Fun things to do for London Kids this weekend
Japanese drummers in Holborn, African grooves off Brick Lane, graffiti for kids and families in Piccadilly and a Velveteen Rabbit just around the corner from London Bridge station. So much to do in today’s London Kids Weekend Scoop!
Thu-Sat: Cinnamon Kitchen: House of Holi, 9 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YL (Bank tube/Liverpool St tube, rail)
LAST CHANCE: Come and have some Holi fun in the pop-up paint pod outside Cinnamon Kitchen. Gather your family and/or a group of friends, slip into your protective white suits and get your splash on to mark the Indian festival of colour (announcing the arrival of spring). It’s officially Holi day on March 13 but the paint party’s happening this week and next, 30 minutes per session. If you’ve worked up an appetite, you can enjoy some Holi bites and special cocktail/mocktail or Kingfisher beer (£15), or dig in for a delicious spread at Cinnamon Kitchen for £38 per person (includes Play Holi session). All ages welcome although take special care with little ones (especially that the powder doesn’t get in their eyes) — also protective suits are only in adult size so make sure they’re not wearing their Sunday best! 2pm to 2.30pm then every hour until 7pm-7.30pm (Mon-Fri); 12pm-12.30pm then every hour until 7pm-7.30pm (Sat); 12pm-12.30pm then every hour until 4pm-4.30pm (Sun); £8 per person/£15 including nibbles and drinks/£38 including 5-course Holi menu (Mar 7-18)
Thu-Sun: Yamato: The Drummers of Japan at Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
Power, rhythm and tons of expression, the Yamato drummers are back with a BANG. More than 6 million fans across the globe have seen these performers from Japan, whose incredible strength, skill and precision produces a sound and spectacle that simply blows audiences away. 2.30pm & 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2pm & 6.30pm (Sun); £15-£38/under 16s half price (Mar 14-25)
Thu-Sun: Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes, Upper Ground, South Bank, (right behind National Theatre and the BFI, and next door to the Rambert Ballet Company), SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
After its original outing on Brick Lane, the Art of the Brick presents a special DC Super Heroes edition on the South Bank, featuring 120+ creations made with 2 million+ LEGO bricks. All your faves are represented: Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Green Lantern and more, plus super baddies like The Joker crafted brick by brick by artist Nathan Sawaya. Gawp at a life size LEGO Batmobile, or catch the Man of Steel transformed into a Man of Bricks soaring above your head. Visit the exhibition in a purpose built tent on Upper Ground, right behind National Theatre and the BFI, and next door to the Rambert Ballet Company. All ages welcome. From 10am daily; adult £16.50/child age 4-16 £11/under 4s FREE (until Sep 3)
Thu-Fri: Daunt Books Festival, 83 Marylebone High Street, W1U 4QW (Baker St/Bond St tube)
Wonderful independent booksellers Daunt Books hold their annual festival at the Marylebone branch, with a variety of talks, readings and activities for various ages. This Friday, hear tales of boarding schools, child detectives and more in the company of authors Robin Stevens (A Murder Most Unladylike) and Katherine Woodfine (The Painted Dragon). Ages 8+. 5pm, FREE (other events £6). Delicious treats for the festival provided thanks to Rococo Chocolates, Bea’s Cake Boutique and more. (Mar 16-17)
Fri-Sun: The Velveteen Rabbit at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
By popular demand, this enchanting adaptation of the classic US children’s story returns to the Unicorn Theatre just ahead of Easter. Follow the tale of a once beloved toy rabbit who desperately wishes to become real but has to bide his time, while the Boy plays with all his other toys. Will he be rediscovered and have his deepest dream come true? Book ahead for Tea with Rabbit over the Easter holidays (Apr 5, 7, 13 & 15, adult £8.50/child £4.50) that includes bunny craft activities and a cream tea on stage with the cast. For ages 5+, not suitable for younger ones. Varying show times between 10.30am & 7pm (check website), adult £12-£18/child £8-£12 (Mar 17-Apr 15)
Sun: Royal Academy Family Studio: Graffiti Workshop (top pic), John Madejski Fine Rooms, Burlington House, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Try your hands at one of the 5 pillars of hip hop, Graffiti, the art form that burst onto the cultural scene in NYC in the late 1960s. Using stencils and scribbles, you can experiment with colours, logos and ideas to create your own style of wall painting. Tag totems celebrating the work of some of the top street artists around the globe, as featured in the exhibition America after Fall: Painting in the 1930s. All ages welcome. Drop-in 11am-3pm; FREE (Mar 19 & Mar 26)
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Sun: Mwalimu Express African family adventure at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)Hop on the Mwalimu Express, an African soul train for all the family featuring food, fashion and arts and crafts stalls, film, live music and more! DJs Rita Ray and Max Einhardt keep the mood lively, you can try your hand at African board games with the Oware society, step out to Parent and Toddler dance, and cap off the day with an African film. This weekend it’s a Congolese/Cuban meltdown with Grupo Lokito on stage while on screen there’s See Democrazy in Action! All ages welcome. 2pm-6pm, FREE (Mar 19 & 3rd Sundays monthly)
Sun: Royal College of Music: Orchestra in a Day at Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Rd, SW7 2BS (South Kensington tube)
Join talent from the Royal College of Music and Albert’s Band (from Royal Albert Hall) in this special workshop for budding musicians. Create a mini-orchestra performing some classical showstoppers, then head to Royal Albert Hall for a chance to see a live symphony in action, including dazzling light effects, cannons and fireworks! Suitable for beginners up to Grade 5 (ages 6-9 & 10-12). 10.45am, £25 – ticket includes entry for 2 to Royal Albert Hall’s Classical Spectacular (Mar 19)
Sun: Keats House Family Day: A Faery’s Child, Keats House, 10 Keats Grove, Hampstead NW3 2RR (Hampstead Heath overground)
As the weather picks up, it’s a perfect weekend to head to the handsome Georgian villa formerly owned by poet John Keats. This Sunday, you can make some magical memories with the kids at Keats House. Little ones are encouraged to build a toadstool house for faery’s, elves and goblins and also listen to some faery-filled poetry. All ages welcome. Drop-in 1pm-4pm, FREE (Mar 19)
Sun: National Portrait Gallery: Family Workshop with School of Noise, St Martin’s Place (off Trafalgar Square), WC2H 0HE (Charing Cross tube)
Art and music collide as the School of Noise takeover the National Portrait Gallery’s family friendly workshops. Get inspired by the portraits to create your own sound experiments, using a mix of noise making and sculpting tools. 1pm-2.30pm (ages 3+) and 3pm-4.30pm (ages 7+); FREE, check signage on the day for details (Mar 19)
London with 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 – Anthony Horowitz presents: The Muppets (U), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Mar 18)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Sing at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Mar 18)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
LIAF shorts at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Mar 18)
Prince Charles Cinema: Kids Matinee Season, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
The Princess Bride 30th Anniversary Screening (PG) at 3.40pm; £12.50 non-member/£10 members (Mar 18)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Bedknobs & Broomsticks at 11.30am; £1.75 (Mar 18)
Coming Soon
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Sing at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Mar 26)
Booking Ahead
Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild at Hackney Empire (Mar 22-25)
Nibble + Squeak Family Fine Dining at Taberna do Mercado, Spitalfields (Mar 25)
Mother’s Day (Mar 26)
Forbidden Forest at WB Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter (opens Mar 31)
All About Piano at Institut Francais (Mar 31-Apr 2)
The Goat Race at Spitalfields City Farm (Apr 2)
Easter Holiday and Easter Egg Hunting guides out soon!
Fun DMC Block Party for Kids with Jazzie B!
