Can you believe we’re almost done with the first half of term? I’ll have the October half-term guide out next week, along with Halloween activities for all the family. In the meantime, have a gander at the great range of things to do in London this weekend: a street food party, magical theatre, STEM-based workshops, a Viking rave and a family reggae bash. Love it!
Fantastic Things to do in London this Weekend
Fri: KERB’s House Party: 6th Birthday Bash at King’s Cross West Handyside Canopy, N1C 4LW (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
We go way back with Kerb and we’re excited to celebrate the street food collective’s 6th birthday soiree in London this weekend. Take your crew to King’s Cross for an early evening to after hours foodie feast, everything from pizza to jerk chicken to finger-licking cupcakes on offer. There’s also booze for grownups, live music and a family-loving atmosphere. All ages welcome. You’ll find Kerb street market every Wed-Fri, 12pm-2pm at Granary Square. 6pm-11pm; £6 entry fee (Oct 12)
Sat: The Big Draw: Colourful Characters, Christ Church Clapham, 39 Union Grove, SW8 2QJ (Stockwell tube/Wandsworth Rd rail)
Celebrate diversity and drawing, to mark both The Big Draw and Black History Month in London this weekend. Kids and families are invited to drop and design, colour and decorate larger-than-life people. It can be a self-portrait, an imaginary character or based on a friend or family member. All ages welcome. 11am-4pm; FREE (Oct 13)
Sat: Plink and Boo at Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 0ND (Limehouse DLR)
Plink and Boo is an interactive circus theatre show, created by Can’t Sit Still in collaboration with kids, parents and childcare professionals. Enter a topsy-turvy world that’s perfect for people who don’t fit neatly into boxes. Explore two crates full of toys – which one will you play with? Live music, acrobatics and tons of toys. For ages 2 to 5 and carers. 11am, 1pm & 3pm: £7 (Oct 13)
Sat: Morgan and West: More Magic for Kids at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
Those dashing time-travelling magicians are back with more crazy capers to entertain your whole brood. Can Mr Morgan get through a whole trick without his partner complaining? Will Mr West ever see children as real people? Expect the unexpected at this silly, sensational show for ages 5+. Hurry, limited availability! 12pm & 4pm; £8 (Oct 13)
Also showing at Arts Depot: Snow White, Rose Red and Bear Brown at 12pm & 2pm, £8 (Sun Oct 14)
Sat-Sun: Little Angel Theatre: Apple and Spice, 14 Dagmar Passage, London N1 2DN (Angel tube)
Spice up your life in London this weekend with this Indian tale of two stepmothers, one from the West, one from the East. Professional classical dancer Krishna Zivraj-Nair creates a bold dance performance blending shadow puppetry, live performance and original music. It all wraps up with an Indian party on stage, and you can join in! Ages 3 to 8 and families. 11am & 2.30pm; adult £13/child under 16 £11 (until Oct 14)
Sat-Sun: Royal Institution: Marty Jopson’s Invisible Worlds & Family Masterclass – Build with STIXX, Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS (Green Park tube)
Put everyday life under the microscope this Saturday, in a fascinating look at everything from plant life to insects and bacteria. Join BBC One Show’s resident scientist Marty Jopson on this interactive journey, using samples harvested from the audience! On Sunday, kids and families are invited for a Family Masterclass for ages 7-12 (and at least 1 adult/carer). Learn to build a large shelter with a STIXX machine, using nothing but old newspaper. Marty Jopson’s Invisible Worlds talk is at 6pm-7.15pm (Sat), £16/concs £10. RI Family Masterclass is at 10.30am-12.30pm (Sun); adult £20/child £15/discounts for RI members (Oct 13-14)
Sat-Sun: Serpentine Gallery Family Weekend: Hall of Mirroring, Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, W2 3XA (Lancaster Gate/Marble Arch tube)
How do we present ourselves, when looking at ourselves and others? Join artist Harold Offeh in west London this weekend, at a fun workshop exploring mirrored surfaces, reflective techniques and different modes of display. You’ll play at being mannequins and create GIFs of your experiments. All ages welcome. 1pm-5pm; FREE (Oct 13-14)
Sun: Raving with Vikings and Dragons at FEST, Upper Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8AH (Camden Town tube/Camden Rd overground/Chalk Farm tube)
The award-winning family rave crew Big Fish Little Fish are throwing another monster party at FEST, with Heavenly Jukebox on the decks! Come as your best Dragon, Viking or Valkyrie (fancy dress optional) and tear up the dance floor with other fun-loving families. These brilliant events feature Villa Pia baby chill out area, Captain Cookie craft room, licensed bar and mini stalls, free transfers and glowsticks and a parachute dance finale. All ages welcome, best for ages 0 to 8 and carers. 2pm-4.30pm; adult £10/child £7/pre-walking infant FREE (Oct 14)
Sun: The Selfish Giant at Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, N6 5AA (Highgate tube)
Learn all about the selfish giant who lives behind a crumbling wall and a thousand ‘Keep Out’ signs. One curious child wants to discover who lives behind the wall, and perhaps break the curse of a never-ending winter. Oscar Wilde’s classic story is reimagined for the stage in a show for ages 3 to 7. 12pm & 2pm; £9.95 (Oct 14)
Sun: FUNharmonics: The Highway Rat at Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Embankment/Waterloo tube/rail)
After the success of The Gruffalo’s Child screening with live orchestra, Southbank Centre and Magic Light Pictures present The Highway Rat, based on the popular Julia Donaldson and Axel scheduler picture book. See the animated film on a big screen with live music performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Arrive early for fun ‘have-a-go’ orchestra sessions for ages 6+ at 10am-12pm before the show. The Highway Rat is at 12pm, £12-£20 (Oct 14)
Sun: Apple Day at Gillespie Park and Ecology Centre, 191 Drayton Park, N5 1PH (Arsenal tube)
Fancy an earthy crunchy good time in London this weekend? Head to one of Highbury’s favourite green spaces for a whole afternoon of apples. There’ll be live acoustic music, apple bobbing, kids activities, an apple juicer, food and drink for sale, and Cirque de Surplus teaching all about food waste. All ages. 12pm-4pm, FREE (Oct 14)
Sun: Disco Loco: The Story of Reggae at Hackney Showroom, Hackney Downs Studios, Amhurst Terrace, E8 2BT (Dalston Kingsland/Dalston Junction overground/Rectory Rd rail)
East London ravers Disco Loco are taking us back to the roots of reggae. Earl Gateshead and Natty Bo will ‘wheel up and come again’ for all you ska, rocksteady and dancehall fans. As always there’s big love and support from host MC Chu-I and resident DJs Rev Milo Speedwagon & Mark Rostron. Licensed bar and refreshments on offer. All ages welcome, from babies ages 6 months and up. 2pm-5pm, £4 per person adv/door, pre-walkers and grandmothers FREE (Oct 14)
London Kids Cinema
A selection of family films showing in London this weekend.
Barbican Cinema Framed Family Film Club, Cinema 1, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
FFC: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit (PG) at 11am; Child £2.50/Adult £3.50 (Oct 13)
Electric Cinema Kids Club, 191 Portobello Rd, W11 2ED (Notting Hill tube)
Bedknobs & Broomsticks at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Oct 13)
Hotel Transylvania 3 + Halloween Party at 9.30am; adult/child £5 (Oct 27)
Clapham Picturehouse, 76 Venn St, London SW4 0AT (Clapham Common tube)
Hey Duggee (Toddler Time) at 11am; adult £0/child £3 (Oct13)
The Little Mermaid at 11.45am; adult/child £2 (Oct 13)
Crouch End Picturehouse, Crouch End Picturehouse, 65 Tottenham Lane, Crouch End, N8 9BY (Hornsey/Harringay/Crouch Hill rail)
The Little Mermaid at 11am; adult/child £2 (Oct 13)
Scratch ’n Sniff: Wallace & Gromit – The Curse of the Were Rabbit at 11.15am; adult/child £2 (Oct 25)
East Dulwich Picturehouse, 116A Lordship Lane, SE22 8HD (East Dulwich rail)
The Little Mermaid at 10.20am; adult/child £2 (Oct 13)
Scratch ’n Sniff: Wallace & Gromit – The Curse of the Were Rabbit at 11.15am; adult/child £2 (Oct 25)
Gate Picturehouse, 87 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3JZ (Notting Hill tube)
The Little Mermaid at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 13)
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 20)
Hotel Transylvania 3 at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 27)
Greenwich Picturehouse, 180 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich SE10 8NN (Greenwich Rail)
The Little Mermaid at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 13)
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 20)
Hotel Transylvania 3 at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 27)
Odeon Kids, at Odeon Holloway and multiple locations (some films may vary by venue)
Incredibles 2 at 10am; adult/child £2 (Oct 13-14)
Phoenix Cinema Kids Club, 52 High Rd, East Finchley N2 9PJ (East Finchley tube)
The Little Mermaid at 12pm; adult/child £2 (Oct 13)
Regent St Cinema Kids Kino Club, 309 Regent St, W1B 2UW (Oxford Circus tube)
Hotel Transylvania 3 at 11.30am; £1.75 (Oct 13)
Luis and the Aliens at 11.30am; £1.75 (Oct 20)
ET the Extra Terrestrial at 11.30am; £1.75 (Oct 27)
Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton Oval, Coldharbour Lane, SW2 1JG (Brixton tube)
The Little Mermaid at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 13)
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 20)
Hotel Transylvania 3 at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 27)
Stratford Picturehouse, Stratford Picturehouse, Salway Road, London E15 1BX (Stratford tube/DLR/overground/rail)
The Little Mermaid at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 13)
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 20)
Hotel Transylvania 3 at 10.30am; adult/child £2 (Oct 27)
Vue: Mini Mornings, at Vue Islington and other locations (some films may vary by venue)
Incredibles 2 at 10am; adult/kid £2 (Oct 13-14)
Prince Charles Cinema: Studio Ghibli Forever, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
Howl’s Moving Castle at 1pm; non-member£8.50/member £6/child £4 (Oct 7)
Coming Soon
Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE (Hackney Central overground)
Scratch & Sniff: Wallace & Gromit – Curse of the Were-Rabbit at 11am; adult/child £2 (Oct 23)
BFI Southbank: BFI Families, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (Jacques Tati) at 1.30pm; adult £8/child £4 (Oct 28)
Soho Hotel Children’s Film Club, 4 Richmond Mews, W1D 3DH (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Luis and the Aliens at 10.30am (10am brunch); £10 (film only), or £20 (includes buffet brunch at 10am + popcorn and drinks for film) (Oct 28)
Booking Ahead
Big Draw at Tower Bridge (Oct 20)
David Gibb & Brady Rymer: Songs Across the Pond at Half Moon Theatre (Oct 20)
Aurora Orchestra: Far Far Away/Family Concert at Kings Place, N1 (Oct 20-21 & Oct 27)
Mwalimu Express Family Party at Rich Mix (Oct 21)
Storystock Festival at Battersea Power Station (Oct 22-24)
Under the Rainbow at Polka Theatre, Wimbledon (Oct 24-Nov 3)
Wake Up Gigs: Amaroun + Owen Duff at the Ace Hotel, Shoreditch (Oct 28)
Fun DMC: A History of Hip Hop at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen (Oct 28)
Halloween Spooky Walks at Lauderdale House, Highgate (Oct 31)
October Half Term guide out next week!
NB: Please note that event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue before making a trip!
London Kids Weekend Scoop (October 4-7, 2018)
