London Baby and Kids Weekend Guide
This Weekend for the Entire Family:
St. Katherine Dock, Classic Boat Festival: as part of the Totally Thames Festival, the Classic Boats Festival is a fantastic display of beautiful and historic vintage boats. You can walk and observe, or actually climb aboard some ships. Interesting vessels include Little Dunkirk Ships and the Royal Barge. Kids can take part in Stand-up Paddle Boarding and canoeing sessions, also art, food, music, a river race and more. Saturday and Sunday, check site the program.
Hackney One Carnival: Did you miss Notting Hill? Head over to Gillett Square, Dalston and enjoy live performances, hula workshops, costume, dancing, great food, children’s area and stage - a nice day out for the family. Sunday noon-6pm.
Balham, Big Fish Little Fish Pirate Family Rave: Did you miss your chance to go to Glastonbury? Bring the kids to a pirate themed family rave in South London - The Bedford. Great music, the Villa Pia baby chill-out space, glow sticks, cakes, crafts and fun!! Sunday, 2-4:30pm, tickets £10.
Putney River Life Sunday: As part of the Totally Thames Festival, head to Putney and enjoy a day of live music, funfair rides, circus workshop and The Radio Jackie roadshow will provide the life commentary as the Great River Race passes by. Saturday 10am-5pm.
For Older Kids and Perhaps their Younger Siblings
Bankside, Firing on the Foreshore: this is one of my favourite events in the Totally Thames Festival. Head to the Thames in front of Shakespeare’s Globe and watch as pottery is produced, as it was thousands of years ago, in open fires on the shore. Even more interesting, there will archaeological walks along the shore and archaeologists on hand to help you identify pottery shards and clay pipes you find while mudlarking. Fantastic day out with the kids. Saturday 11am-5pm, free (not pushchair friendly)
Lambeth, Institute of Imagination, Fire Engine Festival: The Institute of Imagination and the London Fire Brigade are putting on The Fire Engine Festival where families can enjoy the display of historic fire engines and take part in activities. The Imagination Lab will be running drop-in workshops using motors and LEDs for children ages 2-12. The festival is free, activities will cost between £3 and £5 each. Saturday 10am-3pm.
Little Angel Theatre, Summer Party: Head to St. Mary’s Church Gardens for Little Angel’s annual summer party including games, face painting, and cakes. children age 5-11 years can book into the puppet making workshop, making their very own bird puppet to take part in the Summer Party Parade. Sunday 10am-1:30pm, parade at 3pm. Tickets £30 for workshop (kids only - drop off).
Clapham Pottery Family Workshops: Saturday 9th, 1:30-3pm. Bring the kids and adults to work with clay. £10 per person.
Just for Babies and Little Ones
Monkey Music is a great way to fit a music classes in around your nursery timetable and meet local mums. Classes are starting Monday 11th September, but there are a few afternoon opening in Belgravia and Pimlico. There are morning openings at Cineworld Cinema, Chelsea, St. Stephen’s Church Gloucester Road and The Hut in Chelsea. Right now, if you join with two other mums, the normal £18 booking fee is reduced to just £1 if you mention London Baby and Kids.
[email protected] or tel: 020 8767 9827
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 Becky Dixton where singing, storytelling and musical instruments are woven into one story session. £4, 11:30am
Welcome Wednesdays: Wednesdays 10:30-11:15. Bring children 16 months to 5 years to the National Gallery for musical adventures with Paul Rubinstein. Ages 16 months - 5 years, tickets £5 per child.
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 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 11am. This week’s feature: England is Mine. Bring babies under 12 months to this amazingly plush cinema, relax with some coffee and catch a flick.
Do you have an idea for a blog? Do have a blog and now need help learning how brands want to work with small influencers? Do you feel like a digital espresso might help you focus and get refine your blogging vision? Come join Mothers and Shakers for a fantastically reviewed blogging workshop on Thursday 12th October from 10:30am-1pm at the Mandeville Hotel (10 minutes from Oxford Street and Bond Street). Maximum 28 spaces with early bird prices from £23.69 until 14th September https://mashworks.eventbrite.com.
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: A Goofy Movie 11:30am, just £1.75.
BFI Families: Sunday 1pm. Willow (Ron Howard;s directorial debut, 1988). Tickets £8. Sunday, 1pm.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,10:30. Tickets just £1 with £4 membership, popcorn and juice £2. (best £3 you will ever spend on a rainy Saturday)
Ritzy Picturehouse, Kids Club: Sunday 10:30. This Week’s screening: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature, Born Free. Saturday 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.
