Another beautiful day in the city, with more heat to come over the weekend. In our London Kids Weekend Scoop, we’ve covered everything from open-air cinema to a pop-up beach. Take a look!
Delightful Ideas for the Weekend
Fri-Sun: Michael Jackson: On the Wall at National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place (off Trafalgar Square), WC2H 0HE (Charing Cross tube)
Moonwalk down to the National Portrait Gallery for a Thriller exhibition marking Michael Jackson’s 60th birthday year. This first-of-a-kind tribute to the King of Pop features more than 40 artists, inspired and influenced by MJ himself, from both public and private collections. All ages welcome. Daily from 10am-6pm (+ Thu/Fri lates to 9pm); adult £15.50/child FREE (Jun 28-Oct 21)
Fri-Sun: Neverland London: Fulham Beach Club, Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6 2TY (Imperial Wharf/Wandsworth Town overground, Parsons Green/Wandsworth tube)
Hit the beach in Fulham. You can soak up this glorious weather at the Fulham Beach Club, that’s busy with beach huts, daybeds, cabanas and real sand. Tuck into bottomless brunch, Jimmy Garcia’s restaurant and BBQ. Activities range from shuffleboard to table tennis. Kids of all ages are welcome between 12pm-5pm. Open daily from 12pm, £5 entry (until Aug 31)
Fri-Sun: Everyman Summer Love Outdoor Screenings at Granary Square, Canal Side, Kings Cross, N1C (Kings Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Sit on a beanbag on the canal side steps at Granary Square and feast your eyes on some of your favourite flicks. This free open-air cinema programme has crowd-pleasers like Grease, Black Panther, Some Like it Hot and The Lion King on the menu. Once Wimbledon starts, they’ll be showing the matches by day and movies by evening. And of course Granary Square fountains are right there if you and your nippers need to cool off before or after. All ages welcome (check age guidance for individual movies). Multiple dates and times; FREE (Jun 27-Jul 15)
Fri-Sun LyricFest at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL (Hammersmith tube)
The whole family can find something to do at this three-day festival of theatre, dance and poetry. Events kick off with Club Night this Friday featuring Guilty Pleasures DJ set. The family-friendly action is on Saturday with The Little Gardener (11am, 1pm & 3.30pm), Zoo Nation (1.30pm), Puppets with Guts (12pm-3pm) and a Baby Disco (12pm). Also on Sunday, don’t miss the Celebration (2.30pm), a Kool & the Gang-inspired dance theatre show. Varying times, all FREE (Jun 29-Jul 1)
Fri-Sun: Africa Writes at British Library, Harry M Weinrebe Learning Centre, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB (Euston/Kings Cross St Pancras tube and rail)
The Wakanda style party at Rich Mix on Saturday is for the grownups only. But kids are welcome to some daytime events at this celebration of African writing. Don’t miss the free family storytelling workshop (Sat 2pm-2.45pm & 3.30-4.15pm), with an interactive reading of Kobi Goes to Ghana and Onion, Tomato and Chilli with Dzifa Appeah. For ages 0-8. Multiple events and timings; day tickets £12, under 18s £8/weekend pass £18, under 18 £12. Night time events ticketed separately; booking ahead recommended (Jun 29-Jul 1)
Fri-Sun: The King and I at London Palladium, Argyll Street, Westminster, London W1F 7TF (Oxford Circus/Bond St tube)
Shall we dance? If you’re a fan of the classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical, then get ready to be swept away by this production, hitting the West End after its smash hit Broadway run. Original stars Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe light up the stage as British schoolteacher Anna and the King of Siam, set in 1860s Bangkok. For ages 5+. 2pm & 7pm (Mon-Wed), 2.30pm-7.30pm (Thu-Sat), from £29 (Jun 21-Aug 5)
Sat: The Little Prince at RADA Festival, Gielgud Theatre, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Malet Street, WC1E 6ED (Goodge St/Euston Square tube)
A pilot crashes in the Sahara and encounters a little prince who has left his planet to travel the universe. The little prince goes on a journey of discovery, meeting many grown-ups, a tempting snake, and a very clever fox. Watch author/illustrator Chris Riddell live-drawing the classic tale, now celebrating its 75th anniversary. All ages welcome, best for 3+. 2pm; adult £10/child under 16 £5 (Jun 30 & Jul 7)
Sat: Young Herbert at The Cockpit, Gateforth Street, NW8 8EH (Edgware Rd tube)
Half Moon and Justin Coe present a swashbuckling adventure with a twist. Young Herbert is a naughty little pirate who won’t eat his greens. Then Mum calls on Great Uncle Albatross to teach Young Herbert a thing or two… but will her learn to behave? Spoken word, jaunty music, gallows humour and the obligatory parrot create lots of fun for families with kids ages 4 to 9. 2pm; £7/family of 4 £24/discounts available for local families in Church St Ward postcodes (Jun 30)
Sat: Grant Museum of Zoology: Explore Zoology, Rockefeller Building, University College London, University Street, WC1E 6DE (Euston Square tube)
When it’s baking outside, pop into this museum of zoological curiosities for a cool escape. Drop in during the afternoon for this free workshop, where you can get to know your dodo from your quagga. All ages welcome. 1pm-4pm, drop in, FREE (Jun 30)
Sat: Battersea Arts Centre Junior Beatbox Academy, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN (Clapham Junction rail/overground)
LAST CHANCE: Boots and cats and boots and cats… does your mini-me like to make the beat drop? Let them have a go at making beats, songs and sounds using nothing but their voice box. It’s the last weekend of free Saturday Beatbox Academy sessions, where they can get their mic technique down. Ages 8 to 11. 2pm (Sat); FREE (until Jun 30)
Sat-Sun: Serpentine Gallery Family Weekend & The London Mastaba, Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA (Lancaster Gate/Marble Arch tube)
Come stack, repeat and move your bodies to create sculptural forms, influenced by the materials, landscape and architecture of the Serpentine Galleries. Harold Offeh invites adults and kids to become part of a live archive, exploring media, tech, identity and public space. While at the event, you can check out Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s first outdoor public exhibition, floating on the Serpentine Lake until September. The giant structure is inspired by ancient Mesopotamia’s mastabas — benches with two vertical sides, two slanted sides and a flat top. Family Weekend is from 1pm-5pm, FREE. The London Mastaba is ongoing (Jun 18-Sep 23)
Sun: Royal Academy Family Studio: Willow Bee Family Sculpture Workshop, John Madejski Fine Rooms, Burlington House, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Bzzzz. Get inspired by the Royal Academy’s 250th Summer Exhibition, then join in this family workshop all about our yellow and black furry friends. Help Willowtwisters create bees out of willow (or pom pons) to decorate the courtyard, and learn more about why it’s so important to protect the bees. All ages welcome. Drop-in 11am-3pm; FREE (Jun 30)
We also like
Yum. It’s National Dim Sum Week in Chinatown (from Sat until July 6); browse for goodies at the House of Illustration Summer Fair (Sat); enjoy traffic-free shopping and fun on Summer Streets at Regent Street (Suns until Jul 22); there’s stalls, street circus and fairground rides at the Hampstead Summer Festival’s Big Fair (Sun); or go south for more than 60 events at Southwest Fest in Pimlico; still loads going on for the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival: Greenwich Fair (until Jul 7)
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)
Tea Dance for Little People Workshop at 10am + Peter Rabbit Screening (PG), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Jun 30)
CineKids at Cine Lumiere at Institut Francais, 17 Queensberry Place, SW7 2DT (South Kensington tube)
The Breadwinner at 2pm; £5 (Jun 30)
The Breadwinner at 11am; £5 (Jul 1)
Screenings in French, English or French with English subtitles.
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Sleeping Beauty at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Jun 30)
Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn St, London SW4 0AT (Clapham Common tube)
Hopster Showtime (Toddler Time) at 11am; adult £0/child £3 (Jun 30)
A Wrinkle in Time at 11.45am; adult/child £2 (Jun 30)
Crouch End Picturehouse, Crouch End Picturehouse, 65 Tottenham Lane,cr Crouch End, N8 9BY (Hornsey/Harringay/Crouch Hill rail)
A Wrinkle in Time at 11am; adult/child £2 (Jun 30)
East Dulwich Picturehouse, 116A Lordship Lane, SE22 8HD (East Dulwich rail)
No Films After this Week. (Jun 23)
Gate Picturehouse, 87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ (Notting Hill tube)
A Wrinkle in Time at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 30)
Greenwich Picturehouse, 180 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN (Greenwich Rail)
A Wrinkle in Time at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 30)
Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE (Hackney Central overground)
A Wrinkle in Time at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 30)
Odeon Kids, at Odeon Holloway and multiple locations (some films may vary by venue)
A Wrinkle in Time at 10am; adult/kid £2.50 (Jun 30-Jul 1)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
A Wrinkle in Time at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Jun 30)
Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG (Brixton tube)
A Wrinkle in Time at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 30)
Stratford Picturehouse, Stratford Picturehouse, Salway Road, London E15 1BX (Stratford tube/DLR/overground/rail)
A Wrinkle in Time at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 30)
Vue: Mini Mornings, at Vue Islington and other locations (some films may vary by venue)
The Greatest Showman at 10am; adult/kid £2 (Jun 30-Jul 1 & Jul 8)
Show Dogs at 10am; adult/kid £2 (Jul 21-22)
Prince Charles Cinema: Studio Ghibli Forever, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
Grave of the Fireflies at 1.45pm; non-member£8.50/member £6/child £4 (Jul 1)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Fantasia at 1pm; adult £8/child £4 (Jul 1)
Coming Soon
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
The Little Vampire at 11.30am; £1.75 (Jul 7)
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Tad the Lost Explorer & the Secret of King Midas at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Jul 29)
Booking Ahead
Wimbledon Tennis Championships (Jul 2-15)
Everyman Summer Love: Wimbledon Screenings at Granary Square, King’s Cross (Jul 2-15)
Scoop: Pop Up Ice Cream Museum by Bompas & Parr at Gasholders 1, King’s Cross (Jul 3-Sep 30)
Whitecross Street Party, EC1 (Jul 15)
Win a family ticket to the fabulous Wild Child Festival, launching in August this summer!
Nigerian Food in London: Pitanga
