pritchard’s Yard, London E2 9AP (Bethnal Green tube/Hoxton overground)
Celebrate the Indian festival of colour at Dishoom restaurant where you can munch on tasty snacks, drink chai, hear live music and DJs, craft with the kids and then chuck coloured powder all over each other. Wear something you don’t mind getting messy! 2pm-4.30pm, adult £15/child £8, advanced booking recommended (Mar 23)
Read our review of Dishoom Does Holi in 2013!
THIS WEEKEND
Thu-Sun: The Big Write: Stories Remixed at Discover, 383-387 High St, Stratford E15 4QZ
Last weekend of the annual festival of stories where special guests John Hegley, Boogalu Stu, Axel Scheffler, Sarah McIntyre and more kids book heroes descend on Discover for talks, workshops, readings, signings and activities galore. 10am-5pm, events various timing, pre-booking essential on 020 8536 5555; adult £7/child £6.50/family of 4 £24 (Mar 6-16)
Thu-Sun: Vikings at British Museum, Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG (Holborn tube)
Go back in time to the era of the Vikings at the first major exhibition in British Museum for three decades. Explore hoards and swords, amulets and axes and the remnants of a 37 metre-long Viking warship! 10am-5.30pm, adult £16.50/child under 16 FREE (Mar 6-Jun 22)
Fri-Sun: An Awfully Big Performance at Chickenshed Theatre, Chase Side, Southgate N14 4PE (Cockfosters tube)
Take a journey through Chickenshed’s history at this variety show featuring moments in song, dance and drama that have defined the venue over 40 years. Generally suitable for ages 7+. 7pm (Tue-Thu), 3pm & 7pm (Sat), 2pm & 5.30pm (Sun), NB: dates and times vary so confirm with the box office; £5-£15 (Mar 7-23)
Sat: Momo at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB
Follow the adventures of little orphan Momo and her fight to save the world as she knows it in this dazzling reworking of Michael Ende’s (The Never Ending Story) novel, filled with puppetry, song and spectacle. 11am & 2.30pm (Sats); baby friendly show on Sat Mar 22 11am. £12.50/concs £9 (Mar 12-22)
Sat: Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave at Brixton JAMM, 261 Brixton Rd, SW9 6LH (Brixton tube)
Get on the good foot with your teeny ravers at the fabulous Big Fish Little Fish where top DJs, craft room, baby chill zone and licensed bar keep young and old happy. Fancy dress themes every week! 2-5pm, £8/non-walkers FREE (Mar 15)
Sat-Sun: Peppa Pig’s Big Splash at Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, E8 1EJ (Hackney Central overground)
Peppa, George and the rest of the gang return to the stage in another splashy sploshy day out, as the family Pig runs a fete to save the leaky nursery roof. Lots of fun and music for ages 2+! 10am, 1pm & 4pm; £10-£20 (Mar 15-16)
Sat-Sun: St Patrick’s Day Weekend on Epping Ongar Heritage Railways, North Weald and Ongar stations (Epping tube to North Weald rail)
Enjoy a relaxing ride on a steam train, diesel train and vintage bus and toast to the Irish festival too. There’ll be leprechauns a-leaping, Irish bands a-playing and drinks served from the Shamrock Express bar. Rides from around 9am-5pm, adult £10/child £5/family £29 (Mar 15-16)
Sun: St Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS (Charing Cross tube)
If you can cope with crowds (around 100,000 visitors), the annual parade and festival now in its 13th year is a brilliant family day out. Watch spectacular floats and costumes, hear folk music, eat from the food stalls, take the children to the kids area and don’t miss your chance to wear green from head to toe! 12-6pm, FREE (Mar 16)
Sun: Moshi Monsters at Sea Life London Aquarium, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1 7PB (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Meet the Moshlings Buster Bumblechops, Poppet and Katsuma who are resident all week on a mission to save marine creatures. Kids can bring their own Moshlings for exchange in the Swap Zone. 10am-7pm, adult £19.02/child £14.40/family of 4 £60/under 3s FREE, 10% savings online! (Mar 16-23)
Sun: Disco Kids at the Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG (New Cross/Deptford overground)
Take your little mermaids and sharks to the Albany for another family-friendly boogie with a marine theme. Disco Kids Underwater Wonderland features DJ, friendly crowd and fun fancy dress. For ages 7 and under. 2-5pm, £6 (Mar 16)
LONDON MUMS LOVE
Sat: Celebrate Mother’s Day with Kensington Mums at Mosaic Rooms, Tower House, 226 Cromwell Road, SW5 0SW (Earl’s Court tube)
Enjoy a special pre-mum’s day treat with afternoon tea and talks from sleep expert Jo Tantum, former Apprentice star Saira Khan and kids entertainer Amanda of Amanda’s Action Kids. VIP goody bag for the first 30 mums to RSVP! 3-5pm, £30 (Mar 15)
DATES WITH DADS
Sun: Second Chance Cinema at Town Hall Bethnal Green, Patriot Square, London E2 9NF(Bethnal Green tube)
Steal away with your other half (or a mate) for a night at the stunning Bethnal Green Town Hall hotel. Second Chance Cinema promises a chance to catch screen classics you might have missed, along with luxury seating, gourmet food, delicious cocktails and free posh popcorn! Upcoming screenings Rush (Sun), Gravity (Sun Mar 23), Captain Phillips (Wed Apr 2), Nebraska (Sun Apr 6), Philomena (Wed Apr 9), About Time (Sun Apr 13); £12-£29 (Mar 16-Apr 13)
WE ALSO LIKE
Ideal Home Show opens at Earl’s (from Fri); Mr Peabody & Sherman at Electric Cinema in Portobello Rd (Sat, 9.30am, £8); Mini Maestro family concertat St Martin-in-the-Fields (Sat, 4.30pm); street food and vintage wares at the (Sat, all day, £4); open auditions are being held at Sylvia Young Theatre School in W1 for the Lion King Cub School (Sun, from 10.30am); last call for Orchids at Kew Gardens (until Sun)
