Father’s Day London Weekend Scoop (June 13-16, 2019)

 

 
June, pull your finger out. I’m not loving this wintery weather, especially after a gorgeous time in Dubai (details in a future post). Struggling with flu, but had to get myself together to write up this Father’s Day London edition of the Weekend Scoop. Just to show love to all the baby daddies out there including our very own Babe Papa. We appreciate you and everything you do. Love also to my Daddy in heaven and to all those missing a father in their life and feeling it hard this weekend. Whatever you get up to over the next few days, make the most of it with your crew x

 

14 Fantastic Ideas for Father’s Day London 2019

 

 
Thu-Sun: Zip Now London, Archbishop’s Park, Carlisle Lane, SE1 7LE (Lambeth North tube/Waterloo tube/rail)
Is daddy a daredevil? Treat him to a Father’s Day London weekend to remember, with a ride along the world’s biggest and fastest city zip wire. Whizz down at breakneck speed, taking in the sights of the Capital. You’ll launch from 35 m above ground (taller than 9 double decker buses) and travel speeds of up to 50km an hour. Not for the faint of heart, and only suitable for ages 8+ (minimum height 1.2m). All kids must be accompanied by adult. 11.30am-7.30pm (Mon-Fri), 9.30am-7.30pm (Sat), 9.30am-5.30pm (Sun); £30 single ride, £27 limited early bird, £25 groups of 5 or more, £70 Zip & Zoom (includes Thames Rockets adventure) (Jun 12-Sep 15)

Thu-Sun: Horniman Museum: Brick Wonders, 100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
If he’s a fan of LEGO (and what father isn’t?) then hop down to Horniman Museum to discover the wonders of the world, reimagined with half a million LEGO bricks! Discover more than 50 models such as an Egyptian pyramid, a coral reef, London Bridge and an international space station. Watch LEGO animated shorts in the mini-cinema, or have fun in the interactive play areas. Pick up a combo ticket and you can also pop into the museum’s Butterfly House and Aquarium. All ages welcome. 10am-5.30pm; adult £8/child from £4.50/family 2 adults & 2 kids £18/child under 3 FREE (until Oct 27)

 

 
Thu-Sun: Choose Love X A Mile in My Shoes, Empathy Museum, 3 Newburgh Street, W1F 7RE (Oxford Circus tube)
We love the sound of this exhibition, where visitors are invited to step into the actual shoes of a refugee and take a walk while listening to a first-hand account of their experiences. Go on a personal and poignant journey with a fellow human, part of a collaboration between the Empathy Museum and Help Refugees for Refugee Week. 10am-7pm (Mon-Wed), 10am-8pm (Thu), 11am-7pm (Fri-Sat), 12pm-6pm (Sun), FREE (Jun 14-23)

Thu-Sun: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, box office Queen Mary’s Garden, Regent’s Park Inner Circle, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
Summer’s here and the Open Air Theatre is back in action at Regent’s Park. Head to the Inner Circle for a vibrant programme of drama and musical theatre, in the sunshine or under the stars (dress appropriately). Now playing: Hansel and Gretel (Jun 14-22, 8pm daily + Sat Jun 22 also 2.15pm), an operatic adaptation of the Grimm fairytale about two lost kids, suitable for ages 9+. Coming soon: Shakespeare’s playful A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Jun 28-Jul 27, 7.45pm daily/Thu & Sat matinees 2.15pm) and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical hit Evita (Aug 2-Sep 21, 7.45pm daily/Thu & Sat matinees 2.15pm), recommended for secondary-school age kids and adults. Ticket range £25-£62.50, confirm show times with box office ahead of visit (until Sep 21)

Fri: Planet Play, Chickenshed Theatre, 290 Chase Side, Cockfosters, N14 4PE (Cockfosters tube)
The beloved Chickenshed Theatre presents the last in their series of Friday puppetry and play sessions. Watch in delight as your child explores a multi-sensory world of song, music and movement. Ages 0-3 and carers. 10am-10.45am; adult £6, child £6, babies under 6 months FREE (ends Jun 14)

 

 
Fri: Men In Black: International (Parent and Baby Screening) at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
Drag your babe papa along to Rich Mix on Friday for this Parent and Baby screening of the all-new Men in Black: International. Taking over from where Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones left off, this rejig of the popular sci-fi series stars Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth as Agents H & Agent M, doing their best to save the solar system from a threat within. Parents and caregivers can bring their babes to these early screenings, which feature a calmer/relaxed environment, buggy parking and baby-changing. For adults with babies ages 2 and under. 12pm; adult £6/under 2s FREE (Jun 16)

FIND MORE BABY-FRIENDLY SCREENINGS ON OUR LONDON CINEMA FOR PARENTS WITH BABIES PAGE

 

 

Sat: Big Fish Little Fish: Father’s Weekend Fiesta Family Rave at Fire & Lightbox, 39 Parry Street, SW8 1RT (Vauxhall tube/rail)
Come out and shake a tail feather or two at the Father’s Day London weekend fiesta hosted by Big Fish Little Fish, the award-winning, world famous ravers. Dust off your dancing shoes and get your glow sticks pumping to a DJ set from Posthuman, joined by Middle Aged Rave (Ian Joliet), Garry Davies and DJ Hubble. As always, there’s also a Villa Pia baby chill out area, Captain Cookie craft room, licensed bar and mini stalls, free transfers and a parachute dance finale. All ages welcome, best for ages 0 to 8 and carers. 2pm-4.30pm; adult from £10/child from £7/pre-walking infant FREE (Jun 15)

 

 
Sat: Pride Street Party at Coal Drops Yard, and Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Come on, Vogue. What brighter way to spend your Father’s Day London weekend than at a Pride Street Party? Coal Drops Yard hosts a free hula hooping workshop by Cocoa Butter Club, a vogueing masterclass with Jay Jay Revlon, performance by Floral Orchestra, disco soundtrack by Sonic Yootha, and a special DJ set by Joe Goddard of Hot Chip. There’s also costume making, crafting, an immersive installation, and one last dance with Savage Disco. 2pm-8pm, FREE (Jun 15)

 

 
Sat-Sun: WADADLI Days and Nights, part of Get Up, Stand Up: Generations of Black Creative Pioneers, Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA (Charing Cross tube)
This sounds like a legendary exhibition, marking 50 years of Black British creative culture, from the films of Horace Ové to today’s vibrant young talent. We’re especially buzzing about opening weekend event: WADADLI Days and Nights (Jun 15-16), a culinary and creative weekend hosted by TV chef Andi Oliver and singer Neneh Cherry. They’ll transform Somerset House’s courtyard into an old-school sound system block party, crammed with food, flavour and musical fusion. Andi presents a two-day pop-up of her restaurant WADADLI Kitchen, serving Wadadli BBQ chicken, salt fish fritters, curry goat roti and other delicacies. Groove to the sounds of Feminine Bass (Sat) or Solution Sound System (Sun), or a mix of tunes spun by Andi and Neneh themselves. Throughout the weekend, you can also hear new UK acts like The Fedz. Wadadli Days and Nights is from 12pm-8pm (Sat) & 12pm-6pm (Sun); FREE. The exhibition Get Up, Stand Up is open 10am-6pm (Mon-Tue, Sat-Sun) & 11am-8pm (Wed-Fri), except Jun 15, 22 & 23 (10am-8pm), Jul 11-21 & Aug 8-21 (10am-6pm); £12.50/concs £9.50/under 12s FREE (Jun 12-Sep 15)

Sat-Sun: Waterloo Festival at Apsley House 149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner, W1J 7NT (Hyde Park Corner tube)
Commemorate the Battle of Waterloo at Apsley House, the Duke of Wellington’s former residence. For Father’s Day London fun, you can watch reenactments from the 95th Rifles, or watch a Georgian surgeon in action. 11am-4pm; included in regular admission: adult £10.50/child 5-15 £6.30/family £27.30/under 5s FREE (Jun 15-16)

Sun: Underbelly Festival: Variety Club 4 Kids, Southbank, Belvedere Road Coach Park, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube, rail)
The kids are in charge for this Father’s Day London performance of the Showstoppers’ Kids Show, described as a ‘marvellous, musical adventure’ for ages 6+ (Jun 16 at 3pm, tickets from £14.50). Also playing at Underbelly Family Fest this summer: Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance hall & brand-new Baby Cabaret, Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids, Morgan & West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular Family Magic Show for Kids (and Childish Grownups), Trash Test Dummies, Arr We There Yet, The Noise Next Door, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, Shark in the Park and Basil Brush! All ages welcome (some age restrictions apply for certain acts). Varying times, dates and prices from £8.50; book ahead (Apr 5-Sep 29)

 

 
Sun: Fun DMC: Father’s Day Special at LP @ The Curtain, Curtain Road, EC2A 3PT (Shoreditch High St overground, Old St tube, Liverpool St tube/rail)
They love it when we call them Big Poppa, and it’s a Father’s Day London special for the popular daytime block party. Created by Charlie Dark (Attica Blues/Run Dem Crew) and Spin Doctor (The Doctor’s Orders), Fun DMC is an afternoon family jam, where kids big and small (and kids at heart) can throw down like the good old days. Enjoy radio-friendly hip hop, garage, disco and party anthems, along with graffiti wall, hip hop colouring books, dad dance-offs, licensed bar and food served all day. There’s even a free showing of The Lion King to enjoy with your cubs. Gift your man with a Father’s Day Ticket for £15, that comes with a Dad DMC t-shirt and a Fun DMC mug. Ages 0-10 and families. 11am FREE Lion King screening; block party from 1-4pm; adult £8, walking kid £5, family of 4 £22.50, non-walking babies FREE (Jun 16)

Sun: Airfix Tanks, National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HT (Sloane Square tube)
This Father’s Day London activity is built for dads and lads or ladies who love to make and take. Bring the family for a crafty afternoon where you can build a model of an Airfix tank. The ticket price includes one kit to take away with your family, and the session is suitable for ages 8+. For younger ones aged 8 and under, the museum’s Play Base is a great place to burn off excess energy (booking ahead essential). 12pm-3pm, £10 per kit – museum open from 10am-5pm, play space from £4.75 per child aged 0-8 (Jun 16)

 

 
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish with Usborne Books: Father’s Day Fiesta Family Rave at FEST CAMDEN, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8AH (Chalk Farm/Camden Town tube, Camden Rd overground)
The multiple award-winning family rave pioneers return to FEST in Camden for a Father’s Day London party, co-hosted by Usborne Books. Expect bangin’ choons with DJ Matt Cantor (Freestylers), sensory play and story time for babies and toddlers in association with Usborne, celebrating 20 years of ‘That’s Not My…’ touchy-feely books. Dance your hooves off in the stables, or relax in the Villa Pia baby chill out zone. There’s crafting fun with Captain Cookie, bubbles, balloons, glitter cannon and parachute dance finale. All ages welcome, best for ages 0 to 8 and carers. 2pm-4.30pm; adult from £10/child from £7/pre-walking infant FREE (Jun 16)

We also like
Head to Paddington Street Gardens for the free Marylebone Summer Festival (Sat-Sun); or hang out with the fam at Highgate’s annual Fair in the Square (Sat); Union Chapel presents Daylight Music, a lazy afternoon of music, tea and cake for all ages (Sat); make Mystic Maps inspired by William Blake at Keats House in Hampstead (Sun); feast to your heart’s content at a Refugee Food Festival, showcasing chefs from Syria, Nigeria and other countries (Sun until Jun 21); catch a free screening of Goldfinger for Canada Square Park’s James Bond Movie Nights, Canary Wharf at 5.30pm (Sun)

Or why not treat your man to a delicious Sunday Roast? We’ve got a lovely list of spots right HERE!

London Kids Cinema

At Prince Charles Cinema for Father’s Day London weekend movies, you and the kids can catch a sing along of The Little Mermaid (Sat 12.30pm) or classic animation The Iron Giant (Sat 12.45pm). Find more Kids Club weekend screenings for under £5 on our LONDON FAMILY CINEMA page for details!

Booking Ahead

Open House Families (architecture festival), multiple locations (Jun 22-23)
The Cally Festival, Caledonian Rd, N1 (Jun 23)
The Big Architecture Family Day at Royal Academy (Jun 23)
Family Barn Dance at Cecil Sharp House, NW1 (Jun 23)
The Great Exhibition Road Festival, Imperial College London (Jun 28-30)
Fun DMC Daytime Family Block Party: Hip Hop Sepcial, Pitch Stratford (Jun 29)
Gelato Festival at Canopy Market, King’s Cross (Jun 29-30)
Aurora Orchestra Far Far Away, Kings Place, N1 (Jun 29-30 & Jul 6-7)
London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival (Jun 30)
The Golden Hinde Night Voyage (Family Sleepover), at The Golden Hinde, SE1 (Jul 6 & Aug 3)

**NB: Please note that all event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue before making a trip!**