London Kids Weekend Scoop (June 12-14, 2015)

 

 
I’ve been ill this week so apologies for the late guide. Wonderful activities happening this weekend in London include Big Wild Rumpus across London, circus at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, Open Garden Squares weekend, Trooping the Colour for the Queen’s Birthday, the final party for Big Fish Little Fish, a crazy big slide at Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery and much much more!

Don’t miss our London Kids Weekend Scoop and have a great time whatever you do.

Fri-Sun: Carsten Holler’s Giant Slide and the Festival of Love at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
We’ve been waiting for this since we first heard about it months ago and now it’s finally open. The Carsten Holler playful exhibition featuring a giant slide structure outside Hayward Gallery is already sold out for most of this weekend, but book ahead for some whizzing fun. It’s just one of the highlights of the Festival of Love at Southbank that’s bursting with goodness. Other cool things happening this weekend include Beta Testing juggling act (Fri-Sun) and Comedy 4 Kids (Sat), both in the Udderbelly and Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dancehall in the London Wonderground (Sun 3pm). All ages, various times and prices (ongoing)

 

 
Fri-Sun: Traces: The 7 Fingers at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
Circus acts that come to London continue to break new ground, like the Traces: The 7 Fingers circus production now turning heads at Peacock Theatre. A blend of film clips, narration, street theatre, comedy and of course dazzling circus stunts creates a high-voltage show that’s guaranteed to light up the stage. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat) & 2.30pm (Sat), 2pm & 6pm (Sun); £15-£38/concs and child tickets half price (Jun 9-Jul 12)

Fri-Sun: Bedford Park Festival, multiple locations around Chiswick, W4 1TX (Turnham Green tube)
The annual fiesta that takes place over two weeks kicks off today. So much is happening, you won’t be able to cram it all in, but do look out for Green Days traditional fete this weekend, fancy dress parades, treasure hunts, bake-offs, storytelling and more. All for local charities and the work of St Michael and All Angels Church. All ages, multiple times and prices, many activities are FREE (Jun 12-28)

Sat: The Big Wild Rumpus (main pic), multiple venues around London
Are you wild about the works of Maurice Sendak? Grab your wild things and head to The Big Wild Rumpus, a special celebration of all things mischievous, creative and fun to do for your child and you. Organised by Wild Rumpus (the crew behind the fabulous Just So Festival), this nationwide event is part of Children’s Arts Week. Look out for events at Unicorn Theatre and Waterstones Piccadilly among other London venues. All ages, FREE (Jun 13)

Sat: Trooping the Colour: The Queen’s Birthday Parade, along The Mall and St James’ Park (Victoria/Charing Cross tube)
It’s the Queen’s birthday festivities and that means lots of guys in tall dark hats and red coats (up to 1400 of them) strutting their stuff in her honour. Trooping the Colour is one of the highlights of the London ‘things to do’ calendar and if you can bag an early viewing spot amongst the crowds, it’s worth a trip with the little ones. All ages. From 9am for 10am start, fly past 1pm; FREE (Jun 13)

 

 
Sat: World Archaeology Festival at UCL Institute of Archaeology & Gordon Square Gardens WC1H 0PY (Euston/Goodge St tube)
Dig this: Time travellers and adventurers of all shapes and sizes will converge at UCL (my alma mater!) this weekend for a festival of bones, fossils and other exciting discoveries. Tour the world renowned centre of archaeology and take part in hands-on sessions such as fish mummification (!), ancient shipwreck discovery and more. 12-5pm, FREE (Jun 13)

Sat-Sun: Open Garden Squares Weekend, multiple locations across London
It’s a bit of an open secret, that every year hundreds of hidden, mysterious and surprising gardens around the country open their doors for the public to have a nosey. This is a lovely way to spend a warm weather afternoon and several spots put on activities specially for families. Check the website for the full programme and your nearest venues. If you’re in Islington, I recommend popping into Culpeper Gardens for a lovely time in an absolutely beautiful setting. All ages, varying times; adult £10 adv/£12 on day, child under 12 FREE (Jun 13-14)

Sat-Sun: Soho Food Feast, St Anne’s Churchyard Gardens, Wardour Street, Soho, London W1D 6LB (Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square tube)
Come and get a taste of Soho’s finest restaurants at this all-day soiree that will also see vegetable sculpture competitions, arts and crafts areas, artisan stalls, a cake contest, kids facepainting and of course feasting. Plus cocktails! All ages. 12-6pm, FREE (Jun 13-14)

Sun: Magna Carta: Great Charter Festival at Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX (London Waterloo to Egham rail)
It’s 800 years since the Magna Carta charter was signed – sound like a reason to party? Heck yeah! You and your kids can take part in a bunch of activities inspired by this historic event including storytelling, readings, talks and tours of Magna Carta quilts. 10am-5pm, FREE (Jun 14)

Sun: Big Fish Little Fish at The Paperworks, 48-50 Newington Causeway, SE1 6DR (Elephant & Castle tube)
Wave your hands in the air for the last rave of the season (don’t worry, September will come round in a flash!). DJs Mark Force (ten50 records/Bugz in the Attic) and Matt Sanger (Bestival) lead the final hurrah for Big Fish Little Fish at this super cool Elephant & Castle venue. Bring the little ones and boogie till you can’t no more. With 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. All ages. Rave 1.30pm-5pm, adult £8 adv, £10 door (cash only)/child £4.50 adv, £5 door/prewalkers FREE (Jun 14)

Sun: King Henry’s Walk Summer Fete, 11c King Henry’s Walk, N1 4NX (Russell Square tube)
This was a lovely event we attended some years ago and it continues to grow in popularity every year. The gardens are also part of Open Garden Squares Weekend, so you can have a wander around the lovely plants and foliage or take part in the summer fete. There’s live music, cake stall, picnic areas, tombola and more traditional British fun. All ages. 12-4pm, FREE (Jun 14)

LOCAL PICK

Sun: The Cally Festival, along Caledonian Rd (King’s Cross St Pancras/Caledonian Rd tube, Caledonian Rd & Barnsbury overground)
We love the Cally Fest! It’s our local festival and every year it gets bigger and badder and I’m excited to announce my BAHD man Big Apple Hot Dogs will be making his first appearance there this Sunday. Pop by Cole and Sons on Cally Rd to try out his famous hot dogs or just to say hi! As ever there will be tons of other street food to try out, plus urban gym and boxing, music stage, dance floor, poetry performances, craft stalls, kids’ workshop zones and a really lovely vibe. Fingers crossed for sunshine! All ages. 12-6pm, FREE (Jun 14)