What’s On This Week: London Baby, Toddler and Family Events
Upcoming Events:
28th – 31st May Royal Court Theatre, Short Plays for Children: This is a very special event. Plays written by and for children, directed and acted by the Royal Court – great fun for the entire family at a reasonable price £10 adults, £5 children. Book early as these go quickly.
Up and Down, Ga Ga Theatre Company: An enchanting play about a penguin who would like to learn to fly, based on a delightful story book with original score in a child-centred, 40 minute production. Tickets £12 (children ages 2+ are ticketed). Ga Ga Theatre venues around London (Henley, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Finchley and Richmond) starting 13th May.
NCT Westminster Nearly New Sale: Saturday 31st May Grosvenor Hall, Vincent Street. 10 am etnre for NCT members, 10:15 non-members; first 100 people get a free goody bag. £2 to enter and £5 for half a table to peddle your own goods. [email protected]
Aquababies Swimming Classes: New classes Tuesdays 11:30 – 1pm, few spaces remaining. Aquababies, a specialist swim school for infants and toddlers up to 3 years old, has a few openings remaining in their Marble Arch venue at exceptional value - £75 for 5 week course. Bring a friend and mention London-baby and you will receive a 20% discount. Bring two friends and get a 40% discount (don’t forget to mention London-baby!!). Ring Sam on 01273 833101 and he will happily give you more information about the course, the instructor and the pool.
This Weekend:
Cadogan Hall, Crash Bang Wallop: Take the entire family to Sloane Square and enjoy a concert in Chelsea – City of London Sinfonia is putting on a children’s concert based on food around the world. Come early to make your own paper pizzas and chef’s hats. After, head over to Duke of York Square to play in the fountains and check out the store fronts for Chelsea in Bloom. Family tickets, group of 4 for £10 if you use the discount code FAMILY14 when you book.
Royal Institute of Great Britain Family Day: Head over to Mayfair for a day of interesting lectures and demonstrations exploring the curious ways we can change matter. 11am – 4pm, drop-in. Targeted for children age 6-12, but younger siblings welcome. £12 per adult, £6 per child.
King’s Cross, Kerb Saturdays: The sun should be shining (oops, jinxed it!!) head over to Granary Square at the new King’s Cross for a street food festival. The fountains will be on, so have an urban beach Saturday. Free, all ages, 11-5pm
The London Garden Museum: Saturday 12th, 11am-1pm & 1:30-3:30, all ages, drop-in, free craft making activity
National Portrait Gallery: Bring the kids over to Trafalgar Square for a day of making and learning around the National Portrait Gallery. There will be Storytelling, ages 3+ - children learn about a musical queen and Mozart at 10:30, repeated 1:30 followed by a craft activity. The Family Art Workshop for children 5+ will be making a portrait out of clay 11:30-1pm or 2:30-4pm. Only 20 spaces per session, tickets allocated 1 hour before the start of the session. Both events are free
Notting Hill May Fair: This classic, neighbourhood family festival, now in its 25th year, boasts a day of traditional May Fair activities including May pole dancing, fancy dress, dog show, coconut shy, face painting, bouncy castle and market stalls.
Saturday Films and Shows:
Curzon Cinema, Victoria: Now open on Victoria Street!! Showing for another week, Tinkerbell and the Pirate Fairy Saturday, noon. £3.50 per person.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Yosuhiro Yoshiura’s Patena Inverted. Tickets £1 with £4 membership, popcorn and juice £2. (best £3 you will ever spend on a rainy Saturday)
Barbican Family Film Club: This week’s feature: Escape from Planet Earth. 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, Rio 2, 9:30am. Check out the 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
Sunday
Royal Academy of Art: Family Art Workshop – Rhyme Time. Walk around the museum and get inspired to illustrate your favourite nursery rhyme or story. Free, all ages, drop-in, 11am – 2pm
Pumphouse Gallery, Battersea Park: Join artists Justine Formentelli and Anne Kennedy- Levesque for an afternoon of making imaginative animals with lino-printing and machine embroidery. Free, all ages, noon – 4pm.
For Babies and Toddlers:
Aquababies: Parent and Baby Aquafit Classes (PABA) now taking bookings for their new classes in Marble Arch (super-sumptuous Marriott pool). Bring the baby, get a workout, spend some quality time in the pool and meet local mums. Fabulous class for post-partum bodies in a great pool; kids up to 3 years old welcome! Read my review
Ritzy, Brixton, Toddler Time:Thursdays 11am, £3 per child, adults free. This week’s programme: Liaf
Ritzy, Brixton, Big Scream: Fridays, 11am. £7.50. This week’s feature: Calvary
