Family friendly theatre, baby-friendly raving, home design, a stitching festival, and your last chance to see the Sun indoors in my top 10 London kids weekend activities guide. I don’t know about you but I’d like to see a bit more of the sun outdoors, now that we’re effectively in Spring. Today’s not bad though so let me not complain too much! Wishing us all a cheery weekend.
Top 10 London Kids Weekend Activities Guide
Thu-Sat: The Women of Llanrumney at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 1BN (Stratford tube/rail/overground/DLR)
On the Llanrumney plantation in Jamaica, 1765, Annie and Cerys are enslaved by the Morgan family from Wales. But with the plantation under threat, its inhabitants must confront horror, trauma and rebellion. Azuka Oforka’s powerful play explores women in slavery – those who benefited from it, those who were brutalised by it and those who fought to destroy it. The play transfers to Stratford East after a sell-out run at Sherman Theatre, where it opened to five-star reviews. Recommended for ages 12+. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat) & 2.30pm (Thu & Sat, select matinees); £10-£39.50 (Mar 19-Apr 12)
Thu-Sun: Arpita Singh: Remembering at Serpentine North Gallery, West Carriage Drive, W2 2AR (Lancaster Gate tube)
In her first institutional solo exhibition outside India, visitors can discover the artist’s large-scale oil paintings, watercolours and ink drawings, exploring themes of motherhood, female sensuality, violence and the ageing female body. For families, the Diana Princess of Wales playground is just around the corner. All ages. 10am-6pm (Tue-Sun & Bank Holidays, NB 10am-5pm Thu Mar 20); FREE(Mar 20-Jul 27)
Thu-Sun: Helios at Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, SE10 9NN (Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich rail)
LAST CHANCE: See the 7-metre Sun light up the Painted Hall in Luke Jerram’s most ambitious installation so far. The exhibition is set to a dramatic soundscape, a perfect way to experience the venue dubbed London’s Sistine Chapel. All ages welcome. 10.15am-4.15pm daily time slots (4.30pm-8pm Thu lates), quiet hour 10am-11.15am (Fris); adult £16.50/child under 16 FREE/concs. available/1st Sundays ticket £5 (until Mar 25)
Thu-Sun: The Stitch Festival at Islington Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, N1 0QH (Angel tube, Highbury & Islington tube/overground)
If you haven’t got two left thumbs like me, you might just love this weekend of making and crafting. Featuring 150 traders, you can dip in for demos, workshops, talks and stalls. Everything from crochet and embroidery to batik will be covered. All ages welcome. 10am-6.30pm (Thu & Sat), 10am-5.30pm (Fri) & 10am-3pm (Sun); adult £19-24/child 5-18 £10/concs £17.50-£22 – extra fees for workshops and VIP tickets (Mar 20-23)
Fri-Sun: Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at Royal Academy, Burlington House, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
You might know him best as a novelist (Les Miserables, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) but Victor Hugo was also a prolific artist, mostly in private. See rarely viewed works from early caricatures and travel sketches to monsters, castles and landscapes, inspired by everyone from Romantics to Surrealists. 10am-6pm (Tue-Sun) & 10am-9pm (Fri); adult from £17/child under 16 FREE (Mar 21-Jun 29)
Fri-Sun: Ideal Home Show at Olympia London, Hammersmith Rd, W14 8UX (Kensington Olympia tube)
Let your imagination wander and get some practical tips at this popular annual event. Be inspired by talks, demos and designs with expert masterclasses, gardening advice, kitchen fittings and interiors styling. Plus Eat & Drink festival, celebrity guest, Pamper Lounge and Champagne Bar, workshops, book signings, Buskers’ Stage and more. 10am-5pm daily; weekday adult from £14 adv (£20 door)/weekend adult from £16 adv (£22 door); child 15 and under FREE but requires ticket (Mar 21-Apr 6)
Sat: Barbican Family Film Club: Little Women (1994) at Barbican Cinema 2, Barbican Centre, Beech Street EC2Y 8DS (Barbican tube)
Enjoy this loving adaptation of the timeless tale by Louisa May Alcott with your youngsters. Starring Winona Ryder, Claire Danes, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Bale, Susan Sarandon and Gabriel Byrne, it follows 4 sisters in a Civil War saga of love, marriage, creativity, coming of age and family. Recommended for ages 7+. NB: no unaccompanied adults or kids. 11am; adult £5/child £2.50 (Mar 22)
Sat-Sun: Beegu at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube/rail)
I remember my kids studying this book in primary school, it’s a modern children’s favourite and now it’s a playful show at Unicorn Theatre. Beegu’s spaceship crashes on Earth and the big people she meets aren’t very friendly. But maybe the little ones will be better… Based on Alexis Deacon’s tale of friendship and respect, adapted by Debbie Hannan. Various showtimes with previews at 11am (Sat Mar 22 & 10.30am (Sun Mar 23); from adult £18.50/child £13.50 (Mar 22-May 4)
Sat-Sun: Cambridge Festival at University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN (Cambridge rail)
Fancy a mini break in Cambridge? Pack the family along for this extravaganza of arts, science, creativity and discovery. It’s crammed with interactive fun, hands-on activities, performances, talks, exhibits and workshops. Highlights include Free Range Chemistry: No Added Chemicals, explosive demos with Dr Peter Wothers (March 22); stories and poems with Michael Rosen (March 29); ; Magma Rising: an immersive journey to Icelandic volcanoes (until Apr 22); plus Atomic Arcade, Cloud Factory, and Pirates’ Treasure Hunts! Various booking options, many events are FREE. Download the festival guide for info (until Apr 4)
Sat-Sun: Sisters 360 at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube0
This sounds cool. Fatima and Salima are skateboarding hijabi step-sisters who are set on winning the Tiny is Mighty boarding competition in their home town of Bradford. They’ve worked on all their tricks, captured their skills on YouTube, but now their parents are thinking of pulling them apart. How can they win gold if their lives are about to turn 360 too? Inspired by real-life skateboarding sisters Layna, Maysa and Amaya, and their hero Olympic Medallist Sky Brown. For ages 8-12. Previews 2.30pm (Sat-Sun Mar 22-23), various showtimes at 10.30am, 11.30am & 2.30pm (Wed-Sun); from £11 (Mar 22-Apr 27)
Sun: Big Fish Little Fish Wood Green Family Rave at The Goodness Brewing Company, Coburg Road, N22 6TZ (Turnpike Lane tube)
The theme is ‘Under and Over the Sea’ so dress your mermaids, pirates and landlubbers for another family rave with our favourite Big Fish Little Fish maties. There are 2 sessions (confirm your timing at booking) with original junglist Mark XTC on the decks playing kid-friendly acid house to get the whole crew moving. You can also join in with Wheadon’s Wacky Craft Tables, Doxa Faces face painting (extra fee), baby chill out, balloons, foam, bubbles and parachute finale. 12pm-2pm or 3pm-5pm; adult from £12/child from £10/non-walking human FREE (Mar 23)
Sun: Three Little Vikings at Arts Depot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12 0GA (Finchley Central tube)
Once upon a time in a Viking village, kids are vanishing, trees are tumbling and there’s too much crashing and bashing. Can the three littlest Vikings save the day? From Bethan Woollvin, the creator of New York Times Best Illustrated Book Little Red and I Can Catch a Monster. For ages 3+. 11am & 2pm; from £12.75 (Mar 23)
Booking Ahead
- The Hunger Games on Stage at Troubadour, Canary Wharf (presale from Mar 25, 2025, show launches Oct 2025)
- Deptford Literature Festival at The Library at Deptford Lounge, SE8 (Mar 27-30)
- Big Fish Little Fish Flower Power Mother’s Day Rave at Hackney Wick (Mar 29)
- The Nest Collective: Family Ceilidh at Grand Junction W2 (Mar 29)
- Little Night (for ages 18 months-4 years) at Unicorn Theatre, SE1 (Mar 29-Apr 19)
- Pirates at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (Mar 29-Jan 4)
- Big Fish Little Fish Flower Power Mother’s Day Rave at Vauxhall (Mar 30)
- Make and Race Your Own Toy Car at Alexandra Palace, N22 (Apr 9-May 26)
- The Boat Race, banks of the River Thames (Apr 13)
- The Comedy About Spies at Noel Coward Theatre, WC2 (Apr 14-Sep 5)
- The Lion Inside at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre SE1 (Apr 16-20)
- Simmer Down Family Party: Good Friday Special at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre SE1 (Apr 19)
- Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon with Live Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall, SW7 (Apr 25)
- Tate Modern Birthday Weekender at Tate Modern, SE1 (May 9-12)
- Open Air Theatre Season at Regent’s Park, NW1 (May 10-Sep 20)
- AstroNights Sleepovers at Science Museum (May 16, Jun 20 & Jul 11)
- Moomin 80: The Door is Always Open at Southbank Centre SE1 (May 23-Jun 1)
- This Is My Family at Southwark Playhouse, SE11 (May 23-Jul 12)
- V&A Families Festival at V&A Museum, SW7 (May 31)
- Serpentine Pavilion 2025 by Marina Tabassum at Serpentine Gallery, SW7 (Jun 6-Oct 26)
- Bring Your Own Baby Daytime Comedy at Royal Albert Hall, SW7 (Jun 9)
- 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!**
Advocating for Consumers’ Rights in Defective Product Cases
