Welcome back, have you recovered from the Easter holiday and inevitable chocolate hangover? We had some wonderful adventures over the break including a River Thames cruise with afternoon tea, a Mini Cooper tour of London (review soon) and an interactive STEM show, We’re Stuck, reviewed below. There are so many great things to do in London and this weekend is packed with fun stuff. Have a good one!
London Kids Weekend Review: We’re Stuck at Shoreditch Town Hall
Over the Easter break, the Babes and mama headed to Shoreditch to watch We’re Stuck (top picture), a code-cracking adventure. From the entrance, when the kids were each addressed as ‘professor’ and we had our skin swabbed for ‘test tube samples’, we knew this would be a fun and unusual experience. The immersive production whizzed us from one ‘lab’ room to another on a madcap mission led by wacky scientists of Volcano Industries, a hapless assistant and a very clever intern. When one of their robots switched from Thriller moves to Kill Mode (eek!), we found ourselves in a race against time. Our junior professors had to use deductive skills to save mankind from being replaced by evil humanoids!
This show was brilliantly done, well acted (I couldn’t stop giggling at Professor Volcano’s silliness), and completely absorbing for kids ranging from 6 to 12. Ezra and Jed were fully caught up in the story and loved being singled out for various challenges. I loved the message about how getting stuck and making mistakes is an essential part of learning. The show was developed by Sarah Punshon in association with Maths on Toast, a fantastic organisation frequently listed in our Weekend Scoop. We’re Stuck was featured in our Easter holiday guide. Make sure you Subscribe to Babes About Town by Email so you don’t miss out on any great events around town!
London Kids Weekend Scoop
Fri: St Katharine Docks Tea Dance for National Tea Day, St Katharine Marina, 50 St Katharine’s Way, St Katharine’s & Wapping, London E1W 1LA (Tower Gateway DLR, Tower Hill tube)
St Katharine Docks, the only Marina in central London, is celebrating the nation’s favourite drink with their second annual tea dance. Coinciding with both National Tea Day and Her Majesty’s 91st Birthday, it should be a knees-up to remember with the Ragroof Players hosting two-hour tea dances with vintage music from the 1920s to the 1950s. There’s also cakes, scones an sandwiches for sale from Tom’s Kitchen, delicious grub at the Friday World Food Market and of course plenty of chances to enjoy a cuppa. So raise a cuppa to St Katharine Docks’ pivotal role in the tea industry (as a former centre of British commercial trade) as well as to Her Maj and the nation’s favourite drink. 11am-3pm (World Food Market), tea served 12pm-7pm, tea dances 12pm-2pm and 5pm-7pm, FREE entry (Apr 21)
Sat: Classical Babies, Villa in Canto & Villa Pia present The Barber of Seville at Normansfield Theatre, Normansfield, 2A Langdon Park,
Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 9PS (Hampton Wick rail)
The simply marvellous Classical Babies, Italian opera company ‘Villa in Canto’ and the ELM are collaborating on another baby-friendly operatic afternoon at the stunning Normansfield Theatre. Bring your little one to this relaxed and intimate production of The Barber of Seville, created especially for children. The hour-long performance will feature sets and costume and the theatre is designed for kids with blankets and teddies, with space for prams. This is a wonderfully engaging first opera session that’s suitable for all, but ideal for babies from newborn to kids ages 5, plus their adult carers. 4pm, adult £12/child FREE (Apr 23)
Sat: Naomi’s Wild and Scary at Royal Geographic Society, 1 Kensington Gore, Kensington SW7 2AR (South Kensington/Knightsbridge tube)
Kids TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson, presenter of CBBC’s Naomi’s Nightmares of Nature, brings her wild and wonderful show to the RGS this weekend. Journey from Borneo, to Belize, Africa to Australia, as Naomi and her guest, zoologist and exotic pet breeder ‘Animal Mark’ (Mark Amey), present an interactive show that will thrill (and possibly frighten) you and your mini critters. Meet some of the scariest animals these intrepid explorers have encountered on their travels, and learn how Naomi overcame her fear of spiders and sharks! 2.30pm; adult £22.50/child, concs £16.50 (Apr 22)
Sat: Tower Bridge Exhibition: The Working Bridge, Tower Bridge Road, SE1 2UP (Tower Hill/London Bridge tube/rail, Tower Gateway DLR)
Fancy yourself as a bit of an engineer? Ever wondered what it’s like to work at one of London’s most famous bridges? Well now’s your chance! Tower Bridge is inviting mini makers and their adults along for another of their popular Family Activity sessions. Pop in to tour the landmark Walkways and make your own Bridge maker’s hat to take home. Recommended for ages 6-10, but all ages welcome. Activities included in price of admission. 10.30am-4pm; adult £9/child 5-15 £3.90/under 5s FREE/family £14.10-£22.50 (Apr 22)
Sat: Mini Maestro Family Concert at St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ (Charing Cross tube)
Enjoy a delightful early years concert, in the company of the London Musical Arts Ensemble and conductor John Landor. This week, it’s all about some of the biggest classical composers, with a sprinkling of Schubert and a dash of Handel’s water music too. All ages, best for 5+. 4.30pm; adult £10/child £8 (Apr 22)
Sat-Sun: Spring Diesel Gala on the Epping Ongar Railway, Ongar station CM5 9AB or North Weald station CM16 6BT (via Epping tube)
As the weather warms up, it’s perfect time to go on a mini day trip from London and what better than riding with your little choo choo lover on a steam or diesel train? Board the heritage bus from Epping tube to the EO Railway for their Spring Diesel special. There will be beautiful diesels on display for train enthusiasts to gawp at, and for beer fans there’s also a Real Ale special train chugging along the railway from 5pm. Day trips from 9.30am-around 5pm (Real Ale train runs from 5pm on Sat Apr 22); adult from £13 adv-£15 day; child from £7 adv-£8 day; family of 2 adults and 3 kids from £34 adv-£39 day (Apr 22-23)
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish Techno Special, The Mangle (basement), 13-18 Sidworth Street, London Fields, E8 3SD (London Fields rail/Hackney Central overground)
It’s Pop Stars and Rock Stars theme at the Mangle this weekend as the Big Fish Little Fish party crew roll in with DJ Terry Francis (Fabric’s Friday night resident) on decks. He’ll be playing wicked Tech House in a proper warehouse setting, so get ready to fling your arms in the air and spin your tiny ones around the dance floor. This is the last leg in the BFLF Camp Bestival tour and all comers get a chance to WIN one of 3 family passes to the best family festival in Britain! To enter, simply Tweet, Facebook or Instagram a pic taken at the photo booth backdrop and hashtag it #CB17ontour and #BFLF. BFLF events also offer crafting with Captain Cookie, Villa Pia baby chill out, licensed bar and food stalls, free glowstick and transfer tattoos, colouring mural, licensed bar, giant balloons, glitter cannons and parachute dance finale. For ages 0-8 and grown ups. 2pm-4.30pm, Tickets are adult £9, child £6 and pre-walkers go free (Apr 23)
Sun: Parasol Unit Family Art Workshop: I Spy with My Little Eye, 14 Wharf Road, N1 7RW (Angel/Old St tube)
The creative family workshops continue at Parasol Unit where this week you can try your hand at pinhole photography and optical projections. Artist/educator Flora Duley will be showing you how to use techniques and tools such as the camera obscura, and there’s an opportunity to capture images in traditional media (drawings and paintings). This session is tied in with the exhibition of photographer Elger Esser’s work. All ages welcome. 2pm-4pm; £2 per person, advanced booking required (Apr 23)
Sun: Arts Depot: Project O at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
Enter a dream-like state in the company of three dancers and a musician, who are on a treasure hunt for the disappearing moon. This modern fairytale by VEDANZA dance company draws on influences from traditional Butoh, contemporary movement and acrobatics. There’s games to play and a few surprises too. Can they find the moon? How will they manage to place it back in the sky? Find out this Sunday at the wonderful Arts Depot. Ages 4+. 12pm & 3pm; £8 (Apr 23)
Sun: St George’s Day at V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9PA (Bethnal Green Tube)
This celebration of Englishness is the perfect opportunity to head east to this charming museum, crammed with toys, games and nostalgia. Throughout the day, you can join in with artsy crafty fun, and enjoy English folk music and dance, with performances by the Sea Shanty Choir, Becontree Brass band and the Trad Academy. East End WI will also turn up with lots of cake! All ages welcome. 11.30am-4.30pm, FREE (Apr 23)
We also like
It’s your last chance to catch The Flight of Babuscha Baboon at Puppet Barge Theatre (ends Sunday); Little Angel Theatre puppet masters are back with the hugely popular Dogs Don’t Do Ballet (from Sat Apr 22-Jul 16); brave the crowds for food and fun at the Feast of St George in Trafalgar Square (Sat); join artist Diana Jones for an exciting lesson in upcycling in Everyone’s a Maker at Rich Mix for ages 8+ (Sun)
London Kids Weekend 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 – Andy Stanton presents: The Iron Giant (PG), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Apr 22)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Ballerina at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Apr 22)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
March of the Penguins at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Apr 22)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Dumbo at 11.30am; £1.75 (Apr 22)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Ballerina at 12.10pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (Apr 23)
COMING SOON
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
LEGO Batman at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Apr 30)
Booking Ahead
Children’s Magic Workshop at Museum of Comedy (Apr 29, then monthly until Dec 16)
Fun DMC Daytime Block Party at Royal Albert Hall (May 1)
Institute of Imagination & Rolls Royce present Lab Live (May 1)
The Shop Up with Babyccino Kids (May 6/7)
Mozart in the Garden at Kings Place (May 6-7)
Special Children’s Day at London Zoo (May 7)
Nibble + Squeak baby and family friendly dining at Salut, Islington (May 13)
Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival (May 14)
Museums at Night (May 17-20)
May Half Term (May 29-Jun 2)
City Cruises Afternoon Tea Tour (Eat London with Kids)
