Father’s Day London Weekend Scoop (Jun 13-15, 2014)

If you can tear him away from the World Cup 2014 action, we’ve found lots of fun ideas for Father’s Day in London along with more cool things to do with kids this weekend.

Fri-Sun: Moominsummer Madness at Polka Theatre (pictured), 240 The Broadway, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
The fabulous Moomins arrive at Polka Theatre in puppet form (with music and humour) in a collaboration with Little Angel Theatre, celebrating the 100th birthday of Tove Jansson, creator of the classic picture books. Ages 4+ (plus special All Ages welcome shows for babies). From 11am (dates & times vary); £13.50/concs £9 (Jun 11-Aug 16)

Fri-Sun: Brasil 2014 Screenings at The Wick at CRE8 Lifestyle Centre, The Old Baths, 80 Eastway, E9 5JH (Hackney Wick tube)
A brilliant pop-up festival for the World Cup offering giant screens, outdoor beach, live music and DJs, a kids play zone, ice cream emporium, footy pitch and competitions, food from the likes of Big Apple Hot Dogs (represent!), BBQ, beer garden, cocktails and more. All ages. Keep an eye on the The Wick Facebook page for opening hours, all FREE entry (Jun 12-Jul 13)

Find more family friendly footie events in our World Cup 2014 London Kids guide

Fri-Sun: Affordable Art Fair on Hampstead Heath, Lower Fairground Site, East Heath Rd, NW3 1TH (Hampstead tube/Hampstead Heath overground)
A feast of art awaits visitors on the Heath where you can browse thousands of works and add to your art collection from just £40. There are arty activity packs to keep little hands busy and a free crèche for ages 2-10, no pre-booking required! 11am-6pm, adult weekday £10 adv/£12 door, adult weekend £12 adv/£15 door, child under 16 FREE (Jun 12-15)

Fri-Sun: 1001 Nights at Unicorn Theatre, Tooley St, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)

An enchanting reworking of the classic Arabian Nights folk tales with a modern spin by Transport Theatre. Torn between her Eastern heritage and her new home in England, young Shahrazad uses objects around her to draw us into a fantastical world. Best for ages 7+. 11am, 1.30pm & 2pm (dates and timings vary), £10-£16 (Jun 5-22)

Read my Interview with Transport Theatre director Douglas Rintoul

Sat: Mini Engineers Father’s Day Car Build and Race at Imperial College, SWZ 2AZ (South Kensington)
Father and child teams are invited to spend the day designing and building a LEGO car using a Mini Engineers Race Kit provided on the day. Prizes go to the fastest car! Best for ages 4-7. 10.15am-12.15pm & 1pm-3pm; £48 per team (Jun 14)

Sat-Sun: Open Garden Squares Weekend, around London
It’s time for the hugely popular two-day event where you can explore 200 famous and hidden gardens around London with multiple entry for a tenner (advance bookings). Daily from around 10am, £10 adv/£12 door (Jun 14-15)

Sat-Sun: Foundling Museum 10th Birthday Weekend, 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ (Russell Square tube)
Balloons, cakes, giant street games, dress-up, face painting, decorate your own gingerbread Foundling girl or boy, make some birthday bunting and enjoy free entry to the museum all weekend. And Coram’s Fields playground is just around the corner. Brilliant! All ages. 10am-5pm daily, FREE (Jun 14-15)

Sat-Sun: East End Film Festival Family Weekend at East Village, E20 (Stratford tube/overground)
Settle in for a weekend of big screen action with football-themed flicks and an Aardman Animation workshop for all ages on Saturday. On Father’s Day, you can catch Jon Favreau’s street food flick Chef, along with tasty grub, face painting and hula hooping for entertainment. All ages. 12-7pm (workshop 2pm & 4pm), FREE entry (Jun 14-15)

Sun: Making Jumper Monsters at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9PA (Bethnal Green tube)
The creative team from Buttonbag lead a special workshop to celebrate the launch of their book Boycraft. Make a fantastic monster gift for Dad from an old jumper or t-shirt. Best for ages 4+. 11.30am-1pm & 2pm-3.30pm, FREE (Jun 15)

Sun: Marylebone Summer Fair, Marylebone Village, Marylebone High St (Bond St/Oxford Circus/Baker St tube)
The ever-growing annual fair takes over central London with traditional fairground rides, stalls, tombola, children’s activities, live music stage and loads of local shops and restaurants getting stuck in. All ages. 11am-5.30pm (street party), 11am-6.30pm (Moxton St car park/fairground); 11am-8pm (Paddington Gardens/stage and festival bar); FREE (Jun 15)

Sun: Fathers’ Day at Lee Valley Park Farms, Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex EN9 2EF (Cheshunt rail from Liverpool St)
Discover more about farmyard dads and their babies, ride tractors and trailers and more on a special day to celebrate Dad who gets in free! All ages. 10am-5pm; adult £9/child £8/under 2s & Dads go FREE (Jun 15)

Sun: Georgian Family Day: Cooking for the King at Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX (High St Kensington tube)
Spend Father’s Day in a Georgian family kitchen as you and your child learn to rustle up dishes fit for royalty. Up to 2 adults can accompany one child. Best for ages 7+ but all ages welcome. 10.30am-4.30pm, child £15/£10 HRP members (Jun 15)

LOCAL PICK (ISLINGTON)

Sat: King Henry’s Walk Gardens Summer Fete, King Henry’s Walk, Islington N1 4NX (Dalston Kingsland/Dalston Junction rail)
Enjoy a lovely afternoon in the park at this traditional summer fete with coconut shy, tombola, Punch & Judy, plant sale, games for kids, stalls and live music. All ages, very baby and toddler friendly. 12-4pm, FREE entry (Jun 14)

There are more fun things happening in Barnsbury Square Open Garden Squares weekend and Barnard Park Sunday Cafe

We also like
Line the streets to watch Trooping the Colour (The Queen’s Birthday Parade), Horse Guards Parade and St James Park (Sat); or celebrate the Year of the Bus as a Double Decker Bus Parade on Regent St (Sat); hear Planes, Trains and Automobiles at the LSO Discovery Family Concert at Barbican Centre (Sun); the monthly hoe-down goes down at the Cecil Sharpe House Family Barn Dance (Sun); and Foyles Charing Cross is throwing a literary festival with lots of kids activities to celebrate its grand reopening (through July 5)

Photo via Polka Theatre