Bank Holiday Weekend | London Kids Scoop (August 27-31, 2015)

 

 
We’re back, baby! After an amazing (and emotional/exhausting) 6 weeks away in Nigeria, we returned to London last week and we’re slowly finding our UK flow again.

This Bank Holiday weekend sees the babes heading to join our main man Big Apple Hot Dogs at Jamie Oliver’s Big Feastival where Groove Armada, Dizzee Rascal, Paloma Faith and Grandmaster Flash are on the menu. Along with food — lots and lots of FOOD!

I’ve found loads of fun family activities to keep you busy if you’re not escaping too, so check out this weekend’s London Kids Scoop and have a great one.

Thu-Mon: Giant Balloons in Covent Garden, South Hall, Market Building, WC2 (Covent Garden/Leicester Square tube)
Feel your heart soar at the spectacle of 100,000 white balloons filling the grand interior of the 19th Century Market Building. It’s French artist Charles Petillon’s first public art installation, titled Heartbeat, and it’s guaranteed to take your breath away. You can also see more of his work at a pop-up gallery on the Piazza at Unit 5, Royal Opera House Arcade. Daily, FREE (Aug 27-Sep 27)

Thu-Mon: Beach East at the Park at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford E20 (Stratford tube/overground/DLR)
LAST CHANCE! Spend your Bank Holiday weekend on the largest beach this side of the coast. There’s still time to have your family fun building castles, lounging on deck chairs, funfair rides, paddling pools and getting sand in annoying places. All ages. Daily 10am-10pm, FREE (until Aug 31)

 

 
Fri-Sun: Little Creatures Family Festival at London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY (Regent’s Park/Baker St tube)
CBeebies favourite Andy Day makes a special appearance at the Little Creatures Family Festival, back for another roaring weekend at the zoo. Bring your teeny ones along for animal talks, displays, arts and crafts and the new Jungle Jukebox shows filled with puppetry, songs and laughter. Best for ages 0-5 and their carers. 10am-4pm: tickets £14.56-£20.80, full price tickets £22.40-£32 (Aug 28-30)

Fri-Mon: The LEGO Imagination Factory at Westfield London, Ariel Way, Shepherd’s Bush W12 7GF (Shepherd’s Bush tube/overground)
Perfectly timed to coincide with your Bank Holiday sales shopping, the LEGO Imagination Factory invites you and your mini master builders to a free and fun session of making and creating. Unleash the power of the brick and your imagination, with a special LEGO DUPLO section for the littlest creators. 10am-8pm (Fri, Sat, Mon) & 12-6pm (Sun), FREE (Aug 28-31)

Sat: Sensational Sounds Family Festival Day at National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN (Charing Cross tube)
Head to one of the city’s most popular galleries for a musical day of exploring for little ones and their adults. Hear some of the most famous paintings brought to life with song, take a ride on a musical magic carpet, and enjoy more interactive performances to stimulate young imaginations. You’ll be just around the corner from Covent Garden, a good spot for lunch and people-watching and to check out the Balloons exhibition featured above. For ages 0-5 and carers. Multiple sessions between 10am-4pm; FREE but arrive early to avoid disappointment (Aug 29)

 

 
Sat: The Princess Bride: BFI Summer of Love Screening at British Museum, West Lawn, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG (Russell Square tube)
Catch the classic storybook rom-com, The Princess Bride with an achingly pretty Westley (Cary Elwes) wooing his true love Buttercup against a backdrop of pirates, giants and wicked princes. One of my all-time favourites, screening as part of the Summer of Love series in advance of the BFI Love season coming up in October. Grab your blankets, brollies and pack a picnic for an outdoor evening showing of this hugely entertaining family film. 8.15pm, £15 (no concessions) (Aug 29)

Sat: Livestock Music Festival, Forty Hall Farm, Forty Hill, EN2 9HA, Enfield (Enfield Town rail/Oakwood tube (Piccadilly Line) then buses 307 or 121 to Enfield Town Windmill Hill, then 191 to Forty Hill)
It ain’t Woodstock but it’s ‘wild’ on its own terms, check out Livestock Music Festival back for another year of feel-good folk music, barn-storming blues and more brilliant bands across 3 stages. For kids there’s a circus area, and lots of furry and feathered creatures to discover on Forty Hall farm. Also enjoy food and drink from the on-site street market. 12pm; adult £10 adv-£15 door/child £5/under 3s FREE (Aug 29)

Sat-Sun: Bank Holiday Celebrations at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
It’s the Unicorn’s Tenth Birthday and they’re celebrating with a whole weekend of free family activities over the Bank Holiday. Workshops include Create a Character physical drama, Fairytales and Silly Stories, Puppet Pals and Storytelling, All Day Art, Circus and Dance. Unicorn Theatre is near some fab attractions too like HMS Belfast, Borough Market or Potters Fields to potter about in so make a day of it and head south for a great time with the kids. 10am-5pm, FREE (Aug 29-30)

Sat-Mon: Big Bang Weekend at Royal Gunpowder Mills, Royal Gunpowder Mills, Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1JY (Waltham Cross rail)
Do your kids love explosives? Are they crazy for firecrackers, or keen little science boffins? End your holiday with a bang at this weekend of rocket launches, cool cannons and professional pyrotechnics as demonstrated by film and TV experts. There will be special Science and Explosives shows, and workshops for all ages. Check out the heritage site’s collection of real weapons and let kids discover their sharp shooting skills in the BB Airsoft and Nerf Ranges. All ages. 10am-5pm, adult £9.75/child £7.75/family of 4 £31.50 (more family options available/under 3s FREE (Aug 29-31)

 

 
Sun-Mon: Notting Hill Carnival, Notting Hill and surrounding areas (Westbourne Park exit only, see TFL web site for transport advice)
Jump and wind with the party people at Europe’s largest street bash, where floats, costumes, steel pans, sound systems and street food stalls (jerk chicken galore) make it a Bank Holiday to remember. Sunday is Children’s Day so grab your whistles and enjoy seeing the little ones all dressed up! From around 9.30am until around 7pm; FREE (Aug 30-31)

We also like
Aye aye captain! It’s your last weekend to catch immersive theatrical adventure Against Captain’s Orders at National Maritime Museum (ends Mon); spend your Saturday with the family at the Star by Hackney Downs Festival (Sat); or chill at the Clerkenwell Free Music Festival in Spa Fields, N1 (Sun); join a FREE DIY Gamer Animation Workshop at Design Museum, for ages 5+, siblings welcome (Sun); visit Sofa Productions in Archway for enchanting fairytale performances (Thu-Sun)