London Baby and Kids May Half Term Guide
Science and Nature - Half Term Events
Centre of the Cell, Whitechapel: take the kids to the working research centre at Queen Mary, University of London and explore two different themes this half-term: Teethtastic and A Mummy for Melissa. Both activities are hands-on, scientific explorations of teeth and DNA. Amongst other inspiring activities, children will get to use high-powered microscopes.
Chelsea Physic Gardens, Puppetry in Motion: head over to Chelsea’s most unique and beautiful museum and let the kids take part in a puppet making workshop. ages 7+, 10:30-3pm
Natural History Museum Big Nature Day: head over to Cromwell Road and take part in loads of fabulous activities in the Darwin Centre and Wildlife Garden including pond dipping, ladybird hunting, hands-on with microscopes and talks in the Attenborough Studios.
Isis Education Centre, Hyde Park: take the kids to the amazing building in this secret location in Hyde Park and take part in some excellent hands-on activities. Tuesday 26th, spend the day at education centre exploring the world of hedgehogs, £15, 10-3pm, ages 8-11. Bring the kids for a free, drop-in session doing some making and doing with the Hedgehog Heroes on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th, 11am.
Vauxhaul City Farm: Grow Your Own Edible Garden on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th, come from 11am-3pm and learn about growing your own food and do some animal handling. Own a Pony: bring children ages 6+ to learn how to care for a pony and then go for a ride on Thursday 27th and Friday 29th 10-3:30, ages 6+ £60 per child.
Holland Park Ecology Centre: these fabulous workshops are now all booked except for Wednesday 27th, 2-4pm Herb Magic workshop for ages 5-10 years old.
Out of London Train Journeys: Here are a few suggestions for train travel out of London
Charles Darwin House, Downe: the home of Charles Darwin, great pub and playground
Brockenhurst- cycle the New Forest
Whitstable Bay - Oysters, ice cream, beer and sea
The Making of Harry Potter book ahead, but take the kids to fiction-lovers heaven
Royal Tunbridge Wells, Groombridge Place: Archery, climbing, and more
Making and Doing, Art and Museum Workshops
British Museum, Indigenous Australia: head to the Great Court of the British Museum and the kids can explore ancient art in a variety of interesting, hands-on activities. Monday - Friday 10-5pm.
Whitechapel Gallery Family Day: bring the family to the gallery for a day of making and interacting with the exhibit, Saturday 30th, noon-4pm, free, all ages. Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th, 10-4pm, all-day artist-led photographic images workshop £58 for both days, ages 9-12.
Felted Birds and Pods: the South London Botanical Institute is putting on an amazing event where children will learn how to work felt, using specialised felting implements, into beautiful birds and pods. £10, Saturday 30th 10am-2pm, ages 8+
V&A Half Term Events and Activities: bring the kids to the museum campus and they can watch the Pop-Up Performances at 11, 1pm and 3pm; the can pop into the digital design workshop and explore making digital art with a digital artist. There may be a few places left int he plaster casting workshop.
Foundling Museum: head over on Tuesday 26th, 10:30-noon, 1-2:30 and 2:30-4pm and make a Shadow Puppet Theatre. Come back on Thursday 28th at the same times and do comic strip printing.
Geffrye Museum: bring the kids out to Shoreditch for a variety of making and doing activities including working with clay, making bird houses, peg people and toy theatres - just to name of few.
Bank of England Museum: head over to the Bank of England Museum Tuesday 26th - Friday 29th to learn about the bank’s beautiful mosaics and make your own.
Wallace Collection Half Term Events: head over to the museum on Tuesday 26th for a day-long workshop for 9-13 year olds, £12, 10:30-3:30. On Thursday 28th, bring the little ones for a drop-in workshop 10:30-12:15 and 2-4pm, ages 5+. On Friday there is another drop-in workshop for ages 5+ from 11am-1pm.
National Portrait Gallery Half Term: bring the kids for some excellent keep-sake portrait making sessions with photography, painting and collage. Ages 3+, Monday 25th- Friday 29th.
Ragged School Museum Half Term Events: head out to Mile End and let your kids learn what life was like in a Victoria school (and run back into their teachers arms week after next). Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th, 10-5pm. Kids can also make costumes and do some arts and crafts.
Pimlico Toy Library: On Tuesday 26th - Thursday 28th 10-noon and 1-3pm, bring the kids to a large soft play area in Pimlico Academy, £1 per session (booking essential and membership preferred). Older kids can take part in mosaic making workshops from 10-noon and 1-3pm.
Performance, Music and Storytelling:
Royal Albert Hall Half Term Events: Shh … Bang, Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th 11am and 2pm, join Peut Etre Theatre’s production and explore the dynamic between silence and sound. Discover Art Deco Posters Wednesday 27th, 10am-11:30, learn about the Art Deco posters the hall and then make your own, ages 5-11. Albert Einstein: Relatively Speaking, Thursday 28th 11am and 2:30pm. Seaside Favourites from Albert’s Band Friday 29th noon and 2:30.
Royal College of Music Half Term: Arts in Harmony Family Workshop, Wednesday 27th 10:30, ages 5+, free (booking required). Mini Music in the Museum, Thursday 28th, 10:30, under 5s, free (booking required). Family Concert Thursday 29th, 1:15, ages 5+. Royal College of Music Sparks Event - Create Family Workshop Saturday 30th, 10am, ages 6+, Royal Albert Hall, £15 per adult and child, £7.50 each additional child.
Wigmore Hall Half Term: Wednesday 27th, ages 5+, Musical Fairy Tales. 10:30-3:30, a day-long, music workshop for children and carers. £15 adults, £10 children.
Museum of London Half Term Events: head over to the Museum of London and take part and watch a variety of performance and storytelling themed events. Watch an actress from Twelfth Night, sing Victorian music hall songs, create costumes and then head to the Docklands Museum and explore theatre and performance through arts and crafts.
BFI Filmmaking Half Term Workshops: Tuesday 26th - Thursday 28th, 10-4pm, ages 8-14, £27.50 per child, £20.50 for siblings. Bring the kids to the BFI for 3 day-long filmmaking workshops followed by a screening.
Puppet Theatre Barge: Fowl Play. Bring the kids to Little Venice and this enchanting little theatre barge (read my review here). Performances Monday 25th - Friday 29th , 3pm, £10 adults and £8.50 children.
Polka Theatre, Operation Magic Carpet: head over to Wimbledon’s best-loved children’s theatre and take a journey from London to Baghdad on a magic carpet. Fabulous play, our review is coming soon. Ages 6-11, tickets £14.50
