Street art exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, immersive David Hockney, an indie family disco, LEGO dinosaurs and your last chance to ice skate in Canary Wharf. It’s the Cool Kids Guide to London at the Weekend. Dig in.
Cool Kids Guide to London at the Weekend
Thu-Sat: Ice Rink at Canary Wharf, Canary Wharf Tower, E14 5EW (Canary Wharf tube/DLR & Elizabeth Line)
LAST CHANCE: You can glide away for the day or evening under a sparkling roof for the last time this season. Finish your ice skating session with a drink or a meal at a nearby restaurant or have a wander around the Winter Lights festival. All ages, best for 3+. 9.30am-10.15pm daily; adult from £17.95/child from £13.50/family from £53.95 (until Feb 25)
Thu-Sun: DAVID HOCKNEY: BIGGER & CLOSER (not smaller & further away), at Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, N1C 4DY (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail).
Really excited about checking this out soon. David Hockney is one of the most iconic UK artists and this exhibition promises to showcase his work in a way you’ve never seen. Wander through 60 years of his art with large-scale projections using Lightroom’s walls and revolutionary sound system. 10am-4pm (Mon-Thu), 10am-8.30pm (Fri-Sat), 10am-4.30pm (Sun); from adult £25-£32.50/child age 5-18 £15-22.50/under 5s FREE/concs available (Feb 22-Jun 4)
Thu-Sun: Brick Dinos at Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
Imagine life in the Jurassic and Cretaceous eras when you explore Horniman Museum’s ‘block’-buster exhibition. Dino fans can meet some of their favourite giants from prehistory all created out of LEGO. Visitors can also try hands-on activities like fossil digging and creating your own brick dinosaur. 10am-5.30pm daily; adult from £9/child from £4.50/family from £15.50/under 3s FREE (until Oct 29)
Thu-Sun: Beyond the Streets London, Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY (Sloane Square tube)
Do you love street art? Then you won’t want to miss this massive exhibition of graffiti and street artists spanning 3 floors of Saatchi Gallery. Following its success in LA and New York, Beyond the Streets London features large-scale art inspired by punk, hip hop, fashion and film. All ages. 10am-6pm daily (last entry 5.30pm); from adult £25/concs £15/child ages 6-16 £10/under 6s FREE (Feb 17-May 9)
Thu-Sun: Club Curling at Coal Drops Yard N1C 4DQ (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
LAST CHANCE: The ‘cooler cousin’ of bowling has been keeping families and other visitors busy at Coal Drops Yard since Christmas. Now it’s your final opportunity to roll up with your crew and sling your shot. Up to 6 people per team. 12pm-8pm; £7 per person/under 12s FREE (when accompanied by an adult) (until Feb 26)
Thu-Sun: Alice Neel: Hot off the Griddle at Barbican Centre (Level 3), Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
Discover 70 works by American art renegade Alice Neel, whose figurative painting stunned New York. Covering her vivid portraits of marginalised people e.g. Black and Puerto Rican kids, pregnant women, civil rights and queer activists, to her recent cult status among the next generation of artists, this is a vibrant tribute to the ‘collector of souls’. 9.30am-11pm daily; adult £18/concs £13/child under 14 FREE (Feb 16-May 21)
Thu-Sun: Donatello at the V&A, Cromwell Rd, SW7 2RL (South Kensington tube)
Not the Ninja Turtle (sorry kids) but one of the most influential sculptors in European history. Explore some of his master works in person at this first of its kind UK exhibition. All ages. 10am-5.45pm (Wed-Sun); from £20 – advanced booking recommended (hurry, few tickets left for February) (until Jun 11)
Thu-Sun: Jack V Giant at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (Wimbledon tube/rail)
Jack sells her family cow in exchange for some magic beans and winds up on a magical, musical journey that takes her from underground mines to a golden sky castle. Great fun from the team behind We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and How to Hide a Lion. For ages 4-8. 11am & 2pm; from £10/babes in arms £1 (Feb 11-Mar 26)
Fri-Sun: Cirque du Temps at Vault Festival, The Vaults, Leake St, London SE1 7NN (Waterloo tube/rail)
Visit the festival under Waterloo and meet the surreal Cirque du Temps bringing aerial arts back in dazzling style. Contortionist Muriel Gaunt, conjoined twins Daisy and violet Hilton, tiger tamer Mabel Stark and high diver Annette Kellerman take you on a wild imaginative ride filled with laughter and a twist of menace. Ages 12+. 6.45pm (Fri), 2.30pm & 6.15pm (Sat), 6.15pm (Sun); £23.50-£28.50/concs £20.50
Sat: Much Ado (12A) at Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Pl, WC2H 7BY (Leicester Square tube)
We’ve enjoyed several productions and movies of Shakespeare play’s reimagined for a modern era. This latest version brings the story of Much Ado About Nothing into the 21st century, with Beatrice and Hero finding themselves trapped in a house with a boys rugby team. Cue sparks, disagreements and romance all using the original dialogue. This screening is followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers, sisters Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare and Hillary Shakespeare and cast members. 2.25pm; non-member £10/member £7/carer £10 (Feb 25)
Sun: Fundraising Event Arts Exhibition at Zer Middle East Kitchen, 13 Stoke Newington Rd, Dalston, N16 8BH (Dalston Kingsland/Dalston Junction overground)
Feeling helpless about the situation in Turkey and Syria? Come and show your support for the victims of the devastating earthquakes at this friendly fundraiser. Kurdish artist İlos İlyas Elias Kirkan will be showcasing his powerful new series of paintings and you can also enjoy absolutely delicious Turkish treats from the acclaimed Zer Middle East Kitchen. All profits from the restaurant and sold artworks will be donated to families in need. You can make a donation at any time at www.ahbap.org or www.chooselove.org. Visit Zer Kitchen anytime between 12pm-10pm this Sunday; FREE entry (Feb 26)
Sun: How Does It Feel to be Loved Children’s Disco at The Phoenix, 37 Cavendish Square, W1G 0PP (Oxford Circus tube)
It’s party time! Calling all groove-loving families for another Sunday afternoon session with the indie, pop and soul collective. This friendly children’s disco DJs spinning vintage and alternative sounds (The Supremes, Belle & Sebastian, Ramones, Pixies etc). All ages welcome, from babies upwards (no admission without at least 1 child in your party). 12pm-4pm. £6 adults (15 plus), £2 children (14 and under) (Feb 26)
We also like
Hurry! There are still a few tickets for Gift, a first opera for babies ages 0 to 2 at Half Moon Young People’s Theatre in E1 (Fri-Sat); the London Classic Car Show is calling motor heads big and small to Olympia London (Fri-Sun); visit beautiful Lauderdale House and gardens in Highgate for its annual Heritage Weekend and a family fun day on Sunday (Sat-Sun); take your little ones for a celebration of cuddly toys at Hugglets Winter Bearfest in Kensington Town Hall (Sun); or celebrate Mardi Gras at Pop Brixton for a day of kids activities, live music and New Orleans inspired food (Sun)
Booking Ahead
- Basil Brush’s Family Fun Show, Fortuna Spiegeltent at The O2, Greenwich (Mar 5)
- Ballet Black: Pioneers at Barbican Centre (Mar 8-12)
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyonce at Glazier Hall, SE1 (Mar 18 & Apr 14)
- Bring Your Own Baby Comedy at Arts Depot, Finchley (Mar 30 & May 25)
- Mother Art Prize at Zabludowicz Collection, NW5 (Mar 30-Jun 25)
- Dreamland Margate amusement park reopens (Apr 1)
- The Rossettis at Tate Britain (Apr 6-Sep 24)
- Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros at Southwark Cathedral (Apr 15)
- Harvey Parker Trust: Love In Mind Concert at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Apr 30)
- Bleak Expectations at Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly Circus W1 (May 3-Sep 3)
- Wandsworth Arts Fringe, Wandsworth (Jun 9-25)
- Mog the Forgetful Cat at The Old Vic (Jul 11-29)
- Zog at Rose Theatre, Kingston (Jul 12-16)
- Kaleidoscope Festival at Alexandra Palace (Jul 15)
- Disney 100: The Exhibition at ExCel Centre (Autumn 2023)
**NB: Please note that all event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue (or the latest government guidelines) before making a trip!**
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