So the very famous Spitalfields City Farm Goat Race is sold out (meh!), but don’t get long in the face…
Our Weekend Guide is packed with brilliant things to do with kids in London as the Easter break kicks in.
Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race, Bedknobs & Broomsticks at Poplar Film Festival, Kite Day on Streatham Common, CBeebies Live at Wembley Arena, London Mother’s Club family fun day, Kerb street food at Southbank Centre, Golden Hinde II 41st Birthday bash…
The Babes Easter Holiday guide will be out soon and also keep an eye out for our annual Easter Egg Hunt special. Have a fab weekend!
Fri-Sun: Kerb Street Food Market at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8TX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
London’s coolest street food collective takes over the South Bank in the first of several weekends planned through summer. Taste the gastro delights of Bao, Anna Mae’s, You Doughnut, Jamon Jamon and many more. Plus booze and on Friday evening, live DJs to put you in the party mood. 12-9.30pm (Fri), 11am-8pm (Sat), 12-6pm (Sun), FREE entry (Apr 4-6)
Sat: World Pillow Fight Day at Trafalgar Square, SW1Y 5AY (Charing Cross tube)
Arm yourself with a soft pillow and head to central London for a friendly bashing that is attempting Guinness world record-breaking proportions. Watch from the edges if you’re worried about littler ones getting too caught up in the fray. 3-5pm, FREE (Apr 5)
AND there’s another feathery battering planned at Chrisp Street Pillow Fight, just off East India Dock, 2pm, FREE (Apr 5)
Sat: Golden Hinde II 41st Birthday Fayre, St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral St, SE1 9DE (London Bridge tube)
Ahoy maties! Climb onto the ship of legend for a birthday celebration to remember, with prizes for best costumes, stalls, performances, games, music and refreshments for all the family. 11am-4pm, adult £7/child £5 (Apr 5)
Sat-Sun: CBeebies Live The Big Band at Wembley Arena, Arena Square, Engineers Way, HA9 0AA (Wembley Park tube)
Little ones can lose their tiny minds at the sight of Justin Fletcher MBE, Mr Maker, Rastamouse, Mr Bloom and other ‘rock stars’ of the pre-school TV set performing live. Expect lots of music, fun and surprises, and it plans to be LOUD (not recommended for babies under 18 months). 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 3.45pm & 4.45pm (Sat), 10am, 11am, 1pm & 2pm (Sun); £15.20-£25.10 (Apr 5-6)
Sat-Sun: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: South Park Opens Stratford, E20 2ST (Stratford tube/overground)
The Olympic Park finally opens its South Park featuring giant playground, climbing walls, fountain, sandpit, 560 acres of park land to explore, and of course amazing sporting facilities. Take the family along and soak in the glory. From 10am, FREE entry (from Apr 5)
Sat-Sun: Chorus Festival Weekend at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8TX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The Big Family Flashmob workshop is sold out but you can catch free performances by choirs of all descriptions on platforms around the site. And maybe you’ll get surprised by the flashmob after their workshop ends at 3pm. From 11am, FREE (Apr 5)
Sun: The Boat Race, various viewing points along the Thames (see Boat Race map)
Oxford and Cambridge battle it out on the water in the massively popular and competitive annual race (159 years running). Watch from Putney Bridge, Hammersmith or Chiswick Bridge (finishing line) or from big screens in Bishops Park and Furnival Gardens. Race starts 5.55pm, FREE (Apr 5)
Sun: London Mothers Club: A Family Affair at Broadway Bar & Grill, 474-476 Fulham Road, London, SW6 1BY (Fulham Broadway tube)
Sashay down to Fulham where London Mothers Club are throwing a family-friendly shindig with top kids entertainers, mummy pampering, street food, DJs, kids fashion show, and more. 12-5pm, £15 for up to 4 people, £10 per additional adult. (Apr 6)
Sun: Kite Day at Streatham Common, High Rd, SW16 3HG (Streatham/Streatham Common rail)
Watch kites take flight at the 16th annual Kite Day on the common, where professional flying crews will do displays to music. You can bring your own or buy on the day from Windrush Kites. Also street food, bouncy castle, stalls and other entertainment. 1-5pm, FREE (Apr 6)
Sun: Bedknobs & Broomsticks at Angela Lansbury Film Festival at Chrisp Street Market, off East India Dock, E14 6AQ (Canary Wharf DLR)
Rounding off the Poplar Film Festival celebrating Angela Lansbury’s return to the place where she grew up, Sunday’s programming features the Dame herself presenting a FREE screening of family classic Bedknobs & Broomsticks (U) at 12.30pm. There’s also Nanny McPhee (PG) showing at 3pm, also FREE (Apr 6)
We also like
Tickle the ivories at the Institut Francais Piano Festival in South Ken (Fri-Sun); there’s fun and gags for everyone ages 6+ at Comedy Club 4 Kids at Soho Theatre (Sat, 12.30pm); swing your partner at a Family Barn Dance at Cecil Sharp House (Sun, 3-5pm); and those Sensational Butterflies are back at Natural History Museum (ongoing until Sep)
CBeebies this weekend? Thanks for all the tips.
Such lovely events! Would be nice see more events for under fives though.
Hey just seeing your comment, and good tip, I obviously focus on more family-friendly stuff but will definitely try and highlight more stuff for under 5s too :-)