Family friendly raving, city walks, circus tricks, light festivals and a touch of magic: it’s your essential weekend guide to London with children. As ever, the London Kids Weekend Scoop is brimming with fun and delights for all ages and appetites. Get in… then get out!
Your Essential Weekend Guide to London with Children
Thu-Sun: Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival, Canada Square Park and around Canary Wharf, E14 5AB (Canary Wharf tube/DLR/rail)
Canary Wharf lights up again for this super popular display of 12 temporary installations and more permanent light artworks. You’ll see work by some of the most creative light artists around the world, from panels of sari fabric to a bird in flight. Weekends are busy so do think about a week day visit for the best experience. All ages. 5pm-10pm daily, FREE (Jan 21-Feb 1)
Thu-Sun: Soil at Somerset House, Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA (Charing Cross tube/rail)
Delve into the world beneath your feet and discover more about everything soil does for our planet, its rich ecosystem and its essence for earth’s wellbeing. Learn from great thinkers, handle artefacts and see artworks and leave with a sense of hope and urgency. 10am-6pm (Sun-Wed), 12pm-8pm (Thu-Fri), 10am-8pm (Sat); adult £18.50/concs £15/child 6-11 £10/under 6s FREE (Jan 23-Apr 13)
Thu-Sun: Cirque du Soleil: Corteo at Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore SW7 2AP (South Kensington tube)
Mauro the clown is dreaming of a carnival and the audience becomes caught in this dream, an enchanting world of colour and life. Celebrating 40 years of Cirque du Soleil, the world famous circus returns to the Royal Albert Hall with their most joyous act. Corteo will lift your spirits and drop your jaw with its mix of stunts and acrobatics, illusions and never before seen configurations of this timeless production. All ages welcome, under 14s must be accompanied, ages 2+ must have own seat/ticket. 11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm; £50.40-£187.90/under 2s FREE on parent’s lap (until Mar 2)
Thu-Sun: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake: The Next Generation at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN (Angel tube)
LAST CHANCE: The incredible all-male ensemble who wowed the world 30 years ago, return to the stage in this astonishing production of Swan Lake. Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece dazzles with by a new generation of dancers in the most successful dance theatre production in history! Hurry as it’s almost fully sold out! Ages 5+ (younger ones not admitted, some sensitive content). 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Thu & Sat), 2pm & 7pm; from £15 (until Jan 26)
Thu-Sun: Battersea Power Station Light Festival, Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, SW8 5BN (Battersea Power Station tube, Battersea Park rail)
Get down to Battersea for another free, interactive trail of 8 must-see light installations. From a tornado of light to the Northern Lights and a giant ball of yarn, there’s lots to look at including LED drummers and stilt walkers, family friendly workshops and of course, food, drink and retail therapy too. All ages welcome. 8am-11pm daily; FREE entry (Jan 23-Feb 23)
Thu-Sun: Magical Mischief, WB Studio Tour, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7GS (Watford Junction rail)
Brush up on your wizarding knowledge at the Harry Potter tour. Try making an origami howler, experience O.W.L examinations under Professor Umbridge’s watchful eye, and find out how to disappear behind the Invisibility Cloak! All ages welcome. Open daily: first bus 9.20am, first tour 9.30am/last tour begins 4pm, last bus/studio closes 8pm; adult from £56/child from £45/family £180/under 4s or carers FREE but require tickets. Pre-booking essential. (Jan 5-Apr 28)
Thu-Sun: The Singing Mermaid at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Angel tube/Highbury & Islington tube/rail/overground)
LAST CHANCE: Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ popular picture book is set to music and songs by Barb Jungr (We’re Going On A Bear Hunt) in this delightful puppet show. Can the singing mermaid escape the cruel ringmaster at her travelling circus and make it to freedom? For ages 3-8. Various shows from 10.30am; adult £17/child 1-17 £15/all tickets £12 at 4.45pm performances (some Weds, Thus & Fris) (until Jan 26)
Fri: Home Education Day at Horniman Museum (Education Centre), 100 London Road, SE23 3PQ (Forest Hill overground)
A special day of hands-on workshops and learning for kids who are home educated. Check out some of the amazing objects in the Horniman’s handling collection, take part in activities including Lunar New Year, Around Africa, African Kingdoms and Gamelan Group Music Sessions. Families will also have access to the Aquarium and Butterfly House and exclusive access to the Education Centre. Ages 5+ and families. Various timings from 10.45am-3.45pm; £10 (Jan 24)
Sat: Unfreezing the Past with Mr Londoner, meet outside Better Bankside offices, 18 Great Guilford Street, SE1 0FD (London Bridge tube/rail)
Remember the historic day when the River Thames froze over? Well of course you don’t, you weren’t alive in 1814 but Mr Londoner (museum director Antony Robbins) will bring that day to life with this fun walking tour. He’ll talk about the Frost Fair, the mix of market trading, food and drink and even publishing that took to the ice. Learn more via @MeetmrLondoner. 12.30pm-2pm; FREE but booking essential and spaces limited (Jan 25)
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish Ultimate Family Rave at Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1M 6HJ (Farringdon tube/rail)
Following 9 sold-out raves at the legendary nightclub, the family friendly ravers are back with DJs Neil Wyatt (Antidote/Handmade Cyclist), Richard Norris (The Grid/Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve), Nookie and DJ Trax. The theme is Scientists vs Aliens and the party guarantees good tunes, arts and crafts, baby chill out, face painting (separate charge), buggy parking, baby changing, confetti cannons, bubbles, foam, giant balloons and parachute dance finale. Oh and a licensed bar! All ages welcome, best for kids ages 0-8 and grownups. 2pm-4.30pm; from adult £15/child £11.86/pre-walkers FREE (Jan 26)
Sun: Out of the Box at Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Road, N6 5AA (Highgate tube)
There are surprises a-plenty in this family friendly comedy show. Daryl’s mission is to make you the star of the show and every time his box pops open, something fun happens. Using gentle non-verbal clowning to transform everyday objects into wondrous moments, Out of the Box is a joyful celebration of PLAY. All ages welcome. 11am & 2pm; £14 (Jan 25)
Sun: How Does It Feel to be Loved Children’s Disco at The Phoenix, 37 Cavendish Square, W1G 0PP (Oxford Circus tube)
Glad rags and dancing shoes are the order of the day for this fun-loving event, the first of the monthly series for 2025. Boogie away with your babes to the sounds of Belle & Sebastian, the Beach Boys, the Supremes and other soul, indie and classic pop hits. All ages welcome, from babies upwards (no admission without at least 1 child in your party). 12pm-4pm; adult £6 (15 plus), child £2 (14 and under) (Jan 26)
We also like
Pick up a new piece or just browse at London Art Fair, Business Design Centre Islington (Thu-Sun); walk the streets of Roman Londinium on this kids and families tour with the London Museum (Sat); gawp at Luke Jerram’s latest installation, Helios at Painted Hall, in the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich (opens Sat); enjoy a picture book worthy performance of Little London Ballet: Beatrix Potter at Arts Depot (Sat-Sun); and there’s still time to catch Polka Theatre’s jaunty take on The Nutcracker for ages 5+ (ends Sun)
Booking Ahead
- Play On at Lyric Hammersmith, W6 (Jan 28-Feb 22)
- Orchids at Kew Gardens (Feb 1-Mar 2)
- Megson Family Folk Show at Arts Depot, N12 (Feb 2)
- Soft or Spiky for babies ages 6-18 months at Arts Depot, N12 (Feb 3)
- Stepping into Stories: Herne Hill Kids’ Lit Fest (Feb 4-9)
- Dickens in Doughty St: 100 Years of the Charles Dickens Museum, WC1N (Feb 5-Jun 29)
- The Flight of Babushka Baboon at Puppet Theatre Barge, W9 (Feb 8-Mar 30)
- Family Workshop for Children with SEND at Royal Academy (Feb 9)
- Fly-Kid Family Rave at Pop Brixton (Feb 9)
- Whipped Up for ages 2 months to 2 years at Polka Theatre, SW19 (Feb 12-16)
- Flowers at Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea SW3 (Feb 12-May 5)
- The Robot Zoo at Horniman Museum and Gardens, SE23 (Feb 14-Nov 2)
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show at Arts Depot, N12 (Feb 15-20)
- Lunar New Year Family Day at Museum of the Home, E2 (Feb 18)
- Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre, SE1 (Feb 18-23)
- Storytelling & Recycling Fun with Laura Henry Allain at Horniman Museum, SE23 (Feb 19)
- AstroNights Sleepovers at Science Museum (Mar 14, May 16, Jun 20 & Jul 11)
- The Boy With Wings at Polka Theatre, SW19 (Jun 21-Aug 16)
**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!**