Hello Friday! It was horrible to hear of the Parsons Green explosion this morning, especially as it affected young ones. Still we refuse to let Dementors hold us back from making the best of London. There’s a fun few days lined up in the London Kids Weekend Scoop, from horses to boats on parade. Open House London takes over the city’s buildings, while Totally Thames festival captures the riverside crowds. Don’t miss out!
London Kids Weekend Scoop
Fri-Sun: Footloose at Peacock Theatre, Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street,Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
Everybody cut footloose, kick off your Sunday shoes! It’s nostalgia time at Peacock Theatre when Footloose bursts back onto the scene. The ‘80s dance movie sensation has been remastered for the stage for 2017, with catchy new choreography, but the same old tunes that will have you dancing in the aisles. Follow this (somewhat random) narrative of a city boy who transforms a small town through rock ’n’ roll. Ages 10+ recommended (scenes of a mild sexual nature). 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Sats & Wed 27), 2pm & 6.30pm (Sun); £15-£55/child under 16 half price (Sep 12-30)
Sat: Dennis the Menace & Gnasher Skate School Takeover at BAYSIXTY6, Acklam Road, London W10 5YU (Ladbroke Grove/Westbourne Park tube)
Learn the signature skating skills of Dennis & Gnasher at West London skate park, BAYSIXTY6, launching this weekend in London. The park will have a Dennis-striped makeover for this 8-week course, aimed at first-time skaters. Experts will be on hand to help little rippers perfect their moves, and there will be comics and goodies up for grabs. The Beano skate school takeover at BAYSIXTY6 is to mark the release of brand new kids show, Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed, showcasing their board based adventures alongside Beanotown buddies. Ages 6+. 10am-12pm (Sats only, apart from a 1 week session over October half term); £5 per session, equipment available for hire (Sep 9-Nov 4)
Sat-Sun: Villa Walala playground by Camille Walala, Exchange Square, 100 Liverpool St, EC2M 2RH (Liverpool St tube/rail)
If you haven’t made it to designer Camille Walala’s hugely popular maze at NOW Gallery in Greenwich, there’s still time (ends Sep 24). Or you can head to the City of London to discover her latest installation, a colourful play space in the heart of Broadgate. Villa Walala is a huge inflatable sculpture created as part of the London Design Festival which opens this weekend. Featuring Walala’s trademark ‘tribal pop’ colours and patterns, it’s sure to appeal to all ages and the designer herself says: ‘I think that, to turn a corner into Broadgate, and find a huge, bouncy, pink and patterned house will be hugely entertaining. And people are, of course, invited to come in and play.’ Open 7am-9pm, FREE (Sep 16-24)
Sat-Sun: Open House Junior, multiple locations
Every year, London’s most intriguing buildings throw open their doors to the general public, for a free weekend of tours and discovery, as part of Open City’s Open House London celebration. It’s always busy (expect queues at the more popular venues), but if you have little ones with you, head straight to the Open House Junior hub at Paddington Central. Here there’s fun with LEGO, crafting, planning and designing, and opportunities for future architects to re-imagine their city. More than 50 venues will be offering family-friendly activities, such as City Hall and Leadenhall Building (the Cheesegrater). All ages welcome. From around 10am daily, multiple venues, FREE (Sep 16-17)
Sat-Sun: Totally Thames Festival: Thames Sailing Barges, Thamesfest, River Weekender, Silk River, various times and locations
There’s so much going on around the River Thames this month, it’s hard to know where to start. Why not check out the largest gathering of Thames Sailing Barges since the beginning of the 20th century, sailing from the Isle of Dogs to London Bridge (Sat 12pm onwards)? Or there’s Thamesfest in Barking with pop up shows from Royal Opera House, street theatre, communal dining and more (Sat 11am-5pm). Over in Brentford, don’t miss the River Weekender, with pirate and mermaid hair sculpture (!) and an interactive journey along the river with Mr Gumpy’s Outing from Artburst (Sat-Sun). Also you can join the Silk River trail in Tower Hamlets, part of Kinetica’s 10 day walk to Southend, bearing giant storytelling scrolls created by communities along the Thames Estuary and India’s Hooghly River. From around 10am, various timing, FREE (Sep 16-17, festival ends Sep 30)
Sun: Horseman’s Sunday, St John’s Hyde Park Church, Connaught Village, Hyde Park Crescent, W2 2QD (Paddington tube/rail, Lancaster Gate/Marble Arch tube)
50 years ago, London horsemen gathered in protest against the closure of the stables in Hyde Park. Today Horseman’s Sunday is a vivid spectacle of horses on parade, with a feast of activities from street food to face painting, live jazz, tombola, Custard the Clown and other family-friendly fun. It all trots off with a service at 10am, followed by outdoor activities until the horse parade at 12pm. From 10am, FREE (Sep 17)
Sun: Keats House: Family Day, 10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RR (Hampstead Heath overground)
Spend an enjoyable Sunday in the serene surroundings of Keats House, the former home of one of Britain’s most lauded posts. Draw on inspiration from the artwork around the walls of the house, to make your own masterpiece to take home. Kids are invited to get creative with collage and make frames for their pictures and portraits. Drop-in between 1pm-4pm, FREE (Sep 17)
Sun: Lauderdale House: Open House London, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, N6 5HG (Archway tube)
One of London’s most popular, family friendly venues has reopened after an extensive refurbishment. Open House London, the citywide celebration of architecture, provides the perfect excuse to get a sneak peek inside the newly revamped building. Come for afternoon tours, wander through the lovely greenery, and take part in a Tudor craft workshop for parents and kids. Drop-in between 10.30am-1.30pm; FREE (Sep 17)
Sun: Arts Depot: Three Billy Goats Gruff, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
Three is the magic number… or is it? Do you really know what happened to Goldilocks and those three Bears? Did the three little piggies really cause all that huff and puff? And what about the Three Billy Goats Gruff, how did they handle that troll? Join the Storyteller as she reveals all in this fun show using puppets and props, set to a gypsy soundtrack. 11am & 2pm; £7 (Sep 17)
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 Adventures of Prince Achmed, 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Sep 9)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Eleanor’s Secret at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Sep 16)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
Spark: A Space Tail at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Sep 16)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
The Emoji Movie at 11.30am; £1.75 (Sep 16)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
My Life as a Courgette at 2pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (Sep 17)
COMING SOON
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Cars 3 at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Oct 1)
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