October Half Term in London
The Abbey Community Centre, Pimlico Toy Library: Wednesday, 28th October, Pimlico Toy Library 30th anniversary celebration. Music, singing, hat making, cake decorating, magic and refreshment. For children under 11, enter from 1:30p, entry just £1. Also, the Pimlico Toy Library will be putting on numerous activities over the half-term. (please share, this fabulous charity needs as many new members as we can direct to them)
Love Swimming, Fast-Track Half-Term: These sessions are worth their weight in gold, my kids are taking fast-track lessons this week. I had a magical swimming moment with my 6 year old after his lesson yesterday. The ball he was playing with landed in the middle of the pool, much farther than I would have previously let him swim on his own. I was fully dressed and told him to come back and not swim for it. He looked me in the eye and said “trust me mommy, I can do this”. He did it!!! He has improved so much in just three days with Musa. My 10 year old is learning a secret technique in backstroke and looking more like a dolphin than a girl working on her butterfly. Love swimming has a few remaining places for this half-term, and keep them in mind for lessons or the next school holiday. Read more about London’s best swim school.
And lastly, I am getting so many compliments on my haircut and colour from Gwenelda, London’s home beauty services. The quality and the price are outstanding; my readers who have used them are equally impressed. If you struggle to get out to the salon for your nails, colour, haircut; if you want to get your kids hair cut at home; special nights out … I cannot recommend London’s Home Beauty Service Gwenelda more highly.
Theatre and Film
The Globe, Shakespeare Untold: come and see a retelling of Midsummer Night’s Dream or Othello over the half-term. These productions are for children 6+ and last about 50 minutes. £15 for 1 adult and 1 child, £8 for additional children.
National Theatre, Family Workshop: take part in a pre-show workshop Saturday 24th and Tuesday 27th (11am-1pm, ages 8+) or Slapstick and Clowning workshop Saturday 24th and Tuesday 27th - Saturday 31st (1:30pm, ages 8+). All workshops £5 adult and £3 children.
The Quick Brown Fox, Film Making Workshop in Battersea: Kids will explore film production behind and in front of the camera - director, camera, production/assistant, acting and editing. October 26th-28th, £35 per day or £105 for the three sessions. Ages 8-12 years, 2-5pm.
BFI: head over and watch Whisper of the Heart or Cinderella over the half-term, also workshops The Sound of Cinderella, Magic Wand Animation Time and Cartoon Network.
Little Angel: The Journey Home, enchanting puppetry telling the tale of Polar Beat. ages 4-11, tickets £11 all week, £5 on Fridays.
Half Moon: Where Caterpillars Go, Saturday 24th, ages 2-5, 11am, 1:30 and 3pm. Snow Child, Saturday 31st, ages 3-7, 11am and 2pm. All tickets £6.
Polka Theatre: This fabulous children’s theatre (complete with play area) has two productions on over the half term, Beasty Baby for ages 3-6 (£12 adults and children) and The Bear for ages 4-8 (£13.50 adults and children)
Chelsea Theatre: The Magic Word, a classical ballet set in an enchanted forest. Thursday 29th and Friday 30th, tickets £10 adults, £8 children.
Science and Nature
Chelsea Physic Gardens, Family Activity Days: take the kids to the gorgeous Chelsea Physic Gardens (ages 8+) on Tuesday 27th for a workshop on mushrooms, Thursday 29th take part on the Art Safari (ages 5+) and Friday 30th Creepy Crawling (ages 4+).
Royal Institution, Family Fun Day: Our Amazing Planet: head over to the RI Saturday 24th 11am-4pm for a day of hands-on activities, exploring earthquakes, volcanoes, clouds and the earths various systems. Ages 6+, £12 adults, £6 for children, under 3s free.
Isis Education Centre: take the kids to The Lookout in Hyde Park for Nature Explorers Wild Photography (Thursday 27th October, 10am, £15) or come for free and drop-in Halloween events on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th from 11am.
Museums
Bank of England, The Big Draw: pop into the Bank of England over half term and design your own boat (the metaphor being the economy is a boat and the bank steers it). Monday 26th- Friday 30th, free, all ages, drop-in.
British Museum: there are two really interesting events taking place at the museum. The World of Celts will take place from 11-5pm Monday - Friday. On Saturday 31st and Sunday 1st November, there will be the Day of Dead festival. All free, drop-in, all ages.
National Gallery: lots of workshops for under 5s, 5-12 year olds, and for all ages. Various dates and time throughout the holidays.
Geffrye Museum: bring the kids to paint mugs for hot chocolate, print cushion covers, make candles and more. Tuesday 27th-Friday 30th. Workshops run throughout the day, some activities for ages 5+, free, drop-in (but spaces limited).
Wallace Collection: there are a variety of events taking place over the half term including a Big Draw event, armour handling, still life painting for 9-12 year olds and mask making workshops.
National Portrait Gallery: bring the kids to make wire sculpture, clay heads, Monday 26th- Friday 30th, various times, some activities age 3+ and others 5+. Free, drop-in
Museum of London: head over to The City and take part in a variety of events that focus on the Second World War including singing, card braiding, making peg dolls and more. Ages 5+, free, drop-in.
V and A: Take the kids over to South Ken for a variety of events, storytelling, print making, dance workshops and more.
Serpentine Gallery, Family Day, Assembled Identities: Work with Larry Archiampong to explore and construct a new identity using an assemblage of unexpected parts and pieces. Free, drop-in and all ages.
Music
Royal Albert Hall: there are so many events on for families over the half term including A Pocketfull of Grimms (Tuesday 27th 11am and 2pm, ages 5+) Ratatouille screening with live orchestra (Wednesday 28th, ages 5+, £25 for 1 adult and 1 child) . On Tuesday 27th and Friday 30th Discover the History of Film Workshops for ages 5-11, £3.50.
Classical Babies Pimlico: Monday 2nd November, 11am. Bring the little ones to hear Caroline Kennedy perform autumnal baroque arias at St. James the Less. There will by a “come and try” session with mini violins and keyboards. £10 at the door, £8 online 24 hours in advance.
Southbank, Pram Jam Singing Workshop: Wednesday 28th, 10:30am. Take part in a day of singing for you and your kids led by Naomi Hammerton of Choir Baby. For children 5 and under, £5 adults (includes admission of children two children under 5).
King’s Place, Hubbub - A Musical Adventure: Saturday 31st, 10:30am. Come along on a magical, music journey as 5 friends follow the trail of the mysterious blue beetle in the quest for a lost voice. Ages 4+, £7.50 adults, £5.50 children.
Cadogan Hall, Crash Bang Wallop Family Concert: Join the City of London Sinfonia and celebrate Claire’s birthday with Strauss, Handel and Haydn. £10 adults, £8 children, £30 for family of 4.
