London Kids Weekend Scoop (Apr 10-Apr 12, 2015)

 

 
We’re into the home stretch of our Easter holidays, how have you all been enjoying the break so far? Fantastic things to do this weekend include:

The Twits at Royal Court Theatre, Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith, My First Ballet: Swan Lake at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, Giant Easter Duck Trail at London Wetlands Centre, Shaun the Sheep at Kew Gardens and more family fun in my Easter in London guide

HOT TICKET

 

 
Sat-Sun: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Vaults, Launcelot Street, off Leake St, Waterloo,SE1 7AD (Waterloo tube/rail)
Go deep down into the rabbit hole of Waterloo’s secret Vaults tunnels in the one-of-a-kind adventure with Les Enfants Terribles featuring puppetry, projections and circus, storytelling and fantasy to create a Wonderland in honour of Alice’s 150th birthday. Be careful not to lose your head! For ages 5+. Shows from 11am on Sat Apr 11, shows last 1 hour, times vary (Tue-Sun); adult £18.50/child £12.50 (Apr 11-Aug 30)

More highlights in our London Kids Weekend Scoop:

Fri: Bach to Baby in Borough, St. Mary Magdalen, 193 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UW (London Bridge tube)
One of a series of popular classical concerts aimed at babies, toddlers and their carers, this sounds like a lovely way to start the day. Listen to the sounds of Schubert, Schumann and Puccini in the company of other mums and dads. Then wander out afterwards for a bite to eat in nearby Borough Market. Doors 10am, concert 10.30am-11.30am; £10 per person/children FREE (Apr 10)

Fri-Sun: Princesses and Pirates Film Weekend at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX (Leicester Square tube)
Head to the centre of town for a short season of classic princess and pirate tales from Disney. Catch Disney’s mega hit Frozen in the popular Singalong version (Fri 5pm, Sat & Sun 2pm); be dazzled by the original animated Cinderella, inspiration for the live action movie (Fri 2pm); soar to Neverland with Peter Pan (Sun 5pm); and watch Robin Williams play the boy in the live version of the fable, Hook (Sat 5pm). Tickets £5 each, or £7.50 with popcorn and a soft drink (Apr 10-12)

 

 
Sat: The Goat Race at Spitalfields City Farm, Buxton St, off Brick Lane, E1 5AR (Shoreditch High St overground, Aldgate East/Liverpool Rd tube)
Oxford and Cambridge lock horns in a battle for the best in what’s become almost as much of a highlight on the London events calendar as the famous boat race. See the two goats race to the finish, against a backdrop of Shoreditch beardies, food stalls, live DJ and of course other animals to visit around the lovely farm. Tickets typically sell out so hurry for bookings! 1pm-6pm, £10-£12/child under 12 FREE (Apr 11)

Sat: The Boat Race (various locations along the river Thames)
For the first time ever, there will be a women’s race happening from 4.50pm. But of course most of the spectators (up to 300,000 of them) will be lining to watch the traditional men’s race between historic rivals Oxford and Cambridge from Putney to Mortlake. Best places to watch are from Putney Bridge, Putney Embankment and Bishop’s Park (at the start); Hammersmith and Barnes (mid-course); Dukes Meadows and Chiswick Bridge (at the finish). Also check out Boat Race in the Park events with live screens and entertainment in Bishop’s Park, Fulham and Furnival Gardens, Hammersmith. Women’s race 4.50pm, men’s race 5.50pm, FREE (Apr 11)

Sat: Vaisakhi at City Hall and The Scoop, SE1 2AA (London Bridge tube)
Learn to tie turbans, take part in singing and musical toy making workshops, tuck into tasty street food and more in celebration of Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year. In its move from Trafalgar Square to City Hall and The Scoop, there will be more activities from storytelling and film screenings to live bands to enjoy. All ages. 12pm, FREE (Apr 11)

 

 
Sat: Bec and Tom’s Awesome Laundry at Udderbelly, Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, off Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Oh pants! It’s laundry day, but Bec has other ideas – unless Tom can stop her from dodging the household chores. Join the dozy duo on an entertaining ride filled with paper puppets, sketches, storytelling, games and silliness. Don’t worry, it’s all good clean fun! For ages 5+. 2.30pm-3.30pm; £10/family ticket £8 each/sirloin ticket £15 (Apr 11)

Sat-Sun: Dean Friedman’s ‘Smelly Feet’, Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX (Leicester Square tube)
Subtitled ‘A Children’s Musical that Really Stinks’, this is a hit touring show that lands at Leicester Square Theatre for one weekend only. A rather ridiculous tale about Dan and his best friend Pete and their quest to cure Pete’s smelly feet, the show features words and music by popular singer-songwriter/recording-artist, Dean Friedman. For ages 3-8. 2pm, adult £12/child £8 (Apr 11-12)

Sat-Sun: Where’s Wally Weekend at Discover, 383-387 Stratford High St, E15 5QZ (Stratford tube/overground/DLR)
The hugely popular Where’s Wally Weekend is back at Discover. Search for Wally, Wenda, Wizard Whitebeard, Oddlaw and of course Woof the Dog not only on the walls around Discover, but also amongst the costumed kids. Come along in your Wally kit and create your own story adventure. 10am-5pm (Mon-Fri); 11am-5pm (Sat-Sun); adult/child £5, family of 4 £18, under 2s FREE (Apr 11-12)

Sun: Shh… Bang! at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
A playful piece of theatre exploring sound and silence. Quiet’s unruffled world of clouds and softness is rudely interrupted by his neighbour Loud’s bangs, splooshes and whoops. Can they ever learn to live side by side? For ages 3+. 11am & 2pm, £7 (Apr 12)

We also like
Design and print your own artwork at Fleming Collection Family Workshop, free, drop-in (Sat); head to the Udderbelly at Southbank Centre to hear Jay Foreman’s Disgusting Songs for ages 6+ (Sat-Sun); and going, going, gone… Disney’s Cinderella Exhibition in Leicester Square Gardens (ends Fri); LEGO exhibition Art of the Brick at Old Truman Brewery (ends Sun)