What’s On: London’s Best Free and Affordable Family Events
This Weekend for the Whole Family
London Musical Arts Orchestra, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Mini Maestro Family Concert: Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Bring infants, toddlers and children to enjoy Schuber, Handel and Mozart. £8.50 for adults, £6.50 children, Saturday 4th, 4:30pm.
London Literature Festival, Southbank Centre: check out the range of talks, concerts, activities and event to take the baby along to or attend with the older kids. Its a fabulously family friendly venue - you can even bring along a picnic and enjoy it in the hall.
Upcoming:
Love Swimming Half-Term Swim School: Treat your kids (and yourself) to Fast-Track swim lessons over October half term with Love Swimming in Pimlico. Results -driven, individualised lessons over half-term. Read more here
Big Fish Little Fish: Enter to win tickets to Sunday 18th October in Hackney Wick or Sunday 15th November in New Cross at Villa Pia, or just book tickets and your diary.
NCT Nearly New Sale: The items for sale include baby and children’s clothes, books, toys, maternity wear along with baby and maternity equipment. Saturday 10th October, 10-noon, £2 at the door, Westbourne Grove Church.
This Weekend for Slightly Older Children (and perhaps their younger siblings)
Jacksons Lane, Jo Jo and Billie’s Tour de France: Find out what happens when a French Boy and an English girl crash into each other and cannot repair their bikes. Great show for ages 3+, tickets £10, Sunday noon and 3pm. (Highgate Tube, Northern Line)
Royal Academy of Art, Family Studio: The Big Draw. Head to the RA and take part in a workshop inspired by the work of Ai Weiwei. 3d wire drawing, stencilling and printmaking. Sunday 11am-3pm, free, drop-in, all ages.
Wallace Collection, Little Draw: Join artist and illustrator Millie Nice and take part in a playful approach to history or art and music in the museum spaces. Free, all ages, Sunday 1:30-4:30
This Weekend for Older Children
Houses of Parliament, Suffragette Season, Suffragette Saturday: bring children age 7+ to the Houses of Parliament on Saturday at 2pm and 3pm for a 45 minute tour and some “Votes for Women” activities afterwards. Adults £10, children free. Booking essential.
Wigmore Hall, Stile Antico with presenter Isabelle Adams: come and enjoy the vibrant vocal ensemble performing some very old music. Saturday 1-2pm, £10 adult, £8 child, ages 5+
Babies and Toddlers
Classical Babies Pimlico: Head over to St. James the Less in Pimlico Monday 5th October for 11am for a mum and child family classical concert. Tickets are £8 per adult in advance, children are free, you can pay cash at the door £10 or book online and save. Contact Pauline 07581 440258 or [email protected]
Royal Albert Hall, Storytelling and Music Sessions: bring children ages 0-4 to Royal Albert Hall on Wednesdays for a magical experience with storytellers Paul Rubinstein and Olivia Armstrong where singing, storytelling and musical instruments are woven into one story session. £4, 11:30am
Few Places Remaining- Monkey Music
Monkey Music: Chelsea, Gloucester Road, South Kensington, Belgravia and Pimlico. This is the best-loved mum and baby activity in the area. Monkey Music’s award winning specialist music classes have been running since 2003, teaching and entertaining hundreds of babies each week. Autumn classes are soon to begin, click here to see the various venues and learn more about Monkey Music Westminster and Chelsea. Book your first FREE class 020 8767 9827 or [email protected]
Pimlico Toy Library: Pimlico Toy Library has a new web site showcasing all their wonderful children’s workshops and baby playtimes. This is a fantastic resource for any parent or carer, the toys are fastidiously cleaned and the art workshops are brilliantly planned with high quality materials.
Electric Cinema, Electric Scream: Mondays. This week’s feature:45 Years. 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 features: Macbeth and 99 Homes.
Family Cinema
BFI Families, Steamboat Bill Jr. A Buster Keaton classic!! Great day out for all, enjoy the Southbank after. £4 for children, £11.75 adults. Saturday, 3:40pm
Curzon Cinema, Victoria: This week’s programme,Inside Out. Saturday and Sunday, 10:30. £3.50 per person.
Le Institiut Francais, Inside Out: Head over to South Kensington and enjoy this fantastic feature film exploring children’s emotions in a highly educational and entertaining way. The film will be screened in English Saturday 26th, 11am. Tickets £5 each
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Annie (2014). £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 Zarafa. Tickets are £2, bring the kids and escape the cold while you chill and watch a movie. Great price. 11am, all ages.
Ritzy, Brixton, Kids’ Club: Fridays, 11am. £1.50. This week’s features: Annie (2014)
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature, Boxtrolls 10:30am. 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.
