The weather’s definitely turning, the evenings are getting darker, but don’t let the chilly season blues take hold just yet. We’ve found 17 things to make your heart SING this Autumn, from a festival along the River Thames, to a rather cuddly exhibition at the V&A Museum. Here’s to a wonderful Autumn in London!
Autumn in London: Great Places to Take the Kids
1. Whales at Natural History Museum
1. Whales at Natural History Museum
If you missed its summer opening, this autumn in London is the perfect opportunity to visit the dazzling Whales exhibition at Natural History Museum. Dive beneath the deep to uncover the hidden life of the planet’s largest living mammal. You’ll be whizzed back in time 50 million years to the start of the whale’s evolution. Learn the secrets of swimming like an orca, listen to a humpback whales’ jukebox, compare your hand to a flipper, and find out what’s hidden in a sperm whale’s tummy. Interactive fun for all ages. From adult £11.50/child £7.50 (until Feb 28, 2018)
2. Totally Thames Festival
Being a Londoner means having something of a love affair with the river that runs through it — the city’s life blood. Every year, Totally Thames celebrates the Thames, and the communities that surround it, in a month-long series of arts, culture and family events. This autumn in London, you can accompany Kinetika (of London 2012 fame) for Silk River (Sep 15-24), a 10-day series of performative walks from Kew Gardens to Southend. Each walk will showcase stunning 6 metre hand-painted silk scrolls, created by artists along the Thames Estuary in collaboration with artists along India’s Hooghly River. Silk River is just one of many highlights of the festival: also check out the River Weekender in Brentford, the Thames Sailing Barge Parade, Kids’ Choir at the Scoop and loads more. Visit www.totallythames.org (Sep 1-30)
3. Postal Museum: Ride the Mail Rail
Described as Britain’s first ‘social network’, the Postal Museum opened in summer to much fanfare. Go behind the scenes of the UK’s mail service and discover a treasure trove of correspondence, including final telegrams sent by passengers on the Titanic. There’s also a mini play zone for Postman Pat aficionados ages 8 and under. But the big attraction this autumn in London is that Mail Rail is open for business. Visitors can ride a section of the original postal railway that carried London’s mail (and its many secrets) underground for more than 75 years. Adult £16/child £8/under 1s FREE (ongoing)
4. Open House London: Kids Edition
London’s most inspiring buildings open their doors for another weekend of exploration and fun at the annual Open House London event. Take your munchkins along to Open House Junior, where they can try out FREE activities at 50+ venues including City Hall, Paddington Central, and Leadenhall Building (the Cheesegrater). From LEGO building races to planning and designing a future skyline, there’s tons to keep your little makers busy. From around 10am daily, multiple venues, FREE (Sep 16-17)
5.Parents Night Out at Arts Depot
What a brilliant concept. Book a date night with your other half (or just yourself), and dump despatch your little dumplings in the company of the Showstoppers at Arts Depot. They’ll get to play, watch movies, sing karaoke, beat each other (at board games), dance to fun tunes, and make new friends. Way more fun than your average babysitter! For school aged children from Years 4 to 7. Dinner (pizza and juice) included. 6pm-10pm; first child £30/second child £15/third child £8. Returners: first child £27/second child £15/third child £5 (Sep 16, Oct 14 and Nov 11)
6. Mwalimu Express: The Remix
One of the coolest events on the London Calendar. Mwalimu Express reopens this autumn in London for an Extended Remix, with an afternoon of funky flutes and drumming, followed by the evening launch of the London African Music Festival. Embracing people from all backgrounds and ages, this African-centric chill-out zone is truly a family affair. You can browse for African fabrics and arts, join in Parent and Toddler dance sessions, play board games with the Oware Society, hear top tunes from DJs Rita Ray and Max Einhardt, munch on yummy food, and groove to live African bands. Most evenings feature an African cinema screening to wind things up. We love it! All ages welcome, 2pm-6pm, FREE, at Rich Mix Shoreditch (from Sep 17-May, every 3rd Sunday of the month)
7. Basquiat goes Boom
Art prodigy Jean-Michel Basquiat receives his first large-scale UK exhibition — Basquiat: Boom for Real at the Barbican. One of the rebels of the ‘80s New York art scene, Basquiat famously collaborated with Andy Warhol and his unique style inspires creatives, from Madonna to Jay-Z. Discover more than 100 pieces by the self-taught artist/DJ/poet/musician/muse, as well as rare film, photography and archive footage that bring his spirit to life. Kids will be drawn to his bold, expressive paintings and graffiti (PG advised for some content), and under 14s go FREE (Sep 21-Jan 28, 2018)
8. Alice’s Adventures at Royal Opera House
Curiouser and curiouser… follow the Royal Ballet down the rabbit hole into a topsy turvy world of theatrical wizardry and eye-popping costumes. Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland gives the Lewis Carroll fable an inventive twist, featuring a tap-dancing Mad Hatter, a disembodied Cheshire Cat, and a playing card corps de ballet. Blending live music, puppetry and projection, it’s a colourful treat for the young and the young at heart. £30-£125 (Sep 27-Oct 28)
9. Harry Potter at British Library
Hocus pocus, there’s something peculiar afoot at the British Library’s long-awaited exhibition Harry Potter: A History of Magic. Marking the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the library uncovers rare books, manuscripts and magical totems. Discover original drawings by J.K. Rowling and illustrator Jim Kay; explore the giant 16th century Ripley Scroll that explains how to create a Philosopher’s Stone; gaze at Sirius in the night sky; and delve into the folklore of potions, dragons and unicorns. Spellbinding. Adult £16/child & concs. £5-£11, family tickets 20% discount (Oct 20-Feb 28, 2018)
10. Halloween Sleepover at Museum of London
Ever wondered what goes on behind the doors of a museum once they’re shut for the evening? Brave little souls are invited to spend a night at the Museum of London’s annual Halloween Sleepover. Hear spooky tales from Victorian London, such as Dr Jekyll’s monstrous alter ego and the demon barber Sweeney Todd. Trick or treat on a Halloween trail around the galleries and solve a creepy crime by torchlight. It’s lights out in the museum galleries until morning, when you can recover with brekkie and a family friendly movie. Ages 7+ and an adult. From 6pm-overnight (16 hrs duration), tickets £60 per person (Oct 27)
11. Big Fish Little Fish: Camden Halloween Rave
Last year, their Camden Halloween rave played a big part in helping to #savefabric. This autumn in London, the Big Fish Little Fish party crew are back at Proud Camden for another monster mashup. Slide into your freakiest fashion and put on some thriller moves, as a live DJ tears up the turntables. Go on and shake what your Mummy (or Frankenstein, Dracula etc) gave you. Creepy crafts room, free glowstick and transfer tattoos, licensed bar and parachute dance finale all included. For ages 0-8 and their grown ups. 2pm-4.30pm, Tickets are adult £9, child £6 and pre-walkers go free (Oct 29)
12. Paddington Back on the Big Screen
The huggable bear from Peru is back in a hugely anticipated sequel, now co-starring Hugh Grant along with the original cast. Produced by the makers of the Harry Potter movies, the first Paddington movie bowled us over completely. So we can’t wait to see what mess our marmalade-loving pal has gotten himself into in Paddington 2. Apparently there’s some hijinks involving the theft of a gift he’s bought for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday. Expect plenty of fur to fly. (opens Nov 10)
13. London Jazz Festival: Jazz for Toddlers
Listen up, junior jazz heads. If you want to nab one of the hottest tickets in town, you’d better act fast. Each year, the Jazz for Toddlers venues sell out faster than you can say ‘oo bee do’ (Kings Place tickets are already gone, baby, gone). So BOOK PRONTO if you’d like a spot at the Southbank Centre. Musicians Chris Sharkey and Heidi Heidelberg lead these playful, interactive sessions giving parents and their little swingers a mini schooling in jazz music and movement. £5 (Nov 10-17)
14. Hamleys Toy Parade
Few things say Christmas to kids more than toys. And it’s hard to beat the thrill of seeing their favourite characters marching up and down Regent’s Street at the annual Hamleys Christmas Toy Parade. The Hamley’s Elves and Hattie Bear will be meeting fans outside the world’s most famous toy shop, with a live stage, prize giveaways and a visit from Santa. Don’t miss the likes of Barbie, Power Rangers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Teletubbies, LEGO Ninjago, Transformers, My Little Pony, The Gruffalo, Peppa Pig and other superstars of the toy box, page and screen. From 10.30am-4pm, FREE (Nov 19)
15. Modigliani at Tate
A dozen Modigliani nudes (the largest collection ever reunited in the UK) take centre stage at the Tate’s retrospective, launching this autumn in London. Modigliani at Tate Modern explores the life and works of one of the 20th century’s most influential artists. His intensely sensuous paintings stirred up controversy when they were first exhibited, 100 years ago. Today they continue to provoke and fascinate. Also on show will be some lesser-known pieces, plus portraits of his contemporaries like Pablo Picasso. Adult £16.80/under 12s FREE (Nov 23-Apr 2, 2018)
16. Dreamworks in Concert
Hear hit scores from How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and other animated movies. Dreamworks Animation in Concert is an immersive event with live music, played by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, and magical movie moments projected onto the big screen. Enjoy the iconic sounds of Hans Zimmer, John Powell, Alexandre Desplat, Alan Silvestri, Danny Elfman and more. Audible proof there’s a lot more to the Dreamworks discography than ‘I like to move it, move it!’ Doors open 6pm, £24.50-£75 (Dec 1)
17. Winnie the Pooh at V&A
He was the first storybook character that captured my imagination. My son’s first teddy bear. Probably the most famous bear in the world (and there’s stiff competition). This autumn in London, the V&A Museum hosts a multi-sensory exhibition featuring 230 works on display, from sketches and cartoons, to ceramics and fashion. Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic offers up treasures like a collector’s item Steiff teddy bear, and charming pencil drawings by original Pooh stories illustrator, E.H. Shephard. From 10am daily, £8 (Dec 9-Apr 8, 2018)
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Keep up with what’s happening for kids and families every weekend in our London Kids Weekend Scoop!
London Kids Weekend Scoop (Sep 8-10, 2017)
