Ready for a heatwave? Who knows how long this burst of summer will last so make the most of it with our London Kids Weekend Scoop for the first weekend in June.
I’m still recovering from an amazing trip to New York (tell you all about it soon!), but back in the Big Smoke there are so many things to do with kids, it’s easy to get over my holiday blues. Take a look!
Thu-Sun: Big Red Bath at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Rub a dub dub, bubbles, giggles and frothy fun are the centre of this production for the enchanting Polka Theatre. Join Ben and Bella on their bathtime adventure as a host of frolicking animals take part in the laughs and splashing. Playful theatre, songs and characters adapted from the popular picture book by Julia Jarman. 1.30pm (Thu), 10.30am & 1.30pm (Fri), 12.30pm & 2.30pm (Sat), 11am & 2.30pm (Sun): £13.50 (until Jun 7)
Thu-Sun:LEGO City Explorers at London Aquarium, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
This summer, kids are invited to become LEGO City Deep Sea Explorers following a trail around the aquarium to spot LEGO creations hidden amongst the jellyfish, sharks and other tropical swimmers. You can also build your own LEGO creation to go on the aquarium’s ‘Wall of Fame’ throughout the summer, and all little builders will receive a goody bag. From 10am-7pm daily; adult £19.98 (online), £23.50 (door), £23.85-£26.50 (online/door priority entrance); child £14.41 (online), £16.45 (door), £17.96-£19.96 (online/door priority entrance); VIP family tickets £81 (online), £90 (door); under 3s FREE (Jun 1-Aug 31)
Thu-Sun: London Festival of Architecture at King’s Cross, Lewis Cubitt Square and surrounding area, N1C 4AB (King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
King’s Cross is a hub for the annual festival of architecture that takes place around the city throughout June. Head to Lewis Cubitt Square to scope out the New Pavilions installation built as part of the festival, explore the brand new King’s Cross Bathing Pond (and book a swimming session!), take tours of the Global Generation Skip Garden, sample their tasty seasonal menu, or even bring a dish for The Big Lunch in the Skip Garden this Sunday (Jun 7). We hear it’s a scorcher this weekend, so pack a change of clothes for a splash about in nearby Granary Square fountains too! Varying dates and times, many activities are FREE (Jun 1-30)
Thu-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)
Hard to describe how much we LOVED this show, but I’ve given it a try anyway — read my Peter Pan review. 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)
Thu-Sun: SohoCreate Festival, various venues around Soho, W1 (Oxford Circus/Tottenham Court Rd/Piccadilly Circus/Covent Garden/Leicester Square tube)
SohoCreate is a weekend festival celebrating ‘the world’s most creative square mile’. Family friendly activities include: free workshops and tastings with Choccywoccydoodah (Thu 2pm-3pm); free Dolby screenings in Soho Square of Avengers Age of Ultron (Fri, 1.30pm-5pm and Home (Sat, 2.30pm-5pm); the Soho Street Party on Frith St and Greek St (all weekend, 12-6pm); and a free family workshop at Photographer’s Gallery (Sun, 2-5pm). Plus book in for Bringing Shaun the Sheep to Life at Soho Theatre, a storytelling for the screen session for ages 5-10 led by TV creatives Miranda Larson and Dale Wightman (Sat, 2pm-3.15pm, £10). Visit web site for full programme (Jun 3-7)
Fri-Sun: Sunset Safari at London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY (Regent’s Park/Baker St tube)
Experience the residents of London Zoo during their nighttime feeds and bedtime rituals in this summer long Sunset Safari season (only Gorilla Kingdom is closed to allow new baby gorilla Alika a good night’s sleep). Go on self-guided safari trails, hear acoustic music in the Safari Base Camp, hear talks and watch performances in the Zoo’s Theatre of Life, and tuck into yummy treats at the World Food Market. Lovely way to spend an evening with the family or for a special Date with Dad. 6pm-10pm; advance tickets £14.56-£20.80, full price tickets £22.40-£32. NB: General tickets for Fri (Jun 5) are SOLD OUT but limited tickets for a Safari Guided Tour available if you book fast. (Jun 5-Jul 17)
Fri-Sun: Polo in the Park (top pic), Hurlingham Park, Fulham, London SW6 3RH (Putney Bridge tube)
Saturday is SOLD OUT for this popular annual event but you can still nab tickets for Friday and Sunday which is also Family Day. Come for exciting polo matches, people watching, autograph signing and family fun including Sharky & George in Little Hooves Kids Club along with Amanda’s Action Kids and family travel group Original Travel. Finals Day also features a pitch invasion with kids on space hoppers, a polo match for minis and tug of war contest. 12-9pm (Fri), 12-8pm (Sat) and 11.30am-7pm (Sun); adult £30/child £15/family of 4 £70/under 3s FREE (Jun 5-7)
Sat-Sun: Festival of Love at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The Southbank Centre’s ode to all types of human love returns for summer as Festival of Love opens this weekend. New festival highlights such as dance spectacular Baila Brazil and riverside pavilion Arcadia, join familiar favourites like the urban beach and beach huts, Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms fountains, Urban Weekend, Big Wedding Weekend. Plus ongoing festivals Udderbelly and London Wonderground, site-wide installations, social dances and tons of free family fun. Check the website for full programme of events. All ages. From 10am-10pm daily, event times/dates and prices vary, many activities are FREE (Jun 6-Aug 31)
Sun: Horniman Gardens Festival, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
It’s a party at the wonderful Horniman museum at this one-day Gardens Festival celebrating all things horticultural, as part of Chelsea Fringe. Hear ‘homegrown sounds’ from the London Vegetable Orchestra, sunprint flowers and make seed bombs, tour the sundial trail and explore all facets of the fantastic collections and family exhibition Plantastic. Come in time to catch award winning Brazilian multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Marcelo Andrade perform his sets in the garden (1pm-3.30pm). All ages. 12-4pm, FREE ( charges for some exhibitions and for the aquarium) (Jun 7)
Read my Horniman Museum review
Sun: Prince’s Trust and EMC Family Festival at Royal Artillery Gardens, The Artillery Garden Marquee at the HAC, London, EC1Y 4TW (Moorgate tube)
A fun day out for all the family, celebrating young people who have been supported by the Prince’s Trust and helping towards this great charity. Activities include human table football, soft play, petting zoo, assault courses for adults and children, dance performances, live music, street food market and craft beers and much more. Plus some of the Prince’s Trust recipients will showcase their talents through workshops and performances. 12-5pm, adult £15/child £10/family £50/under 2s FREE (Jun 7)
Sun: The Big Lunch at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (and other venues), Stratford E20 (Stratford overground/tube/DLR)
The Big Lunch is an annual community project that invites people to share a meal with their neighbours and fellow Londoners in a variety of venues. The Big Lunch at the Olympic Park is a perfect excuse to visit this fantastic outdoor space where you can play on the grass or on the kids playground, take part in a number of sporting activities, go on a canal ride through the park or even climb Europe’s tallest sculpture (charges apply for Arcellormittal Orbit). 12-4pm, FREE (Jun 7)
LOCAL PICK
Sun: Mrs H & the Singalong Band: Pop Up Sundays at Barnard Park, Charlotte Terrace Entrance, off Copenhagen Street, N1 0JW (Angel/Caledonian Rd/King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
One of the rock stars of the London family concert circuit, Harriette and the Singalong Band (of Exmouth Market fame) kicks off another Pop Up Sunday at Barnard Park. Hear kid-friendly tunes from Mrs H and her merry band of musicians and puppets (11am-noon) and later there’s live piano jam by Oxjam (3pm). Other activities include the fun Adventure Playground (12.30-3.30pm) for ages 6-13 with climbing walls, zip wire, aerial walkways, rope swings and more. Plus an additional play zone in the park (12.30-3.30pm) with bouncy castle, face painting and a chance to watch international petanque players compete! 11am-4pm, FREE (Jun 7)
We also like
Join the London Scavenger Hunt World Record Attempt at Trafalgar Square (Sat 12pm); get your running shoes on for one of these great causes: The Enormous Elephant Run on Clapham Common (Sat), RBC Race for the Kids in Battersea Park (Sun), Color Run in Wembley Park (Sun); head to your local city farm (we recommend Freightliners in Islington, Spitalfields City Farm or Hackney City Farm) for Open Farm Sunday (Sun)
Booking Ahead
Kings Cross Bathing Pond (now open for bookings)
Secret Cinema: Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back (SOLD OUT this weekend but future dates available)
Traces: The 7 Fingers circus at Sadler’s Wells (Jun 9-Jul 12)
Classical Babies concert at O2 Centre (Jun 12)
The Big Wild Rumpus, multiple locations (Jun 13)
Open Garden Squares Weekend (Jun 13-14)
Taste of London food festival in Regent’s Park (Jun 17-21)
Space Spectacular concert and light show at Royal Albert Hall (Jun 19)
Grand Medieval Joust at Eltham Palace (Jun 20-21)
