Hello, hello! It’s the first official Weekend Scoop of the Back to School phase, aka Mum’s New Year. Your weekend guide to family friendly London is stacked with immersive adventures, family cinema, live theatre, local festivals, and some entertaining talks.
Coming Soon: Paperback Launch Event!
Sat Sep 17: A World for Me and You Picture Book Reading and Signing at Ink@84, 84 Highbury Park, London N5 2XE (Highbury & Islington tube)
Join me for a special story time and signing event at popular Islington bookshop Ink 84. All ages welcome. 11am; FREE entry or £6.99 if you buy a copy of the paperback with your ticket. Order your book + tickets HERE (Sep 17)
Find more brilliant events upcoming in the Booking Ahead section below and on my Autumn Hot List
Your Weekend Guide to Family Friendly London
Thu-Sun: Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, multiple locations
LAST WEEKEND: London’s biggest festival of FREE outdoor theatre and performing arts wraps up after two fantastic weeks. Look out for dazzling spectacles and shows including Unfurl, Peaceophobia, The Relaxerette and Final Farewell. All ages unless otherwise stated (check ahead). Various times and performances, FREE (until Sep 11)
Thu-Sun: Jurassic World: The Exhibition, ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL (Custom House DLR & Elizabeth Line)
Do you dare enter the world of giants, where prehistoric monsters roam? Inspired by the cinematic blockbuster series (based on the sci fi novels by Michael Crichton), the exhibition features animatronic dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes… plus a few surprises. All ages welcome. 10am-6pm (Sun-Wed), 10am-8pm (Thu-Fri), 9am-8pm (Sat), 9am-6pm (Sun); from £15/child under 2 FREE (until Nov 3)
Thu-Sun: Unlimited Festival at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
Indoors and outdoors and online. Southbank Centre’s biennial festival celebrates dance, performance, music, visual art and comedy by disabled artists and companies. See groundbreaking works by artists who identify as being disabled, D/deaf, neurodivergent and those experiencing chronic illness, mental health conditions and more. Various ages, times and prices; some events are FREE (Sep 7-11)
Thu-Sun: Phantom Peak, Canada St, Surrey Quays Road, SE16 7PJ (Canada Water tube/overground)
The world’s first fully immersive open-world experience is drawing visitors from far and wide. Discover a steampunk town packed with 100+ adventures, stories and games including its own waterfall, lake and citizens. Choose your own destiny, try out escape rooms and theatre, enjoy live gameplay, premium bars and restaurants. Fancy dress optional but encouraged. All ages welcome, under 16s must be accompanied. 5pm-10pm (Wed-Sun), 11am-4pm (Sat-Sun); from £34/child under 3 FREE (until Sep 30)
Thu-Sun: Totally Thames, multiple locations
The annual festival of music, theatre, exhibitions and family fun takes place along the longest river in Europe. Enjoy a range of daily walks, talks, workshops, riverside activities, art installations and more. See the full line-up. (Sep 1-30)
Fri-Sun: Classic Boats Fest at St Katharine Docks, 50 St Katharine’s Way, E1W 1LA (Tower Hill tube)
Row, row, row your boat. Take your tiny shipmates along to see 40 vintage vessels afloat. The three-day event also includes talks, kids activities and boatbuilding workshops. 3pm-5.30pm (Fri), 11am-6pm (Sat), 11am-5pm (Sun); FREE entry (Sep 9-11)
Sat: Family Film Club: Lightyear at Barbican Cinema 2, Barbican Centre, Beech Street EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
If you haven’t seen this movie yet, head to Barbican to catch the origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans) infinity and beyond. Enjoy a morning at the cinema travelling to infinity and beyond. Before the film, there’s an intro and pop quiz on all things Pixar. Rated PG (adults must be accompanied by a child). 11am; adult £3.50/child £2.50 (Sep 10)
Sat: London Podcast Festival: Ask the Nincompoops at Kings Place (The Acast Stage, Hall 2), 90 York Way, N1 9AG (Kings Cross & St Pancras tube/rail)
Named one of the Best Podcasts for Children by Huffington Post, this riotously funny show features Andy Stanton (author of the Mr Gum books, extremely bright) andCarrie Quinlan (of Radio 4, also extremely bright) taking questions from kids (not so bright). Using their immense brains, Andy and Carrie answer mind-bogglers such as: Who invented cheese? What are trees for and why are they everywhere? What’s the opposite of a kettle? Join in the fun as Ask the Nincompoops makes its live debut. No age guidance, probably best for 4+. 11am; from £6.50-£11.50/family ticket available (Sep 10)
Sat: Everything You Know About Minibeasts is Wrong! at Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS (Green Park tube)
Ever heard that bees die when they sting you? False! Find out other fake news about mini beasts (e.g. centipedes don’t have 100 legs) with zoologist and author, Dr Nick Crumpton and entomologist and curator, Beulah Garner. Unearth countless facts and debunk myths about all sorts of creepy crawlies. Pick up a copy of Nick’s book after the talk. Best for ages 7+. 2pm-3.15pm; £16/£10/Ri members £7 (Sep 10)
Sat-Sun: Open House London, multiple locations
One of the most anticipated events of the London calendar. Each year, the city’s most fascinating, private and historic buildings throw open their doors to all for an exclusive period. See what’s up behind the scenes of structures like The Shard, BT Tower and more than 100 other venues. Dozens of events include kid-friendly tours, plus designing, building and interactive activities for all ages. From around 10am daily, FREE (Sep 8-21)
Sat-Sun: Cutty Sark Family Fun Weekend, King William Walk, West Greenwich, SE10 9HT (Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich rail)
All aboard the historic tea clipper. Taking place on the first weekend every month, Family Fun Weekends allow to can meet characters from history, try ship-shape crafts, play games and croon along to sea shanties. 11am-4pm; included in Cutty Sark admission: adult £15-£16/child 4-15 £7.50-£8/under 4s FREE (Sep 10-11)
Sun: Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish at Arts Depot, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Roustabout Theatre takes on Michael Foreman’s environmental story with grooving dinosaurs, powered by rock’n’roll. When man’s ambition to reach the stars leaves earth in tatters, it wakes the sleeping giants. But can dinosaurs save the planet? It’s one small step for man, one giant pile of rubbish to tackle, and tons of toe-tapping fun for ages 3+. 11am & 2pm; from £12 (Sep 11)
BOOKING AHEAD
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift at Southwark Cathedral (Sep 15)
- How The Light Gets In Festival at Kenwood House (Sep 17-18)
- FUN DMC Birthday Party at Colours, Hoxton (Sep 25)
- Mwalimu Express Sunday Sessions at Rich Mix (Oct 2)
- Baby Show at Unicorn Theatre(Oct 4-30)
- Matilda at BFI London Film Festival (Oct 5 & 6)
- Zoo Nation: Mixtape at Sadler’s Wells (Oct 5-8)
- Cezanne at Tate Modern(Oct 5-Mar 12)
- Science Fiction at the Science Museum (Oct 6-May 4, 2023)
- For Crying Out Loud Parent & Baby Concert at Wigmore Hall, W1 (Oct 14 & Dec 2)
- Making Modernism at Royal Academy, Piccadilly (Nov 12-Feb 12)
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Gillian Lynne Theatre (until Jan 8)
- To Kill A Mockingbird at The Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (ongoing)
**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!**
22 Awesome Things to Look Forward to in London in Autumn 2022
