It’s Windrush Day and a special one at that since this year marks 75 years since the ship that brought a generation of people who would change the face of Britain forever. I’ve found some of the best Windrush family events in London this weekend. Also featured are some family art activities, outdoor cinema in King’s Cross, a children’s literature festival in Barnes, big new West End musicals and baby-friendly raving in Hyde Park. Get in.
The Best Windrush Family Events in London this Weekend
Thu: Southbank Centre Windrush Day Celebration, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
The brilliant Book Love travelling books carnival is just one of the highlights of Southbank Centre’s Windrush 75 day festival. Discover fabulous multicultural, inclusive and antiracist books at this pop-up shop. Also on the menu: live music and dancing on the terraces, a colourful costume parade, Caribbean food in the street food market, and a live stream unveiling of the Windrush Monument. Party until evening with Just Vibez at the Riverside Stage. 10.55am-9pm; FREE (Jun 22)
Thu: Just Vibez Windrush 75 Block Party at Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS (Brixton tube)
Come with a flag or something to represent your islands at this Windrush 75 all-day party run by Just Vibez. Celebrate against the backdrop of a mural featuring Windrush icons and their kids. Listen to DJs and live Calypso, enjoy delicious street food, get your faces painted and make your own Carnival headpieces. Children and families are welcome all day and night! All ages welcome. 4pm-6pm (Family Time) and 6pm-10pm (block party); FREE but RSVP (Jun 22)
Thu-Sat: Windrush 75 at National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich rail)
Celebrate the influence of the people who arrived on the Empire Windrush with two special events at National Maritime Museum. There’s a whole day of Caribbean culture on Thursday in partnership with the Caribbean Social Forum, with choirs, museum object handling, storytelling, dominoes matches and dance workshop. On Saturday, it’s a free family festival with live acts, Calypso dancing, Windrush flag-making, singing workshops with Hamilton’s Sharon Rose and more. 10am-5pm (Thu & Sat); FREE (Jun 22 & 24)
Sat-Sun: Radiate Festival: Culture Weekend, Burgess Park, Albany Rd, SE5 0AL (Bermondsey tube)
This Thursday marks 75 years since the Empire Windrush arrived on Britain’s shores bringing the hopes and dreams of people from the Caribbean. Celebrate at this annual festival where you can watch live music, take part in crafts, browse food and artisan stalls, see natural hair demos, carnival arts, garden games, picnic area DJ music and more. All ages welcome. 12pm-9pm; adult weekend ticket from £1/child age 5-17 from £5.50/under 5s and elders 65+ go FREE (elders can show Freedom Pass instead of a ticket) (Jun 24-25)
Other Windrush Events this Weekend
Make Carnival Masks at the Windrush Day celebration in Paddington Children’s Library (Thu, 3.30pm-4.30pm); join a Family Workshop: Windrush 75 storytelling at British Library (Fri, 4pm-5pm); I like the sound of the Windrush Front Room at Horniman Museum, giving you a glimpse into a traditional Windrush era living room (Sat, 10am-5.30pm); there’s a Windrush 75 block party taking place at Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham (Sat, 12pm-8pm); see Windrush Secret (ages 16+) at the British Museum, a play that explores the migrant story from alternating viewpoints (Sat, 2.30pm-4.30pm); discover more about the past at the exhibition Windrush: A Voyage Through the Generations at Clapham Library (until Sep 2)
More Family Events Around Town
Thu-Sun: Everyman Presents: Screen on the Canal at Canal Side Steps, Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Movies under the sun and stars, what’s not to love? The popular season of outdoor screenings returns to King’s X, showing: Elvis, Roald Dahl’s Matilda, Grease, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Paddington, Top Gun: Maverick, Mamma Mia, Roman Holiday, Dreamgirls and Casablanca. Plus live tennis from Wimbledon! Enjoy food and drink options and let little ones splash through Granary Square’s fountains. Various screenings at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm & 7.30pm. Daily, FREE – just turn up, but do get there early to avoid disappointment! (Jun 22-Aug 6)
Thu-Sun: Wandsworth Arts Fringe, multiple locations around SW18
It’s the last weekend for the Wandsworth Arts Fringe and there’s lots happening for families. See the Little Red Hen Puppet Show, the Unicornisaurus, The Jungle Book, Meg in the Magic Toyshop or the London Children’s Ballet performing Anne of Green Gables! Various times and prices, some activities are FREE (until Jun 25)
Fri: Big Fish Little Fish x BST Hyde Park Open House, Hyde Park W2 (Hyde Park Corner tube)
If you head down to Hyde Park this weekend, you might be in for more than a few surprises. While the BST Hyde Park concerts are in full swing (headline acts include Black Pink, Pink and Bruce Springsteen), there’s a heap of family fun during the daytime and it’s free. On Friday, you can rave with the world-famous Big Fish Little Fish who are bringing their DJ tunes, parachute dance, bubbles and foam to Hyde Park for the first time. All ages, best for ages 0-8. 4pm; FREE (Jun 23)
Fri: The Scummy Mummies Greatest Hits at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Grownups only. Enjoy a mum’s night out in the company of Ellie and Helen marking 10 years of scumminess! The Scummy Mummies touring comedy show has played to to sold-out audiences all over the UK and now you can experience their best-loved songs, sketches, and stand-up in one go. Prepare to laugh till you wee. Ages 18+. 7.30pm; from £22 (Jun 23)
Fri-Sun: Black Owned Hackney Market, Bohemia Place, Hackney Central E8 1DU (Hackney Central overground)
The NYC-style night market returns with another series of take-overs throughout June and July. This weekend, it’s the monthly Black-owned market presenting a Winter Wonderlist. Have a look around for tasty street food, gifts, sustainable clothing, craft beer, outdoor seating, music and more. There are themed bars and the market is both kid and pet-friendly. On Fridays, you can hear DJs playing Afrobeats, Dancehall, Amapiano, Reggae, Funk, Soul, HipHop and more. 6-10pm (Fri) & 12pm-6pm (Sat-Sun); FREE entry (Jun 23-25)
Fri-Sun: The Wizard of Oz, London Palladium, Argyll Street, W1F 7TF (Leicester Square tube)
There’s no place like home for Dorothy who’s whisked away on a wild and witchy adventure to Oz. Track her journey with companion Toto along the yellow brick road in this brand new musical from the producer of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Additional songs and music from legends Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. For ages 6+. 7pm (Wed-Sat), 2pm (Thu & Sat), 1pm & 5pm (Sun); from £20 (Jun 23-Sep 3)
Sat: RA Family Studio: Creative Protest at Royal Academy of Arts, John Madejski Fine Rooms, Burlington House, Burlington Gardens, W1S 3ET (Piccadilly Circus/Green Park tube)
It’s a carnival theme at this family workshop, inspired by the art of Hew Locke RA. Join artist Cash Aspeek to make your own costumes, masks and headdresses then join a procession at the RA. All ages welcome. Drop-in from 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm; FREE, first come first served (Jun 25) `
Sat-Sun: Crazy for You, Gilliane Lynne Theatre, 166 Drury Lane, Holborn, WC2B 5PW (Covent Garden tube)
Banker Bobby Child is putting on the show of his life in an effort to woo theatre owner’s daughter Polly. Boasting some of Gershwin’s biggest hits (e.g. Someone to Watch Over Me, I Got Rhythm and They Can’t Take That Away from Me), this musical revival is sure to leave audiences giddy with joy. Ages 4+ (younger ones not admitted). 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Wed & Sat); from £25 (Jun 24-Jan 20)
Sat-Sun: Barnes Children’s Literature Festival, multiple locations (Barnes rail)
Join some of the biggest names in kid lit at this popular annual festival. Cressida Cowell, Ed Vere, Onjali Q Rauf, Sir Lenny Henry, Laura Hallain MBE, Axel Scheffler, Sir Michael Morpurgo, Lydia Monks and more will be running workshops or readings at various times and venues. Bring your little bookworms along for a weekend to remember. Various ages, times and prices; book in person or online at www.barneskidslitfest.org (Jun 24-25)
We also like
The National Portrait Gallery has reopened after a revamp (from Thu) and on Saturday they’ve got an exciting day of free family activities; explore stories of migration in How To Build A Home for Refugee Week at Museum of the Home (Fri, 6pm-8pm); Diva, a bold new exhibition celebrating some of our most iconic artists opens at V&A Museum (Sat); let your youngsters be awed by the puppet dinosaur tour Jurassic Live, at Fairfield Halls in Croydon (Sat-Sun); it’s your last weekend to catch Hallyu! The Korean Wave at Victoria & Albert Museum (ends Sun) and the Mother Art Prize exhibition at Zabludowicz Collection (ends Sun)
Booking Ahead
- Sculpture in the City, multiple locations around the City of London (from Jun 27)
- Big Fish Little Fish Summer Party at Museum of the Home, Hoxton (Jul 1)
- 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!**
Father’s Day Weekend Scoop (June 15-18, 2023)
