May Bank Holiday Weekend: London Kids Scoop (Apr 27-May 1, 2017)

 

May Bank Holiday Weekend Highlight: Breakin’ Convention Park Jam (pic: Ezra and friend at Park Jam 2014)
 
The first May Bank Holiday Weekend is already upon us and our London Kids Scoop is bursting with entertainment for all ages. Whether you’re looking for bouncy indoor fun, London day trips, street markets, magic workshop, historical adventures, sword fighting, breakdancing… we’ve got you covered. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before you set out!
 

May Bank Holiday Weekend Scoop

 
Thu-Mon: The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace (main pic), East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU (Hampton Court rail)
If you fancy a little day trip outside central London this May Bank Holiday weekend, why not head to Surrey for a magical day in and Hampton Court Palace gardens. Opened last year, the colourful play space features mythical beasts, towers and battlements, plus a secret grotto! The garden was inspired by the fairytale quality of Hampton Court Palace and brings extra fun for children already enchanted by the historic palace and its amazing maze. All ages. Open daily 10am-6pm from Mar 1 until Oct 31. Maze and Magic Garden entry only: adult £7.70/child under 16 £5.50/family £22; Magic Garden entry free with regular entry to Hampton Court Palace: adult £23/child under 16 £11-50/under 5s FREE (ongoing)

Fri-Sun: Canopy Market at King’s Cross, West Handyside Canopy, Just off Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BZ (King’s Cross St Pancras)
Fingers crossed for some fine weather this weekend, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better hangout in north central London than Granary Square and West Handyside Canopy. The Canopy Market is open on May Bank Holiday weekend and every last weekend of the month, and here you can shop from indie traders, try out yummy street food and fresh produce, and soak up the vibes to live music and DJs. Just around the corner there’s Ruby Violet ice cream (one of our favourites) and the gorgeous Granary Square fountains for some splashy action for your water babes. All ages. Open Friday 28 April (12-8pm), Saturday 29 April (11am-6pm) and Sunday 30 April (11am-6pm); FREE (Apr 28-30)

Sat: Children’s Magic Workshop at Museum of Comedy, The Undercroft, St George’s Church, Bloomsbury Way, WC1A 2SR (Tottenham Court Rd/Holborn tube)
Bring your aspiring Harry Potter or Hermione to the first of a series of exciting, interactive monthly workshops at the Museum of comedy. Hosted by a leading Magic Circle practitioner, kids can pick up a range of tricks using sleight of hand and other techniques. You’ll be pulling rabbits out of a hat faster than you can say abracadabra. This week’s workshop is followed by a performance by Oliver Talbot. Ages 7-13. NB: Workshop and performance must be booked separately. 1.30pm workshop; £15. 4pm performance; prices adult £12.50, child £7.50, family £35 (Apr 29, then monthly until Dec 16)

 

 
Sat-Sun: Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN (Angel tube)
The world’s biggest festival of hip hop dance theatre returns to Sadler’s Wells for another astonishing display of fierce talent off the streets and stages of London, Berlin, Soweto and further afield. The Breakin’ Convention line-up for 2017 features Boy Blue Entertainment, Soweto Skeleton Movers, Hungry Sharks, Freefly Crew and many more set to spin, tumble, pop, lock and rock the spot. In the foyer, you can catch live improv, DJs, cyphers and graffiti art. Under 5s are welcome! If you’re age 12 or over, you can join in daytime workshops throughout the weekend for varying levels between 12.15pm-3.30pm (Sat-Sun, £10 only). All ages. Doors open from 4pm, live shows from 6pm (Sat-Sun). Shows £15 (standing/£17 concs)-£24 (seated), workshops £10 (Apr 29-30)

Sat-Mon: Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice, Paddington, W9 (Paddington tube/rail, Warwick Avenue tube)
Is it already time for the Canalway Cavalcade? Nothing says May Bank Holiday weekend in London like the annual waterways festival that calls visitors from far and wide to Little Venice. If you’ve never visited, this is your chance to catch some family theatre on the Puppet Theatre Barge, try out boating and kayaking classes, join in workshops on the Floating Classroom, browse canal side stalls and more. Morris Dancers and live music add to the festive fare. On Sunday night, stay out for the illuminated boat procession (from 9pm-10.30pm, Sun). All ages. 10am-6pm (Sat-Sun) + 9pm-10.30pm (Sun boat procession); 10am-5pm (Mon), FREE (Apr 29-May 1)

 

 
Sat-Mon: Tower of London: Go Medieval, at Tower of London, EC3N 4AB (Tower Hill tube)
Go back in time to the Middle Ages at one of London’s top visitor’s attractions this May Bank Holiday weekend. The Tower of London throws open its gates for a special day of family friendly festivities, set in the year 1445. Take part in pastry making with medieval cooks, test the weight of a real knight’s sword or try your hand at crossbow! Watch sword fighting demonstrations and medieval fashion shows too, and it all happens in the Tower moat. 10am-5pm; adult £28/child £13/family 1 adult + 3 kids £50/family 2 adults + 3 kids £70 (Apr 29-May 1)

 

 
Sun: Kentish Town City Farm May Day Festival, 1 Cressfield Close, off Grafton Road, NW5 4BN (Gospel Oak overground/Kentish Town tube)
Feeling like a break from urban life? Then get your body ‘moo’ving along to one of London’s sweetest city farms where you can come over all countryfied for their annual May Bank Holiday weekend celebration. From petting zoo to pigs, goats and sheep, your street urchins will get a real taste of life on a working farm. Throughout the day, you can take part in animal grooming, art and crafts workshops, outdoor games, live music and maypole dancing. Plus there’s BBQ fare, May Day cake contest, treasure hunt and more! All ages. 1pm-4pm, adult £1/child 50p (May 1)

Sun: FUNharmonics: All Aboard the LPO at Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
From the hustle and bustle of New York City to the sunshine of Spain, hop on a tour bus of the imagination to explore music from around the globe with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This interactive family concert features live performance, behind the scenes snapshots of the Orchestra’s tours, and a chance to get up close and touchy feely with the instruments. It’s all part of the Southbank Centre’s International Organ Series also featuring a morning session for kids with the OAE Tots musicians. FUNharmonics concert is for ages 6+ and families. 12pm; £10-£18/child half price (Apr 30)

 

 
Mon: Disco Loco at the Magic Roundabout, at The Magic Roundabout (inside Old Street tube station, walk along shopping concourse to staircase opposite Nincomsoup),16 St Agnes Well, EC1Y 1BE (Old St tube)
The East London rave for folks with kids is stepping out for Bank Holiday Monday to the Magic Roundabout in Shoreditch for a funky good time. The wonderful MC Chu-i and resident DJ Emilia Harmony plus special guests will be hosting this lively do featuring dance floor action, giant games, hula hoops, face painting, sandcastle building, ice cream, kids meals and cocktails for grownups. It’s also a good chance to check out the Magic Roundabout, the secret party space slap bang in the middle of Old Street Roundabout! All ages welcome. 2pm-5pm, £4 entry, pre-walkers are FREE (May 1)

Mon: Breakin’ Convention Park Jam (top picture) at Spa Fields Park, Northampton Rd, EC1R 0DF (Angel tube)
It’s back, baby. The Breakin’ Convention May Bank Holiday weekend jam in Spa Fields park is one of our favourite free events on the London calendar. Breakin’ Convention founder and UK hip hop wiz Jonzi D heads up a bill stacked with local MCs, live music, dance performances, street food and more. It’s a child-friendly family affair and you don’t want to miss it, but arrive early as once the park reaches capacity, the gates are closed! All ages. 1pm-6pm, FREE (May 1)

Mon: Bounce Aloud: Enfield, Lea Valley Athletics Centre, 61 Meridian Way, Edmonton N9 0AR (Ponders End rail then W8 bus)
Can you handle an indoor play space on steroids? Make a plan for a rainy day and bookmark Bounce Aloud, the brand new
indoor inflatable fun park, with sites popping up across the country this year. There’s a cafe for mums and dads to find a little chill time while their little maniacs bounce themselves into a frenzy on the giant inflatables. Bounce Aloud promises extra games and attractions including super slide, helter skelter, crazy golf, sumo wrestling, football shoot out, beat the buzzer and much more. Plus a 30 minute show from the award winning Captain Fantastic. 1pm & 3pm sessions; child £12 (includes 1 adult spectator), adult £3 (spectator only) (May 1)

Mon: Institute of Imagination & Rolls Royce present Lab Live, at The Workshop, 26 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7AG (Vauxhall tube)
Kids are keeping it real (and virtual) at the Institute of Imagination’s ‘Reality’ workshop in partnership with Rolls Royce. This one-day event over May Bank Holiday weekend is crammed with fun activities, such as making and flying drones, designing your own 3D creations, interacting with holograms and other augmented and virtual reality experiences. You might even find yourself walking on Mars! All ages. 10am-5pm, £8 (May 1)

We also like
Explore the wilds of Stoke Newington at the Wild Weekend at Woodberry Wetlands free festival for all the family (Sat-Sun); or party in central London at the Sikh festival Vaisakhi in Trafalgar Square (Sat); visit the charming puppet show for ages 5+, Red Riding Hood and the Wolf at Little Angel Theatre (from Thu-Jul 16); check out Arts Depot’s wiry show for ages 3+ Bright Sparks; and over at British Museum kids can Make a Manga Comic in a free workshop (Sun)

May Bank Holiday 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: Bedknobs and Broomsticks (PG), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Apr 29)

Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
The Love Bug at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Apr 29)

Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
Winnie the Pooh at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Apr 29)

BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Dougal and the Blue Cat at 1pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (Apr 30)

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 £9 (Apr 30)

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)

COMING SOON

Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Sleeping Beauty at 11.30am; £1.75 (May 6)

Booking Ahead

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)