London Kids Weekend Scoop (Sep 21-24, 2017)

 

 
Tales from the Shed at Old Vic, BBC Good Food at Tower of London, Fever Pitch the Opera, Jazzie B at Fun DMC kids party… We’ve got TONS of cool stuff lined up for you in our London Kids Weekend Scoop. Make it a good one!

London Kids Weekend Scoop

Thu Chickenshed: Tales from the Shed at the Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 8NB (Waterloo rail/tube)
Chickenshed is back at the Old Vic this autumn with another round of their wildly popular Tales from the Shed. The inclusive theatre company has a sterling reputation for putting on highly engaging shows, crammed with live music, enchanting stories, colourful puppets and a touch of magic. There’s something different every week and it’s guaranteed to have your little ones bursting out of their seat with joy. For ages 0 to 6 and families. 10am, 11.15am & 1.30pm (every Thursday): £6/babies under 12 months are FREE (until Oct 5)

Fri-Sat: Half Moon Theatre: Butterflies, 43 White Horse Road, E1 0ND (Limehouse DLR/Stepney Green tube)
Tangled Feet and Half Moon join forces in a fluttery co-production about friendship and bravery. Three pals go on a voyage in an attempt to chase away their butterflies. From crossing seas to battling storms, it’s a perilous journey, but also one filled with wonder and discovery. Will they make it to dry land ok? The only way through is to face their fears. A specially commissioned score underpins this story told with sensitivity, humour and jaw-dropping physicality. 10.30am & 1.30pm (Fri) & 11am & 2pm (Sat); £7/babies FREE – hurry, last remaining tickets available! (Sep 23-24)

 

 
Fri-Sun BBC Good Food Show at Tower of London, EC3N 4AB (Tower Hill tube)
For the first time ever, the BBC Good Food’s annual roadshow is taking over the Tower of London for a weekend of fun and feasting. This is your chance to visit one of London’s top attractions and see the celebrated dry moat transformed into a foodie hub, with live chef demos, street food, pop-up restaurants, masterclasses, music and entertainment. Kids activities include Magical Quests’ mini wonderland adventure, emoji biscuit decorating, face painting and traditional village fete games and stalls. 11am-8pm (Fri), 10.30am-6.30pm (Sat), 10.30am-5.30pm (Sun); adult £18 (Fri-Sun), £20 (Sat); child age 6-17 £16 (Fri/Sun), £18 (Sat); family ticket £46; under 6s FREE (Sep 22-24)

Fri-Sun: Fever Pitch the Opera! at Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, N1 2UN (Highbury & Islington/Angel tube)
Highbury Opera Theatre presents what sounds like an unexpected treat – the first ever musical staging of Nick Hornby’s iconic Highbury novel, Fever Pitch! Following the highs and lows of being an Arsenal supporter, the tale combines stories of matches and club antics with those of his own life as a writer. A large community chorus including 40 local school children support five professional actors and ten musicians in putting together this vibrant show, representing a common love of music — and football! Expect anything from operatic belting to jazz, folk-rock and terrace chants. COYG! Ages 8+. 7.30pm (Fri), 3.30pm & 7.30pm (Sat), 3pm & 7.30pm (Sun); adult £15/child under 18, concs £10 (Sep 22-24)

 

 
Sat: Nibble & Squeak at The Manor, 148 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6BX (Clapham Common tube)
Tiny gourmands and their foodie broods converge for these fantastic pop-up dining events at top restaurants around London (and the globe). It’s truly a family affair, where you can bring your baby along for a delicious meal, no worries about highchairs, baby changing, playmats etc (all taken care of). This Saturday, you can tuck into a delectable sounding three course lunch at Clapham bistro The Manor, in the company of likeminded parents. All ages welcome. 12pm-3pm; adult £67 (lunch only) or £75 (lunch + wine); child 4+ £20, under 4s FREE but required to RSVP (Sep 23)

Sat: Backyard Cinema: Miami Beach, 42 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DR (Borough/Elephant & Castle tube)
Yeah, so London weather’s all over the place, but you can still get a taste of the tropical at Backyard Cinema’s summertime screening series, extended to October. This weekend, sink your toes into the sand at the Miami Beach inspired setting, complete with cocktail umbrellas, beanbags and a Flamingo Beach Bar. Watch The Boss Baby (Sat 12.30pm, £13.61), or take your bigger kids for a later night at the movies to catch the hilariously brilliant Guardians of the Galaxy II (Sat 8.30pm, £16.50). Don Johnson jackets not required. Recommended for ages 4+. Various times and prices for screenings. (until Oct 6)

Sat: Mini Maestro Family Concert: ‘Spring’ and ‘Summer’ from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ (Charing Cross tube)
Enjoy a lively early years concert, in the company of the London Musical Arts Ensemble and conductor John Landor. This week, it’s all about Vivaldi’s spring and summer, with barking dogs, chattering birds, raging storms and all the glories of nature. All ages, best for 5+. 4.30pm; adult £10/child £8 (Sep 23)

 

 
Sat: Travelling Film Show presents Moana Family Fun Day, The Workshop, 26 Lambeth High Street, Vauxhall, SE1 7AG (Vauxhall/Lambeth North tube)
Disney’s massive animated hit Moana shows no signs of losing its grip on the imaginations of kids and kids at heart. Surf along to a fabulous family fun day, themed around Moana. There will be workshops hosted by Neon Performing Arts where kids can make their own Moana costumes and props, try singing, art, dance lessons, face painting and more. Prizes will be awarded, including for best costume, so put some effort into it! In the evening, there’s a sing-along Moana screening with snacks, cakes, drinks and popcorn available to buy on site. All ages welcome. 2.30pm-7pm, adult £5/child £2.50 (Sep 23)

Sat-Sun: Villa Walala playground by Camille Walala, Exchange Square, 100 Liverpool St, EC2M 2RH (Liverpool St tube/rail)
LAST CHANCE: 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)

 

 
Sun: Fun DMC at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen, Hoxton Square, N1 6NU (Old St tube)
Tickets are flying for the Jazzie B headliner this weekend of Fun DMC, London’s coolest daytime block party, created by Charlie Dark (Attica Blues/Run Dem Crew) and Spin Doctor (The Doctor’s Orders). Fun DMC is a kid and adult friendly jam for long-time heads and future fans of hip hop. The Soul II Soul legend will join Spin Doctor in cranking out the radio-friendly hip hop, funk, disco and party grooves to light up your afternoon. There’s also hip hop fancy dress, graffiti wall, balloons, basketball and a licensed bar! Food is available from Smokey Tails For ages 0-10 and families. 1pm-4pm; adult £8/walking kid £5/family £20/babies under 12 months FREE (Sep 24)

Sun: Arts Depot: Your Toys, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
Go on a gigantic adventure in a show created with your very own toys! Kids and adults alike are invited to bring their favourite playthings along to Arts Depot for an epic journey led by Slot Machine Theatre. They will be bringing toys to live in their inventive style, with lots of laughs, live music and puppetry. Enter a mysterious land ruled by a monstrous force, where only the bravest toys can save us. Ages 5 to 9. 11am & 2pm; £7 (Sep 24)

We also like
Basquiat: Boom for Real is now open at Barbican Centre (opens Thu); build Roman Britain with Minecraft at British Museum (Sat); enjoy a family concert with the
Southbank Sinfonia at Cadogan Hall (Sat); it’s your last opportunity to wander through the colourful maze by Camille Walala X Play at Now Gallery (ends Sun); and of course Totally Thames Festival rolls on until Sep 30)

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: Jamila Gavin presents Azur and Asmar – The Prince’s Quest, 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Sep 23)
Arrietty (Sep 30)

Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Sep 23)
The Magic Roundabout (Sep 30)

Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
Molly Monster at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Sep 23)
Toddler Time: Stick Man (Sep 26)
Captain Underpants (Sep 30)

Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
The Emoji Movie at 11.30am; £1.75 (Sep 23)
Fantasia (Sep 30)

BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The Red Balloon at 1.10pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (Sep 24)

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)

Booking Ahead

Mums Enterprise Roadshow in London at Business Design Centre (Sep 25)
Polka Theatre: Child of the Divide (Sep 29-Oct 15)
Beowulf (ages 8+) at Unicorn Theatre (Oct 1-Nov 5)
Dance Umbrella featuring Origami and Dot (Oct 11-28)
Big Fish Little Fish family rave with DJ Aphrodite & Lonely Planet giveaways at Fire & Lightbox, Vauxhall (Oct 14)
Harry Potter: A History of Magic (Oct 20-Feb 28, 2018)
Kidtropolis at ExCel London (Oct 23-26)

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