London Kids Weekend Scoop (April 14-17, 2016)

 

 
And we’re BACK after the Easter holidays — how was your break? We had a fantastic time in Barcelona and Cambrils and we’ll be telling you all about our travels in upcoming posts.

Meanwhile the London Kids Weekend Scoop is guaranteed to tempt you and your children out for some amazing family theatre, child friendly art shows, family workshops and other goodness. Weather’s not looking bad either. Have fun!

 

 
Thu-Sat: Roundhouse CircusFest: Race Horse Company Super Sunday at Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH (Chalk Farm tube)
The circus festival at Roundhouse continues with the last weekend of performances by award winning Race Horse Company. Prepare for your jaw to drop and your pulse to hammer at the dazzling spectacle including human catapult, teeterboard, trampolining and the infamous wheel of death. Humorous, high energy circus that’s suitable for all ages (NB: contains strobe lighting effects). 7.30pm; from £15-£19.50 (until Apr 16)

Thu-Sun: Rolling Stones at Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY (Sloane Square tube)
Exhibitionism: The Rolling Stones is the first ever international exhibition on the cult British band whose music defined a generation. The retrospective features more than 500 original artefacts, including album covers, rare audio tracks, personal diaries and video footage. Feel the music and the emotion in unique wraparound cinematic experiences that capture every aspect of their careers. Not aimed specifically at children but why not bring the babes along for a taste of historic rock & roll? Treat the family to brunch or afternoon tea in the Gallery Mess restaurant. 10am-6pm (last entry 4.30pm); adult £19-£21/child age 6-17 £12-£15/kids under 6 FREE (until Sep 4)

 

 
Fri-Sun: The Jungle Book (Live Action), cinemas nationwide
The babes have given it 5 out of 5 and 20 out of 20 respectively. Mowgli, the man cub, finds a home in the jungle but when he’s threatened by tiger Shere Khan (voiced by deliciously evil Idris Elba), his friends Bagheera and new buddy Baloo (the Bare Necessities crooner) offer to lead him to a better life. But will he go and will he stay and fight? Disney’s bold new imagining of Rudyard Kipling’s story, featuring a stellar cast, is out of this world brilliant. Take the babes (recommended for ages 6+), click on the link for my full review and scroll down for more London Kids Cinema Listings (opens Apr 15)

Fri-Sun: The Amazing Bubble Man (top pic) at Udderbelly Festival, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The big purple cow with his feet in the air is back at Southbank Centre for the summer. This weekend offers kids of all ages the chance to catch a world famous act that has been enchanting audiences for 30 years. Louis Pearl’s show explores the dynamics of bubbles with a blend of comedy, artistry and audience participation set to BLOW your kids’ minds and make your own eyes POP. 2pm (Fri), 11am & 1pm (Sat), 12pm & 2pm (Sun); £10-£15/family ticket £32 (Apr 15-17 & Apr 22-24)

 

 
Sat-Sun: King’s Cross Classic Car Boot Sale, Lewis Cubitt Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4UZ (King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
Scope out 100 vintage vehicles including cars, buses and bikes, as the Classic Car Boot Sale returns to King’s Cross for a weekend of bargain-hunting and al fresco fun. Browse for vintage fashion and accessories, catch roaming street theatre and live music, and hear DJs spinning classic tunes from an open-air Routemaster bus. There’s also street food, craft beer and cocktails on offer through the day. All ages. 10am-6pm; £5 entry/£4 online/many attractions are FREE (Apr 16-17)

Sat-Sun: Noah’s Ark Kids Tea Party on Regent’s Canal at King’s Cross near York Way/ Granary Square N1C 4AA (King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
Climb aboard the Floating Showroom on Regent’s Canal for another quirky session of afternoon tea and crafting in the Origami Poetry Cafe. Fold lions, elephants, giraffes (oh my!) and set them sailing in a giant paper boat. Poet Michelle Tiwo will make poems for every guest and you can enjoy buns, cakes and tea served from special teapots. For ages 6+. Drop off or parents welcome to join in too! 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm (Sat-Sun); £15 per child (includes a personalised poem, origami workshop, tea and cakes, and a special goody bag). Only 12 kids per session; booking ahead recommended – send tickets, date and time slot ahead via email to events@thefloatingshowroom.com (Apr 16-17)

Sat-Sun: Polka Theatre: The Emperor’s New Clothes, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
The well-known tale of vanity and delusions of grandeur is brought to the Polka Theatre stage in a fun retelling for younger children. Puppeteer Martin Bridle rummages through the washing basket to create an imaginative spin on the story, involving a washing machine, a clothes line, puppets and song. For ages 3-6, younger ones welcome at parents’ discretion. 11am & 2.30pm (limited tickets available); £12 (Apr 16-17)

Sun: SoundHoppers Family Workshops at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
The roaming Soundhoppers workshops are aimed at primary school age kids to “encourage careful and deep listening, and attempt to instill a nuanced and sensitive approach to the different qualities of environmental sounds”. Artist Wajid Yaseen leads an inventive exploration of the different qualities of sound, where kids can have fun with listening exercises and play with specially constructed sound boxes. For ages 5-11. 11am, first come first served, FREE (Apr 17)

Sun: The Albany: Circus Family Workshop at The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG (Deptford/New Cross overground)
Feeling daring? Join your kids on a circus adventure at one of The Albany’s hugely popular family workshops. Spin, tumble, swing and fly through the air in the company of expert trainers, bond with your babes and pick up a few skills on the way. Ages 3+. 12pm, 1.30pm & 3pm; £14 per adult + child (Apr 17)

 

 
Sun: National Portrait Gallery Family Workshop: Adventures and Inventions at St Martin’s Place (off Trafalgar Square), WC2H 0HE (Charing Cross tube)
Come along for a session of drop-in activities for your kids exploring the hidden stories of inventors and adventurers in the Collection – from the inventor of the world wide web Tim Berners-Lee to Gertrude Bell, the uncrowned queen of the desert. This is also the ideal opportunity to check out hot exhibition Vogue 100: A Century of Style. NB: The early workshop for younger kids and the later workshop for older children both require an accompanying adult. 1-3.30pm (ages 3+) and 3pm-4.30pm (ages 7+); FREE (Apr 17)

Sun: Keats House Family Day: Outer Space, 10 Keats Grove, Hampstead, NW3 2RR (Hampstead Heath overground, Hampstead/Belsize Park tube)
Is there life on Mars? How high can you jump on the moon? The ever popular Family Day at Keats House has an out of this world theme this Sunday. Explore intergalactic ideas, go on a storytelling adventure and do the Space Walk to some extra-terrestrial grooves. 1pm-4pm, drop-in, FREE (Apr 17)

Don’t miss your last chance to bag a Space Kids space suit and talking helmet, or 1 of three space kits!

 

 

London Kids Cinema Listings

A selection of movies from some of our favourite family friendly cinemas in London.

Barbican Cinema Framed Family Film Club, Cinema 1, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
Azur and Asmar: The Prince’s Quest (PG, pictured above) at 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Apr 16)

Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Race for your Life, Charlie Brown at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Apr 16)

Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
The Iron Giant (Signature Edition) at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Apr 16)

Prince Charles Cinema: Disney Matinees, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
Robin Hood at 1.10pm; £3/£5/£7.50 (Apr 17)

Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Maya the Bee at 11.30am; £1.75 (Apr 16)

Rio Cinema Saturday Morning Kids Club, 107 Kingsland High St, Dalston E8 (Dalston Junction/Dalston Kingsland overground)
Oddball and the Penguins at 11am; Child £3/Adult £4 (Apr 16)

Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Kung Fu Panda 3 (3D) at 12.30pm; £15 (includes ice cream, movie and popcorn + prosecco for grown-ups) (Apr 16)

COMING SOON

BFI Southbank: BFI Families
The Angry Birds Movie at 11.15am; adult £11.75/child £4 (May 8)

Check out our Parent & Baby cinema guide;
Look out for our London Kids Cinema page coming soon, and don’t miss our picks for Top 150 Family Films!

We also like
See Covent Garden’s Market Building encased in giant mirrors for the
Reflect London installation (ongoing); vinyl lovers celebrate Record Store Day at a number of pop-ups and street parties, including Flashback Records N1, Rough Trade East on Brick Lane and Reckless Records in Soho; come for free live music, homemade food, Xbox games and of course beer at the family friendly Battersea Arts Centre Beer Festival (Sun from 10am); head to Hampton Court Palace for a Royal Ramble 5Km Family Challenge (Sun from 9am); there’s quirky dance, puppetry and projections in Grass at Arts Depot for ages 4-7 (Sun, limited availability)

Booking Ahead

The Box of Photographs at Polka Theatre (Apr 22-May 15)
Little Folk with Albo folk concerts for kids and families at The Colour House Theatre, Merton SW19 (Apr 23)
BYO Baby Karaoke at Lucky Voice Islington (Mar 31/last Thu every month)
ArcelorMittal Orbit giant slide at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (opening in May, date tbc)
Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (May 13-Jun 12)
Septimus Bean and His Amazing Machine at Unicorn Theatre (May 20-Jun 26)
Big Fish Little Fish Carnival Family Rave at Stratford Circus (May 29)
Fun DMC Bank Holiday Monday at Royal Albert Hall (May 30)
Telling Tales Family Literary Festival at Shakespeare’s Globe (Jul 29-31)

Upcoming Family Festivals

Lunar Festival (Jun 3-5)
Nozstock Festival (Jul 22-24)
Deer Shed Festival (Jul 22-24)
Camp Bestival (Jul 28-31)
Just So Festival (Aug 19-21)
Electric Fields Festival (Aug 26-27)
On Blackheath (Sep 10-11)

Our Family Festivals Guide is out soon!