Whoop whoop! It’s birthday season at Babes HQ and we kicked it off with my eldest turning 16 yesterday. Of course I sat him down for a birthday Q&A. There’s lots of family fun events in London this weekend, including several Lunar New Year celebrations.
I’m a year of the tiger baby and my birthday comes up on Sunday so I’m in a party mood all month. My big plan is to see Belle (the anime, listed below) and possibly check out the new Saturday Night Fever show from Sadler’s Wells. I’m also really keen to see the Bob Marley Experience — he’s my birthday mate, dontcha know. I’ll keep you posted. Have an excellent weekend.
14 top family fun events in London this weekend
Thu-Sat: Wuthering Heights, National Theatre, Upper Ground, SE1 9PX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
The classic tale of windswept love on the moors is brought to the stage. Emma Rice’s acclaimed adaptation of Emily Bronte’s novel is set in contemporary England and spilling over with music and dance. Recommended for ages 10+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2pm (Wed & Sat); £20-£89. (Feb 3-Mar 19)
Thu-Sun: Bob Marley One Love Experience, Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY (Sloane Square tube)
Get up, stand up, head to Saatchi Gallery for this brand new Bob Marley experience (in association with Rita Marley and the Bob Marley foundation). Follow Bob’s iconic journey from rural Jamaica to global legend. You can discover unseen memorabilia, audio, photos and live footage. Explore the One Love forest and the Soul Shakedown silent disco.All ages. 10am-6pm daily; £11-£91/under 9s FREE. (Feb 2-Apr 18)
Fri-Sun: Belle (PG), cinemas nationwide
Another pick on my 2022 Hot list, this was an audience favourite in Cannes and I’m really excited to catch it on the big screen. Heroine Suzu navigates a virtual panorama as she tries to learn more about an elusive ‘beast’ who is being pursued by vigilantes. An anime take on the Beauty and the Beast legend. (from Feb 4)
Sat: Family Film Club: Vivo at Barbican Cinema 2, Barbican Centre, Beech Street EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
The weekly film club for families is screening Vivo, a musical treat with songs by Lin Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Moana). Kinkajou monkey Vivo loses his buddy Andrés and forms an unlikely partnership with his grandniece GAbi to deliver one last song to Andrés’ long lost love in Miami. Family Film Club will welcome musician Jose Zalba-Smith to chat about Cuban music and perform some live tunes. Best for ages 4+ (all adults must be accompanied by a kid and vice versa). 11am; adult £3.50/child £2.50 (Feb 5)
Sat: SENsory Sailors at National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich rail)
Come along to a monthly session just for families with children with special educational needs and disabilities. Led by a SEND-specialist, these sessions will allow you to explore the museum’s collection, get creative and meet other local families. Under 13s and families/parents/carers. 11am-2.30pm; FREE (Feb 5 & Mar 12/once a month)
Sat: Lunar New Year at Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, E2 8EA (Hoxton overground)
Welcome in the Year of the Tiger and celebrate new beginnings at the Museum of the Home’s one-day festival. Take part in a creative writing workshop, make your own hand spinning drum, play in the games cafe where you can try East Asian community favourites, hear live storytelling, catch a film screening and more. 11am-5pm; FREE – some events need booking (Feb 5)
Sat-Sun: Aurora Orchestra: Far, Far Away at Kings Place (Hall 2), 90 York Way, N1 9AG (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Step into a Magical Toy Box with the Aurora Orchestra and meet dancing shoes, space rockets and singing ducks. You’ll hear new chamber arrangements of Tchaikovsky’s ballet and piano music with an original story by writer in Residence Kate Wakeling. A musical adventure for young listeners ages 0-4 and their families. 10am, 11am, 12.30pm & 1.30pm; £9.50-£11.50/family tickets available, babies under 6 months don’t require a ticket (Feb 5-6 & Feb 12-13)
Sat-Sun: Lunar New Year at Museum of London Docklands, No.1 Warehouse, Hertsmere Rd, West India Quay, E14 4AL (Canary Wharf tube/rail, West India Quay DLR)
It’s an annual celebration in the London Docklands and for the Year of the Tiger, the Museum of London is rolling out all the stops. There’s interactive storytelling, crafting, ribbon dance workshop, martial arts instruction, lion dance session, film screening and more family activities. Drop in between 11am-4.30pm; FREE (Feb 5 & 6)
Sat-Sun: Cutty Sark Family Fun Weekend, King William Walk, West Greenwich, SE10 9HT (Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich rail)
Ahoy mateys. Climb aboard the historic tea clipper for another family fun weekend. This month, you can meet characters from history, make love tokens and other crafts inspired by their collection, and croon along to sea shanties. This month’s family fun weekend lets you meet characters from Cutty Sark’s past, sing along with traditional sea shanties, and take part in craft activities based around the sailor love tokens in the ship’s collection. 11am-4pm; included in Cutty Sark admission – adult £15/child 4-15 £7.50/under 4s FREE (Feb 5-6)
Sat-Sun: Saturday Night Fever Portugal St, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
The ‘70s disco classic takes London in this lively production, where Tony Manero’s busting out all the moves to Bee Gees tunes. Set in 1977, the young hustler yearns to rule the dance floor but there’s fierce competition and life lessons to learn along the way. All together now: Staying aliiiiii-iiive. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat), 2pm & 6pm (Sun); from £18. (Feb 4-Mar 26)
Sun: Petite Pantos presents: Mama G’s Story Time Road Show, Poplar Union, 2 Cotall St, Poplar, E14 6TL (Westferry/Poplar/Limehouse DLR, Mile End tube)
Can’t make it to the panto? Well Mama G will bring the panto to you, all year round! Marking LGBT+ History Month in the UK, Mama G’s Story Time Road Show is a family friendly extravaganza blending song, dance, stories and drag. The theme: love who you are and be who you want. Best for ages 4+ and families. 11am-12pm & 2pm-3pm; adult £7/child & concs £5/under 2s FREE (Feb 6)
Sun: The Hug at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Hurry, there are just a few seats left for this Long Nose Puppets show. Adapted from the popular picture book The Hug (Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar), it’s a sweet adventure for a hedgehog and a tortoise who are both in need of a restorative hug. A tale of hope, empathy and acceptance with witty music and a puppet hug at the end. Ages 2-8. 2pm; from £9 (Feb 6)
Sun: Folk Dance Remixed: Hope at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, NW1 7AY (Camden/Chalk Farm tube, Camden Rd overground)
What’s stronger than fear and fuelled with love? Hope! Visit the popular folk dance venue for a defiantly joyous production, featuring live dancers and musicians, electronic soundscapes, poetry, storytelling and a celebratory spirit. Best for ages 10+. 2.30pm-4.30pm; £16/under 26 £10 (Feb 6)
Sun: Akala in Conversation at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
Adults and teens are invited to tune in to another electrifying evening with bestselling author, hop hop artist and social entrepreneur Akala. The brains and force behind Hip Hop Shakespeare and the hugely popular book Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire, returns to Southbank to mark this debut novel, The Dark Lady, now out in paperback. It’s a story of magic and history, class and identity, set in the visceral streets of Elizabethan London. Suitable for ages 11+. 8pm; £10-£30/25% concs (limited availability) (Feb 6)
BOOKING AHEAD
Aurora Orchestra: Far, Far Away at Kings Place, N1 (Feb 12-13)
Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Feb 9-20)
Handa’s Surprise at Little Angel Theatre, N1 (Feb 9-Apr 16)
Disco Loco Easy Rollerz (Wednesday soft play disco for under 5s) at Kings Crescent Estate, Hackney (Feb 9-Jun 1)
Family Vogue Ball by House of Ghetto at Battersea Arts Centre, SW11 (Feb 17-18)
Marvellous Monarchs Family Day at Westminster Abbey (Feb 19)
Underwater (for babies ages 0-2) at The Albany, Deptford SE8 (Feb 22)
Mwalimu Express: Family Club at Rich Mix, Shoreditch (Mar 6)
To Kill A Mockingbird at The Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (from Mar 10)
Wild (for ages 2-6) at Unicorn Theatre, SE1 (Mar 11-Apr 17)
SENsory Sailors at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (Mar 12/once a month)
Bring Your Own Baby Comedy at Arts Depot, North Finchley (Mar 16 & May 26)
Big Fish Little Fish Mother’s Day Family Rave at One Night Records, Bankside SE1 (Mar 27)
Horrible Histories Boat Tours: Terrible Thames (from Apr 2)
Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom at Cassiobury Park, Watford WD17 3EX (Apr 2-18)
Basil Brush’s Family Fun Show at Leicester Square Theatre, WC1 (Apr 23)
John Hegley: Drawings of Dromedaries and Other Creatures at Kings Place, N1 (May 5)
Sun and Sea at The Albany, Deptford SE8 (Jun 23-Jul 10)
February half term guide out next week. Find more fantastic events in London for families in my London 2022 Hot List!
**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!**
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