Some really exciting things to do in London with kids (and without) this weekend with family theatre, a LEGO exhibition, a celebration of Oliver Jeffers and a supper club just for mums. Tuck in!
HOT TICKET: Punchdrunk Entertainment presents Against Doctor’s Orders: A Journey into the Uncharted at National Maritime Museum, Romney Rd, SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
Embark on an immersive adventure with Punchdrunk Entertainment exploring the history of artefacts kept at the National Maritime Museum. The creators of hit show The House where Winter Lives have designed this fantastical theatre experience around the museum for children ages 6-12 and their families. The show doesn’t start until March but I’m telling you now as tickets have just gone on sale and they’re bound to go fast! From 10am daily, £19.75 (Mar 28-Aug 2015)
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)
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)
Fri: London Mother’s Club Supper Club, The Social Pantry, 170A Lavender Hill, SW11 5TG (Clapham Junction overground/rail, Clapham Common/Stockwell tube)
The London Mother’s Club supper clubs are back for the new season with a feast cooked up by chef Chris Jordan of A Taste. Tuck into braised venison leg, cured duck with apple or wild blackberry tart and enjoy a welcome drink on the house. The event is BYOB and promises a fun evening of good food and grown up company. Can we get an amen? 7.30pm, £35 (includes 4-course menu and welcome drink) (Sep 26)
Fri-Sun: The Art of the Brick at Old Truman Brewery, Loading Bay 91, Brick Lane, E1 6QL (Shoreditch High St overground, Liverpool St/Aldgate East tube)
LEGO mania hits Shoreditch as the long-awaited Art of the Brick exhibition comes to Brick Lane (geddit?). Gawp at 80 sculptures lovingly crafted brick by brick by NY artist Nathan Sawaya from more than 1 million pieces of LEGO. Why not make a lazy Sunday visit to the show, then have a browse of the vintage shops and stalls on Brick Lane market, grab a bite to eat from local street traders (we recommend the Rib Man but don’t bother after 1pm!), and, if you still have the stamina, round off with a trip to nearby Spitalfields City Farm. All ages. 10am-6pm (Sun-Wed), 10am-8pm (Thu), 10am-7pm (Fri-Sat); adult £14.50/child £8/family of 4 £40 (Mon-Thu); adult £16.50/child £9.50/family of 4 £47 (Fri-Sun) (Sep 26-Jan 4)
Sat: The Great River Race from London Docklands to Ham House in Richmond, TW8 (various locations)
Watch London’s spectacular river marathon with more than 300 crews, many in fancy dress, rowing and sailing 21 miles up the Thames. A fantastic day of family fun that becomes part of Totally Thames Festival this month. All ages. Starting cannon 12.40pm at Millwall Dock Slipway. Viewing points on Tower Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Battersea Bridge, Wandsworth Bridge, Putney Bridge, Hammersmith Bridge, Chiswick Bridge, Kew Bridge, Richmond Bridge and winding up just after 3pm at Riverside below Ham House. FREE (Sep 27)
Sat: The Tap Dancing Mermaid at Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St, London W6 0QL
(Hammersmith tube)
Gather round for an enchanting moonlit tale told by the Moon himself, about a mysterious dancer who only appears after dark. Puppets, live music and exhilarating tap dancing are promised for this show aimed at kids age 3-7 and their grown-ups. 11am & 1pm, £8 (Sep 27)
Sat: Battersea Arts Centre Free Family Saturdays, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN (Clapham Junction overground/rail, Clapham Common/Stockwell tube)
Come and explore Battersea Arts Centre for a weekend of free family fun happening on the last Saturday of every month. There will be creative and crafty workshops for kids and their carers, a chance to enter the Bees Knees play area for free, and delicious food and drink served in the cafe. Plus this weekend our friends from Big Fish Little Fish will be providing a groovy soundtrack to the day’s activities. Recommended for ages 0-12 and their families. 12-4pm, workshops 11am-12pm (for under 5s), 2pm-3pm (for ages 6+), all FREE entry (Sep 27)
Sat-Sun: Once there Was… the Wonderful World of Oliver Jeffers at Discover Story Museum, 383-387 Stratford High St, E15 5QZ (Stratford tube/overground/DLR)
Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of one of the best loved picture book authors and illustrators. Celebrating the 10th birthday of Oliver Jeffers’ classic tale How to Catch a Star, Discover museum invites little adventurers to play in favourite scenes from his books brought to life. Row a boat, befriend a penguin, take a trip to the seaside, visit the Lost and Found office, and see stars appear as if by magic. For this Opening Weekend you can also meet the characters from his books. Recommended for ages 0-6 and their families. Term time weekdays: 3-5pm (Tue-Fri); 10.20am, 11.20am, 12.20, 1.20, 2.20, 3.15 and 4.15pm (Sat-Sun and school holidays; NB: 10.20 am show on weekdays during school holidays only) (Sep 27-Sep 6, 2015)
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: Join The Big Draw Party at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PA (Bethnal Green tube)
It’s a surprise arty party at the museum thrown by Pip & Squeak for the shy Wilfred and it’s all to help launch The Big Draw. Join artist Marion Deuchars making great art placemats, meet the creators of Messy Monsters from kids magazine Okido, draw around the galleries with Nick Sharratt, pose with your favourite toy for a joint portrait by cartoonist Marf, draw in thread with Stitches in Time, and much more fun. All ages. 11.30am-4.30pm, FREE (Sep 28)
We also like
Enter Sparkle at Polka Theatre an interactive play space and performance for babies ages 6 months-2 years and kids ages 3-4 and their carers (Thu-Sun); enjoy traffic-free shopping and entertainment as the NFL arrives on Regent St (Sat); party down memory lane for Cassette Store Day (Sat); ride a historic Tube Train on the Epping Ongar Railway (Sat-Sun); lots of food, dance and family fun at the Japan Matsuri festival in Trafalgar Square (Sat); get hot hot hot at Spitalfields City Market Chilli Festival (Sun); take part in a Circus Family Workshop with your kids ages 3+ at The Albany, Deptford (Sun); last weekend to catch HippopoThames, a 21ft sculpture created for Totally Thames festival (until Sep 28)
