Better late than never, the London Kids Weekend Scoop with lots of brilliant ongoing events for kids and families and a few new activities to get stuck into.
Stay warm!
Fri-Sun: The Polar Bears Go Wild at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Brave explorers of the toddler variety are wanted for this not-so-ferocious adventure, in the company of two friendly (and rather naughty) polar bears. Where are they going, how will they get there and do they have enough sandwiches? Last chance to catch this show for ages 2+, also deaf-friendly as very little language used throughout. 11am & 1.30pm (Tue-Fri, Sun), 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm (Sat); book fast as limited availability (Jan 9-25)
Fri-Sun: The Railway Children at King’s Cross, Goods Way entrance, Kings Boulevard, N1C 4QL (King’s Cross St. Pancras tube/rail)
The Olivier Award winning production is back at King’s Cross, bringing the classic tale by E Nesbitt beautifully to life. Watch a real live steam train steal the show! For ages 2+. 7.30pm (Tue-Fri), 2pm & 5.30pm (Sat) and 2.30pm (Thu & Sun); £26-£45/25% off for under 16s (until Sep 1, 2015)
Fri-Sun: Cirque du Soleil:Kooza at Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP (South Kensington tube)
The spectacular troupe returns with another dazzling show that goes back to their roots. Kooza combines acrobatic performance and clowning telling the tale of a melancholy loner and his quest to find his place in the world. Expect to have your mind blown. For ages 3+ (younger ones admitted if you feel they can handle it). 8pm (Tue-Thu), 3.30pm & 8pm (Fri-Sat); 3pm & 7.30pm (Sun); adult from £28/child under 12 from £17.80, child discounts apply to all except Saturday shows (until Feb 19)
Sat: LMA Orchestra Mini Maestros Family Concert: Vivaldi Four Seasons at St-Martin-In-The-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ (Charing Cross Rd tube)
Covent Garden is always a wonderful place to spend the weekend, and you can enjoy a tuneful break at a Mini Maestros session. Hear Vivaldi’s Four Seasons come alive in the hands of seasoned musicians, in a family friendly concert where little ones are free to interact and explore. For ages 3+. 4.30pm; adult £8.50/child £6.50 (Jan 24)
Sat: Red Riding Hood on Puppet Theatre Barge, 35 Blomfield Rd, W9 2PF (Warwick Avenue/Paddington tube)
It’s the well-known story about a girl who wanders into the wood and finds a big bad wolf in place of her grandmother. But it’s given a modern twist with puppetry, shadow play and music on this famous theatre vessel in Little Venice. Ages 3+. Catch it on opening weekend at 11am & 3pm (Sat-Sun); adult £12.50/child £8 (until Mar 15)
Sat-Sun: Year of the Bus Weekend at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford E20 (Stratford tube/overground)
If you fancy a bracing weekend outdoors, head straight for the spectacular park to celebrate this special auction in honour of the Year of the Bus. 60 London buses from the bus sculpture trail are on display, along with family friendly workshops, live music and performance every day. 10am-4pm, FREE entry (Jan 24-25)
Sat-Sun: London Comedy Film Festival, at various locations including BFI Southbank, SE1 (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The London Comedy Film Festival is always good for a laugh (bada boom) and they do special kid friendly events. Join in slapstick comedy workshops, catch live music and magic, and watch funny silent films at BFI as well as a screening of Who Framed Roger Rabbit on Saturday afternoon (BFI Imax, 2pm). Multiple dates and times (until Jan 25)
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish at Electrowerkz, 7 Torrens St, EC1V 4NQ (Angel tube)
It’s the first Islington outing for the tiny happy party people and their grownup entourage, and we can’t wait! The dress-up theme is Space Oddity (interpret as you will) and along with top tunes from DJ, there will be hula hoop performance, a bubble wrap popping wall (genius!), Happy Monkey crafts, licensed bar, buggy parking, bubble machine, glow sticks, costume themes and a big floaty parachute dance finale. Recommended for ages 8 and under and their parents/carers. 2-4.30pm; adult £8 adv/£10 door, child £4.50 adv/£5 door, non-walkers FREE (Jan 25)
Sun: Arts Depot: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, 5 Nether Street Tally Ho Corner North Finchley London N12 0GA (Finchley Central)
The totally bonkers and completely enjoyable Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus written by Sesame Street animator Mo Willems is brought to the popular kids’ theatre. It goes without saying that when a certain two-legged creature gets behind the wheel, feathers will fly. For ages 3+. 11am, 2pm & 4pm; adult £7/child £4.50 (Jan 25)
We also like
Don’t miss the dazzling Winter Lights Festival at Canary Wharf (until Jan 31); it’s now waiting list only for the Parasol Art Unit family workshop in Islington (Sun); see the Butterflies in the Glasshouse let loose at RHS Garden Wisley (from Sat until Mar 8)
