Bond mobiles, Viking ships, Sport Relief Games, junior ravers and a re-launched Steam Museum. It’s all happening this weekend in London and here’s our guide to what to do with the kids. Enjoy!
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: Bond in Motion at London Film Museum, 45 Wellington St, Covent Garden WC2E 7BN (Covent Garden tube)
Petrol heads and Bond enthusiasts converge at the London Film Museum for this spectacular new exhibition showcasing some of the coolest vehicles in cinematic history. Get up close with 007’s famous Aston Martin DB5, Rolls Royce Phantom III and more plus scale and miniature models in what promises to be the largest ever official collection of Bond rides. 10am-8pm (Mon-Thu & Sun), 10am-7pm (Sat), adult £14.50/child £9.50/family of 4 £38/under 5s FREE (opens Mar 21 through 2014)
Fri-Sun: An Awfully Big Performance at Chickenshed Theatre, Chase Side, Southgate N14 4PE (Cockfosters tube)
Last weekend to experience this glimpse into 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: Comedy Club for Kids at Soho Theatre, 21 Dean St, W1D 3NE (Leicester Square tube)
Get those belly laughs in and watch your little ones tickled pink at this stand-up performance aimed at children ages 6 and over. All the fun of live comedy with none of the swearing! £10/family of 4 £30 (Mar 8 & 22)
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 22)
Read our Momo review
Sat: Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave in Crouch End at Earl Haig Hall, N8 9TH (Crouch Hill tube)
Bop away the afternoon with knee-high ravers at the brilliant Big Fish Little Fish where big-name DJs, craft room, baby chill zone and licensed bar keep fun-lovers in a party mood. Fancy dress themes every week! 2-5pm, £8/non-walkers FREE (Mar 22)
Sat: Kew Bridge Steam Museum Relaunch, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford TW8 0EN (Kew Bridge rail/Gunnersbury or Kew Gardens tube)
After a multi-million pound refurbishment, the newly named London Water and Steam Museum reopens with a jam-packed day of activities. Family fun includes interactive exhibits, walk-through sewers, crawl-through tunnels, steam railway and Shand-Manson fire engine. 11am-4pm, call to confirm admission prices. (Mar 22)
Sun: Sport Relief Games at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, E20 2ST (Stratford tube/overground)
Get ready to run, swim or cycle with thousands taking part in the Games to raise money for Sport Relief. Even if you’re not getting sporty, you can come out to support and enjoy a variety of entertainment from live music, BMX displays and celebrity sightings! There’s still time to get involved in the action, including the Family Cycle with a route perfect for little legs. And it’s never too late to sponsor or make a donation that can help change lives. 9.30am-4.30pm, FREE (Mar 23)
Sun: Play Holi with Dishoom at Hawker House, 38-50 Pritchard’s Yard, London E2 9AP (Bethnal Green tube/Hoxton overground)
Celebrate the Hindu 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!
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)
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 Gravity (Sun Mar 23), Captain Phillips (Wed Apr 2), Nebraska (Sun Apr 6), Philomena (Wed Apr 9), About Time (Sun Apr 13); £12-£29 (until Apr 13)
WE ALSO LIKE
Toot along to the London Festival of Railway Modelling at Ally Pally (Sat-Sun, from 9.30am); get the whole family gardening in one of the city-wide Big Dig events (Sat-Sun); there’s a big organ celebration at Southbank Centre including the Meet the Royal Festival Hall organ family concert (Sat, 9.30am, FREE); join celeb chefs on a foodie tour of the curry mile, with stalls and more at Taste Brick Lane (Sun, 12-4pm, FREE); and catch the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition before it leaves Natural History Museum (ends Sun)
