If you do one thing this Father’s Day weekend, go see Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The long-awaited sequel to the first Miles Morales movie kicks things up several notches with a mesmerising, web-slinging, emotional ride through the multi-verse, featuring dazzling characters and simply gobsmacking animation. I saw it on opening weekend and I’m seeing it again this weekend as it’s easily my top film of the year so far.
What else is hot? Meet Robin Hood in Regent’s Park, sample the city’s top restaurants, watch ZooNation Youth Company in action, pick up some circus tricks with Tish and her Circus Bus, or rave in Hackney with Big Fish Little Fish. Don’t forget your sunscreen. Happy weekend!
Father’s Day Weekend: 14 Cool Things To Do in London
Thu-Sat: Romeo and Juliet at The Almeida, Almeida St, Islington, N1 1TA (Highbury & Islington tube/rail, Angel tube)
One for older kids and adults. If you watched and loved Ted Lasso as much as we did, you’ll be delighted to see Toheeb Jimoh (Sam Obisanya) in the title role alongside Isis Hainsworth as Juliet. They’re playing the star cross’d lovers whose warring families turn their romance into tragedy. Recommended for ages 14+ (content warnings for suicide, guns and scenes of a sexual nature). 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2pm (Wed & Sat); from £18-£65 (until Jul 29)
Thu-Sat: Groundhog Day at The Old Vic, The Cut SE1 8NB (Waterloo tube/rail)
There are rave reviews for this musical adaptation from the genius of Tim Minchin and Danny Rubin (the team behind one of the best West End shows, Matilda the Musical). This Father’s Day weekend, follow cynical weatherman Phil Connors on a time loop adventure that’s set to change everything. For ages 12+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Wed & Sat); from £13 (until Aug 12)
Thu-Sun: Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy, Burlington House, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
This annual celebration of art and artists promises towering sculptures by the late Phyllida Barlow RA, Richard Malone’s dramatic mobile installation in the Wohl Central Hall, and a witty painting by comedian Joe Lycett. Plus pieces by Tracey Emin RA, Hew Locke RA, Barbara Walker RA, Gavin Turk, Lindsey Mendick, Caroline Walker and loads more. You can support emerging artists and pick up something for your collection. 10am-6pm (Tue-Sun) & 10am-9pm (Fri); from £22-£24.50/free for Friends of RA (Jun 13-Aug 20)
Thu-Sun: BBC Earth Experience, at The Daikin Centre, Earl’s Court, Empress Place, SW6 1TW (Earl’s Court tube)
Listen to national treasure David Attenborough talking you through footage from the documentary Seven Worlds, One Planet. Wander through a 360 immersive experience featuring stunning visuals projected onto multi-angle screens. All ages (under 3s go FREE). 10am-7pm (Sun-Thu and Bank Holidays), 10am-9pm (Fri-Sat); from adult £28.50/child £22 (ongoing)
Thu-Sun: London Design Biennale & Eureka at Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA (Charing Cross tube/rail)
Head to the London Design Biennale, an interactive gathering of some of the world’s most exciting designers, curators and design institutes. This year features 40+ designers from 5 continents across 45 pavilions showcasing everything from AI robot designing to space pods, virtual gardens, tapestry weaving and more. New this year, Eureka explores a range of topics such as ageing, social equality and city planning with ideas from the UK’s leading research centres. All ages welcome. 11am-7pm daily (last entry 6pm); adult from £23-£27.50/concs £18/child 12-16 £13/under 12s FREE (Jun 1-25)
Thu-Sun: The Invisible Man at Unicorn Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube/rail)
LAST CHANCE: Blink and you’ll miss tickets for this production from acclaimed company Theatre Artemis. It’s a surrealist take on the concept of being invisible, what happens when the audience is waiting but the main act doesn’t show up. Or does he? For ages 5-11. Various times around 11am & 2.30pm; adult from £12-£25.5/child from £8.50-£17 (until Jun 18)
Thu-Sun: Titanosaur at Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD (South Kensington tube)
Who’s the daddy of all dinosaurs? We reckon it might have been the titanosaur Patagotitan mayorum, one of the largest figures from the prehistoric world. Visit the museum over Father’s Day weekend and learn all about its life journey from teeny egg to titan. Open to all ages. 10am-5.50pm daily (last entry 5.30pm); adult £16/child £9/family from £27.25 (until Jan 7)
Thu-Sun: Taste of London festival at Regent’s Park, NW1 5HA (Baker St tube)
This feels like the perfect weekend to be in Regent’s Park, sampling delicious flavours from London’s top restaurants. There will be chef masterclasses, cooking demos, family friendly workshops and of course food stalls. Om nom nom. All ages welcome. 12pm-4pm & 5.30pm-9.30pm (Thu, Fri & Sat), 12-5pm (Sun; adult festival pass from £24/£38 incl. 2 dishes, VIP entry £60-£75/teen 13-17 £15/child 6-12 £10/under 6s FREE (Jun 14-18)
Sat: Big Fish Little Fish Hackney Undersea Adventure Family Rave, Colour Factory, 8a White Post Lane, E9 5EN (Hackney Wick overground)
Be inspired by the Little Mermaid (in cinemas now) and go under the sea with the Big Fish Little Fish family rave crew. This friendly afternoon session has BFLF residents Baker & Beale playing acid house, techno, house and drum ‘n’ bass tunes from way back to the present day. There’s also sea-themed crafting, baby chill out, face painting (separate fee), optional fancy dress, licensed bar, buggy parking, baby changing, confetti cannons, bubbles, foam, giant balloons and the big parachute dance finale. 2pm-4pm; adult from £11/child from £8/pre-walkers FREE (Jun 17)
Sat: Alice’s Adventures in Aerialand at Brixton Windmill, Windmill Gardens, Blenheim Gardens, SW2 5DA (Brixton tube)
Experience an outdoor performance of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, adapted as an open-air, aerial circus show by The Dot Collective. Filled with wonder and nonsense, riddles and conundrums, it’s a delight for all ages and abilities, including those living with dementia and PMLD. Bring a blanket or camping chair and picnics are welcome too (cafe open for additional drinks and snacks). All ages. 2pm & 6pm; adult £12/concs £10/child under 16 £8 (Jun 17)
Sat-Sun: ZooNation at Next Generation Festival, Royal Opera House (Linbury Theatre), Bow Street, WC2E 9DD Covent Garden tube)
We absolutely LOVE the ZooNation Youth Company and are thrilled to hear they’re live this weekend at the Next Generation Festival. Showcasing dancers from as far as Birmingham, Southampton, Dorset and Brighton, this should be another breathtaking performance from some of the UK’s finest hip hop talent. All ages welcome. 2.30pm & 7pm (Sat), 12.30pm & 4pm; £3-£20 (Jun 17-18)
Sat-Sun: The Great Exhibition Road Festival, multiple locations along Exhibition Rd, South Kensington (South Kensington tube)
It’s another great celebration of STEAM activities at this three-day annual event held over Father’s Day weekend. South Kensington welcomes institutions from the world of science, technology, art and design to host a series of workshops, tours, talks, live stages, storytelling and more for all ages. Explore everything from space poetry to smart machines, extracting DNA from a strawberry to an atomic silent disco! Lots to see, do and discover at Imperial College, Science Museum, V&A Museum, Royal Albert Hall and other participating venues. All ages welcome. 12pm-6pm, FREE entry (Jun 17-18)
Sat-Sun: Robin Hood: The Legend. Rewritten. at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2023, Queen Mary’s Garden within Regent’s Park, NW1 4NU (Baker St tube)
Hold onto your seats for a thrilling remix of the Robin Hood legend. Bringing epic storytelling, moving songs and flying arrows to the heart of London, it’s a romp that offers humour, heart and apparently no green tights (or maybe just a flash). PG/recommended for ages 10+, kids under 4 will not be admitted. 7.45pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.15pm (Thu & Sat); from £23 (Jun 17-Jul 22)
Sun: Summer of Play: Tish and the Circus Bus at Samovar Space, Olympic Way, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 OFA (Wembley Park tube)
Get ready for a day of fun in the sunshine with Tish and her magical bus full of circus tricks. Try your hands at aerial hoop, stilt walking, spinning plates, juggling and other activities. 12pm-6pm; FREE (Jun 18)
We also like
Celebrate Irish culture at Bloomsday Festival in Embassy Gardens with spoken word, pop-up market, oyster bar, live music from Imelda May and more + food and drink stalls (Fri-Sat); there’s more fantastic free outdoor performances at National Theatre’s River Stage with the James Cousins Company and others (Fri-Sun); drop-in to a family workshop to unleash your inner activist at the LSE Festival (Sat); escape the heat at the swanky new Lee Valley Ice Centre, opening this weekend (from Sat); hear tunes from London’s top musicals for free at West End Live (Sat-Sun)
Booking Ahead
- The Scummy Mummies Greatest Hits at Arts Depot (Jun 23)
- Barnes Children’s Literature Festival (Jun 24-25)
- Radiate Festival: Culture Weekend at Burgess Park (Jun 24-25)
- RA Family Studio: Creative Protest at Royal Academy (Jun 25)
- Sculpture in the City, multiple locations around the City of London (from Jun 27)
- Mog the Forgetful Cat at The Old Vic (Jul 11-29)
- Zog at Rose Theatre, Kingston (Jul 12-16)
- Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave at Horniman Museum (Jul 15)
- Kaleidoscope Festival at Alexandra Palace (Jul 15)
- Family Festival: Mark Makers at Dulwich Picture Gallery (Jul 22)
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyonce at Glazier Hall, SE1 (Jul 22)
- Theatre on Kew: Alice in Wonderland at Kew Gardens (Jul 22-Aug 28)
- Power Up at Science Museum (Jul 27-Sep 3)
- The Secret Life of Reptiles at London Zoo (Aug 1-Dec 31)
- Little Angel Theatre Children’s Puppet Festival, N1 (Aug 6-Sep 3)
- 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!**
London Kids Weekend Scoop (June 8-11, 2023)
