London gets lit this weekend as the Lumiere London festival takes over the capital. More high‘lights’ across town include Fast & Furious Live, the Winter Happiness Festival, a Cadbury’s Creme Egg popup and a DIY puppet disco! Plus don’t miss our bumper London Kids Cinema Guide. Sparkle up!
Thu-Sun: Lumiere London, multiple London locations
The UK’s largest light festival returns to London. I have to be honest and say we found Lumiere 2016 disappointing. It was over-crowded and we couldn’t see enough of the attractions, or play any of the games because of queues. That said, it looks bigger and brighter for 2018. Six London areas: King’s Cross, Fitzrovia, the West End, Mayfair, Westminster & Victoria and South Bank & Waterloo, will be lit up with more than 50 spectacular installations.
Look out for Cirque Bijou’s beautiful Umbrella Project popping up at multiple spots, along with highlights like Vertigo’s The Wave, a constantly changing pattern of sound and light along the South Bank Riverside Walkway. A guaranteed crowd-puller will be French artist Patrice Warrener’s The Light of the Spirit, bathing Westminster Abbey in kaleidoscopic illuminations. If you’re exploring around Granary Square, you could round off with a session of live music and spoken word from Word on the Water, London’s only floating bookshop (Sat, 6pm-10pm)! Follow the Lumiere London app, map and guide to help you get around. All ages are welcome but prepare for massive crowds at peak times, and public transport issues. 5.30pm-10.30pm daily, FREE (Jan 18-21)
Fri-Sat: Chickenshed: Tales from the Shed, Chickenshed Theatre, 290, Chase Side, Southgate, N14 4PE (Cockfosters tube)
Chickenshed returns with their insanely popular Tales from the Shed series. The inclusive theatre company creates stimulating, interactive shows filled with storytelling, puppetry, live music and a burst of colourful magic. There’s something different every week and it’s sure to have your little ones giddy with excitement and learning. For ages 0 to 6 and families. Also check out the Saturday Shed workshops for ages 5 to 8 (10am, £6) and ages 9 to 12 (11.15am, £6). Tales from the Shed is at 11.30am (Fri) & 10am & 11.30am (Sat): £6/babies under 12 months are FREE (Jan 19-Mar 10)
Fri-Sat: Bananaman at Southwark Playhouse, Newington Causeway, SE1 6BD (Elephant & Castle/Borough tube)
LAST CHANCE: 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-Sat: A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 8NB (Waterloo rail/tube)
LAST CHANCE: One for slightly older kids, this adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale by Jack Thorne stars Rhys Ifans, with direction by Matthew Warchus. Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean old sort until he’s visited by ghosts of past, present and future and discovers the true meaning of Christmas. A heartwarming story filled with music and cheer, aimed at ages 11+ (for haunting, supernatural themes). 7.30pm (Sun-Fri), 2.30pm & 7.30pm (Sat); £12-£67.50 (Nov 20-Jan 20)
Fri-Sun: Fast & Furious Live at the O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX (North Greenwich tube)
Motorheads in the house? This one’s a no-brainer. Experience high-speed, full-throttle action from the blockbuster film franchise in . All the ‘best scenes’ from the movies are recreated before your very eyes. Cutting edge technology, stunts and set design puts viewers (almost) in the heart of the action. All ages welcome, but parental advisory for pyrotechnics, loud FX and periods of black out. Buckle up! From £59, evening and matinee shows available. (Jan 19-21)
Fri-Sun: Creme Egg Camp, Last Days of Shoreditch, 288 Old Street, EC1V 9LA (Old St tube)
Almost as soon as Christmas is done, the Easter promos begin. We’re not even close to Spring and already Cadbury Creme Egg are pushing out an East London pop-up. Not that we’re complaining! Here you can enjoy all things Creme Egg, from cookies to cakes, there’s even the return of the legendary Cadbury Creme Egg Toastie! All that gooey fun includes a tour of a tree house and giant nest, a slide to whizz down and the chance to take part in treasure hunts, or to win up to £2000. Tickets include 45 minutes in the Creme Egg camp, goolicious treat from the menu, and a hot or cold drink! 5pm-9pm (Thu-Fri), 2pm-6pm (Sat-Sun), £5 (Jan 19-Feb 18)
Sat-Sun: Winter Happiness Festival (top photo), Museum of Happiness, 220 Arlington Road, NW1 7HE (Camden Town tube)
Feeling a little blue this January? Come and lift your mood at the Winter Happiness Festival for all ages. For just a fiver, you can: dive into a ginormous LED disco ball pool (filled with 30,000 white balls), explore creative mindfulness with colouring and origami, take silly photos in the fancy dress photo booth, indulge in delicious hot choc, and hear tips and insights on happiness and well-being from a host of great speakers. Workshops include everything from laughter yoga to practising the art of gratitude. Ball pool visits are in timed 15 minute slots (arrive 10 minutes before your session). All ages welcome, but kids under 16 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Also there is a 1m height restriction in the ball pool. 12pm-6.45pm (daily from Sat Jan 20), £5 (Jan 20-Feb 4)
Sun: Little Angel Theatre: DIY Puppet Disco, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Angel/Highbury & Islington tube)
Get ready to make it and shake it at a D.I.Y Puppet Disco! Little Angel Theatre hosts newspaper puppet wrangler Amelia De-Felice at this all sticky tape, all newspaper, all dancing workshop. First you’ll learn the art of making Bunraku/TableTop puppets with the newspaper. Then, in the second part of the class, you can teach your creations to cut the rug to music., bubbles and confetti. For ages 5-11 and their grownups (max 2 kids per adult). 11.30am, 2pm & 4pm; adult £10, child/concs £8 (Jan 21)
Sun: Red Riding Hood and the Wolf at Watermans Art Centre, 40 High St, Brentford TW8 0DS (Kew Bridge/Brentford rail, Gunnersbury/Ealing tube)
It’s time for bed, so settle in and let Robyn’s story begin. This bright little girl can’t relate to Red Riding Hood, sugar and spice and all things nice. I mean, what if the Big Bad Wolf wasn’t big or bad at all? Enjoy this twist on a familiar fairy tale, as Robyn reinvents the bedtime story for misfits, in a world of homemade make-believe. This production by the Little Angel Theatre is based on a book by Emma Dodd. For ages 6-11. 2pm & 4.30pm; £9-£12 (Jan 21)
Sun: Family Day: Snowy Scenes at Keats House, 10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RR (Hampstead Heath overground)
Did you dream of a White Christmas? If you were in London over the holidays, the most we had was a brisk wind. But you can create the snow of your fancies at this special workshop for all the family at Keats House. Visit the home where John Keats was inspired to write some of the greatest poetry in history and explore the gardens. You’ll be working with your kids to design a collage of Keats House in the snow, including the resident birds and cats in the garden. Feathers, fabric and felt will be provided. All ages. 2pm-4pm drop in; FREE (Jan 21)
Sun:Family Barn Dance at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Rd, NW1 (Camden Town/Chalk Farm tube)
Swing your partner, your mate, your baby in a baby carrier or anyone who fancies it around the dance floor at this popular family dance gig. You’ll be stepping out to the music of a live band, with a caller instructing you on all the fancy footwork. The music is a mix of traditional folk, from country to Ceilidh, and the moves showcase the best of the British isles. All ages welcome. Groups should include a minimum of one adult for every four children, under 5s must be accompanied by an adult. Book in advance to avoid disappointment. 3pm-5pm; adult £7, child £5, under 2s FREE (Jan 21)
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)
The LEGO Ninjago Movie, 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Jan 20)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Paddington 2 at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Jan 20)
Picturehouse Cinemas Kids Club
Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn St, London SW4 0AT (Clapham Common tube)
My Little Pony at 11.45am; adult/child £2 (Jan 20)
Crouch End Picturehouse, Crouch End Picturehouse, 65 Tottenham Lane,cr Crouch End, N8 9BY (Hornsey/Harringay/Crouch Hill rail)
Shaun the Sheep at 4.20pm; adult/child £2 (Jan 19)
My Little Pony at 11am; adult/child £2 (Jan 20)
East Dulwich Picturehouse, 116A Lordship Lane, SE22 8HD (East Dulwich rail)
My Little Pony at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jan 20)
Gate Picturehouse, 87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ (Notting Hill tube)
My Little Pony at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jan 20)
Greenwich Picturehouse, 180 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN (Greenwich Rail)
My Little Pony at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jan 20)
Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE (Hackney Central overground)
My Little Pony at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jan 20)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
My Little Pony at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Jan 20)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
The Son of Bigfoot at 11.30am; £1.75 (Jan 20)
Stratford Picturehouse, Stratford Picturehouse, Salway Road, London E15 1BX (Stratford tube/DLR/overground/rail)
Ferdinand 2D at 11am; adult/child £2 (Jan 20)
My Little Pony at 11am; adult/child £2 (Jan 20)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Funday Preview: Early Man + Q&A with director Nick Park at 12.45pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (Jan 20)
Coming Soon
Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG (Brixton tube)
The Son of Bigfoot at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jan 27)
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)
London Kids Weekend Scoop (January 12-14, 2018)
