Don’t let the cold break your stride, don’t let the cold hold you down, oh no, you’ve got to keep it moving!
Here’s the London Kids Weekend Scoop fully loaded with all the inspiration you need to get out and about for some family fun in London. Slip into the arm and leg warmers, faux fur hat, ear muffs, a balaclava if you must and go have some fun!
Did I mention it’s my birthday tomorrow? Cake is most welcome, thank you.
Fri-Sat: Hansel & Gretel at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, W6 0QL (Hammersmith tube)
What happens to a brother and sister who get lost in the woods and find themselves in front of a Gingerbread House? See the familiar fairy tale brought to the stage with puppetry, masks, film and sumptuous music for ages 5-11. 10.30am & 1.30pm (Fri); 11am & 1pm (Sat); £8/£7 schools and nurseries (Feb 6-7)
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: V&A Museum Family Event: Pop Up Performances, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL (South Kensington)
Head to South Kensington to check out one of the V&A’s weekly pop-up shows for young children. This weekend, see the legend of 2-year-old Chinese emperor Pu Yi in The Boy Who Sat on the Dragon Throne. Stick around to check out the V&A’s collections, follow a family art trail, and discover newly opened displays of illustrations from Frederick Warne & Co’s picture book catalogue featuring works by Beatrix Potter, Kate Greenaway and Edward Lear. Open 10am-5.45pm; shows 11am, 1pm & 3pm, drop-in, FREE (Feb 7)
Sat: The Doodle Dance Show at Greenwich Dance, The Borough Hall, Royal Hill, SE10 8RE (Greenwich rail/DLR)
Kick off a fun weekend in Greenwich at the world premiere of award-winning performers Anna Williams (Russell Maliphant, LaRibot) and Tom Roden (New Art Club) in their new show that promises to get the whole family dancing and drawing. Get ready to remove socks and shoes, move and groove and scrawl and colour, and transform a giant piece of paper into a whole new world! For ages 3+. 11am, 1.30pm & 4pm; £8/£6 concs (Feb 7)
Sat: Horniman Museum: Crossing Borders, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
This is a lovely sounding event that brings the local community together with new arrivals in the neighbourhood. There are paper dress design workshops, storytelling from around the world, song-sharing and live theatre, and 5 short animation films looking at the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers. 11am-4pm, drop-in, FREE (Feb 7)
Sat: Sherlock’s Night Owls Sleepover at Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN (St Paul’s/Barbican tube)
Experience the historic museum after dark and try to unravel the mysteries of the past like a young Sherlock Holmes. Solve a puzzle by torchlight, use clues to uncover the suspects in a crime scene and become a time detective. Bed down in the museum for lights off at midnight, breakfast included, bring your own late night snacks. Ages 7-11 + adult carers. 6.45pm-9.40am, £52 per person, at least 1 adult for every 4 children (Feb 7)
Sat-Sun: Mini Vault at Waterloo, The Vaults, Leake St , London SE1 7NN (Waterloo tube/rail)
The fantastic festival for all ages taking place deep underground in Waterloo’s secret tunnels shifts into its second week with a packed programme. Don’t miss Comedy Club for Kids (Sat, 12.45pm, £9.50, ages 6+); excerpts from the spectacle Flown, featuring a captivating crew of musicians, aerialists, acrobats and stuntmen (Sat-Sun, FREE, all ages); and the enchantingly conceptual Albee Vector The Sound Collector (Sun, 10.30am & 12pm, £9.50, all ages) with pops, fizzes and farts creating a soundscape to remember! Directions: Leave Waterloo Station via Exit 1. Turn right onto Station Road Approach and keep on the right hand side of the road. Walk all the way to the bottom of the road and go down the first set of stairs you come to and turn right at the bottom of the stairs. The entrance to the VAULT Festival is 10 metres down the graffiti tunnel on the right hand side. (Feb 7-8)
Sat-Sun: Big Fish Little Fish at Stratford Circus, Theatre Square, E15 1BX (Stratford tube/overground) and The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, Balham, SW12 9HD (Balham tube)
It’s a double whammy for our favourite party crew with two consecutive raves this weekend. DJ Tayo is spinning at Stratford Circus (Sat), while Button Down Disco’s Christian Laing plans to own the dancefloor at The Bedford (Sun). The theme for both events is Enchanted Forest and Captain Cookie will lead the kids in making owl masks in the Happy Monkey crafts room. As ever there’s 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 (Feb 7 & 8)
Sun: Royal Academy Family Workshop: My Pet Mythical Monster (top pic), Learning Studio, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Get rid of your child’s beastly mood at this family workshop where they can unleash the monster within in a friendly group. Make crazy creatures from cushions and fabric pens, or turn yourself into a mini monster with cardboard and paper costumes. 11am-3pm, drop-in, FREE (Feb 8)
LOCAL PICK: ISLINGTON
Sun: Parasol Art Unit Storytelling Family Workshop, 14 Wharf Road / London / N1 7RW (Angel/Old St tube)
Led by artist and educator Alexandra Hughes, this workshop begins with exploring the current exhibition and discussing what stories could be attached to the images. Then kids and families are invited to create a collaborative art piece, drawing on memories, and using writing, painting and collage. Best for ages 5-15. 2.30pm-4pm, £5 per family (Feb 8)
We also like
Discover The Case of the Curious Suitcase kids performance at Lauderdale House in Highgate (Sat); see the London International Animation Festival screening at Phoenix Cinema in Finchley (Sat): Orchids at Kew Garden opens this weekend (from Sat); make maps with Maggie Li in a Somerset House family workshop) (Sat); The Railway Children is still steaming along at King’s Cross (until Sep 1)
Wondering where to eat with the family this weekend? Check out our guide to the Best Pizza in London!
Photos: Royal Academy, Greenwich Dance, Mini Vault, Parasol Art Unit
