Ignore the raindrops outside and look ahead to a glorious weekend with some fantastic family activities in our London Kids Weekend Scoop. Top of our list:
Star Wars at Madame Tussauds, Museums at Night, Bend it Like Beckham, Peter Pan in Regent’s Park, Dunkirk Little Ships at Royal Victoria Docks and Big Fish Little Fish go wild in Balham.
Have fun!
Thu-Sun: Museums at Night, multiple venues around London
Every year popular museums around the country throw open their doors for a weekend of after hours fun and discovery. Family friendly activities for Londoners include a sleepover at Royal Artillery Museum and late night openings with family trails and crafts at Whitehall. All ages. Times, dates and prices vary (check individual web sites) (May 13-16)
Fri-Sat: Street Feast at Dalston Yard, Hartwell St, E8 3DU (Dalston Kingland/Dalston Junction overground)
The best night food market in town returns to Dalston Yard for a summer-long fiesta on your taste buds. Many of our favourites are there: Mama’s Jerk, RainBo, Yum Bun, Rola Wala, Smokestak plus a whole bunch of newbie street food traders rotating every week. There’s DJs, occasional live bands and more fun. All ages. 5pm-midnight (Fri-Sat), FREE entry before 7pm, £3 after 7pm (May 1-Sep 26)
Fri-Sun: Peter Pan at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, by box office Queen Mary’s Garden, Regent’s Park Inner Circle, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
The long-awaited adaptation of JM Barrie’s famous story launches a fantastic Open Air season in Regent’s Park. This is a much darker and more poignant version than we’re used to from Disney reworkings, setting the Darling children’s imaginative flights of fancy against the backdrop of WW1. For ages 9+. 7.45pm (Tue-Wed), 2.15pm & 7.45pm (Thu-Sun); £25-£48.50 (May 15-Jun 14)
Fri-Sun: Bend it Like Beckham The Musical at Phoenix Theatre, 110 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0JP
(Leicester Square/Tottenham Court Rd/Charing Cross tube)
Written and directed by its original creator Gurindher Chada, the brand new Bend it Like Beckham musical is all balls, belles and Bollywood. Follow the journey of Jess, the soccer playing teen, who’s forced to choose between her traditional family’s aspirations and her passion for football and David Beckham. Recommended for ages 10+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) + 2.30pm (Wed & Sat); from £15 until Jul 19, and then from £19.50 (May 15-Oct 2015)
Sat: Star Wars at Madame Tussaud’s, Marylebone Road, NW1 5LR (Baker St tube)
Somewhere in a galaxy far, far away, they’re wondering why Hans Solo and Yoda aren’t blinking. Madame Tussauds’ brand new Star Wars exhibition opens with 16 wax figures from the iconic series, helping to build the anticipation towards the newest movie coming out before Christmas. Explore the Star Wars universe and feel the wind in your hair as you recreate the most famous Luke Skywalker/Darth Vader scene. Pretty much guaranteed to sell out on opening, but you can try! Open from 9am-6pm daily (or 8.30am-7pm during peak periods e.g. half term); adult £33/child £28.80/under 3s FREE – NB pushchairs must be checked in, but baby carriers are available on loan (from May 16-ongoing)
Sat: Royal Institution Family Day: Light at The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Discover light in surprising new ways in this exploratory family fun day, featuring workshops and theatre shows designed to help you explore and engage with your little ones. Learn to make pinhole cameras, throw coloured flames, wear special glasses that turn the world upside down, paint with light and more. For ages 6-12, younger siblings welcome. 10am-4pm; adult £12/child £6/under 3s FREE (May 16)
Sat: Storytelling at Tower Bridge: The Bus that Jumped the Bridge at Tower Bridge Exhibition, Tower Bridge Road, SE1 2UP (Tower Hill tube)
Join spinner of tall tales Diana Olutunmogun as she recounts the strange but true story about a double-decker bus that leaped over Tower Bridge on its opening in 1952. There are also drop-in art activities throughout the day. All ages. Included in ticket price, 10am-4pm (stories hourly from 11.30am); adult £9/child 5-15 £3.90/concs £6.30/family from £18/under 5s FREE (May 16)
Sat-Sun: Dunkirk Little Ships Festival at Royal Docks, E16 (Royal Victoria DLR/Emirates Air Line)
Head to London’s Royal Docks for a spectacle not to be missed, as up to 20 historic sailing vessels gather for a weekend of celebrations. Dunkirk Little Ships will converge to mark the 75th anniversary of heroic WW2 rescue mission Operation Dynamo. Watch the ships parade and take part in twilight trips as part of Museums at Night weekend. The ships are expected to stop near the Emirates Air Line Cable Car – perfect opportunity to ride sky high over London too. There’s also a quayside church service on Sunday morning that’s open to the public. All ages. All day, ships expected around 7pm (Sat), church service 11am (Sun); FREE but boat rides adult £10/child £5 (May 16-17)
Sat-Sun: Mrs McMoon’s Tea Party at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Settle in for the comforting scent of freshly baked cookies, the kettle on and a hint of mischief in the air at Mrs McMoon’s Tea Party. There’ll be Scottish jigging, singing flowers, laughter and surprises in this immersive piece of theatre aimed at ages 3-6. 11.05am & 2.35pm (Sat-Sun); £11 (May 16-17)
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish ‘Goes Wild’ with Camp Bestival, at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, Balham, SW 12 9HD (Balham tube)
Get beastly on the dancefloor with DJs ony Thorpe (Moody Boyz) and Mat Sanger (Bestival) DJ at another Camp Bestival edition of the teeny weeny rave. Plus they’re joined by Scummy Mummies for a comedy session (for grown-ups, but still child friendly) The party for small people and their grown up misbehavers features all the usual extras: craft area, colouring mural, play tents/tunnels, baby space with soft mats and ball pool, homemade food and cake stall, free glowsticks and transfer tattoos, parachute dance, glitter cannons and bubble machine plus free Happy Monkey smoothies and Bear nibbles to take home. Fancy dress theme is ‘as wild as you like’ and Tell Tails will be loaning out their animal tails for your mini beasts. Rave 1.30pm-5pm, adult £8 adv, £10 door (cash only)/child £4.50 adv, £5 door/prewalkers FREE; Scummy Mummies show at 2.15pm & 2.55pm, adult £4/child FREE (NB: if your child isn’t sitting on your lap, they will still require a ticket) (May 17)
We also like
Sheep shearing and more at the Surrey Docks Farm Spring Fair (Sat); there’s nine days of food, craft and fun at Hither Green Festival (from Sat); families with special needs are hosted at Special Children’s Day at London Zoo, that’s actually a weekend (Sat-Sun); fly high with the London Superhero Run in Regent’s Park (Sun); cackle to top acts at the Comedy Club 4 Kids at Arts Depot (Sun)
Ongoing
School of Noise at Chats Palace (until May 23)
Unicorn Theatre: Planet Ka (until Jun 4)
Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith (until Aug 1)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (until Aug 23)
Booking Ahead
Mattress Mattress: The Story of the Princess and the Pea at Pleasance Theatre (May 23)
Fun DMC Day-Time Hip Hop Party for Kids & Parents (May 24)
Sunset Safari at London Zoo (Jun 5-Jul 17)
Big Fish Little Fish ‘Goes Wild’ with Camp Bestival (June 14)
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (May 15-Sep 12)
