London Kids Weekend Scoop (July 8-10, 2016)

 

 
Phew, after a surprise heatwave yesterday during the kids’ sports day (they were melting), back to easier, breezier weather over the next couple of days, although hopefully there’s still a good amount of sunshine around.

The London Kids Weekend Scoop will inspire you to get out and about for Wimbledon finals, plus there’s the Gruffalo back on stage, Southbank Centre’s Festival of Love opens this weekend, hip hop for families in Wembley, a Dad’s Breakfast Club and much more. Enjoy!

 

 

Watch Wimbledon Tennis on a Giant Outdoor Screen

Thu-Sun: Strawberries and Screen, Wimbledon at Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Will Andy Murray make it to the finals? Fingers crossed! Two years ago we caught the Men’s Wimbledon Final match in Granary Square, a wonderful atmosphere and arena to watch all the action from centre court and beyond. The big screens are back in Granary Square with deck chairs for the first 50 bums on seats, strawberries and cream on offer, jugs of Pimms and rotating street food traders. Look out for pop-up tennis sessions for families held nearby on occasion. All ages. Daily, FREE (until Jul 10)

More places to watch the tennis in London: Great British Summer at One New Change in EC4 (St. Paul’s tube, daily until Jul 10); Wimbledon Finals at Regent’s Place, W1 (Jul 9-10); Great British Summer Wimbledon on the Rooftop at Cardinal Place in Victoria (daily until Jul 10); Wimbledon at More London’s London Bridge City Summer Festival (daily until Jul 10); Great British Summer in New Square New Street Square in Chancery Lane (daily until Jul 10); and Wimbledon Finals at Duke of York Square (Jul 8-10)

 

 
Fri-Sun: The Gruffalo at Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES (Piccadilly Circus tube)
A mouse went into the woods one day and what did he find there? Tall Stories’ monster hit adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s best-loved picture book returns to Lyric Theatre for another run through summer and the Christmas theatre season. Follow the clever mouse on his journey as he encounters a variety of creatures leading, inevitably to his face off with the Gruffalo. But who will come out on top? Lots of fun, live music and mischief for ages 3+ (children ages 18 months+ require a ticket). 11am & 2pm (Tue-Fri), 10am & 12pm (Sat-Sun); from £14.50-£25.50/family ticket £65 (Jul 6-Jan 8, 2017)

Fri-Sun: Peacock Theatre: Sleeping Beauty,Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
Catch a magical adaptation of the fairy tale ballet about the story of Princess aurora, cursed to death by evil Carabosse. Her fairy godmother changes the spell so she will sleep for 100 years unless she’s awoken by true love’s kiss. But will her Prince make it in time? This dazzling production brings Tchaikovsky’s sweeping score to the stage in an abridged version aimed specifically at very young viewers. A wonderful first ballet experience for ages 3+. 10.30am, 2pm & 5.30pm; from £10-£25/family £65 (Jul 6-10)

Fri-Sun: Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AG (Charing Cross/Piccadilly Circus tube)
Free your mind and expand your horizons at the Royal Society’s annual Summer Science Exhibition, where children and their families can discover the latest in science and technology, everything from mosquitoes to antimatter! Meet surgical robots, find out what happened at the Big Bang, get hands on with exhibits and see laser beams channelled through a 100m ring of glass bubbles! Tons to see and explore, for all ages. 10am-6pm, FREE (until Jul 10)

Fri-Sun: Gifford’s Circus, Chiswick House and Gardens, Duke’s Avenue, Chiswick, Great West Road, W4 2RP
Roll up, roll up! The self-described ‘magical village green circus’ that travels the country brings its daredevil and sensational show to glorious Chiswick House. The Painted Wagon takes us back in time to the Wild West, featuring a gun-slinging, horse-wrangling, boot-stomping spectacle that’s guaranteed to entertain all the family. All ages. This weekend’s shows: 6pm (Thu), 5pm & 7.30pm (Fri), 11am, 2.30pm & 7.30pm (Sat), 11am, 2.30pm & 5pm (Sun) times vary by date, check web sites; adult £15-£29/child £10-£19 (until Jul 18)

Fri-Sun: International Youth Arts Festival at Rose Theatre Kingston and surrounding areas, 24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL (Kingston/Surbiton rail)
Visit Kingston this month as the International Youth Arts Festival takes over the area for 10 days of incredible theatre, dance, comedy, live music, circus, literature and more from a variety of performers ages 5-26. Often considered a warm-up for Edinburgh Fringe, visitors can make their own puppets or carnival costumes for a parade; see Leandro – a play about a boy in Rio who dreams of running in the Olympics; catch Little Howard’s Big Show for Kids; and loads more. All ages. Varying times; tickets for shows between £5-£15/festival wristbands available (Jul 8-17)

 

 
Sat: Dad’s Breakfast Club: LEGO DC Justice League Special at CAU St Katherine Docks, 1 Commodity Quay, E1W 1AZ (Tower Hill tube)
Rising blogger the London Dad hosts this monthly series of events and today’s edition is a special celebration for the launch of the newest LEGO DC comics DVD. Expect a papa and kid-friendly hangout including lots of LEGO play tables, brick pit, life-size models, goodie bags and of course nosh. There are 3 breakfast options to choose from (steak and eggs promised), free-flowing tea and juice and mamas get a lie-in. Sounds like a win win. 9am-11.30am; £25 for 1 adult and up to 2 kids (Jul 9)

Sat: Fun DMC at Brent Civic Centre – Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ (Wembley Park tube)
The daytime block party created by Charlie Dark (Attica Blues/Run Dem Crew) and Spin Doctor (The Doctor’s Orders) makes its north London debut in Brent. Fun DMC is a family friendly jam for hip hop heads from babies to baby boomers, where you can wave your hands in the air, like you still don’t care. Prepare for 3 hours+ of radio-friendly hip hop, funk, disco and party anthems, plus hip hop inspired fancy dress, graffiti wall, balloons, basketball and more! Ages 0-10 and families. 1pm-4pm; adult £5 advance, £7 door/walking kid £2 advance, £4 door/family £14 advance, £22 door/babies under 12 months FREE (Jul 9)

Sat & next Wed: Whitechapel Gallery Family Day & Crib Notes (top pic), 77-82 Whitechapel High St, E1 7QX (Aldgate East tube/Liverpool St tube, rail/Shoreditch High St overground)
The popular family days at Whitechapel Gallery return with an afternoon of film animation, puppetry and performance, developed with Whitechapel Gallery Children’s Commission 2016 artist Edwina Ashton. You can pick up a free activity trail by artist Laura X Carle guiding younger ones through the exhibition Mary Heilmann: Looking at Pictures. Also if you have very little ones (under 3), book ahead for Crib Notes: Whitechapel Gallery’s series of baby-friendly showings, this month exploring the Mary Heilmann exhibition. Family Day on Jul 9 at 12-4pm, FREE, drop-in; Crib Notes on Jul 13 at 10am-12pm, £5 including refreshments (Jul 9 & Jul 13)

Sat: Westminster Abbey Summer Fete, 20 Dean’s Yard, SW1P 3PA (St James’ Park/Westminster tube)
If you have fond memories of brass rubbing at Westminster Abbey, then the summer fete in Dean’s Yard should attract you and your minions for even more shenanigans around the historic landmark. This traditional fete will feature prize tombola and raffles, Morris dancers, craft stalls, pocket money toys, children’s games and exciting Birds of Prey displays. For entertainment, there’s the Hounslow Youth Concert band and you can feast on tea and cakes, ice cream, BBQ food, strawberries and cream or Pimm’s & Beer. There’s also a special welcome by the Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr John Hall at 11:30am and you might want to stick around for evensong at 5pm. Sounds like an excellent day out for all ages. 11.30am-3.30pm; FREE (Jul 9)

 

 
Sat-Sun: Southbank Centre Festival of Love, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
It’s back! The Southbank Centre’s ode to all types of human love officially opens this weekend, promising a whole summer of family friendly fun both indoors and outdoors. Annual highlights include Jeppe Hein’s Appearing Rooms fountains, the Big Wedding Weekend, the urban beach and beach huts, and all the action ongoing at Udderbelly and London Wonderground. You can book ahead for amazing sounding events like Air Play at Royal Festival Hall (Aug 9-14), Jungle Book at the London Wonderground (Aug 13-28) and ZooNation the Next Generation (Aug 28). This weekend you can take part in Reggaoke with a live band, make a 3D family tree, play with henna, come and clay on the Roof Garden, or join SecretSundaze DJs for the Festival of Love opening party (Sun 2-10pm). All ages welcome (although check individual events for age restrictions). 10am-10pm daily, event times/dates and prices vary, many activities are FREE (Jul 9-Aug 29)

Sun: Bastille Day in Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL (London Bridge tube/rail)
As the Euros build to an exciting France vs Portugal finals on Sunday, this is the perfect day to celebrate the French community with Bastille Day parties around Borough market. Taste crepes, macarons and other French delicacies from the market stalls; watch a French themed free Demonstration Kitchen with chef Katherine Frelon; see waiters racing, hear Parisian folk music, play petanque and dance to live gypsy and swing music. The fun continues until 8pm, just in time to wind down and catch the big match. Allez les bleus! All ages. 12-8pm, FREE (Jul 10)

We also like
LAST CHANCE to see Puppet Barge Theatre in Little Venice, before it moves to Richmond (Sat-Sun); the Foodies Festival brings its touring chefs, demos and stalls to Blackheath Common (Fri-Sun); there’s laughs a plenty for ages 6+ at Udderbelly Festival: Comedy Club 4 Kids; head to Forbidden Planet in Soho and other comic stores for Dr Who Comics Day (Sat); celebrate Eid in Trafalgar Square with thousands of revellers (Sat); trawl for treasures at this year’s Urban Art Fair in Brixton (Sat-Sun); don’t miss the Harlequin Euro Festival in Devonshire Square, with free music and dance shows to celebrate European cultures, languages and folk traditions (ongoing until Jul 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)
Ponyo (U) at 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Jul 9)

Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Zathura at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Jul 9)

Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
NO KIDS CLUB THIS WEEK | usual screenings at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Jul 9)

Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
The King & the Mockingbird at 11.30am; £1.75 (Jul 9)

Rio Cinema Saturday Morning Kids Club, 107 Kingsland High St, Dalston E8 (Dalston Junction/Dalston Kingsland overground)
Alvin and the Chipmunks at 11am; Child £3/Adult £4 (Jul 9)

Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
The Lion King 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) (Jul 9)

Rich Mix Kids Cine Time, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
James and the Giant Peach (U) at 12pm; £1.75 (Jul 10)

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

Booking Ahead

Something Happening for Kids Festival at The Place (Jul 16)
Finding Dory at London Aquarium (Jul 16-Sep 11)
Tales Big Day Out at Chickenshed Theatre (Jul 23)
The Fantastic World of Dr Seuss at Discover (from Jul 23-Sep 2017)
Finding Dory, on general release (Jul 29)
Telling Tales Family Literary Festival at Shakespeare’s Globe (Jul 29-31)
Kids Week 2016 (August 1-31)
Splash Fest at Battersea Park (Aug 7)

Upcoming Family Festivals

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)

Don’t miss our Family Festivals guide