Opera, Southbank Christmas Train, African Storytelling … What’s On for London Families
This Weekend for Family, Bigger kids and Little Kids and Babies:
Royal Opera House family Sunday. Sunday is 30th November. It’s a great day out for families, performances, costumes, stage makeup and set design activities are just a few of the interactive events that take place. Children £3, adults £5
Southbank: Head over to Southbank for pure yuletide fun and games. Christmas market, Christmas tree maze, ride the Southbank Express … for the older family members, go inside Royal Festival Hall and take part in Web We Want Festival, complete with retro-gamming lounge, design workshops, talks (for grown-ups and older kids) and other hands-on events for the entire family.
Covent Garden Reindeer Feeding: take in the baubles, the lights, the mulled wine, the mince pies, shop the artisan stalls, watch performers and listen to music – all for free (except the food, booze and gifts). Good fun, noon-4pm, Covent Garden
Ice Skate Vauxhall Christmas Maze: This looks so sweet and charming – new this year to the Vauxhall skating rink is a Christmas Tree Maze. This is a small forest of trees covered in lights, you work your way through the maze and find a seasonal friend at the end!! Can’t wait to check this out. Also, street food and gift stalls.
Upcoming
The ShopUp: Wednesday 3rd (noon – 9pm) and Thursday 4th (9am-5pm) December: Head over to Chelsea Town Hall to discover over 40 independent children’s retailers displaying unique and inspired toys, clothing, furnishings and much more. There will be entertainment for children, nibbles and drinks for all. Free!!
Monkey Music Pimlico Christmas Party: Friday 5th December, Holy Apostles Church, Pimlico. Come and join Jayne, monkey and the gang for a very special Christmas party to celebrate the exciting launch of their specialist, award-winning, pre-school music classes. Please call or email to book your spot on the day [email protected] call Caroline or Jayne on 202 8767 9827
Soho Theatre, Funz and Gamez: Saturday 6th December – Sunday 4th January, for children and adults ages 5+. Come join Phil Ellis for this award-winning Edinburgh Comedy Awards Panel Prize family holiday production featuring prizes, bundles of laughter all for £10 per ticket, family tickets £30 for four (minimum 1 child). The antihero of kids’ shows which is one of the funniest, buzziest hours ★★★★Times
Santa Scoot, St. George’s Square Pimlico. Sunday 7th December, 12:30pm. Bring the kids, a rug, thermos of … cocoa (perhaps a splash of Bailys), the scooters and deep pockets to help this lovely family in their fight against cancer. It will be great fun, wonderful people and a worthwhile cause. All ages, £5
Little kids (and perhaps their older siblings):
V and A, Pop-up Performance: African Storytelling: Saturday 29th November - head over to South Kensington and join storyteller Usifu Jalloh share an enchanting tale from African folklore. 11am, 1pm and 3pm, all ages, free.
JW3: head over to Finchley Rd for AMAZING activities for families Sunday. Yogabugs, crafternoon, Imagination Station for infants and toddlers, lots to do!!!
British Museum, Little Feet – All Wrapped Up: Bring the under 5s to the British Museum for a fabulous, hands-on journey to ancient Egypt. Free, drop-in Friday 28th November, 10:30-noon.
Mostly for bigger kids and perhaps their younger siblings:
Pumphouse Gallery, Battersea, Paint + Gravity=?: Sunday 11:30-3:30 all ages, free. Experiment with paint dripping, sliding, and other creative movements. At 2pm families may join a tour of the exhibit.
The London Design Museum, Create and Make: Amazing Adornment: Sunday 30th November, 1-4pm. Fabulous design workshop for children ages 5-11, come and create your own jewellery. Workshop free with museum entry.
British Museum, Captivating Calligraphy: Saturday 29th November 2-4pm. Come and watch Haruhisa Handa demonstrate the art of writing characters. Great Court, free, all ages, drop-in.
Babies and Toddlers
Ritzy, Brixton, Toddler Time:Thursdays 11am, £3 per child, adults free.
Electric Cinema, Electric Scream: This week’s feature: Serena. Bring babies under 12 months to this amazingly plush cinema, relax with some coffee and catch a flick.
Ritzy, Brixton, Big Scream: Fridays, 11am. £7.50. This week’s feature: 2001 Space Odyssey
Family Cinema:
Curzon Cinema, Victoria: Do head over and check out Victoria’s swish, new cinema, right off Victoria Street. This week’s Kids Club programme: Wall-E. Saturday and Sunday, 10:30. £3.50 per person.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: International Animation Festival 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 is Paddington. 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, The Book of Life, 9:30am. Check out the Electric Cinema with its plush, red velvet beds, sofas and armchairs. Looks like a great way for Dad to occupy the kids on a Saturday morning.
