Welcome back! Did you have a great summer? It felt like it whizzed by, although we packed lots in from theatre shows, to a fab time at Boomtown Fair, and a magical holiday in Venice and Croatia.
I’ll have more to report soon, in the meantime here’s what’s happening in London this weekend. Our Top 10 Family Friendly Activities list should get you out and about, soaking up the September sunshine. Have a good one!
Top 10 Family Friendly Activities in London this Weekend
Thu-Sun: Totally Thames, multiple locations
The annual celebration of the Thames returns with a month of festivities along the river. See spoken word, pop-up performances, innovative artworks and watery installations. Full programme on website, various times, mostly FREE (Sep 1-30)
Thu-Sun: Zip Now London, Archbishop’s Park, Carlisle Lane, SE1 7LE (Lambeth North tube/Waterloo tube/rail)
There’s still time to fly along the world’s fastest city zip wire. View London from your launch spot at 35m above ground (higher than 9 double decker buses) and zip by at up to 50km an hour. 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) (until Sep 15)
Thu-Sun: Buckingham Palace State Rooms Summer Opening, Westminster, SW1A 1AA (Victoria/Hyde Park/Green Park/St James Park/Charing Cross tube; Victoria/Charing Cross rail)
Have a gander at the Crown Jewels, closet treasures and the Throne Room, as you wander through 19 royal rooms in the last few weeks of the palace’s summer opening. 9.30am-6.30pm (last admission 4.15pm); adult from £25/child from £14/family 2 adults + 3 kids £64/under 5s FREE (until Sep 29)
Thu-Sun: Top Secret at Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD (South Kensington tube)
Get your sleuthing hat on and crack some codes at this enigmatic exhibition, exploring 100 years of top secret messages, gadgets and gizmos. It coincides with the centenary of GCHQ, the UK’s Intelligence, Security and Cyber Agency. Various time slots 10am-5pm; FREE but booking required (until Feb 23, 2020)
Fri-Sun: St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival, St Katharine Marina, 50 St Katharine’s Way, St Katharine’s & Wapping, London E1W 1LA (Tower Gateway DLR, Tower Hill tube)
It’s that time of year when you can head to the riverside to see 40 vintage boats on colourful display. As part of the Totally Thames festival, there’s sailing and motor boats, a chance to climb aboard some Dunkirk Little Ships, workshops, live music, taster kayaking sessions and tasty street food from Kerb. 12pm-6pm (Fri), 11am-6pm (Sat), 11am-5pm (Sun); FREE (Sep 6-8)
Sun: Hackney Carnival (main picture), from Mare St, E8 1EA (Hackney Central overground)
Ole ole. Whether you partied your feathers off or missed out completely on Notting Hill Carnival, there’s a chance to get your ‘jump and whine’ on again at Hackney Carnival. Follow the floats, marching bands, sequinned dancers and sound systems along Mare Street to Lansdowne Drive. Yummy jerk food stalls line the route, plus Hackney Playbus and kids’ play zone. 11am-7pm; FREE (Sep 8)
Sun: Disco Loco at Hackney Carnival, St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens, E8 (Hackney Central overground)
If you didn’t catch them on their summer road tour, now’s the time to groove with our favourite East London ravers. Disco Loco are taking over their own spot at Hackney Carnival, with reggae session from 12pm-7pm featuring ska and rocksteady set from Broncofly, followed by DJ Sherrine and legendary Earl Gateshead. Get the whole family dancing, plus their’s balloons, ribbons, hula hoops and carnival headdresses to make and take. All ages welcome. 12pm-7pm, FREE (Sep 8)
Sun: Unicorn Theatre: 15 Minutes, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Leeds-based theatre pioneers Slung Low down present a family friendly edition of their popular 15 Minutes Live events (usually held in Britain’s oldest working men’s club). They’ve joined forces with Unicorn Theatre to commission 15-minute plays, themed around ‘The Future’, to be performed radio-play style with sound effects, live music and audience participation. Fun, bingo and free treats for ages 8-12. 2pm; FREE advanced tickets/pay what you decide at venue (Sep 8)
Sun: Underbelly Festival: The Showstoppers’ Kids Show, Southbank, Belvedere Road Coach Park, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube, rail)
The summertime theatre festival is drawing to a close, but the fun’s not over yet. You choose what happens in the Showstoppers’ Kids Show for ages 6+ (Sep 8 & 29, 3pm, from £14.50) as they create wild and wacky adventures based on ideas the audience create. Note for grownups: only the kids get to decide! Also coming up at Underbelly Family Fest: Basil Brush’s Fun Family Show for ages 4+ (Sep 15, 1.15pm & 3.30pm, from £10.25) & The Lovely Bug Ball for ages 4+ (Sep 21-22, Sat 1.30pm & 3.30pm & Sun 1.30pm, from £10.25). All ages welcome (some age restrictions apply for certain acts) (Apr 5-Sep 29)
Sun: Royal Academy Family Studio: Put it in Print, Meet in Front Hall of Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Create your own abstract stories using fine details and blocks of colour, inspired by Swiss artist Felix Vallotton. Experiment with printmaking techniques and make an artwork to take home. This family workshop includes a drop-in quiet zone. All ages welcome. 11am-3pm, FREE (Sep 8)
We also like
Older kids aged 12+ will enjoy Malorie Blackman in conversation about her new novel Crossfire, at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall (Sun, 2pm); it’s the 10th anniversary of the popular York Rise Street Festival, expect live stage, DJ, street food and more (Sun, 12pm-10pm); there’s folk music, craft beer, food stalls and family fun at the Bermondsey Folk Festival (Sun, from 11am); see an RAF flypast, miniature trains and flashy motors at the Classic and Vintage Car Show at Capel Manor Gardens, Enfield (Sun, 10am-5pm)
London Kids Cinema
FILM REVIEW: Asterix and the Secret of the Magic Potion
Who doesn’t love Asterix and his tubby pal Obelix? They’re back in another tall tale of outrageously tough Gauls, gifted with superhuman strength. After breaking his leg in a fall, village druid Getafix goes on a global trip in search of a successor. But is there a druid alive worthy of receiving the secret of his magic potion? This riotous animated comedy combines elements of road trip and origin story (learn how Getafix became so powerful). The cheeky jokes and pacy storyline kept us hooked until the final credits. Brilliant family fun for all ages, even more entertaining than the first Asterix movie! On general release from Sep 1
Find more family friendly movies at weekend Kids Club screenings (films for under £5) on our LONDON FAMILY CINEMA page.
Booking Ahead
The Golden Hinde Night Voyage (Family Sleepover), at The Golden Hinde, SE1 (Sep 14)
Open House London (Sep 21-22)
London Design Festival, King’s Cross (Sep 14-22)
Fun DMC: House Special at Pitch Stratford (Sep 28)
Explore Zoology at Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL (Sep 28)
Big Fish Little Fish Vikings & Dragons Family Rave at The Bedford, Balham (Sep 28)
Big Fish Little Fish Pirate Indie Special at FEST, Camden (Sep 29)
How Does It Feel to Be Loved Kids Disco (Sep 29)
Storystock Presents Goldilocks and Arabian Nights at Kings Place, N1 (Oct 19)
My Autumn Hot List will be out next week, don’t miss it!
**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!**
11 Things We Loved and Learned at Boomtown Fair
