London Baby and Kids Half Term Guide
Tachbrook Nursery School Places available
If one were to write a book on the best practices of nursery education, the whole book could be about this nursery school. Forest school, bonfires, rope swings, workshop complete with saws and glue guns, dipping pond … Tachbrook is child-centred school that fosters risk-taking, critical thinking and self-advocation. If you have a rising 3 year old, do take a look at this nursery. www.tachbrooknurseryschool.co.uk Tel; 020 7641 8725
January 2017 - 15 hours free education per week, 5 morning or 5 afternoon sessions, plus 1 full day per week
Theatre and Performance Picks
Pippa’s Poppets Half Term Workshops for 3-6 yrs.
This half term we have two workshops for you to chose from taking place Monday 24th - Wednesday 26th October. Mornings in South Ken SUPERHEROES (£100) and afternoons in Pimlico UNDER THE SEA! (£90)
Has your child ever wanted to star in a musical? Watch as they are transported through three wondrous 2.5 hour sessions of singing, dancing & acting. Inspired by our favourite movie characters and songs, come and watch our finished 20-minute performance on the final day. Pippa’s Poppets staff are highly qualified professionals and will ensure the workshop is fun and engaging for all children whether they are trying to come out of their shells or already a confident performer.
Your child will experience performing as part of a cast, picking up some funky dance moves and learning life skills such as teamwork, communication and discipline. Jam-packed with drama games, story time, instrument playing, dressing up and making new friends, these workshops are always the highlight of our calendar! Click for more info. Please email mailto:[email protected] to book your child’s place!
The Globe, Tales for Winter - Half Term Storytelling for Families Head to The Globe for Winter’s Tale, Macbeth and Henry V storytelling, author talks and family workshops. Various dates, times, ages and availability. £10.
National Theatre, Play in a Day: Friday 28th October, 9:45-4pm. Devise a script, a costume, make some music and weave it together to make a play. £12 adults, £8 children. Ages 6-12 (younger siblings not accommodated, only children over the age of 6).
Little Angel Theatre: Emily Rising: Emily wakes up one bright morning to find that her feet can’t touch the ground. Ages 2-6, £12 adults, £10 children. Tickets £5 on Fridays. Let’s Fly: Emily has a secret, she knows how to fly and she wants you to come on an adventure with her. Ages 2-6, £10 adults, £8 children.
Half Moon: Saturday 22nd 11am and 2pm. Cake: A story of valour and bravery involving a heroic knight and a village that lives in a cake. Ages 4-9, £8.50. Saturday 29th 11am and 2pm. Daughter of the Forest: listen to Mohiruho, the magical talking tree, as she tells stories of crocodiles, monkeys, deer and tigers. All ages, £8.50.
Polka Theatre: This fabulous children’s theatre (complete with play area) has two productions on over the half term, Jules Vern’s Around the World in 80 Days. £13.50, ages 6-11. In addition to this, How to Hide a Lion will be on, for ages 3-6, tickets £12.50.
King’s Place, Shlomo’s Beatbox Aventure for Kids: Sunday 30th, 10:30 and 12:30. Join the sonic superhero for funny sounds, brilliant noises and cool music for ages 1-101. Tickets £10
BFI, Half-term and Holiday Activities: Awesome Animation Antics on Wednesday at 10-4pm and Whacky Worlds and Quirky Characters Thursday at 10-4pm. For ages 8-12, includes a screening of The Wiz, tickets £27.50, siblings £22.50.
LMA Mini Maestros, St. Martin-in-the-Fields: Handel’s Water Music: Originally written for George I, the first performance of the piece was on the River Thames, 50 musicians played on board boats sailing next to the royal barge. This is a highly interactive concert for children and adults. Tickets are £10.00, £8.00 and the concert is on Saturday 22nd, 4:30.
Unicorn Theatre October half term: Tetris, an entertaining and physically impressive dance theatre piece inspired by the computer game. Saturday 22nd, 10:30 and 1:30pm. Dream City is a dance party like no other, Saturday 22nd, 3pm and 6pm. Owl Family Portrait Family Workshop, ages 2-6. Saturday 29th 11:45, Sunday 30th 11:45 and 2:25 pm. Tickets £10 for one parent and one child.
Science and Nature Picks
Chelsea Physic Gardens, Family Activity Days: take the kids to the gorgeous Chelsea Physic Gardens for a variety of really lovely workshops. Tuesday 25th, 10:30-2:30 Art of the Garden for ages 6+. Wednesday 26th October, 10:30-noon and repeated 1-2:30pm, Animal Encounters - join Phil from Zoolab to handle walking sticks, corn snakes, hissing cockraches and more for ages 4+. Friday 28th, 10:30-3pm, Potions and Poisons: Shakespearean Herbology, ages 7+. Half Day workshops are £11 per person, full day £15 and this includes entry to the garden.
Royal Institution, Family Fun Day: Sunday 30th October 11am - 4pm. Surprising Senses Family Fun Day. Head to the Royal Institution and spend the day exploring the limits of the human senses - get your hands, noses, tongues, eyes and ears ready for an unforgettable experience. Ages 3-18, £14 adults, £7 for children, under 3s free.
Isis Education Centre: take the kids to The Lookout in Hyde Park for Nature Explorers Wild Photography (Tuesday 25th October, 10am, £15) or come for free and drop-in Halloween events onThursday 27th from 11am.
Holland Park Ecology Centre, October Half Term: this is a brilliant way to spend a day with the kids, book now to make a shelter, investigate creepy crawlies, track animals who live in Holland Park, create your own habitat – an 2 hour session of investigation, making and games. £5-£8.50 per child ages 5-10 years old (8 year old children may be unaccompanied).
Royal Institute British Architects: A variety of workshops for children are taking place over the half-term. Design Quests for children ages 6-10: Tuesday 25th children will design mugs to take home. Wednesday 26th kids will build a home for an animal family. Thursday 27th kids will sew their favourite building and turn it into a cuddly toy. Friday 28th, stencil your own wallpaper. Design Day for children 11-15: Monday make your own tote bag Thursday glaze your won architectural masterpiece on a take-away tile. Friday turn buildings inside out as you mix and match interiors and exteriors. All workshops £35 per child and booking required.
Museum Picks:
British Museum Celebreating Osiris Half-Term Events: Monday - Friday 11am-5pm daily. Activities include making papyrus barge or boat for Osiris. Storytelling with Xanthe Gresahm-Knight, make an Egyptian crown. All activities are free, all ages, drop-in.
National Gallery: lots of workshops for under 5s, 5-12 year olds, and for all ages. Various dates and time throughout the holidays. Highlights include renaissance painting technics for 8-11 year olds, Messy Mondays and Talking Tuesdays for the under 5s. All ages workshops Monday - Thursday and The Big Draw on Sunday 30th. Saturday 29th from 11am - 5pm, Bright Lights Family Festival Day, loads of workshops, performances and activities.
Geffrye Museum October Half Term Events: bring the kids to make crowns, comic books, pine cone ornaments, lanterns, spooky garlands and pumpkin muffins to name just a few workshops. Tuesday - Friday, loads of workshops at various times for various ages. All free, all drop-in.
Wallace Collection Half Term Events: there are a variety of events taking place over the half term including Painting Sea and Sky for older children, Beautiful Butterflies for 7-9 year olds and Miniature Treasure Boxes for ages 5+.
National Portrait Gallery Half Term Activites: bring the kids to make Cubist Creations in play dough in response to the Picasso Portraits; make abstract animal masks, draw in light, make your own art gallery, making tin portraits and more. Various workshops, for age 3+, 5+.
Ragged School Museum Jacqueline Wilson : Penguin Random House will be hosting activities to celebrate the launch of Jacqueline Wilsons’s new book Clover Moon. Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th, 10am-5pm, all ages, drop-in, free.
Whitechapel Gallery, William Kentridge Family Day: Join E17 Puppet Project to create fun show theatre in response to William Kentridge’s Thick Time. Free, all ages, booking strongly recommended.
Benjamin Franklin House: bring the kids to the London home of this fascinating American Founding Father on Tuesday 25th from 4-5pm. Dress up for Halloween and come play games and listen to spooky tales at the Benjamin Franklin House Halloween party. £5 per child.
