London Kids Weekend Scoop (November 24-27, 2016)

 

 
We’re back with another London Kids Weekend Scoop showing off the best of our city for families with some great children’s theatre, family friendly arts events and kids cinema picks to keep you busy.

The Christmas in London guide is jam-packed with ideas to slot into your planner for the festive period, in the meantime, check out some of the fun stuff happening this weekend. Look out for my Christmas Theatre guide out soon!

Thu-Sun: Half Moon Theatre: Leaf (top pic), Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 0ND (Limehouse DLR/Stepney Green tube)
In this heartwarming production by Tam Tam Theatre, teeny theatregoers are invited to interact with the changing seasons. Follow the journey of a leaf from its birth, through its growth, as it changes colour and finally falls off the tree… but then spring comes and a new leaf sprouts. Drawing on an evocative soundscape and engaging storytelling that made hits out of previous shows Circles in the Sand and Curious, this theatre piece is set to enchant even the youngest audiences. For ages 0 to 3. 10am, 11.30am & 1.30pm (Fri), 10am, 11.30am & 2pm (Sat); £7 (Nov 24-26)

Thu-Sun: Theatre 503: Scrooge and the Seven Dwarves, at Theatre 503 (above Latchmere Pub on the corner of Latchmere Road and Battersea Park Road), SW11 3BW (Clapham Junction rail/Sloane Square, South Kensington, Vauxhall tube then bus)
Hooray, it’s pantomime season again (oh no it isn’t, oh yes… etc)! If you fancy your panto with a bit less mime and a lot more mayhem, then twinkle toes along to Battersea where hit trio Sleeping Trees are back by popular demand. Following the gigantically successful Cinderella & the Beanstalk, the award winning comedy crew present fast-paced, physical comedy in a Christmas carol that manages to pack in Santa, Scrooge, a Wicked Witch and the Seven Dwarves to boot. Cracking good fun for ages 6+ (younger ones ages 2 and under also welcome, on parent/carer’s lap). 3pm, 7pm & 7.30pm (varying times, Tue-Sun); adult £15/child £12/adult + baby £15/family of 4 £40 (Nov 23-Jan 7, 2017)

Thu-Sun Westfield London Skate in StyleShepherd’s Bush, W12 7SL (Shepherd’s Bush tube/overground)
Shop until your wallet pops, then hit the ice rink at Westfield’s special Skate in Style activity sponsored by Coach. Enjoy skating with friends and family, meet #Rexythecoachdino and relax in the Coach lounge. Ages 4+. Varying times from 10am-9pm (Mon-Sat) and 12-6pm (Sun); adult from £10.50 off peak, £12.50 peak/child £8.50 + £5 stabilising seals and penguins (Nov 24-Jan 8)
(FIND MORE ICE SKATING IN OUR CHRISTMAS IN LONDON GUIDE, LINK AT BOTTOM)

Thu-Sun: Science Museum Wonderlab: The Statoil Gallery, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD (South Kensington tube)
The world’s most spectacular interactive gallery has just opened to the public, with 7 different zones and 50 mind-blowing marvels to discover. Wonderlab reveals the beauty of science and maths as it shapes our everyday lives, and features daily shows including Flash Bang Wallop (think explosions!) and The Rocket Show. You can watch lightning strike before your very eyes, order up a concoction from the Chemistry Bar, or whizz down the giant slides… and that’s just for starters! We weren’t too chuffed about Science Museum charging for its discovery space, but the Wonderlab sounds amazing and you can buy an annual pass to visit again and again and again. All ages. 10am-6pm, day pass from £6 /annual pass from £10 or £39 per family (ongoing)

 

 
Fri-Sun: Babe the Sheep Pig at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
A pig who thinks he’s a sheepdog? A family book-turned-film favourite makes its way to the stage at this Polka Theatre adaptation of the story of Babe, the sheep pig. When the piglet arrives at Hogget’s Farm, he discovers hidden talents and soon makes a name for himself, but can Babe not only win over the sheep but save the farm from danger? Every hog has his day in this charming production packed with puppetry, original music and lots of laughs. For ages 5 to 11. Varying times (Wed-Sun), £18.50 (Nov 25-Feb 5, 2017)

Sat: Foyles: Snowball 2016, 107 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DT (Charing Cross Rd/Tottenham Court Rd tube)
Wrap up warm this weekend, there’s a blizzard of books on its way at Snowball 2016, the winter literature festival for kids of all ages at Foyles Bookstore. Come ready for a day of fun and stimulating entertainment from a handful of indie publishers, with plenty to appeal to your junior bookworms. 9.30am to 5pm; £3/£5 advance booking strongly recommended (Nov 26)

 

 
Sat: Stratford Circus: Underneath a Magical Moon, Stratford Circus Arts Centre, Theatre Square, E15 1BX (Stratford tube/rail/overground/DLR)
Writer Mike Kenny adapts one of my all time favourite kids’ fantasies, Peter Pan, spinning things from the angle of Wendy Darling. Glancing out at the night sky through her window, Wendy imagines blue lagoons and mermaids, but on a night filled with magic, anything can happen… Soar with Wendy and friends to Neverland where a life changing adventure awaits, in a show laced with music ’tutti frutti’ magic. Ages 3 to 7 (younger ones welcome). 11.30am & 3pm; £8-£10/babies under 18 months FREE if sitting on adult’s lap (Nov 26)

Sat-Sun: Enchanted Christmas House, at London Art House, 2-18 Britannia Row, N1 8PA (Angel tube)
One of the more popular Christmas in London experiences that parents and kids rave about and book year after year… Your child will be entranced by this unique setting where they can play in the Garden of Winter Wonder, help to decorate Gingerbread Men in the Gingerbread Kitchen, assist Santa’s elves in the Busy Elves’ Workshop, stop by the Genies’ Christmas Cave, tuck into a winter picnic and take part in an interactive show. There are bespoke visits with Santa and for adults, it’s a wonderful chance to discover this beautiful venue in Islington. 10.30am & 2.30pm for three hour sessions (from 9.30am & 1.30pm on Dec 24); ticket range £129 (family of 2) up to £340 (family of 7) (Nov 26-Dec 24)

Sat-Sun: Hackney Empire Pantomime: Sleeping Beauty, 291 Mare St, E8 (Hackney Central overground)
The number one pantomime in London returns to Hackney Empire with its usual mix of dizzy dames, larger-than-life rogues, and more than a few tummy-clutching gags. In the land of Hackneytonia where unicorns and fairies reign, evil Carabosse casts a wicked spell over Princess Tahlia. But will she recover in time to change her fate? Get set for a sparkling evening of laughs, songs and surprises. All ages. 1pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 5.30pm, 7pm (times vary daily, check site); £10-£36 (Nov 26-Jan 8)

(FIND MORE CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN OUR CHRISTMAS IN LONDON GUIDE, LINK AT BOTTOM)

 

 
Sun: OKIDO Family Party at the Doodle Bar, The Doodle Bar, 60 Druid Street, SE1 2EZ (Bermondsey tube)
Go south to the Doodle Bar in Bermondsey for a day of drawing, creativity and games in the company of OKIDO, the popular arts and learning magazine for kids. Spend three hours at this celebration of crafting, music, family fun and more with food and drinks and screenings of hit CBeebies show Messy Goes to OKIDO. Scribbling all over the walls is welcome for all ages! 2pm-5pm, £0-£5 (Nov 27)

Sun: Rich Mix: Exchange Festival, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
Open The Gate presents its 2nd edition of the Exchange Festival: a free one-day showcase of World music, family workshops, the colourful African Market featuring handpicked designers from Africa and beyond, massage sessions, face-painting, African food (om nom nom), family workshops, film and much more. Don’t miss the opportunity to hang out in this vibrant, cosmopolitan space. 12pm until midnight, FREE entry (Nov 27)

Sun: Parasol Unit Family Workshop: The Opposite of Nothing, 14 Wharf Road Islington N1 7RW (Old St tube)
One of the great local stops for Islington parents, Parasol Arts unit hosts another popular workshop, this time inspired by their latest exhibition by Robert Therrien. Join Lala Thorpe in sketching and creating large scale shapes with paper and cardboard, then constructing a mini narrative for your characters to build your own theatre piece. Best for ages 5+. 2.30pm-4pm, £7 per family (Nov 27)

Sun: Kensington Mums Christmas Fair at Kensington Close Hotel, Wrights Lane, W8 5SP (High St Kensington tube)
It’s the second annual Christmas Fair for the Kensington Mums posse, also celebrating their 5th anniversary this year. Come along and enjoy a mix of shopping and fun family activities including face painting, hair braiding, arts and crafts and a few surprises. Stalls from Club Petit Pierrot, Hesper Fox, Bambini and Me and others offer plenty of range to find some great Christmas gifts… or a treat for yourself! 10am-5pm, FREE entry (Nov 27)

We also like
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, have you seen it? We’re so excited for this film, out at cinemas across the UK (daily); make mini compositions at a Royal Academy of Music Family Workshop (Sat); pick up some Victorian variety tricks at British Library family day for ages 5-11 (Sun); enter the family studio at Royal Academy of Arts to take part in a print workshop inspired by their Abstract Expressionism show (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)
Long Way North (PG) at 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Nov 26)

Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Storks at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Nov 26)

Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
Kids Club: LIAF (U) at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Nov 26)

Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Long Way North at 11.30am; £1.75 (Nov 26)

Coming Soon

BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The Wiz at 12.30pm (Oct 23) & 2pm (Oct 24) and Annie at 2.30pm (Oct 25) & 1pm (Oct 30); adult £11.75/child £4 (Nov 27)

Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Trolls at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Nov 27)

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!

OUT NOW: Our guide to Christmas in London: 30 COOLEST Things to do with Kids