London Kids Weekend Scoop (February 28-March 1, 2015)

 

 
How’s everyone recovering after half term? Do you realise that means Easter holiday is just around the corner? Terrifying how the year is whizzing by but don’t miss out on all the fun things happening in London every weekend.

Our London Kids Weekend Scoop this week has plants, taste adventures, family film and family theatre to keep you busy indoors or out (if you dare). Go make the most of it!

Thu-Sun: Plantastic at Horniman, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
Friendly flowers, crawl-through installations and exploding cucumbers are all part of this interactive exhibition focusing on the world of plants. Kids will enjoy getting up close with all types of plant life to learn how they reproduce, move, feed and survive. Horniman Museum is a great family day out and on a combined ticket you can also visit the popular Horniman Aquarium. 10.30am-5.30pm; combined adult £8.50/child £4.50/family of 4 £22; Plantastic only ticket adult £6.50/child £3.50/family of 4 £16.50/unders 3s FREE (Feb 14-Nov 12)

Fri-Sun: Tongue Twister at Westfield London, Ariel Way, W12 7SL (Shepherd’s Bush tube/overground)
We’re intrigued by the sound of this culinary adventure inviting visitors to explore all their senses as relate to food. Start in the Cleanse Room to clean your palate; then the Sound Room to hear how sounds amplify the experience of eating; next to the See Room to discover how sight affects your appreciation of different foods; and finally the Smell Room where you’ll explore diverse, delicious and possibly disgusting combinations! All ages. Tongue Twister is located in the Atrium, Ground Floor. Westfield opening hours, FREE entry. NB: Please see the website for important information regarding food ingredients, allergies and any health conditions relating to diet! (Feb 27-Mar 1)

 

 
Sat: Let’s Make Our Own Portrait Gallery at Institut Francais, 17 Queensberry Place, SW7 2DT (South Kensington tube)
Come along to a fun, hands-on workshop as part of the View Festival at the French Institute. Author and illustrator Jacky Bahbout and Hannah Warren (Funny Face) lead kids in collage, drawing and other techniques to create a gallery of funny portraits and contribute to a large-scale mural. For ages 5+. 2pm, £5 (max 20 kids so book quickly)! (Feb 28)

Sat: The Imaginary Menagerie at Grant Museum of Zoology, University College London, 21 University Street, WC1E 6JJ (Euston/Goodge St tube)
Enjoy an afternoon with the family in the quirky museum exploring animals that seem like they’re made up. Discover the quagga, the duckbilled platypus and a not very stripy zebra then have a go at drawing your own Imaginary Menagerie with a museum artist. All ages. 1-4pm, drop-in, FREE (Feb 28)

Sat: Geometric City at Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth St, NW8 8EH (Marylebone/Edgware Rd tube)
‘The world sneezed and everything fell into pieces’… join Bridget and Cindy on their daring adventure into Geometric City, where strange creatures roam only some of whom are friendly. Enchanting theatre with puppetry and music for ages 4+. 11.30am, £7/family of 4 £24 (Feb 28)

Sat-Sun: Handmade Weekend at Discover, 383-387 Stratford High St, E15 4QZ (Stratford tube/overground)
An exciting mix of artists from Europe curate a weekend of fun for little ones: become part of a life-size fairytale board game in Trails Tales (ages 4+, both days); watch an Assembly of Animals take shape in liquid and magnetic form, in Tim Spooner’s dazzling show for younger audiences (ages 3+, Sat 11.30am & 4pm); or create dances in boxes as a human domino in 3ON3 (ages 8-12, 1pm-2.15pm, 3pm-4.15pm). Centre open 11am-5pm; admission adult/child £5, family £18, under 2s FREE (Feb 28-Mar 1)

Sat-Sun: World Book Day at Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park Highgate Hill London N6 5HG (Highgate tube)
This is a wonderful family venue and this weekend is a treat for little bookworms: two mornings of storytelling in the company of acclaimed narrator Vanessa Woolf who uses props, songs and plenty of energy to bring to life stories from around the world. For ages 2-7. 10am-11.30am, £4.50 (Feb 28-Mar 1)

 

 
Sat-Sun: Year of the Sheep at Rich Mix + Between the Notes Family Workshops at Rich Mix, 37-42 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
Head to Rich Mix for a double whammy of family friendly entertainment. On Saturday, celebrate Chinese New Year with traditional lion dance, Wing Chun kung fu demos, delicious food, magic show, folk dance for kids, calligraphy and origami and more fun (Sat, 12-4pm, FREE). Then as part of Between the Notes festival there are 2-day family workshops where you can take part in Alpana (rice painting), beatboxing, Kathak and Bollywood dance and more (Sat-Sun, 10am-4pm, adult + 2 kids £10/adult + 1 child or adult only £6) (Feb 28-Mar 1)

Sun: Pinocchio (U) at BFI Southbank, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The little puppet who longed to be a boy is the subject of this classic Disney animation playing at BFI Southbank this Sunday. See the tale of Pinocchio and his adventures with his human father, a whale and a cricket named Jiminy, all brought to life in colourful Disney style. 1pm, £6.50-£11.50. Enjoy an early, affordable lunch at the Real Food Festival street food market just outside the Southbank Centre before you catch the film. (Mar 1)

We also like
Belt out that song at the Frozen Sing Along Party at Barbican Framed Family Film Club (Sat, from 10am); discover A Day in the Life of an Aerodynamicist with Mini Engineers and race LEGO cars at Sacred Heart Church in Wimbledon (Sat, from 1.30pm); have fun Whatever the Weather at Arts Depot’s charming kids show in North Finchley (Sun, 11am & 2pm); spend a Family Sunday at the Albany watching a delightful non-verbal performance for ages 3+, The Feather Catcher (Sun, 1pm & 3pm)

Photos via Horniman Museum, Institut Francais and Rich Mix