We’re rounding the corner into October and despite rumours of an Indian summer, I’m looking forward to autumn. You know, apples and falling leaves and all that good stuff. The London Kids Weekend Scoop for the first weekend in October features hip hop dance theatre, circus, classic cars in King’s Cross and a Family Travel Show to inspire adventures world-wide. Enjoy x
Thu-Sun: Fagin’s Twist (top pic) at The Place,17 Duke’s Road, WC1H 9PY UK (Euston/King’s Cross St Pancras tube, rail)
Check this out: Charles Dicken’s Oliver Twist on a hip hop remix. Avant Garde Theatre takes us back to Victorian London where we reimagine the paths of five characters in the novel through contemporary dance, music and inventive visual storytelling. for ages 8+. Shows 8pm (occasional matinees 1pm or 2pm); £18/£12 concs (Sep 28-Oct 15)
Thu-Sun: Spiegeltent at Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14 5AB (Canary Wharf tube/DLR/rail)
LAST CHANCE: The Spiegeltent is back for another bold season of dance, theatre, acrobatics, family concerts, comedy for kids, interactive activities and more for all ages. Tickets £5-£8, some activities FREE (Sep 22-Oct 2)
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: Shake, Rattle & Roll at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
A mind-enhancing experience for babies and toddlers, blending neuroscience with interactive theatre in a collaboration between scientists from Birkbeck University’s Baby Lab and theatre director Sarah Argent. For ages 0-18 months. Varying times from 11am; £12.50/concs £9; babies under 6 months FREE (until Oct 16)
Sat: Florence Nightingale Museum: Mary Seacole Family Day, Lambeth Palace Road, 2 Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7EW (Westminster/Waterloo tube)
Jamaican nurse and Crimean war heroine ‘Mother’ Mary Seacole is the subject and inspiration for this special family day, in honour of Black History Month. Kids can help investigate the ailments and remedies for sick soldiers and make a sniff bag to take home. For ages 5+, drop-in. 1pm-5pm, FREE (Oct 1)
Sat: Fenton House and Garden Apple Weekend, Hampstead Grove, Hampstead, London, NW3 6SP (Hampstead tube/Hampstead Heath overground)
Head to fabulous Fenton House and garden for their annual orchard harvesting event, with giant lawn games, cider and juice making, apple treats, crafts and stalls to explore. All ages. 11am-5pm; adult £9, child age 5+ £4, National Trust members FREE (Oct 1)
Sat-Sun: King’s Cross Classic Car Boots Sale, Lewis Cubitt Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4UZ (King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
Vintage vans and retro rides are all the rage this weekend as the Classic Car Boot Sale rolls into King’s Cross. The uber cool event features snazzy cars to gawp at, plus arts, crafts and fashion stalls, live music and DJs, street food and a buzzy atmosphere. All ages. All day; £5 entry, many activities FREE (Oct 1-2)
Sat-Sun: Family Travel Show at Olympia Central, W14 8UX (Olympia tube)
Head to Olympia to catch the best of travel providers for families, giving tons of inspiration for your holidays abroad and UK staycations. This year there’s loads on for kids including bush craft zone, active zone, scuba diving zone, photo booth and more. Don’t miss special talks by travel bloggers and writers designed to make you want to pack up and go! 10am-5pm (Sat), 10am-4pm (Sun); adult £8 1 day adv/£10 1 day entry; family day entry £14; child under 16 FREE (Oct 1-2)
Sat-Sun: Fun Palaces Weekend, multiple locations
Fun Palaces weekend is back with its bold claim ‘Everyone an Artist, Everyone a Scientist’ and hundreds of spots around London and the UK taking part. Highlights include driving cardboard cars in Greenwich, dancing in the streets in Woolwich and more. Visit http://funpalaces.co.uk/discover/ to find your nearest Fun Palace! All ages, FREE (Oct 1-2)
Sun Forty Hall Estate: Apple Fair, Forty Hall & Estate, Forty Hill, Enfield, London EN2 9HA (Oakwood tube, Enfield Town, Enfield Chase or Southbury rail)
Apples a-plenty abound at this fun day for all the family where you can try seasonal varieties, do some apple bobbing, catch a flea circus, watch Morris Dancers and Punch & Judy shows, buy take home treats and indulge in local ciders and juices. All ages. 10am-4pm; adult £5/child 3+ £2/under 3s FREE (Oct 2)
We also like
Zippo’s Circus bring their Wheel of Death plus more stunts, laughs and magic to Hampstead Heath, Lower Fairground Site (Thu-Tue Oct 4); the NFL on Regent St sees top US football stars creating plenty of hype in central London (Sat); The Big Draw festival of drawing is back at venues across London (Sat-Oct 31); last chance to experience a Virtual Orchestra for ages 7+ at Southbank Centre (Sun); Fun DMC hold a FREE hip hop block party for all ages at Rich Mix (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)
Basil the Great Mouse Detective (U) at 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Oct 1)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Nine Lives at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Oct 1)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
The BFG 2D (PG) at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Oct 1)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Song of the Sea at 11.30am; £1.75 (Oct 1)
Rich Mix Kids Cine Time, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
Ice Age: Collision Course at 12pm; £1.75 (Oct 1)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
La Belle et La Bete (PG, recommended for 9+) at 1.30pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (Oct 2)
Coming Soon
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Kubo and the Two Strings at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Oct 30)
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)
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!
London Kids Weekend Scoop (September 22-25, 2016)
