Do your kids love STEM activities? Get them to New Scientist Live, just one of our 12 fantastic family weekend activities for all ages. There’s also puppet theatre, a Bloomsbury festival, and a Pillow Fight Club. Read on.
12 Fantastic Family Weekend Activities for All Ages
Thu: World Homelessness Day: Massaoke (for one night only), West Handyside Canopy, Just off Granary Square, King’s Cross N1C 4BZ (King’s Cross/St Pancras tube/rail)
Bring your family and mates along for Massaoke, the sing-along sensation that has swept the UK. It’s like a massive karaoke party where you sing along to anthems played by a live band, with lyrics on the big screen to keep you going. The more, the merrier and it’s all in aid of World Homelessness Day. All ages welcome. 6pm-9pm, £12/£10 for groups of 4 or more/£8 for groups of 10 or more/students £9 (Oct 10)
Thu-Sun: New Scientist Live, ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL (Custom House DLR, Canning Town tube)
The world’s greatest science festival (main picture) returns, with 150+ events, talks and interactive experiences for the whole family. Watch Gravity Industries pilot Sam fly across the Thames in a Jet Suit, build your own rockets, learn how to speak gorilla, ride a VR rollercoaster, or feel like an Apollo astronaut as you walk across images of the moon. Plenty of fun for curious kids and inquisitive grownups. All ages. 10am-5.30pm; adult £31/adult 4-day pass £108, child £21/4-day pass £51, family £73, child under 6 FREE (Oct 10-13)
Thu-Sun: Bloomsbury Festival, in and around Russell Square and Bedford Square, WC2 (Russell Square tube)
The wonderful Bloomsbury Festival returns with a street party celebrating all things lunar at Store Street (Oct 11, 6pm-9.30pm). More family friendly fun this weekend: a family art day at October Gallery (Sat, 10am-11.30am), Craft & Graft at the Francis Crick Institute (Fri-Sat & Oct 16-19), the Cromer Street Party (Sun, 4pm-7pm). Coming up next weekend: storytelling and poetry with Apples and Snakes (Oct 16), Music for Youth platform at Foundling Museum (Oct 17), playful poetry with Kate Wakeling (Oct 20) and a design workshop with New London Architecture (Oct 19). Multiple venues and times from around 10am-7pm daily (check website), all FREE (Oct 11-20)
Thu-Sun: Anansi the Spider: The Greatest Tales Ever Spun, at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Long ago, when animals walked on two feet, the smartest of all was Anansi – the trickster spider of West African and Caribbean lore. But sometimes, the master spinner of yarns could be too clever for his own good. Celebrate Black History Month at this immersive show where adults and kids sit together on the floor, in the world of Anansi. For ages 3 to 7. Various show times from 10.30 (Tue-Sun); adult £10-£10/child £10-£14 (until Oct 27)
Fri: Natalie Inside Out, Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, N6 5AA (Highgate tube)
Digital artist Mark Morreau and world-class hand balancer Natalie Recker join forces in this playful, unconventional circus piece. With live acrobatics, spoken word and video projections, they explore the relationship between the real and the digitally represented body. For ages 8+. 7.30pm-8.30pm; £10-£16 (Oct 11)
Fri-Sun: The Dong with a Luminous Nose, Little Angel Puppet Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Angel tube)
What’s it like being a child on the cusp of adulthood? Discover through the eyes of Edward, a shy and troubled boy who’s waiting for his life to start. One day, ‘the Jumblies’ arrive and turn his world upside down. Starring a huge and colourful cast of abstract and figurative puppets, The Dong with a Luminous Nose is an absurd, slightly dark take on Edward Lear’s nonsense rhyme. For ages 7+ and grownups. 5pm (Fri – Friday Fiver £5 tickets for all), 2.15pm (Sat) & 2.30pm (Sun); adult £14/child £12/babies under 1 FREE (until Nov 10)
Sat: Spiders Aren’t So Scary, Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, Morden SM4 5JD (Morden rail)
Arachnophobes, look out! This is a creepy crawly adventure at nightfall to discover more about spiders and take part in themed activities. Follow the nature group around the park and get clued up on spider facts from local experts. No age limit but recommended for kids old enough to look for wildlife safely, in darkness near unfenced open water. 5pm-7pm; adult £5/child £3 – booking ahead essential (Oct 12)
Sat: Black History Month: Black Girl Fest, 52 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0QH (Angel tube, Highbury & Islington tube/rail/overground)
SOLD OUT! After its sellout launch in 2017, the UK’s festival for Black women and girls returns with the theme: Taking Up Space. It’s all about carving out spaces across a range of industries from digital and creative, to hair and fashion. There are inspiring talks, workshops and some activities for younger girls ages 11+. This year’s event sold out days ago, but you can keep an eye on Eventbrite for returns, and mark it on your calendar for 2020! From 10am, tickets adult from £27/child from £13.20/under 4s FREE (Oct 12)
Sun: Family Workshop: The House Full of Stuff at Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG (Southwark/Blackfriars tube)
Come make stuff like Mr McDuff, in this workshop led by picture book creator and illustrator, Emily Rand. Taking inspiration from the characters in her book The House Full of Stuff, you’ll make inventions and collages using junk objects. Ideas include an automatic nose wiper, a motor for slow tortoise, and a mouse trampoline. Aimed at ages 3+ and families but all ages welcome. 2.30pm-3.30pm, FREE (Oct 13)
Sun: Schnauzerfest, Hampstead Heath, Highgate Road, NW5 1QR (Hampstead/Kentish Town tube, Hampstead Heath overground)
Who doesn’t love a furry-faced schnauzer? Now fans and owners can gather on a walk across Hampstead Heath as part of the national Schnauzerfest. The goal is to raise money for schnauzers that have been through horrors at puppy farms. Meet by the first pond, near the Fairground Site car park on East Heath Rd. 10.30am for 11am set off; FREE but donations welcome (Oct 13)
Sun: Premier Inn Pillow Fight Club, 15 Bateman Street, Soho, W1D 3AQ (Tottenham Court Rd tube)
The first rule of Pillow Fight Club is… who cares about the rules? Just get ready for some serious thrashing at the UK’s first pillow fight club pop-up. Premier Inn will gift families their ‘best ever pillow’ and you can battle your way to the top of the leader board. There’s a rest station for breaks, and a giant pillow wall for selfies. All ages welcome, best for kids who can pillow fight! 1pm-6pm; FREE – first come, first served (Oct 13)
Sun: The Big Draw: Postcards from a Happy Place at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
The world’s biggest drawing festival is front and centre at this event, that also celebrates World Post Day (Oct 9). Postcards are little pieces of inspiration, creating a moment of happiness for all to see. Share a tiny window into your personal journey by painting pictures, designing stamps and writing messages. All materials provided and 30 lucky families will get artist goodie bags from Cowling & Wilcox on the day. All ages. 11am-3pm; FREE but booking ahead recommended (Oct 13)
London Kids Cinema
Classic movie The Wizard of Oz is playing this Saturday at Barbican Cinema’s Family Film Club.
Find details + other pocket-friendly Kids Club listings (films for under £5) on our LONDON FAMILY CINEMA page.
*Photo courtesy of MGM
Booking Ahead
Giant: A Climbing Concert in Epping Forest (Oct 18 & 19)
Moving to Mars at Design Museum (Oct 18-Feb 23, 2020)
Storystock: Goldilocks and Arabian Nights, Kings Place, N1 (Oct 19)
Keats House Family Day: Simon Moles Poetry Workshop (Oct 22)
Pinocchio at Jacksons Lane (Oct 22-26)
Zoo Nation: Some Like it Hip Hop at Peacock Theatre, Holborn (Oct 23-Nov 9)
Skate at Somerset House (Nov 13-Jan 12)
John Agard: Roll over Atlantic at Little Angel Theatre (Nov 13 & 14)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane for ages 12+ at National Theatre (Dec 3-Jan 25)
My October half term and Halloween guides will be out next week. Meanwhile, check out what’s next on our Autumn hot list!
**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!**
London Kids Weekend Scoop (October 3-6, 2019)
