Happy birthday to me! Birthday season continues with my special day today (hooray) and a plethora of good stuff to celebrate around town. Top 10 things to do in London with kids this weekend include Zoo Nation’s new show, a colourful experience at Now Gallery in Greenwich and a walk through the works of Vincent Van Gogh. Make it special! x
Did you read my big man’s Birthday Q&A? Still can’t believe he’s 14!
If you only See One Thing this Weekend
Thu-Sun: Zoo Nation: Message in a Bottle at Peacock Theatre, WC1 (Holborn tube)
Kate Prince, the force behind dance company Zoo Nation (Into the Hoods, Some Like it Hip Hop, Groove on Down the Road), is back with another dance theatre spectacular at Peacock Theatre. Message in a Bottle (pictured and top) features Zoo Nation dancers working their magic with stunning physicality and footwork, choreographed to hits by Sting. 7.30pm (Thu-Sat), 2.30pm (Sat), 2pm (Sun); £14-£89/child discounts available (Feb 6-Mar 21)
Top 10 Things to do in London with Kids this Weekend
Thu-Sun: NOW Gallery: Slices of Time, The Gateway Pavillions, SE10 0SQ (North Greenwich tube/DLR)
Famous for its family friendly and Instagram snappy installations, NOW Gallery opens yet another eye-catching exhibition to lose yourself inside. Emmanuelle Moureaux’s Slices of Time takes you on a trip through, well, time itself – inspired by the gallery’s location on the Greenwich Peninsula. Paper cuttings, colourful numbers and a playful aesthetic create a somewhat trippy effect. All ages welcome. Various times (15 minute slots); FREE but booking ahead advised (Feb 5-Apr 19)
Thu-Sun: Moving to Mars, Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, Kensington, W8 6AG (High St Kensington tube)
There’s still a few weeks left to visit the red planet in this immersive exhibition. More than 200 objects are on display with contributions from NASA, 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: Paper Aeroplane at Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 0ND (Limehouse DLR/Stepney Green tube)
Head to the skies with two new pals as they take flight over distant seas and faraway lands. The flight touches down in strange new places and the friends discover oceans, rocks and bridges to cross. Where will they fly to next? Puppetry, physicality and fluttering paper aeroplanes create an enchanting show for ages 3-7. 1.30pm & 4.30pm (Fri), 11am & 2pm (Sat); adult £7/child £7 (babies 12 months and under go FREE on carer’s lap) (Feb 7-9)
Fri-Sun: Meet Vincent Van Gogh interactive exhibition, 99 Upper Ground, South Bank (behind National Theatre, SE1 9PP (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
Something different to experience with the whole family, Meet Vincent Van Gogh is an exhibition where visitors are actually encouraged to touch and feel their way through. This immersive, interactive show has toured several cities and arrives in London this weekend. Get right into the heart of the paintings by one of the 20th century’s masters, and learn more about what made him tick. Timed entries from 10am-6pm (Sun-Wed) & 10am-10pm (Thu-Sat); adult £16.50-£18.50/child £12.50-£14.50/babies 0-2 FREE (Feb 7-May 21)
Fri-Sun: Stepping Into Stories: Herne Hill Kids’ Lit Fest at Station Hall, Herne Hill SE24 0JW (Herne Hill rail)
Former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell and his daughter Katy, teen author Nicola Morgan, Sibeal Pounder and others are on the line-up for this literary festival. Take your bookworms along for talks, signings workshops, creative writing and crafting. All ages welcome. Various times; adult £0/child £6 per event – charges apply for adult events (Feb 4-9)
Sat: Explore Zoology at Grant Museum of Zoology, Rockefeller Building, University College London, University Street, WC1E 6DE (Euston Square tube)
Delve into the collection of zoological marvels at this quirky museum. It’s a treasure trove of specimens, featuring animals ranging from fliers to crawlers. Invite your curious little explorers to get hands-on with the artefacts, and feel inspired to create their own zoological works of art. All ages. 1pm-4pm, drop in, FREE (Feb 8)
Sat: Family Tours at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster SW1A 0AA (Westminster tube)
Not sick of politics yet? Take the family for a tour of the House of Lords and House of Commons chambers, St Stephen’s Hall and Westminster Hall where Guy Fawkes stood trial. Maybe treat yourselves to Afternoon Tea at the Houses of Parliament too. All ages welcome, tours are best for ages 7-12. NB: Dates sell out fast, so book ahead! 10.40am, 1.30pm & 3pm (Sats); adult £19.50/child under 15 FREE (every Sat until Mar 28, 2020; most weekdays between Feb 14-21, Apr 2-17, May 22-29, Sep 18-Oct 9; all weekdays (except Aug 31) in summer Jul 22-Sep 4)
Image – Orchids: After hours, James Gifford-Mead©RBG Kew
Sat-Sun: Orchids at Kew Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE (Kew Gardens tube/Kew Bridge rail, overground)
Raindrops and volcanoes spring to life at the beautiful botanical gardens this winter, as their annual Orchids festival opens. This year, we’re heading to Indonesia to explore more than 5000 orchid species scattered across the country’s archipelago of 17,504 islands. All ages. Advanced booking recommended. 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm); FREE with regular admission – adult from £16.50/child £4.50/ages 0-3 FREE (Feb 8-Mar 8)
Sun: POP! at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
Hurry and you’ll get the last few tickets for this POPular show aimed at very little ones. Float away under starry skies with Ebb and Flo, as they take you on a magical bath time adventure filled with mischief, music and bubbles! For ages 0-3. 12.30pm; £12 per adult + baby (Feb 9)
Sun: London Winter Wander, multiple locations in central London
Feeling a bit sluggish? Put down that Yorkshire pudding, get off your sofa, pop on your walking boots and join the London Winter Wander. The aim of this event is to beat isolation and inactivity and get one million people in the capital up and about. Walk the city, past its famous landmarks and meet up with fellow wanderers at the finish line in Trafalgar Square. You can raise money for money and earn yourself a Cancer Research UK London Winter Run medal. Perfect for all ages, including babies in strollers or carriers. From 9am, £10 registration (Feb 9)
London Kids Cinema
The absolutely brilliant Toy Story 4 is at Barbican Cinema’s Family Film Club this Saturday at 11am.
Find other weekend Kids Club film listings (tickets for under £5) on our LONDON FAMILY CINEMA page.
Booking Ahead
Imagine Festival at Southbank Centre (Feb 12-23)
Mini Maestro Family Concert: Mozart at St Martin in the Fields, WC1 (Feb 15)
Mr Men and Little Miss on Stage at Arts Depot, North Finchley (Feb 15-18)
Family Saturday Jazz Sessions at Stratford Circus (Feb 15-May 16)
Wake Up Gigs: Halfsies with Some Bodies + Support at Ace Hotel, Shoreditch (Feb 16)
Family Barn Dance at Cecil Sharp House, Chalk Farm, NW1 (Feb 16)
Keats House Family Day: With a Faint Breath of Music, Hampstead (Feb 16)
Family Half Term Workshops at Royal Academy (Feb 18-20)
Half Term Tales at the Globe at Shakespeare’s Globe, SE1 (Feb 18-22)
Crazy Golf at Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross, N1 (Feb 19-Mar 29)
My February Half Term Guide is coming – keep a look out!
**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!**
20 Questions for Ezra on his 14th Birthday
