Happy World Book Day. Our very final year of scrambling around for costumes! Keep an eye on my social media where I’ll be sharing a retrospective of some of the babes’ faves over the years. It’s International Women’s Day this weekend and we’re celebrating with a number of girl power events on our London kids weekend scoop. You’ll find artsy fun (from portraits to street art), immersive theatre and engaging workshops for all ages. Take a look.
If you only see One Thing this weekend in London
Sat: WOW Women of the World Family Events at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Celebrate International Women’s Day and month at the annual WOW festival, with some brilliant activities on for your budding feminists. Go on a fangtastic adventure for ages 7-10 with author/illustrator Laura Ella Anderson (Amelia Fang) with a chance to draw your own creeptacular creatures (Sat, 10am, £10); then join the Under 10s Feminist Corner for Girls ages 6-7 and 8-10 (Under 10s Feminist Corner for Boys is SOLD OUT!) to find out what girl power means in this day and age (Sat Mar 7, 10.30am for younger kids; 1pm & 4.30pm sessions for ages 8-10)
London Kids Weekend Scoop: 12 Things to do with the Family
Thu-Sat: Displays of Power: A Natural History of Empire at Grant Museum of Zoology, Rockefeller Building, University College London, University Street, WC1E 6DE (Euston Square tube)
LAST CHANCE: Heading to the Explore Zoology family workshop? Don’t miss your chance to see this exhibition that looks at British Empire and how it acquired all these specimens from around the globe. All ages, best for 6+. 1pm-5pm (Mon-Sat), FREE (until Mar 7, 2020)
Thu-Sun: VAULT festival, The Vaults, Leake St, London SE1 7NN (Waterloo tube/rail)
Go underground at this festival of circus, cabaret, pop-ups and immersive theatre. This weekend for families, discover myths and shadow puppetry in Wild(e) Tales (Mar 1-8, 3pm); the poetry of Roger McGough bursts from page to stage in Sky in the Pie (Mar 6-8, 6.15pm); and OhSo Funny presents a storytelling comedy show in the Extraordinary Time Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Mar 7-21, 3pm). Coming soon: 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)
Fri-Sun: The Wolves in the Walls at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, Islington, N1 2DN (Angel tube)
Not for the faint of heart. This atmospheric tale by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean brings a frenzy of puppetry, shadows, songs and storytelling to London’s famous puppet theatre. Lucy hears wolf noises behind the walls and tries to warn her family but they don’t believe her. Until a pack of wolves comes bursting through… Thrilling and hilarious fun for brave kids and scared adults ages 7+. 1pm & 5pm (Fri), 2.15pm & 4.15pm (Sat-Sun); adult £15/child ages 1-15 £13/Friday Fives tickets for all £5 at 5pm (until Apr 26)
Sat: Mustard Doesn’t Go with Girls at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St W6 0QL (Hammersmith tube)
The Little Lyric theatre season for families continues with this bold tale for fierce females. When the children of Bow-on-Tie start vanishing without a trace, Abigail goes on a toe-tapping investigation to uncover the town’s skeletons. She’ll challenge the animals in charge and show them girls are much more than sugar and spice. 11am & 1pm; £9 (Mar 7)
Sat: Explore Zoology at Grant Museum of Zoology, Rockefeller Building, University College London, University Street, WC1E 6DE (Euston Square tube)
Discover a vault of animal specimens, where you can get your hands on some creepy crawly specimens that are normally under lock and key. Your mini zoologists can inspect artefacts and ask experts for their insights. All ages. 1pm-4pm, drop in, FREE (Mar 7)
Sat: Captain Fantastic: Mi5 Fantastic Secret Agent Spy Party, at Under 1 Roof Kids, Unit 9, The iO Centre, Skeffington Street, Royal Arsenal Riverside SE18 6SR (Woolwich Arsenal rail)
Award-winning children’s entertainment company Captain Fantastic is kicking off its MI5 Fantastic Secret Agent Spy Party this weekend. Boys and girls can work together as teams to crack codes, solve clues and save the party before you run out of time. Each guest will get special spy training before they begin their quest. Best for ages 6-9, all ages welcome. 11am-1pm; £5 (Mar 7)
Sat-Sun: British Science Week at Cutty Sark, King William Walk, London SE10 9HT (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
Board the historic tea clipper for a whole day of fun celebrating British Science Week. You can try your hand at building winches, learn about gilding and how cargoes were loaded onto the ship, and explore a virtual reality experience. 11.30am-1.30pm & 2pm-4pm; free with regular entry ticket – adult from £23.65/child from £11.85 (Mar 7-8)
Sun: Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers, The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG (Deptford/New Cross overground)
All over the world Roald Dahl’s words are disappearing from books, libraries and children’s minds too! But you can help the Ancient Guild of Tale Tenders to save the stories, in this interactive theatre piece (pictured up top) featuring Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the BFG and The Twits. 1pm & 3pm; £7 (Mar 8)
Sun: Girls Can… at Leake Street Arches, Leake Street, SE1 8SW (Waterloo tube/rail)
Tag a friend for International Women’s Day and take your imagination along to the Leake Street Arches. Here, you’re invited to spray your own graffiti alongside SoFly and a team of female artists. Their goal is to break gender barriers in street art and get your creative juices flowing to create a large scale public mural. All ages welcome. 1pm-5pm; FREE (Mar 8)
Sun: Skylon Family Sunday at Skylon, Royal Festival Hall, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
If you’re in or around the South Bank this weekend, why not take the crew to Skylon? You’ll enjoy great views overlooking the river and your little ones are in for a treat. There’s special kids menus plus free face painting every Sunday lunchtime. All ages welcome. 11.30am-4pm; FREE entry (Mar 8/ongoing every Sunday)
Sun: Magic Carpet Storytelling at National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN (Charing Cross tube)
Every Sunday, ride the magic carpet on this storytelling adventure at National Gallery (once a month, it’s a musical adventure). Professional storytellers and early years music facilitators host interactive sessions, drawing inspiration from artwork in the museum. Aimed at ages 2-5 and carers. 10.30am-11am, 11.30am-12pm & 12.30pm-1pm; FREE – limited spaces, first come first served (Mar 8)
Sun: Arts Depot: Little Monster, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central/West Finchley/Woodside Park tube)
Come on a puppetry adventure to meet the monster who’s scared everybody away. Two hopeless storytellers and their terrible rhymes will lead you through a forest, inside deep dark caves, and over walls you build and knock down yourself. Touched Theatre’s charming show features loveable puppets, shadow play and themes of difference, fear and friendship. For ages 3-6. 11am & 2pm; £9 (Mar 8)
London Kids Cinema
The utterly charming Studio Ghibli film My Neighbour Totoro is this weekend’s Saturday movie matinee at Picturehouse Cinemas around London.
Find other weekend Kids Club film listings (tickets for under £5) on our LONDON FAMILY CINEMA page.
Booking Ahead
Tommee Tippee SleepFest, The Yard, Hackney (Mar 13)
Opera for Kids: Serenades and Songs at Royal Albert Hall, SW7 (Mar 14)
Mini Maestro Family Concert: Vivaldi Four Seasons Spring and Summer at St Martin-in-the-Fields, WC2 (Mar 14)
Family Day: Funky Flowers at Keats House, Hampstead (Mar 15)
Gulliver’s Travels at Unicorn Theatre (Mar 15-May 3)
Tiny Dancers Family Rave: Mother’s Day at the Clapham Grand (Mar 21)
Mulan, live action (opens Mar 27)
Knightmare Live at Kings Place, N1 (Mar 29)
Electronic: From Kraftwerk to the Chemical Brothers for ages 12+ at Design Museum (Apr 1-Jul 26)
Groove Baby Presents: Groove into the Woods at Kings Place, N1 (May 3)
Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature at Natural History Museum (May 22-Jan 3, 2021)
Relaxed Performance: The Gruffalo + the Snail and the Whale in Concert at Royal Albert Hall, SW7 (May 29)
Life of Pi at Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0DA (Jun 28-Oct 4)
**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 (February 27-March 1, 2019)
