What’s On: London Family Events this Week
Weekend Events for the Whole Family:
St. Katherine Dock Classic Boat Festival: Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm. Come and visit over 40 vintage boats including man Little Dunkirk Ships, the Royal Barge, the Massy Shaw to name a few. There is live music, family activities and food.
Kings Place Festival: Saturday and Sunday activities from 10am - 5pm. Head over to Kings Place to see Nick Cop, decorate cupcakes, take a canal boat trip, listen to Rachel Rose Reid entertain the kids with storytelling, attend a comic book workshop and lots more. This is a great festival and great family weekend fun and discovery.
On Blackheath: Saturday and Sunday. Blackheath is hosting a great festival for young and old alike. You may want to consider stretching bedtimes to stick around and listen to Primal Scream, Belle and Sebastian, James and Squeeze (check the stage times and be prepared to part with £60 per adult). The kids can enjoy a magical storytelling stage, outdoor adventures, crafts and activities. Looks like a great way to spend an afternoon.
Brazil Day, Trafalgar Square: Saturday noon-7pm. Come and enjoy all things Brazil including live music, sport, food and dance.
Camden Arts Centre Summer Takeover: Sunday 2-4:30pm. Bring the kids to Camden for an afternoon of free, artist-led activities including Weave, Drip and Wear; work in the ceramics studio; take part in a photoshoot with costumes and more.
The Phoenix Garden Agricultural Show and St. Giles Fayre: Saturday noon-6pm. Head over to Phoenix Gardens for Punch and Judy, Morris dancers, brass bands and a petting zoo. Perfect for little ones.
Parasol Unit, Storytelling Family Workshop: Sunday 2:30-4pm, ages 5+. Parents and children will explore Rana Begum’s exhibition through a tactile storytelling workshops incorporating song and origami.
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For Older Kids:
Somerset House, Build Your own Pavilion Young Architects Challenge: Digital Design Workshop. Saturday 11am-1pm, ages 8-13. Part of the London Design Biennale and Kidesign have put together an interactive workshop using drawing, design and 3D printing. Tickets just £7 per children.
Babies and Toddlers
Monkey Music Chelsea and Westminster is about to start autumn term bringing local mums and local families together in a fabulous class for infants and older children. Be sure to check out the Cineworld venue on Fulham Road for toddlers along with Cooper’s Arms off Flood street near the Kings Road. Read my review here.
Royal Albert Hall, Storytelling and Music Sessions: Could you think of a more stately venue to introduce 0-4 year olds to music, movement and storytelling? Join seasoned storytellers Paul Rubinstein, Olivia Armstrong and Becky Dixon to this fabulous, hands-on, musical storytelling session. Wednesdays, 10 am and 11:30, tickets just £5.
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, 11:00. This week’s feature: The Commune. Bring babies under 12 months to this amazingly plush cinema, relax with some coffee and catch a flick.
Clapham Picturehouse, Big Scream: Head to Clapham and see Julieta on Thursday; on Sunday Hell or High Water is showing, both at 10:30, £7.50.
Ritzy, Brixton, Big Scream: Fridays, 11am, £7.50. This week’s features: Captain Fantastic and Hell or High Water.
Family Cinema
Regent Street Cinema, Kino Club Films : You can now bring your children to London’s beautifully restored, sumptuous cinema for screenings of better than average children’s films on Saturdays. This week’s screening: Fantasia 11:30am, just £1.75.
BFI Family Cinema, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Sunday 11am. Kids £4, adults £11.75
Framed Film Club: Head to the Barbican for the Framed Film Club, this week’s feature: The Jungle Book 2D. Saturday 11am.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Matilda. Tickets just £1 with £4 membership, popcorn and juice £2. (best £3 you will ever spend on a rainy Saturday)
Ritzy, Brixton, Kids’ Club: Saturdays, 10:30am. £1.50. This week’s feature: Matilda.
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature, Finding Dory. 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.
