A bit nippy out there today, but don’t let that stop you. Fun abounds in the London Kids Weekend Scoop and much more to come over the next few weeks. Have a good one!
Fri-Sun: New Scientist Live at ExCel London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL (Canning Town DLR/Rail, Custom House DLR)
Get your beakers and your bunsen burners out for another science bonanza in east London. Top boffins like Tim Peak, Sean Carroll, Hannah Fry and Jim Al Khalili are on the bill, and there’s lots to get kids excited about — from hanging with creepy crawlies to riding a VR roller coaster. All ages welcome. From 10am daily; tickets from £12 (Sep 20-23)
Fri-Sun: Life in the Dark at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD (South Kensington tube)
Put on your imaginary night goggles for this fascinating tour of what different species get up to, once the sun goes down. Follow the adventures of deep sea fish, foxes on the hunt, crocodiles and other nocturnal creatures. All ages. 10am-5.50pm daily; child 16 and under FREE (Jul 13-Dec 31)
Fri-Sun: Tootopia, multiple venues around Tooting
Fans of all things Tooting should head south this weekend, for the 5th year of Tootopia. This year is all about the ‘Street Food Takeover’, your chance to chow down on some of the most delicious grub from food trucks, follow a ‘foodie trail’ of local restaurants, and much more. Snuggle and watch a movie in a secret pub cinema, or dance your socks off in a world-famous market. Loads on for all ages. 10am, varying times and prices, lots FREE (Sep 21-23)
Fri-Sun: Serpentine Gallery: The London Mastaba, Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA (Lancaster Gate/Marble Arch tube)
LAST CHANCE: 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. (until Sep 23)
Sat: Blue Planet III at Theatre Delicatessen – Deli Studios, 2 Finsbury Avenue, EC2M 2PA (Liverpool Rd tube/rail)
Dive into the deep at this madcap tribute to the Blue Planet. Described as ‘David Attenborough meets clowning’, you’ll follow the antics of two idiots named Luke and Christian, on a mission to repopulate the sea and save the oceans. Ages 4+. 3.30pm-4.30pm, FREE (Sep 22)
Sat-Sun: Open House London, multiple venues
Every year, London’s most intricate, private, historic and other buildings throw open their doors to all, for one weekend only, taking you into the heart of what makes them tick. Go behind the scenes of The Shard and BT Tower, among hundreds of sites. Open House Junior offers kid-friendly tours, as well as lots of designing, building and interactive fun for all ages. From around 10am daily, FREE (Sep 22-23)
Sat-Sun: Colourscape Music Festival on Clapham Common, Windmill Drive, off Rookery Rd (near Long Pond lake and Windmill Pub), SW4 9DE (Clapham Common, Clapham South tube)
It’s the last chance to catch this dazzling, multi-sensory pop-up on Clapham Common. Walk through a labyrinthine sculpture wearing your choice of coloured cape, and immerse yourself in an alternate world of colour, light and space. All ages. 12pm-5pm (Sat-Sun) £11 (until Sep 23)
Sun: Harvest Stomp, Olympic Park, E20 2ST (Stratford tube/rail/DLR/overground)
Say goodbye to summer at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where the Harvest Stomp brings live music, garden games, micro-brewery, cookery demos, jam making, autumnal grub and more to enjoy. Head to the Timber Lodge Café. All ages welcome. From 12pm, FREE (Sep 23)
Boomtown Fair: Our Experience with Kids
