Feeling hot hot HOT… and the weather looks set to climb up and away next week (or so a very red-faced birdie told me). The London Kids Weekend Scoop is jam-packed with family friendly action outdoors, as well as inside — for when you want to beat the heat.
I’m starting to pull together my summer guides and today the babes and I kicked off our summer Ice Cream Crawl right here in Islington at the utterly delicious Udderlicious. More tasty venues coming soon to the blog — in the meanwhile tuck into the London scoop!
Happy Fourth of July to our American readers x
Fri-Sun: Global Streets at Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford E20 (Stratford tube/overground/DLR)
A fantastic mish-mash of events curated for the final weekend of Greenwich + Docklands International Festival. Get caught up in Tangle, a huge, interactive elastic weaving event created on the spot by kids and families of all ages (3.30pm-5.30pm Fri, 12-2pm & 3.30pm-5.30pm Sat, 10am-12pm & 1.45pm-3.45pm Sun); enjoy Kathak dance, storytelling and puppetry in Navrattan, for ages 5-11 (2pm-3.45pm Fri, 1pm-5.30pm Sat); and take part in a finale performance with dancers and musicians leading a colourful parade, followed by bursts of gulal powder thrown across the crowds in a Holi festival style celebration! Vibrant fun for all the family (4pm Sun). Mixed ages, all activities are FREE (Jul 3-5)
Fri-Sun: Shrek’s Adventure London, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
A unique walk and ride experience based on the ogre-the-top animated comedy series (and hit musical). Shrek’s Adventure London invites visitors on a tour of 10 live shows and set pieces from the Shrek experience, all the way from smelly swamp to magic mirror. You’ll meet members of the cast on the way, and enjoy laugh-out-loud entertainment in this interactive adventure for all ages. Daily 10am-5pm (from 11am Thu) and 10am-6pm (Sats); adult from £23.40/child from £18.72 (from Jul 1)
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: Dot, Squiggle and Rest at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon)
Visit this lovely theatre in South London for a charming piece for toddlers created in association with the Royal Opera House. Using puppetry, music, poetry and dance, a fantastical garden is transformed into a miniature universe of dots, squiggles, shapes, sounds and other sensory stimuli for teensy ones to explore. Performance is followed by an interactive session where kids can get hands on with the exciting musical world of dots and squiggles. Ages 2-4. 11.05am & 2.35pm (Sat-Sun, dates and times vary throughout the run); £11.50/concs £9 (Jun 26-Aug 16)
Sat: War Horse Puppetry Family Workshop at the National Theatre, (Clore Learning Centre Duffield Studio), SE1 9PX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Go ‘backstage’ in the creation of hit theatre production War Horse, based on the bestselling novel, at this special event for families. Learn how the famous puppets in the show were created, and try out simple techniques with sticks and a balloon to bring your own War Horse to life. Ages 6+ (younger ones not admitted). 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm, adult £5/child £3 (Jul 4)
Sat: Little Folk with Albo, The Bedford, 77 Bedford Rd, Balham, SW12 9HB (Balham tube)
Clap your hands and wave your flags for a special 4th of July acoustic performance for very little people. American folk singer/musician, better known as Albo, pays homage to the good old USA with a mix of summer camp songs, traditional kids ditties, original folk renditions and more, set to guitar and 5 stringed banjo. Audience participation is encouraged and lyric sheets are provided, and if you stick around for lunch there’s a free kid’s meal for every 2 adult meals purchased on the day. For ages 0-5 and their families, part of London Folkfest. 11am & 2.30pm, £5 (Jul 4)
Sat-Sun: Little House of Science at Science Week, Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AG (Charing Cross tube)
It’s the final few days of Science Week and in the Little House of Science (10am-4pm, free, drop-in) budding scientists are invited to make and explore. Try out experiments from volcanos to lava lamps, see the world through the eyes of a real life engineer, build your own batteries and more. There are also special shows for young people, including Who Wants to be a Superhero (11.30am & 2.30pm, ages 7-11) using actual science to make superhero powers come alive, and Bubbles and Balloons (1pm, ages 0-11) a bouncy and bubbly show for all ages. 10am-4pm, FREE (Jul 4-5)
Sat-Sun: Africa Writes at British Library, 96 Euston Rd, NW1 2DB (Euston/King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
The Royal African Society’s weekend festival of African literature brings together some great writers including Ben Okri, Hannah Poole and more in conversation. There’s also a lovely programme just for young people: storytime sessions for kids as young as babies and up to age 12; Arts and Crafts with the Orishas for ages 7-12; a reading of Gbagba, beautifully illustrated novel for ages 8-0; and The Wedding Week, an exciting celebration of weddings around the world based on the picture book set in Lagos, read by author Chimaechi Allan for ages 5-7. Dates and times vary, all workshops and readings are FREE (Jul 4-5)
Sat-Sun: Fortune Green Jester Festival, Fortune Green Rd, NW6 1DU (West Hampstead overground/tube/rail)
The two day annual festival brings a large mix of stalls from arts and crafts and homemade treats, to potted plants and herbs. Also enjoy fun games and activities such as Giant Connect 4, climbing wall, traditional funfair, under 6 kids tent, teach your dog to jump through hoops, strolling balloon artistry and more. Keep a look out for a special appearance by Elsa from Frozen. 12-6pm, FREE (Jul 4-5)
Sun: Serpentine Gallery Family Day, at Serpentine Gallery Sackler Centre, West Carriage Drive, Kensington Gardens, W2 2AR (Lancaster Gate or Marble Arch tube)
Head to the Serpentine Gallery for an afternoon of shape-activated fun, inspired by Bahaus movement influencer Friedrich Froebel. Help expand the shapes throughout the park in this family friendly activity designed by artists Andrea Francke and Kim Dhillon in collaboration with Joceline Howe. This is also a chance to check out the spectacular new Serpentine Pavilion exhibition, and afterwards there’s the Diana Memorial Playground to romp around in nearby. Ages 0-7 and carers. 12-5pm, FREE (Jul 5)
Sun: African Summer at Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
Brilliant sounding mini festival celebrating the many wonders of the African continent from food and fashion to art and music. There are Jazz Picnics, storytelling, explorations of the museum collections and a big carnival finale in August. It all kicks off this weekend with Africa Dance, a day of musical and dance performances showcasing the diverse styles from different parts of Africa. After the shows, there’s a chance to learn some of the steps yourself. All ages. 12-6pm, FREE (Jul 5-ongoing)
LOCAL PICK
Sat: Daylight Music Union Chapel: Piney Gir + Rodney Brannigan + Player Piano, Compton Terrace, off Upper Street, N1 2UN (Highbury & Islington tube)
Bored of the usual baby-go-round on a Saturday afternoon? How about a daytime concert with proper music in an absolutely beautiful setting with stunning acoustics? The Daylight Music series serves up some wonderful performances by the likes of Mrs H & the Singalong Band. This week hear vocalist Piney Gir and Texan guitar virtuoso Rodney Brannigan, accompanied by glam pop singer Player Piano, in a special Stars & Stripes themed concert to mark the 4th of July. Tea and cakes follow. All ages. 12pm-2pm, FREE (Jul 4)
Watch Wimbledon Tennis on a Giant Outdoor Screen
ONGOING:Strawberries and Screen: Watch Wimbledon at King’s Cross, Granary Square, NC1 (King’s Cross tube)
We loved watching the Men’s Wimbledon Final match in Granary Square last year and this promises to be the spot to catch more action from centre court and beyond when Wimbledon begins on Monday. The big screens are back, with deck chairs (first 50 visitors), strawberries and cream, jugs of Pimms and rotating street food traders. There will also be pop-up tennis sessions for families held nearby on occasion. All ages. Daily, FREE (until Jul 12)
More places to watch the tennis in London: Wimbledon at One New Change in EC4 (St. Paul’s tube, Jun 29-Jul 12); It’s Tennis Time at Regent’s Place, W1 (Jun 29-Jul 12); Great British Summer Wimbledon on the Rooftop at Cardinal Place in Victoria (Jun 29-Jul 12); Wimbledon at More London’s The Scoop Live Sport Summer series (Jun 29-Jul 12); Great British Summer in New Street Square in Chancery Lane (Jun 29-Jul 12); Wimbledon Screenings at Duke of York Square (Jul 10-12); Wimbledon Live at Westfield Stratford (screenings at Chestnut Plaza on The Street) (until Jul 6)
We also like
Run, don’t walk, to National Portrait Gallery for the brand new Audrey Hepburn exhibition and the BP Portrait Award, plus regular weekend family activities (ongoing); ignite your tastebuds at the Foodies Festival at Ally Pally (Fri-Sun); the absolutely wonderful, live action Disney’s Cinderella is playing at cool and cosy Everyman Screen on the Green Kids Club (Sat); it’s the annual Independence Day Picnic in Portman Square hosted by Democrats Abroad (Sun); or pop into two wonderful, annual neighbourhood festivals: Mount Street Summer Fayre (Sun) and Soho Village Fete (Sun)
