The World Cup party might be coming to an end (what a breathtaking tournament!) but there’s still plenty of action around town this weekend. Here’s my pick of things to do in London with kids from Bastille Day fun to a Floating Cinema in King’s Cross.
Enjoy it, wherever you go!
Thu-Sun: Little Angel Theatre presents Three Little Pigs, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Angel tube)
A fantastic sounding retelling of the classic fairytale about three little pigs and a big bad wolf. Danny of Circo Ridiculoso unpacks a box of tricks to bring these characters to life with enough huff, puff and props to blow you away, whatever your age. For ages 3+ with a special show for babies and toddlers on Sunday. 10.30am & 1pm (Thu), 1pm & 5pm (Fri), 11am & 2pm (Sun); baby-friendly performance at 11am (Sun); adult £10/child £8/Friday 5pm shows £5 (Jul 9-13)
Thu-Sun: Festival of Love at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Love makes the world go around and this summer features two months celebrating love in all its many crazy colours at Southbank Centre. Check out the 1000 Acts of Kindness art installation, tuck into Real Food made with love and learn more about upcoming events including The Big Wedding Weekend in August! Daily activities from around 9.30am, times and prices vary, many events are FREE (Jun 28-Aug 31)
Thu-Sun: Barbican Centre: Digital Revolutions at Silk St, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
This sounds super cool: an immersive exhibition exploring new digital culture and technology, bringing together the worlds of gaming, film, architecture, design and music. Works and new commissions by artists as varied as Bjork, Tim Webber and Framestore (the visual effects team behind the film Gravity) and will.i.am. 10am-6pm (Sat-Wed); Thu-Fri (10am-9pm); adult £12.50/child 5-16 £5/under 5s FREE. Advanced booking essential (Jul 3-Sep 14)
Thu-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 (until Aug 16)
Fri-Sat: The Elephantom at New London Theatre, Drury Lane, WC2B 5PF (Holborn tube)
We’re looking forward to reviewing this critically acclaimed production that transferred from National Theatre to the West End. A little girl makes friends with a ghost-elephant in her bedroom, and it’s the start of a very messy adventure. Puppetry, music and laughs for ages 3+. 11.30am & 2.30pm (Tue-Fri), 2.30pm (Mon) & 10am (Sat); £13-£20 (Jun 30-Sep 6)
Fri-Sat: Twelfth Night Reimagined for Ages 6 and Over at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Inner Circle Regent’s Park, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
Don’t miss this brilliantly inventive production, reimagining Shakespeare’s comedy of mixed-up identity for anyone ages 6 and up. A madcap tale of love and courtship, filled with sight gags, music and water pistols! 1.30pm (Fri, Tue, Wed); 9.45am (Sat), 10am & 1.30pm (Sun); £15/family of 4 £50 (until Jul 12)
The Floating Cinema arrives at Granary Square with a weekend of activities both off and on board the canal boat. There are Zombie Mini Makeovers by a special effects artist, for all ages on the canalside steps (Fri 1-5pm, FREE, drop-in); and little ones and their families can join artist Mónica Rivas Velásquez for an animation workshop on the Floating Cinema (Sun, 1-2.30pm, FREE, drop-in or pre-book). From Fri 1pm, FREE (Jul 11-13)
Also at King’s Cross: an American style yard sale (Sat, 1-5pm, FREE) and a chance to view the exhibition Quentin Blake: Inside Stories at House of Illustration (10am-6pm daily until Nov 2, adult £7/child £4)
Sat-Sun: Horniman Museum’s Curious Tea party, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
An enchanting and eccentric weekend of Edwardian-themed entertainment, with tea dances, circus acts, family arts activities, singing treasure hunt, cabinet of curiosities, immersive installations, ragtime jazz, pop-up performances and more. Part of The Big Dance festival. 12-5.30pm, FREE (Jul 12-13)
Sat-Sun: Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens Summer Festival, Tyers St, SE11 5HY (Vauxhall tube/rail)
Two days of entertainment kick off with arts and cultural activities on Saturday when National Theatre’s Watch this Space festival holds performances, plus there are live bands and a Handel’s concert in the evening. On Sunday, come for the Family Sports Day with tug-of-war, egg & spoon and sack racing, welly wanging, dad’s 100m dash and more on the cards. Plus a 5-a-side football tournament to round things off. 12pm-late (Sat), 12pm-6pm (Sun), FREE entry (Jul 12-13)
Sat-Sun: Pop Up Festival of Stories Swiss Cottage, 88 Avenue Rd, NW3 3HA (Swiss Cottage tube)
The festival that brings storytelling alive pops up in north London with activities and performances at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Swiss Cottage Library, Hampstead Theatre and more local venues. Kids and families are invited to build imaginary cities, play heroes and monsters, hear pop-up jazz and let their spirit kites fly free at a series of workshops and events. 11am-6pm, FREE (Jul 12-13)
Sun: British Summer Time Hyde Park: Family Concert, W2 2UH (Hyde Park Corner tube)
The huge summer concert series hosts a special gig just for families with Tom Jones headlining alongside Little Mix, Boyzone, 10CC and tribute act The Bootleg Beatles. Special appearances from Shaun the Sheep, Horrible Histories and more planned plus carnival area and food outlets. Doors open 11.30am, tickets from £35/under 16s must be accompanied by an adult/family ticket £90/under 5s go FREE (Jul 13)
Sun: Bastille Festival in Bankside, Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL (London Bridge tube)
The largest celebration of French culture in London takes place again around Borough market where you can pick up fine French food and enjoy a host of family-friendly activities. There will be petanque (boules), cycle surgery, watermelon guillotine, a Parisian swing band and a screening of the French family film Belleville Rendezvous (1pm) followed by the World Cup Final! And don’t miss the open-air party Bal Populaire that carries on through the evening. From 10am-late (Jul 13)
Sun: Watch the World Cup Finals at The Wickat CRE8 Lifestyle Centre, The Old Baths, 80 Eastway, E9 5JH (Hackney Wick tube)
See Argentina battle Germany at this pop-up festival for the World Cup offering giant screen, outdoor beach, live music and DJs, a kids play zone, ice cream emporium, footy pitch and competitions, 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
LOCAL PICK
Sat: The Arts Picnic in Spa Fields, Northampton Rd, EC1R ODF (Angel tube)
Join Cubitt Arts and The Big Dance festival for an afternoon of creative activism and family fun. There will be dance performances, parkour, bingo, arts and crafts stalls, pass-the-parcel, customise your own picnic blankets workshops, face-painting, picnicking and more. 12-4pm, FREE (Jul 12)
We also like
Welcome the sailors at the race finish of the Clipper Round the World at St Katharine Docks (Sat 10am); there’s a family art day at new space Dairy Art Centre in Bloomsbury (Sat, 2-4pm); traditional fairground rides are on Eel Common in Fulham with Carters Steam Fair (Sat-Sun, 12-9pm); Soho Village Fete holds its 40th annual party in St Anne’s Garden, Wardour St (Sun, 12-6pm); Regent Street Summer Streets brings traffic-free shopping and a foodie theme (Sun, 12-6pm)
The Elephantom at New London Theatre (Family Theatre Review)
I won’t be in London this weekend now, but Liverpool another city I love-would have loved to shake my booty at the family concert though, will you guys go x
Hey there, we’re not planning to go to Hyde Park but the Babe papa will be there slinging his hot dogs! Have never been to Liverpool, would love to check it out some day x