What a week it’s been. So much pain and trauma in the news. On a brighter note, I had an incredible time speaking at Reasons To Be Cheerful Live up in the midlands last weekend, a one-day festival of talks, creative workshops and great people. It’s always good to get out of town but I’m also happy to be back and sharing 11 excellent London family weekend activities. September rounds up with some fascinating new exhibitions and on Sunday we enter Black History Month. Take a look!
11 Excellent London Family Weekend Activities
Thu-Sun: Monet Expo: The Immersive Experience, Boiler House, 152 Brick Lane, E1 6RU (Shoreditch High St overground)
We’ve had Van Gogh, Frida & Diego, Dali, Klimt… yes London is awash with immersive exhibitions. Now it’s Claude Monet’s turn to get in on the 360 digital display action. Walk into a Monet painting and feel all your senses tingling as you experience the master’s art as never before. All ages welcome. 10am-9pm, last entry 7pm (Mon and Wed-Fri), 9am-9pm, last entry 7pm (Sat), 9am-8pm, last entry 6pm (Sun), closed Tues; adult £17/child under 13 £10/family concs. available (Sep 28-Nov 26)
Thu-Sun: Egg and Spoon (for ages 1-3) at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)Adventure Theatre presents an interactive show for younger audiences. Let Percy and April get you comfy on some cushions and introduce you to Birdy, hiding out in a glowing egg. If you want to see him, you’ll have to wait until spring. Enjoy a magical journey through the seasons with rain, leaves, snow and a butterfly party. For ages 1-3 and their adults. 10.30am & 2pm – HURRY ticket are flying!; £14 (Sep 27-Oct 1)
Fri-Sat: Oh Boy! Boy’s Dress Through 1760-1930 at Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XF (London Bridge tube/rail)
Remember when boys wore dresses and pink was a masculine colour? Maybe you don’t but you can certainly find out more about the evolving world of boys’ fashion at this fascinating new display. Curated by fashion historian Amy de la Haye and expert collector Alasdair Peebles (currently authoring a book on boys’ fashion), this exhibition reveals the history of boys fashion spread over two acts. Act One: Breeched: No More Dresses (Sep 29-Dec 16) explores the transition from dresses to breeches, focusing on 1760-1810, while Act Two: Ship Shape (Dec 21-Mar 3) delves into nautical wear between 1860-1930. Tickets are included as part of the Fabric of Democracy exhibition. All ages welcome. 11am-6pm (Tue-Sat); adult from £11.50/child under 12 FREE (Sep 29-Mar 3, 2024)
Sat-Sun: Classic Car Boot Sale, Granary Square and area, King’s Cross, N1C 4DQ (King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
Granary Square attracts vintage wearers and motorheads for another fabulous weekend of people-watching, car-gazing, and shopping. Browse pre-loved fashion from 100+ traders, see cars from the Beatles and Led Zeppelin to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Mini Cooper S, take part in crafts and pop-up activities, enjoy street food, craft bear, cocktails and live DJs. Plus there’s a new food, shopping and entertainment zone in Lewis Cubitt Square. All ages welcome. 10am-6pm; adult £6 adv, £7 door/child FREE (Sep 30-Oct 1)
Sat-Sun: Story Seekers: Spies, Lies and Deception at Imperial War Museum London, Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ (Lambeth North/Elephant and Castle tube, Waterloo tube/rail)
Calling all junior agents. Come and learn what it’s like to be a Special Operations Executive (SOE) at the height of WW2. Handle objects, research their histories and use your wits and imagination to uncover connections. This special edition of Story Seekers is part of Spies, Lies and Deception (Sep 29-Apr 14), the brand new IWM exhibition about real-life secret agents, deception and espionage from WW1 to the present. Best for ages 5+ (younger ones welcome). 10am-4pm, drop-in; FREE (from Sep 30/ongoing)
Sat-Sun: Black Culture Market, The Department Store (Downstairs), 248 Ferndale Road, Brixton SW9 8FR (Brixton tube)
Black History Month kicks off with the return of the Black Culture Market. Come for two days of cultural and social activity showcasing emerging Black businesses. You can buy some natural hair and skincare, browse music, books, gifts, cards, unique prints, jewellery, food, clothes, interiors and accessories. All ages welcome. Register for a FREE ticket! 11am-5pm; FREE (Sep 30-Oct 1)
Sat-Sun: Queer Nature at Temperate House, Kew Gardens, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE (Kew Gardens tube/Kew Bridge rail, overground)
See large-scale suspended artworks and horticultural installations as part of this bold new experience at Kew. This festival of talks, exhibits, weekend and after hours events celebrates the extraordinary beauty and the ordinary queerness of the natural world. Hear from leading voices including scientists, writers and horticulturists on perspectives that challenge traditional expectations. All ages welcome. 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm daily and 3pm Sun Oct 29); adult £29/youth 16-29 £10/child 4-15 £5.50/under 4s FREE/family and concs available (Sep 30-Oct 29)
Sat-Sun: Africa Writes 2023 at British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail, Euston tube/rail)
The biennial celebration of African literature makes a welcome return to the British Library. Royal African Society presents a sterling roster of Black literary talent from Africa and the diaspora. Get close up with authors such as Claudia Rankine, Caleb Azumah Nelson, Kwame Dawes, Kelechi Okafor and Blitz Bazawule. The festival is curated by an esteemed literary team including Nancy Adimorah (founder of AFREADA) and Ainehi Edoro (founder and editor of Brittle Paper). Various timings; adult £25 weekend/£15 day/£10 online/concs available (Sep 30-Oct 1)
Sun: Meet Mary Seacole at Florence Nightingale Museum, Gassiot House, St Thomas’ Hospital, 2 Lambeth Palace Rd, SE1 7EW (Waterloo/Westminster tube/rail)
Learn all about Mary Seacole, how she helped soldiers during the Crimean War and became known as ‘Mother Seacole’. Hear her adventures told ‘first hand’, then assist with diagnosing an injured soldier and mix your own medicine to make them better. 11:30am, 1:30pm & 3:30pm; free with regular admission (pay once, use all year): adult £12/child £7/family £30/totally free for Lambeth residents with proof of postcode (Oct 1)
Sun: Fulham Palace Apple Day, Bishop’s Avenue, SW6 6EA (Putney Bridge overground)
October means Apple Day at Fulham Palace, a day of harvest-themed fun for the whole family. Activities include garden games, crafting, music-making, face painting, cider mixology, beekeeping, baking contests, tombola, stalls and refreshments. All ages welcome. 11am-4pm; adult/child FREE pre-booked; adult £3/child £1 at door (Oct 1)
Sun: The Ugly Duckling at Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road N6 5AA (Highgate tube)
Have you heard the story about the ugly duckling? Now you can hear it anew in this lively adaptation by Sandal Sticks Theatre where you’ll learn all about the story of a duck who was different. A heart-warming experience with interactive storytelling, songs and puppets. Ages 3+. 11am & 2.30pm; from £8 (Oct 1)
We also like
It’s your LAST CHANCE to catch teen footballing drama Red Pitch at Bush Theatre (ends Sat); also ending this weekend, the Moat in Bloom at the Tower of London; and the Totally Thames 2023 festival wraps up after a month of arts and activities along the riverside (ends Sun); belt your favourite showstoppers with a Sing-along screening of The Greatest Showman at Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square (Sun); or get your dancing shoes on for another How Does It Feel to be Loved Children’s Disco at The Phoenix in central London (Sun)
Booking Ahead
- Mami Wata storytelling at Morden Hall Park (Oct 7)
- Curly Treats Festival and Black British Book Fair at Novotel London West, W6 (Oct 7)
- City of London: Slave Trade Money Trail Tour, Royal Exchange London (Oct 7)
- FUN DMC at Boxpark Croydon (Oct 8)
- Frieze London Art Fair, Regent’s Park (Oct 11-15)
- Disney 100: The Exhibition at ExCel Centre (opens Oct 13)
- Bloomsbury Festival, WC2 (Oct 13-22)
- Skateboard at Design Museum (Oct 20-Jun 2, 2024)
- Boo at the Zoo at London Zoo (Oct 21-31)
- The Secret Life of Reptiles at London Zoo, NW1 (Oct 21-Dec 31)
- There’s A Tiger in the Garden at Jacksons Lane (Oct 23-27)
- Gory Stories Tour at the Golden Hinde, SE1 (Oct 23-28)
- October Half Term Activities at National Gallery, Trafalgar Square (Oct 24-26)
- Little Angel Theatre’s Miniature Travelling Circus at Greenwich Theatre, SE10 (Oct 25-28)
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow at Phoenix Theatre (opens Nov 1)
- Burma to Myanmar at British Museum (Nov 2-Feb 11, 2024)
- Ally Pally Fireworks Festival at Alexandra Palace (Nov 3-4)
- Babies: A Newborn British Musical at Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue (Nov 10-12)
- The Paddington Bear Experience at Southbank (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!**