London with Kids: Fun Things to Do this Weekend

 
World Book Day today, what are your children dressed as? Mine were very last minute this year but at least I got them out of the house in time! This weekend in London, there’s family festivals, family discos, children’s theatre, family friendly walking tour and a very exciting LEGO exhibition. Have you seen LEGO Batman yet? Loved it. Happy weekend!

Thu: World Book Day + Win a Trip to Dubai!
So have you survived the costume drama that is World Book Day 2017? After all the fun (or grin and bear it) of the fancy dress parades, there’s still lots of bookish fun to enjoy around town. Check out the web site at www.worldbookday.com for events and activities near you. And wherever you are, you can enter Emirates’ World Book Day competition, giving kids and their families the chance to win a trip to Dubai! How to enter: simply share a photo of your child dressed up for World Book Day on social media, tagging @Emirates on Twitter and /Emirates on Facebook, and don’t forget to use the hashtags #FlightTimeStories and #WorldBookDay. This giveaway marks the launch of Emirates’ first children’s book Monkey on a Plane!, created by author and illustrator duo Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre, who will be picking the ultimate winners alongside Emirates judges. Runners up will receive a copy of Monkey on a Plane! for their troubles. Visit emiratesflighttimestories.com for more info (Mar 2)

Thu-Sun: The Iron Man at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
LAST CHANCE: The brilliant and beloved tale by Ted Hughes that has captured the imaginations not only of readers, but animators who turned the story into the Iron Giant movies, comes to Unicorn Theatre in a vibrant new adaptation. An alien machine drops into a field and struggles to make sense of the foreign environment, while chewing up tractors and other mechanical ‘food’. Under threat from those that don’t understand him, he’s befriended by a boy who might just be the answer to his uncertain future in the weird place we call earth. Thoughtful, funny and moving, The Iron Man is brought to life with stop-motion animation, puppets and paper-cut silhouettes. For ages 8+ and families. 11am & 2.30pm (Sat), 2pm (Sun); adult £12/child £8 (until Mar 5)

 

 
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
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 (from Mar 1)

Thu-Sun: Free Harry Potter Tours in London, Leicester Square (meeting points between M&M’s World & LEGO Store), WC2 (Leicester Square tube)
Are you Hogwarts mad? Do you want to find something new and fun to do in London with kids aka your fantastic beasts? Why not join a FREE Harry Potter tour around the capital led by one of the experts at Strawberry Tours. Meet in Leicester Square to begin your journey past iconic buildings, streets and neighbourhoods that inspired JK Rowling or featured in the Harry Potter flicks. Stroll down Diagon Alley and discover where you can find Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs, or even Dumbledore’s favorite: Sherbert Lemons! Meeting point is between the M&M’s World & Lego Store in Leicester Square, just look for the guide with the Strawberry umbrella. All ages welcome, although please note that tours last 2 and a half hours. 3.30pm, daily, FREE to join (tours available on a pay what it’s worth basis to suit everyone’s budget). Pre booking recommended on +44 (0)207 859 4996 (daily, ongoing)

Sat: So You Think You Know about Dinosaurs? at Royal Geographic Society, 1 Kensington Gore, Kensington SW7 2AR (South Kensington/Knightsbridge tube)
Was the T-Rex the deadliest predator in history? Did dinosaurs feed on their own families? Ben Garrod, better known as the TV scientist featured in Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur, delves into fascinating facts about our jurassic predecessors. Using photographs from his own dino digs along with TV film footage, Garrod helps bring the ancient species to life for your mini palaeontologists. All ages. 2.30pm, adult £22.50/child £16.50 (Mar 5)

Sat: Rave-a-Roo at Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP (Elephant & Castle/Borough tube)
Described as the “clubbing mash-up of festival fun for the whole family”, Rave-a-Roo is a kid friendly party at top London clubbing venue Ministry of Sound. Join DJ Cuddles and Mr Ben, hosts Dick & Dom and others for live music, stage performances, confetti action, neon crafting, Glow Chill Room, Funky Soft Play room, Old Skool Rave Room, UV tattoo station and Rave-A-Roo artists Go! Go! Go! (Dance Set) as seen on Nick Jr. 1pm-3pm & 4pm-6pm; £10.50 early bird, £13.50 adv, £20 door/group discounts available/babies in arms go FREE but require ticket (Mar 4)

 

 
Sat-Sun: Mini Rumpus: Woodland Tails at Vault Festival The Vaults, Leake St, London SE1 7NN (Waterloo tube/rail)
Go deep underground for a family extravaganza with Mini Rumpus, closing down this year’s Vault Festival in Waterloo’s tunnel venue. Enjoy a weekend of fun including folk/jazz/world musicians Tell Tale Tusk performing live, Figs in Wigs taking over the dance floor and Chivaree Circus bringing heir sell-out show ‘Becoming Shades’ into the mix. Look out for a baby yurt, campfire stories, mask making, face painting and more to delight your wild things. Fancy dress encouraged! 10am-2pm; tickets from adult £15/child £10 (early bird)/family of 4 £60 (Mar 4 & 5)

Sat-Sun: An American in Paris at Dominion Theatre, 268-269 Tottenham Court Rd, Fitzrovia W1T 7AQ (Tottenham Court Rd tube)
Described as ‘pure joy’ by the New York Times, an American in Paris twirls into the West End after scooping 4 TONY awards on Broadway and wowing Paris. Boasting one of the great dance numbers in history (Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron’s scene totally stole the movie), an American in Paris is bursting with Gershwin standards that you’ll be humming for weeks afterwards. The lavish production traces the story of an American soldier whose encounter with a Parisian dancer transforms his experience of the City of Light. The original Broadway cast of 50 dancers, actors and musicians takes the London stage. Prepare to be dazzled. For ages 6+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat); tickets from £19.50 (opens Mar 4)

 

 
Sun: Disco Loco Crazy Cat Carnival, at Hackney Showroom, Hackney Downs Studios, Amhurst Terrace, E8 2BT (Dalston Kingsland/Dalston Junction overground/Rectory Rd rail)
We’re past the official Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) but that’s no reason not to throw a fancy feline carnival in east London. Dance over to Hackney this Sunday for a Crazy Cat Carnival to get you purring into the week ahead. There’s 3 hours of music from DJs Earl Gateshead (Trojan Sound System), Emilia Harmony, Reverend Milo Speedwagon, hosted by the lovely MC Chu-i. Take part in the crazy cat dance competition, prizes, carnival cat walk and get your whiskers painted. Licensed bar and refreshments on offer. All ages welcome, from babies ages 6 months and up. 3-6pm, £3 per person adv/door, non-walkers FREE (Mar 5)

Sun: Wake Up Gigs: Family Friendly Live Music (top pic), Concrete Space at 56 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ (Shoreditch High St overground)
Wake Up Gigs is a wonderful sounding live music event, aimed at bringing new bands and baby makers together in the same space. Husband and wife team Adam and Sarada created the project because of their shared love of the live music scene, and that sense of missing out because of having to be home with a young kid. After the success of their launch event in November (raising £600+ for Barnardo’s), Wake Up Gigs returns this Sunday with Joel Sarakula, Peluché and Itchy Teeth on stage. Once again, all profits go to Barnardo’s. So pack your ear defenders (for the tots) and your dancing shoes, and get ready for an afternoon outing with a festival feel. Make it a proper day out and go browsing at Brick Lane market or let off even more steam at Spitalfields City Farm just down the road. All ages from babies upwards. 1pm-5pm; adult £12.50/child £5/babies, toddlers and infants FREE (Mar 5)

We also like
The Baby Show takes over ExCel London with tons of stalls, bargains and activities devoted to newborns and infants (Fri-Sun); girls ages 4 to 22 are invited to a STEM hackathon for International Woman Day, run by the Stemettes, 10am-4pm (Sat); illustrator Sophia Ward leads a FREE session of creative crafting for families with kids ages 6-12 at Somerset House to explore History, Mystery & Futures Foretold (Sat); demystify code for your little ones (and yourself!) at the Institute of Imaginations: Lab Life afternoon of tinkering, crafting and programming for just £5 per ticket (Sat); go beyond the selfie at this investigation into identity and gender at JW3, titled ‘How Do You See Yourself?’, ages 6+ and adults (Sun); enjoy thrills, spills and lots of laughs for ages 2-5 with tree mole Chester Tuffnut at Arts Depot (Sun)

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: Toy Story (U), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Mar 4)

Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Alice in Wonderland at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Mar 4)

Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
Alice Through the Looking Glass at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Mar 4)

Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Swallows & Amazons at 11.30am; £1.75 (Mar 4)

BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Dr Doolittle at 11.30pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (Mar 5)

Prince Charles Cinema: Kids Matinee Season, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
Space Jam at 12.30pm; £8 non-member/£5.50 member/£3 child (Mar 5)

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

WOW Women of the World at Southbank Centre (Mar 7-14)
Cinnamon Kitchen: Play Holi in the City (Mar 7-18)
Affordable Art Fair Battersea (Mar 9-12)
Move it Dance Weekend (Mar 10-12)
Fun DMC with Jazzie B (Mar 12)
Mwalimu Express African family adventure at Rich Mix (Mar 19)
Mother’s Day (Mar 26)
All About Piano at Institut Francais (Mar 31-Apr 2)