Mother’s Day Weekend Scoop (March 23-26, 2017)

 

 
Happy Mother’s Day weekend! There are so many ways to treat that special mama (or mother figure) in your life this weekend, from dazzling family theatre to feel-good family concerts. Our Mother’s Day Weekend Scoop for London Families features activities all over town. Enjoy x
 

Celebrate Mother’s Day Weekend in London

 
Thu-Sun: Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild at Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, E8 1EJ (Hackney Central overground)
Michael Morpurgo’s novel, based on a true story, is brought to life at Hackney Empire by directors Timothy Sheader and Dale Rooks. Follow the journey of Lilly who arrives in Indonesia with her mum for a fresh start. But after a tsunami hits, Lilly finds herself atop her new friend Oona the elephant, lost in the jungle. This visually and emotionally charged adventure is given extra wow factor by the same puppetry design team from West End hit War Horse. Stay on for a pre-show interactive presentation for families with kids ages 8 to 13 on Sat Mar 25, 12.30pm (free for Saturday 2.30pm ticket holders). For ages 6+. 11am & 7pm (Fri), 2.30pm & 7pm (Sat); £12-£25 (until Mar 25)

 

 
Thu-Sun: The Missing Light at The Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 8NB (Waterloo tube/rail)
Described as ‘one of the most genuinely moving shows I’ve seen’ by WhatsOnStage, The Missing Light tells the story of Warple, a newcomer to a small fishing village. He meets neighbour Hilda, who spends her nights looking to the horizon hoping for her long-lost husband to return. A graceful and technically dazzling tale of loneliness and unexpected life twists, told through puppetry, music and live animation. There’s even a special Kids Menu available for munchkins who want to have a bite before or after the show. For ages 7+. 1.30pm (Fri 24), 2.30pm (Mon 27), 11.15am (Tue 28), 11.15am, 1.30pm (Thu 30 & Fri 31), 11.15am (Sat Apr 1), 11.15am & 1.30pm (Mon 3 & Tue 4); adult £12/child £6 (Mar 23-Apr 4)

Thu-Sun: Yamato: The Drummers of Japan at Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
LAST CHANCE: 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)

 

 
Fri: Baby Broadway in Stoke Newington, The Old Church, Stoke Newington Church St, N16 9ES (Finsbury Park tube/rail, Stoke Newington rail, Manor House/Arsenal tube)
Get ready for a morning of toe-tapping delights this Mother’s Day weekend as Baby Broadway returns to its inaugural venue at The Old Church. These family friendly concerts are guaranteed to put you in a good mood, as West End singers bust out show tunes from The Sound of Music, Frozen, The Commitments and more. Visitors are encouraged to sing (and dance) along and these shows are designed for all ages from babies in buggies to school-age kids and their grown ups/grandparents too. If the weather’s nice, gorgeous Clissold Park – home to ducks, chickens and even deer – is just around the corner for an early afternoon play before lunch. 11am, adult £10/child FREE (Mar 24)

Fri-Sun: Ideal Home Show at Olympia London, Hammersmith Rd, W14 8UX (Kensington Olympia tube)
Head west on Mother’s Day weekend to this huge extravaganza featuring all the latest inspiration for your home. From the newest in high-tech gadgets to stunning interiors and funky furnishings. If you’re hoping to get a new kitchen fitted or to get tips on garden design, look no further for ideas from experts and showcases. Watch out for celebrity guests and lots of extras including Ideal Champagne Bar and Pamper Lounge. 10am-6pm (Mon-Sat), 10am-5pm (Sun); weekday adult £13 adv, £19 door/weekend adult £15 adv, £21 door/VIP tickets £30-£40/child under 15 FREE but require ticket (Mar 24-Apr 9)

Fri-Sun: Florimania at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU (Hampton Court rail)
Say it with flowers at this annual Mother’s Day weekend event, showing off some blooming lovely arrangements in mighty fine surroundings. Catch flower arrangement demos, wander through daffodils in the Wilderness, and gawp at an array of gorgeous florals in King William III’s state apartments. And of course there’s the famous Maze to explore too! 10am-4.30pm; general entry adult from £18.40/under 16s from £9.20/under 5s FREE (Mar 24-26)

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)

Sat: Meri Meri’s Easter Egg Hunt Kit Making Day at Molly Meg, 111 Essex Road, Islington, London, N1 2SL (Angel/Highbury & Islington tube)
Here’s one for you crafty Easter bunnies… fab store Molly Meg right here in my ‘hood (Islington) is hosting a family workshop ahead of Easter. Join party wizards Meri Meri to make a DIY Easter egg hunt by decorating your own signs with pompoms, goggly eyes, tassels, glitter letters and lots of colour. Each child receives a party bag with materials included. Hop to it! All ages welcome. 11.30am-3.30pm, FREE (Mar 25)

 

 
Sat-Sun: Mother’s Day Weekend with Mother at Battersea Power Station (Circus West Village), 188 Kirtling St, London SW8 5BN (Battersea Park/Queenstown Rd rail/Sloane Sq or Vauxhall tube)
What better way to say thank you to mama than to stuff her with excellent pizza from the aptly named Mother, the pizza phenomenon from Copenhagen. The pop-up wood burning pizza oven are offering complimentary slices of their sourdough pizza (purified with seawater apparently) throughout the weekend. If that’s not enough, there’s also kids activities including Mother’s Day biscuit decorating drop-in workshop, free drinks from Black Cab Coffee Co, outdoor games, giant bubble maker and more fun. 10am-4pm, FREE (Mar 25-26)

Sat-Sun: Magical Museum Sleepover at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9PA (Bethnal Green Tube)
We love the Museum of Childhood and we’re enchanted by the sound of this Magical Museum Sleepover. Imagine waking up on Mother’s Day at the museum, after an evening of spell casting, bringing mythical beasts to life, going on a twilight trail, and sleeping surrounded by puppets, fairies and trains. Sounds like Mum would appreciate a well-deserved cuppa after all that! And sure enough, there’s a delicious breakfast to enjoy on the Marble Floor of the Museum, before it opens to the public. Top it all off with a secret performance! Ages 6-12 and an adult care. 7pm-9am; £45 per person (Mar 25-26)

Sun: The Jungle Book at Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Mother’s Day weekend takes a nostalgic turn for fans of Disney’s original Jungle Book animation classic, inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s book. Shake and shimmy with your cubs at this special screening of the popular movie, accompanied by live music. All together now: ‘It’s just the bare necessities, those simple bare necessities…’ All ages. 3pm & 7pm; £22.50-£75 (Mar 26)

 

 
Sun: Royal Academy Family Studio: Graffiti Workshop, 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 26)

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: Babes (U), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Mar 25)

Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
LEGO Batman Movie at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Mar 25)

Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
Moana at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Mar 25)

Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Mary Poppins at 11.30am; £1.75 (Mar 25)

Prince Charles Cinema: Kids Matinee Season, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
Sing-a-Long-a Frozen (PG) at 12.30pm; non-member£16/child £10 (Mar 26)

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

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)
The Cancer Research UK Boat Race (Apr 2)

Easter Holiday and Easter Egg Hunting guides out soon!