Happy October! We’ve got a jam-packed month coming up what with Black History Month events, Halloween fun and of course October half term. But first, check out all the unmissable family activities in London this weekend. It’s a good one.
12 Unmissable Family Activities in London this Weekend
Thu-Sun: BFI London Film Festival, multiple London locations and online
Everyone is invited to this broad and bold festival uncovering the best in film, series and immersive storytelling. Look out for festival highlights like Grime Kids by Theresa Ikoko (acclaimed director of Rocks), new Studio Ghibli animation The Boy and the Heron, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, and The End We Start From, following a young mother and her baby trying to survive on the edges of society. There are also special events, gala premieres, talks and more + watch online via BFI Player. Various dates, times and prices – ticket range £10-£30 (Oct 4-15)
Thu-Sun: Phantom Peak, Canada St, Surrey Quays Road, SE16 7PJ (Canada Water tube/overground)
Enter the world of Phantom Peak, a fully immersive steampunk town crammed with 100+ adventures, stories and games. A mystery land brimming with quirky characters and secretive quests, it offers something for everyone. You’ll find escape rooms and theatre, live gameplay, bars and restaurants, waterfall and lake and more. Book now for their Halloween experience. Fancy dress is optional but encouraged. All ages welcome, under 16s must be accompanied. 6pm (Thu-Sat) & 12pm (Sat-Sun); adult from £39.99/under 25 £24.99/under 16 £18.99 (until Oct 31)
Sat: Mami Wata storytelling at Morden Hall Park, Morden Hall Road, Morden, SM4 5JD (Morden/Wimbledon tube)
Join author Michelle Yaa-Asantewa on a storytelling journey inspired by her book ‘In Search of Mami Wata’. Kids can learn about the African water deity, Mami Wata, and how she inspires connections with our natural surroundings and to the rivers, lakes and oceans in particular. Best for ages 3-6. 10am-11am & 11.30am-12.30pm; £3 per child (Oct 7/14/21/28)
Sat: Curly Treats Festival and Black British Book Fair at Novotel London West, Floor 1, W6 & Plaza, 245 Hammersmith Road, W6 8PW (Hammersmith tube/overground)
Celebrating the beauty and versatility of Afro hair, this festival for people of all ages goes from strength to strength. Come for beauty masterclasses, tips from seasoned pros, hair styling and head wrap workshops with Museum of Afro Hair, and a chance to browse the best in Black hair care. Also this year, you can attend the Black British Book Fair which spotlights indie Black British authors helping to redefine the literary landscape. Don’t miss out on the free Afro Eats Village block party at Plaza, 245 Hammersmith Rd. All ages welcome. 10am-7pm; from £15-£40, entry to food village is free (Oct 7)
Sat: City of London: Slave Trade Money Trail Tour, Royal Exchange London, EC3V 3LL (Bank tube)
For Black History Month 2023, take the family on an educational walk around the city of London. Learn about Britain’s involvement with the Transatlantic Slave Trade and how it helped build London’s ‘streets paved with gold’. Discover hidden histories and how the past affects the present day. Led by social activist, historian, authors and speaker Darrel Blake of Black Rooted. All ages welcome but bear in mind that the tour takes 3 hours on average so might be best suited for families with older kids (or babes in pushchairs). 11.45pm meet, 12pm start; adult from £25/child under 16 FREE (Oct 7/ongoing)
Sat-Sun: What’s On at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
I had to highlight three fab events at the popular theatre space this weekend. Fun Palace 2023 (Sat, 11am-4pm, FREE) is an open day of STEAM activities, part of the celebration of arts, science and technology that takes place at venues nationwide each year. Learn more at funpalaces.co.uk, all ages welcome. On Saturday evening, watch Fatherhood (7.30pm, from £15), an intersectional tale of being a father in the 21st century that’s best for ages 12+. Sunday sees Box Tale Soup recreating the timeless magic of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (11am & 2pm, from £10) for audiences ages 4+. (Oct 7-8)
Sat-Sun: The Time Traveller’s Wife, Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EZ (Piccadilly Circus tube)
If you’re a fan of this story, you might be excited to see the stage adaptation. Brought to the West End by the producers of Back To the Future: The Musical and Ghost, this version of Audrey Niffenegger’s bestseller features songs from Grammy Award winners Joss Stone and Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart. Follow the tangled tale of Clare and Henry who are pulled together and torn apart by fate. Best for ages 11+. 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Wed & Sat); from £25 (opens Oct 7)
Sat-Sun: New Scientist Live, ExCeL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL (Custom House DLR, Canning Town tube)
Billed as the world’s greatest science festival, this is a brilliant day out for the family and tickets are disappearing fast. Hear from experts like Alice Roberts and Jim Al-Khalili, explore everything from rollercoasters to meteorites to AI to the future of meat, take part in experiments and VR experiences and much more. All ages. 10am-5pm; adult £45/weekend £73, child £18/weekend £29, family £115/weekend £195, online tickets £35, child under 6 FREE (Oct 7-8)
Sat-Sun: 茶, चाय, Tea (Chá, Chai, Tea) at Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
Fancy a cuppa? You will after this delicious delve into the globally enjoyed drink known variously as 茶, चाय or Tea. Brewed from the camellia sinensis plant, it’s sipped by billions of people every day. Known as Britain’s national drink, it’s second only to water as the most popular beverage in the world. Learn all about its history, its production and its many stories. And come along for a tea tasting on Sun at 11am-3pm with London Tea Friends. All ages although best suited for adults and older kids — maybe treat younger ones to the Brick Dinos exhibition while you’re there. 10am-5.30pm; FREE (Oct 7-Jul 7, 2024)
Sat-Sun: Cutty Sark Family Fun Weekend, King William Walk, West Greenwich, SE10 9HT (Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich rail)
Hop on board the legendary tea clipper for another Family Fun weekend. Every first weekend of the month, you and your junior mariners are invited to meet characters from history, make ship-shape crafts, play games and warble along to sea shanties. 11am-4pm; included in Cutty Sark admission: adult from £16-£18/child 4-15 £8-£9/under 4s FREE (Oct 7-8)
Sun: FUN DMC at Boxpark Croydon, 99 George St, Croydon CR0 1LD (East Croydon rail)The popular daytime fiesta for old school heads and their youngsters rolls up at Boxpark Croydon. DJ Spin Doctor and special guests remix classic tunes including radio-friendly hip hop, garage, D&B for a family crowd. Join in with dancing contests, graffiti train, hip hop colouring wall, face painting, photo booth and more. Food and drink on sale. All ages welcome (adults must be accompanied by a responsible child). 10.30am-1.30pm; adult £4/child £2 (Oct 8)
Sun: Hotsy Totsy Family Rave, Big Penny Social, Priestley Way, E17 6AL (Blackhorse Rd overground)
There’s more dancing with your brood at this morning rave with Hotsy Totsy’s resident DJ Joy Alarm. Work up an appetite on the dance floor then tuck into a delicious Sunday lunch. Kids (and grownups) can get their faces painted by Maryam Luong and the bar’s open for adults. Best for families with kids ages 8 and under. 10am-1pm; adult £7/child £7/family £28 (Oct 8)
We also like
The first Saturday of the month is Black Pound Day! Check out my list of shops or visit the Black Pound Day store at Westfield London (Sat); American football fans will dig the NFL Experience at Battersea Power Station where you can meet cheerleaders, mascots, buy NFL merchandise and more (Sat); it’s Learn to Play Weekend with Yamaha Music London in Soho, so go pick up or brush up on some instrument skills, all ages welcome (Sat-Sun); there’s still time to catch Wow! Said the Owl at Polka Theatre in South Wimbledon, for ages 2-5 (Oct 5-8); London Restaurant Festival is happening throughout October with deals, demos and other culinary delights at top spots around town (until Oct 31); get Starstruck at the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s live planetarium show for ages 7+ (ongoing)
Booking Ahead
- Frieze London Art Fair, Regent’s Park (Oct 11-15)
- The LEGO Superpower Academy at White Rabbit Studios, EC2 (Oct 12-18)
- Disney 100: The Exhibition at ExCel Centre (opens Oct 13)
- Bloomsbury Festival, WC2 (Oct 13-22)
- Baby Broadway Family Concert at Jacksons Lane, N6 (Oct 15)
- Skateboard at Design Museum (Oct 20-Jun 2, 2024)
- Skydiver at Unicorn Theatre, SE1 (Oct 21)
- Family Film Week at Barbican Cinema (Oct 21-29)
- 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)
- Babies: A Newborn British Musical at Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue (Nov 10-12)
- The Paddington Bear Experience at Southbank (Autumn 2023)
My October Half Term Guide will be out next week!
**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 (September 28-October 1, 2023)
