Happy New Year! Hope you all had an amazing Christmas break. Our 12 Days of Xmas prizes are still up for grabs on our Giveaways page. Meanwhile, here’s what’s hot this weekend in London for kids and families. Enjoy x
Amazing Family Fun in London this Weekend
Fri-Sat: The Box of Delights at Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, London E1 8JB (Tower Hill/Aldgate East/Shadwell tube)
Piers Torday presents a gripping adaptation of the popular children’s tale by John Masefield, marking its world stage premiere. Kay Harker is heading home for the holidays by train, his parents are dead, the wolves are on the prowl… He meets magician Cole Hawlings who gives him a Box of Delights, with time travelling powers. Kay must get help from heroes of the past to defeat the evil in his present, and save Christmas itself. Age 7+. 7.30pm, 2.30pm (Tue, Thu, Sat); £20-£35/£15-£30 concs (Dec 1-Jan 6)
Fri-Sat: Nutcracker at London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES (Charing Cross Rd tube)
LAST CHANCE: The festive favourite about Clara and her clever nutcracker doll continues to make audiences swoon at London Coliseum. English National Ballet and their cast of 100+ dancers and musicians bring Tchaikovsky’s magical tale to life. For ages 5+, matinee performance (Sat Jan 7) is All Ages Welcome for under 5s. FAMILY WORKSHOP: from 9:30-11am (Sat Jan 6), you can take part in an adult + child ballet workshop for ages 5-10 (£20 per adult and child). Shows 7.30pm & 2.30pm (special matinees); £14-£79 (until Jan 6)
Fri-Sun: Bananaman at Southwark Playhouse, Newington Causeway, SE1 6BD (Elephant & Castle/Borough tube)
Catch the Man-of-Peel in an all-flying new musical, as he combats supervillains Doctor Gloom and General Blight. Based on the popular Beano superhero, Bananaman follows our fruity superhero on a riotous adventure, sure to amuse anyone ages 6+. 3pm (matinee) & 7.30pm; £14 previews, £25/concs £25/family £80 (until Jan 20)
Fri-Sun: Matthew Bourne: Cinderella at Sadler’s Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN (Angel tube)
The classic tale is reimagined as a war time romance, with a dashing young RAF pilot falling for Cinderella just before they’re parted by the Blitz. Award winning design, a 60 piece orchestra and Matthew Bourne’s trademark style create a dazzling dance production, set to Prokofiev’s unforgettable score. For ages 5+ (younger ones not admitted). Tue-Sat at 7.30pm (7pm Dec 30, no eve perf 24, 31 Dec or 28 Jan); Sat Mats at 2.30pm (not Dec 9); Sun Mats at 2pm (not Dec 10); Sun at 7pm (no eve perf 25 Dec, 1 Jan or 29 Jan); Thu Mats at 2.30pm on 21 Dec, 28 Dec, 25 Jan; £12-£68 (until Jan 27)
Fri-Sun: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Live at Ambassadors Theatre, West Street, WC2H 9ND (Leicester Square tube)
Eric Carle’s famously famished caterpillar returns to the Ambassadors Theatre this Christmas, with its colourful menagerie of 75 puppets. Rediscover the story of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and three more Carle books: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse and The Very Lonely Firefly. For ages 2-7, younger ones welcome. 11am & 2pm (Wed-Sun); £15-£27.50 (Dec 2-Jan 7)
Fri-Sun: Hogwarts in the Snow, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7GS (Watford Junction rail)
See The Gryffindor common room, the Great Hall and the Hogwarts castle model dressed for Christmas, with special effects fire and snow, handmade props and one of the beautiful Yule Ball sculptures on display. Festive treat for any Harry Potter fan. All ages. 9am-10am first tours, last tour 4-6.30pm (closing time 3 hours after last tour). 2017 prices (until Dec 31): adult from £37-£39/child from £29-£31/family from £118-£126/ages 0-4 FREE but require tickets. 2018 prices (until Dec 31, 2018): adult from £39-£41/child from £31-£33/family from £124-£132/ages 0-4 FREE but require tickets. Pre-booking essential. (until Jan 28)
Fri-Sun: Modigliani at Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG (Southwark/Blackfriars tube)
A dozen Modigliani nudes (the largest collection ever reunited in the UK) take centre stage at this sweeping retrospective. 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 catch some of his lesser-known pieces, including portraits of his contemporaries like Pablo Picasso. Adult £16.80/under 12s FREE (Nov 23-Apr 2, 2018)
Fri-Sun: La Soiree presents: La Petite Soiree, Aldwych Theatre, 49 Aldwych, WC2B 4DF (Covent Garden/Leicester Square tube)
So you’ve heard of La Soiree, the irreverent and hotly saucy show that’s thrilled audiences worldwide. Now they’ve come up with a family friendly version, filled with the spirit of La Soiree but suitable to bring your kids along to. Prepare for a mix of cabaret, circus and comedy, with an element of mischief. For ages 8-80. 3pm (varying dates, check schedule); £15-£49.50 (Dec 4-Feb 3)
Sat: The Ten Thousand Year Clock and Other Stories with David Rooney at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG (Kings Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
One for older kids, this workshop/performance sees David Rooney, official Keeper of Secrets at the Science Museum (ok he works in Technologies and Engineering), takes us behind the mysteries of time and what keeps your daily clock on the tick tock. For ages 10+. 4pm, £6.50 (Jan 6)
Sat-Sun: Geffrye Museum: Farewell to Christmas Past, 136 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8EA (Hoxton overground)
It’s a bittersweet moment for Geffrye Museum as they throw open their doors for the annual Farewell to Christmas Past, only to close their doors for two years. Make the most of this wonderful space all weekend, with their Epiphany Celebration on Saturday night. Come for mulled wine, brass band, carols and Twelfth Night cake. Then party on through Sunday with family crafts, storytelling, pop-up shows and live music. (Jan 6-7)
We also like
LAST CHANCE to see the following Christmas shows: Jack and the Beanstalk at Lyric Hammersmith (ends Sat); Stick Man at Leicester Square Theatre (until Sun); The Gruffalo’s Child at Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue (until Sun); Puppet Theatre Barge: The Little Christmas Tree (until Sun)
London Kids Cinema Listings
A selection of movies from some of our favourite family friendly cinemas in London.
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
The Secret of Kells at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Jan 6)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
The LEGO Ninjago Movie at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Jan 6)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Paddington at 11.30am; £1.75 (Jan 6)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone at 13.10pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (Jan 7)
Coming Soon
Barbican Cinema Framed Family Film Club, Cinema 1, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
An American Tail, 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Jan 13)
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Paddington 2 at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Jan 28)
Look out for our January Hot List next week!