Some wonderful activities in the London Kids Weekend Scoop including family theatre, kids crafts workshops, opera for families who’ve never experienced it at Royal Opera House and much more. Do let us know if you come across anything that would be great for next weekend’s Scoop – just drop an email to info@babesabouttown.com!
Thu-Sun: Institute of Imagination: Imagination Lab at The Platform, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, SE1 9PH (Southwark/Blackfriars/Waterloo tube)
Enter the Imagination Lab and unlock the door to a fantastic future, where kids can time travel with the help of stop motion animation. Imagine your life in 2025 or even 2050, using animation clay, paper craft, 3D figure models, and a digitally painted projection globe, or even make your own short film blurring the lines between science and science fiction. Fun and stimulating workshop for ages 5 to 11 and their families. 11am-5pm (1 hr sessions); FREE but advanced booking essential (Sep 17-20)
Fri-Sun: Spiegeltent at Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park, E14 (Canary Wharf tube/DLR)
The big tent at Canary Wharf continues to thrill all comers with another sparkling line-up for its final weekend. Bring the kids for Scrapbooking with cool crafter Shimelle (Fri 12.30pm, £6); storytelling theatre with puppets in Widdershins presents The Elves & the Shoemaker (Sat 11am & 2pm, £6-£8); or the fun and frenzied Huggers Family Cabaret with magic, comedy and more (Sun 11am & 3pm, £4-£7). All ages.
Sat: Cellophony present Alice in Wonderland at Kings’ Place (Hall 2), 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG (Kings Cross St Pancras tube)
James Thorpe-Woods presents an informal introduction to the Cellophony cello octet through the magical tale of a girl named Alice. Audience members are invited to learn a new song and perform it with the ensemble, as Cellophony explore Richard Birchall’s original music through their Alice in Wonderland project. All ages. 3.30pm; £4 (Sep 19)
Sat: Royal Opera House Welcome Performance for Families: Romeo and Juliet, Bow Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD (Covent Garden)
Fancy a taster of the Royal Opera House’s programme for families, at a very affordable price? The Welcome Performance is for families who have never seen a ballet or opera at the ROH. And you don’t even have to be a fan of either, just come and see what you think. Saturday night’s performance is Romeo & Juliet. You have to register online to confirm availability before you book, so before you lose out on these tickets at a snip of the usual price! Best for ages 4+. 7pm, £5-£20 (Sep 19)
Sat: Pan Neverland in Leicester Square, Leicester Square Gardens, WC1 (Leicester Square tube)
In anticipation of the new movie Pan (top picture), Warner Bros invite families and members of the public to a magical experience in the heart of London. Pan Neverland as an immersive takeover of the Leicester Square gardens featuring pirate school and graffiti wall in Blackbeard’s Pirate Training Tent, drumming and headdress making in Pan’s Warrior Tent, fairy wings and pixie crystals in Tiger Lily’s Kingdom and live performances on the Jolly Roger stage. 10am-6pm; FREE but pre booking required (Sep 19)
Sat: Mrs H & the Singalong Band at Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG (Archway tube)
Harriet is a rock star on the north London toddler circuit and every time Mrs H and her Singalong Band perform, it’s a crowd puller for the buggy massive. Catch this interactive music and movement performance (including props and puppetry) at the gorgeous setting of Lauderdale House. Fun for ages 2-7 and their parents/carers (babies also welcome and don’t require a ticket). 10am & 11.30am; £4.50 (Sep 19)
Sat: Puss in Boots at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St, W6 0QL (Hammersmith tube)
He’s been played by Antonio Banderas and here your little ones get to meet another incarnation of the famously heeled pussycat, brought to life by Patrick Lynch from CBeebies. See chatterbox Puss in Boots fool both the King and the Ogre to earn his master’s place at the top in this inventive show on the Lyric’s sloping stage. Expect puppets, a working windmill and an avalanche of fruit and nuts! Also don’t miss a performance and workshop of world music with Musiko in the foyer between each show. Ages 4-7, younger ones welcome. 11am & 1pm; £8 (babies under 18 months FREE on parent’s lap) (Sep 19)
Sat-Sun: Open House Junior, multiple venues
The ever popular Open House London is back, offering a behind the scenes glimpse at city structures. Open House Junior is the family friendly programme with the City of London Architects inviting young makers to build their own skyline at City Hall (Sat 11am-3pm); Scale up the City helping little ones create replicas of London buildings at RIBA (Sun 11am-4pm); the Structurally Found photography treasure hunt (Sat-Sun) and much more. Check the web site link for the full list of buildings and activities. Daily from 10am, FREE (Sep 19-20)
Sat-Sun: Pirate Party Weekend at Discover, 383-387 High Street Stratford, E15 4QZ (Stratford tube/overground/DLR)
Well shiver me timbers! There’s a lot of booty on board the good ship Discover, where pirates have taken over and you’ll have to come in disguise if you want to get in. Dress up, go on a treasure hunt, learn the rope and make a sea chest to hide your loot. And don’t miss a special shadow puppet show of The Night Pirates (Sat-Sun, 2pm, ages 3+). All ages. 11am-5pm; adult/child £5, family of 4 £18, under 2s FREE (Sep 19-20)
Sun: Rosie’s Magic Horse at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street Tally Ho Corner North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
The wonderful Peaceful Lion productions bring the heartwarming story of Little Rosie (from the book illustrated by Quentin Blake) to Arts Depot. Rosie dreams of helping her parents out with bills using her ice-lolly stick collection. When one of the sticks leaps out of her box as a horse named Stickerino, it’s the start of an adventure filled with ice-lolly mountains, caskets of gold and pirates! For ages 3-8. 11am & 2pm; £7 (Sep 20)
We also like
The bold and brilliant Ai Weiwei retrospective opening at Royal Academy (Sat to Dec 13); bees, country crafts and falconry at City Harvest Festival at Capel Manor Gardens (Sat); a fancy dress screening of Flash Gordon on the Floating Cinema by Granary Square in King’s Cross, NC1 (Sat); and a weather-themed Family Day at Keats House in Hampstead (Sun)
BOOKING AHEAD
Big Fish Little Fish at The Garage, Islington (Sep 27)
Shaolin Monks at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre (Sep 29-Oct 17)
Horrible Histories at Hackney Empire (Oct 7-11)
Hello Kitty Live: Fashion & Friends (Oct 8)
London Night Owls Sleepover at Museum of London (ages 7-11) (Oct 24)
Have you seen 15 Things to make your heart SING this Autumn?
Win a Bola Bracelet (Limited Edition) from Ilado!