Tra la la, doesn’t the sunshine put a grin on your face and a song in your heart? We don’t know how long it will last so enjoy it while you can. In our London Kids Weekend Scoop we recommend family friendly activities, with the Punch and Judy festival in Covent Garden, Monski Mouse’s baby disco (top pic) at the fabulous London Wonderground at Southbank Centre, and al fresco munching at Street Feast all great spots to make the most of the warm weather too. Have fun out there, wherever you go!
Thu-Sun: The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace (main pic), East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU (Hampton Court rail)
The warmer weather in London is a perfect excuse for a mini day trip, and what better time to discover the Magic Garden that opened over Easter at Hampton Court Palace. The interactive play space is filled with mythical beasts, battlements to storm, towers to besiege and a secret grotto to explore. Inspired by the fairytale like quality of the Tudor Palace, the Magic Garden adds a layer of fun for the kids on a family visit to the historic palace, gardens and maze. All ages. Open daily 10am-6pm until Oct 30. Maze and Magic Garden adult £7, child under 16 £5.50; Magic Garden entry free with regular entry to Hampton Court Palace, adult £21/child under 16 £10-50/under 5s FREE (ongoing)
Fri-Sat: Street Feast at Dalston Yard, Hartwell Street, E8 3DU (Dalston Junction/Dalston Kingsland overground)
Summer in the air means tasty outdoor grubbing and where better to grab a bite in the open air than at Street Feast? London’s best night food market is back at Dalston Yard for another season of beats and eats from the likes of White Men Can’t Jerk, Smokestak, Kimchinary, and more. Bring your appetite (and your wallet) and savour everything from Korean to Mexican. 5pm-midnight, FREE entry (May 6-7, ongoing)
Sat: May in a Day at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, London NW1 7AY (Camden Town tube/Camden Rd overground)
The annual festival of folk dance gets a hip hop remix with high energy performances and workshops that combine both art forms. Try break dance with broom dancing, take part in body percussion classes blending clog and step dancing, and show off your moves in a vibrant finale. There’s also make and decorate sessions with artist Shelagh McCarthy and outdoor activities in the garden led by Permaculture. All ages welcome. 2pm-5pm; adult £8, child under 18 £6, under 2s FREE (May 7)
Sat: ilovegorgeous get crafty with Doodle Nest at Notting Hill Store, 52 Ledbury Road, London, W11 2AJ (Notting Hill Gate/Westbourne Park tube) and Primrose Hill Store, 73 Regents Park Road, London, NW1 8UY (Camden Town/Camden overground tube)
Bring the nippers for a free day of crafty activities, and help make colourful designs for the shop windows at ilovegorgeous stores. There are discounts for parents in tow, goodie bags for all kids, and a chance to win a Doodle Nest coffee table book worth £175, filled with your children’s art work. A lovely keepsake. Ages 3+ (younger ones welcome). 11am-5.30pm, FREE entry, book early to avoid disappointment (May 7)
Sat: Free Comic Book Day at Gosh Comics, 1 Berwick Street, W1F 0DR (Tottenham Court Rd/Piccadilly Circus/Oxford Circus tube)
Join Gosh! Comics for a family friendly day of activities celebrating Free Comic Book Day. The events kick off with their Annual Kids Workshop featuring kids drawing side by side at the main table with real life comic creators! Artists on board include John Allison, Edie OP, Gary Northfield, JAKe, Jason Ford, Kristyna Baczynski, Dilraj Mann, Rachael SMith, Babak Ganjei, Emma Vieceli, Joe & Sam Decie, Paul Shinn, Ramzee, and Marc Ellerby. There will also be live window painting, comic book demos, comic book signings and of course free comics to give away throughout the day. The drawing activities are for kids age 8-11 from 11am-2pm. The full day is 10am-9pm, all activities are FREE (May 7)
Sat: Arts Depot: Aracaladanza presents Vuelos, Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
Embark on a strange adventure into the weird and wonderful imagination of one of the world’s greatest ever artists, Leonardo da Vinci. Choreographer and director Enrique Cabrera leads this fun and fantastical expedition into the creative genus and vision of da Vinci in a breathtaking show aimed at ages 5+. 2pm, £10 (May 7)
Sat: Udderbelly Festival: The Showstoppers’ Fantastical Story Factory at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The big purple cow hosts tons of family friendly acts over the summer including the Showstopper’s Fantastical Story Factory. This team of award-winning West End improvisers take ideas from the audience, and turn them into marvellous, musical adventures on the spot. Discover magical kingdoms created on the spur of the moment and be the master of what happens next. But only kids get to direct the story, no adult suggestions will be taken! For ages 6+. 1.30pm, £10/sirloin seats £15/family £32 (May 7, Jun 19 & Jul 2)
Sun: Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival, St Paul’s Church Garden, Bedford St, WC2E 9ED (Covent Garden tube)
On the second Sunday of May each year, Punch and Judy professors takeover the garden of St Paul’s Church (aka the Actors’ Church) for a riot of colour and spectacle that attracts hordes of families. The garden is the original site of the first ever Mr Punch show in England by Samuel Pepys in May 1662. Celebrate with a brass band procession (from 11am), followed by Punch & Judy shows, maypole dancing, folk music and puppet workshops. All ages. 11am procession, shows from 12.30pm-5.30pm; FREE (May 7)
Sat-Sun: Imperial College Festival at Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, SW7 2AZ (South Kensington tube)
Meet famous faces from history, blow bubbles with George the mechanical dragon, discover the healing power of music, enjoy ice cream with an operatic twist, play noughts and crosses with lasers and much more at this jam-packed festival of arts and science for all the family. A stimulating and entertaining day out, with stalls from the College Barbecue and London Farmer’s Market to keep tiny tummies happy. All ages. 12pm-6pm (Sat), 12pm-5pm (Sun), FREE – advanced registration for your chosen events recommended (May 7-8)
Sat-Sun: National Pet Show at ExCel London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL (Prince Regent (for ExCel) DLR)
Thinking of getting a furry, finned or feathery friend? Head to the nation’s favourite pet convention, where you can meet hundreds of different animals, ranging from regular dogs and cats to more exotic creatures. Fans of The Supervet can see Noel Fitzpatrick live as part of the Eukanuba Supervet Live Tour. Also don’t miss the popular Hill’s School 4 Dogs, with live training and demos from leading behaviourist and trainers; a spectacular reptile show with Crocodile Joe; and the return of Topcats, a competition launched especially for the National Pet Show by the GCCF (Governing Council of Cat Fancy) giving info to owners who want to start entering their felines in cat shows. 9.30am-5pm; adult £17/child under 16 £12/under 5s FREE (May 7-8)
Sat-Sun: Aurora Orchestra Family Concert: Agatha the Pirate at Kings Place 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG (Kings Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Join the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on another of their popular family friendly classical concerts. You can encounter glimmering jellyfish, navigate the high seas and play games with a talkative parrot. New chamber arrangements by Bela Bartok. There are two sessions, early years for ages 0-4 and a family show for ages 5+. You’re just a quick stroll away from the amazing fountains at Granary Square if you fancy some wet play before or after the show. 10.15am, 11am & 11.45am on Sat & Sun (ages 0-4); 2.30pm on Sat only (ages 5+); all tickets £5.50 children, adult £7.50, child £5.50, family of 4 £17.50, family of 5 £20.50 (May 7-8)
Sun: Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall (top pic) 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
The Dulwich Festival features loads of family friendly action (until May 15); float along to a Butterfly Ball at Forty Hall in Enfield (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)
LIAF: Amazing Animations (U) at 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (May 7)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Cinderella (cartoon version) at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (May 7)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
Capture the Flag at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (May 7)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Hugo at 11.30am; £1.75 (May 7)
Rio Cinema Saturday Morning Kids Club, 107 Kingsland High St, Dalston E8 (Dalston Junction/Dalston Kingsland overground)
Norm of the North at 11am; Child £3/Adult £4 (May 7)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families
The Angry Birds Movie at 11.15am; adult £11.75/child £4 (May 8)
COMING SOON
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Zootropolis 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 14)
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
Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (May 13-Jun 12)
Barnes Children’s Literature Festival (May 14-15)
Little London Party at Hamleys (May 15)
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)
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)
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!
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