Happy Thursday! Today we’re flipping out about the new trampoline park in south London, a cycling festival in east London, a family rave in West London, pesky pirates in north London and a hairy tale in the heart of the city, at Regent’s Park! Never say we don’t have the capital covered, baby. The London Kids Weekend Scoop brings you the best of what’s happening indoors and out to enjoy with your family – and hopefully it’s fun for you too. Make it a good one!
Thu-Sun: Flip Out Trampoline Park at Bendon Valley, Earlsfield, SW18 4LZ (Earlsfield rail)
Jump around, jump around! The babes love it at Oxygen Freejump in Acton, one of the biggest trampoline parks in London and now Flip Out has topped that with a 45,000 square feet centre of wall to wall bouncy space. The world’s fastest growing trampoline park franchise opened just last weekend and comes with parkour area, slam dunk and slam time basketball zones, foam pits, and 100s of interconnected trampolines. There’s a dedicated kids’ area as well as special family sessions including Little Ninjas and Mini Flippers aimed at mums, dads and their little ones. All ages welcome, kids under 13 require a carer present. 9am-10pm (Sun-Thu) & 9am-11pm (Fri-Sat); £10-£12.50 per 1hr session (ongoing)
Fri-Sun: Spin London at Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, E1 6QL (Shoreditch High St overground/Liverpool St tube)
On your bikes, mateys! The Spin London cycling festival returns to Old Truman Brewery for another action-packed weekend for all the family. The most innovative creators, makers & experts in cycling join fans from around the world at three days filled with art installations, bike film premieres, street food and craft beer stalls, DJs, live music and more. Free on-site bike parking available. All ages welcome. 1.30pm-8pm (Fri), 10am-5pm (Sat-Sun); adult £12 adv/£16 day, £20 weekend/teen £5/child under 12 FREE (May 20-22)
Fri-Sun Septimus Bean and His Amazing Machine at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Tickets are flying FAST for this inventive adaptation of the hugely popular book Septimus Bean and His Amazing Machine, so if you miss out this weekend, best to book ahead for any upcoming dates you can make. Septimus creates a crazy machine that looks fantastic, but what’s it for? See him explore and discover what it can do with the help of the king of the court, and a little audience support. Laughs, rhythm and lots of imagination in a show for ages 4+. Various shows at 10.15am, 11am, 1.15pm, 1.30pm, 3pm (check website for times/dates); adult £16/child £10 (May 20-Jun 26)
Fri-Sun: Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Queen Mary’s Garden, Inner Circle, York Gate entrance, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
You know summer’s around the corner when Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre launches for the season. We’re excited about this weekend’s opening show, Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild, described as the largest-scale production ever to be presented at the Open Air Theatre. Based on Morpurgo’s book and adapted by Samuel Adamson, it’s the story of Will, torn apart from his mum by the tsunami in Indonesia, who must learn to adapt to life in the rainforest. He befriends Oona the elephant, and an orang-utan clan, but then the hunters arrive… We’ve seen some stunning shows at the Open Air Theatre and this tale of love, loss and learning to live in the moment promises to be one you don’t want to miss! Look out for puppetry workshops before select performances during half-term. For ages 4+ (younger ones not admitted), but NB: scenes of high tension/bereavement themes, parental discretion advised). Shows at 2.15pm (Sat/Sun and Wed from May 21) and 7.45pm (Tue-Sun), no shows on Mon; tickets from adult £23-£46.50/child under 18 £25 (until Jun 12)
Sat: Arts Depot: Pesky Pirates, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
As part of a special series of dance performances this weekend, Let’s All Dance presents a high-energy, audience participation production with some very cheeky pirates! Help the pesky pair get along better, while having fun at the same time, in a show that includes action, giggles and some hip hop moves. Ages 2-9 and families. 1pm (hurry, 3pm show already SOLD OUT); £8.50/family £25 (May 21)
Sat: School of Noise at Chats Palace, 42-44 Brooksby’s Walk, E9 6DF (Homerton overground)
Fantastic sounding workshops for young ones where they get to experiment with electronic music and sound design. Construct mini synthesisers, watch sand create spectacular patterns as it vibrates, conduct an orchestra of fruit and veg and lots more fun! You don’t need any musical training to participate, just a good ear and a lust for learning. For ages 7-12. Booking ahead advised — don’t worry if you miss out this week more workshops are already scheduled through July and you can also catch them at Latitude Festival this summer. 10am-10.50am & 11am-11.50am; £5 per workshop (May 21-Jul 2)
Sat: Udderbelly Festival: Comedy Club 4 Kids, Southbank Centre, Jubilee Gardens, off Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Some of the international circuit’s best stand-ups, cabaret performers and sketch groups clean up their acts for a family friendly crowd. Tim FitzHigham (MC), Bec Hill, George Egg are on the roster for this Saturday’s show that promises loads of laughs and a few surprises, perfectly aimed for ages 6+. 1.30pm; £11/family ticket £9 each/sirloin seats £16 (May 21)
Sat-Sun: Polka Theatre: A Real Mermaid’s Tale, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Embark on a magical adventure on the high seas at Polka Theatre, where pirates roam, terrifying sea creatures pop up, and you can uncover mermaid treasure. Our daring explorer leads the audience on a journey filled with magic, mutinous rats, puppets and more. Fun for ages 3-7 and their carers. 11am & 2pm; £12/£9 concs (May 21-22)
Sat-Sun: Goosebumps Kids, The Vaults, Launcelot Street, off Leake St, Waterloo,SE1 7AD (Waterloo tube/rail)
The immersive promenade theatre experience known as Goosebumps Alive has been terrifying older ones for a few weeks. Now Goosebumps Kids opens for adventurous young ‘uns who don’t mind strange encounters with things that go bump in the night. Brought to you by some of the team behind Alice’s Adventures Underground, this adaption of RL Stines’ books features soundtrack by the Tiger Lillies and plenty of shriek-worthy moments. The kids adventure is aimed at ages 5-11, but enter at your own risk! NB: Not recommended for pregnant women or people with a heart condition. 10.30am-12.30pm (Sat-Sun, from 11am after Jun 1) – shows start every 30 mins and run for 50 mins with no interval; from £15 + booking fee (May 14-Jun 5)
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish Hawaiian Luau Themed Family Rave at Acklam Village Market (under the Westway), 4-8 Acklam Road, Notting Hill, London W10 5TY (Westbourne Park/Ladbroke Grove tube)
The BFLF family rave crew bring a little Hawaii to West London, with DJ Aston Harvey from the Freestylers on the decks and an easy breezy atmosphere. Expect Tiki masks, inflatable palm trees, summery sounds, Villa Pia babies and crawlers room, crafts with Captain Cookie, free glowstick and transfer tattoos for the kids, colouring mural, licensed bar, play area, glitter cannons and parachute dance finale. Slip into your grass skirt or Hawaiian shirt and get ready for a party to end all parties in West London for the last BFLF party in SE London until Autumn! For ages 0-8 and their carers. 2pm-4.30pm, Tickets are adult £9, child £6 and pre-walkers go free (May 22)
Sun: Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall at London Wonderground, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Get on the good foot with your toddlers at this internationally acclaimed dance hall for under fives and their grown up movers and shakers. London-based Australian DJ, producer and mum of two, Monski Mouse spins an eclectic mix of retro hits and nursery tunes to get everybody boogieing through the afternoon. For ages 5 and under and their carers. Max 2 kids per adult, every adult must be accompanied by a child. 3pm-5pm, £8/family of 4 £25.60 (May 8, 22, 28, 29 & 30/Jun 12, 26/Jul 10, 17/Aug 7, 14, 21, 28/Sep 3, 11, 18 & 25)
We also like
Manchester’s Junkyard Golf Club touches down for crazy golf sessions at Old Truman Brewery (Fri-Sun, ongoing); the vintage rides of Carter’s Steam Fair pull in at Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith (Sat-Sun); Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids is back at Udderbelly at Southbank Centre (Sun); don’t miss the Children’s Commission at Whitechapel Gallery (until Aug 14)
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)
The Iron Giant (U) at 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (May 21)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Justin & the Knights of Valour at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (May 21)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
London International Animation Festival (LIAF) shorts at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (May 21)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Matilda at 11.30am; £1.75 (May 21)
Rio Cinema Saturday Morning Kids Club, 107 Kingsland High St, Dalston E8 (Dalston Junction/Dalston Kingsland overground)
Song of the Sea at 11am; Child £3/Adult £4 (May 21)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families
Family Funday: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory – workshop 10.30am, screening at 12.30pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (May 22)
COMING SOON
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Zootropolis 3D at 12.30pm; £10 (film only), £15 (includes ice cream, movie and popcorn + prosecco for grown-ups) or £20 (includes buffet lunch + snacks and prosecco) (May 28)
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!
Booking Ahead
Nibble + Squeak Dining Club for Babies at Hawksmoor Guildhall (May 25)
Big Fish Little Fish Carnival Family Rave at Stratford Circus (May 29)
Fun DMC Bank Holiday Monday at Royal Albert Hall (May 30)
Bugsy Malone at Lyric Hammersmith (Jun 11-Sep 4)
ArcelorMittal Orbit giant slide at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (opening Jun 24)
Telling Tales Family Literary Festival at Shakespeare’s Globe (Jul 29-31)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Jun 7-May 27, 2017)
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)
Plan your Summer with our Top 25 Family Festivals guide!