May Half Term in London 2018

 

 
Wow, the holidays came around quickly! It’s set to be a thrilling May half term in London and as usual, the guide is literally overflowing with things to do with the kids. The Bank Holiday might be a scorcher (with the odd thunderstorm), so make the most of it. Have a wonderful break!

 

Boomtown Fair: Boomtown Springs is Open!

 

 
I might have mentioned that we’ll be Official Bloggers at Boomtown Fair. This festival sounds incredible, fully immersive with theatrical sets, actors in character, and a special KidzTown among 14 ‘districts’ in a city of 60,000+ visitors. For 2018, they’re launching an exclusive area called Boomtown Springs, and it’s currently one of the few ways you can get into the festival. Set in the heart of the fair,
Boomtown Springs is described as a ‘whole new realm of interactive experience’ and features its own private camping, access to secret bars, and adult-only ‘mansion’ and ‘pool’ parties!

If you’re still trying to get your hands on tickets, you can either spring for Boomtown Springs, or wait until Jun 6 when the ticket resales are open (hurry, limited availability). This year, visitors can also arrive on Wednesday for the first time, to make the absolute most out of their stay. I’ll be sharing more on Boomtown in the coming weeks, but do check out the web site and also watch the trailer for Chapter 10, the latest part of their story. (Aug 8-12)

 

May Half Term in London: BABES CHOICE

 

 
Techtopia festival at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Head to Polka Theatre’s groundbreaking 10-day festival looking at the role of tech in modern childhood. From coded wallpaper in the cafe, to a spectacular enchanted forest, the entire building gets a Techtopia takeover. Don’t miss what sounds like a brilliant mix of learning, debates, workshops, theatre and installations aimed at families with kids of all ages. Varying times and prices, full programme online. (May 24-Jun 3)

EO Railway: Meet Peppa Pig and George on a Real Steam Train!, Ongar station CM5 9AB or North Weald station CM16 6BT (via Epping tube)
Oink oink! Peppa and her brother George will be hopping on and off the heritage steam and diesel trains all weekend, saying hi to little ones. There’s also a kids’ disco and a kids’ market with George’s dinosaur stall and Peppa Pig cakes! All ages welcome. Appearances hourly from 10.30am-2.45pm; adult all day rover ticket £15/child £7/family of 2 adults and up to 3 kids £38 (May 27-28)

A Little Princess at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
For one night only, catch the UK premiere of this vibrant musical about a girl sent from her African home to a London boarding school. Based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s children’s novel, with a multiple award-winning cast and production team. Ages 5+. 7.30pm, £35-£60 (May 28)

Comet in Moominland: Live Re-Score at Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP (South Kensington/High St Kensington tube)
Watch Moomintroll’s adventure on screen, while original composer Graeme Miller and My Glass World’s Jamie Telford bring the score to life with a kitchen table-full of instruments. Best for ages 5+, younger ones welcome but ages 2+ require a ticket. 5pm & 7.30pm; adult £15/child £13.50 (Jun 3)

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre: Peter Pan, box office Queen Mary’s Garden, Regent’s Park Inner Circle, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
Buy, borrow or beg for tickets to this mesmerising take on the beloved tale of Wendy, Peter, Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys and Captain Hook. Fantasy, fun and the First World War combine in a magical journey to Neverland. Ages 6+. Tue-Sun at 7.45pm & 2.15pm (varying dates); adult £25-£55/child under 18 half price (until Jun 15)

We also like
There’s a ton of free family fun as part of All Points East festival this Bank Holiday weekend in Victoria Park. We’ll be there on Sunday to catch Bjork and Beck headlining!!!; hang out on the dance floor with indie and soul tunes at the How Does It Feel to Be Loved family disco at The Phoenix, W1 (Sun May 27); May half term is an excellent time to immerse yourself in the mind-blowing hyper-reality adventure Star Wars Secrets of the Empire at The VOID, Westfield Stratford City (until Jun 20); or to gawp at the brilliant Dinosaurs in the Wild in Greenwich Peninsula (ongoing until Jul)

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

 

 
Dalston Children’s Festival, multiple venues in Dalston (Dalston Junction/Dalston Kingsland overground)
The dandiest festival in Dalston returns for May half term, with everything from family theatre and film, to gardening and hula hooping with Marawa’s Majorettes. Draw 10 minute caricatures, enjoy Fun in the Square with Hackney Playbus and School of Noise, create carnival costumes, or party at the Pride in the Park picnic. Daily from 10am-5pm (varying times), FREE (May 26 & Jun 2)

International Meeting of Styles Festival, Nomadic Community Gardens, off Brick Lane, 1 Fleet Street Hill, E2 6EE (Shoreditch High St overground/Liverpool St/Aldgate East tube)
Perfect for Insta-snapping, the three day festival of graffiti and street art is back on Brick Lane. See 50+ spray painters, writers and character artists in session; catch live music; try out kids activities and enjoy delicious food from pop-up bars, stalls and cafes. All ages welcome, FREE (May 26-28)

Underbelly Festival: Monski Mouse Baby Disco Dance Hall, Southbank, Belvedere Road Coach Park, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube, rail)
Get bootie stomping and booty shaking at the baby and parent-friendly disco. DJ Monski Mouse brings is back for her 6th season at Underbelly Festival. Ages 0-5 and grownups. Also at Underbelly: Aliens Love Underpants (Apr 9-Jun 3), and The Amazing Bubble Man (Apr 21-May 29). Monski Mouse is at 3pm, £8.50 (May 27/28 & Jun 3)

Royal Institution Family Fun Day: Science Fiction, 21 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS (Green Park tube)
From shape-shifting robots to alien planets, get down with the real science behind Frankenstein, Star Wars, Doctor Who and other fantastical beings. For ages 6-12. 11am-4pm, £16/RI members £7/ young RI members FREE (Jun 2)

London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, London Regatta Centre, Dockside Road, E16 2QT (Royal Albert Docks DLR)
Join thousands of visitors along the banks of the river Thames to wave at the London Hong Kong dragon boats, as they race past. There’s loads of family entertainment throughout including traditional Chinese lion dancing, martial arts, Asian street food. All ages. From 10am, FREE (Jun 3)

 

MUSEUMS & WORKSHOPS

 

 
Frida’s Parlour, 141 Ebury Street, Belgravia, SW1W 9QW (Victoria tube/rail)
Explore ‘Frida’s Parlour’, a colourful interactive installation inspired by La Casa Azul (The Blue House). For older kids/adults, workshops range from floral embroidery to Mexican cocktails. Daily 10am-6pm (until May 26), then Wed-Sat (until Jun 16); FREE/creative workshops £20-£25 (May 19-Jun 16)

House of Illustration Family Workshop: Concertina Creatures, 2 Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Explore the possibilities of pattern, using paper construction and printmaking, as part of this mixed-media workshop inspired by Enid Marx. Ages 5-12 and parents/carers. 2pm-5pm, adult £7.50/child £6 (May 26)

V&A Museum Family Events: May Half Term, Cromwell Rd, SW1 (South Kensington tube)
The programme is bursting with family fun, including a special event/book signing with Oliver Jeffers (May 26, 2pm); creative workshops in the Door to Design festival (May 26, 12pm-5pm); design and engineering sessions at The Imagination Station (May 28-Jun 1, 10.30am-5pm); digital family games and pop-up performances. Dates and times vary, all FREE (May 26-Jun 2)

Royal Gunpowder Mills: Spy Kids Half Term, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1JY (Waltham Cross rail)
Join Agent Nitrate in the mad lab, test your rocket-making skills and bring your spy fantasies to life. Screenings of Spy Kids, Cats & Dogs and Agent Cody Banks on a first come, first serve basis. Ages 3+. From 10am, last entry 3pm; adult from £10.50child 3-15 from £8.50/family £34.20 (2 adults, 2 kids)-£41.85 (2 adults-3 kids) (May 26-Jun 3)

Museum of Childhood May Half Term: Inventive Children, V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9PA (Bethnal Green Tube)
Get your geek on at this series of workshops, calling on budding inventors and designers. Make crazy gadgets and crafts inspired by the Century of the Child exhibition. 10.30am-4pm, £0-£10 depending on workshop (May 28-Jun 1)

We also like
Be inspired by Rodin this May half term at British Museum, for ages 5+ (May 29); style up like a Victorian in May half term family workshops at Ragged School Museum (May 30-31); author Isabel Thomas introduces ages 7-11 to Frida Kahlo, Mandela and Da Vinci at Tate Modern in Little Guides to Great Lives (Jun 3).

 

FAMILY THEATRE

 

 
Duckie at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN (Stratford tube/rail/overground/DLR)
Acclaimed cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat brings a message of tolerance, and self-acceptance in his reimagining of the Ugly Duckling. Fun and fabulousness for ages 3 to 300. 2pm, adult £14/child £7 (May 31-Jun 2)

Rufus Longbottom and the Space Rabbit at Stratford Circus, Theatre Square, London E15 1BX (Stratford tube/rail/overground/DLR)
Space Rabbit’s planet is destroyed by a meteorite, sending her hurtling towards Earth, where she lands outside a care home. Here she meets Rufus Longbottom, an elderly gent itching for one last adventure. An enchanting show of song, storytelling and magical high-tech gloves, presented in a unique collaboration between Filament Theatre and more than 600 kids. Ages 6+. 10.30am & 1.30pm (Fri), 11am & 2pm (Sat); £8 £10 (May 24-26)

The Hunting of the Snark, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Join a rag-tag bunch of explorers on an improbable voyage, into the imagination of Lewis Carroll, filled with puppetry, songs and side-splitting humour. Best for ages 3+. 3pm (Sat-Sun), 11am (Mon); adult £16/child £8 (May 26-28)

Hamnet by Dead Centre, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Discover the little known but true story of Hamnet, William Shakespeare’s only son, inspiration behind the play Hamlet. The Bard had abandoned his family to pursue his career, when he learned in 1596 his 11-year-old was ill. By the time he reached Stratford, Hamnet was dead. This is a solo work for an 11-year-old boy. Ages 12+. 7.45pm (Sat & Mon), 5pm (Sun); adult £18/child half-price (May 26-28)

Not Now, Bernard, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
‘There’s a monster in the garden and it’s going to eat me,’ said Bernard. ‘Not now, Bernard,’ said his mother. David McKee’s picture book is turned into an outrageously funny play for ages 3+. 11am (Sun May 27 & Fri Jun 1), 10.30am (Tue-Thu), 11am & 2.30pm (Sat Jun 2) & 2pm (Sun Jun 3); adult £8-£18/child £6-£12 (May 27-Jul 1)

We also like
Enchanting puppetry at Little Angel Theatre: The Little Mochi Man and Tom Thumb, for ages 4-8, The Nose for 4-10, and Stories on a String for ages 6-12; see Twinkle Twinkle (May 30-Jun 3), a tale of love and loss, and Michael Rosen’s Chocolate Cake (Jun 2-Jun 3), over May half term at Arts Depot.

FAMILY FILMS

 

 
Barbican Cinema Framed Family Film Club, Cinema 1, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
Framed Film Workshop + The Care Bears Movie (U), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (May 26)
The Pirates in an Adventure with Scientists! (Jun 2)

Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Duck Duck Goose at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (May 26)
Aladdin (Jun 2)

Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn St, London SW4 0AT (Clapham Common tube)
Peter Rabbit at 11.45am; adult/child £2 (May 26)
Mary and the Witch’s Flower (Jun 2)

NB: The same film schedule is playing (times may vary) at Picturehouse Cinemas in Crouch End, East Dulwich, Notting Hill Gate, Greenwich, Hackney, Phoenix Cinema, Ritzy Brixton, and Stratford.

Odeon Kids, at Odeon Holloway and multiple locations (some films may vary by venue)
Peter Rabbit at 10am; adult/kid £2.50 (Mar 26-31)

Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Duck Duck Goose at 11.30am; £1.75 (May 26)
A Wrinkle in Time (Jun 2)
Jumanji (Jun 9)

Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
A Wrinkle in Time at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (May 27)

Vue: Mini Mornings, at Vue Islington and other locations (some films may vary by venue)
Peter Rabbit at 10am; adult/kid £2 (May 26-31)
Duck Duck Goose (Jun 1-3)

BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
The Adventures of Prince Achmed at 2.30pm; adult £8/child £4 (Jun 3)

NB: Kids can also book in for a mix of animation and filmmaking workshops at BFI (May 29-31)

Prince Charles Cinema: Studio Ghibli Forever, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
The Wind Rises at 3.35pm; non-member£8.50/member £6/child £4 (May 27)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya at 2.55pm (Jun 3)

 

NATURE AND OUTDOORS

 

 
WWT May Half Term Fun at WWT London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT (Barnes Bridge rail/Hammersmith tube)
Lots on this half-term including a chance to discover all about bees and butterflies, go on a mini beast hunt, or join a reptile walk! adult from £12.72/child from £7.72/family of 4 from £34.77/under 4s FREE (May 26-Jun 3)

London Zoo: Superheroes and Villains at ZSL London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY (Camden Town/Regent’s Park tube)
Meet courageous critters and dastardly animals as London Zoo presents its wildest, most super-powered residents. Head to Superhero HQ to meet real live heroes working to save the environment, then explore the zoo. All ages. 10am-5pm daily; free with regular zoo admission (online discount prices) adult from £24.30/child 3-15 from £18/family of 4 from £75.80/under 3s FREE (May 26-Jun 3)

Sensational Butterflies at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD (South Kensington tube)
Hundreds of species of butterflies and moths make a welcome reappearance at this walk-through exhibition. Spot caterpillar camouflage and see insects emerge from their chrysalises. All ages. 10am-5.50pm, adult/child £5.85, family £19.80, advanced booking recommended (until Sep 16)

We also like
It’s always bloomin’ lovely at the alternative garden festival Chelsea Fringe (until May 27); rain or shine, enjoy a day at Kew Gardens (open daily); say hi to the inmates at Battersea Park Zoo Love Your Zoo Week (May 28-Jun 1)