London Kids Weekend Scoop (Sep 18-21, 2014)

The next few days are set to be action-packed as we check out cricket in Lords and a disco in Hackney Wick. If you’re looking for things to do with the kids this weekend, look no further. From family theatre to street festivals, we’ve got you covered!

Thu-Sun: Fantastic Mr Fox at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Angel tube)
Watch the very clever Mr Fox in a battle of wits against the farmers trying to trap him, in this joyous adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic tale, performed by puppets. Best for ages 4-11, baby-friendly performances on Sundays at 11am. Regular shows 10am & 1pm (Wed-Thu), 1pm & 5pm (Fri) and 11am & 2pm (Sat-Sun); adult £14/child £12/Friday 5pm shows £5 (until Nov 9)

Thu-Sun: Colourscape Music Festival on Clapham Common, off Rookery Rd (near Long Pond lake and Windmill Pub), SW4 (Clapham Common tube)
It’s the final weekend of the mini festival celebrating 25 years of Colourscape on Clapham Common. Come and experience the labyrinthine sculpture where visitors can don a coloured cape and enter to explore the potential of colour, light and space. Hear Music of the Spheres performed with two giant spheres floating on Clapham Common boating pond (Thu 7.30pm); listen to the 25th Birthday Concert (Sat 1-5pm); and catch The Pied Paper, a children’s opera (Sun 1-5pm). All ages. 1-6pm (weekend admission) adult £9/child £5/family £25/under 2s FREE; reduced weekday prices for admission (without music) from 1-2pm (until Sep 21)

Thu-Sun: Sequence 8: The Seven Fingers, Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
We’ve seen some incredible circus performances over the years and this one promises to be a blinder. Hailing from the home of modern circus Quebec, Seven Fingers present dazzling acrobatics, dance, drama and comedy for a family audience. Recommended for ages 5+ (younger ones not admitted). 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Sat), 2pm & 6pm (Sun); £15-£38/child half-price (Sep 16-Oct 2)

Sat: Royal London One Day Cup Final, Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, London NW8 8QN (St John’s Wood tube)
As new cricket converts, we’re excited to check out the finals of this exciting tournament where Warwickshire and Durham go head to head. It’s a family friendly day out with food village and picnic areas, possible celebrity sightings and of course lots of live action on the pitch. All ages. Doors open 10.30am; adult £30-£60/child £1 (Sep 20)

Sat: Spiegeltent at Canary Wharf: A Real Fairy Story, Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf, E14 (Canary Wharf tube/DLR)
The pop-up Spiegeltent wraps up its programme of circus, comedy, literary, theatre and craft activities for all the family. Doing double duty with two raves this weekend, Big Fish Little Fish are kicking things off with a family friendly party in the tent on Saturday. Expect top tunes from DJ Joe Muggs, Happy Monkey drinks, giant colouring wall and lots of pirates hitting the dance floor. Recommended for 8 and under and their parents/carers. 2-4.30pm; adult £8/child £4/non-walkers FREE (until Sep 21)

Sat: Mimbre Circus Central, Narrow Way at top of Mare St, E8 (Hackney Central overground)
Head to the streets of Hackney for the second year of free all-day family entertainment with Mimbre Circus and friends. You’ll see acrobats, cabaret acts, clowns and more along with Mrs H & the Singalong Band, That Juggler, Folk Dance Remixed plus circus skills and giant board games. All ages. 1-5.30pm, FREE (Sep 20)

Sat: Newham London Waterfront Festival, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 (Royal Victoria DLR)
Come and party by the Thames at the all-day festival featuring giant inflatables and games for kids, activities from knot-tying to underwater creature meet and greets, under 5s area, live music with The Real Thing and Reggae Choir, waterside food and drink, pleasure boat trips and a spectacular fireworks show to close things off. All ages. 2-8pm, FREE (Sep 20)

Sat: Borough Market 1000th Birthday: Footsteps in Time, 8 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TL (London Bridge tube)
Whether you’ve never been to Borough Market, or you’re a regular at one of London’s most popular food markets, this is a great weekend to get down there. You can be part of a living art project where visitors will dip their shoes in eco-friendly, washable paint to leave footprints around the market, as part of their 1000th anniversary celebrations. At the end of the day, the paint will wash away but there will be a time lapse video to capture the event. Come and make your mark, and don’t forget to wear shoes you don’t mind getting a little messy! Follow the journey on Twitter #BoroughMarket1000. All ages. From 8am-5pm, FREE (Sep 20)

Sat-Sun: Open House London, various venues around London
The hugely popular Open House London offers visitors from all over a chance to explore some of the city’s most stunning and secretive buildings. Open House Junior creates a varied programme for families including sculpture making in Leadenhall Market (Sat 1-3pm); the drop-in and build it workshop City of a Thousand Architects in City Hall (Sat 1-3pm), a photography treasure hunt and a City Children’s trail. All ages. From around 11am, most events are FREE (Sep 20-21)

Sat-Sun: Unicorn Theatre: See Saw, 147 Tooley St SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
It’s not easy being little. There’s so much fun to be had and so many places to explore, but you can’t do it alone and a seesaw only works with two. This sweet tale of friendship from the perspective of the very young is aimed at ages 2+. 11am (Sat-Sun), varying times and dates (Tue-Fri); £10-£16 (until Nov 2)

Sun: Big Fish Little Fish, Shapes, 117 Wallis Road, Hackney Wick, E9 5LN (Hackney Wick overground)
The mini rave for misbehavers of all ages returns to Shapes with DJ Tayo on decks. There’s a pirates dress-up theme, bubble machine, giant colouring wall, cake stall and a licensed bar. And free Happy Monkey smoothies, Bear Nibbles, transfer tattoos and glowsticks for all little guests! Recommended for 8 and under and their parents/carers. 2-4.30pm; adult £8/child £4/non-walkers FREE (Sep 21)

Sun: Mwalimu Express at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
Spend a relaxing, culturally stimulating Sunday at Rich Mix at this family club that happens once a month. Browse clothes and food stalls, join in parent & toddler dance sessions, play African board games, hear music from live artists and DJs and watch an African movie to round things off. All ages. 2-6pm, FREE (Sep 21)

Local Pick

 
Sat: Cass Art Family Workshop, Cass Art Islington, 66-67 Colebrooke Row N1 8AB (Angel/Highbury & Islington tube)
Multiple award-winning author and illustrator Marion Deuchars launches her new activity book ‘Draw Paint Print Like the Great Artists’, exploring the artistic styles of 18 celebrated artists. Deuchars hosts the workshop encouraging you to experiment with techniques, inspired by Dali, Klee, Miro and other greats. Suitable for ages 6+, all kids must be accompanied by adult. 11am-12pm, followed by book signing 12pm-12.30pm; £15 (includes workshop and copy of the book £12.95) (Sep 20)

Deuchars is also hosting a workshop at Cass Art Hampstead (Sat Sep 20, 3pm)

We also like
Enjoy a village fete atmosphere at the Bermondsey Street Festival; folks go ape suit for the Great Gorilla Run in the City of London (Sat); make a colourful kite to fly in the garden at Keat’s House Family Day (Sat 1-4pm, FREE); baby-friendly Tales from the Shed theatre season is back at ChickenShed Theatre, Southgate (Fri 11.30am, Sat, 10am & 11.30am, until Nov 1); help kids overcome their fears with theatre show Misunderstood Monsters at Oxford House Theatre in Bethnal Green (Sat 11am-12pm); cubs ages 7-11 are invited to audition for West End hit The Lion King (Sat); don’t miss the spectacular sights of Horseman’s Sunday; come along to A Perfect Day street festival by Regent’s Park (Sun 12-5.30pm); (join Kensington Mums & Bumps for a coffee morning at Hotel Chocolat (Mon 10am, £5)