15 Things to Look Forward to in London 2015!

 

 
Happy New Year! We’re back in action after a fantastic Christmas break (and an unexpected but very welcome digital detox) and I’m already brimming over with excitement about all the fun things to do in London in 2015.

I can’t wait to tell you about our holiday in Nigeria and some of the Christmas activities we got up to before we left. In the meantime, here are 15 Things to Look Forward to in London 2015. Mark your calendars!
 

1. Babes about Town is 5!

 

 
We’re celebrating our blogiversary this month as Babes about Town turns 5! To say thank you to our readers for all your ongoing support (and to make up for having to skip the 12 Days of Xmas 2014) I’ve lined up some fantastic prizes. The Big Birthday Giveaway series kicks off soon so don’t miss a post.
 

2. Imagine Children’s Festival

 

 
Every year the Southbank Centre’s Imagine Children’s Festival puts on an incredible line-up of kids literature, art, music and performance for babies upwards. Highlights for 2015 include Russell Brand reading from The Pied Piper of Hamelin, The Big Sleepover on Royal Festival Hall stage (Feb 20) and site-wide installations celebrating 150 years of Alice in Wonderland. All ages. (Feb 9-22)
 

3. Frozen Pop Up Experience

 

 
Feel the enchantment come alive at the Frozen Pop Up Experience at a secret nuclear bunker in Essex. Get primped in the Princess Parlour, build a snowman pal for Olaf, sing your heart out with amazing effects, play in the wintry wonderland and dine in the Frozen Feast cafe. All ages, babies under 2 go FREE. (£5-£15, Feb 16-22)
 

4. Mini Vault Festival

 

 
Have you heard about Vault Festival, the 6 weeks arts festival that takes over Waterloo’s secret tunnels at the end of the month (Jan 28-Mar 8)? Their Mini Vault programme offers three family-friendly weekends of entertainment including Comedy Club for Kids, circus acts, zombie shows and an underground family rave with the fantastic Big Fish Little Fish, suitable for babies from age 0 to kids up to age 8 and their grown-ups. (Mar 8, £8-£12).
 

5. Comic Relief and #TeamHonk Danceathon

 

 
The Comic Relief charity drive that’s evolved from three bloggers to a nationwide movement goes one (hot funky) step further this year with the Team Honk Danceathon. Get your boogie shoes on for a dance marathon at Wembley Arena and locations worldwide to raise money for brilliant causes. Sign up, tune in and turn out! All ages. (Mar 8, 12-6pm, registration from £10).
 

6. Punchdrunk Enrichment presents Against Captain’s Orders

 

 
From Punchdrunk Enrichment, creators of hit show The House where Winter Lives, Against Captain’s Orders: A Journey into the Uncharted is an immersive theatrical experience exploring the history of artefacts kept at the National Maritime Museum. Designed especially for children ages 6-12 and their families, this is a hot pick for spring/summer ‘15. (From 10am daily, £19.75, Mar 28-Aug 2015)
 

7. Family Sundays at Royal Opera House

 

 
The monthly Family Sundays at Royal Opera House is one of the hottest tickets in town and the first two dates are already sold out. March tickets aren’t yet on sale, but keep an eye on the box office (or join Friends of Covent Garden) as they’re snapped up in a heartbeat. These events allow families to go behind the scenes with informal performances, combat or live makeup demos, costume dressing area, backstage tours and design activities. For ages 6+ (younger ones welcome). NB: 100 day tickets are available from 10am on the morning of the event. (12-4pm, £3-£4, from Mar 29-Jun 28)
 

8. Roald Dahl’s The Twits at Royal Court Theatre

 

 
It’s one of the most fun children’s books to read aloud and now Royal Court Theatre brings the story to the stage, in this cheeky adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Twits. Meet the nastiest family in town and find out if their caged monkeys can bring them down! For ages 7+. (£10-£35, Apr 7-May 31)
 

9. Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith

 

 
Fat Sam’s Grand Slam hits Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in a spectacular production of Alan Parker’s musical Bugsy Malone. Join Bugsy, Blousey and Talullah on a familiar caper filled with fab tunes and splurge guns. For ages 6+. (2.30pm & 7.30pm, £15-£40, Apr 11-Aug 1)
 

10. Alice’s Adventures Underground at The Vaults

 

 
Go deep down into the rabbit hole of Waterloo’s secret Vaults tunnels in Alice Adventures Underground. The one-of-a-kind adventure with Les Enfants Terribles promises puppetry, projections and potions, circus, storytelling and fantasy to create a Wonderland in honour of Alice’s 150th birthday. (£15-£47.50, Apr 16-May 31)
 

11. Breakin’ Convention 2015

 

 
Back for an incredible 12th year, Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells features popping, lockin’, b-boy and b-girl displays to entertain and amaze all ages. Plus live graffiti art, street dance workshops, and the ever popular FREE Breakin’ Convention Park Jam in nearby Spa Fields starring local and old-school hip hop acts! Tickets for Breakin’ Convention from £15-£20, under 5s admitted. (May 2-4)
 

12. Peter Pan, Seven Brides and Lord of the Flies

 

 
I’m probably a little too over-excited about Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre programme for 2015, featuring some of my absolute favourites. JM Barrie’s Peter Pan (May 15-Jun 14, best for older kids), The Seagull (Jun 19-Jul 11, not so kid-friendly), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Jul 16-Aug 29, family friendly) and Lord of the Flies (Sep 3-Sep 12, best for older kids). An unforgettable summer of theatre in a fantastic outdoor venue! (Season from May 15-Sep 12)
 

13. Camp Bestival 2015

 

 
We’re totally bats about Camp Bestival 2015 and its new theme Camp Bestival Goes Wild, with a special focus on getting kids outdoors. Ok so not exactly London, but Dorset is a mere couple of hours by train and so worth the trip. Look forward to rambling, camp fires and daisy chains, wood carving and star gazing, along with CB staples the Bollywood tent, Insect Circus, Medieval Jousting and of course huge acts like Underworld, Clean Bandit, Kaiser Chiefs and more yet-to-be-named bands on the main stage. All ages. (Adult weekend ticket £195/child £20/under 4s FREE, Jul 29-Aug 2)
 

14. Rugby World Cup

 

 
The boys are more footballers than rugger babes but Babe Papa’s into his rugby and who doesn’t love a bit of World Cup action? England plays host to Rugby World Cup 2015 with key matches happening in London at Twickenham and Wembley Stadium and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Come on England! (Tickets from adult £15/child £7, Sep 18-Oct 31)
 

15. Star Wars IV

 

 
Hold onto your lightsabers. Sci fi geeks and jedis-in-waiting are counting down the days for what’s set to be one of the biggest films of the year. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens is scheduled for worldwide release on December 18. I’m not 100% certain whether it’s a prequel or a sequel, but you can already feel the Force.
 

And here’s more of what you can look forward to from Babes about Town in 2015: regular Weekend Scoops giving you the best of London for kids and families; the launch of our Birthday Party Guide to help you plan that big day; new features and series including Babe in the City travel guides; and lots of fabulous offers from our partners.

Don’t forget to follow Babes about Town on Twitter, Facebook or via email so you don’t miss a trick!

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