So January is coming to an end and we’re on the cusp of Birthday Season for Babes about Town! This Sunday, head to the blog to read my latest Birthday Q&A with my big man who will turn 14. I’m sure those of you who’ve been following the blog since day one can hardly believe it either. February promises to be loads of fun as we celebrate 10 years of Babes about Town along with three birthdays at Babes HQ. Now here’s 12 fun things to do for London kids and families this weekend. Enjoy!
If you only See One Thing this Weekend
Thu-Sun: Picasso and Paper at Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
The Royal Academy’s blockbuster exhibition gives a rare glimpse into Picasso’s works on paper. Discover how one of the world’s greatest artists played with, drew on, tore up, sculpted and experimented with paper. He used anything from wallpaper to newsprint and paper napkins. Also see sketchbooks, scraps, letters, illustrated poems and photo collaborations with Dora Maar. All ages. 10am-6pm daily, open until 10pm every Fri; adult £18-£22/child FREE (Jan 25-Apr 13)
12 Fun Things to Do for London Kids and Families this Weekend
Thu-Sun: VAULT festival, The Vaults, Leake St, London SE1 7NN (Waterloo tube/rail)
The underground festival of family theatre, pop-ups, cabaret, circus and immersive entertainment returns to Waterloo for another 8 weeks. This opening weekend, catch The Misadventures of David and Sam (Feb 2-23, 3pm). Coming shows include: OhSo Funny presents the Extraordinary Time Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Feb 22-Mar 1, 3pm); myths and shadow puppetry in Wild(e) Tales (Mar 1-8, 3pm); music-filled adventure Mustard Doesn’t Go with Girls (Mar 14-22, 4.30pm). Various times and prices; check age ratings ahead of show. (Jan 28-Mar 22)
Thu-Sun: Jan Von Holleben: Picture This at V&A Museum of Childhood (Front Room Gallery), Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9PA (Bethnal Green Tube)
What would you do if you were invisible or had 8 legs? How would you see the world differently? This playful exhibition (top image) by photographer Jan Von Holleben invites you to imagine possibilities and create your own compositions using props and tools provided. All ages welcome. 10am-5pm; FREE (Jan 17-May 10)
Thu-Sun: Igloo at Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 0ND (Limehouse DLR/Stepney Green tube)
Ira and Sadie are desperate to build an igloo. But how can they build one if there’s no snow? They wait, they want, they need. But sometimes you don’t get what you want… sometimes what you end up with is even better. Playful show with multi-sensory elements and a stay and play afterwards. For ages 0 to 3. 1.30pm & 4.30pm (Thu), 10am, 11.30am & 2pm (Fri), 11am & 1pm (Sat), 4pm (Sun); adult £7/child £7 (babies 12 months and under go FREE on carer’s lap) (Jan 30-Feb 2)
Thu-Sun: Moving to Mars, Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, Kensington, W8 6AG (High St Kensington tube)
Have you been to Mars yet? You have less than one month to visit the red planet in this immersive, blockbuster exhibition. More than 200 objects on display include contributions from NASA, fashion designer Christopher Raeburn and the European Space agency. 10am-last entry 5pm; adult £16 weekday/£18 Sat & Sun; child £8 weekday/£9 Sat & Sun; family of 1 adult + 3 kids £24 weekday/£29.30 Sat & Sun; family of 2 adults + 3 kids £36/£41 Sat & Sun (until Feb 23, 2020)
Fri-Sat: The Little Prince at Stratford Circus Arts Centre, Theatre Square, Stratford E15 1BX (Stratford tube/rail/DLR/overground)
LAST CHANCE: See hot playwright Inua Ellams’ (Barber Shop Chronicles) adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s charming tale about a pilot on a journey of discovery. This remix shows the pilot from an African galaxy crash landing in the Sahara desert, then travelling through time and space in an exploration of climate change and how little things make a big difference. Ages 7+. 7pm; £8-£10 (Jan 17-Feb 1)
Fri-Sun: LEGO House of Dots at Coal Drops Yard, off Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
More than 2 million LEGO DOTS tiles have been used to dot this new, interactive installation by maverick designer Camille Walala, with the help of 180 local school kids. Enter this playful structure to see the kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom and floors all designed with LEGO DOTS. Then bust a move in the DOTS Disco room to a playlist by Ele Beattie. All ages welcome. All day, FREE entry; NB – tickets are sold out on EventBrite but some walk-ups will be available (Jan 31-Feb 2)
Fri-Sun: The Bee in Me at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, Southwark, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
One for slightly older kids, this play by German playwright Roland Schimmelpfenig offers a dreamlike, kaleidoscopic take on childhood. A 10-year-old child envisions life as a bee completing levels in a computer game. Three actors present a dynamic and poignant glimpse into urban life and child neglect. Ages 8-12. 10.30am (Fri), 5pm (Sat), 2pm (Sun) – check ahead as dates and times may vary; adult £10-£22/child £6-£16 (Jan 31-Mar 1)
Sat: Big Fish Little Fish: Lights Camera Action Family Rave, The Bedford Pub, 77 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HD (Balham tube)
The award-winning, world famous party collective present another booty-shaking, fist-pumping session for your whole brood. Playing his BFLF debut, DJ Zero B of Lock Up fame is sure to keep the dance floor heaving. These lovely family parties invite you to let loose with your little ones, and fancy dress is highly encouraged. Mini ravers can hang out in the Villa Pia baby chill out area. There’s also Captain Cookie’s 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 (Sat); adult from £10/child from £7/pre-walking infant FREE (Feb 1)
Sat: Meet Florence Nightingale, Florence Nightingale Museum, 2 Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7EW (Lambeth North tube/rail)
On the last Saturday of every month, you can get up close and personal with Miss Nightingale. This year is her bicentenary so it’s well worth a visit to the ‘Lady with the Lamp’. Learn how Florence defied her parents to become one of the most famous nurses ever, helping nurses and soldiers in the Crimea War. Also meet Florence’s pet owl and see the real lamp she used to carry! All ages welcome, best for 5+. Museum opens 10am-5pm. Meet Miss Nightingale at 11.30am, 1.30pm & 3pm; adult £8/child £4 (Jan 30, and every last Saturday)
Sat-Sun: Chinese New Year on the Cutty Sark, King William Walk, London SE10 9HT (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
All aboard the famous clipper ship for a celebration to welcome the Year of the Rat. Take part in workshops inspired by Cutty Sark’s historic tours to China. Create and decorate your very own Chinese style fan. 11.30am-1.30pm & 2pm-4pm; FREE with admission to Cutty Sark – adult from £23.65/child from £11.85 (Feb 1-2)
Sun: Jewish Book Week Family Day at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG (Kings Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Head to Kings Place for the Jewish Book Week Family Day, where you can still nab tickets for some big events for little people. Hear author Dani Rabiaotti’s world of slimy facts in Believe It or Snot: Definitive Field Guide to Earth’s Slimy Creatures (Sun, 11am); learn about The Great Houdini: the World’s Most Amazing Escape Artist (Sun, 2.30pm); and listen to Michael Rosen’s personal tales in The Missing: The True Story of My Family in WWII (Sun 4pm). Various times; adult £8.50/child £6.50 (Feb 2)
Sun: Morgan and West: Unbelievable Science at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
Those dizzy, debonair magicians return with a captivating chemical concoction for your band of mad scientists. Leave your lab coats at this door, as Morgan and West reveal the real science behind their magic. For ages 6+. 2pm; from £9 (Feb 2)
London Kids Cinema
Take older kids for a Sing-Along the Greatest Showman showing at Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square this Saturday at 5.30pm.
Find other weekend Kids Club film listings (tickets for under £5) on our LONDON FAMILY CINEMA page.
Booking Ahead
Zoo Nation: Message in a Bottle at Peacock Theatre, WC1 (Feb 6-Mar 21)
Meet Vincent Van Gogh interactive exhibition, South Bank, SE1 (Feb 7-May 21)
Explore Zoology at Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL, WC1 (Feb 8)
Imagine Festival at Southbank Centre (Feb 12-23)
Mini Maestro Family Concert: Mozart at St Martin in the Fields, WC1 (Feb 15)
Wake Up Gigs: Halfsies with Some Bodies + Support at Ace Hotel, Shoreditch (Feb 16)
Half Term Tales at the Globe at Shakespeare’s Globe, SE1 (Feb 18-22)
My February Half Term guide is coming 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 24-26, 2019)
