London Kids Weekend Scoop (September 22-25, 2016)

 

 
Oooh the weather turned rather suddenly didn’t it? But don’t despair, the London Kids Weekend Scoop is here to spread some cheer over the next few days. We have superheroes on stage, circus tricks, a science convention for families, theatre for babies, raving in a Spiegeltent and an epic adventure in Southwark. Enjoy!

Thu-Sun: Marvel Universe Live: Superheroes Assemble (pic) at the O2
Boom, thwack, kapow! Thor, Spiderman, Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk and other legends descend on the O2 for some serious hi-jinks. Watch your favourite superheroes battling the forces of evil and stunning viewers of all ages with their gravity (and in some cases, sanity) defying stunts. Shows from 12pm (weekend) or 7pm (weekdays); tickets from £27; all ages, kids under 2 FREE on carer’s lap (until Sep 25)

Thu-Sun: New Scientist Live at ExCel London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1XL (Custom House/Prince Regent DLR)
Boffins and babes hightail it to this festival of ideas and discovery where junior Einsteins and Curies can test out their skills and learn new facts about the Brain and Body, Technology, the Earth and even the Cosmos. There will be tons of interactive fun (from cave art to levitation) and fascinating talks and demos by the likes of Anil Seth, Alice Roberts and astronaut Tim Peake (appearing Thursday). All ages, recommend for 7+. 10am-5pm; tickets from adult £29; child under 12 FREE (Sep 22-25)

 

 
Thu-Sun: Cirque Eloize at Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street,Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
All the way from Quebec (home to Cirque du Soleil amongst numerous top circus troupes), Cirque Eloize bring their groundbreaking show ID, crammed with aerial, cycling, skateboarding, trampolining and other tricks. Prepare to be completely blown away. Ages 5+ only. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Sat), 2pm & 6pm (Sun); £15-£42 (Sep 20-Oct 8)

Thu-Sun: Spiegeltent at Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14 5AB (Canary Wharf tube/DLR/rail)
The Spiegeltent is back for another bold season of dance, theatre, acrobatics, family concerts, comedy for kids, interactive activities and more for all ages. This weekend for families there’s the Bach 2 Baby Family Concert (Fri 11am-11.45am); a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (Sat, 3 sessions between 12pm-5pm) and Big Fish Little Fish family rave (Sun, 2pm-4pm, more details below). All ages; £5-£8, some activities FREE (Sep 22-Oct 2)

 

 
Thu-Sun: Shake, Rattle & Roll at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Part of the London-wide Brain Waves festival, Shake, Rattle & Roll is a mind-enhancing experience for babies and toddlers, blending neuroscience with interactive theatre. How do young ones respond to stimuli? What makes babies giggle and toddlers groove? Scientists from Birkbeck University’s Baby Lab and theatre director Sarah Argent collaborate on a lively show for babies ages 0-18 months, inspired by their latest research. Varying times from 11am; £12.50/concs £9; babies under 6 months FREE (Sep 21-Oct 16)

Sat: Totally Thames: Landlubbers Maritime Folk Festival, at National Maritime Museum & Cutty Sark, King William Walk, London SE10 9HT (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
Fancy an afternoon of feasting and folk music with a seaside feel? This maritime festival brings a mix of family friendly activities from traditional Punch & Judy show, to ceilidh with the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Stomp around to sea shanties, munch on oysters, make maritime crafts, discover the mysteries of ships in bottles and ship figureheads, and hear music from The Dulwich Choir, The South London Folk Collective and more. For older ones, you can party into the night with the Nest Collective’s brand new Shanty Sessions on the decks of the Cutty Sark! 11am-5pm (7pm-midnight for Shanty Sessions); FREE (Sep 24)

Sat: Mini Maestro Family Concert at St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ (Charing Cross tube)
Bring your mini music makers and appreciators to this popular series of family friendly concerts led by the London Symphony Orchestra. This week you can explore the joys of ‘Spring’ and ‘Summer’ from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, as the musicians use their instruments to portray the manny wonders of nature. 4.30pm; adult £10/child £8 (Sep 24)

 

 
Sat-Sun: Unicorn Theatre: Jason & the Argonauts, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
When budding hero Jason sets out to find the Golden Fleece, it’s an adventure that involves mad kings, scary sirens, headless or soulless creatures and others in his path. But will he make it back home to claim his throne? Take your kids and your imagination back in time to ancient Greece and a quest tale that will teach young ‘uns the true meaning of epic. For ages 6-12. 2pm (Sat 24 & Sun 25) + various times; previews from £10 (Sep 24-Oct 4), regular adult £12-£18, child £8-£10 (Sep 24-Oct 21)

Sat-Sun: Countryside Live at Lee Valley Regional Park, Walthamstow & Leyton Marshes, Lea Bridge Rd, Leyton E10 7QL (Walthamstow Central tube/Clapton overground)
Get a taste of country life at this fantastic event for all the family, featuring everything from sheep show and sheep shearing to falconry displays, tractor rides and ferret racing. Meet wildlife including bats, otters and insects, make crafts from recycled materials, see traditional skills like blacksmithing or willow weaving and more. Plus there’s cakes and food stalls to satisfy you and your little piggies. adult £5 (£7 for two day pass)/child under 16 FREE (Sep 24-25)

 

 
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish Spiegeltent Rave at Spiegeltent Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14 5AB (Canary Wharf tube/DLR/rail)
Whoop whoop! Big Fish Little Fish are back at the Spiegeltent in Canary Wharf for one of their fantastic family raves. If you’ve never been to Big Fish Little Fish (they spent the summer touring festivals like Glastonbury, Edinburgh Fringe and Camp Bestival) now is the time to get your boogie shoes and disco moves in gear. There’s such a fun, free and friendly atmosphere on the dance floor and you’ll be raving like the good old days to big tunes from DJ Joe Muggs. Also enjoy the Happy Monkey craft room with Captain Cookie, free glowstick and transfer tattoos for the kids, colouring mural, licensed bar, cake stalls, play area, glitter cannons and parachute dance. For ages 0-8 and their carers. 2pm-4pm, Tickets are £8 and under 2s go FREE but require ticket (Sep 25)

Sun: Arts Depot: The Emperor’s New Clothes, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
The story has been fully absorbed into modern folklore but do you remember how the Emperor got his new clothes in the first place? This production by Stuff and Nonsense brings the tale sharply into focus, with some very fun twists using puppetry, song, music and a whole heap of silliness. Perfect for ages 3+. 1pm & 3pm; £8 (Sep 25)

We also like
Head to Kew Gardens for their Write On Kew literary festival, with loads on for bookish babes (Thu-Sun); London Design Festival hosts its first Design Carousel, a kid-focused event in wonderful Coram’s Fields (Sat); create your own book at British Library (Sat); hear stories come alive at glorious Kenwood House in Hampstead (Sun); see Pearly Kings and Queens on parade at the annual Harvest Festival in Guildhall (Sun)

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 (Sep 24)

Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
The BFG at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Sep 24)

Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
LIAF Amazing Animations (U) at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Sep 24)

Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Frankenweenie at 11.30am; £1.75 (Sep 24)

Rich Mix Kids Cine Time, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
Minions (PG) at 12pm; £1.75 (Sep 24)

BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Funday TV Preview: Yonderland (Series 3) + Q&A with Cast; adult £11.75/child £4 (Sep 25)

Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Finding Dory Begins 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) (Sep 25)

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

Little Angel Theatre: Let’s Fly, for ages 2 to 6 (until Nov 20)
Fagin’s Twist at The Place, for ages 8+ (Sep 28-Oct 15)
Family Travel Show at Olympia Central (Oct 1-2)
Fun Palaces Weekend (Oct 1-2)
The Big Draw, across London (Oct 1-31)
Impulse FREE illuminated see-saws in Leicester Square (Oct 5-27)
Classical Babies present La Traviata at Normansfield Theatre, Teddington (Oct 16)
Peter Pan Goes Wrong at Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue (Oct 21-Jan 29)
Leaf for babies ages 0-3 at Half Moon Theatre (Nov 24-26)

Don’t miss our 16 Awesome Things to do in Autumn!