It’s just 7 weekends until Christmas and I’m already gathering ideas for the Christmas holiday guide. This weekend in London with kids you can explore Peru via the British Museum, try your hand at curling in King’s Cross, see live sculpting of Sven the reindeer and other characters from Frozen, or groove with your baby at the London Jazz Festival.
The Southbank Winter Market is open too, always an excellent choice for browsing by the riverside. Don’t forget it’s Remembrance Sunday coming up and I’ve listed a couple of places to mark it with your whole family. If you fancy an evening without the young ‘uns, I’ve included a couple of cool events for Dates with Dads or a Mums Night Out. Have a memorable weekend.
This Weekend in London with Kids: Remembrance Sunday + 10 More Family Activities
Fri-Sun: Peru: A Journey in Time at the British Museum, Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG (Tottenham Court Rd/Russell Sq tube)
Visit Peru in the heart of London at this groundbreaking exhibition marking Peru’s bicentennial year of independence. Explore textiles, metals, ceramics, ritual paraphernalia and other artefacts in the museum’s collection and borrowed from Peru. Large-scale photography and video describe iconic sites such as Nasca geoglyphs and Machu Picchu. 10am-5pm; adult from £15/child FREE (Nov 11-Feb 20)
Fri-Sun: Southbank Centre Winter Festival at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
The Winter Festival is here. Eat, drink and be merry around the Winter Market. Enjoy the festive vibes of the Winter Light exhibition and book ahead for upcoming Christmas shows. Top shows coming up include Circus 1903, Bring It On the musical, free jives for all ages and Ida Barr’s New Year’s Eve Kids Countdown. Various times, dates and prices; some activities are FREE (Nov 4-Jan 9)
Fri-Sun: Club Curling, Coal Drops Yard, N1C 4DQ (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Bring the whole crew along for some curling action at King’s Cross. It’s a 45 minute session of sliding stones across a synthetic ice rink (up to 4 players per rink). The games are open 7 days a week and there’s Club Curling bar to refresh yourself before or after. You can turn up and play but pre-booking is advised. All ages, best for 5+. 12pm-8pm; £5/under 12s FREE (Nov 11-Dec 30)
Fri-Sun: Destination Star Trek, ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock (Custom House)
Trekkies, are you ready? Fans of the show gather at Europe’s official Star Trek fest where you can meet some of your faves, dress up and/or people watch, discover more about space exploration and hear interesting talks (no Klingon required). See props, costumes, artwork and more. 2pm-8pm (Fri), 9am-6pm (Sat-Sun); from £29 (day), £44 (weekend), £54 (3 days)
Sat: Frozen in Covent Garden Piazza, Covent Garden Piazza and Market Building, WC2E 8RF (Covent Garden tube)
Fancy watching a reindeer being sculpted from ice? See cute characters from Frozen as ice sculptures with a live sculpting of reindeer Sven (1pm-4pm) by the Ice Co. It’s all part of a Disney promo at Covent Garden celebrating Frozen the Musical (now playing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane). Also look out for snowfall on the hour and a pop-up Frozen forest. 1pm-6pm; FREE (Nov 13)
Sat: Lord Mayor’s Show, (nearest tubes Bank/St. Paul’s to arrive, Blackfriars or Mansion House to leave, check TFL for best routes)
The City of London is gearing up for its annual display of colour and noise to welcome the 693rd Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Vincent Keaveny. Join the crowds to watch the procession including the Lord Mayor’s State Coach, Japanese drummers, a horse-drawn bus, full size model elephants and the tallest fire engine in Europe. Find the best ways to watch right here. From 11am, FREE (Nov 13)
Sat: Remembrance Weekend at National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HT (Sloane Square tube)
Spend Remembrance Sunday weekend at the National Army Museum with a range of family friendly activities. Explore the museum’s archive bringing soldiers’ experiences to life including troops from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean; research family members who served, with help from the Templer Study Centre; learn how other nations and groups remember; hear the Chelsea Pensioner Singers in the Atrium. Ticketed events: Tiny Troopers is a fun sensory session for ages 2-4 (10am & 11.20am); We Are The Legion is a talk by Julie Summers about the Royal British Legion (12pm); and The Art of Remembrance has illustrator Oliver Averill sharing tips for budding artists ages 7+ to create your own collaged poppy (2pm). Various times 11am-4pm; FREE with general admission (book a time slot) and ticketed events require pre-booking. Younger kids will enjoy the museum’s play space — book ahead and pay separately for available slots (Nov 13)
Sat-Sun: Independent Schools Show at Battersea Evolution, Chelsea Bridge Gate, SW11 4NJ (Queenstown Rd rail)
Ready to check out some of the best independent schools in the UK? The Independent Schools Show is a meeting place for parents and educators, with more than 40 talks to help you choose. Get the inside scoop on prep schools, boarding, secondary and sixth form options. 10am-5pm (Sat) & 10.30am-4.30pm (Sun); FREE entry, Premium ticket £15, Gold ticket £200 (Nov 13-14)
From Sun: Life of Pi, Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DA (Leicester Square tube, Charing Cross tube/rail)
The bestselling book and movie bursts on the London stage this weekend with a loud roar. Life of Pi is about a 16-year-old boy (Pi) who survives a ship wreck along with a hyena, a zebra, an orang-utan and a Royal Bengal tiger. But who will live to tell the tale? Dazzling puppetry and visuals combine to bring this joyous parable to life. Ages 8+. 7.30pm (Mon, Wed-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat), 3pm (Sun); from £27.50 (from Nov 14)
Sun: Groove Baby: Groove Into the Woods, Kings Place (Hall 2), 90 York Way, N1 9AG (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
The singing, swinging troupe comes jamming into Kings Place as part of the London Jazz Festival. Groove Baby Organ Trio fuses Blue Note jazz soul with pop and jungle rhythms to get younger ones in the flow. It’s a live-action musical about three friends who wander into a fairytale forest. Ages 3-7 and grownups. 10.30am & 12pm; £9.50-£11.50 (Nov 14)
Sun: Remembrance Sunday: Breaking the Silence at Imperial War Museum London, Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ (Lambeth North, Elephant & Castle, Waterloo tube/rail)
Observe a two minute silence at 11am to pay tribute to those who have died while serving their country. This will be followed by a violin recital by a young musician supported by Lambeth Music Service, performed on a violin made from sycamore and pine trees grown in the former battlefields on the Western Front. The event also showcases an an original spoken word piece accompanied by musicians aged 11-15, with creative support from MC Angel and producer Ahmad Dayes working in partnership with The Midi Music Company. All ages welcome. 11.02am, 12.10pm & 1.10pm; FREE entry (Nov 14)
WEEKEND FUN FOR GROWNUPS
Fri-Sat: The Wife of Willesden, Kiln Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, NW6 7JR (Kilburn tube/Brondesbury overground)
The hotly anticipated adaptation of Chaucer’s Wife of Bath by award winning novelist Zadie Smith opens at Kiln Theatre this weekend. She’s a proper local legend: mother, lover, aunt, friend. Married five times. Alvita’s got stories for days and her love life’s an epic poem. The Wife of Willesden celebrates our love of telling elaborate tales, especially about ourselves. Smith’s playwriting debut is directed by Indhu Rubasingham in an auditorium transformed into the infamous Sir Colin Campbell pub, complete with pub tables in the stalls and over 3,000 tickets available at only £15. Ages 15+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat), 2.30pm matinee (Wed & Sat); from £15/under 26 £10 (Nov 11-Jan 15)
Fri-Sun: Alice in Winterland at Queen of Hoxton rooftop, 1 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX (Liverpool Rd tube/rail)
You’re late, you’re late, for a very important date. Climb up to the rooftop for an Alice in Winterland themed pop-up. Tumble through the rabbit hole for a feast including Alice’s signature cocktails, ‘Drink Me’ potion shots and more wonderful treats plus fire pit and burgers available. Fun spot for Dates with Dads or Mums Night Out. 18+ only. 4pm-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 2pm-9.30pm (Sat-Sun); FREE entry (ongoing)
Jingle jingle. My Christmas Holiday 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: Bonfire Night (November 4-7, 2021)
