Another beautiful day in London town and our first official summer guide to the weekend. It’s a busy one with Open Garden Squares and Open House Families, polo tournament, Dr Seuss musical, Babyccino Kids’ Shop Up and a birthday party at Pop Brixton. Find more in the London Kids Weekend Scoop. Enjoy!
London Kids Weekend Scoop: Family Fun in the City
Fri-Sat: Seussical at Pleasance Theatre, Carpenters Mews, North Rd, N7 9EF (Caledonian Rd tube/Caledonian Rd & Barnsbury overground)
The Broadway musical based on the wacky works of Dr Seuss hits Pleasance Theatre. Enter the world of Horton the Elephant, the Jungle of Nool, the Circus McGurkus and that mischievous Cat in the Hat. With a toe-tapping score from Tony award winning team Flaherty & Ahrens, this is a lyrical delight for ages 4+. 7.30pm (Fri) & 3pm (Sat); adult £18, child/concs £15 (until Jun 9)
Fri-Sun: Circolombia at Underbelly Southbank Festival, London, SE1 8XX (Waterloo tube/rail, Embankment tube)
We’re still getting over the amazing Circus Abyssinia, and now there’s another smash hit Edinburgh Fringe show taking over the Underbelly at Southbank Centre. Described as a ‘circa concierto’ (circus concert), Circolombia blends raw energy, acrobatic prowess and live singing and rapping, for an unforgettable event. All ages. 7.45pm (Tue-Fri), 3pm & 6pm (Sat), 6pm (Sun); weekdays £19/weekends £25/child under 16 half-price (until Jul 14)
Fri-Sun: Polo in the Park, Hurlingham Park, Fulham, London SW6 3RH (Putney Bridge tube)
Another year, another swinging tournament, with tons to see and do – from polo players on the field, to people watching. Sunday is Family Day when Amanda’s Action Kids and Sharky & George will entertain your little ponies. After the event, kids invade the pitch with space hoppers and there’s also tug of war, mini polo, food and drink stalls and more. Great day out for all ages. 12-9pm (Fri), 12-8pm (Sat) and 11.30am-7pm (Sun); general adult £30-£35/child £10/family of 4 £70/under 3s FREE (Jun 8-10)
Fri-Sun: Sleeping Beauty at London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES (Covent Garden tube)
When Princess Aurora is cursed to 100 years of slumber by the wicked fairy Carabosse, it will take a Prince’s sweet kiss to break the spell. But will he reach her in time? This sparkling and rather dark fairytale is transformed into a wondrous ballet by Kenneth MacMillan, set to Tchaikovsky’s score. Ages 5+ (younger ones not admitted). 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), matinees at 2pm (Thu) & 2.30pm (Sat); £14-£79 (Jun 8-16)
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. Tue-Sun at 7.45pm & 2.15pm (varying dates); adult £25-£55/child under 18 half price (until Jun 15)
Sat: Poet in the City presents: Rastamouse introduces Lil’ Bruv at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG (Kings Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
The man who brought Rastamouse to life visits Kings Place with a brand new friend. Michael de Souza will share stories from the hit book and TV show, while introducing Lil’ Bruv, a rapper turned poet. Reggae-loving fun for all ages. 2pm; adult £9.50/child £6.50 (Jun 9)
Sat: Battersea Arts Centre Junior Beatbox Academy, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN (Clapham Junction rail/overground)
Boots and cats and boots and cats and… is your mini-me obsessed with beatboxing? Or do you think they’d fancy a go at making beats, songs and sounds with just their voice box? Sign ‘em up for the free Beatbox Academy sessions so they can sharpen up their mic technique. Guaranteed fun for ages 8 to 11. 2pm (Sat); FREE (Jun 9-30)
Sat: Pop Brixton 3rd Birthday Party, 49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ (Brixton)
Whoop whoop, this fab Brixton space and project celebrates its 3rd birthday and everyone’s invited! 10-piece hip hop outfit Dat Brass will be bringing the brassy tunes, alongside psychedelic gypsy troupe The Odd Beats and a host of others. Shop at Wasted Chic Fashion’s pop-up, eat delicious food, or get crafty with your kids. All ages welcome. 11am-midnight, FREE entry (Jun 9)
Sat: Architecture Explorers at British Library, Harry M Weinrebe Learning Centre, The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB (Euston/Kings Cross St Pancras tube and rail)
Get your imagination working and design your very own building at this fun workshop, that will transport little makers form the red bricks of the British Library to the pink palaces of Jaipur. Use different materials and collage to make 2D pictures or a 3D model to take home. Limited to 40 per workshop, first come, first served. Ages 5-11.
10.30am-12pm & 1pm-2.30pm; FREE (Jun 9)
Sat-Sun:Babyccino Kids’ The ShopUp: Summer Edition, The Yard, 89 1/2 Worship St, EC2A 2BF (Liverpool St tube/rail, Shoreditch High St overground)
All the cool mamas and papas head East this weekend for the popular Babyccino Kids shopping event. Browse more than 30 independent boutiques and enjoy a fun day out for all the family, with face painting, kids’ crafting with Paperbirds, music curated by Playlister FM, and street food trucks where you can munch on a custom Babyccino Burger! All ages welcome. 12pm-6pm (Sat), 11am-5pm (Sun); FREE entry (Jun 9-10)
Sat-Sun: Open Garden Squares weekend, multiple locations across London
Go behind the gates of more than 200 green spaces, from secret gardens to gorgeous roof terraces and allotments. Many of these gardens are typically closed to the public, so this is a rare chance to discover some hidden beauties. If you’re in Islington area, why not explore Culpeper Garden, Barnsbury Wood, Melissa Garden Bee Sanctuary or the Skip Garden Kings Cross? Throughout the weekend, you can take part in special walking and cycle tours, art trails, and family activities. All ages. Daily from 10am; adult £15/child under 12 FREE (Jun 9-10)
Sun: Union Chapel Summer Fete, Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, N1 2UN (Highbury & Islington tube/overground)
This fabulous church and performance space hosts its annual summer fair, with a Women’s Lib theme to mark 100 years of votes for the ‘fairer sex’. Come along for placard-making, a cake contest, live performances celebrating women in music, stalls, and an architectural treasure hunt as part of Open House Families weekend. 12pm-4pm, FREE (Jun 10)
We also like
Celebrate the Queen’s birthday with the vibrant Trooping the Colour from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade via the Mall (Sat, from 10am); create a time capsule and experiment with future tech at Imagination Lab’s Lab Live: Future Me (Sat, 10am-5pm); UCL hosts its annual World Archaeology Festival with lots of free, drop-in fun for families (Sat);
munch your way through 50 of London’s top ding spots at Soho Food Feast, with live music and small plates for just £2 (Sat-Sun); there’s more architecture fun for Open House Families at Here East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with LEGO building and city trails (Sun)
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)
Moon Man (U), 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Jun 9)
CineKids at Cine Lumiere at Institut Francais, 17 Queensberry Place, SW7 2DT (South Kensington tube)
Yellowbird at 2pm (Sat); £5 (Jun 9)
Best of the Annecy International Film Festival at 2pm; £5 (Jun 10)
Best of the Annecy International Film Festival at 11am; £5 (Jun 16)
Screenings in French, English or French with English subtitles.
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Mary & the Witch’s Flower at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Jun 9)
Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn St, London SW4 0AT (Clapham Common tube)
Messy Goes to OKIDO (Toddler Time) at 11am; adult £0/child £3 (Jun 9)
A Turtle’s Tale at 11.45am; adult/child £2 (Jun 9)
Crouch End Picturehouse, Crouch End Picturehouse, 65 Tottenham Lane,cr Crouch End, N8 9BY (Hornsey/Harringay/Crouch Hill rail)
A Turtle’s Tale at 4.15pm; adult/child £2 (Jun 8)
A Turtle’s Tale at 11am; adult/child £2 (Jun 9)
East Dulwich Picturehouse, 116A Lordship Lane, SE22 8HD (East Dulwich rail)
A Turtle’s Tale at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 9)
Gate Picturehouse, 87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ (Notting Hill tube)
A Turtle’s Tale at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 9)
Greenwich Picturehouse, 180 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN (Greenwich Rail)
A Turtle’s Tale at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 9)
Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE (Hackney Central overground)
A Turtle’s Tale at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 9)
Odeon Kids, at Odeon Holloway and multiple locations (some films may vary by venue)
Duck Duck Goose at 10am; adult/kid £2.50 (Jun 9-10)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
A Turtle’s Tale at 12pm; Adult/Child £3 (Jun 9)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Jumanji (1995) at 11.30am; £1.75 (Jun 9)
Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG (Brixton tube)
A Turtle’s Tale at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 9)
Stratford Picturehouse, Stratford Picturehouse, Salway Road, London E15 1BX (Stratford tube/DLR/overground/rail)
A Turtle’s Tale at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Jun 9)
Vue: Mini Mornings, at Vue Islington and other locations (some films may vary by venue)
Duck Duck Goose at 10am; adult/kid £2 (Jun 9-10)
Peter Rabbit at 10am; adult/kid £2 (Jun 9-10)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
A Wrinkle in Time at 1pm; adult £8/child £4 (Jun 9)
A Wrinkle in Time at 1.30pm; adult £8/child £4 (Jun 23)
Prince Charles Cinema: Studio Ghibli Forever, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
Laputa: Castle in the Sky at 12.30pm; non-member£8.50/member £6/child £4 (Jun 9)
When Marnie was There at 3.30pm; non-member£8.50/member £6/child £4 (Jun 10)
Coming Soon
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Sherlock Gnomes at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Jun 24)
Booking Ahead
Fork to Fork foodie festival and fundraiser at ARK Franklin Primary, NW6 (Jun 16)
Medieval Midsummer Festival at Streatham Common Rookery (Jun 16)
Big Fish Little Fish Father’s Day Weekend Rave at Fire & Lightbox, Vauxhall (Jun 17)
Big Fish Little Fish Father’s Day Weekend Rave at FEST, Camden (Jun 17)
OKIDO Get into Science: The Science of Bubbles at Institute of Imagination, Lambeth (Jun 17)
The Wind in the Willows with Simon Callow & the Philharmonia Orchestra at Kings Place, N1 (Jun 17)
Friends for All by Simon Mole at Roundhouse, Chalk Farm (Jun 24)
Boomtown Fair: A Spectacular Festival for All Ages
