The sprint is on! Next weekend will be Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so make the most of the last days of pre-panic mode. Our London Kids Weekend Scoop has you covered with family theatre, Christmas movies and more. Enjoy x
DON’T MISS: Our guide to Christmas in London: 30 COOLEST Things to do with Kids
Thu-Sat: Milk & Biscuits Creative Christmas Pop-up Shop, The Hackney Shop: 99 Morning Lane, E9 6ND (Hackney Central overground)
Cool and quirky Anglo-Chinese brand Milk & Biscuits are holding another pop-up, following on from their last successful event in Hackney. At the Milk & Biscuits Creative Christmas shop, you can scope out their Autumn range as well as a sneak peek of their Spring/Summer 2017 collection and there are some amazing discounts to be had. Kids can try their hands at badge-making with the Amazing Art Cart on Saturday. All ages welcome. 10am-5pm, FREE entry although charges apply for workshops (until Dec 17)
Don’t forget you can Win £50 Voucher to spend on Milk & Biscuits clothing in our 12 Days of Xmas 2016!
Thu-Sun: Oily Cart: In a Pickle at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Celebrating their 35th anniversary, Oily Cart present an immersive theatre experience for very young viewers, loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. A shepherdess discovers a lost baby and has to follow a trail of clues over the salty sea to find a happy ending. Oily Cart’s trademark multi sensory magic infuses this show filled with lovely perfumes, delightful textures and gorgeous costumes and music. For ages 3 to 5. 10.30am & 1.30pm, some shows at 1.15pm, no shows Christmas Day/Boxing Day; £8-£10 (Dec 13-31)
Thu-Sun: Sponge at The Pit at Barbican Theatre, Barbican Centre, Silk St, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican/Moorgate tube)
Set to an original score influenced by music from the 1970s, Sponge invites you to join two friendly dancers in a series of squishy, squashy environments made for play. Dance company Turned on its Head gets audiences rolling, squeezing and popping through this creative show made for babies, young kids and their families. Ages 3 months and upwards. 10.30am & 11am (ages 3-14 months), 1pm, 1.30pm & 3.30pm (ages 3 months-4 years); £8.50 (Dec 13-21)
(FIND MORE CHRISTMAS SHOWS IN OUR
LONDON CHRISTMAS THEATRE GUIDE)
Thu-Sun: Wallpaper Magazine Hygge Market at King’s Cross, West Handyside Canopy, King’s Cross, N1C (King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
If you don’t know about hygge, I can’t imagine where you’ve been hibernating. The definition of Nordic cosy cool has inspired this themed market held by uber trendy Wallpaper magazine. Showcasing the finest in Scandi design, the Hygge Market lets visitors explore some great craftsmanship and eclectic gift ideas. You can also tuck into a Scandi-inspired feast at fabulous spot The Lighterman overlooking Granary Square. 12-8pm (Thu-Sat) & 12pm-6pm (Sun), FREE (until Dec 18)
Thu-Sun: Flip Out Trampoline Park at Bendon Valley, Earlsfield, SW18 4LZ
Jump around, jump around! The babes love it at Oxygen Freejump, one of the biggest trampoline parks in London and now Flip Out has topped that with a 45,000 square feet centre of wall to wall bouncy space. The world’s fastest growing trampoline park franchise comes with parkour area, slam dunk and slam time basketball zones, foam pits, and 100s of interconnected trampolines. There’s a dedicated kids’ area as well as special family sessions including Little Ninjas and Mini Flippers aimed at mums, dads and their little ones. All ages welcome, kids under 13 require a carer present. 9am-10pm (Sun-Thu) & 9am-11pm (Fri-Sat); £10-£12.50 per 1hr session (ongoing)
Fri-Sun: Winter on the Green featuring Big Fish Little Fish, Parson’s Green, off New King’s Rd, SW6 4UJ (Parson’s Green/Fulham Broadway tube)
Head south to this brand new winter festival, Winter on the Green that promises a marvellous array of fun and festive goodness for all ages. There will be an outdoor cinema screening Christmas movies, a fun fair, Christmas market stalls where you can pick up edible treats and gifts of all types, an all-weather ice rink and of course, Santa’s grotto. Plus our favourite family ravers Big Fish Little Fish will make a special appearance (Dec 17, 2pm-4pm) to get that Christmas party spirit started (think club DJs, crafts and glitter!). From 10.30am; general entry £5; ice skating adult £12.50/child £9.50; outdoor cinema adult £12.50/child £6.50-£9.50; fun fair ride & Santa’s grotto £5; family rave adult £9/child £6/pre-walkers FREE (Dec 16-18)
Fri-Sun: Le Gateau Chocolat presents Duckie at Blue Room Level 1, Royal Festival Hall, Spirit Level, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Set in an animal circus, Duckie is a tale of self-discovery by critically acclaimed cabaret wonder Le Gateau Chocolat. In a quirky take on what it’s like to feel different and how to find your mojo in a strange world, Le Gateau Chocolat breaks out of his shell to create his first work for children, suitable for adults too. Ages 6+. 11am & 3pm; £14 (Dec 16-24)
Sat-Sun: City Cruises: Sail with Santa, from Tower Pier, Lower Thames River, EC3N 4DT (Tower Hill tube)
Ahoy mateys. Every day from Saturday until Christmas Eve, City Cruises offers a quirky adventure this Christmas in London: Sail with Santa along the River Thames! Father Christmas swaps his sleigh for a boat and you can join the ride, earning a soft drink and a cookie as well as a gift for kids who keep him company. Mulled wine and mince pies will get the adults in a merry mood too (there’s bubbly at the cafe/bar if you fancy it). All ages. 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm & 4pm; adult £25/child under 18 £15/under 3s FREE (daily from Dec 17-24)
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)
Framed Film Club Christmas Party in association with BAFTA Kids, 10am workshop, 11am film; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Dec 17)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
The Grinch + Christmas Party at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Dec 17)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Dec 17)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Frozen at 11.30am; £1.75 (Dec 17)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
It’s a Wonderful Life at 2.50pm (Sat 17), 2.30pm & 8.40pm (Tue 20), 8.30pm (Thu 22), 6.05pm (Fri 23); adult £11.75/child £4 (Dec 17-23)
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Storks at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Dec 18)
Check out our Parent & Baby cinema guide;
and our picks for Top 150 Family Films
Beautifully Undressed Lingerie Gift Set (12 Days of Xmas 2016)
