One week until May Half Term and this weekend in London there’s the small matter of a Royal Wedding. When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married this Saturday, it won’t be quite the fanfare (or the street party mania) that happened for Will and Kate. But there are still plenty of spots to watch the ceremony, eat cake and raise a glass to the happy couple. And if you want to avoid all that, there’s loads of family friendly fun elsewhere in our Weekend Scoop too. Cheers!
Take a look at our updated Top Family Festivals in London & Beyond – your ultimate
family party guide for the summer!
Royal Wedding Celebrations this Weekend in London
No street party near you? Here’s what else you could do:
Southbank Centre Royal Wedding 21st Century Tea Dance Party, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
Our pick of the bunch. A big old family party hosted by Ida Barr with wedding screening, live music, performance, storytelling and, of course, dancing! 11am onwards, FREE.
Betty Blythe Royal Wedding Tea Party, 73 Blythe Road, London W14 0HP ( Hammersmith, Kensington Olympia tube, Shepherd’s Bush overground/rail/tube)
Betty Blythe tea rooms are throwing a FREE Royal Wedding street party with old-fashioned family games and jiving in the street. There’s also a Royal Wedding afternoon tea party (paid) you can book into later.
Reggae Royal Wedding at Prince of Peckham, 1 Clayton Rd, SE15 5JA (Peckham Rye overground)
Love the sound of this one. Get down to reggae, basement, afrobeats, dancehall and steel pans, with chicken and waffles and bottomless brunch. Now that’s a party! Advanced booking or early arrival recommended. 12pm, FREE entry.
The Cuckoo N1, 115 Hemingford Road, N1 1BZ (Caledonian Rd & Barnsbury overground, Highbury & Islington/Angel tube)
Tuck into delicious Streetza pizzas, then watch the Royal Wedding followed by the FA Cup final at this family friendly gastro hub. From around 10.30am, FREE entry.
Royal Wedding Screening at Skylight at Tobacco Docks, 50 Porters Walk, E1W 2SF (Shadwell/Wapping overground, Tower Hill tube)
Up on the roof, there’s street food, croquet, pétanque and big screens showing Prince Harry and Meghan’s nuptials in style. Limited walk-in tables available, entry is free.
Old Queen’s Head, 44 Essex Road, Islington, N1 8LN (Highbury & Islington/Angel tube, Essex Rd rail)
From 10.30am onwards, catch the Royal Wedding screened live, along with servings of Lucky Chip burgers and toasts of Pimms, Bucks Fizz and G&Ts.
St James Market, SW1Y 4AH (Green Park/Piccadilly Circus tube, Charing Cross tube/rail)
Dump your booty in a deck chair, and watch the Royal Wedding on a giant screen in the festively decorated pedestrian courtyard. 9am-2pm.
Celebrate the Royal Wedding at John Lewis 278-306 Oxford Street, Marylebone W1C 1DX (Oxford Circus tube)
From 10am-2pm, there are screenings around the store including the Demo Kitchen where you can sample royal cocktails, and a Royal Wedding tea party in Home Design on the 2nd floor.
Right Royal Wedding Brunch at The Water Poet, 9-11 Folgate St, E1 6BX (Aldgate East tube/Shoreditch High St overground)
Walk-in tables available for a menu of classic brunch dishes and cocktails, along with big screening of the Royal Wedding throughout the pub and garden.
Right Royal Knees Up at The Book Club, 100Leonard Street, London, Greater London, EC2A 4RH (Shoreditch High St overground)
One for adults only (16+). Big screen, wedding bingo, East London drag queens, DJs, Best of British brunch, all washed down with Pimms and prosecco. £5 early bird sold out, door tickets available.
More London Kids Activities this Weekend in London
Fri-Sun: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre: Peter Pan, box office Queen Mary’s Garden, Regent’s Park Inner Circle, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre opens for the season with the magical family production Peter Pan. We saw this show during its last run at the Open Air Theatre and we were blown away. This haunting adaptation draws on the book’s darker themes of war, while keeping its sense of humour, charm and fantasy intact. Head to the Inner Circle to see Peter, Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys soar, with Captain Hook and a very snappy crocodile joining the fun. Coming up later this summer are Shakespeare’s delightful As You Like It (Jul 6-28) and, best for bigger kids, the B-movie musical Little Shop of Horrors (Aug 3-Sep 15). There’s also a chilling reworking of The Turn of the Screw (Jun 22-30) in collaboration with the English National Opera. Peter Pan is playing Tue-Sun at 7.45pm & 2.15pm (varying dates); adult £25-£55/child under 18 half price (May 17-Jun 15)
Fri-Sun: Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams at Underbelly Festival, Southbank, Belvedere Road Coach Park, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube, rail)
LAST CHANCE: If you haven’t already, do whatever you can to catch Circus Abyssinia before their run ends. We were blown away by this African troupe, one of the world’s first full-blown Ethiopian circuses. Also playing at Underbelly for kids: Aliens Love Underpants (Apr 9-Jun 3), and The Amazing Bubble Man (Apr 21-May 29). Circus Abyssinia is at 7.30pm (Tue-Fri), 3pm & 6pm (Sat), 6pm (Sun); tickets from £15.50 (until May 20)
Sat: Chelsea Fringe at Geffrye Museum, 136 Kingsland Rd, E2 8EA (Hoxton overground)
Have you missed the Geffrye Museum? Well you can enjoy a whole day of fun in the gardens this Saturday, as part of the Chelsea Fringe. The botanical-inspired event offers a range of crafty activities, from vegetable carver to herbal tea blending. You can take part in a free cycle tour of the front lawn, and stock up on plants and herbs, as well as craft cider, street food and botanical cocktails. All ages welcome. 10am-6pm, FREE (May 19)
Sat-Sun: Frida’s Parlour, 141 Ebury Street, Belgravia, SW1W 9QW (Victoria tube/rail)
We’re super excited by the upcoming Frida Kahlo exhibition at the V&A (one of our London Hot list picks for 2018). This weekend, you can step right into ‘Frida’s Parlour’, an interactive installation created in anticipation of the show. By day, wander through colourful rooms, inspired by La Casa Azul (The Blue House), Frida’s famous Mexico home. For older kids/adults, there are workshops ranging from floral embroidery and headdress making to self-portraiture and Mexican cocktails. Daily entry from 10am-6pm (May 19-26), then Wed-Sat (until Jun 16); FREE. Additional fee for creative workshops £20-£25 (May 19-Jun 16)
Sat-Sun: Royal Academy Opening Weekend Art Party, Burlington House, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Good times abound at the Royal Academy this weekend, as they celebrate their grand re-opening with two days of pop-up performances, tours, and later night DJs. All weekend (11am-3pm, drop in) you can take part in workshops to make your own Art Party hats, design flags, try relief printing or architectural model making. Free performances include poetry from Apples & Snakes (3pm & 5pm, Sat-Sun) and dancing with Rachael Plays Disco (3pm-6pm, Sat only). Street food comes courtesy of the likes of Mother Clucker and The Ginistry. All ages welcome for daytime events, 11am onwards, FREE (May 19-20)
Sun: Urban Village Fete, Greenwich Peninsula, 1 Green Place, SE10 0PE (North Greenwich tube)
Go all the way to Greenwich for Urban Village Fete, a joyous feast of fun, live music, family activities, design, art, street theatre, local culture and craftsmanship. The alternative village fete curated by DJ Gilles Peterson (headlining the main stage) seems to grow bigger and more adventurous each year. For little ones, the trip to and around Greenwich is a blast in itself. Ride the driverless trains of the Dockland Lights Railway to North Greenwich, soar over the city via Emirates Airline cable car, and/or take the Thames Clipper boat back to London Bridge. A great day out for all ages and the Urban Village Fete is free! 11am-7pm, FREE (May 20)
Sun: Nibble & Squeak baby-friendly dining club at Magpie, 10 Heddon Street, W1B 4BX (Oxford Circus/Piccadilly Circus tube)
We loved attending Nibble + Squeak last year and this Sunday you can join the parent and child dining club at modern Brit restaurant, Magpie. Meet like-minded families at this upmarket venue, for a delicious meal, grown up conversation and a baby-friendly atmosphere. That means as well as an enticing kids’ menu, there’s baby changing, high chairs, and more all included in the package. Nibble + Squeak baby and toddler friendly events are springing up in major cities around the world, allowing new mums and dads to enjoy a good meal, meet local parents, and discover new spots. In exciting news, guests at Sunday’s event will be eligible to win a family holiday at Villa Pia in Italy! 12pm-2pm; adult lunch (including glass of wine) £58, child menu £12, babies 0-1.5 years FREE but require RSVP (May 20)
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish ‘Flower Power’ Family Rave with DJ Dave Minns at Hangar, Sidworth Street, London Fields, E8 (Hackney overground/London Bridge rail)
It’s an acid techno special with DJ Chris Liberator at London’s most popular family rave this Sunday. Get your hangover-free party popping at the Hangar, with good tunes to keep you and your tiny dancers in the mood. Chill out in the Villa Pia baby space or make something at Captain Cookie crafts tables. There’s all the usual Big Fish Little Fish fun including bubbles, balloons, glitter cannon and parachute dance finale will be happening, plus licensed bar and snacks available. Fancy dress theme is ‘Flower power’. All ages welcome, best for 0-8 and grown ups. 2pm-4.30pm, Tickets are adult £10, child £7 and pre-walkers go free (May 20)
Sun: Dulwich Park Fair, Dulwich Park, College Road SE21 7BQ (East Dulwich Rail)
Now in its 11th year, Dulwich Park Fair presents a dog show, along with traditional country fair attractions, fairground rides, Vauxhall City Farm, magic, maypole dancing, Punch and Judy and more. Catch local acts on the stage by the cafe, watch martial arts demos, and try a range of world cuisines from street food stalls. Once again, Wild Child Festival (new family festival launching in August for ages 0-11) will host a kids area, with storytelling from Little Folk Tales, arts and crafts and a baby/toddler sensory tent. More information at www.wildchildfestivals.co.uk. All ages welcome. 12pm-5pm, FREE (May 20)
Sun: Perfect at Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham Common North Side SW4 0QW (Clapham Common tube/rail)
Really like the sound of this production, described as an ‘imaginative retelling’ of a book by Nicola Davies and Cathy Fisher. Perfect tells the story of a boy who meets his disabled sister for the first time. Exploring themes of acceptance and love, anticipation and disappointment and the power of nature, Perfect uses original music, animation, puppetry and physical theatre to captivate audiences ages 5+. 11am & 2pm; £9/£7 concs (May 20)
Sun: Aurora Orchestra: Beethoven and the Dinosaurs at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG (Kings Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Amazingly there are still a few tickets left for this jurassic family concert with the hugely popular Aurora Orchestra. Grab yours now, for the musical time-travelling event that whizzes you back 200 million years to the era of giants. Aurora Writer-in-Residence Kate Wakeling tells an original story, and there’s new chamber arrangements of Beethoven’s music. Roar like a Tyrranosaur, soar with the Pterodactyl and dance with the Diplodocus in a 40 minute immersive show, perfect for ages 0-4. Last remaining tickets available for 1.30pm (Sun); £8.50 (May 20)
Sun: Family Day: Autumn Garden Art at Keats House, 10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RR (Hampstead Heath overground)
Spring is here at last and where better to enjoy a Sunday than in the former stomping grounds of John Keats. Feathered creatures were a huge inspiration to Keats when he wrote, and this family workshop helps capture that spirit. Create a 3D tree and decorate it with the birds and blossom featured in his many poems. All ages welcome. 2pm-4pm, drop in; FREE (May 20)
London Kids Cinema
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)
Mr Benn Shorts: As If By Magic (U), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (May 19)
CineKids at Cine Lumiere at Institut Francais, 17 Queensberry Place, SW7 2DT (South Kensington tube)
Les Fantastiques Livres Volants de M Morris Lessmore at 2pm (Sat) & 11am (Sun); £5 (May 19-20)
Yellowbird at 2pm (Sat); £5 (Jun 9)
Screenings in French, English or French with English subtitles.
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Monster Family at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (May 19)
Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn St, London SW4 0AT (Clapham Common tube)
Sarah and Duck: Shallots and Ribbons (Toddler Time) at 11am; adult £0/child £3 (May 19)
Peter Pan at 11.45am; adult/child £2 (May 19)
Crouch End Picturehouse, Crouch End Picturehouse, 65 Tottenham Lane,cr Crouch End, N8 9BY (Hornsey/Harringay/Crouch Hill rail)
The Secret of Kells at 4.10pm; adult/child £2 (May 11)
Peter Pan at 11am; adult/child £2 (May 19)
East Dulwich Picturehouse, 116A Lordship Lane, SE22 8HD (East Dulwich rail)
Peter Pan at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (May 19)
Gate Picturehouse, 87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ (Notting Hill tube)
Peter Pan at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (May 19)
Greenwich Picturehouse, 180 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN (Greenwich Rail)
Peter Pan at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (May 19)
Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE (Hackney Central overground)
Peter Pan at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (May 19)
Odeon Kids, at Odeon Holloway and multiple locations (some films may vary by venue)
Early Man at 10am; adult/kid £2.50 (May 19-20)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
Peter Pan at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (May 19)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Monster Family at 11.30am; £1.75 (May 19)
Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG (Brixton tube)
Peter Pan at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (May 19)
Stratford Picturehouse, Stratford Picturehouse, Salway Road, London E15 1BX (Stratford tube/DLR/overground/rail)
Peter Pan at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (May 19)
Vue: Mini Mornings, at Vue Islington and other locations (some films may vary by venue)
Nick Jr Big Screen Heroes at 10am; adult/kid £2 (May 19-20)
Peter Rabbit at 10am; adult/kid £2 (May 26-31)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Spirited Away at 3pm; adult £8/child £4 (May 19)
Spirited Away at 12.30pm; adult £8/child £4 (May 26)
Prince Charles Cinema: Studio Ghibli Forever, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
From Up on Poppy Hill at 3.35pm; non-member£8.50/member £6/child £4 (May 20)
The Wind Rises at 3.35pm; non-member£8.50/member £6/child £4 (May 27)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya at 2.55pm; non-member£8.50/member £6/child £4 (Jun 3)
Coming Soon
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)
Booking Ahead
Techtopia festival at Polka Theatre (May 24-Jun 3)
Royal Institution Family Fun Day: Science Fiction (Jun 2)
Wake Up Gigs baby friendly concert with Nick Mulvey (Jun 3)
Tea + a Gig, live music for parents and babes at The Old Church, Stoke Newington (Jun 5)
Poet in the City presents: Rastamouse introduces Lil’ Bruv at Kings Place, N1 (Jun 9)
The Wind in the Willows with Simon Callow & the Philharmonia Orchestra at Kings Place, N1 (Jun 17)
Lookalike Couples: Are you in a Same Face Relationship?
