London Kids Weekend Scoop (October 15-18, 2015)

 

 

We’re already halfway through the month and I’ve been scouting for fun ideas and things to do with the kids over October half term and Halloween. The guides will be out soon, and why not have a look at the London Kids Weekend Scoop for cool activities for families this weekend, as well as a taste of what’s to come.

Happy weekend!

 

 
Fri-Sun: The Other Art Fair at Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, E1 (Shoreditch High St overground/Liverpool St tube)
The alternative art fair returns to Shoreditch, this year with a chance to sip absinthe and unburden your sins in an interactive installation, or snap up prints from artist/provocateur Tracy Emin. There’s tons of child-friendly activities happening too, including a chance to make hats, build model houses and report for a kids’ newspaper with the enchanting House of Fairy Tales. To raise money for their 2016 children’s programme, HoFT will also be holding a silent auction through the Matchbox Project, with guest artists creating matchbox artwork available to collect all weekend. And on Sunday when you can catch highlights from Encounter’s Film Festival’s 2015 Children’s Award. All food and drink will be catered by Assemble London, the latest venture from Dominic Cools-Lartigue of Street Feast. All ages. 5pm-9.30pm (Thu, private view), 12pm-9pm (Fri), 11am-7pm (Sat), 11am-6pm (Sun); adult £8 adv-£10 door/child FREE (Oct 15-18)

Fri-Sun: Michael Rosen’s Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things, Discover, 383-387 High Street Stratford, E15 4QZ (Stratford tube/overground/DLR)
We’re very excited about the opening of Michael Rosen’s exhibition at Discover, an interactive experience taking inspiration from the popular author/poet’s picture books. Step inside a giant chocolate cake (yum), splash splosh your way through a Bear Hunt, or dare to discover the Bad Things in the Dread Shed. You’ll find hidden rooms, clues and tips on what helped Michael come up with his writing, plus there’s a chance to make poems of your own too. For ages 0-11 and families. 10am-5pm (Tue-Fri), 11am-5pm (Sat-Sun); adult £5/child £5/family of 4 £18/under 2s FREE (Oct 16-Apr 10)

Fri-Sun: Shaolin Monks at Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
LAST CHANCE: Catch the Shaolin Monks in action, an evening of knife-edge drama crammed with kicks, high spins and choreographed fighting. The annual spectacular returns to Peacock Theatre for another thrilling showcase of kung fu and other ancient martial arts. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Sat), 2pm & 6.30pm (Sun); £15-£38/half-price under 16s (Sep 29-Oct 17)

Sat: Southbank Sinfonia Family Concert at Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ (Sloane Square tube)
What happens when an orchestra tries to play without a conductor? Find out at this special event where the musicians take the helm, while performing Prokofiev’s notoriously challenging Classical Symphony. See every split-second decision of timing, hand flicks and facial expressions and how they impact the performance, in a show starring 33 electrifying young players with video and special lighting effects. Afterwards you can meet the players and try out some instruments in the foyer. Perfect for ages 5-11. 11am, adult £10/child £5/family of 4 £25 (Oct 17)

 

 
Sat: The Doodle Dance Show at Greenwich Dance, The Borough Hall, Royal Hill, SE10 8RE (Greenwich rail/DLR)
The Doodle Dance Show is back after its world premiere earlier this year. Catch award-winning performers Anna Williams (Russell Maliphant, LaRibot) and Tom Roden (New Art Club) in their clever show designed to get young and old dancing and drawing. Take off your socks and shoes, shimmy and scrawl across the floor, and help transform a giant piece of paper into a collaborative art piece! For ages 3+. 11am & 2pm; £8/£6 conchs (Oct 17)

Sat: Game Lab at Institut Francais, 17 Queensberry Place, SW7 2DT (South Kensington tube)
It’s game on at the French Institute where kids can have a go at a variety of games, as part of the centre’s exploration of the recreational and educational potential of digital gaming. Come along for a bilingual session of interactive play where a little screen time for your junior gamer isn’t such a bad thing! 2.30pm-4pm, FREE (Saturdays until Nov 28)

Sat: The Big Draw: Micrographia at The Royal Society, London, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AG (Charing Cross tube)
Celebrate the 350th anniversary of Micrographia, Robert Hooke’s groundbreaking text of microscopic observations. Take a crash course in illustration, learn historic engravings, draw a DNA molecule, screen print a bag to take home and more in this day of talks, workshops and activities on the theme of microscopy. 11am-5pm, FREE (Oct 17)

Sat-Sun: Giant Lego Brick Animals at London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, London, SW13 9WT (Hammersmith tube)
Head to the London Wetland Centre to see their trail of LEGO statues, including brick otter, mallard, flamingo and other animals nestling amongst their real life counterparts. There are also LEGO workshops throughout (weekends/daily during half term), you can make your own pumpkin model during Halloween, and of course you can check out the ducks, toads and other wildlife at the centre. All ages. Open from 9.30am; adult £12.75/child £7 (prices with Gift Aid); under 4s FREE (Oct 3-Nov 8)

 

 
Sun: Family Day: Making Home at Geffrye Museum, 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA (Hoxton overground)
Create your own sugar cookies and decorate biscuits inspired by Africa, make badges and flower pots and follow the #HomeTreasure trail at Geffrye’s family day exploring how people have decorated their homes through the centuries. Fun and free activities for kids and families of all ages. 12-5pm, drop-in, FREE (Oct 18)

Sun: Ulla’s Odyssey at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG (Kings Cross St Pancras tube)
It’s a 21st century retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, created by OperaUpClose in a family friendly show designed to get young ones interested in opera from their early childhood. The award-winning nautical fantasy by New Zealand composer Anthony Young and Canadian librettist Leanne Brodie traces the story of 14-year-old Ulla on her quest to become the youngest person to sail the world single-handedly. The show includes live music and puppetry and is suitable for kids ages 7+ and their families. Buy a Big Day Out ticket (adult £34.50/child under 14 £24) and you can take part in a drawing workshop with House of Illustration before the show, followed by lunch at Green & Fortune Cafe before catching Ulla’s Odyssey! 4pm (Oct 11) & 2pm (Oct 18, Nov 15 & Nov 22); adult £19.50/child under 14 £12/family of 3 £36/family of 4 £54 (Oct 11-Nov 22)

We also like
Enter the world of Chanel at Mademoiselle Prive at Saatchi Gallery (until Nov 1); dip into The Chocolate Show at Olympia (Fri-Sun); see amazing snaps in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year opens at Natural History Museum (from Fri-April 10, 2016); don’t miss the new exhibition of works by renowned draughtsman MC Escher at Dulwich Picture Gallery (open until Jan 17)

BOOKING AHEAD

London Night Owls Sleepover at Museum of London (ages 7-11) (Oct 24)
Big Stories from the Little Box: Chickenshed at Peter Jones, Chelsea (Oct 24)
Boo at the Zoo at London Zoo (Oct 24-Nov 1)
Family Sundays at Royal Opera House (Oct 25)
Storystock at Bush Theatre (Oct 28-30)
COMPETITION: Win Tickets to Ratatouille Live in Concert at Royal Albert Hall! (Oct 28)
COMPETITION: Win Tickets to the Family Travel Show at London Olympia! (Oct 31-Nov 1)
Big Fish Little Fish Halloween Rave at Stratford Circus (Nov 1)

October half term guide out soon!