It’s Mothering Sunday coming up (in case you haven’t heard) and so this is a special Mother’s Day in London edition of the Weekend Scoop. For Mother’s Day this year, I can’t decide if I want more books and notebooks (always), tickets to ABBA Voyage or Guys and Dolls, or to chill on the sofa rewatching Wakanda Forever and finally seeing Everything Everywhere All at Once. Most likely, it will be option C.
In the run up to Mother’s Day, I’ve collaborated with the relationship charity Relate to write a personal post for their Not ‘Just’ A Mum campaign (check it out here). Thanks also to Vuelio for ranking me again on their Top 10 UK Mum Blogs. I truly appreciate the recognition.
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and grandmothers, however you’re celebrating. Big group hugs also to those of us who are missing our mums this Sunday.
Thu-Sat: Sylvia, The Old Vic, The Cut SE1 8NB (Waterloo tube/rail)
Discover more about feminist legend Sylvia Pankhurst in a hip hop, funk and soul spin on her biography. Sylvia boasts original music by Josh Cohen and DJ Walde , writing and co-production by Kate Prince (ZooNation), and stars Beverley Knight as Emmeline Pankhurst and Sharon Rose. For ages 12+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (select Thus & Sats); from £12-£67.50 (until Apr 1)
Thu-Sun: Kew Explorer Land Train at Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE (Kew Gardens tube/Kew Bridge rail, overground)
Hop on the Kew Explorer land train for a 40 minute ride around the gorgeous gardens. It’s a relaxed way to explore for little legs and mamas with tired feet. The route typically makes 5 stops from Victoria Gate for the Victoria Plaza Shop and Café, Palm House, and The Botanical and final stop for the car park, the Children’s Garden and the Orangery. For Mother’s Day, why not book in for lunch or tea too? Daily from 11am; adult £5.60/child £2.50/essential carers FREE
Thu-Sun: Mother’s Day Tea (multiple locations)
Treat your mum or your self to a quirky afternoon tea at one of the venues in my city guide. Slather yourself (or your scones if you prefer) in jam and clotted cream, sip on fragrant tea and munch on teeny sandwiches that make you feel posh. Multiple locations, times and prices. (ongoing)
Thu-Sun: The Great British Bake Off Musical at Noel Coward Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4AU (Leicester Sq tube, Charing Cross tube/rail)
This feels like a winner for Mother’s Day in London. Catch the nation’s best-loved TV show on stage in a feast of fun and music. Who will rise to the occasion? A big hearted musical filled with catchy songs and cake-spiration. Ages 3+ (under 3s not admitted). 7.30pm (Mon, Wed & Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat), 3pm (Sun); from £17.75 (until May 13)
Thu-Sun: Alice Neel: Hot off the Griddle at Barbican Centre (Level 3), Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
American art maverick Alice Neel is the focus of this vibrant retrospective. Explore her portraits of marginalised people, pregnant women, queer and civil rights activists. 9.30am-11pm daily; adult £18/concs £13/child under 14 FREE (until May 21)
Thu-Sun: Ideal Home Show at Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX (Kensington Olympia rail/overground, West Brompton tube)
Get the best inspiration for your home and kitchen at this massive annual event. You’ll find everything from kitchen gadgets and high-tech audio, to cosy furnishings and cutting edge design. 10am-5pm daily; adult £14-£16 adv/£20-£22 door/child under 16 FREE but require ticket (Mar 17-Apr 2)
Thu-Sun: Photographs from the James Bond Archive at Leica Gallery London, 64-66 Duke Street, W1K 6JD (Bond St tube)
Goldfinger or Octopussy? Live or Let Die? Treat your eyes to a retrospective of classic Bond movie images. From Sean Connery and Timothy Dalton to Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig: Leica Gallery London’s exhibition of photographs covers six decades of iconic films. Don’t mind if we do. 10am-6pm (Thu-Sat), 10am-7pm (Wed), 12pm-6pm (Sun); FREE entry (until Mar 21)
Fri-Sun: Souls Grown Deep Like the Rivers at Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington Gardens W1S 3ET (Piccadilly Circus/Green Park tube)
Explore a range of works in various media by some of the most ingenious Black artists from the Southeastern United States. With a title inspired by Langston Hughes, Souls Grown Deep Like the Rivers is a testament to these artists’ resilience and resistance in the face of a racist system. Using local materials – like clay, driftwood, roots, soil, recycled and cast-off objects – these 64 works from the mid-20th century to today help illuminate issues such as slavery, Jim Crow, economic inequality, sexuality and ancestral memory. 10am-6pm (Tue-Fri), 10am-9pm (Fri); from adult £15/concs available (Mar 17-Jun 18)
Sat: Lie Down and Listen for World Sleep Day at The Fitzrovia Chapel, 2 Pearson Square, W1T 3BF
What more do you need for Mother’s Day than a decent kip? For World Sleep Day (Mar 18), visitors can lay their heads on soft mattresses, under cosy blankets, and experience 75 minutes of deep rest. Classical pianist Christina McMaster leads a guided meditation and Tibetan bowl sound healing, followed by a concert of gentle classical music from Harpist Noa Davies. Bathe yourself in sound while looking up at Fitzrovia Chapel’s ceiling of 500 mosaic stars. Sounds dreamy. 11am, 1pm & 3pm; £30 (Mar 18)
Sat: Southbank Sinfonia: Musical Zoo Family Workshop at St John’s Smith Square, SW1P 3HA (Westminster/St James Park/Pimlico tube)
Join in with the zoo-like harmonies of this Southbank Sinfonia family concert. Learn about their instruments and try playing some or bring your own. All instruments and ability levels welcome. Best for ages 5-11 and their grownups. 11am; adult/child £5 each (Mar 18)
Sun: FUN DMC: Mother’s Day Special at JuJu’s Bar & Stage Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury St, E1 6QR (Aldgate East tube, Liverpool St tube/rail, Shoreditch High St overground)
Party with your whole crew at this Mother’s Day knees up. Expect live DJs playing classic dance floor fillers (hip hop, R&B, disco, garage, D&B), graffiti train, photo booth, hip hop colouring in, soft play room, dance contests, stalls and face painting. Ages 6 weeks to 60. 12pm-3pm; adult £10/child 0-15 £7.50/family of 4 £30 (Mar 19)
Sun: Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea at Fulham Palace, Bishop’s Avenue, SW6 6EA (Putney Bridge overground)
Head to historic Fulham Palace for a special afternoon tea in the walled garden. You can go on a guided taster tour and if you’re a mama, you might just be gifted with a take-home posy. Afterwards, tuck into a traditional cream tea in the fancy setting of the Bishop Terrick rooms. Lovely. 1pm-3pm; adult from £35/child under 10 from £17 (Mar 19)
Sun: Titanic 25th Anniversary 3D Screening at Charlotte Street Hotel, 15-17 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RJ (Tottenham Court Rd tube)
Escape the youngsters and float away with Leo and Kate this Mother’s Day in London. Marking the film’s 25th anniversary, this remastered version in 3D will bring those emotions right up to the surface. Settle in with a drink or a three-course meal with bubbly available to enjoy the show. 3pm-5pm; from £25-£65 (Mar 19)
We also like
The Holmes Hotel is hosting a https://www.eventbrite.com/e/whittard-of-chelseas-blend-with-love-mothers-day-tea-masterclasses-tickets-528324862887 all weekend (Thu-Sun); it’s the last weekend EVER for the underground festival at Waterloo. Find out what’s playing over Mother’s Day in London (until Sun); choo-choo fans gather at Ally Pally for the London Festival of Railway Modelling (Sat-Sun); if you haven’t seen the David Hockney exhibition at Lightroom King’s Cross, what are you waiting for?
Booking Ahead
- Literature Beyond Borders: Choose Love fundraiser hosted by Elif Shafak at Kings Place, N1 (Mar 22)
- For Crying Out Loud! Parent and Baby Concert at Wigmore Hall, W1 (Mar 30)
- 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)
- Let’s Build at Polka’s Adventure Theatre, South Wimbledon (Apr 1-May 21)
- The Rossettis at Tate Britain (Apr 6-Sep 24)
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyonce at Glazier Hall, SE1 (Apr 14)
- 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)
- The Secret Life of Reptiles at London Zoo (Jun 1-Dec 31)
- 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)
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow at Phoenix Theatre (late 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!**
How I Reclaimed My Voice as a Writer after Becoming a Mother