London Baby and Kids Weekend Family Guide
Events for the Entire Family
Cecil Sharp House, English Folk Dance and Song Society, Family Barn Dance: Sunday 3-5pm (doors open at 2:30). Bring the entire family and take part in lively dances from across the British isles, with live music and a caller. Tickets £7 adult, £5 child, children under 2 free.
Events for Older Children, and perhaps their younger siblings
Vauxhall Vaults Festival, Dr. Zeiffal, Dr. Seigal and the Hippo that can Never be Caught!: Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 (also 11th/12th and 25th/26th February). Winner of the Buxton Fringe Award for best family show, this is an energetic, engaging, intelligent, imaginative and very funny show … tickets £12 each, family tickets £40. For ages 5+.
Wallace Collection, Little Draw: Sunday 1:30-4pm. Join artist Luisa Rivera for a workshop on folk culture, history and storytelling. Children will go on drawing quests while learning about the Wallace Collection.
West Library, Wizzie Wizzie Computer Coding Club: Saturday 11am-noon. Bring the kids to learn the basics of programming (and maybe work out how to use the Raspberry Pi they got for Christmas)
Parasol Unit, Sunday Family Workshop: Sunday 2:30-4pm. Bring the kids along to this fabulous education workshop drawing on the current exhibition and Storytelling for Families where children will respond to the exhibit with reading, writing and art. £7 per family, ages 5+, booking required.
National Gallery, Drawing Sunday, Outrageous Outfits: Sunday 11am and 20m. Head over to the National Gallery for a fabulous, free family education workshop. This week’s focus will be on the dutch fabrics, exploring Van Dyck’s portraits. Sculpt your own style session in the education room after the gallery talk. Free, but booking required. Agers 5+ (but younger siblings welcome)
Wigmore Hall, Handel and Hendrix: Saturday 10:30-3:30. Explore the work of Handel and Hendrix with guitarist Jack Ross and composer Hunter Coblents. Tickets £10, accompanying adults free.
Dulwich Picture Gallery Family Sunday: Sunday 2-4pm, head over to Dulwich for an afternoon of drop-in art activities. Free with a gallery ticket.
Babies and Toddlers
National Gallery Story Adventures with Fiona Alderton: Wednesdays 10:30-11:15. Bring children 16 months to 5 years to the National Gallery for wonderful storytelling session. Tickets £5 per child.
Monkey Music is launching a new venue in Chelsea; The Hut, located just off the Kings Road, near Flood Street and Hill House School is a brand new, light-filled hall with easy buggy access. Every week over 650 local mums and carers take part in these Monkey Music classes, making it the mummy and baby event for Chelsea mums. Book your complimentary class soon as there are a few places remaining for this term. Other venues include St. Stephens Church, South Kensington; Cineworld, Fulham Road, Chelsea; Holy Apostles Church, Cumberland Street, Pimlico and St. Michaels Church, Chester Square, Belgravia. All clean, easily accessible and pleasant locations. To see their full timetable and venue details and to book your FREE class click HERE
http://www.monkeymusic.co.uk/area/chelsea-belgravia-knightsbridge-gloucesterroad-westminster
Call 020 8767 9827 Email direct at [email protected]
Book Now for Villa Pia, Italy’s finest baby-friendly, all-inclusive (four course meals … wine, beer, spirits, too), fabulously valued family holiday destination (in pounds, truly exceptional value at the moment) – fabulous savings for off-peak stays, perfect for families with children not yet in school. Read my review of Villa Pia and book for the October school holidays as a there are just a few places remaining.
Pimlico Toy Library: Pimlico Toy Library 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 Eagle Huntress. Bring babies under 12months to this amazingly plush cinema, relax with some coffee and catch a flick.
Ritzy, Brixton, Big Scream: Fridays, 11am. This week see Toni Erdmann and Loving. Tickets £8.50
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: Moana. 11:30am, just £1.75.
Framed Film Club: Head to the Barbican for the Framed Film Club, this week’s feature:Laura’s Star. Saturday 11am.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Phantom Boy, 10:30. Tickets just £1 with £4 membership, popcorn and juice £2. (best £3 you will ever spend on a rainy Saturday)
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature, Enchanted. 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.
