What’s On This Week: London’s Best Free and Affordable Family Events
Before getting to the events, Abel and Cole has a new product on offer, organic hot dogs, if you are curious, read my review of the simplest, guilt-free, kid-friendly £5 tea for your family. Remember the promo code “Londonbaby” at check out and you will get a discount on your 4th order and a free cookbook.
London families, please click through and sign the petition we are just a handful short of the needed 10,000 to help persuade our representatives that we would really prefer having fire stations. http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-our-firestations Also, please take time, if you have not yet, to make your representatives aware of your concerns over the sale of London fire stations and their closures. Write them, they will listen - it’s so easy, just click through to learn how to spend 5 minutes helping to save 10 London fire stations from closure and sale.
Lastly, before getting to the action-packed week ahead, if you know of a London mum with some performing skills, there is a great part time, term time vacancy to join a fantastic team.
Family Events Saturday 23rd November
Monkey Music Christmas Open Day Launch Party – Join Monkey Music Chelsea for a complimentary class in the gorgeous, spotless, light and airy Coopers Arms on Flood Street in Chelsea. Bring the family; make it a special kick-off to the festive season. Please ring 0208 767 9827 or email [email protected] to book your place – regular classes commencing at this venue in January 2014.
Lauderdale House, Big Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Come and see the Booster Theatre Cushion’s production at 10am and 11:30, tickets £4.50 adults and £3 kids- great price for live theatre and the chance to enjoy the iconic Lauderdale House, Hampstead.
Half Moon Theatre, The Boy Who Cried Wolf: a beautiful retelling of Aesop’s classic tale for 3-7 year olds. Tickets are £6 each. 11am and 2pm
Southbank, Jazz Toons: Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. Come to family themed jazz concert, tickets start at £5, all ages. Head over to the Southbank Christmas Market before or after. Concert starts 3pm
Saturday Films:
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: The Jungle Book, timeless classic. Tickets £1 with £4 membership, popcorn and juice £2.
Barbican Family Film Club: Justin and the Knights of Valour. Tickets are £2, bring the kids and escape the cold while you chill and watch a movie. Great price. 11am, all ages.
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature, Turbo; 10:30am. Check out the newly refurbished Electric Cinema in Notting Hill with its plush, red velvet beds, sofas and armchairs. Looks like a great way for Dad to occupy the kids on a Saturday morning. Tickets £8 per person. All ages
Family Events Sunday 24th November
Royal Academy of Art, Family Studio: Colour in the Desert. Join Australian artist Albert Namatjira for a workshop on water colour landscape painting (head over to Fortnum and Mason after for your Christmas Pudding). 11am-2pm, free, drop-in.
South London Gallery, The Sunday Spot: join artist Laura Carle as she leads children through a playful, hands-on workshop inspired by Oscar Murillo’s current exhibition. Free, ages 3-12, 2-4pm
London Design Museum, “Fashion Fabulous”: inspired by the exhibit “Hello my Name is Paul Smith” children will dress their own 3D mannequin. Drop-in, 2-5pm, ages 5-11, free with museum entry.
London Jewish Cultural Centre, Chanukah Gift Fair and Fun for Kids. Loads of activities for kids including doughnut decorating, t-shirt graffiti, henna tattoos, face painting, magic workshop, candle making (activities are 50p- £5 paid for in purchased tokens). For adults there will be a pamper and massage area and a gift fair with loads of interesting Entry £2 for adults, kids free.
Sutton House Christmas Craft Fair: Join a Georgian Christmas Feast, make your own Christmas cards, write your letters to Santa, decorate your own mince pies and then step over the road to Mare Street and make Georgian Hackney Lanters. Adults £3.50, children £1, Family £6.90
Hampstead Christmas Festival: on and around Hampstead High Street. Kick-off the day with a 10:30 screening of “Up” (one adult can do some Christmas shopping while the other relaxes with the kids). After there will be musical and circus acts on the stage throughout the day. There will also be a treasure hunt and Santa’s Grotto. There will be food and market stalls all over for you to peruse and enjoy. 10:30 – 5pm.
And on to the upcoming week:
For Babies and Toddlers:
Mini Music Makers – Pimlico. Holy Apostles Church, Fridays 10am – 11:30am (check site for times and ages). Join Jeremy, a classically trained musician who brings traditional nursery rhymes to life with beautiful singing and musicality. Children have a great time and music as do the adults. £7 per child (or £5 per child paying in advance for the term)
Gate Picturehouse, Big Scream. Tuesdays at 10:30. Bring your infant under 12 months on for a screening of Gravity… Tickets are £8.50.
Forge Arts Venue, Imagination Station: Bring the babies , from 4 months, along to this enchanting music and sensory class. From 10am Wednesday mornings, 4 months to 3 years.
Ritzy, Brixton, Toddler Time: Thursdays 11am, £3 per child, adults free. This week’s programme: Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom
Ritzy, Brixton, Big Scream: Fridays, 11am. £7.50. This week’s feature: Computer Chess
