Wimbledon is in full swing and in our London Kids Weekend Scoop we have outdoor screenings around London listed. There’s also foodie festivals, Bollywood dancing, a summer science exhibition, family theatre and Bastille Day celebrations on the South Bank. Enjoy!
Watch Wimbledon Tennis on a Giant Outdoor Screen
Thu-Sun: Strawberries and Screen, Wimbledon at Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Can Andy Murray steal another Wimbledon title? We’ll be rooting for Murray and other past and future champs at these glorious outdoor screenings in Granary Square. It’s a brilliant place to watch the finals, or drop by for daily action from centre court and beyond. First 50 bums on seats can bag the deck chairs, and there’s Pimm’s, street food, strawberries and cream and a vibrant atmosphere. Check in for pop-up tennis sessions for families on some dates. All ages. Daily, FREE (until Jul 16)
More places to watch the tennis in London: St Kats Big Screen presents Wimbledon at St Katharine Docks (until Jul 16); Great British Summer at One New Change in EC4 (St. Paul’s tube, daily until Jul 16); Wimbledon at Regent’s Place, W1 (Jul 12 & 16); Great British Summer Wimbledon on the Rooftop at Cardinal Place in Victoria (daily until Jul 16); Wimbledon at London Riviera aka More London’s London Bridge City Summer Festival (Jul 8-9 & Jul 15-16)); Great British Summer in New Square New Street Square in Chancery Lane (daily until Jul 14); and Wimbledon Finals at Duke of York Square (Jul 14-16)
London Kids Weekend Scoop
Thu: Big Little Tent Festival, Potters Field on the South Bank of the River Thames (next to More London, near the Tower of London), SE1 2AA (London Bridge tube)
There’s still time to make it to the Southbank of the River Thames for this pop-up mini festival for kids and their entourage. It’s the launch of the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s annual Big Little Tent Festival, a summer-long programme designed to get kids into the wild, enjoying their own backyard festivals. Potters Field will feature live music, outdoor games, food and drink stalls and more. You can also sign up for a free festival pack, guaranteeing entry into a prize draw for a European camping holiday (including tent and ferry crossing), plus other prizes! All ages. 9am – 7pm; FREE (Jul 6)
Thu-Fri: V&A Museum Exhibition Road Quarter: REVEAL at Cromwell Rd, SW7 2RL (South Kensington tube)
LAST CHANCE: REVEAL is a free, week-long festival, marking the 165th anniversary of the V&A museum and the grand opening of its Exhibition Road Quarter. Members of the public are invited to check out the new quarter, with a mix of events and family friendly activities designed to bring the collections to life. Kid-friendly highlights include a special performance from Albert’s Band of the Royal Albert Hall, an interactive treasure hunt with mobile game V&A Secret Seekers, artist workshops and more! 10am-5.45pm (Mon-Thu, Sat-Sun), 10am-10pm (Fri); FREE (Jun 30-Jul 7)
Thu-Sat: Arts Depot: Bring on the Bollywood, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
Colour and culture, city life and country attitudes, they’re all part of the mix in this dazzling new musical. When Bollywood actor Amit and his cousin Ronny descend on Lakshman Villa, it sets the scene for a romantic arrangement that threatens to go belly up. Will Dr Katrina Pawar succumb to the charms of the suitor her parents thrust her way, or will she carve her own path? Expect vibrant costumes, throbbing soundtrack, and echoes of Oliver Goldsmith and William Shakespeare. No age guidance stated but should be suitable for audiences ages 5+. 7.30pm (Thu-Fri), 2.30pm & 7.30pm (Sat); adult £18-£20/child & concs £16 (Jul 6-8)
Thu-Sun: Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, SW1Y 5AG (Charing Cross/Piccadilly Circus tube)
Prepare for a weekend of jaw-dropping scientific discoveries at the annual Summer Science Exhibition. From creating a supernova in the palm of your hand to tracking dinosaur footprints, there’s so much to explore. Learn about gravitational waves, quantum computing, and bringing virtual 3D objects to life. All ages welcome, best for ages 5+. 10am-6pm, FREE (Jul 4-9)
Thu-Sun: The Wind in the Willows at London Palladium, Argyll Street, Westminster, London W1F 7TF (Oxford Circus/Bond St tube)
Badger, Mole, Ratty and the irrepressible speed-freak Mr Toad are back on the big stage, in a brand new adaptation of the beloved children’s book by Kenneth Grahame. It’s a cracking show, with comedian Rufus Hound (Toad) joined by Denise Welch and Gary Wilmot in lead roles. The script is by none other than Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey, Gosford Park) with a score from Olivier Award-winning composer and lyricist duo George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The choreography and set design are also sure to delight and dazzle audiences from ages 5+. Previews from this Father’s Day weekend! 7pm (Mon), 7.30pm (Tue-Sat) & 2.30pm (Tue & Sat); from adult £15, 1 child FREE with every paying adult + up to 2 additional children (16 and under) at half price (until Sep 9)
Read my The Wind in the Willows review!
Thu-Sun: Unicorn Theatre: Sensacional, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Always a treat for mamas and papas with teeny ones, this showstopper production plays with shadows, form, music and light to entrance young kids. Toddlers are invited to don white suits and immerse themselves in a digital experience, where ladybirds, shapes, squiggles and sounds are all there for the chasing! Ages 18 months to 3 years. Varying shows from 10am; adult + child combo £10/additional adult £5 – hurry, these shows sell out fast! (until Jul 29, 2018)
Fri-Sun: Polka Theatre: Hatch, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Follow the journey of an egg through a variety of stages, in a multi-sensory experience that invokes water and winds, bird song and cloud flight, and other mesmerising sounds and imagery. You can play an active part in the egg’s story, helping it towards its resting place as it prepares to hatch. This is a lovely intro to theatre from Polka and the Royal Opera, featuring music by Brazilian percussionist and composer Adriano Adewale. Times and dates vary; from £12.50 – NB: This weekend’s shows are already SOLD OUT but you can act quickly to book for performances through summer! (Jul 7-Aug 27)
Sat: Westminster Abbey Summer Fete, 20 Dean’s Yard, SW1P 3PA (St James’ Park/Westminster tube)
Memories of brass rubbing at Westminster Abbey come to mind at the announcement of their summer fete in Dean’s Yard. There’s a range of fun activities for all ages, including raffle and prize tombola, Morris dancing, pocket money toys, outdoor games and Birds of Prey demos. Hear the Hounslow Youth Concert band while scoffing cakes, ice cream or BBQ food. There’s also strawberries and cream and plenty of tea on offer, or you might just want to pitch up in the Pimm’s & Beer tent. Welcome address comes from the Dean of Westminster, The Very Reverend Dr John Hall at 11:30am and it all wraps up with evensong at 5pm. All ages. 11.30am-3.30pm; FREE (Jul 8)
Sat-Sun: Comida Fest in Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich, SE10 9LW (Cutty Sark DLR)
Fiesta fiesta! Head to Greenwich (why not ride the Emirates Cable Car for a high flying experience) and sample a range of food from 12 Latin American countries. Cutty Sark Gardens will be serving up discuses from Mexican restaurant Cafe Pacifico among many others, plus children’s activities and live music throughout. It’s all in celebration of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s 110th birthday. Of course, it’s an excellent excuse to pop aboard the Cutty Sark or extend your adventure at National Maritime Museum nearby. All ages. From 11am, FREE (Jul 8-9)
Sat-Sun: Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales at Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7BX, UK (Leicester Square tube)
Go under the sea, into the jungle or out on the farm with the adaptation of kid lit champs Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (creators of The Gruffalo). Scamp Theatre, the amazing crew behind the wonderful Stick Man on stage, bring more terrific tales to the theatre mixing fun characters, live music, puppetry and a big dose of silliness. Some of the author and illustrator team’s best loved titles Tiddler, Monkey Puzzle, The Smartest Giant in Town and A Squash and a Squeeze are reimagined with dance, foot-stomping tunes and giggles galore. 11am (Tue & Wed), 11am & 2pm (Thu-Sat); adult £19.50, child £14.50, family of 4 £60 (Jul 8-Sep 3)
Sun: Small Laces kid pop concert at Stanley Halls, 12 South Norwood Hill, SE25 6AB (Norwood Junction rail/overground)
Listen up, mamas and papas. There’s a new band in town! Small Laces promises to bring you toe-tapping, hand-clapping, bottom-wiggling tunes full of feel-good factor. Described as a mini pop concert for mini humans with a parental advisory warning label for ‘extremely catchy tunes’. Sounds like a good laugh, appropriately part of the line-up for the Leave ‘Em Laughing comedy festival. Ages 4+. 1pm; free with festival ticket adult £5 x 1 show, £10 x 3 shows, £20 Saturday day pass, £40 weekend pass; child under 12 FREE with any paying adult (Jul 9)
Sun: Bastille Day in Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL (London Bridge tube/rail)
Once again Les Francais arrivent at Borough market and the surrounding area in a glorious celebration of the French and Franglais community. The annual Bastille Day festivities bring people from far and wide to indulge in French treats (macarons, yum yum), cookery demonstrations by chefs in the market, waiters racing, music playing, and a chance to play petanque. The fun goes on until 8pm. All ages. 12-8pm, FREE (Jul 9)
We also like
LAST CHANCE to see Barbie’s mate through the ages at the Ken Doll Exhibition at Machine-A (ends Fri); enjoy British Summer Time Open House in Hyde Park with Wimbledon screenings, live music, street food and free outdoor cinema, showing Back to the Future and Dirty Dancing this Friday (Fri); it’s a gastronomic good time as always at the Foodies Festival on Blackheath (Fri-Sun); don’t miss the London Korean Festival with Korean food, drumming, Taekwando and K-Pop stars (Sat); wave your rainbow flag high at the Pride Festival parade, with our fave ravers Big Fish Little Fish at the Family Stage in Golden Square (Sat); there’s kids fun, yoga, food, music and fashion at the annual Hackney Summer Fete at St John at Hackney (Sat); there’s giant family fun on the menu at Grant Museum of Zoology Whale Weekender (Sat-Sun); take advantage of traffic-free shopping on Regent Street Summer Streets (every Sun, all day, from Jul 2-23);
London 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: The Big Knights (U), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Jul 8)
Framed Film Club: Sing (Jul 15)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Spark: A Space Tale at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Jul 8)
The Muppets Movie (Jul 15)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
The Boss Baby at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Jul 8)
Beauty & the Beast Live action (Jul 15)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid at 11.30am; £1.75 (Jul 8)
Rock Dog (Jul 15)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Funday Preview: Cars 3 + Q&A with director Brian Fee and producer Kevin Reher at 10.45am; £8 (Jul 9)
COMING SOON
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Rock Dog at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Jul 30)
Booking Ahead
Lovebox Weekender (Jul 14-15)
Zip World London (Jul 14-Oct 1)
Whitecross Street Party with Disco Loco stage (Jul 15)
Africa Utopia at Southbank Centre (Jul 15-16)
Walthamstow Garden Party (Jul 15-16)
Lambeth Country Show (Jul 15-16)
Foyles Storybox Festival 2017 (Jul 15-Aug 12)
Citadel Festival (Jul 16)
Ally Pally Summer Festival (Jul 22-23)
Archikids Festival (Jul 22-23)
The Hunting of the Snark at Vaudeville Theatre (Jul 26-Sep 2)
Our Summer in London Holiday Guide is out soon!
The Wind in the Willows Musical Review
