I’m not sure what happened but we’re already at the last weekend of September. Now that the back to school flurry has calmed down a bit, check out these 12 London weekend events to enjoy with kids. The Weekend Scoop includes everything from the Turner Prize to museum soft play, a river festival, family friendly ballet and a classic car boot sale.
Earlier this week, I celebrated 4 years since the publication of my debut book Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World. It’s been an incredible 4 years and I’m so grateful for the response to this book and how it continues to affect people to this day. If you would like to get a copy for yourself, a friend, or your local school or library, head over to my Bookshop here: Uju Asika’s Bookshop and THANK YOU again for supporting this important message of antiracism and inclusion for all.
12 London Weekend Family Events: Museums, Play Spaces and Children’s Theatre
Thu-Sun: My Runway Shop at Somerset House, at the Strand, WC2R 1LA (Charing Cross tube)
LAST CHANCE: Get down to Somerset House for the closing weekend of My Runway Group’s shop featuring more than 200 Black-owned businesses. A great way to welcome Black History Month in October, help support Black entrepreneurship and pick up something special into the bargain. My Runway Group is a community led organisation that aims to inspire the next generation of Black creatives and businesses. 11.30am-6.30pm daily; FREE (until Sep 29)
Thu-Sun: Mudlarks Play Space at Museum of London Docklands, No. 1 Warehouse, West India Quay E14 4AL (Canary Wharf tube/DLR, West India Quay DLR)
Billed as a children’s gallery, Mudlarks is a great spot to park your kids before or after a visit to the museum’s latest exhibitions. It’s an exploratory play space designed for under 8s with soft play, games and an interactive introduction to the docklands. Bookings open from 10am-5pm for the following day (includes entry to the museum); FREE but tickets required (until Sep 5)
Thu-Sun: Silk Roads at British Museum, Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG (Tottenham Court Rd tube, Euston tube/rail)
Visit the British Museum’s latest blockbuster exhibition, exploring the overlapping networks that helped connect people across Asia, Africa and Europe, from East Asia to Britain, from Scandinavia to Madagascar. Focusing on the Silk Roads history from AD500 to 1000, it features everything from Tang Chinese ceramics to objects from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan that have never been seen in the UK. Meet legendary figures whose stories span mountains, deserts, rivers and seas. All ages. 10am-5pm (8.30pm Fri), last entry 15 mins before closing; adult from £22/child under 16 FREE (Sep 26-Feb 23)
Thu-Sun: Turner Prize 2024 at Tate Britain, Millbank SW1P 4RG (Pimlico/Vauxhall tube)
Every year, the UK art world stirs at the announcement of the Turner Prize, named after radical painter JMW Turner. On its 40th anniversary year, the shortlist features: Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, Jasleen Kaur and Delaine Le Bas. The award will be handed out on Dec 3 and you can explore and decide on your favourites now. All ages. 10am-4.30pm; from £14/concs available/members FREE (Sep 25-Feb 16)
Thu-Sun: Buckingham Palace Summer Opening, Westminster, SW1A 1AA (Victoria/Hyde Park/Green Park/St James Park/Charing Cross tube; Victoria/Charing Cross rail)
Experience the majestic State Rooms and take the opportunity to broach discussions about monarchy, wealth and empire with your kids. All ages welcome. Summer Opening tours 9.30am-6.30pm (Sep-Oct, last admission 4.15pm); adult from £32/youth 18-24 £20.50/child 5-17 £16/under 5s FREE. Family Garden tour 10am-1pm (Mons Jul 29-Aug 26); adult from £47-£50/child from £23.50-£25/under 5s FREE (Jul 11-Sep 29)
Thu-Sun: Phantom Peak: Hallowed Peak 2024, Canada St, Surrey Quays Road, SE16 7PJ (Canada Water tube/overground)
The Halloween season begins at Phantom Peak, the immersive steampunk town featuring 100+ adventures, stories and games. Enter a world of mystery filled with escape rooms, live gameplay, quirky quests and characters, waterfall, lake, restaurants and more. Fancy dress is optional but encouraged. All ages welcome, under 16s must be accompanied. 6pm (Thu-Sat) & 12pm (Sat-Sun); adult £42/ages 17-25 £30/ages 4-16 £20/ages 3 and under FREE (from Sep 27-Nov 10)
Thu-Sun: Totally Thames 2024, multiple locations
LAST CHANCE: Don’t miss the final weekend of the annual festival celebrating London’s main artery. Family friendly activities include the Clean Thames Challenge, along the river banks; and Hands on History: Mudlarking Showcase at Museum of London Docklands (Sep 28-29). All ages (some restrictions for events). At multiple locations. Various times and prices, many activities are FREE (until Sep 30)
Sat: Royal Ballet presents Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at Royal Opera House, Bow St, Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD (Covent Garden tube)
Follow the White Rabbit to Covent Garden and tumble into a topsy turvy world of curious costumes and theatrical magic. Christopher Wheeldon’s take on the family fable includes a tap-dancing Mad Hatter and a playing card corps de ballet. With live music, puppets and projection. Ages 5+ (younger ones not admitted). Various dates: 7.30pm (various weekdays), 1pm & 7pm (Sats); £10-£190 (Sep 28-Jul 26)
Sat-Sun: Big Dreams Festival at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
The Big Dreams Early Years Theatre Festival is back at Polka in the theatre’s 45th year. Some of the shows are already sold out, but you can still catch author talks with Benji Davies (The Great Storm Whale), Tola Okogwu (Bekah and the Moon) and more picture book fun. There’s also a tongue-twisting installation, face-painting and glitter tattoos. Various times and prices from £12 (Sep 28-29)
Sat-Sun: Classic Car Boot Sale, Granary Square and area, King’s Cross, N1C 4DQ (King’s Cross St Pancras tube)
It’s the autumn edition of the Classic Car Boot Sale, a popular hangout for lovers of vintage styles and vehicles. Explore 100+ stalls with pre-loved fashion and wares and check out the classy cars on show. Look out for pop-up fun, craft beer, street food, live DJ on a Routemaster bus. Find more activities in Coal Drop’s Yard and Lewis Cubitt Square. All ages welcome. 10am-6pm (last entry 5.30pm); adult £6/child under 12 FREE (Sep 28-29)
Sun: Story Play: Play Labs at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA (Shoreditch High St overground)
Meet the StoryPlay team of performers, storytellers, poets and artists who come together to produce this monthly event for younger audiences. StoryPlay is a creative session for little ones and their families to socialise and engage with literacy, games, fun and friendship. For ages 2-5 and parents/carers. 10.30am; FREE but booking recommended (Sep 29, Oct 6 & Nov 17)
Sun: Make Some Noise at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley, N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Join award-winning poet Dommy B as he tells tales of growing up with his imaginary friend, becoming ‘Junk the Punk’ and learning to make some noise with a school band (Whizzkid and the Veggie Burgers)! A lively show with jokes, rhymes and plenty of noise-making opportunities. For ages 5+. 11am; from £12 (Sep 29)
We also like
Bach to Baby family concerts are throwing a Fiesta in Stoke Newington (Fri); celebrate Global Generation’s 20th birthday with one last party until they move from the Story Garden in NW1 (Sat); treat the whole family to a concert experience with Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense playing at Prince Charles Cinema (Sat); there’s still time to see some of the stunning visuals on display at London Mural Festival (until Sun); and it’s your last chance to catch Marc Quinn’s sculptures, installations and paintings at Kew Gardens (Sun)
Booking Ahead
- Lygia Clark + Sonia Boyce at Whitechapel Gallery, E1 (Oct 2-Jan 12)
- National Changgeuk Company of Korea: Lear at Barbican Theatre (Oct 3-6)
- Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London at Fashion & Textile Museum, SE1 (Oct 4-Mar 9)
- Barbican Family Film Club: My Neighbour Totoro at Barbican Centre, EC2 (Oct 5)
- Fun Palaces Free Family Day at Half Moon Theatre, E1 (Oct 5)
- Black Culture Market at Department Store, Brixton SW9 (Oct 5-6)
- Apple Day at Fulham Palace, SW6 (Oct 6)
- Toto Kerblammo at Unicorn Theatre, SE1 (Oct 6-Nov 3)
- Author Event: The Story of Britain’s Black Nurses at Florence Nightingale Museum, SE1 (Oct 12)
- A Tiger’s Tale at Jacksons Lane, N6 (Oct 13)
- Family Workshop for Children with SEND at Royal Academy (Oct 13)
- Supa Dupa Fly Kids Party at Pop Brixton (Oct 13)
- For Crying Out Loud Baby-Friendly Concert at Wigmore Hall, W1 (Oct 16 & Nov 22)
- Hew Locke: What Have We Here? at British Museum, WC1 (Oct 17-Feb 9)
- Storyquest Sleepover for ages 6-11 at Discover Children’s Story Centre (Oct 19)
- Windrush Adventures at Arts Depot, North Finchley (Oct 20)
- Medieval Women: In Their Own Words at British Library, NW1 (Oct 25-Mar 2)
- VOGUE: Inventing the Runway at Lightroom, King’s Cross (Oct 25-Mar 30)
- FUNHarmonics Family Concert: Stan & Mabel at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre (Oct 26)
- Telling Tales with Chris Riddell and Ana Sampson at Shakespeare’s Globe, SE1 (Oct 27)
- Family Studio: Cut Out Worlds at Royal Academy (Oct 27)
- You Choose at Arts Depot, North Finchley (Nov 3)
- Picasso: Printmaker at British Museum, WC1 (Nov 7-Mar 30)
- Aurora Orchestra: The Wolf, The Duck and the Mouse at Kings Place, N1 (Nov 23)
- Versailles: Science and Splendour at Science Museum (Dec 12-Apr 21)
Want More? Check out 24 Things to Do in London this Autumn!
**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 19-22, 2024)
