What’s On this Week for London Families
This weekend for the Family:
Cecil Sharp House, Family Barn Dance. Bring babies right up to children old enough not to assume barn dancing is not cool. £7 adults, £5 children, children under 2 free.
Get Your Knit On, Southbank Foyer Spaces: bring your 4mm knitting needles and your own wool and knit in the very baby and family-friendly foyer spaces (loads of highchairs, space for toddlers to run). For beginners to advanced knitters, knit squares that will be sewed together to make blankets for the elderly.
Book Now for Villa Pia, Italy’s finest baby-friendly (monitors, highchairs, cots, food all provided), all-inclusive (including wine and booze!), fabulously-valued, family holiday destination – great savings for off-peak stays, perfect for families with children not yet in school. Read my review of Villa Pia
This weekend for older kids (and perhaps their younger siblings)
Somerset House, Free Family Drop-In: “Part-Time Punks” as part of the Chris Stein Exhibit “Negative: Me, Blondie and the Adventures of Punk” you call tell your kids all about the 80’s while you make neon pop-ups of the names of Blondie songs (or whatever else your kids might have in mind). These events are for children 6+, but younger siblings are warmly welcomed. (above photo from the Dazed and Confused retrospect)
Clapham Potter Family Day: Saturday 1:30-3pm. Bring the entire family over to Clapham for a therapeutic day of throwing pots and working clay. Fantastic day for all - £10 per person.
Puppet Theatre Barge, A Christmas Carol: Saturday and Sunday 3pm. Read my full review here, great show and wonderful day out when combined with lunch at The Warrington Pub. Tickets £12
Le Institute Francais, Arthur and the Invisibles: Sunday 11am, come and see this part-live, part-animated story of a little boy and his grandmother who tells him about the Minimoys, a race of elf-like being who live in her garden. For ages 8+ (cert u) but younger children are welcome.
The Musical Adventurists: “Best children’s party entertainment ever” – I had The Musical Adventurists to my own home for a party earlier in the summer; I cannot recommend them more highly – everyone was thrilled. My son’s class has taken the characters with them over the summer, they are still playing Captian Boon! Cross the dark lagoon. The Musical Adventurists provided hours of quality fun and magic, the kids can’t wait for them to come back… London’s Children Entertainers The Musical Adventurists. Check out some footage here – so. much. fun.
Little kids (and perhaps their older siblings):
Half Moon Theatre, Chicken Licken: Saturday 11am and 2pm, tickets only £8, children ages 3-6. Come and see traditional animal stories retold with puppets, music and cooking.
Babies and Toddlers
Monkey Music Pimlico, Chelsea and Belgravia: Come and join Jayne and her expert staff for loads of fun on Friday mornings in her new Pimlico venue at Holy Apostles or Friday afternoons at the Cineworld Cinema on Fulham Road, there are also of other lovely venues in Chelsea and Belgravia. Monkey Music’s specialist, award-winning, pre-school music classes are favourites with mums all over Chelsea and Westminster. Please call or email to book your spot in your local class as just a few places remain for Spring term [email protected] call Caroline or Jayne on 208767 9827
Ritzy, Brixton, Toddler Time:Thursdays 11am, £3 per child, adults free.
Electric Cinema, Electric Scream: Mondays. This week’s feature: Foxcatcher. 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: Foxcacther
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: Winnie the Pooh. Saturday and Sunday, 10:30. £3.50 per person.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Earth to Echo £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 The Care Bears Movie. 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 Penguins of Madagascar, 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.
