May Half Term brings more Bank Holiday Weekend fun plus a plethora of family friendly events across the Capital.
Check out the London Kids Scoop half term edition crammed with ideas to keep you and the minis busy over the next 10 days. Happy holidays!
BABES CHOICE
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)
Hard to describe how much we LOVED this show, but I’ll give it a try anyway — full review coming soon. But please don’t miss this glorious adaptation of JM Barrie’s famous story, launching a fantastic Open Air season in Regent’s Park. This is a more sobering and poignant version than we’re used to from Disney reworkings, but still packed with fun, setting the Darling children’s imaginative flights of fancy against the backdrop of WW1. For ages 6+. 7.45pm (Tue-Wed), 2.15pm & 7.45pm (Thu-Sun); £25-£48.50 (ongoing until Jun 14)
Greenwich Book Festival, at University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, SE10 9LS (Cutty Sark DLR)
The inaugural book festival in one of the loveliest parts of London features a full children’s programme of storytelling, talks, workshops and performances. Craft with Okido magazine, watch shows from Wimpy Kids and the Dinosaur that Pooped, hear from Kate Saunders and Pip Jones and much more on this packed line-up. Times and prices vary, many activities are FREE (May 22-24)
Fun DMC at Blueberry Bar, 4 Paul Street, London EC2A 4JH (Old St tube/Shoreditch High St overground)
Hip hop hooray! Charlie Dark (Attica Blues/Run Dem Crew) and Spin Doctor (The Doctor’s Orders) are back with Fun DMC, a daytime dance party for b boys, fly girls and their old school mamas and papas. Come for 4 hours of child-friendly hip hop, funk, disco and block party anthems and the chance to win a ticket to Camp Bestival in July! Plus hip hop inspired fancy dress, graffiti wall, Ruff & Huddle clothes shops, rapper themed smoothies and a FREE break dance workshop with Lil Tim from Midday. 11am-12pm Break Dance workshop (pre-register at yo@thedoctorsorders.com); 12-5pm Party, adult £6/walking kid £5/family of 5 £20/non-walkers FREE – all tickets include automatic entry to Camp Bestival draw (May 24)
Web We Want at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Geek out at the Web We Want festival of technology and the world wide web. Future stars can learn the art of coding, help build a newly commissioned Minecraft Royal Festival Hall, play in the retro gaming lounge (Mario Bros, Pac Man, Space Invaders and more), try out avatar workshops, and zip back to a ‘90s classroom in the Centre for Computing History. All this and more, various activities and times from 10am daily, all FREE (May 28-May 31)
Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL (Hammersmith tube)
This was one of my all-time favourite films as a child and its big stage adaptation does the original absolutely proud. Fat Sam’s Grand Slam hits Hammersmith’s Lyric Theatre in a spectacular production of Alan Parker’s musical. Join Bugsy, Blousey and Talullah on a familiar caper filled with fab tunes and splurge guns. For ages 6+. 2.30pm & 7.30pm, £15-£40 (until Sep 5)
We also like
Yo ho ho for pirate training and Tudor fun days aboard The Golden Hinde II; design and build your own den for this Save the Children’s Den Day workshop led by Royal Institute of British Architects (May 29); Udderbelly at Southbank Centre
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
Foodies Festival, Syon Park, TW8 8JF (Richmond tube/overground)
It’s the 10th anniversary of the UK’s largest food and drinks festival, featuring street food, vintage tea tent, demos and masterclasses with the likes of Aldo Zilli and 2014 MasterChef winner Ping Coombes, wine tasting sessions, chilli food market, craft beer and other tasty offerings. Tickets from £12 daily-£25 for three days (May 23-25)
Where’s Wally at Arcelormittal Orbit at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford E20 (Stratford tube/DLR/overground)
Put on your best Where’s Wally disguise for this special half-term programme featuring games, workshops and a Where’s Wally trail at the top of London’s tallest sculpture. You’ll also meet characters from the books in the events created in partnership with Discover Story Centre. 12pm-4pm, workshops included with standard admission adult from £11.95 adv/£15 gate, child from £5.95 adv./£7 gate; family £32 adv/£40 gate. Concessions available. (May 23-31)
Kids Go Free at The View from the Shard, Joiner St, SE1 9SG (London Bridge tube/rail)
Another half term special offer to enjoy the best views of London from Western Europe’s highest point at a discounted price. Up to two children go free with every paying adult. Plus you can see special gallery-sized cards from the View from the Shard’s Top Trumps collection. Daily from 10am-10pm; adult £24.95 adv/£29.95 door + up to 2 children and under 3s FREE (May 25-30)
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 (ongoing)
Hogwarts Express at Harry Potter Studio Tour, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7GS (Watford Junction rail)
You’ve been to Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station, now head to the Harry Potter studio tour to climb aboard the Hogwarts Express exhibit that launches today. Pose with a luggage trolley as it disappears through the station wall, explore the interior carriage set of the locomotive that’s been painstakingly recreated with special effects steam! From 10am, adult £33/child £25.50/family £101/under 4s FREE (ongoing)
FAMILY THEATRE
Wicked the Musical at Apollo Victoria Theatre, Wilton Rd, SW1V 1LG (Victoria tube)
It’s now the 10th longest running musical in the West End, so how come I’m only just highlighting it here? We were invited to see the show last week and it blew my mind. I’ll be reviewing it on the blog next week, but do yourself a favour if you haven’t seen it and book yourself tickets to this spectacular, multiple award winning show. Follow the story of Glinda the ‘good witch’ and Elpheba ‘the bad’ and discover how what you thought you knew about these ladies is turned on its head, to an emotive script, a stomping score and some breathtaking performances. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm matinees (Wed & Sat); from £17.25 (ongoing)
Punchdrunk Enrichment presents Against Captain’s Orders: A Journey into the Uncharted at National Maritime Museum, Romney Rd, G’wich SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
Set out on a whirlwind immersive journey with Punchdrunk Enrichment to discover the history of artefacts kept at the National Maritime Museum. The creators of hit shows like The House where Winter Lives have specially designed this fantastical theatre experience around the museum for children ages 6-12 and their families. Follow on Twitter #againstcaptainsorders. From 10am daily, £19.75 (until Aug 31)
Dogs Don’t Do Ballet at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Ballet Black’s first ever family production takes the classic kids picture book Dogs Don’t Do Ballet by Anna Kemp and turns it into a funny and furry ballet performance for young ones. Meet Biff, a dog who pirouettes, loves tutus and tiaras, and is determined to put the bark into ballet. Great show for ages 3+. 4.30pm (Fri), 11am (Sat & Sun); £8-£14 (May 22-24)
The Cat in the Hat at Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, SE10 8ES (Greenwich rail/DLR, Cutty Sark DLR)
Dr Seuss’ most famous character The Cat in the Hat returns to the stage in this adaptation first made popular at National Theatre. When the frivolous feline in the tall, striped hat pokes his whiskers around the door, Sally and her brother are in for laughs, tricks and plenty of rhyming fun. Engaging first theatre experience for ages 3+. 1pm & 3pm (Mon), 11am & 1pm (Tue-Wed); £13.50, concs/groups of £8.50Box Office 020 8858 7755 (May 25-27)
Bedtime Stories at Stratford Circus Arts Centre, Theatre Square, Stratford, London E15 1BX (Stratford tube/overground/DLR)
Circus company Upswing present a world of imagination and fantasy, using aerial theatre, dance and visuals to recreate the magic of a bedtime story. Get that tucked up feeling as you experience projections, storytelling and physical theatre designed to underline the connection between carers and kids. For ages 5+. 2pm (Thu & Fri), 11.30am & 3pm (Sat); from £8/family £30 (May 28-30)
We also like
Come in your best pirate gear for Captain Hacker’s Treasure a swashbuckling tale of pirates, princess and stolen treasure at Cockpit Theatre in NW8 (May 23); help solve a puzzling backstage mystery in The Adventure at Lyric Hammersmith, for ages 7-12 (May 23-June 6); SHH…BANG! is a playful dance theatre performance for ages 3+ in the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room (May 26-27); see a hip, modern take on Shakespeare’s Henry V at Unicorn Theatre for ages 8+ (ongoing until May 31); and there’s more Shakey in a family friendly Puppet Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre (May 31); plus Bend it Like Beckham The Musical for ages 10+, now playing in the West End.
MUSEUMS & WORKSHOPS
The Institute of Imagination Mini Maker Faire at OXO Tower, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, SE1 9PH (Southwark/Blackfriars /Waterloo tube)
Head to the Oxo Tower for a busy day of making and reimagining the world through experimentation and a playful eye. Activities include 3D printing, fun with robots, crafting activities, weaving, fixing and virtual reality — all child led. For ages 5-11 and their carers. 10am-5pm, FREE but limited spaces, booking essential (May 23)
V&A Museum of Childhood: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA (Bethnal Green tube)
As you might have heard, it’s 150 years since the birth of Alice in Wonderland and you can celebrate at Museum of Childhood with some Mad Hatter hat making, dressing up like your favourite character, storytelling, crafts and more. Varying times between 10.30am-4pm daily; £3-£5, several events FREE (May 25-29)
The Doodle Bar: May Half Term Kids Club, 33 Parkgate Road, Battersea, London SW11 4NP (Battersea Park rail/Sloane Square tube)
Doodle away the daytime hours at this friendly bar where they’re hosting another busy week of activities for families. Try your hand at Ink Printing with Okido for ages 5-8 (May 26), Mask Making with Studio Boo for ages 3+ (May 27) and Tie Dyeing and Screen Printing with Nicole Line for ages 8-11 (May 28-29). Why not follow up with pizza lunch from Well Kneaded?
Workshops 9.30am-11am, £15 per workshop (May 26-29)
Geffrye Museum May Half Term: Give Me Shelter, 136 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8EA (Hoxton overground)
Discover and create different types of shelter, inspired by Chelsea Fringe, from mini beast houses and musical bird hangings, to knotty nest hats and an Oliver Twist toy theatre! For ages 5+, younger siblings welcome. Some workshops specifically for ages 8+ or 11-16. 10.30am-12.30pm, 2pm-4pm, FREE (May 26-29)
Whitechapel Gallery Family Day and Children’s Events, Whitechapel Gallery, 77 – 82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX (Aldgate East/Liverpool St tube, Tower Gateway DLR)
Family Day: The Factory of Images (Sun May 30) is inspired by major new Christopher Williams exhibition Production Line of Happiness. Watch films created by local school kids, create colourful abstract sculptures using Perspex and light boxes, make compositions from magazines and newspapers to be photographed and projected, photocopy collages to make your own flip-book, and explore the exhibition. 12-4pm, FREE. There are also Storytelling Through Photographs workshops (Wed May 27-Thu 28) for children ages 9-12 with artist Marysa Dowling creating images in a studio, for a family and friends exhibition. 10am-4pm, £58 for 2 days (May 27-30)
We also like
Discover Story Centre hosts Oliver Jeffers Week; get the kids down to Horniman Museum for Plantastic exhibition and a brilliant day out; there’s always fun stuff going on at Cutty Sark and National Maritime Museum; drop in for the family friendly programme at London Transport Museum in Covent Garden; explore the exhibitions and take part in creative activities at family workshops at National Portrait Gallery
FAMILY FILM
Moomins on the Riviera, nationwide
The hugely popular, quirky and lovable hand-drawn characters by Tove Jansson make their big screen debut in this charming tale that hits UK screens just in time for half term. A nice change from the usual box office fare. (May 22-ongoing)
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club: Beauty & the Beast, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Oxford Circus/Tottenham Court Rd tube)
One of my personal favourites, Beauty and the Beast given the spectacular Disney treatment with music, romance and humour. Next weekend you can catch Spirited Away (May 30). Enjoy the movie with prosecco (for grown-ups) and popcorn and ice cream for all, plus there’s a brunch buffet before the film if you really want to splash out. 1pm (buffet), 1.30pm (film); £20 all food and drinks inclusive/£10 film only (May 23)
Barbican Centre Framed Family Film Club at Silk St, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
See the entertaining Mr Men & Little Miss (U) shorts programme (May 23) or the classic animation Spirited Away (PG) by Hayao Miyazaki (May 30), featuring workshop before the film. 10am workshop (Spirited Away), 11am screenings; £2 (May 23 & May 30)
Frozen Singalong at Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
Let it Go? Or you still can’t! Frozen Fever continues with the singalong version playing every Saturday at Prince Charles Cinema. 12pm (Sats); £13.50-£16 (May 23 & 30, until forever)
BFI May Half Term Workshops and Screenings at BFI Southbank, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
There’s a detective theme to the May half term screenings and workshops at BFI.
For older kids ages 8-14, you can take part in workshops trying stop-motion animation, green screen technology, props and spy gadgets. See Emil and the Detectives (Tue May 26); Spy Kids (Wed May 27) and Basil the Great Mouse Detective (Thu May 28). Workshops from 10am-1.30pm; screenings from 1.30pm-3pm approx; £27.50/£20.50 siblings (includes workshops and screening). NB: Bring a packed lunch. Younger children ages 0-7 (and their carers) can enjoy Basil the Great Mouse Detective Messy Time (Sun May 31) with crafting and animation sessions before the screening. Workshops 12.30pm-1.30pm; screening 1.30pm-3pm; £5/£4 siblings. NB: Bring a packed lunch or you can sample the kids’ menu at in-house Benugo restaurant. (May 26-31)
We also like
Some great movies including Big Hero 6, Shaun the Sheep and Cinderella are playing for pocket money prices at various Vue Cinemas Kids AM screenings over half term (check website for your nearest location); croon along to the remake of Annie (May 23, 11am) or see Home in 3D (May 25-30) at Rio Cinema in Dalston; and there’s martial arts fun in Kung Fu Panda 2 (May 23) or fairytale magic in Cinderella (May 30) both playing at the luxurious Electric Cinema (think deep sofas and front row beds!) on Portobello Rd.
NATURE & OUTDOORS
Natural History Museum: Big Nature Day and Sensational Butterflies, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD (South Kensington tube)
Pond dipping, ladybird hunting, guided insect walks and talks from experts are all on the menu for the annual Big Nature Day. While you’re there, pop into the Sensational Butterflies exhibition that attracts thousands of visitors every year. 11am-5pm, FREE (May 23, butterfly exhibition ongoing)
Shark Month at Sea Life London Aquarium, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
May is Shark Month at the aquarium with storytelling from Shakey the shark, a chance to help create a shark themed mural, ‘Jawsome’ (forgive me) workshops, and of course a chance to see sharks up close. You can also discover a new zone at the museum themed around the River Thames. From 10am daily; from adult £18.36/child £13.52 child, prebooking advised (discounts available online) (May 23-31)
Kew Gardens: Full of Spice, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB (Kew Gardens tube/overground)
Colourful rickshaws, rangoli folk art, giant spice inflatables, and a spice mix super computer are all part of the flavourful summer festival at Kew. You can take part in making spicy dough, enjoy botanical cocktails and get hands on with all manner of spices in family friendly workshops. From 10am daily, adult £16.50/child 4-16 £3.50 at gate/family £34/under 3s FREE (May 23-Sep 6)
Animal Encounters at London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk
Barnes, SW13 9WT (Hammersmith tube)
Meet a different species every day kicking off with Birds of Prey (May 24-25) such as falcon, kestrels and peregrines. There’s Ducklings Days (May 26-30) and the fun rounds off with Parrot Day (May 31) where the colourful birds will be on display indoors. 10.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-4pm; adult £12.75/child £7/family £35.55/under 4s FREE (May 24-31)
Kangaroos at Grant Museum of Zoology, Rockefeller Building, University College London, University Street, WC1E 6DE (Euston tube)
As part of the museum’s Strange Creatures exhibition, there’s a week of learning including this special series around Australia’s most famous creatures. Celebrate the marvellous world of marsupials with fun, specimen-based activities. 1pm-4.30pm, FREE, drop in (May 26-30)
We also likeBe a zookeeper for a day at Battersea Park Zoo: join in workshops and activities at Isis Education Centre Discovery Days & Nature Explorers; wave to the animals at Freightliners Farm in Islington (Tue-Sun); or take a day trip to Woburn Safari Park