Hello February! Birthday season is here and I couldn’t be more excited. We’ve got 3 birthdays coming up at Babes HQ and lots to celebrate in our mix of London weekend activities for culture kids and grownups. In today’s Weekend Scoop, you’ll find everything from opera to visual arts, light shows to family concerts, nature fun in West London and a Lunar New Year event in Greenwich.
Keep an eye out for an extra special Birthday Q&A on the blog soon. Happy weekend!
12 London Weekend Activities for Culture Kids and Grownups
Thu-Sat: Life at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ (Charing Cross tube/rail)
Immerse yourself in a spectacular sound and light experience produced and presented by artist Peter Walker and Luxmuralis. After the success of ‘Space’ last year, visitors are invited to ‘Life’, a light show with images projected onto the outside of the buildings, throughout the underground Crypt and filling the whole of the Church. Go on a trip through earth, sea and sky in a 40 minute show that’s suitable for all ages. 5.30pm-9.45pm; adult £8-12/child £5 (Jan 30-Feb 3)
Thu-Sat: The Handmaid’s Tale at English National Opera, London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES (Covent Garden tube)
Margaret Atwood’s classic feminist novel explores what happens in a dystopian society where women’s bodies are controlled to the extreme. This operatic adaptation is led by Paul Ruder with a stellar cast and libretto by Paul Bentley. Age guidance 15+. 7.30pm (Thu) & 6.30pm (Sat); from £55 (Feb 1-15)
Thu-Sun: Entangled Pasts at Royal Academy at Royal Academy (Main Galleries), Burlington House, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus/Green Park tube)
Discover how art has shaped our understanding of empire, colonialism, enslavement, resistance, abolition and reparations at this groundbreaking RA show. See art from the past 250 years alongside works by major contemporary artists like Lubaina Himid, Hew Locke, El Anatsui, Sonia Boyce, John Akomfrah, Isaac Julien, and Kara Walker. All ages welcome: PG/content warnings for themes of racism, slavery, historical language and imagery. 10am-6pm (Tue-Sun) & 10am-9pm (Fri); from £22/under 12s FREE (Feb 3-Apr 28)
Thu-Sun: Cirque du Soleil: Alegria, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore SW7 2AP (South Kensington tube)
Step into the light for the world-famous company’s most iconic production. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Alegria: In A New Light engages audiences with extraordinary acrobatics, vibrant set and costume design, playful humour and a Grammy-nominated soundtrack. All ages welcome. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 3.30pm (Fri & Sat), 1.30pm & 5.30pm (Sun); select early matinees 11.30am (Sat); from £44.00 (until Mar 3)
Thu-Sun: Legion: Life in the Roman Army at British Museum, Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG (Tottenham Court Rd tube, Euston tube/rail)
Spanning more than a million square miles, the Roman Empire was built on the might of the military. This blockbuster exhibition transports you across the empire, seeing through the eyes of a real Roman soldier Claudius Terentianus. View tablets from a fort near Hadrian’s wall, letters on papyri by soldiers from Roman Egypt and more. 10am-5pm daily (Fris 8pm); adult from £22/child under 16 FREE (Feb 1-Jun 23)
Thu-Sun: Zimingzhong 凝时聚珍: Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City at Science Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD (South Kensington tube)
Tick tock. Gawp at a unique collection of 23 stunning clockwork automata, known as zimingzhong (“bells that ring themselves”), in their first UK display. Collected by China’s emperors in the 1700s, these clocks feature intricate designs and sophisticated technology. Best for ages 12+, younger ones welcome. 10am-6pm daily; pay what you can, minimum £1, under 12s go FREE (Feb 1-Jun 2)
Fri: Fridays Froglets at WWT Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT (Barnes rail/Hammersmith tube)
Take your kids out no matter the wind, rain or shine. They’ll try out forest school activities like nature crafts and games, campfire songs, stories and quiet time. These sessions are for adults and kids to enjoy together. All ages welcome. 10am; £5 per child (NB: non-WWT members also pay regular admission fees: adult from £15.40/child from £9.50/family from £43.10/under 4s FREE) (Feb 2-23)
Sat: Lunar New Year at National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, SE10 9NF (Cutty Sark DLR/Greenwich rail)
Enter the Dragon. The Royal Museums Greenwich celebration of Lunar New Year begins this weekend at National Maritime Museum. Come for an all-day festival with martial arts, lion dances, Korean harp, Taiwanese ribbon dances, calligraphy demos, Chinese tea ceremonies, learn to play mahjong and more. Street food stalls outside the museum will serve delicious East and Southeast Asian cuisine. All ages. 10am, FREE (Feb 3)
Sat: Family Film Club: The Jungle Book at Barbican Cinema 2, Barbican Centre, Beech Street EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
There are a handful of tickets left for this beloved Disney musical based on Rudyard Kipling’s children’s stories. Sing along to songs like ‘Bare Necessities’ and ‘I Wanna Be Like You’ and follow Baloo, Mowgli, Bagheera and Shere Khan on a romp through the jungle. Ages 4+, younger ones welcome (adults must be accompanied by a child). 11am; adult £3.50/child £2.50 (Feb 3)
Sun: The Littlest Yak at Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, N6 5AA (Highgate tube)
Meet Gertie, a curly whirly yak who loves to clip clip up cliffs. But she’s not so keen on being the littlest in her crew. Until she finds out that sometimes being small has its advantages. A delightful musical adaptation of the award-winning children’s book with puppets, songs and an uplifting message. Ages 3+. 11am & 2pm; £12 (Feb 4)
Sun: Megson Family Folk Show at Kings Place, 90 York Way, N1 9AG (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Join award-winning folk duo Meson for a cracking family show, filled with heavenly harmonies and velvety vocals. They’ll be playing songs from their albums, When I Was a Lad and Little Bird, in a concert that’s especially designed for younger listeners. Suitable for ages 0-8. 10.30am (doors 10am); £10.50-£12.50 – hurry, last few tickets remaining! (Feb 4)
Sun: The Great Big Dinosaur Show at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Learn all about the dinosaur that had teeth as big as a banana, the one that weighed as much as 10,000 cats and more. Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko share their favourite facts about dinos in a show bursting with poems, raps, songs and spine-tingling moments! Ages 4-11. 11am & 2pm; from £12 (Feb 4)
Booking Ahead
- You Are The Sun at Polka Theatre, South Wimbledon (Feb 7-11)
- Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Feb 7-17)
- Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at Peacock Theatre, Holborn (Feb 8-Mar 23)
- Diversity: Supernova at London Palladium, W1F (Feb 9 & 10)
- Dinosaur rEvolution at Horniman Museum, SE23 (Feb 10-Nov 3)
- Family Workshop for Children with SEND: Our Pasts at Royal Academy, W1 (Feb 11)
- Family Festival: Rebellious, revelling, rotten Romans at British Museum (Feb 12-16)
- Protest at Brixton House, SW9 (Feb 13-16)
- Early Years Studio: Buildings at Royal Academy, W1 (Feb 21)
- Astro Nights Sleepovers at Science Museum, SW7 (Feb 23, Mar 15. Apr 19, May 17, Jun 21 & Jul 12)
- Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave: DnB Superhero DJ Aphrodite in Wood Green (Feb 25)
- Family Studio: Print at Royal Academy, W1 (Feb 25)
The Babes About Town February 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 (January 25-28, 2024)
