Whoop whoop! Birthday season has begun for Babes about Town. With three of our birthdays in February, kicking off with Babe 1 tomorrow, it’s on and popping. And whether you’re pleased to see the back of Dry January, or just happy to be inching closer to springtime, there’s loads to celebrate. The London Kids Weekend Scoop has you covered for the best things to do with kids in London over the next few days. Enjoy x
Cool Things to Do with Kids in London this Weekend
Thu-Sun: Foundling Museum: The Lost Words & Meet the Artist (top image), 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ (Russell Square tube)
Steal away from city to a world of stories and imaginations at The Lost Words, a unique collaborative project between award-winning author Robert Macfarlane and acclaimed artist and author Jackie Morris. The project is a response to the hyper-urbanisation of children, and their belief that our families are suffering from a lack of exposure to the natural world. The exhibition features nature-loving poems and accompanying illustrations, featured in the celebrated children’s book of the same name. Items from the Foundling Hospital archive will also be on display. This Saturday you can meet the artist, Jackie Morris, and watch her at work in the studio (10.30am-4pm, Sat Feb 3). While you’re at the museum, also check out Lucky Button, an exhibition of illustrations by Michael Foreman from Michael Morpurgo’s new book Lucky Button, inspired by the history of the Foundling Hospital. Museum and displays open from 10am-5pm (Tue-Sun), adult £11/concs £8.25/child under 16 FREE (Jan 19-May 6)
Thu-Sun: Winter Happiness Festival, Museum of Happiness, 220 Arlington Road, NW1 7HE (Camden Town tube)
LAST CHANCE: 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)
Thu-Sun: The Snow Queen at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
LAST CHANCE: Meet Kai and Gerda, best buddies who are so close they might be siblings. In this Christmas special, the two join with friends to reimagine Hans Christian Andersen’s classic winter fairy-tale. A dusty attic becomes the Snow Queen’s icy palace, as we get caught up in a storytelling spell, just as Kai is spellbound by the Snow Queen’s frosty kiss. Will Gerda find a way to melt Kai’s heart before he forgets her forever? Ages 5 to 11. Varying times between 11am and 7pm (check times on website); reviews £14/concs £12/general £18.50 (Nov 17-Feb 4)
Sat: Grant Museum of Zoology: Explore Zoology, Rockefeller Building, University College London, University Street, WC1E 6DE (Euston Square tube)
This quirky museum in the heart of London offers curious minds and hands an opportunity to explore some rare and marvellous specimens from nature. If you’ve ever faced questions like how many teeth a tiger has, or what it looks like on the inside of a turtle’s shell, then you’ve come to the right place. Educate your junior zoologists – and yourself – at the interactive event led by an enthusiastic museum team. All ages welcome. 1pm-4pm, FREE (Feb 3)
Sat: Kids Steam Day at Ernest Bevin College, Beechcroft Road , SW17 7DF (Tooting Bec tube/Wandsworth Common rail)
Bring your mini makers and scientists to a whole afternoons dedicated to STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Art & Mathematics) activities. Kids will get to make their own Flappy Bird app (bring a laptop/Android device if you have one, and you need a Google account to take part in the programming fun). Boys and girls can also design and build their own Angry Birds projectile and catapult! For ages 7-14 and their grown-ups (must be accompanied by someone 18+). 1pm-4pm, FREE (Feb 3)
Sat-Sun: One Duck Down at Vault Festival, The Vaults, Leake Street, Waterloo, London, SE1 7NN (Waterloo tube/rail)
Hot off the success of their sell-out show, The Service at the Old Red Lion in Islington, FacePlant Theatre is back with another buzzy new production for families. One Duck Down is based on a real life event that saw 7000 rubber ducks adrift in the ocean (as featured on Blue Planet II). Unlikely but loveable hero Billy goes off on a discovery quest to win his true love’s heart, only to find himself searching for elusive nautical treasure. Soon he’s swept up in an eco-friendly adventure, from the shores of Pebbleton Village to the icy North Pole. This frolicsome tale uses a set and props all recycled from rubbish lost and found on land and sea! All ages welcome. 2.45pm; £9.50. Family tickets come with a 20% discount with the code word QUACK (Feb 3-4, 11 & 17-18)
Sat-Sun: Othello at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Belgian playwright Ignace Cornelissen puts a refreshing spin on the classical tragedy by old William Shakespeare, retold for younger audiences. When soldier Othello falls for Desdemona, the Senator’s daughter, it’s the start of a roller coaster journey exploring prejudice, jealousy and the feelings that blind us to the truth. Othello at Unicorn Theatre is suitable for ages 8-12, tickets £8-£18 (Feb 3-Mar 3)
Sat-Sun: Zodiac Zoo at Cutty Sark, Romney Rd, Greenwich SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
It’s almost time to officially welcome the Year of the Dog. Take the kids to celebrate Chinese New Year on board the Cutty Sark, marking the historic tea clipper’s long association with China. At these family workshops, you can learn to roll, curl, loop and twist paper in an animal themed paper quilling activity. Create a beautiful image with help from a pro artists and take your designs home! 11.30am-1.30pm & 2pm-4pm; FREE with regular admission adult £12.15/child 4-15 £6.30/under 4s FREE (Feb 3-4)
Sat-Sun: Museum of London: Votes for Women Weekend, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN (Barbican/St Paul’s tube)
The Women’s March is done and dusted, but the struggle continues. Girl power takes over the Museum of London as the Votes for Women programme opens. It’s part of the 100 year celebrations for the Representation of the People Act of 1918, that gave some women their first voting rights. Head to the museum for opening weekend, where you can take part in a poetry masterclass, play a suffragette parlour game, create badges and banners, or march in a suffragette rally. Aimed at ages 10+ but all ages welcome including younger kids. 11am-4pm, FREE (Feb 3-4)
Sun: Disco Loco: Rabbit Rave, Hackney Showroom, Hackney Downs Studios, Amhurst Terrace, E8 2BT (Dalston Kingsland/Dalston Junction overground/Rectory Rd rail)
Hop to it, disco bunnies! The East London collective are back for their first rave of 2018. And it’s sure to set your noses and tails twitching. Emilia Harmony & Reverend Milo Miles Speedwagon will bring the music to keep the minis jumping (and adults too). Plus there’s rave bunny face painting, a mega bouncing castle, licensed bar and goodie stalls and more. All ages welcome, from babies ages 6 months and up. 3pm-6pm, £3 per person adv/door, non-walkers FREE (Feb 4)
Sun: Serpentine Gallery Family Day: Memories in Motion, W2 3XA (Lancaster Gate/Marble Arch tube)
Kids and families can come along for a day of playful drawing and moving image experiments with artist duo Kaleidoworks, in association with the current exhibition Rose Wylie: Quack Quack. Artists Betsy Dadd help families to investigate colour, scale and movement, exploring the link between film and painting. You can capture drawings with cameras and create short moving-image sequences to be screened in the studio. All ages welcome. 1.30pm-3.30pm, FREE (Feb 4)
Sun: Drop-In Design: Winnie the Pooh at V&A Museum, Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AZ (Russell Square tube)
We’ve heard agreat things about the V&A Museum’s sprawling, multi-sensory exhibition, Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic. It features 230 works on display, including sketches and cartoons, ceramics and fashion, a collector’s item Steiff bear, and pencil drawings by E.H. Shephard. Throughout its run, you can take part in free family activities inspired by the exhibition. This Sunday, create your own mobile inspired by a children’s story classic and see your tale come to life on the page. All ages welcome, suitable for younger ones and their grownups. 10.30am-5pm; FREE (Feb 4, and exhibition until Apr 8)
We also like
Explore skeleton, scale, structure and skin at a free Whitechapel Gallery Family Day (Sat); enjoy an interactive concert with the Barbican Piano Trio at the popular Wigmore Hall Family Concert (Sat); Grand Union Orchestra presents Bengal to Bethnal Green, tabla artists converge at this family-friendly live music jam (Sun); Human Paintings at Islington’s Parasol Unit’s monthly family workshop with artist Alexandra Hughes (Sun)
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)
Moomins on the Riviera, 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Feb 3)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Annie at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Feb 3)
Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn St, London SW4 0AT (Clapham Common tube)
Despicable Me at 11.45am; adult/child £2 (Feb 3)
Crouch End Picturehouse, Crouch End Picturehouse, 65 Tottenham Lane,cr Crouch End, N8 9BY (Hornsey/Harringay/Crouch Hill rail)
The Son of Bigfoot at 16.10pm; adult/child £2 (Feb 2)
Despicable Me at 11am; adult/child £2 (Feb 3)
East Dulwich Picturehouse, 116A Lordship Lane, SE22 8HD (East Dulwich rail)
Despicable Me at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Feb 3)
Gate Picturehouse, 87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ (Notting Hill tube)
Despicable Me at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Feb 3)
Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE (Hackney Central overground)
Despicable Me at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Feb 3)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
Despicable Me at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Feb 3)
Prince Charles Cinema: Studio Ghibli Forever, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
Princess Mononoke (PG) at 3.25pm; non-member£8.50/member £6 (Feb 3)
Kiki’s Delivery Service (PG) at 3.35pm; non-member£8.50/member £6 (Feb 4)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
My Little Pony at 11.30am; £1.75 (Feb 3)
Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG (Brixton tube)
Despicable Me at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Feb 3)
Stratford Picturehouse, Stratford Picturehouse, Salway Road, London E15 1BX (Stratford tube/DLR/overground/rail)
Despicable Me at 11am; adult/child £2 (Feb 3)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Animal Farm at 1pm; adult £11.75/child £4 (Feb 4)
Coming Soon
Greenwich Picturehouse, 180 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN (Greenwich Rail)
Bolt at 10.30am: adult/child £2 (Feb 17)
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Coco at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Feb 25)
Booking Ahead
Tea + a Gig, live music for parents and babes at The Old Church, Stoke Newington (Feb 6)
Imagine Festival at Southbank Centre (Feb 7-18)
Out of this World: Moon at Royal Observatory Greenwich (Feb 12-13)
The Polar Bears Go Up at Jacksons Lane (Feb 13-17)
at Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre (Feb 13)
I Believe in Unicorns at Polka Theatre (Feb 14-18)
Adventures in Peter Pan’s Neverland at Museum of London (Feb 24-Mar 4)
How Does It Feel to Be Loved Children’s Disco at The Phoenix, W1 (Feb 25)
The Great British Seaside exhibition at National Maritime Museum (Mar 23-Sep 30)
London Kids Weekend Scoop (January 25-28, 2018)
