London’s Best Free and Affordable Family Events in London
British Museum: Monday 7th – Friday 11th April, 11am-4pm, all ages, free, drop-in - Vikings, Raiders, Traders and Sailors. My kids and I have been greatly impressed with the quality of craft and activity at the British Museum over the last few school holiday sessions. Come join the education staff this time for crafts, storytelling, ask the archaeologist, object handling and family talks.
National Gallery: Under 5s, free, drop-in – Talk and Play 11-11:30 & 1:-1:30 Monday 7th & Tuesday 8th. Singing and playing with The Marquis de Seignelay and Two of her Sons. Under 5s, free, drop-in, Stay and Play 11:30-12:30 & 1:30-3pm Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th . Meet Catherine deMarquis. All ages, free, drop-in – Transformers. Imagine how plants grow, birds hatch and babies age in this construction art workshop. Spaces allocated on arrival up to 1 hour before the event begins.
Holland Park Ecology Centre: for ages 5+, with ages 8+ allowed to be left unaccompanied. 2 hour sessions £5.40, 4 hour sessions £9.50. Meet in the Holland Park Ecology Centre (now located in the Adventure Playground) and let the kids have fun making shelters, learning about lizards, hunting for minibeasts, looking for owl pellets – all kinds of fantastic activities. Monday 14th- Thursday 17th and Tuesday 22nd – Friday 25th.
Ragged School Museum: Wednesday 9th, Thursday 10th & Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th. 10-5pm, all ages, drop-in. Take the kids out to Tower Hamlets and discover what life was like for Dr. Bernardo’s children.
Chelsea Physic Garden: Tuesday 8th, 10:30-2:30, 7+, £8.60 (+ adult entry) – Mandrakes, Minibeasts, Medicines and Microscopes. Thursday 10th, 7+, 10:30-2:30, £8.60 – Celebrating Bees – Poems of the Five Senses. Wednesday 16th, 5+, 10:30-noon & 1pm-2:30, £6.60 – Gardens Safari and Microscope Marvels. Thursday 17th, 8+, 10:30-2pm, £8.60 – Celebrate Spectacular Seeds and Examine Exceptional Eggs.
Geffrye Museum: head down with your little ones from Tuesday 8th – Friday 11th for loads of interesting making and doing sessions for all different ages. Check the schedule as you can make lotions and potions, make baskets, stich and knit animals, make your own mini-cabinet – all curious and interactive activities.
Royal Albert Hall, Elgar Room: Little Angel Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty in the Wood. Monday 14th & Tuesday 15th , 11am & 1:30. £11.20 children, £13.24 adults. Live music, video projections and fantastic puppetry bring this classic tale to life.
V & A: in addition to the Imagination Station (craft kits you can take around the museum to make something walking around the museum) there is a good deal of theatre on. Bottom’s Dream is on Saturday 12th, 19th, 26th and Sunday 27th, free, all ages. Shakespeare’s Puppet Show is on Monday 14th – Saturday 19th at various times, £5 per person and £15 per family. Shakespeare 4 Kidz is giving a performance Tuesday 22nd – Friday 25th at 11am, 1 & 3pm.
National Portrait Gallery: Tuesday 15th- Saturday 19th, ages 5+, free, drop-in – come and take part in a variety of storytelling and craft sessions taking place throughout the late morning and early afternoon. Create your own family portrait, make your own cut out card portrait, make a family silhouette and much more…
Wallace Collection: Monday 14th April, ages 9-12 years, £12, 10:30-3:30- Dress Up and Draw. Children will work with an artist to sketch the clothed human form. Wednesday 16th, ages 5+, free - Twelve Labours of Heracles. Come and take part in the retelling of King Eurytheus and Hera; a talented storyteller with a few props will guide the group through a theatrical production of the story. Thursday 25th April,, 10-2:15, all ages, free – Spring Fling. Drop in and make a work of art inspired by the collection with a Spring theme.
The Globe: Saturday 12th April, 11am and 2pm, ages 6+, £15 for 1 adult/1 child, £8 for each additional ticket – Story Days. Come and hear the story of The Tempest in the interactive storytelling session.
Royal Academy of Art: Sunday 13th April, 11-2pm, all ages, drop-in, free – Lego Reimagined. Come and work with Lego to create your own fairy tale structure.
St. Martin in the Field, Mini Maestro: Saturday 12th, 4:30, all ages, £8.50 adults, £6.50 children. Come and listen to an interactive concert, Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
The London Garden Museum: Saturday 12th, 11am-1pm & 1:30-3:30, all ages, drop-in, free – Felt Brooches and Badges. Saturday 19th, 11am-1pm & 1:30-3:30, all ages, drop-in, free – Flower Shaped Hats.
Kensington Palace: Thursday 17th – Monday 21st, ages 7-11, £16.50 per adult: various activities running, this is a great place to do some exploring with the kids and not have to deal with the crowds at the museums.
Two Temple Place: Monday 12th, 1-3pm, free, all ages, drop-in – Games Galore. Come and explore board games old and new. Wednesday 16th: 11:10, 12:10, 1:30 or 2:30, free but need to book as only 10 children per session – Meet Charles Darwin. Come meet the man and make some worms. Thursday 17th, 1-3pm, free, drop-in – Make a Captain Cook or Mary Anning Puppet to take home. Friday 18th, ages 6+, free, but need to book in advance – Easter Egg Extravaganza.
