How are you feeling after half term and the long weekend? This week seems to have whizzed by and I’m fully in favour of the 4-day week. Some companies are trialling that out this month across the UK, so hopefully it will become a real thing. If you’re in London with kids this weekend, there’s a range of cool ideas for all ages. From a music festival curated by Grace Jones to the return of Dippy at the Natural History Museum. Enjoy!
A World for Me and You Book Chat: Meet Uju and Jennie
I was delighted to chat with illustrator Jennie Poh earlier today in our Meet the Author/Illustrator session on Instagram Live. We spoke about the power of representation, some of the joys and challenges of doing creative work while mothering and what it felt like to see our picture book, A World for Me and You come to life. You can watch the recording HERE.
London with Kids: 12 Cool Ideas for the Weekend
Thu-Sat: Amy Adams in The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York Theatre, 104 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4BG (Leicester Square tube/Charing Cross tube/rail)
One of our 22 Things to do in London 2022, this hotly anticipated production is now lighting up the stage at Duke of York Theatre. See 6-time Oscar nominated actress Amy Adams in her West End debut, starring in one of Tennessee Williams’ most celebrated works. It’s a tale about motherhood and family secrets, hidden desires and broken dreams. PG for content (some challenging/upsetting themes), best for ages 13+. Shows at 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Thu & Sat); from £20 (until Aug 27)
Thu-Sun: Mexican Geniuses: A Frida and Diego Immersive Experience, Retail Park, Unit 1 Canada Water, Surrey Quays Road, SE16 2XU (Canada Water DLR)
Walk right into the imaginations of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at this one-of-a kind show. Wear a VR headset and wander the streets that inspired their most dramatic and enigmatic paintings. Marvel as 300 projections and brushstrokes paint the walls around you. All ages welcome. 10am-8pm (weekdays), 9am-8.30pm (weekends); from £19.50 (until Sep 30)
Thu-Sun: Circus Abyssinia: Tulu at Underbelly Festival, Empress Place, Earls Court, SW6 1TT (Earls Court tube)
The world’s first circus company created by and for Ethiopian artists pays homage to Ethiopian Olympic icon, Derartu Tulu. Part of Underbelly Festival (happening in 2 locations this summer), Tulu features eye-popping contortions, acrobatics and fire-juggling set to a pumping soundtrack. All ages welcome (PG for intensity, haze, strobe lighting and fire). 7.30pm (Tue-Fri), 2pm & 7.30pm (Sats & Wed Jun 1), 2pm & 6pm (Sun) – no shows on Mon; from £19 (May 24-Jun 18)
Thu-Sun: Harry Kane: I Want to Play Football at Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN (Barbican/St Paul’s tube)
Now this won’t score me any points with my boys (Gooners 4 Life) but in the spirit of inclusivity, I had to share it. One of the city’s sporting icons gets his nights (and days) at the museum in this new exhibition. It includes rarely seen personal photos and memorabilia, like his 2018 World Cup Golden Boot). The display also features a changing room space, Kane’s pre-match playlist and a programme of family activities running through summer. Inspirational and not just for Spurs fans. 10am-5pm daily; FREE entry (until Dec 23)
Thu-Sun: Pinocchio at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Highbury & Islington tube/rail, Angel tube)
Step inside Geppetto’s workshop and get to know the puppet that wants to become a real boy and the puppet maestro who wants to be a real dad. See Pinocchio carved live on stage, paint brushes springing to action, and objects transforming before your very eyes. For ages 5-11. 11am & 2pm (Tue-Sun), 4.45pm (Fri); from adult £13.50/child £11.50 (all tickets £8 on Fris 4.45pm) (until Jun 26)
Thu-Sun: Dippy Returns: The Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, SW7 5BD (South Kensington tube)
The famous Diplodocus is back on the scene, for just a few months. Take a look at all 28 metres of Dippy at this temporary installation, one of the star attractions at the popular family friendly London museum. All ages welcome. 10am-5pm daily; FREE but tickets required – early registration and booking ahead recommended (until Jan 2)
Fri-Sat: Party at Half Moon Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, E1 0ND (Limehouse DLR)
Afonso is all primed for his best friend’s birthday – but what’s happened to his invite? Did it get lost or has he been forgotten? When the invitation finally lands, it’s almost too exciting for Afonso. What should he wear? Who will he play with? Party is a colourful show with a message of inclusion and a glorious contemporary soundtrack. For ages 2-6 and families. 1.30pm (Fri), 11am & 2pm (Sat); £7 (Jun 10-11)
Sat: Grace Jones’ Meltdown at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Embankment/Waterloo tube/rail)
The intriguingly titled Grace Jones’ Meltdown sees the global music and fashion icon curate Southbank Centre’s popular annual festival. It’s the 27th edition of Meltdown and Jones has brought together a stonking line-up, including Skunk Anansie, Peaches, MeShell Ndegeocello, Angelique Kidjo with Yemi Alade, Oumou Sangare and Baaba Maal. Good times. PG for some content. Various times and prices, some activities are FREE (Jun 10-19)
Sat: Discovery Day at the Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, NW1 1AT (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Head to the world-class research institute to find out more about what inspires these leading scientists to understand human health and disease. Listen to inspiring talks and watch explosive science shows from presenter Dan Plane. Activities include: creating fake poo, investigating ancestor DNA and making a DNA bracelet, taking a sniff challenge and transforming everyday fruit into an orchestra. There’s also a lemonade stand, smoothie bikes, hula hooping, face painting. All ages welcome. 10am-4pm, drop-in; FREE entry (Jun 11)
Sat: Connaught Village Garden Festival, Connaught Village, W2 (Paddington tube/rail)
Come to the first ever outing for this day-long family festival. Activities include early morning yoga, free craft workshops (terracotta pot painting, macrame weaving, dried flower pressing and more), pony grooming, plant sales, outdoor art installations, walks and talks and summer feasting. Enjoy ice lollies laced with edible petals from PoppingLicks! The event coincides with the National Garden Scheme’s (NGS) annual charity event where members of the public are able to enter a number of private residential gardens for a small donation of £6. All ages welcome. 10.30am – 6pm; FREE (Jun 11)
Sat-Sun: London Square Open Gardens Weekend, multiple London locations
Want a sneak peek inside some of London’s finest garden spaces? This weekend, you can explore hidden green gems across the capital. London Square Open Gardens Weekend unlocks more than 100 secret and little known areas, including community allotments, private gardens and rooftop gardens. Ticket sales help London Gardens Trust protect the city’s most valuable green spaces. All ages welcome. Various timex; adult £15-£20/child £7-£10/under 12s FREE (Jun 11-12)
Sun: The Great Big Story Mix Up at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Ever watched a live show and thought you could do better? Well, with Roustabout Theatre’s improvised play, you get to call the shots. Head to Arts Depot and be part of a theatre performance where you choose the characters, the costumes, the plot. You even get to control the Horn of Song and Trumpet of Dance. Watch your ideas come to life with the efforts of an enchanting troupe of storytellers. Fun for ages 3+ and families. 11am; from £9 (Jun 12)
We also like
Join the next Bring Your Baby London Walk along the City of London’s ancient alleyways and coffee houses (Fri); Walk the family along to Fair in the Square at Pond Square, Highgate (Sat); the new Serpentine Pavilion, Black Chapel, unveiled this weekend (from Sat); keep your eyes peeled (or shielded) for the annual World Naked Bike Ride through central London (Sat); see the Battle of Barnet 1471 reenacted at Barnet Medieval Festival (Sat-Sun); catch a Looney Tunes extravaganza at Watermans Family Cinema (Sat-Sun)
BOOKING AHEAD
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World at Stratford East (Jun 15-Jul 17)
Giffords Circus at Chiswick House & Gardens (Jun 16-27)
Marylebone Summer Festival at Marylebone Village (Jun 18-19)
FUN DMC Father’s Day Special at Colours, Hoxton Square (Jun 19)
Up at the O2 10th Birthday: Free Climbs for Cancerians, at The O2, Greenwich (Jun 21, 6pm, 6.15pm & 6.30pm)
Windrush Day at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (Jun 22)
Sun and Sea at The Albany, Deptford SE8 (Jun 23-Jul 10)
West End Live in Trafalgar Square (Jun 25-26)
International Busking Day at Wembley Park (Jul 16)
To Kill A Mockingbird at The Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (best availability from Jul 18)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Gillian Lynne Theatre (Jul 18-Jan 8)
Hyper Japan Festival at Evolution London (Jul 22-24)
Big Fish Little Fish Flower Power Family Rave at Horniman Gardens (Jul 24)
Peppa Pig My First Concert: Mozart to Muddy Puddles at London Coliseum (from Jul 24)
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift at Southwark Cathedral (Jul 30 & Aug 6)
The Golden Hinde Night Voyage, SE1 (Aug 28)
The Luna Cinema presents Kew the Movies at Kew Gardens (Aug 31-Sep 4)
Dino Snores at Natural History Museum (Oct 1)
**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!**
May Half Term and Platinum Jubilee Weekend in London
