Thank God it’s Friday! Just recovering from a blinder of a cold virus and so much work piling up. If you’re footloose and fancy free, do take the babes out to Lightopia at Chiswick House, Top Secret at Science Museum, The Little Prince at Stratford Circus or any of our 12 brilliant family activities in London this weekend. The big event is Chinese New Year with family fun and parade through, Trafalgar Square, Soho and Chinatown on Sunday. Happy Year of the Rat!
If you only See One Thing this Weekend
Sun: Fun DMC 5th Birthday Party at Colours (formerly Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen), Hoxton Square, N16NU (Old St tube)
Happy birthday to ya, happy birthday! It’s been 5 fabulous years for Fun DMC (top image), the original daytime block party created by Charlie Dark (Attica Blues/Run Dem Crew) and Spin Doctor (The Doctor’s Orders). Celebrate this weekend with top turntable artists, the legendary DJ Jazzie B plus DJ Matman, playing groovy tunes for you and your nippers with attitude. It’s a whole afternoon of radio-friendly hip hop, funk, disco and party anthems, along with hip hop themed fancy dress, graffiti wall, balloons and more! Ages 0-10 and families. 1.30pm-4.30pm; adult £8, walking kid £6, family £25, non-walking babies FREE (Jan 26)
11 Brilliant Family Activities in London this Weekend
Fri-Sat: Winter Lights at Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park and around Canary Wharf, E14 5AB (Canary Wharf tube/DLR/rail)
LAST CHANCE: Back for another sparkling year, se more than 25 light installations by some of the most creative light artists and designers worldwide. Try out interactive features, see live performance pieces, and pop in for Winter Lights Bites street food treats. Download the map via the web site. All ages. 4pm-10pm, FREE (until Jan 25)
Fri-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: The Little Prince at Stratford Circus Arts Centre, Theatre Square, Stratford E15 1BX (Stratford tube/rail/DLR/overground)
Acclaimed playwright Inua Ellams (Barber Shop Chronicles) adapts the famous story by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, about a pilot who leaves his tiny asteroid to discover a wider universe. In this retelling, the pilot comes from an African galaxy far, far away and breaks down in the Sahara desert. His journey through time and space explores climate change, morality and how little things make a big difference. Afro-futuristic themes and North African music create an enlightening experience for ages 7+. 7pm; £8-£10 (Jan 17-Feb 1)
Fri-Sun: Lightopia at Chiswick House and Gardens, Chiswick, W4 2QN (Gunnersbury overground/Turnham Green tube/Chiswick rail)
Shake off the winter blues at this scintillating winter light trail, taking you on a nighttime tour of Chiswick House and Gardens. Lightopia invites visitors big and small to discover a world unlike any other, with emotive light and interactive pieces designed around natural elements. 5pm-9pm (Wed-Sun); from £13 (Jan 22-Mar 1)
Fri-Sun: Cirque du Soleil: Luzia at Royal Albert Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP (South Kensington/High St Kensington tube)
The world famous circus returns to Royal Albert Hall with another stunning production. Set in Mexico, Luzia draws on light and water for its inspiration, with a whole range of acrobatics, trapeze, clowning, and surrealism all pulled together in Cirque’s intricate, showstopping style. Babes in arms free on parent’s lap, kids aged 3+ must have own seats. From £40.20 to £255.50 for premium with dining (child discounts available); 11am, 3pm, 3.30pm, 7.30pm, 8pm (Jan 12-Mar 1)
Fri-Sun: The Water Babies at Puppet Theatre Barge, Little Venice, opposite 35 Blomfield Road, W9 2PF (Warwick Avenue tube)
On this charming boat theatre in Little Venice, you can hear the tale of a boy chimney sweep whose life is changed by an underwater adventure. Puppetry and magic lantern performance for water babies ages 4+. 7.30pm (Wed-Fri), 11am & 3pm (Sat-Sun); £5 (Jan 15-Feb 23)
Sat: British Library Family Workshop: Brave and Bold, British Library (Harry M Weinrebe Learning Centre), 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Head to London’s most stunning library and take part in a family activity inspired by the current exhibition, Marvellous and Mischievous: Literature’s Young Rebels. Storyteller Olivia Armstrong tells tales of young heroes from across the world involving dragons, lots of courage and story-making games. Best for ages 5-11. 11.30am-1pm & 2pm-3.30pm; FREE – drop in, first come first served. (Apr 27)
Sat: Tom Thumb at Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 0ND (Limehouse DLR/Stepney Green tube)
He’s the tiniest of seven brothers but he has a mighty spirit. When he overhears his parents planning to abandon him and his siblings in the forest, Tom decides to outwit mum, dad and a mean old ogre to find treasure and win the day. Told entirely on and under a kitchen table, this fairytale springs to life with portable forest, flying house and feathery spinning birds. For ages 2+. 11am & 2pm; adult £7/child £7 (babies 12 months and under go FREE on carer’s lap) (Jan 25)
Sun: Chinese New Year Family Festival Day at National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN (Charing Cross tube)
This Sunday, celebrate the Year of the Rat at National Gallery. Bookable sessions are sold out but there are lots of free and drop-in activities to take part in with your little ones throughout the day. And of course there’s a big Chinese New Year festival right here in Trafalgar Square, and all the way to Chinatown! All ages welcome. 11am-4pm; FREE (Jan 26)
Sun: How Does It Feel to Be Loved Kids Disco at The Phoenix, 37 Cavendish Square, W1G 0PP (Oxford Circus tube)
Happy New Year to the indie disco for kids and families. Fresh off the fields of End of the Road Festival, How Does it Feel to be Loved children’s disco spins indie, classic soul and vintage pop for every generation. All ages welcome, from babies upwards (no admission without at least 1 child in your party). 12pm-4pm. £6 adults (15 plus), £2 children (14 and under) (Jan 26)
Sun: Mwalimu Express: African Dance & Cinema Party at 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
The popular family party returns for the New Year with its vibrant mix of African food stalls, live African band, DJs spinning Afrobeats and select classics, parent and toddler dance, market stalls, African board games and an African movie to wrap things up. All ages and backgrounds welcome, from babies upwards. 2pm-6pm, FREE (Jan 26)
London Kids Cinema
The acclaimed animated movie Abominable (how’s that for some alliteration?) is playing at Barbican Centre’s Family Film Club on Saturday at 11am.
Find other weekend Kids Club film listings (tickets for under £5) on our LONDON FAMILY CINEMA page.
Booking Ahead
The Bee in Me at Unicorn Theatre (Jan 31-Mar 1)
Big Fish Little Fish: Lights Camera Action Family Rave, The Bedford, Balham (Feb 1)
Jewish Book Week Family Day at Kings Place (Feb 2)
Wake Up Gigs at Ace Hotel, Shoreditch (Feb tba)
Meet Vincent Van Gogh interactive exhibition, South Bank, SE1 (Feb 7-May 21)
Mini Maestro Family Concert: Mozart at St Martin in the Fields, WC1 (Feb 15)
February Half Term is in less than a month. Guide out soon!
**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 (January 9-12, 2019)
