Indian summer? Not quite, but today’s brighter weather has put us firmly in a weekend mood. The London Kids Weekend Scoop is bursting with ideas for you and your family, both outdoors and inside. Happy days!
Thu-Sun: Africa Utopia at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Africa comes to London as Southbank Centre presents another Africa Utopia season, showcasing some of the brightest stars and talents from the continent, helping to tell a different story from the doom and gloom the media usually portrays. Highlights include legendary drummer Tony Allen + special guests including Damon Albarn, Orchestra Baobab, African orchestra Chineke!, and keynote speech by Baaba Maal. For families, there’s storytelling, children’s theatre, music including Chineke! Junior Orchestra, and craft and jewellery workshop. All weekend you can sample delicious African food, shop from the artisan markets, or take part in free social dances. All ages. Times and prices vary, many activities FREE (Sep 10-13)
Thu-Sun: Green Man presents Courtyard Festival at Lewis Cubitt Square, N1C 4AB (King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
It’s a beer festival and they’ve made no attempt to lure the kids in (don’t expect playgrounds or a children’s area), however the Courtyard Festival is a family friendly affair. Brought to you by the folks behind Green Man festival (one of the top family festivals in the land), this promises a weekend of beer and cider tasting, the best of Welsh brew, live music and DJs. And it’s all in and around Lewis Cubitt Square (round from Granary Square), where you can keep the minis happy with sparkling fountains, bathing pond (if it’s warm enough), street food to tuck into etc, while you kick back with a nice cold one. All ages. 12pm-11pm (Thu-Sat), 12pm-10.30pm (Sun), FREE (Sep 10-13)
Thu-Sun: Breaking the Ice at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Discover the tale of the polar bear who made friends with a husky and embark on your own journey into their snowy environment, filled with music, shadows and projection. An immersive adventure created for very young kids by Norwegian vocalist/composer Torgeir Vassvik. For ages 2-5. 10.30am & 1.15pm (Tue-Fri), 10am, 11.15am & 1.45pm (Sat-Sun); under 18s £15, additional adult £5 (Sep 2-Oct 4)
Fri-Sun: Kings Place Festival, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG (Kings Cross St Pancras tube)
Why not combine a trip to the Courtyard Festival with a jaunt from Granary Square steps to Tarporley Canal boat with a rocking brass band, kicking off the annual Kings Place Festival (5pm). This year’s mix of music, spoken word, arts and crafts and family activities features: the ever popular Aurora Orchestra and OAE Tots family concerts, Tarporley canal boat rides (mostly sold out, but hang about for returns), singer/songwriter Nick Cope, kids cake decorating, and a puppet version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Tickets are just £6.50 per event, and there are some free activities including painting and performances for all ages. From 10am daily, times vary; £6.50 (Sep 11-13)
Sat: Spiegeltent at Canary Wharf: Big Fish Little Fish at Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14 (Canary Wharf tube/DLR)
Hooray! The Spiegeltent at Canary Wharf is open for the next 11 days crammed with family friendly activities, and this weekend sees the fantastic Big Fish Little Fish on ground. The family ravers will have DJ Camanda on decks along with all the usual fun including crafts room, giant colouring mural, bubble machines, glitter cannons, a giant parachute dance, homemade cakes and goodie bags. Ages 0-8 and their parents/carers. 2pm-4pm; £7 (pre book/babes in arms go FREE (Sep 12)
Click here for the full Spiegeltent line-up including Comedy Club 4 Kids, Ready Steady Colour, ESKA Family Singalong and more!
Sat: The Great River Race, Millwall Slipway, Westferry Road E14 3QS to riverside below Ham House, Ham, Richmond, TW10 7RS (Mudchute DLR – start/Richmond tube/overground – finish)
Head to the riverside to watch 300 boats from all over the world, in all shapes, sizes and descriptions, race each other in what’s known as the ‘Thames marathon’. See jolly boats, naval whalers, Chinese dragon boats, Hawaiian war canoes, Viking longships and more compete in Europe’s most creative river race. If you’re down in Putney, there’s a fun day for all the family to enjoy; if you’re around St Katharine Docks, you can gawp at the classic boats on show too (see listing below). All ages, part of Totally Thames festival. 10.45am-7pm, FREE (Sep 12)
Sat-Sun: St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival, St Katharine Docks, E1W 1LA (Tower Hill tube/Tower Gateway DLR)
A hugely colourful fiesta of classic boats taking over the dockside. You can take the little ones on board to meet the skippers and learn some marine history. There are food and craft stalls, art shows nearby and music from National Youth Jazz Orchestra Academy, the sea shanty singers and the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands. All ages, part of Totally Thames festival. 11am-5pm, FREE (Sep 12-13)
Sat-Sun: On Blackheath Festival (main picture), Blackheath Common, SE3 0UA (Lewisham, Blackheath, Greenwich rail/North Greenwich tube)
We loved On Blackheath last year (who can forget Grace Jones hooping on stage?) and this year the festival is just as juicy with headline acts Elbow, Madness, Manic Street Preachers, Kelis, Anna Calvi, Jack Savoretti, and Laura Mvula. There’s additional music stages curated by Heavenly Recordings (Saturday), and Gilles Peterson, plus the first ever festival performance by mind-bending magician Dynamo. They’re also bringing back the hugely popular Food Village for stalls, demos and supper club; and a kids area The Playground with bubble making, dance floor, hula hooping, workshops and more family fun. Adult day ticket £54.50, weekend £89 (disabled adult tickets same price but includes 1 adult carer)/child 13-16 day ticket £35, weekend £54.50/under 12s FREE but ticket required (Sep 12-13)
Sun: Camden Arts Centre Summer Takeover, Arkwright Road, NW3 6DG (Finchley Rd & Frognal overground)
Celebrate the 50th birthday of Camden Arts Centre at this free festival, filled with artist-led fun and experiences. Take part in a performance inspired by the centre’s archives, try your hand at life drawing, join in their hugely popular Make & Do drop-in family workshop, make bunting, hear bells in the garden and tuck into BBQ from noon. They’ll also be showcasing a one-day exhibition of ceramics made at Camden Arts Centre. If you or your little ones have taken part in a ceramics course or workshop and would like to share what you have made, contact education@camdenartscentre.org to find out more. All ages. 12pm-5pm, FREE (Sep 13)
Sun: Muddy Puddles Wild Rumpus in Hyde Park, by Hyde Park Tennis Centre, W2 (Hyde Park Corner tube)
Rain or shine, get your wellies or outdoor gear on for a Wild Rumpus with the Muddy Puddles clan and party crew Sharky & George. They’re promising two hours of energy burning activities, from teeny tug-of-war contests to water bomb throwing, making junk instruments and a muddy parade. Meet in the old football pitches beside the tennis courts and dress to get dirty! For ages 2-12. 11am-1pm, FREE but limited spaces and RSVP to natasha.ascott@muddypuddles.com is compulsory! (Sep 13)
We also like
Still time to check out Buckingham Palace Summer Opening (Thu-Sun); plush family cinema and food at Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club screening of Inside Out (Sat); ride a steam train and have splashy fun with Peppa Pig at London Museum of Water and Steam (Sat); see bold and beautiful works at Start Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery (ends Sun); see Bradley Wiggins and co cycle past in the London finale of the Tour of Britain (Sun)
BOOKING AHEAD
London Night Owls Sleepover at Museum of London (ages 7-11) (Sep 19)
Royal Opera House Welcome Performance for Families (Sep 19)
Mrs H & the Singalong Band at Lauderdale House (Sep 19-20)
Open House London (Sep 19-20)
Big Fish Little Fish New Cross (Sep 20) and Islington (Sep 27)
Hello Kitty Live: Fashion & Friends (Oct 8)
Don’t forget 15 Things to make your heart SING this Autumn for some joyful activities over the coming months.
Right nothing for it, I’m moving back. Seriously, the cultural capital doesn’t even let the little people down. I want to see the Africa Utopia season looks and sounds amazing- and that beer festival, bring it!
Hey mama, come come, we’re waiting for you ;-) Almost too much to pack in, we couldn’t make Africa Utopia sadly but On Blackheath was ace – review soon x