London Baby and Kids Weekend Guide
Museum of London Docklands, Your East End: Saturday and Sunday noon-4pm. Head over to the East London and take part in a variety of family activities including postcard printing, storytelling, poetry, bunting making, Chinese calligraphy workshop, performances, cooking and much more. Free, all ages.
Royal Academy, Family Studio - Buildings into Brilliance: As part of America After the Fall, Painting in the 1930’s, check out the exhibit (or skip it) and head into this working and make some (American) graffiti. Sunday 11am-3pm, free, drop-in, all ages.
St. Patrick’s Day in London: Saturday and Sunday. Head to Camden Market on Saturday for live music, family fun, performance and more. Watch the parade in the West End on Sunday and head to Trafalgar Square for food, fun and entertainment. Various cinemas will be showing Irish films… Great weekend for Celtic fun.
Just for Mums: Join Kensington Mums this Saturday from 2:30-6:30 for a lovely afternoon of drinks, networking and afternoon tea. You will be joined by HRH Princess Tessy de Luxembourg, Tamara Beckwith and Abigail James. These lovely events are well-attended and great opportunities for getting to know Kensington Mums a bit better. Tickets from £21.83
Upcoming: Billy’s Band Family Concert: Sunday 2nd April, 11:30am. Join Dan Newell of the LSO and acclaimed author of Billy’s Band books as he takes families on a musical adventure. Pre-concert activities and the books will inspire children to pick up a musical instrument and have a go. Tickets £15 adults and £5 children.
Upcoming- NCT Nearly New Sale: Saturday 29th, 10-noon at Westbourne Grove Church, £2 donation at the door, cash sales only.
National Theatre, Family Technical Theatre Day: Saturday 11am-3:30pm. Bring children ages 7-12 (absolutely no children under the age of 7) for a backstage tour of the theatre where you will learn how lighting and sound design work from a professional technician. You will create your own design and bring a scene to life. Adults £8, children £5.
Le Institut Francais Digital Club: Saturday 2:30-4pm. Head over to South Kensington for a wonderful go at gaming in easy French and English. Booking essential, ages 5+, free.
Royal College of Music and Royal Albert Hall, Sparks Ignite and Explorers Workshop: Sunday 10:45. Join musicians from the RCM for an interactive workshop where you will be part of a mini-orchestra. After, head over to RAH for a live symphony orchestra performance including light effects, fireworks and cannons. Suitable for beginning to Grade 5, 6-9 and 10-12, £25 per participant.
National Portrait Gallery, School of Noise: Sunday, 1- 4:30pm. Head to the NPG for two free workshops exploring the relationship between sound and sight. Families will be invited to compose pieces inspired by portraits in the gallery. Ages 3+ 1-2:30 and ages 7+ 3-4:30. Free, drop-in.
Tate Modern, 8-14’s Studio: Saturday noon-5pm. Work with Raju Rage to create wearable sculptural pieces from everyday life to perform with and document in the galleries. Ages 8-14, free, drop-in.
Wigmore Hall, Cavatina Family Concert: Saturday 11am. Head over to Marylebone and listen to a fabulous string quartet for an interactive family concert performing well-loved pieces by Haydn, Ravel and Beethoven. Ages 5+, tickets £8 per child.
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.
Royal Albert Hall, Storytelling and Music Sessions: Wednesdays 10am and 11:30. Join Paul Rubinstein, Olivia Armstrong and Becky Dixon for storytelling session that include instruments, singing and movement.
Chelsea Swim Spa - head over to the most baby-friendly pool in London … The Chelsea Swim Spa. Find out more about this luxuriously warm, innovative pool for mothers and small children. Read my review here.
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: Beauty and the Beast. 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 Beauty and the Beast. 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: Bedknobs and Broomsticks. 11:30am, just £1.75.
Framed Film Club: Head to the Barbican for the Framed Film Club, this week’s feature: Anthony Horowitz Presents The Muppets. Saturday 11am.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: London International Animation Festival, 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, Sing. 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.
